126

INTERNAL FLOWS

[CHAP. 7

A laminar ow exists up to Re > 2000 after which there is a critical zone in which the ow is
undergoing transition to a turbulent ow. This may involve transitory ow that alternates between
laminar and turbulent ows.
The friction factor in the transition zone, which begins at about Re 4000 and decreases with
increasing Reynolds numbers, becomes constant at the end of the zone as signied by the dashed
line in Fig. 7.10.
The friction factor in the completely turbulent zone is constant and depends on the relative
roughness e=D. Viscous effects, and thus the Reynolds number, do not affect the friction factor.
The height e of the roughness elements in the Moody diagram is for new pipes. Pipes become
fouled with age changing both e and the diameter D resulting in an increased friction factor.
Designs of piping systems should include such aging effects.

An alternate to using the Moody diagram is to use formulas developed by Swamee and Jain for pipe
ow; the particular formula selected depends on the information given. The formulas to determine
quantities in long reaches of developed pipe ow (these formulas are not used in short lengths or in pipes
with numerous ttings and geometry changes) are as follows:
( "
Q2 L
e
nD
hL 1:07
4:62
ln
3:7D
Q
gD5

0:9

e
510 22
D
30005Re53 108

#) 22

10 26 5

s "
!0:5 #
gD5 hL
e
3:17n2 L

Q 20:965
ln
L
3:7D
gD3 hL

Critical
Laminar zone Transition
zone
flow

20005Re

7:83

Completely trubulent regime

0.05
0.04

f = 64
Re

0.06

0.03

0.05

0.02
0.015

0.04

0.01
0.008
0.006

Recrit

0.03

0.004

0.025

0.002

0.02
0.015

0.01
0.009
0.008

e (ft)
Riveted steel ~ 0.01
Concrete
~ 0.001-0.01
Wood
~ 0.001
Cast iron
0.00085
Galvanized iron 0.0005
Wrought iron
0.00015
Drawn tubing
0.000005

e (mm)
3
0.3-3
0.3
0.26
0.15
0.046
0.0015

0.0002
0.0001
Smooth pipes

0.000,001
0.000,005

0.000,05
0.000,01

7 9
103

2 3 4 5 67 9
104

2 3 4 56 7 9
2 3 4 5 67 9
105
106
Reynolds number Re

Figure 7.10
*

0.001
0.0008
0.0006
0.0004

e
Relative roughness
D

0.1
0.09
0.08
0.07

7:82

2 3 4 5 67 9
107

The Moody diagram.*

Note: If e=D 0.01 and Re 104, the dot locates f 0.043.

Source: From L.F. Moody, Trans. ASME, v. 66, 1944.

4 5 67 9
108