Course Code: MME 2132

Course Name: Manufacturing Engineering

Lab II
Experiment: Friction Loss
Name: Yazan Mustafa Wajeh
Matric Number: 1223495
Date of Experiment: 19/11/2015
Date of Submission: 3/12/2015

Objectives
1- To know how to use and refine Bernoullis equation by
introducing the frictional head loss, hf, and analyze the
equations restrictions.
2- To analyze pressure loss due to friction, elbows, bends,
and fittings.
3- To estimate friction losses using the energy equation.
4- To understand head loss.
5- To compare the calculated friction factor to the
estimated friction factor from Moodys diagram.

Equipment
1- Cussons Hydraulic Bench.

Introduction
To start off, there are three types of fluid flow: laminar,
turbulent, and transitional. Laminar flow (or streamline
flow) occurs when a fluid flows in layers parallel to the
walls of the pipe where the layers slide past one another
without mixing laterally. This typically occurs at low
velocities. Turbulent flow, on the other hand, is when the
fluid flows in an erratic motion with swirls and irregular
motions in a manner that is more likely to resemble the
mixing of the fluid. In between the laminar and turbulent
flow is the transitional flow
which from its name, shows
that it is similar to a
transitional phase between
the laminar and the turbulent
flow. In other words, it is a
mix of both flows. The flows
are clarified in following
drawing as laminar flow,
transitional flow, and
turbulent flow, respectively.
In this experiment, we will try to prove/disprove
Bernoullis equation that states that energy should be

equal to a constant at any point in a channel. It is of due

importance to note that three types of energy can be
observed: potential energy (which is due to difference in
height), kinetic energy (which is due to the motion of the
fluid), and flow energy (which is due to the pressure of
the flow). Using the energy equation and some
assumptions, we can achieve Bernoullis equation as will
be proved later in this report.

Method and Procedure

Straight pipes (7 mm and 10 mm diameters), Bent
pipe (10 mm diameter, and Elbow pipe (10 mm
diameter)
1. The pipe was placed securely in its position and the
two tubes of the manometer were connected to the
pipe.
2. The pump was started and the water level was
adjusted using the bench regulation valve.
3. The swivel arm of the outlet tank was set to be
vertical.
4. A series flow condition was set.
5. At each variable outlet volume, the time, volumetric
flow rate, inlet head, outlet head, and the difference
between the two heads were observed and recorded
accordingly.
6. Steps 1 to 5 were repeated for the different pipes.

Results and Observations

Straight pipe (10 mm diameter)
f = 2gDhf/LV
Re = D x V/v
v = 8.85 x 10-4 / 103
V = Q/A
Q = (L/1000) / seconds
A = (3.14/4) x D2

Variable
outlet
volume
Volume

35

30

25

20

15

(L)
Time (s)
Volumetri
c flow
rate (L/s)
Inlet head
(h1)
Outlet
head (h2)
h1-h2

60
1/12

48
5/48

43
5/43

40
1/8

35
1/7

230

214

205

192

185

298

214

205

192

185

-68

-28

48

89

Volumet
ric flow
rate Q
(m3/s)

1
2
3
4
5

8.30x10-5
1.04x10-4
1.16x10-4
1.25x10-4
1.43x10-4

Avera
ge
veloci
ty V
(m/s)
1.06
1.32
1.48
1.59
1.82

Re
(dimension
less)

11977
14915
16384
17966
20565

Fracti
on
head
loss
hf (m)
0.068
0.028
0.009
0.048
0.089

Friction
factor f
(dimension
less)

Log
(hf/L
)

Log(V
)

0.025
0.008
0.002
0.012
0.019

-0.72
-1.11
-1.60
-0.88
-0.61

0.025
0.12
0.17
0.20
0.26

Log(hf/L) vs Log(V)
0
-0.2 0

0.05

0.1

0.15

0.2

0.25

0.3

-0.4
-0.6
-0.8
-1
-1.2
-1.4
-1.6
-1.8

Log(hf/L) vs Log(V)

Straight pipe (7 mm diameter)

f = 2gDhf/LV
Re = D x V/v
v = 8.85 x 10-4 / 103
V = Q/A
Q = (L/1000) / seconds
A = (3.14/4) x D2
Variable
outlet
volume
Volume
(L)

35

30

25

20

15

Time (s)
Volumetri
c flow
rate (L/s)
Inlet head
(h1)
Outlet
head (h2)
h1-h2

146
5/146

121
5/121

105
5/105

99
5/99

90
5/90

395

375

355

335

315

215

202

192

184

179

180

173

163

151

136

Volumet
ric flow
rate Q
(m3/s)

1
2
3
4
5

3.42x10-5
4.13x10-5
4.76x10-5
5.05x10-5
5.56x10-5

Avera
ge
veloci
ty V
(m/s)
0.89
1.07
1.24
1.31
1.44

Re
(dimension
less)

7040
8463
9808
10362
11390

Fracti
on
head
loss
hf (m)
0.180
0.173
0.163
0.151
0.136

Friction
factor f
(dimension
less)

