School of Materials & Mineral

Resources Eng. (SMMRE)

Chapter 6
Viscous Fluid in Closed Conduits

YEOH, Fei-Yee
 Main References
• White, F.M. (2008), Fluid Mechanics
International Edition (6th ed), McGraw Hill.
• Mott, R.L. (2006), Applied Fluid Mechanics
(6th ed), Prentice Hall.
• Douglas, J.F, Gasiorek, J.M., Swaffield,
J.A. and Jack, L.B. (2005), Fluid
Mechanics (5th ed), Prentice Hall.
• Potter, M.C. & Wiggert D.C. (2002),
Mechanics of Fluids (3rd ed), Brooks/cole
 Objectives
• Describe the appearance of laminar flow and turbulent
flow.
• State the relationship used to compute the Reynolds
number.
• Identify the limiting values of the Reynolds number by
which you can predict whether flow is laminar or
turbulent.
• Compute the Reynolds number for the flow of fluids in
round pipes and tubes.
• State Darcy’s equation for computing the energy loss
due to friction for either laminar or turbulent flow.
• State the Hagen–Poiseuille [pwazœj] equation for
computing the energy loss due to friction in laminar
flow.
• Define the friction factor as used in Darcy’s equation.
• Determine the friction factor using Moody’s diagram for
specific values of Reynolds number and the relative
roughness of the pipe.
 Laminar Flow:
– A well-ordered pattern of flow whereby fluid layers
are assumed to slide over another.

White, 2008
 Turbulent Flow:
– Chaotic flow region: Flow Irregular, fluctuating
velocities

White, 2008
• Reynold’s Experiment (3.3.3)
– The existence of laminar and turbulent flow,
although recognized earlier, was first described
quantitatively by Osborne Reynolds in 1883.
Osborne Reynolds is one of the most prominent
scientists who worked at Manchester.
Osborne Reynolds was born on 23rd August 1842

• Reynolds number, in Belfast. After being educated by his father and

receiving training for three years in a small firm of
shipbuilders, Reynolds read mathematics at
Queens College Cambridge before joining a firm of
civil engineers in London.
Because Reynolds initially had no laboratory
facilities, his early research largely concerned
Velocity Characteristic length 'outdoor' physical phenomena such as the action of
rain water and oil in calming seas and the bursting
VD VD of the trunks of trees struck by lightning.
Re d  N R  
 

Kinematic viscosity viscosity

• For practical applications in pipe flow we find that if the
Reynolds number for the flow < 2300, the flow -laminar.
• If the Reynolds number is > 4000, the flow can be
assumed to be turbulent.
• In the range of Reynolds numbers between 2000 and
4000, it is impossible to predict which type of flow exists;
therefore this range is called the critical region

Retur > 4000

Red, crit ≈2300
flysafe.raa.asn.au
 Example 1
• Determine whether the flow is laminar or
turbulent if glycerine at 25°C flows in a
pipe with a 150-mm inside diameter. The
average velocity of flow is 3.6 m/s.
Vd Vd
NR  
 

Because NR = 708, which is < 2000,

the flow is laminar. Notice that each
term was expressed in consistent SI
units before NR was evaluated.
 Example 2
• Determine whether the flow of water at
20oC in a 10 cm-diameter pipe at an
average velocity of 1.6 m/s is laminar or
turbulent.

Turbulent
 Head Loss by Friction
Incompressible Steady Flow Energy Equation
 p V2   p V2 
   z   hpump  hturbine  h friction     z 
 g 2g 1  g 2g 2
  kinetic energy correction factor

Incompressible
steady flow

 p V2   p V2 
   z      z   hturbine  hpump  h friction
 g 2g 1  g 2g 2
 p
 
V2   p
 z    
V2 
 z   h f  Q  Q
in out

 g 1  g
i i
2g 2g 2
Q  VA
 p V2   p V2  Q1  Q2 , V1  V2
   z      z   h f
 g 2g 1  g 2g 2
 p1 p2  p p
h f  ( z1  z2 )      z  z   hf
 g g  g g
 x F  p ( R 2
)  g (R 2
) L sin    w (2R) L
y
 m (V2  V1 ) Continuity equation
0

x
 z
p(R )  g (R ) L sin    w (2R) L
2 2

p 2 w L 4 w L
z   
g g R g D
p
z   hf
g 4 w L
hf 
g D
 2
V L
hf  K K f
2g D
Darcy-Weissbach equation (1850)

LV 2
4 w L
hf  f hf 
D 2g g D

Where f  fcn(Re d , , duct  shape)
d
Friction factor

4 w L LV 2
8 w
hf   f f 
g D D 2g V 2
 Friction Loss in Laminar Flow
Because laminar flow is so regular and orderly, we can derive a
relationship between the energy loss and the measurable
parameters of the flow system.
This relationship is known as the Hagen–Poiseuille equation:
f
ρgd2
The Hagen–Poiseuille equation is valid only for laminar flow (NR <
2000).
ρgd2 Vd /   Re
2gD 64

ρgD2 ρDv Re d
8V
In a fully developed Poiseuille flow in  w,lam 
a round pipe with diamater d, D
8 w,lam 8(8V / d ) 64 64
f lam    
V 2 V 2
Vd /  Re d
Determine the energy loss if glycerine at 25°C
flows 30 m through a 150-mm-diameter pipe with an
average velocity of 4.0 m/s.

