WATER HAMMER ANALYSIS

SAMPLE PROBLEMS
WATER HAMMER
- the resulting shock caused by
sudden decrease in the velocity
of the liquid.
For rigid pipes:
EB
C= √
ρ
P=ρcV

Where:
P = water hammer pressure
V = velocity of water
EB = bulk modulus of water
ρ = density of water
C = celerity
For non-rigid pipes:
EB
C=√ EB D
ρ(1+ )
Et

Where:
EB = bulk modulus of water
D = diameter of pipe
E = modulus of elasticity of steel
t = thickness of pipe
Time of Closure
𝟐𝐋
t=
𝐜

Where:
L = length of pipe in meter
c = celerity
Rise in pressure when the valve
is suddenly closed

∆p = ρ c V

Where:
∆p = change in pressure
ρ = 1000 kg/𝐦𝟑 (mass density of water)
Velocity of sound in water
EB
C= √
ρ
Where:
EB = bulk modulus of water
ρ = density of water
C = celerity
Example 1:

Water from a reservoir flowing through a non-rigid

600 mm diameter pipe with a velocity of 2.5 m/s is
completely stopped by a closure of a valve situated
1050 m from the reservoir. Assume that the pressure
increases at a uniform rate and that there is no
damping of the pressure wave. The pipe has a
thickness of 18 mm. Bulk modulus of steel water is
2060 MPa and modulus of elasticity of steel is
200000 MPa.
1. Compute the velocity of sound in water.

𝐸𝐵
C=√ 𝐸𝐵 𝐷
𝜌(1+ )
𝐸𝑡

2060x106
C=√ 2060𝑥600
1000(1+ )
200000x18

C = 1238.35 m/s
2. Determine the maximum rise of pressure in Kpa
above that corresponding to uniform flow when the
valve is takes in place in 1 seconds.
Ph = ρcV
Ph = 1000 1238.35 2.5
Ph = 3095875 Mpa
Ph = 3095.9 Kpa

2L 2(1050)
t= =
c 1238.35
t = 1.696 sec > 1.0 sec
Max rise in pressure = 3095.9 KPa
3. Determine the maximum rise of pressure when
the valve closure takes place in 5 sec.

1.696 sec
Ph = (3095.9)
5 sec
Ph = 1050 KPa
Example 2:

A rigid pipe has a diameter of 150 mm and a length

of 1020 m. Water having a bulk modulus of
2.0164x109 N/m2 flows in the pipe.

1. Calculate the velocity of sound in water.

EB 2.0164x109
C=√ =√
ρ 1000
C = 1420 m/s ( velocity of sound or celerity of
pressure valve)
2. Compute the maximum permissible discharge if
the water hammer pressure is not exceed 1440 Kpa
when the outlet valve is suddenly closed in
liters/second.
Ph = ρcV
1400000 = 1000(1420)(V)
V = 0.9859 m/s
Q = AV
π
Q = (0.152 )(0.9859)
4
m3
Q = 0.0174
s
Q = 17.4 liters/sec
3. Compute the rise in pressure due to sudden
closure of the outlet valve when the valve closure
takes in 4 secs.

2L 2(1020)
t= =
c 1420
t = 1.44 secs

1.44sec
Ph = (1400)
4 sec
Ph = 504 KPa
Thank you !