Log
(hf/L
)

Log(V
)

0.077
0.062
0.050
0.044
0.036

-0.30
-0.32
-0.34
-0.38
-0.42

-0.051
0.029
0.093
0.117
0.158

Log(hf/L) vs Log(V)
0
-0.1

-0.05

-0.05

0.05

0.1

0.15

0.2

-0.1
-0.15
-0.2
-0.25
-0.3
-0.35
-0.4
-0.45

Log(hf/L) vs Log(V)

Bent pipe (10 mm diameter)

Variable
outlet
volume
Volume
(L)
Time (s)
Volumetri
c flow
rate (L/s)
Inlet head
(h1)
Outlet
head (h2)
h1-h2

35

30

25

20

15

68
5/66

57
5/57

52
5/52

46
5/46

43
5/43

380

360

335

310

290

296

246

190

139

84

84

114

145

171

206

Elbow pipe (10 mm diameter)

Variable
outlet
volume
Volume
(L)
Time (s)
Volumetri
c flow
rate (L/s)
Inlet head
(h1)
Outlet
head (h2)
h1-h2

35

30

25

20

15

118
5/118

98
5/98

87
5/87

79
5/79

72
5/72

428

420

412

404

396

300

252

200

150

96

128

168

212

254

300

V = Q/A
Q = (L/1000) / seconds
A = (3.14/4) x D2
f = 2gDhf / V2 (L+N(30D))
h f = h1 h 2
hL = LV2f / 2gD
hB = hf hL / N

KB = hB / (V2 / 2g)

Bent pipe (10 mm diameter)

#

Volumet
ric flow
rate Q
(m3/s)

1
2
3
4
5

7.35x10-5
8.77x10-5
9.62x10-5
1.09x10-4
1.16x10-4

Averag
e
velocit
yV
(m/s)
0.94
1.12
1.22
1.39
1.48

Fractio
n head
loss
hf (m)

hL

hB

KB

0.024
0.023
0.025
0.023
0.024

0.084
0.114
0.145
0.171
0.206

0.050
0.068
0.088
0.105
0.124

1.68
0.046
0.057
0.066
0.082

0.390
0.007
0.008
0.007
0.008

Elbow pipe (10 mm diameter)

#

Volumet
ric flow
rate Q
(m3/s)

1
2
3
4
5

4.24x10-7
5.10x10-5
5.75x10-5
6.33x10-5
6.94x10-5

Averag
e
velocit
yV
(m/s)
0.525
0.649
0.732
0.806
0.884

Fractio
n head
loss
hf (m)

hL

hB

KB

0.160
0.158
0.157
0.155
0.152

0.128
0.168
0.212
0.254
0.300

0.040
0.159
0.269
0.390
0.554

0.088
0.009
-0.057
-0.136
-0.254

0.065
0.004
-0.022
-0.043
-0.066

Discussion
Starting by comparing the first two pipes (straight 10 mm
diameter and straight 7 mm diameter), one can see that
in both pipes, there is a general pattern of decreasing
friction and increasing velocity, thus, increasing
volumetric rate. We had turbulent flow in both pipes since
the beginning because reynolds number > 4000. Since
the smaller pipe allows less fluid to flow at a time, it is
clear from the results that reynolds number is smaller

which is logical since the fluid has less room for irregular
flows. Comparing the times of both pipes, it can be easily
perceived that the pipe with 10 mm diameter requires
less time, obviously, than the pipe with 7 mm diameter.
Comparing the elbow and the bent pipes (both with 10
mm diameter), one can see that the bent pipe required
less time in general than the elbow and this can be easily
inferred by looking at the fraction head loss and friction
factor which are both less in the bent pipe than the elbow
pipe, hence, the velocity was also bigger in the bent pipe.
Due to the bent pipe having a smoother inner conduit
than that of the elbow, it can be seen that the head loss
is less there.
Now, comparing the 3 pipes with 10 mm diameter, it is
clear that the straight pipe has the highest velocity of
flow and the bends become sharper, the velocity
decreases sharply.
In both cases of the bent pipe and the elbow pipe, KB
constant keeps decreasing and this is due to both hB and
the velocity having a general decreasing trend.

Conclusion
In this experiment, we came to observe and understand
the three different types of flow namely laminar,

transitional, and turbulent. Also, we observed how

different pipes diameters and contours affect the velocity,
pressure drop, friction, and volumetric rate. We also
managed to derive Bernoullis equation from the energy
equation and prove that Bernoullis statement about
energy being constant at any point in the length of
channel is correct.

Recommendation
1- Ensure the pipes are securely tightened so no leakage
will take place and give wrong readings.
2- Ensure you turn off the machine before each pipe
change.
3- Ensure the manometer is bubble-free to avoid getting
wrong readings.

References
1. Lab Manual
2. Heat Transfer (Hallman)
3. efm.leeds.ac.uk
4. hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu
5.engineeringtoolbox.com