Pipe Flows
HEAD LOSSES
CHRISTIAN S. CONSIGNA
| BSCE 4A |
| HYDRAULICS |
Head Losses in Pipe Flow
Head losses in pipes may be classified into two; the major head loss, which is caused by
pipe friction along straight sections of pipe of uniform diameter and uniform roughness,
and Minor head loss, which are cause by changes in velocity or directions of flow, and
are commonly expressed in terms of kinetic energy.
MAJOR HEAD LOSS, Hf
A. DARCY-WEISBACH FORMULA (PIPE-FRICTION EQUATION)
fL v 2
Hf =
D 2g
f =friction factor
L=Lengthof pipemeterfeet
D=Pipe diametermeterfeet
m ft
v =meanaverage velocity of flow
s s
For non-circular pipes, use D = 4R, where R is the hydraulic radius
For circular pipes, the head loss may be expressed as:
2
fL 8 Q
Hf = 2 4
D gD
2
0.0826 fLQ
Hf = 5
S . I .Unit
D
PAGE 1
Where Q is the discharge
B. Manning Formula
The Manning formula is one of the best-known open-channel formula and is
commonly used in pipes.
2 1
1
v= R 3 S 2 (S . I . Units)
n
2 1
1.486 3 2
v= R S
n
Where n=roughnesscoeffiecient
R=hydraulicradius
Hf
S=slope of the energy grade line=
L
Hf D
Substituting S= and R= by solving for Hf
L 4
6.35 n 2 L v 2
Hf = 4
3
D
For Circular Pipes:
PAGE 2
Q Q
v= =
A 2
D
4
2
D
4
2
2 Q2
6.35 n L
H f =
2 2
10.29 n LQ
Hf = 16
(S . I .Units)
3
D
C. Hazen Williams Formula
The Hazen Williams formula is widely used in waterworks industry. This formula
is applicable only to the flow of water in pipes larger than 50mm and velocities
less than 3 m/s. This formula was designed for flow in both pipes and open
channels but is more commonly used in pipes.
0.63 0.54
v=0.849C R S
2.63 0.54
Q=0.2785 C D S
1.85
10.67 L Q
H f = 1.85 4.87
C D
C=HazenCoeffiecent
PAGE 3
D=Diameter
Q=Discharge
L=Length
Example 1.
A 0.60m diameter pipeline 30m. long carries 0.4 m 3 of water. Compute the head loss
s
using the following formula:
1. Darcy Weisbach with f =0.014
2. Mannings Formula with n=0.012
3. Hazen Williams C=120
PAGE 4
Solution:
m3
Given: D=0.60m L=30m Q=0.4
s
1. Darcy Weisbach
2
0.0826 fLQ
Hf = 5
D
0.0826(0.014)(30)(0.4)
Hf = 5
0.60
H f =0.07m
2. Mannings Formula
2
1
V = R 3 S0.5
n
0.4
Q V=
V= ;
A 0.602
4
m
V =1.14
s
0.60
R=
4
R = 0.15
2
1
1.14= (0.15) 3 S 0.5
0.012
PAGE 5
S=0.0036
Hf
S=
L
H f =0.108m
3. Hazen Williams
0.63 0.54
V =0.8492 C R S
0.60
4
0.4
V=
m
V =1.41
s
R=0.15
0.63 0.54
1.41=0.8492 ( 120 ) ( 0.15 )( S )
0.54
S =0.04572
Hf
S=
L
H f =0.099m
PAGE 6