General Equation for Fluid Friction

In general the flow of liquid along a pipe can be determined by the use of The Bernoulli
Equation and the Continuity Equation.
As the flow moves down the pipe, losses due to friction between the moving liquid and the walls
of pipe cause the pressure within the pipe to reduce with distance - this is known as head loss.

Note: Only Incompressible liquids are being considered.

Head Lost Due To Friction in the Pipe

The most popular pipe flow equation was derived by Henry Darcy (1803 to 1858), Julius
Weiscbach (1806 to 1871), and the others about the middle of the nineteenth century.

Two equations can be used when the flow is either Laminar or Turbulent. These are:

1. Darcy's Equation for Round Pipes:

L V2
h L =f
D 2g
Where;

h L = head loss due to friction [m]

L = length of the pipe [m],
D = hydraulic diameter of the pipe. For circular sections this equals the internal
diameter of the pipe [m].
v = men velocity within the pipe (m/s)
g = acceleration due to gravity (m/s2)
f = coefficient of friction factor

2. Darcy's Equation for Non Circular Pipes:

L V2
h L =f
Dh 2 g

Where, Dh= hydraulic diameter (m)

Dh= 4 x cross sectional area of flow/ wetted perimeter

4A
D h = P

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Area, wetted perimeter and hydraulic diameter for geometric sections like:

Elliptical duct:

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 a ×b
D h=
a2 +b2

Where;
√ 2

a = major diameter,

b = minor diameter

Annulus duct:

D 2−d 2
D h=
D+d
Where

D = inner diameter of larger pipe,

d = outer diameter of smaller pipe

Rectangular Channel:

Hydraulic Diameter
4A 4 bh 4 bh
D h = = =
P (b+2 h) b +2 h

Trapezoid Channel:

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 Where,
A= y ( b + zy )
P=b+2 y √ 1+ z 2
T = b+ 2 zy

4A 4 y ( b+ zy )
D h  ¿ P =
b+ 2 y √ 1+ z 2

Difference between open-channel flow and the pipe flow

Pipe flow Open channel flow

The pipe is completely filled with the fluid being transported Water flows without completely filling the pipe

The main driving force is likely to be a pressure gradient Gravity alone is the driving force, the water flows
along the pipe down a hill

TURBULENT FLOW or LAMINAR FLOW

 Reynolds Number (Re) ≤ 2000 →laminar flow:

64
f=
Re

 Reynolds Number (Re) ≥ 4000→turbulent flow;

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The value of friction factor (f) then becomes less dependent on the Reynolds Number but more
dependent on the relative roughness (ε /D) of the pipe.

FRICTION FACTOR CAN BE FOUND IN TWO WAYS:

1. Graphical solution: Moody Diagram

2. Explicit equations: : Swamee -Jain Equation:

0.25
f= 2
ε 5.74
[ (
log + 0.9
3.7 D ℜ )]

Practice Problems

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1. Using Swamee -Jain Equation, find the friction factor in the following data: Pipe length
(L = 30.48 m), Pipe size (D = 10.2 cm), Pipe roughness ¿ = 0.549 mm), Kinematic
viscosity (ʋ = 1.1241×10-6 m2/s and Flow rate Q = 0.1 m3/s). Ans. 0.0312
2. The water flow in Asphalted cast Iron pipe (ε = 0.12 mm) has a diameter 20 cm at 20oC.
Flow rate is 0.05 m3/s. determine the head losses due to friction per 1 km? Take (ʋ = 1.01
×10-6 m2/s). Using Moody diagram and Swamee - Jain Equation. Ans. 12 m

3. A commercial steel pipe, 1.5 m diameter, carries a 3.5 m3/s of water at 20 ℃. Using
Moody diagram, and Swamee -Jain Equation determine the friction factor? Take (
kg
ε =0.045 mm , ρ=998.2 3 andμ=1.002mPa . s). Ans. 0.011
m

