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Question: Estimate the friction factor using the Colebrook equation assuming turbulent flow
through a pipe of inner diameter D = 0.005 m, when the other parameters are = 1.23 kg/m3,
= 1.79 × 10–5 N · s/m2, V = 40 m/s and = 0.0015 mm.
Theory: For turbulent flow, the Colebrook equation provides a means to calculate the friction
factor:
1 / D 2.51
= −0.86ln +
f 3.7 Re f
DV
Re =
The equation is a nonlinear implicit equation so it can only be solved using numerical techniques.
Here we are using Newton Raphson method to get the solution as it gives a better approximation.
The method requires an intial approximation. It is obtained by an explicit formulation called the
Swamee-Jain equation, which provides an approximate estimate to solve the problem
1.325
f = 2
/ D 5.74
ln 3.7 + Re0.9
/ D = 3.0 × 10-4
1 / D 2.51
g( f ) = + 0.86ln +
f 3.7 Re f
0.5 1.0793
g ( f ) = − −
3
/ D 2.51 3
f 2
Re + f 2
3.7 Re f
MATLAB CODE:
OUTPUT: