FACULTY OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL AND

ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING

EXPT 10: FRICTION HEAD LOSS IN PIPES

BY: MWANGI EDWIN MURIMI BP12/00234/22

UNIT: CEEN 213

FLOW IN PIPES

DATE OF PRACTICAL : 25/03/2024

DATE OF SUBMISSION :

SUBMITTED TO: Mr. Korir.

SIGNATURE………….
MAR 2024
 EXPT 10 : FRICTION HEAD LOSS IN PIPES

OBJECTIVE
To confirm the Darcy Weisbach equation and to determine the value of f and n.

THEORY
The friction loss In a uniform, straight sections of pipe, known as "major loss", is caused by the
effects of viscosity, the movement of fluid molecules against each other or against the (possibly
rough) wall of the pipe. The friction loss is greatly affected by whether the flow is laminar (Re <
2000) or turbulent (Re > 4000):
 In laminar flow, losses are proportional to fluid velocity, V; that velocity varies smoothly between
the bulk of the fluid and the pipe surface, where it is zero.The roughness of the pipe surface
influences neither the fluid flow nor the friction loss.
 For Reynolds numbers 2000 < Re < 4000, the flow is unstable, varying with time as vortices within
the flow form and vanish randomly. This domain of flow is not well modeled, nor are the details well
understood.
 In turbulent flow, losses are proportional to the square of the fluid velocity, V 2; here, a layer of
chaotic eddies and vortices near the pipe surface, called the viscous sub-layer, forms the
transition to the bulk flow. In this domain, the effects of the roughness of the pipe surface must
be considered. It is useful to characterize that roughness as the ratio of the roughness height ε to the
pipe diameter D, the "relative roughness".
The expression to calculate frictional losses is simply;
FLV ²
Hf =
2 gD
Where ; hf→ frictional head loss in metres
F → frictional factor in pipes
L → length of pipe in metres
V → velocity of flow in m/s
g →gravitational acceleration
D → diameter of the pipe in metres
APPARATUS
i. Technovate fluid circuit system 9009
ii. Inverted U-tube manometer
iii. 1000ml measuring cylinder
iv. Stopwatch
v. Bucket

PROCEDURE
1. Two pipes B and C were chosen and two pressure taps at a distance of 1.5m were connected to the
U-tube manometer ensuring no air is left in the system.
2. The water supply was opened and water allowed in the system and appropriate valves open
 ensuring water flowed to the appropriate pipes under concern only.
3. The initial manometer reading was noted before the flow began.
4. While adjusting the flow by increasing it, the rate of flow was measured by measuring the amount
of water per 5 seconds and recorded.
5. The manometer reading was then noted when the levels were steady and respective discharge
measured.
6. The above procedure was repeated for 10 different velocities of flow.
7. Then the clear rubber tubes were shifted to the next pipe of concern. Steps 1-6 were repeated for
this other pipe.

PRESENTATION OF DATA

FOR PIPE C
Left Right Manometr Frictional Volume Ti Discharge Veloci Log hf Log V
reading readin ic height head loss collected me Q ty
(inch) g (h) hf (m) (M3) sec m/s
(M3/sec)
(inch) (m) ρair
h [1− ]
ρwater
1 24.875 24.875 0 0 0 - 0 0 - -
2 -3 -4 -5
24.875 25.0 0.003175 3.17×10 1×10 5 2×10 0.133 -2.499 -0.876
3 -3 -4 -5
23.875 25.75 0.047625 47.57×10 4.3×10 5 8.6×10 0.572 -1.323 -0.243
4 23.125 26.25 0.079375 79.23×10-3 5.6×10-4 5 11.2×10-5 0.744 -1.101 -0.128
5 22.875 26.5 0.092075 91.96×10-3 6.1×10-4 5 12.2×10-5 0.811 -1.036 -0.091
6 -3 -4 -5
21.25 27.5 0.15875 158.56×10 7.9×10 5 15.8×10 1.05 -0.8 0.021
7 20.25 28.25 0.2032 202.95×10-3 8.6×10-4 5 17.2×10-5 1.143 -0.693 0.058
8 19.625 28.75 0.231775 231.49×10-3 10×10-4 5 20×10-5 1.329 -0.635 0.124
9 -3 -4 -5
18.375 29.625 0.28575 285.4×10 11.3×10 5 22.6×10 1.502 -0.545 0.177
10 18.0 29.875 0.301625 301.26×10-3 11.7×10-4 5 23.4×10-5 1.555 -0.521 0.192
1 17.375 30.375 0.3302 329.8×10-3 12×10-4 5 24×10-5 1.595 -0.482 0.203
1

