Engineering Fluid Mechanics

MECH326 / MECH627
V. Bertola
Moody diagram
 PREVIOUS LECTURE: Exercise Moody diagram

Assume a fully developed turbulent flow in a pipe with

rectangular cross section. The channel width and
height are 1.0m and 0.25m, respectively. The mean
velocity in the channel is 2.5m/s. The surface
roughness height =1.6mm. Assume that the density
is 1.225kg/m3 and the kinematic viscosity is 10-5m2/s.
•  hydraulic diameter 4A 4 ⋅ 0.25
Dh = = = 0.4m
S 2.5
•  the relative roughness
ε 0.0016
= = 0.004
Dh 0.4
 PREVIOUS LECTURE: Exercise 3

Reynolds number:
uDh 2.5⋅ 0.4
Re = = −5
= 100, 000
ν 10

From Moody diagram: f = 0.0074 (approximately)

If we increase the mean velocity by a factor of 10:

uDh 25⋅ 0.4
Re = = −5
= 1, 000, 000
ν 10
f = 0.0072 (approximately)
 Exercise 1: Moody diagram

Consider the steady flow through a pipeline 1km long

and 1m in diameter for a fluid with density 900kg/m3
and dynamic viscosity 10-2Pa.s.

What is the maximum mass flow rate for this flow to be

assumed laminar?

Use either the exact expression for the Fanning friction

factor or the Moody diagram to find the pressure loss
in this pipe segment
 Exercise 1: Moody diagram

We have a pipe with circular cross section:

4A
Dh = = D = 1m
S

For laminar flow we need

uDh ρuDh
Re = = < 2300
ν µ
Maximum velocity at which laminar flow occurs:
ρumax Dh 2300 ⋅ µ
= 2300 ⇒ umax =
µ ρ ⋅ Dh
 Exercise 1: Moody diagram

We therefore get:
2300 ⋅ µ 2300 ⋅ 0.01
umax = = = 0.02556m / s
ρ ⋅ Dh 900 ⋅1

For the mass flow rate we get:

" 2300 ⋅ 0.01 % π 2

m = ρ ⋅ umax ⋅ A = 900 ⋅ $ ' ⋅ ⋅1 = 18.06kg / s
# 900 ⋅1 & 4
 Exercise 1: Moody diagram

The Fanning friction factor for laminar flow:

16 16
f= = = 0.00696
Re 2300

τw 1
f= ⇒ τ w = 0.00696 ⋅ ⋅ 900 ⋅ 0.02556 2 = 2.05⋅10 −3 Pa
1 2 2
ρu
2

For steady flow – balance of pressure and viscous

forces:
−Δp ⋅ Across−sectional = τ w ⋅ Aouter−surface
 Exercise 1: Moody diagram

We therefore get for the pressure drop:

π
− Δp ⋅ ⋅12 = 0.00205 ⋅ π ⋅1⋅1000 = 6.426N
4
⇒ Δp = 8.2 Pa
Turbulent flow through channel – friction losses

Exact solution for circular pipe does not exist

The ‘effective’ viscosity is increased relative to a laminar

flow due to the turbulent flow structures – enhanced
mixing of momentum

Turbulent shear stresses cannot be ‘exactly’ related to

the Reynolds number of the pipe
Turbulent flow through channel – friction factor

A range of empirical expressions for the Fanning friction

factor for turbulent pipe flow exist:

Blasius: f = 0.079 ⋅ Re−1/4 ; 4000 < Re < 10 5

1
Prandtl: ( )
= 1.737 ⋅ ln Re⋅ f − 0.396 ; Re > 4000
f
1 ) 6.9 # k &
1.11 ,

Haaland: = −3.6 ⋅ log10 + +% ( . ; Re > 4000

f +* Re $ 3.71⋅ D ' .-

Colebrook: 1 = −4 ⋅ ln #% k + 1.255 &( ; Re > 4000

% 3.71D (
f $ Re⋅ f '
 Iterative approximation of friction factor

For turbulent flow, the Fanning friction can be

approximated with empirical expressions of the form
(e.g. Prandtl):

