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Dr. Kapil Chauhan, The University of Sydney Page 1

CIVL 3612 / CIVL 9612
FLUID MECHANICS

Losses in pipe flow

Dr. Kapil Chauhan

eng.fluids@sydney.edu.au
School of Civil Engineering
 Pipe flow vs Open channel flow

Pipe flow Open channel flow
Driven by pressure gradient d𝑝/d𝑥 Driven by gravity

Dr. Kapil Chauhan, The University of Sydney Page 3

Steady laminar flow in circular tubes

1 𝜕𝑝
𝑣 𝑟 𝑅
4𝜇 𝜕𝑧

Dr. Kapil Chauhan, The University of Sydney Page 4

Laminar – Turbulent Pipe Flow

Laminar Transition Turbulent

𝜌𝑉ℓ
Reynolds number, 𝑅𝑒
Dr. Kapil Chauhan, The University of Sydney 𝜇 Page 5
 Velocity behaviour

Dr. Kapil Chauhan, The University of Sydney Page 6

 Moody Chart
Friction factor as a function of Reynolds number and relative roughness for round pipes

Re < 2100 Re > 4000

Dr. Kapil Chauhan, The University of Sydney Page 7

 Fully developed laminar flow
From Dimensional Analysis
1 ℓ 2

𝜇, 𝜌

𝑉 𝐷

∆𝑝 𝑝 𝑝

𝜇ℓ𝑉 ∆𝑝 𝜇ℓ𝑉/𝐷 ∆𝑝 𝜇 ℓ 64 ℓ
∆𝑝 32 32 64
1 1 1 𝜌𝑉𝐷 𝐷 𝑅𝑒 𝐷
𝐷 𝜌𝑉 𝑉 𝜌𝑉
2 2 2

∆𝑝 𝜇𝑉 𝐶 is determined experimentally
𝐶
ℓ 𝐷 For circular pipes 𝐶=32

8𝜏 ∆𝑝𝐷 ∆𝑝 𝐷 64
𝑓 𝜏 𝑓 𝑓
1
𝜌𝑉 4ℓ 𝜌𝑉 ℓ 𝑅𝑒
2
Dr. Kapil Chauhan, The University of Sydney Darcy friction factor For circular pipes Page 8
 Moody Chart
Friction factor as a function of Reynolds number and relative roughness for round pipes

64
𝑓
𝑅𝑒

Re > 4000

Dr. Kapil Chauhan, The University of Sydney Page 9

Laminar – Turbulent Pipe Flow

Laminar Transition Turbulent

𝜌𝑉ℓ
Reynolds number, 𝑅𝑒
Dr. Kapil Chauhan, The University of Sydney 𝜇 Page 10
What is turbulence

• Some examples

Laminar

Turbulent Chaotic

Dr. Kapil Chauhan, The University of Sydney Page 11

Laminar to Turbulent

Dr. Kapil Chauhan, The University of Sydney Page 12

 Fully developed flow
Energy consideration

Bernoulli equation
𝑝 𝑉 𝑝 𝑉
𝛼 𝑧 𝛼 𝑧 ℎ
𝛾 2𝑔 𝛾 2𝑔

For fully developed flow, 𝛼 𝛼 and 𝑉 𝑉

𝑝 𝑝
𝑧 𝑧 ℎ
𝛾 𝛾

∆𝑝
ℓ sin 𝜃 ℎ
𝛾

Applicable to both laminar  4ℓ𝜏 ∆𝑝 𝛾ℓ sin 𝜃 2𝜏

ℎ
and turbulent flow 𝛾𝐷 ℓ 𝑟
However this is only due to friction
Dr. Kapil Chauhan, The University of Sydney Page 13
Fully developed flow
Energy consideration

Bernoulli equation
𝑝 𝑉 𝑝 𝑉
𝛼 𝑧 𝛼 𝑧 ℎ
𝛾 2𝑔 𝛾 2𝑔

ℎ ℎ ℎ

ℎ : Losses due to friction

ℎ : Losses due to pipe components

Dr. Kapil Chauhan, The University of Sydney Page 14

Fully developed laminar flow
Energy consideration

Bernoulli equation
𝑝 𝑉 𝑝 𝑉
𝛼 𝑧 𝛼 𝑧 ℎ
𝛾 2𝑔 𝛾 2𝑔

ℎ ℎ ℎ

ℎ : Losses due to friction

ℎ : Losses due to pipe components

Minor losses can aggregate to be larger than Major losses!