OBSERVATIONS

Pipe diameter = 0.545 inches = 13.843×10-3 M

Pipe length = 1.5m
ρair =1.225 kg /mᵌ
ρwater =1000 kg/m ᵌ

ANALYSIS OF RESULTS
 4Q
Velocity=
πD ²

4 (2 ×10 ‾ ⁵)
Velocity 2= =0.133 m/s
π (13.843 ×10 ‾ ᵌ) ²

4 (8.6 × 10 ‾ ⁵)
Velocity 3= =0.571 m/s
π (13.843 ×10 ‾ ᵌ )²

4(11.2× 10 ‾ ⁵)
Velocity 4= =0.744 m/s
π (13.843 ×10 ‾ ᵌ)²

4(12.2 ×10 ‾ ⁵)
Velocity 5= =0.811m/s
π (13.843 ×10 ‾ ᵌ )²

4(15.8 × 10 ‾ ⁵)
Velocity 6= =1.05 m/s
π (13.843× 10 ‾ ᵌ )²

4(17.2 ×10 ‾ ⁵)
Velocity 7= =1.143 m/s
π (13.843 × 10 ‾ ᵌ )²

4(20 × 10 ‾ ⁵)
Velocity 8= =1.329 m/s
π (13.843 × 10 ‾ ᵌ )²

4(22.6 × 10 ‾ ⁵)
Velocity 9= =1.502 m/s
π (13.843× 10 ‾ ᵌ )²

4 (23.4 × 10 ‾ ⁵)
Velocity 10= =1.555 m/s
π (13.843 ×10 ‾ ᵌ )²

4 (24 × 10 ‾ ⁵)
Velocity 11= =1.595 m/s
π (13.843 × 10 ‾ ᵌ )²
 A GRAPH OF LOG hf AGAINST LOG V FOR PIPE C
0
-1 -0.8 -0.6 -0.4 -0.2 0 0.2 0.4

-0.5
f(x) = 1.87060570408895 x − 0.858184898859792

-1
Log hf

-1.5

-2

-2.5

-3

Log v

From the equation ; y = 2.01x - 0.8582

Δy 2−1
n=gradient= = =2
Δx 1.5−1

y intercept = - 0.8582
thus k = antilog (- 0.8582)
k = 0.1386
4 fl
k=
2 gD

4 × f ×1.5
0.1386=
2× 9.81× 13.843 ×10 ‾ ᵌ
f = 0.00627
FOR PIPE B
Left Right Manometr Frictional Volume Ti Discharge Velo Log hf Log V
reading readin ic height head loss collected me Q city
(inch) g (h) hf (m) (M3) sec m/s
(M3/sec)
(inch) (m) ρair
h [1− ]
ρwater
A 20.875 20.875 0 0 0 - 0 0 - -
B -3 -4 -4
20.375 21.0 0.015875 15.86×10 5.2×10 5 1.04×10 0.333 -1.80 -0.478
-3 -4
C 19.75 21.125 0.034925 34.88×10 8.7×10 5 1.74×10-4 0.557 -1.457 -0.254
D 19.0 21.25 0.05715 57.08×10-3 12.3×10-4 5 2.46×10-4 0.788 -1.244 -0.103
E -3 -4 -4
18.5 21.375 0.073025 72.94×10 13.3×10 5 2.66×10 0.852 -1.137 -0.070
F 17.625 21.5 0.098425 98.30×10-3 16.5×10-4 5 3.3×10-4 1.057 -1.007 0.024
G 17.125 21.5 0.111125 110.99×10-3 17.3×10-4 5 3.46×10-4 1.108 -0.955 0.045
H -3 -4 -4
16.5 21.625 0.130175 130.12×10 18.3×10 5 3.66×10 1.172 -0.886 0.069
I 16.0 21.625 0.142875 142.70×10-3 20.1×10-4 5 4.02×10-4 1.287 -0.846 0.110
J 15.75 21.625 0.149225 149.04×10-3 20.3×10-4 5 4.06×10-4 1.3 -0.823 0.114
K -3 -4 -4
15.5 21.625 0.155575 155.38×10 22.2×10 5 4.44×10 1.422 -0.809 0.153
L 15.375 21.625 0.15875 158.56×10-3 23×10-4 5 4.6×10-4 1.473 -0.80 0.168

OBSERVATIONS

Pipe diameter = 0.785 inches = 19.939×10-3 M

Pipe length = 1.5m
ρair =1.225 kg /mᵌ
ρwater =1000 kg/m ᵌ

ANALYSIS OF RESULTS
4Q
Velocity=
πD ²

4(1.04 ×10 ‾ ⁴)
Velocity B= =0.333 m/ s
π (19.939 ×10 ‾ ᵌ)²

4 (1.74 × 10 ‾ ⁴)
Velocity C= =0.557 m/ s
π (19.939× 10 ‾ ᵌ )²
 4 (2.46 ×10 ‾ ⁴)
Velocity D= =0.788 m/s
π (19.939 ×10 ‾ ᵌ)²

