Republic of the Philippines

Central Luzon State University

College of Engineering

CPE 722
APPLIED FLUID MECHANICS
 MOODY DIAGRAM

Dimensionless graph that relates  the Darcy friction

factor, Reynolds number, and the relative
roughness for fully developed flow in a circular pipe
 Darcy Friction Factor
 a dimensionless quantity used in the Darcy–Weisbach equation

 describe frictional losses in pipe or duct as well as for open-channel flow

 dependent on the Reynolds number for the flow, degree of roughness of the

pipe’s inner surface and pipe cross-section

 
f = f (Re, , pipe cross – section)
 Relative Roughness
 measure the roughness of the pipe’s inner surface 

 equal to the average height of surface irregularities (ε) divided by the pipe
diameter (D)
 
Relative Roughness =
 
 If we know the relative roughness of the pipe’s inner surface, then we can
obtain the value of the friction factor from the Moody chart.
 Reynold’s Number
 ratio of inertial forces to viscous forces 
 parameter for predicting if a flow condition will be laminar or turbulent
 If viscous forces are dominant (slow flow, low Re), then the flow is laminar.
 When the inertial forces dominate over the viscous forces (when the fluid is
flowing faster and Re is larger) then the flow is turbulent.
 Reynold’s Number
 increasing Reynolds number indicates an increasing turbulence of flow

where:
V = flow velocity,
 
ReD = D= characteristic linear dimension, (travelled
length of the fluid; hydraulic diameter etc.)
Ρ = fluid density (kg/m3),
μ = dynamic viscosity (Pa.s),
ν = kinematic viscosity (m2/s); ν = μ / ρ.

 Reynolds number classify flow regimes

 Darcy Friction Factor for Laminar Flow
 if the Reynolds number is <2000, the flow is laminar.

 For laminar flow, the head loss is proportional to velocity rather than velocity

squared, thus the friction factor is inversely proportional to velocity.

 The Darcy friction factor for laminar (slow) flows is a consequence of Poiseuille’s

law that and it is given by following equations: Geometry Factor k
Square 56.91
 Circular 2:1 62.19
pipes: f = Rectangle
Non – circular Pipes: f =
5:1 76.28
Rectangle
Parallel Plates 96.00
 Darcy Friction Factor for Transitional Flow

 At Reynolds numbers between about 2000 and 4000 the flow is unstable as

a result of the onset of turbulence. These flows are sometimes referred to as
transitional flows. 

 The Darcy friction factor contains large uncertainties in this flow regime and
is not well understood.
 Darcy Friction Factor for Turbulent Flow
 If the Reynolds number is greater than 3500, the flow is turbulent

In turbulent flow resistance to flows follows the Darcy–Weisbach

equation - “it is proportional to the square of the mean flow velocity”

to determine a friction factor for turbulent flow, use the Moody chart

The Moody chart (also known as the Moody diagram) is a log-log plot
of the Colebrook correlation that relates the Darcy friction factor,
Reynolds number, and the relative roughness
 Darcy Friction Factor for Turbulent Flow
The Colebrook–White equation:   = -2 log10 (

Expresses the Darcy friction factor f as a function of pipe relative

roughness ε / Dh and Reynolds number

For hydraulically smooth pipe and the turbulent flow (Re < 105) the friction
factor can be approximated by Blasius formula: f = (100.Re)-¼

At very large Reynolds numbers, the friction factor is independent of

the Reynolds number.
 References
1.Reactor Physics and Thermal Hydraulics:J. R. Lamarsh, Introduction to Nuclear Reactor Theory,
2nd ed., Addison-Wesley, Reading, MA (1983).
2.J. R. Lamarsh, A. J. Baratta, Introduction to Nuclear Engineering, 3d ed., Prentice-Hall, 2001, ISBN:
0-201-82498-1.
3.W. M. Stacey, Nuclear Reactor Physics, John Wiley & Sons, 2001, ISBN: 0- 471-39127-1.
4.Glasstone, Sesonske. Nuclear Reactor Engineering: Reactor Systems Engineering, Springer; 4th
edition, 1994, ISBN: 978-0412985317
5.Todreas Neil E., Kazimi Mujid S. Nuclear Systems Volume I: Thermal Hydraulic Fundamentals,
Second Edition. CRC Press; 2 edition, 2012, ISBN: 978-0415802871
6.Zohuri B., McDaniel P. Thermodynamics in Nuclear Power Plant Systems. Springer; 2015,
ISBN: 978-3-319-13419