PIPE NETWORKS AND THE HARDY CROSS METHOD

[ physical interpretation: what are we doing today? ]

 Virtually any collection of connected pipes can be considered a network

 Network analysis allows us to determine pressure drops, and flow rates within
individual pipes and the network as a whole
 Today’s practising fluids engineer would use software to perform network analysis, but,
software and improper boundary conditions can often produce spurious results

 It is therefore essential that we examine a technique to analyze networks “by hand” such
that we can check the results of computational techniques

87-351 Fluid Mechanics

 PIPE NETWORKS AND THE HARDY CROSS METHOD
[ the essence of the Hardy Cross method
]

 (a) The first step in the Hardy Cross method is the

assumption of initial flow in each pipe
 (b) It is essential that continuity is satisfied at each node
 (c) Then we compute the head loss through each pipe (via
Hazen Williams formula for head loss)

87-351 Fluid Mechanics

 PIPE NETWORKS AND THE HARDY CROSS METHOD
[ the essence of the Hardy Cross method
]

 (d) Next, the head losses in each loop are summed, paying
heed to the sign convention
 (e) We recall that head loss between two joints is the same for
each branch connecting the joints
 (f) The algebraic sum of losses in each loop must equal
zero for the flow rates within the pipes to be correct, thus
once the head loss sum in a loop is zero, the assumed flow
rates are deemed correct and the problem has converged

87-351 Fluid Mechanics

 PIPE NETWORKS AND THE HARDY CROSS METHOD
[ the essence of the Hardy Cross method
]

 Our estimated initial distribution of flows is rarely correct,

however with the application of the HC flow rate correction
term, D, we can converge on a proper solution
D = - S(LH)/nS(LH/Qo) - [1]
 here,

D = flow rate correction for a loop

S(LH) = algebraic sum of head I
losses for all pipes in the loop
n = an empirical constant that
varies with the flow rate formula
used (n=1.85 for Hazen Williams)
S(LH/Qo) = summation of lost
head divided by the flow rate for
each pipe in the loop

87-351 Fluid Mechanics

 PIPE NETWORKS AND THE HARDY CROSS METHOD
[ deriving Hardy Cross ]

 Let us consider the simple network shown below

 We know that in the loop, the losses in parallel branches must be the same
i.e., LHABC = LHADC or LHABC – LHADC = 0 - [2]
 In order for us to use the relationship we write it in the form (work of HC)

LH = kQn - [3]
87-351 Fluid Mechanics
 PIPE NETWORKS AND THE HARDY CROSS METHOD
[ deriving Hardy Cross ]

 For Hazen Williams n=1.85, thus

LH = kQ1.85 - [4]

 Now, if we assume an initial flow Qo, we can express the

correct flow as our guess plus a correction
Q = Qo + D - [5]

87-351 Fluid Mechanics

 PIPE NETWORKS AND THE HARDY CROSS METHOD
[ deriving Hardy Cross ]

 Now, if we invoke the binomial theorem, we can write

kQ1.85 = k(Qo+D)1.85 = k(Qo1.85 + 1.85Qo(1.85-1) ·D + …) - [6]

 We can stop the expansion after the second term, following

terms become negligible as delta is very small compared to Qo

87-351 Fluid Mechanics

 PIPE NETWORKS AND THE HARDY CROSS METHOD
[ deriving Hardy Cross ]

 Now, let’s re-write [2], subbing in our binomial expression

k(Qo1.85 + 1.85Qo(0.85) ·D) - k(Qo′ 1.85 + 1.85Qo′ (0.85) ·D) = 0 - [7]

 or
k(Qo1.85 - Qo′ 1.85) + 1.85 k (Qo(0.85) - Qo′ (0.85)) ·D = 0 - [8]

87-351 Fluid Mechanics

 PIPE NETWORKS AND THE HARDY CROSS METHOD
[ deriving Hardy Cross ]

 Solve for D
D = k(Qo1.85 - Qo′ 1.85) / (1.85 k (Qo(0.85) - Qo′ (0.85))) = 0 - [9]

 or, more compactly

D = Sk(Qo1.85) / (1.85 Sk (Qo(0.85))) = 0- [10]

87-351 Fluid Mechanics

 PIPE NETWORKS AND THE HARDY CROSS METHOD
[ deriving Hardy Cross ]

 But we recall that kQo1.85 = LH and kQo0.85 = LH/Qo

 so we rewrite [10]
as
D = S(LH) / (1.85 S (LH/Qo)) - [11]
 this correction is done for each loop in
the network
87-351 Fluid Mechanics