The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

CSE30306-Hydraulic and Hydrology

Hydraulic Laboratory Experiment

Pipe Friction

Student Name
Student Name Student ID

CHAN Hui Ching 14066553D

CHEUNG Yue Fai 14066302D

CHUNG Chun Yin 14066104D

LAU Hei Tung 14066226D

Shair Kun Yat 14067672D

To Ka Kit 14066539D

PANG Kai Leung 12099255D

HO Man Lok 14066599D

Objective:

To investigate the friction loss in pipe flow and the relationship between the friction f
and Reynolds number Re.

The apparatus consists of a horizontal galvanized steel pipe, with two 90 o standard
elbow (e1& e2), through which water is fed from a reservoir. The water head can be
measured by vertical open tubes fitted at four locations along the pipeline (p 1, p2, p3&B).
Further downstream of the pipe is a flow control valve and an electromagnetic flow-meter.

Readings of flow-rate Q can be obtained by the equation:

5
𝑄 = (𝑄 − 4)
16

Where Q the flowrate is in litres/sec, and x is the electro-meter reading in mA.

Theory:
The headloss hf in a pipeline flow may be expressed by the Darcy-Weisbach equation
𝑄𝑄 𝑄2
𝑄𝑄 =
𝑄 2𝑄
where
d Diameter of Pipe
f Friction Factor
g Acceleration
L Length of Pipe
V Average Velocity of Flow in Pipe

The friction factor depends upon the condition of the flow (laminar, transition or
turbulent), Reynolds number and relative roughness. For laminar flow, with Reynolds
64
number Re less than 2000, 𝑄 =
𝑄𝑄

𝑄𝑄
𝑄𝑄 = , where v is water kinematic viscosity in m2/sec.
𝑄

For Re > 4000, we have the transition zone followed by the turbulent flow regime;
and the extent of these regimes depends on the condition of pipeline.

1 2.51
For smooth pipe-flow: = −2𝑄𝑄𝑄⁡( )
√𝑄 𝑄𝑄√𝑄
1 𝑄
For rough pipe-flow: = −2𝑄𝑄𝑄⁡(3.7𝑄)
√𝑄
1 𝑄 2.51
For the entire turbulent range: = −2𝑄𝑄𝑄⁡(3.7𝑄 + 𝑄𝑄√𝑄)
√𝑄
𝑄
where𝑄 is the average size of roughness of the pipe-wall, is the relative roughness.
𝑄

The above relationship which give the friction factor f only implicitly, are presented
graphically by the Moddy diagram.

For Re> 4000 in the test, the following relationships may be assumed:
𝑄
Energy gradient:: 𝑄 = 𝑄𝑄 = 𝑄⁡𝑄𝑄
Friction factor: 𝑄 = 𝑄⁡𝑄𝑄𝑄

Procedure:

Adjust discharge into reservoir to allow for some overflow over the side weir, thus
ensuring an approximately constant level in the reservoir in the course of the experiment.

Fully open the control valve at the outlet end of the pipe to give the maximum flow
rate.

When the flow becomes steady, measure the water levels in the reservoir h1 and in
the open tube h2. Also record the flow rate as indicated by the flow-meter reading.

A series of readings of h1, h2 and Q are obtained by adjusting the control valve such
that each reduction in the flow is approximately the same.

Also record the readings of the open pipes before and after the elbows.
Results and Calculations:

h1(mm) h2(mm) Q(m3/h) Q(m3/s) P1(m) P2(m) P3(m)

2.575 110 13.95 0.003875 2.09 1.725 1.455

120 13.41 0.003725 2.13 1.785 1.525

2.575

2.575 130 12.93 0.0035917 2.16 1.845 1.605

140 12.4 0.0034444 2.195 1.905 1.685

2.575

2.575 150 11.83 0.0032861 2.228 1.965 1.765

2.575 160 11.33 0.0031472 2.265 2.01 1.835

2.575 170 10.72 0.0029778 2.295 2.08 1.915

2.575 180 10.07 0.0027972 2.325 2.135 1.99

2.575 190 9.46 0.0026278 2.363 2.195 2.065

2.575 200 8.732 0.0024256 2.395 2.255 2.145

hf(h1- hf/L log(hf/L) Q(m3/s) V(m/s) log(V) Re log(Re) f log(f)

h2)(m)

1.475 0.1300 -0.88582 0.00387 1.91185 0.28145 96793.0 4.98584 0.03546 -

71 5 3 4401 147 4 8 1.45017

1.375 0.1212 -0.91631 0.00372 1.83784 0.26430 93046.1 4.96869 0.03578 -

52 5 5 8971 883 9 1.44637

1.275 0.1124 -0.9491 0.00359 1.77206 0.24847 89715.6 4.95286 0.03568 -1.4475
34 2 1 8718 76 8 6

1.175 0.1036 -0.98458 0.00344 1.69942 0.23030 86038.2 4.93469 0.03575 -

16 4 5 1878 353 1 9 1.44662

1.075 0.0947 -1.0232 0.00328 1.62130 0.20986 82083.2 4.91425 0.03594 -

97 6 6 4938 519 5 4 1.44437

0.975 0.0859 -1.06561 0.00314 1.55278 0.19111 78613.9 4.8955 0.03554 -

79 7 1 0103 682 1 1.44927

0.875 0.0771 -1.11261 0.00297 1.46918 0.16707 74381.4 4.87146 0.03562 -

6 8 4979 421 5 9 1.44819

0.775 0.0683 -1.16531 0.00279 1.38009 0.13990 69871.3 4.84429 0.03576 -

42 7 7 9664 733 9 3 1.44657

0.675 0.0595 -1.22531 0.00262 1.29649 0.11277 65638.8 4.81716 0.03529 -

 24 8 6 133 472 1 5 1.45229

0.575 0.0507 -1.29495 0.00242 1.19672 0.07799 60587.5 4.78238 0.03528 -

05 6 4 392 702 4 8 1.45237
𝑄
The graph of 𝑄𝑄𝑄⁡( 𝑄𝑄 )⁡ against 𝑄𝑄𝑄𝑄

𝑄𝑄
𝑄= = 𝑄⁡𝑄𝑄
𝑄
𝑄𝑄
𝑄𝑄𝑄⁡( ) ⁡ = 𝑄𝑄𝑄𝑄𝑄 + 𝑄𝑄𝑄𝑄
𝑄

log a = -0.7162

b = 2.0197

In textbook, the range of “b” is 1.75 (Laminar flow) to 2 (Completely turbulence flow). In the
experiment, we obtained “b” = 2.0197 which closes to 2. Therefore, it is a completely
turbulence flow. And the value of “a” depends on pipe, pipe roughness and flow condition.
The graph of 𝑄𝑄𝑄⁡𝑓 against 𝑄𝑄𝑄𝑄𝑄

𝑄 = 𝑄⁡𝑄𝑄𝑄
𝑄𝑄𝑄𝑄 = 𝑄𝑄𝑄𝑄𝑄𝑄 + 𝑄𝑄𝑄𝑄
𝑄𝑄𝑄𝑄 = −1.5493, 𝑄 = 0.0206⁡
𝑄 = 0.028, 𝑄 = 0.0206⁡

In textbook, the range of “d” is -1 (Laminar flow) to 0 (Completely turbulence flow, friction
factor is independent of Re). In the experiment, we obtained “d” = 0.0206 which closes to 0.
Therefore, it is a completely turbulence flow. The value of “c” in completely turbulence flow
depends on relative roughness only.

lot the experimental values of (f, Re) on the Moody diagram and estimate the relative
roughness of the pipe.
When Re is 10^5 and f is 0.03, the relative routhness is 0.05.
As a refinement to your work, use the recorded readings of the open pipes before and after
the elbows (e1 & e2) and deduce head losses by the elbows and the pipe friction factor.

Head loss by elbow:

Consider
𝑄(𝑄𝑄2⁡𝑄𝑄⁡𝑄3 + 2𝑄𝑄𝑄𝑄𝑄𝑄 )𝑄
𝑄2 − 𝑄3 =
2𝑄𝑄
𝑄(𝑄𝑄𝑄𝑄𝑄𝑄 + 2𝑄𝑄𝑄𝑄𝑄𝑄 )𝑄
𝑄1 − 𝑄2 =
2𝑄𝑄
Divide the first formula by the second formula
(𝑄1 − 𝑄2)𝑄𝑄2⁡𝑄𝑄⁡𝑄3 − (𝑄2 − 𝑄3)𝑄𝑄𝑄𝑄𝑄𝑄
𝑄𝑄𝑄𝑄𝑄𝑄 =
2[(𝑄2 − 𝑄3) − (𝑄1 − 𝑄2)]
Hence, frictional factor can be found after knowing 𝑄𝑄𝑄𝑄𝑄𝑄

head loss for a

V (m/s) P2-P3 (m) h1-h2 (m) Lelbow (m) f K
elbow (m)

1.911853 0.270 1.475 0.369604 0.028753 0.245256148 0.894271

1.837845 0.260 1.375 0.366237 0.028841 0.232305328 0.897011
1.772061 0.240 1.275 0.362472 0.028625 0.219354508 0.89031
1.699425 0.220 1.175 0.43 0.02832 0.20397541 0.880808
1.621306 0.200 1.075 0.373661 0.028303 0.192805328 0.880301
1.552781 0.175 0.975 0.364173 0.028529 0.180016393 0.887313
1.469180 0.165 0.875 0.659603 0.027243 0.159133197 0.847336
1.380097 0.145 0.775 0.353109 0.02871 0.154114754 0.892962
1.296496 0.130 0.675 0.339164 0.028656 0.14132582 0.891257
1.196724 0.110 0.575 0.414399 0.028589 0.126594262 0.889179

Average K = 0.885075

The fitting loss coefficient K is also found. In text book, it states the K value of a 90 o elbow is
0.9, which is almost the same as the experiment result.

0.885075−0.9
Error: = −1.658%
0.9

Pipe friction factor:

We pick section P1 to P2 to calculate the pipe friction factor

V (m/s) P1-P2 (m) fpipe

1.911853 0.365 0.019652
 1.837845 0.345 0.019483
1.772061 0.315 0.019408
1.699425 0.290 0.019064

0.019163
1.621306 0.263
1.552781 0.255 0.019274
1.469180 0.215 0.016303
1.380097 0.190 0.019734
1.296496 0.168 0.019598
1.196724 0.140 0.019492

Average fpipe= 0.019117

Conclusions and Discussions:

Discussions:
While processing the pipe friction test, we must pay attention to those points which cause
error to the whole test.

● Parallax error. It comes from imperfect methods of observation and unskilled lab
technique. Due to the head fluctuation by the inconsistent flow rate, incorrect head
values are recorded at P1, P2 and P3. The experiment can be improved by taking
mean value of the fluctuated value.

● The sizing error. Because of size of pipes are slightly different and the two elbow
joints are not exactly 90 degrees. However, in order to simplify the calculation, we
assumed that all straight pipes have same size and frictional factor, as so as in the two
elbow joints. Therefore it is assumed that all straight pipes are in same size and
frictional factor, so as the same in the two elbow joints. Also as the pipe already used
for many years so substance may felled inside the pipe and block the pipe flow. It can
improve by checking the pipe before experiment.

● Apparatus error. The first problem is the electro- meter‘s reading is not stable.
Second, the ruler may not in straight position and reading of a ruler can be affected by
environment temperature and cause systematic error .Third, the point P2 and P3
cannot put on the turning point of the elbows due to technical problem. Therefore, the
frictional factor cannot be directly calculated. The frictional factor at point A and the
turning point just before P1 are not considered.

● Temperature change –There is a different between the actual value of kinematic

viscosity and the value used in the calculation. During the lab, we have not monitor
the temperature change of the water. As the kinematic viscosity of water tends to
decrease as its temperature increases. Therefore error may be formed .The
improvement method is to measure the water temperature and to use the
corresponding kinematic viscosity according to its temperature.

Conclusions:
The frictional losses in pipe flow and in a 90o elbow are found and they agree with the
theoretical result. The relationship between the friction factor f and Reynolds number Re is
studied. Such relationship can be found a Moody graph for engineering purpose.