Exp. No :............

Date :............

DETERMINATION OF PIPE FRICTION FACTOR

Aim:
To determine the friction factor (f) of the given pipes.

Apparatus:
U tube manometer connected across a pipe line, Stop Watch, Collecting tank, etc.

Observation :
l

Length of Pipe

= ______ m

Diameter of Pipes

= ______ cm and ______ cm

Area of collecting tank = ______ x ______ = ______ m2

Density of mercury

= 13600 kg/m3

Density of water

= 1000 kg/m3

Graph

Theory:
For the flow of water through a horizontal pipe of uniform size which have two pressure taps
located at desired locations, the total head of the fluid particle on a stream line at the cross section of first
tap is given by Bernoullis theorem as,
2

p1
V
1 Z 1 Constant
g
2g

At the second tap, the total head of the fluid particle is again given by Bernoullis theorem as,
2

p 2 V2

Z 2 Constant
g 2g

Equation (1) and (2) would be equal if there is no frictional loss in the pipe. Fluid friction results in loss of
energy of the fluid particle. By adding the term hf to equation (2) to account for loss of energy due to
friction, we get,

Determination of Pipe Friction Factor

2

p1
V
p
V
1 Z1 2 2 Z2 h f
g
2g
g
2g
Where p1 and p2 are pressures; V1 and V2 are velocities; Z1 and Z2 are the elevation of fluid
particles at section (1) and (2) respectively.
For a horizontal pipe of uniform diameter,

hf

Hence,

Z1 = Z2 and

V1 = V2

p1 p2
g

hf is also given by Darcy-Weisbach equation,

hf

f l V2
2g d
p1 p 2
g

The difference in pressure head

between the two taps (1) and (2) is determined by using a U

tube manometer.

hf

p1 p2
h m m 1
g
w

Where, m = density of the manometric liquid.

w = density of the fluid (water).
hm = manometric level difference in m of water.
The value of f is also determined by drawing graph hf vs
From this graph the value of K =

V2
.
2g

f l
is obtained. By substituting the values of l and d , f can be
d

determined.

Experimental rig:
The experimental set up consists of two pipes of different diameters. Each pipe has two pressure
taps at the desired locations. The pressure taps were connected to a U Tube mercury manometer. The
flow of water through a pipeline is regulated by operating a control valve which is provided in main
supply line, for measuring the head loss. The length of the pipe is considered as the distance between the
two pressure taps on it. Actual discharge through pipe line is calculated by collecting a desired volume of
water in a collecting tank at the desired duration of time.

Area averaged velocity of water, V =

Q A H / t

a
a

Where,
A

Area of tank.

Height of water collected in tank.

Time required to collect the water up to a height H in the tank.

Area of pipe.

Aerospace Engineering Department, IIST

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Determination of Pipe Friction Factor

Discharge through pipe.

Procedure:
1. Note down the diameter of pipe (d).
2. Note the density of manometric liquid (m) and that of fluid (water) flowing through the pipe i.e.
(w).
3. Connect the U tube manometer to the corresponding pipe in between two pressure tappings.
4. Start the pump and adjust the control valve in pipe line for required discharge.
5. Measure the pressure difference at two points 1 & 2 of a pipe by means of a U tube manometer.
6. Note the time taken for H cm rise of water in the collecting tank.
7. Determine the velocity of flow (V) and frictional head loss (hf) by using appropriate equations.
8. Determine the friction factor (f) in pipe by using Darcy Weisbach formula.
9. Change the flow rate by adjusting the control valve & repeat the process for different flow rates.

V2
10. Find out the friction factor (f) the pipe by plotting the graph Hf Vs
.
2g
11. Find out the Reynolds number of flow and from Moodys chart find the Friction Factor.
12. Plot a graph Reynolds number (Re) Vs friction factor (f).

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Page 3

Diameter
of Pipe

Aerospace Engineering Department, IIST

No:

Sl.

mm

h1

mm

h2

mm of Hg

hm= h2-h1

Manometer readings

t1
s

t2
s

Mean
t

Time for H cm rise of

water in Collecting Tank

hf

Frictional
Head Loss

V
m/s

m3/s

Velocity
of flow

Qact

Actual
Discharge

friction
factor

Re

Reynolds
Number

Friction factor
from Moodys
chart

Determination of Pipe Friction Factor

Observation Table :

Page 4

Determination of Pipe Friction Factor

Friction factor,f can also be found from the Moodys chart.

The basic chart plots DarcyWeisbach friction factor against Reynolds number for a variety of
relative roughness and flow regimes. The relative roughness being the ratio of the mean value of
roughness for the pipe to the pipe diameter, ie

.
d

The value of for the GI pipe is 0.00015 m.

Reynolds Number, Re =
Where,

V
d

Vd

=
=
=
=

Density of the fluid.

Dynamic viscosity of fluid.
Velocity of flow.
Diameter of the pipe.

Result :
Friction factor for the pipe,
Diameter of pipe
Friction factor from
experiment
Friction factor from
Moodys chart
The graphs Hf Vs

V2
and Re Vs f are plotted.
2g

Inference :

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Determination of Pipe Friction Factor

Aerospace Engineering Department, IIST

Page 6