Friction 

Loss along a Pipe

ME‐337 Fluid Mechanics Lab

Department of Mechanical Engineering
College of E&ME, NUST Pakistan
 Friction Loss along a Pipe
Objective:

• To demonstrate the existence of laminar and turbulent flow

and to establish the value of Reynolds number for transition
from laminar to turbulent flow.

• For the laminar flow regime, to use Poiseuille’s equation to

calculate the coefficient of viscosity μ.

• To determine the variation of friction factor ‘f’ in the laminar

and turbulent flow regimes.
 Friction Loss along a Pipe
Application:

• Pumping power calculation

• Fluid line length estimation

• Line material selection

• Fluid transport between reservoirs 
 Friction Loss along a Pipe
Application:
• In engineering applications, it is important to increase pipe
productivity, i.e. maximizing the flow rate capacity and
minimizing head loss per unit length.
• According to the Darcy‐Weisbach equation, for a given flow
rate, the head loss decreases with the inverse fifth power of
the pipe diameter. Doubling the diameter of a pipe results in
the head loss decreasing by a factor of 32 (≈ 97% reduction),
while the amount of material required per unit length of the
pipe and its installation cost nearly doubles.
• This means that energy consumption, to overcome the
frictional resistance in a pipe conveying a certain flow rate,
can be significantly reduced at a relatively small capital cost.
 Friction Loss along a Pipe
Introduction:
• The total energy loss in a pipe system is the sum of the major and
minor losses.
• Major losses are associated with frictional energy loss that is caused by
the viscous effects of the fluid and roughness of the pipe wall. Major
losses create a pressure drop along the pipe since the pressure must
work to overcome the frictional resistance.
• The Darcy‐Weisbach equation is the most widely accepted formula for
determining the energy loss in pipe flow. In this equation, the friction
factor (f ), a dimensionless quantity, is used to describe the friction loss
in a pipe.
• In laminar flows, f is only a function of the Reynolds number and is
independent of the surface roughness of the pipe. In fully turbulent
flows, f depends on both the Reynolds number and relative roughness
of the pipe wall. In engineering problems, f is determined by using
the Moody diagram.
 Friction Loss along a Pipe
Introduction:
Friction Loss along a Pipe
 Friction Loss along a Pipe
Experiment:
• Determination of flow profile
• Calculation of flow velocity
• Determination of fluid viscosity
• Computation of Reynold’s number
• Computation of friction factor
• Comparison of “f” against “Re”
 Friction Loss along a Pipe
Calculations:
 Friction Loss along a Pipe
Calculations:
 Friction Loss along a Pipe
Experimental Data:

Kinematic 
Length of  Reynold's 
viscosity (at  Hydraulic  Friction 
the Pipe, L  524 1.131E‐06 Number, 
15.3 °C), ν  Gradient, i Factor, f
(mm) 2 Re
(m /s)

Diameter of 
Poeisuille's Equation (Valid for 
the Pipe, d  3 i = 32μV/ρgD2
Laminar Regime Only)
(mm)

Cross‐
f = 16/Re [Laminar] 
sectional  Friction Factor (Both Laminar and 
Area of the  Turbulent Regimes)
1/sqrt(f) =4*log(Re/sqrt(f))‐0.4 [Turbulent]
Pipe, A (m2)
 Friction Loss along a Pipe
Experimental Data:
Observations
Fluid 
Velocity 
Water  Collection  Manometer  Water  Hydraulic  Reynolds 
Manometer  through  Friction 
Ser No Quantity  time, t  limb, h2  Temperature,  Gradient,  Number, 
limb, h1 (mm) the  factor, f
(ml) (sec) (mm) θ (°C) i Re
pipe, 
(m/s)
1 400 50.8 521 56 15.3
2 400 54 500 85 15.3
3 300 57.8 390 223 15.3
4 300 71.9 375 245 15.3
5 900 39 431 195 15.5
6 900 42.9 414 214 15.5
7 600 54.6 351.5 283.5 15.9
8 600 70.4 340 294 15.9
Results with water manometer
Results with mercury manometer
 Friction Loss along a Pipe
Assumptions:

• Negligible surface roughness (surface roughness factor ignored)

• Steady state conditions

 Friction Loss along a Pipe
Lab work:

1. Compute the Reynolds Number, hydraulic gradient and friction factor 
from the experimental data.

2. At what value of Re does turbulent flow change to laminar flow? How 
does this value compare with the accepted value of 2000?

3. What accuracy have you achieved in measuring the coefficient of 
viscosity for the laminar regime through Poiseuille’s equation?

4. What difference in friction factor you expect if the inside surface of the 
pipe is very rough? Plot f against Re for Laminar & Turbulent Regimes.