4. A round commercial steel pipe 0.4 m internal diameter, 10 m long carries water at 10oC
kg
flow rate of 349.1 liters/sec. find the head lose? Take (ε =0.045 mm , ρ=999.7 3 and
m
μ=1.308mPa . s). Ans. 0.172 m

5. A duct of 15 m length passes air at the rate of 90 m3 /min . Assuming the

fraction factor as 0.005, calculate the head lose when

a. The duct is circular of diameter 0.3 m, Ans. 5.737 m

b. The duct is of 0.3 m square cross- section. Ans. 3.54 m

6. A rectangular commercial steel duct 0.6 m wide x 0.3 m high x 10 m long carries a water
flow rate of 500 liters /sec. determine the head lose? The temperature of the water is
kg
10oC. ? Take (ε =0.045 mm , ρ=999.7 3 andμ=1.308mPa . s). Ans. 0.272 m.
m

7. An elliptical duct made from aluminum has internal dimensions of 0.8 m at its widest
point and 0.3 m at its highest point. The duct is 10 m long and carries a water flow rate
of 24 m3 /min. The temperature of the water is 10o C. Ans. 0.028 m

8. An annulus section is formed by placing a stainless steel pipe with an outer diameter of
350 mm inside a stainless steel pipe with an inner diameter of 600 mm. The annulus
section is 10 m long and carries a water flow rate of 36 m3 /min. The water temperature
is 20o C. Ans. 3.71 m

9. Air flows through the annular space in the duct at a mean velocity of 6 m/s. If the air
temperature is 30oC, find the Reynolds number? Take, Values for D =18 cm, and d =5
kg
cm. Take ( ρ=1.164 3 and μ=1.872×10−5 Pa . s). Ans. Re = 48500
m

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 10. A concrete lined trapezoidal channel with uniform flow has a normal depth of 2-m. The
base width is 5-m and the side slopes are equal at 1:2. Calculate the area, parameter,
hydraulic diameter? Ans. 18 m2, 14 m, 5.14 m

Evaluating the Darcy equation provides insight into factors affecting the
head loss in a pipeline:

o If the flow rate increases, the head loss increases.

o As the pipe wall roughness increases, the head loss increases.

o If the inside pipe diameter increases, the head loss decreases.

o If the length of the pipe increases, the head lose increases.

Flow rate

Example 1

Calculate the head loses in a 100 m section of a 100 mm steel pipe diameter with different low
kg
rates shown in the table below? Take, ρ=1000 3 , ε = 1.8 mm andμ=1.106 mPa . s)
m

Flow rate (m3/hr) Velocity (m/s) Reynolds number Friction factor Head loss (m)

50 1.78 159945.7 0.0471 7.5

100 3.57 322784.8 0.0469 30.5

150 5.35 483725 0.0469 68

200 7 632911.4 0.0469 117

Note : if the flow rate increases, the head loss increases and vice versa

Pipe Material

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Example 2

The absolute roughness values for different material with a 100 mm diameter of steel pipe water
at 10℃ with a flow rate of 90 m 3/hr through the same 100 m section. Fill the table below?

Pipe material Pipe roughness (mm) Reynolds number Friction factor Head loss (m)

PVC 0.06 243046 0.0192 9..89

Steel 1.8 244575 0.0470 24

Cast iron 6 244574.9 0.0782 40.8

Galvanized 10.2 244574.9 0.1029 54

Note: As the pipe wall roughness increases, the head loss increases.
Pipe size (Inside diameters)

Example 3

The choice of the pipe size has a major effect on the head loss in the pipeline. The Table below
shows the nominal sizes available for commercial steel pipe. In each pipeline the ID, fluid
velocity Reynolds number and head loss is displayed for a 100 m section of commercial steel
pipes when transporting water at 10℃ at 90 m3/hr

Pipe size (mm) Velocity (m/s) Reynolds number Friction factor Head loss (m)

400 0.0199 60838 0.0204 0.0102

300 0.354 81168 0.0194 0.0413

200 0.796 121676 0.0185 0.3

100 3.2 244574.9 0.0183 9.6