First, we must determine whether the flow is laminar or

turbulent by evaluating the Reynolds number:
VD VD
NR  
 
From table of fluid properties, we find that for glycerin
at 25°C
• Because NR < 2000, the flow is laminar.
Using Darcy’s equation, we get
 Friction Loss in Turbulent Flow

• For turbulent flow of fluids in circular pipes it is

most convenient to use Darcy’s equation to
calculate the energy loss due to friction.
2
LV
hf  f
D 2g
• Turbulent flow - chaotic and constantly varying.

• For these reasons we must rely on experimental

data to determine the value of f.
 Friction factor for Turbulent
Smooth pipe flow
1
 0.86 ln( N R f )  0.8
f
Completely turbulent zone
1   
 0.86 ln  
f  3.7 D 
Transition zone

1   2. 51 
 0.86 ln   
 3.7 D Re f 
f  
(Colebrook equation)
• The figure illustrates pipe wall roughness
(exaggerated) as the height of the peaks of the
surface irregularities.
• Because the roughness is somewhat irregular,
averaging techniques are used to measure the
overall roughness value.
• For commercially available pipe and
tubing, the design value of the average
wall roughness is usually given.
• Average values for new, clean pipe.
• After a pipe has been in service for a time,
the roughness could change due to
– formation of deposits on the wall
– corrosion
Moody Diagram
 Example 3
Determine the friction factor if water at 70°C is flowing
at 9.14 m/s in an uncoated ductile iron pipe having an
inside diameter of 25 mm.
• The Reynolds number must first be evaluated to
determine whether the flow is laminar or turbulent:

• Here D=0.025 m and v=4.11x10–7 m2/s. We now have

Thus, the flow is turbulent. Now the relative roughness
must be evaluated.
ε = 2.4 x 10–4 m. Then, the relative roughness is

The final steps in the procedure are as follows:

1. Locate the Reynolds number on the abscissa of the

Moody diagram:
2. Project vertically until the curve for D/ε = 104 is
reached. Because 104 is so close to 100, that curve
can be used.

3. Project horizontally to the left, and read f = 0.038.

D/ᵋ = 100
 Example 4
Determine the friction factor if ethyl alcohol at 25°C is
flowing at 5.3 m/s in a standard 1.5-in Schedule 80 steel
pipe.

Evaluating the Reynolds number, we use the equation

From Appendix B, ρ = 787 kg/m3 and μ =1.00 x 10–3

Pa•s. Also, for a 1.5-in Schedule 80 pipe, D = 0.0381 m.
Then we have
 Example 5
In a chemical processing plant, benzene at 50°C (sg =
0.86) must be delivered to point B with a pressure of 550
kPa. A pump is located at point A 21 m below point B,
and the two points are connected by 240 m of plastic
pipe having an inside diameter of 50 mm. If the volume
flow rate is 110 L/min, calculate the required pressure at
the outlet of the pump.
The relation is

We find that because point B is higher than point A.

zB - zA = +21 m. The evaluation of the Reynolds
number is the first step. The type of flow, laminar or
turbulent, must be determined.
For a 50-mm pipe, D = 0.050 m and A = 1.963 x 10-3 m2.
Then, we have N 
DV

R

We find that

Thus
For turbulent flow, Darcy’s equation should be used:

Roughness is 3.0 x 10-7 m. Then

Thus,
 Alternative
Swamee & Jain Friction factor formula
2
     1 
0.9
  10-8<ε/D<0.01
f  1.325ln 0.27   5.74   5000<NR< 108
  D  Re   
2
Q L      
0.9
 1 
2
10-6<ε/D<10-2
h f  1.07 5  
ln 0.27   5.74   3000<NR<3 x 108
gD   D  Re   
 Losses in Noncircular Conduits
Reynold no.
VD
cross  sec tional  area NR 
Rh  
wetted  perimeter
V (4 Rh )

Deq = 4Rh Hydraulic radius, Rh

4 VRh 4VRh
 or
e.g. Circular flow  
R 2 R Relative  
Rh   
roughness D 4 R
2R 2 h

R L V 2
Deq  4 Rh  4   2 R  D Head Loss h f  f
2 4 Rh 2 g
Valves
Minor Losses in Pipe Flow

Due to

1.Pipe entrance or exit

2.Sudden expansion or
contraction
3.Bends, elbows, tees,
and other fittings
4.Valves, open or
partially closed
5.Gradual expansion or
contractions
 Loss due to fittings
2
V
hm  K
2g
Fitting K L/D
Globe valve, wide open 7.5 350
Angle valve, wide open 3.8 170
Gate valve, wide open 0.15 7
Gate valve, half open 4.4 200
Gate valve, ¾ open 0.85 40
Standard 90o elbow 0.7 32
Tee, straight through 0.4 75
 p V2   p V2 
   z   hpump  hturbine  h friction  hm     z 
 g 2g 1  g 2g 2

V2
hm  K
2g