What is the main purpose of dimensional analysis in engineering?

Dimensional analysis plays a key role in engineering primarily by ensuring that all necessary dimensions are included in a design or calculation. This involves checking that the units are consistent and correctly interpreted, which allows engineers to verify that relationships between physical quantities are valid. By ensuring that each variable is dimensionally consistent, engineers can avoid errors that might arise during computation and subsequently lead to flawed designs. This process helps in correlating different engineering parameters, confirming that they adhere to the fundamental laws of physics, and preventing potential discrepancies in scaling or conversion of measurements.

In this context, while creating visual representations and calculating weights can be aspects of engineering processes, they are not the core focus of dimensional analysis. Evaluating market demand, on the other hand, pertains more to business aspects rather than the technical purpose of dimensional analysis in engineering.