1
f
( )
= 1.737 ⋅ ln Re⋅ f − 0.396 ; Re > 4000

Iterative approximation:
- Can ‘f’ be obtained from a known value of the left-
hand side or right-hand side?
-  If so, for a given Re, ‘f’ can be found by iteration
 Iterative approximation of friction factor

•  Determine the Reynolds number

•  Determine an initial estimate of the Fanning friction
factor (guess or using Moody diagram)
•  Use iterative scheme:
1 !"#
!!
= 1.737!" !" ! !"# − 0.396 ! = 1.737!" !" ! !"# − 0.396
! !"#
!!
! (!)
= 1.737!" !" ! (!) − 0.396 Initial guess

YES f = f (1)

! (!) −! (!) < !""#$%!&'#!!""#"? !!

NO ! (!) = 1.737!" !" ! (!) − 0.396

continue…
 Exercise 2: Iterative approximation of friction factor

A fluid of density 1000 kg/m3 and kinematic viscosity

4.10-6 m2/s enters a 15 m rectangular duct at a mass
flow of 0.6 kg/s as shown. The rectangular cross-
section reduces to the dimensions shown and the
water continues to flow for another 25 m. Assuming
that the flow disturbances from the change in the duct
cross-section can be neglected, that the flow is fully
developed, and that the following equations apply,
16
f= ; Re < 2300
Re
1
f
( )
= 1.737 ⋅ ln Re⋅ f − 0.396 ; Re > 4000
 Exercise 2: Iterative approximation of friction factor

(a) Determine the average flow velocities, V1 and V2, as

well as the Reynolds numbers, Re1 and Re2, in the
two different rectangular duct sections. Indicate
whether the flow is laminar or turbulent in each
section,

ρ = 1000kg / m 3
16
f= ; Re < 2300 ν = 4 ⋅10 −6 m 2 / s
Re
1 m = 0.6kg / s
f
( )
= 1.737 ⋅ ln Re⋅ f − 0.396 ; Re > 4000
 Exercise 2: Iterative approximation of friction factor

(b) Determine the Fanning friction factor, f1, wall shear

stress and pressure drop in the first section of the
rectangular duct

(c) Determine the Fanning friction factor, f2, wall shear

stress and pressure drop in the second section of the
rectangular duct, using an iterative method and f2 =
0.012 as an initial guess. You can consider the
solution to be converged when the iteration difference
is less than 0.05
 Exercise 2: Iterative approximation of friction factor

Consider first section:

0.6
U1 = = 0.12 [m / s]
1000 ⋅ 0.1⋅ 0.05

4 ⋅ 0.005
Dh1 = = 0.0667[m]
2 ⋅ 0.1+ 2 ⋅ 0.05

U 1Dh1 0.12 ⋅ 0.0667

Re 1 = = −6 = 2001 laminar
ν 4.10
 Exercise 2: Iterative approximation of friction factor

Consider second section:

0.6
U2 = = 0.75 [m / s]
1000 ⋅ 0.02 ⋅ 0.04
4 ⋅ 0.008
Dh 2 = = 0.02667[m]
2 ⋅ 0.02 + 2 ⋅ 0.04
U2 Dh 2 0.75⋅ 0.02667
Re 2 = = −6 = 5001
ν 4.10
turbulent
 Exercise 2: Iterative approximation of friction factor

Laminar flow in first section:

16 16
f1 = = = 0.0080
Re 2001

1
τ w = f 1 ρV 12 = 0.5⋅ 0.0080 ⋅1000 ⋅ 0.122 = 0.0576 Pa
2

0.0576 ⋅ 4.5
Δp = = 51.84 Pa
0.005
 Exercise 2: Iterative approximation of friction factor

Turbulent flow in second section

1
f
( )
= 1.737 ⋅ ln Re⋅ f − 0.396

Re = 5001
Using initial estimate f(0)=0.012:
f(1)=0.00897
diff. = 0.012-0.00897 = 0.00303
f(2)=0.009417
diff. = 0.009417-0.00897 = 0.000445 < 10-3
2.65 ⋅ 3.0
f2 ≈ 0.00942 Δp = = 9938Pa
0.0008