Mean radius

This article is about the general concept of mean radius in applied sciences. For mean radius in astronomy, see mean radius (astronomy).

The mean radius (sometimes called the equivalent radius) in applied sciences is determination of the "average" radius of a non-circular or non-spherical object by treating it as if it were circular or spherical. Alternatively, the closely related mean diameter ($D$), which is twice the mean radius, is also used.

Perimeter equivalent

Measurement of tree circumference, the tape calibrated to show diameter, at breast height. The tape assumes a circular shape.

The perimeter of a circle of radius R is $2\pi R$. Given the perimeter of a non-circular object P, one can calculate its mean radius by setting

$P=2\pi R_{\text{mean}}$

or alternatively

$R_{\text{mean}}={\frac {P}{2\pi }}$

For example, a square of side L has a perimeter of $4L$. Setting that perimeter to be equal to that of a circle imply that

$R_{\text{mean}}={\frac {2L}{\pi }}\approx 0.6366L$

Examples

• US hat size is the circumference of the head, measured in inches, divided by pi, rounded to the nearest 1/8 inch. This corresponds to the 1D mean diameter.
• Diameter at breast height is the circumference of tree trunk, measured at height of 4.5 feet, divided by pi. This corresponds to the 1D mean diameter. It can be measured directly by a girthing tape.

Area equivalent

Cross sectional area of a trapezoidal open channel, red highlights the wetted perimeter, where water is in contact with the channel. The hydraulic diameter is the equivalent circular configuration with the same circumference as the wetted perimeter.

The area of a circle of radius R is $\pi R^{2}$. Given the area of an non-circular object A, one can calculate its mean radius by setting

$A=\pi R_{\text{mean}}^{2}$

or alternatively

$R_{\text{mean}}={\sqrt {\frac {A}{\pi }}}$

For example, a square of side length L has an area of $L^{2}$. Setting that area to be equal that of a circle imply that

$R_{\text{mean}}={\sqrt {\frac {1}{\pi }}}L\approx 0.3183L$

Similarly, an ellipse with semi-major axis $a$ and semi-minor axis $b$ has mean radius $R_{\text{mean}}={\sqrt {a\cdot b}}$.

For a circle, where $a=b$, this simplifies to $R_{\text{mean}}=a$.

Example

• The hydraulic diameter is similarly defined as 4 times the cross-sectional area of a pipe A, divided by it's "wetted" perimeter P. For a circular pipe of radius R, at full flow, this is

$D_{\text{H}}={\frac {4\pi R^{2}}{2\pi R}}=2R$

as one would expect. This is equivalent to the above definition of the 2D mean radius. However, for historical reasons, the hydraulic radius is defined as the cross-sectional area of a pipe A, divided by it's wetted perimeter P, which leads to $D_{\text{H}}=4R_{\mathbb {H} }$, and the hydraulic radius is half of the 2D mean radius.

• In aggregate classification, the equivalent diameter is the "diameter of a circle with an equal aggregate sectional area", which is calculated by $D=2{\sqrt {\frac {A}{\pi }}}$. It is used in many digital image processing programs.

Volume equivalent

Main article: mean radius (astronomy)

A sphere (top), rotational ellipsoid (left) and triaxial ellipsoid (right)

The volume of a sphere of radius R is ${\frac {4}{3}}\pi R^{3}$. Given the volume of an non-spherical object V, one can calculate its mean radius by setting

$V={\frac {4}{3}}\pi R_{\text{mean}}^{3}$

or alternatively

$R_{\text{mean}}={\sqrt[{3}]{\frac {3V}{4\pi }}}$

For example, a cube of side length L has a volume of $L^{3}$. Setting that volume to be equal that of a sphere imply that

$R_{\text{mean}}={\sqrt[{3}]{\frac {3}{4\pi }}}L\approx 0.6204L$

Similarly, a tri-axial ellipsoid with axes $a$, $b$ and $c$ has mean radius $R_{\text{mean}}={\sqrt[{3}]{a\cdot b\cdot c}}$. The formula for a rotational ellipsoid is the special case where $a=b$. Likewise, an oblate spheroid or rotational ellipsoid with axes $a$ and $c$ has a mean radius of $R_{\text{mean}}={\sqrt[{3}]{a^{2}\cdot c}}$. For a sphere, where $a=b=c$, this simplifies to $R_{\text{mean}}=a$.

Example

• For planet Earth, which can be approximated as an oblate spheroid with radii 6378.1 km and 6356.8 km, the 3D mean radius is $R={\sqrt[{3}]{6378.1^{2}\cdot 6356.8}}=6371.0{\text{ km}}$.

See also

• Antenna equivalent radius
• Cubic mean
• Earth ellipsoid
• Earth radius
• Geoid
• Geometric mean
• Semidiameter