4 (2.66 ×10 ‾ ⁴)
Velocity E= =0.852 m/s
π (19.939 × 10 ‾ ᵌ )²

4(3.3 ×10 ‾ ⁴ )
Velocity F= =1.057 m/s
π (19.939× 10 ‾ ᵌ )²

4 (3.46 ×10 ‾ ⁴)
Velocity G= =1.108 m/ s
π (19.939 ×10 ‾ ᵌ)²

4 (3.66 ×10 ‾ ⁴)
Velocity H= =1.172 m/s
π (19.939 ×10 ‾ ᵌ)²

4 ( 4.02× 10 ‾ ⁴)
Velocity I = =1.287 m/s
π (19.939 ×10 ‾ ᵌ ) ²

4(4.06 ×10 ‾ ⁴)
Velocity J= =1.3 m/ s
π (19.939 ×10 ‾ ᵌ)²

4(4.44 ×10 ‾ ⁴ )
Velocity K = =1.422 m/ s
π (19.939 ×10 ‾ ᵌ )²

4(4.6 ×10 ‾ ⁴)
Velocity L= =1.473 m/ s
π (19.939 ×10 ‾ ᵌ)²
 A GRAPH OF LOG hf AGAINST LOG V FOR PIPE B
0
-0.6 -0.5 -0.4 -0.3 -0.2 -0.1 0 0.1 0.2 0.3

-0.2

-0.4

-0.6

f(x) = 1.61662805002019 x − 1.03682805208141 -0.8

LOG hf

-1

-1.2

-1.4

-1.6

-1.8

-2

LOG V

From the equation ; y = 2.007x - 1.0368

Δy 1.5−1
n=gradient= = =2
Δx 1.6−1.35

y intercept = - 1.0368
thus k = antilog (- 1.0368)
k = 0.0919
4 fl
k=
2 gD

4 × f ×1.5
0.0919=
2 × 9.81× 19.939× 10 ‾ ᵌ
f = 0.00599
 SOURCES OF ERRORS
 Air bubbles that are entrapped in the system or in the manomenters can lead to erroneous results.
 Probable leakages in the system altered the flow rate and pressure distribution thus affectin head
loss measurements.
 Parallax error in reading the volume collected in the measuring cylinder.
 Wrong timing of the stopwatch during discharge determination.

DISCUSSIONS & CONCLUSIONS

The value of (n) being 2 indicates that we’re considering the turbulent flow regime where the head
loss due to friction is directly proportional to the square of the velocity (V^2). This is consistent with
the Darcy-Weisbach equation for head loss in pipes.
For the pipes in question, with diameters of 0.545 inches and 0.785 inches and both 1.5m long, the
frictional factors are given as 0.00627 and 0.0059, respectively.These friction factors are
dimensionless and reflect the combined effects of pipe roughness, velocity, and viscosity on the
resistance to flow.
To conclude, the given frictional factors suggest that for the specified pipe sizes and lengths, under
turbulent flow conditions with a velocity exponent of 2, the resistance to flow is slightly higher in the
smaller diameter pipe (0.545 inches) than in the larger one (0.785 inches). This is expected because,
for turbulent flow, the friction factor decreases with increasing pipe diameter.

RECOMMENDATIONS
In order to attain more accurate data and results in this experiment, the following recommendations
were made;
 Ensure the system in run first and all air bubbles are eliminated before starting the experiment.
 Conduct at least 15 measurements and then average them to improve the accuracy of the results.
 Ensure all leakages are eliminated.

REFERENCES
i. Alawee, W. H., Almolhem, Y. A., Yusuf, B., Mohammad, T. A., & Dhahad, H. A. (2020).
Variation of coefficient of friction and friction head losses along a pipe with multiple outlets.
Water, 12(3), 844.
ii. Matoušek, V., Visintainer, R., Furlan, J., & Sellgren, A. (2019, July). Frictional head loss of
various bimodal settling slurry flows in pipe. In Fluids Engineering Division Summer Meeting
(Vol. 59087, p. V005T05A062). American Society of Mechanical Engineers.
iii. Hashemi, S., Filion, Y., Speight, V., & Long, A. (2020). Effect of pipe size and location on
water-main head loss in water distribution systems. Journal of Water Resources Planning and
Management, 146(6), 06020006.
iv. Wichowski, P., Siwiec, T., & Kalenik, M. (2019). Effect of the concentration of sand in a mixture
of water and sand flowing through PP and PVC elbows on the minor head loss coefficient. Water,
11(4), 828.