Dr. Kapil Chauhan, The University of Sydney Page 15

Major losses

ℎ : Losses due to friction

Friction losses occur due to viscosity

1 ℓ 2

𝜇, 𝜌

𝑉 𝐷
Rough pipe
𝜀

∆𝑝 𝑝 𝑝 Smooth pipe

Dr. Kapil Chauhan, The University of Sydney Page 16

 Major losses

ℎ : Losses due to friction

Friction losses occur due to viscosity

1 ℓ 2

𝜇, 𝜌

𝑉 𝐷
Rough pipe
𝜀

∆𝑝 𝑝 𝑝 Smooth pipe

∆𝑝 𝜌𝑉𝐷 ℓ 𝜀
∆𝑝 𝐹 𝑉, 𝐷, ℓ,ε, 𝜇, 𝜌 𝐹∗ , ,
1 𝜇 𝐷 𝐷
𝜌𝑉
2
Non‐dimensionalise by dynamic pressure to account for turbulent inertia rather than 
viscous force in laminar flow
Dr. Kapil Chauhan, The University of Sydney Page 17
Major losses

ℎ : Losses due to friction

Friction losses occur due to viscosity

1 ℓ 2

𝜇, 𝜌

𝑉 𝐷
𝜀

∆𝑝 𝑝 𝑝

∆𝑝 𝜌𝑉𝐷 ℓ 𝜀
𝐹∗ , ,
1 𝜇 𝐷 𝐷
𝜌𝑉
2
Turbulent
Pressure drop also depends on relative roughness, 𝜀/𝐷
Dr. Kapil Chauhan, The University of Sydney Page 18
Major losses

ℎ : Losses due to friction

Friction losses occur due to viscosity

𝜀
𝑓 𝜑 𝑅𝑒, 1 ℓ 2
𝐷
𝜇, 𝜌
∆𝑝 𝐷
𝑓 𝑉 𝐷
1
𝜌𝑉 ℓ 𝜀
2
Darcy friction factor
∆𝑝 𝑝 𝑝

∆𝑝 ℓ 𝜀 ∆𝑝 𝜌𝑉𝐷 ℓ 𝜀
1
𝜑 𝑅𝑒, ∆𝑝 ∝ ℓ 𝐹∗ , ,
𝐷 𝐷 1 𝜇 𝐷 𝐷
𝜌𝑉 𝜌𝑉
2 2
Turbulent
Pressure drop also depends on relative roughness, 𝜀/𝐷
Dr. Kapil Chauhan, The University of Sydney Page 19
 Moody Chart
Friction factor as a function of Reynolds number and relative roughness for round pipes
64
𝑓
𝑅𝑒

𝜀
𝑓 𝜑 𝑅𝑒,
𝐷

Dr. Kapil Chauhan, The University of Sydney Page 20

 Moody Chart
Friction factor as a function of Reynolds number and relative roughness for round pipes
64
𝑓
𝑅𝑒

Colebrook formula
1 𝜀/𝐷 2.51
2.0 log
𝑓 3.7 𝑅𝑒 𝑓

Re < 2100 Re > 4000

Dr. Kapil Chauhan, The University of Sydney Page 21

 Moody Chart
Friction factor as a function of Reynolds number and relative roughness for round pipes
64
𝑓
𝑅𝑒

