NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, ROURKELA

FLUID MECHANICS AND FLUID MACHINES LABORATORY: ME372

LAB REPORT
ON
LOSSES IN PIPE FRICTION

GROUP-07
114ME0229: SEELAM SUDHEER KUMAR
114ME0230: SOURAV SHRI DEBABANDAN MALLICK
114ME0231: DIPTESH MARNDI
114ME0233: MITESH MISHRA
114ME0234: SNEHA ORAM

PREPARED BY: 114ME0231: MITESH MISHRA

SUBMISSION DATE: MARCH 14, 2017

Subject Teacher: Dr. Suman Ghosh

LITERATURE SURVEY:
When a fluid flows through a pipe it is resisted by viscous shear stress within
the fluid and the turbulence caused due to the roughness of the pipe material.
This resistance is termed as pipe friction or head loss due to pipe friction and is
usually measured in feet or metres head of the fluid. The overall head loss in a
pipe depends on the following:

• Viscosity of the fluid

• Size of the internal pipe diameter
• Internal roughness of the inner surface of the pipe
• Change in elevation between the end of the pipe
• Length of the pipe along which the fluid travels
Assuming the flow to be steady and laminar, we get
dP
/dx =constant,
Integrating from x =x1, where the pressure is P1 to x=x1+L where the
pressure is P2 gives

…………………………………………….(1)

From equation (1) , pressure difference for laminar flow can be given as

…………………………………..(2)
where, ΔP = Pressure difference between 1 and 2=P1 -P2
µ = Co-efficient of viscosity
Vavg. = average velocity

The pressure drop due to viscous effects represents an irreversible pressure loss,
and it is called pressure loss, ΔPL ( L is to emphasize that it is a loss ).From the
equation, it is observed that the pressure drop is proportional to the viscosity of
the fluid, and ΔP would be zero if there were no friction. Therefore, the drop of
pressure from P1 to P2 in this case is due entirely to viscous effects, and Eq. (2)
represents the pressure loss ΔPL when a fluid of viscosity µ flows through a pipe
of constant dia D and length L at average velocity Vavg.
In practice, it is found convenient to express the pressure loss for all types of fully
developed internal flows (laminar or turbulent flows, circular or noncircular
pipes, smooth or rough surfaces, horizontal or inclined pipes) as pressure loss

………………………..……(3)
where, f = Darcy friction factor

Because of the turbulent nature of the flow, it is not possible now to find a simple
expression for the wall shear stress, so the value has to be found experimentally.
When considering such experimental results, we might reasonably relate the wall
shear stress τ to the mean velocity pressure ρV2. So a dimensionless friction factor
f could be defined by

…………………………..(4)
It is also called the Darcy–Weisbach friction factor, named after the Frenchman
Henry Darcy (1803–1858) and the German Julius Weisbach (1806–1871), the
two engineers who provided the greatest contribution in its development. It is
different than the friction coefficient.
In the analysis of piping systems, pressure losses are commonly expressed in
terms of the equivalent fluid column height, called the head loss (hL). From fluid
statics, ΔP =ρgh and thus a pressure difference of ΔP corresponds to a fluid height
of h= ΔP /ρg , the pipe head loss is obtained as

…………………………..(5)

AIM:
To calculate loss of heads due to friction in different pipes.
APPRATUS AND MACHINE SPECIFICATIONS:
The apparatus consists of three pipes, which are Galvanic iron, Stainless steel
and brass with internal diameter of 12.7 mm for each pipe, so that the loss of
head can be compared for different materials.

A flow valve control valve is provided at outlet of pipes which enables

experiments to be conducted at different flow rates, i.e. at different velocities.
Tappings are provided along the length of pipes, so that the drop of head can be
visualized along the length of pipe. Each pipe is provided with valve at outlet,
which enables heads to be controlled.

DIAGRAM:
PROCEDURE:
1. The tank was filled up with water following which all the outlet valves
were opened and the pump was started.
2. All the three outlet valves were closed and it was ensured that there are
no leakages.
3. The valve corresponding to the GI pipe was opened.
4. Any air bubble from the manometer and the connecting pipes were
removed.
5. The flow was reduced and the outlet valves were adjusted so that water
heads in manometer were up to a readable height.
6. The heads and flow rate were noted down.
7. The flow was then increased and the outlet valve was adjusted
accordingly so that water will not overflow and the corresponding and
head and flow was noted down.
8. The procedure was then repeated for the pipes made of brass and stainless
steel.

OBSERVATIONS:
Sl. Pipe Type Head Drop (h) Flow rate ‘t’ sec
No. ‘m’ (Time for 10 cm rise
in sec)
25 78
1. Galvanised Iron 46 53
55 50
15 41
2. Brass 10 66
12 54
15 56
3. Stainless Steel 25 42
28 40
CALCULATION TABLE:
Discharge,Q Velocity v Frictional
S.No. Area( m2)
(m3/sec) (m/sec) coefficient f

0.000128 1.01 0.00083

Galvanic
0.0001267 0.000189 1.49 0.0007
Iron
0.0002 1.58 0.0006

0.000101 1.42 0.00025

Brass 0.0001267 0.000149 1.2 0.00043

0.000158 1.46 0.00035

0.000083 1.404 0.0008

Stainless
0.0001267 0.00007 1.878 0.00044
Steel
0.00006 1.973 0.00045

The sample calculation is as follows:

For galvanic iron pipe, observation number 1:

Diameter = 12.7mm
π
Area of the pipe (A) = ×D2 = 1.267×10−4 m2
4

volume 0.01
Discharge (Q) = = = 1.28×10−4 m3 /sec
time 78

Q
Velocity of water (V) = =1.01 m/sec
A

Drop of head (hf) = h1 × (13.6-1) =0.567 m

 2∗ℎ𝑙 ∗g∗d
Pipe friction (f) = = 0.00083
l∗v2

PRECAUTIONS:
• The manometer valve should be operated gently while removing of
air bubble so that mercury in manometer does not get lifted out of the
manometer.

• Drain all the water after completion of the experiment.

CONCLUSION:
• Loss of head due to friction is proportional to length of pipe and square
of velocity.
• Loss of head is inversely proportional to inside diameter of pipe.
• Average value of ‘f’ for-
a] G.I. Pipe.- 0.00071

b] Brass Pipe.-0.000343

c] Stainless Steel Pipe.-0.000563