FRICTION FROM CHANGES IN

VELOCITY OR DIRECTION
UNIT-2
 Friction from changes in velocity or
direction
• Whenever the velocity of a fluid is changed either
in direction or magnitude, friction is generated in
addition to the skin friction. Such friction include
form friction resulting from vortices and
boundary layer separation.
• Here two cases will be studied
1. Friction loss due to sudden expansion of cross
section
2. Friction loss from sudden contraction of cross
section
 Friction loss from sudden expansion of cross
section
• If the cross section of the pipe is suddenly enlarged, the
fluid stream separates from wall and issues as a jet into
the enlarged section.
• The jet then expands to fill the entire cross section.
• The space between the expanding jet and the conduit
wall is filled with fluid in vortex motion.
• Vortex formation is characteristic of boundary layer
separation and considerable friction is generated within
this space.
• The friction loss (hfe) from sudden expansion of cross section is proportional to the velocity head of
the fluid in small conduit
𝑉𝑎 2
ℎ𝑓𝑒 = 𝐾𝑒
2
Ke=Expansion loss coefficient
• The momentum balance equation for the section enclosed between AA and BB
𝑝𝑎 𝑆𝑎 − 𝑝𝑏 𝑆𝑏 = 𝑚(𝛽𝑏 𝑉𝑏 − 𝛽𝑎 𝑉𝑎 )
• Bernoulli equation for the section
𝑝𝑎 − 𝑝𝑏 𝛼𝑏 𝑉𝑏 2 − 𝛼𝑎 𝑉𝑎 2
= + ℎ𝑓𝑒
𝜌 2
𝑚
• For usual flow conditions: 𝛼𝑎 =𝛼𝑏 =1 & 𝛽𝑎 =𝛽𝑏 =1 and = 𝜌𝑉𝑏
𝑆𝑏
𝑉𝑎 − 𝑉𝑏 2
ℎ𝑓𝑒 =
2
• From shell mass balance equation: 𝜌𝑎 𝑉𝑎 𝑆𝑎 = 𝜌𝑏 𝑉𝑏 𝑆𝑏 ; For 𝜌 = 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡;
𝑆𝑎
𝑉𝑏 = 𝑉𝑎
𝑆𝑏
2 2
𝑉𝑎 𝑆𝑎
ℎ𝑓𝑒 = 1−
2 𝑆𝑏
2
𝑆𝑎
𝐾𝑒 = 1 −
𝑆𝑏

If the flow in larger pipe is laminar and that in smaller pipe is turbulent , then 𝛼𝑏 =2 & 𝛽𝑏 =4/3
 Friction loss from sudden contraction of
cross section
• When the cross section of the conduit is suddenly reduced,
the fluid stream cannot follow around the sharp corner and
the stream breaks contact with the wall of the conduit.
• A jet is formed, which flows into the smaller section. The jet
first contracts and then expands to fill the smaller cross
section.
• The cross section of minimum area at which the jet changes
from a contraction to an expansion is called the vena
contracta.
• The friction loss (hfc) from sudden contraction
of cross section is proportional to the velocity
head of the fluid in small conduit
𝑉𝑏 2
ℎ𝑓𝑐 = 𝐾𝑐
2
Kc=Contraction loss coefficient
𝑆𝑏
𝐾𝑐 = 0.4 1 −
𝑆𝑎
 Effect of fittings and valves
• Fittings and valves disturb the normal flow
and cause friction.
• In short pipes, friction loss from fittings is
greater than that from straight pipes.
𝑉𝑎 2
ℎ𝑓𝑓 = 𝐾𝑓
2
𝐾𝑓 = loss factor for fitting
𝑉𝑎 =Average velocity in pipe leading to fitting
What is the total friction for the
following assembly?
Ans