Flow in Pipes

General characteristics
 Water pipes are normally round in cross section

 The flow in pipes is completely filled.

 The main driving force in pipe flow is a pressure gradient

 The flow in a pipe may be laminar or turbulent flow

 Laminar and Turbulent Flow
 The laminar and turbulent flow, in any geometry, is
characterized by the Reynolds number, Re, based on the
appropriate characteristic velocity, U, and the
appropriate length parameter, L, for the flow.
ρvL
Re = General eqn
μ
ρvD ρvR h For open
Re = For pipe flow Re = channel
μ μ flow
 Laminar and Turbulent Flow
 Reynolds number is a dimensionless parameter.
It is defined as a ratio of inertia force to viscous force.
 Laminar
If the viscous force are so strong relative to the
inertial force, fluid particles move along a
definite, smooth path in a coherent fashion.

 Turbulent
If the inertial forces are large relative to viscous
force.
Fluid particles move in irregular path which are
neither fixed nor smooth
Laminar and Turbulent Flow

u
turbulent

transitional

laminar

t
Laminar and turbulent flow in pipes

Re < 2000 – laminar

4000 < Re < 2000 – transitional

Re > 4000 – turbulent

 Entrance Region and
Fully Developed flow in pipes
 Entrance region– The region of flow near where
the fluid enters the pipe is termed the entrance region.
Upstream reach that is required for the establishment
of fully developed flow. If the pipe is shorter than the
entry length, fully developed flow cannot be attained.

 Flow is said to be fully developed when the velocity profile

from one section to another is constant .
 For flow in pipes, the main driving force is the pressure
difference P between one section to another. Viscous
force provides resistance to flow and balance with the
pressure force. If there is no viscous effect, the pressure
will be constant throughout.
Fully developed flow in pipes
 Fully developed flow in pipes

 Entry (entrance region) length can be estimated by

e
= 0.06R e Laminar flow
D

e
= 4.4 R e1 / 6 Turbulent flow
D
 Shear Stress Distribution in pipes
The variation of shear stress, for steady uniform flow, is
derived from consideration of forces acting on the
flowing fluid

P1A1  P2A 2   gAL sin   pL  0

Where A = pipe cross sectional area
 = wall shear stress
p = perimeter length
P = pressure
L = length of the pipe
Shear Stress Distribution
Dividing by gA and rearranging

P1  P2 pL
 Z1  Z2  
g gA
pL
hL 
gA
A hL
  g
P L
Shear Stress Distribution for
Uniform Laminar Flow

A
 Rh  hydraulic radius
P
hL
 Sf  slope of energy grade line
L
Therefore,

  gR hSf
 Shear Stress Distribution for
Laminar flow

In steady uniform flow, the fluid shear stress varies

linearly from maximum at pipe wall to zero at the
center of the pipe.

0   gR hSf

Shear stress distribution
 Velocity distribution for
Uniform Laminar flow

Laminar Flow
dv
  gR hSf
dy
D  2y dv
g Sf  
4 dy
Integrating the above with boundary condition,
at y = 0 , v = 0.
 Velocity distribution for
laminar flow

vy 
gS f
4
Dy  y 2  
This equation can be used to plot the velocity distribution
for laminar pipe flow.
Velocity is maximum at the center of the pipe, i.e y = D/2
therefore ;
2
gS f D
v max 
16
 Velocity distribution for
laminar flow
v=0

Parabolic shape

Vmax D

Velocity distribution for laminar flow

 Velocity distribution for
laminar flow

The mean velocity is found by integrating vy over the

whole flow area.

2
gS fD v max
v 
32 2
Velocity distribution for
turbulent flow
Turbulent Flow

y
Logarithmic velocity profile

The velocity distribution for turbulent flow

 y
v  2.5v * ln 
 y1 
 Velocity distribution for
turbulent flow
k
For smooth pipe, (Eg. Glass and plastics) 3
/ v*
0.1
y1 
v*

Where v* = shear velocity =

 = kinematic viscosity
Velocity distribution for
turbulent flow
k
For rough pipe  60
 / v *
k
y1 
33
Where k = roughness height
 Velocity distribution for
turbulent flow
The mean velocity

 0.112D 
v  2.5v * ln 
 y1 

The velocity is maximum at the center of the pipe

and zero at distance y1 from the wall of the pipe.