Colebrook formula
1 𝜀/𝐷 2.51
2.0 log
𝑓 3.7 𝑅𝑒 𝑓

Haaland formula
.
Re < 2100 Re > 4000 1 𝜀/𝐷 6.9
1.8 log
𝑓 3.7 𝑅𝑒

0.316
𝑓
𝑅𝑒 /
Blasius formula

Dr. Kapil Chauhan, The University of Sydney Page 22

The relative roughness

• Rough pipe experiments conducted by Nikuradse (1933)
o Measure pressure drop required for a desired flow rate
o Vary Reynolds number by changing the flow rate
o Vary roughness by sticking sand particles of known size 
inside the pipe
o Also known as sand grain roughness. The equivalent sand 
grain roughness,  , is different than the root‐mean‐square 
of roughness height for a real surface

Dr. Kapil Chauhan, The University of Sydney Page 23

The relative roughness

Major losses can be calculated using the Moody chart or the Colebrook equation

Dr. Kapil Chauhan, The University of Sydney Page 24

Minor losses

• Most pipe systems have additional components
o Valves, bends, tee, couplings, etc.
o Loss of kinetic energy across these components is 
accounted by minor losses
• Very complex flow pattern, and hard to study theoretically or 
by dimensional analysis

Dr. Kapil Chauhan, The University of Sydney Page 25

 Minor losses

∆𝑝 ℎ
Define loss coefficient, 𝐾 𝐾
1 multiply by 𝑔
𝜌𝑉 𝑉 /2𝑔
2 Remember ∆𝑝 ∝ 𝛾ℎ

1
∆𝑝 𝐾 𝜌𝑉
2

𝑉
ℎ 𝐾
2𝑔

𝐾 is strongly dependent on the geometry 
of the component and fluid properties

𝐾 𝜑 geometry, 𝑅𝑒

Dr. Kapil Chauhan, The University of Sydney Page 26

Minor losses
Pipe Entrance
𝑉
ℎ 𝐾
2𝑔

𝐾 0.8 𝐾 0.5

𝐾 0.2 𝐾 0.04
Dr. Kapil Chauhan, The University of Sydney Page 27
Minor losses
Pipe Entrance
𝑉
ℎ 𝐾
2𝑔

Experimentally determined

𝑲𝑳 values will be either given to you or a similar plot will be provided in the exam
Dr. Kapil Chauhan, The University of Sydney Page 28
 Minor losses
Sudden change in pipe diameter - expansion

ℎ
𝐾
Conservation of Mass: 𝐴 𝑉 𝐴 𝑉 1
𝜌𝑉
2
Conservation of Momentum: 𝑝 𝐴 𝑝 𝐴 𝜌𝐴 𝑉 𝑉 𝑉)
𝑝 𝑉 𝑝 𝑉
Conservation of Energy: ℎ
𝛾 2𝑔 𝛾 2𝑔 𝐴
𝐾 1
Dr. Kapil Chauhan, The University of Sydney 𝐴 Page 29
Minor losses
Sudden change in pipe diameter - expansion

𝑉
ℎ 𝐾
2𝑔

𝐴
𝐾 1
𝐴

Dr. Kapil Chauhan, The University of Sydney Page 30

Minor losses
Sudden change in pipe diameter - contraction

𝑉
ℎ 𝐾
2𝑔

Dr. Kapil Chauhan, The University of Sydney Page 31

Minor losses
Gradual change in pipe diameter
𝐴

𝜃 8°

Dr. Kapil Chauhan, The University of Sydney Page 32

Minor losses
Gradual change in pipe diameter
𝐴

Dr. Kapil Chauhan, The University of Sydney Page 33

Minor losses
Gradual change in pipe diameter
𝐴

Dr. Kapil Chauhan, The University of Sydney Page 34

Minor losses
Separation in diffuser

Dr. Kapil Chauhan, The University of Sydney Page 35

Minor losses
Pipe bends

Dr. Kapil Chauhan, The University of Sydney Page 36

Minor losses
Pipe angle

Dr. Kapil Chauhan, The University of Sydney Page 37

 𝑉
ℎ 𝐾
2𝑔

Dr. Kapil Chauhan, The University of Sydney Page 38