PIPE NETWORKS

Pipe Networks

The following conditions must be satisfied in any pipe network:

1. the algebraic sum of the pressure drops (head loss) around
any closed loop must be zero, and
2. the flow entering a junction must be equal to the flow leaving it.
The first condition states that there can be no discontinuity in
pressure (the pressure drop through any route between two
junctions must be the same). The second condition is a statement of
the law of continuity.
Pipe network problems are usually solved by numerical methods
using a computer since any analytical solution requires the use of
many simultaneous equations, some of which are non-linear.
Hardy Cross Method
The procedure suggested by Hardy Cross requires that the flow in
each pipe be assumed so that the principle of continuity is satisfied
at each junction. A correction to the assumed flow is computed
successively for each pipe loop in the network until the correction
is reduced to an acceptable value.

Let:
𝑄𝑎 = assumed flow
𝑄 = true flow
 = correction
then;
𝑸 = 𝑸𝒂 + 

Using Darcy-Weisbach formula:

Correction to be applied
Corrected flow:
QAB = 0.2 + 0.0119 = 0.2119
QBG = 0.1 + 0.0119 – 0.014 = 0.0979
QGH = 0.1 – 0.0119 = 0.0881
QHA = 0.2 – 0.0119 = 0.0881
QBC = 0.1 + 0.014 – 0 = 0.114
QCF = 0.05 + 0.014 – 0 = 0.064
QFG = 0.1 – 0.014 = 0.086
QCD = 0.05 + 0 = 0.05
QDE = 0.05 + 0 = 0.05
QEF = 0.05 + 0 = 0.05
Second Assumption (using the above corrected flows)
Correction:
Loop I : AB, BG, GH, and HA
18.191 + 7.062 – 3.587 – 23.639
=- = 0.00329
1.85(85.845 + 72.139 + 40.713 + 125.671

Loop II : BC, CF, FG, GB

5.778 + 3.217 – 3.43 – 7.062
=- = 0.0038
1.85(50.684 + 50.264 + 39.887 + 72.139

Loop III : CD, DE, EF, FC

1.258 + 2.038 – 3.217 – 1.258
=- = 0.00451
1.85(25.155 + 40.75 + 25.155 + 50.264
Corrected flow:
QAB = 0.2119 + 0.00329 = 0.21519 m3/s
QBG = 0.0979 + 0.00329 – 0.0038 = 0.09739 m3/s
QGH = 0.0881 – 0.00329 = 0.08481 m3/s
QHA = 0.1881 – 0.00329 = 0.18481 m3/s
QBC = 0.114 + 0.0038 = 0.1178 m3/s
QCF = 0.064 + 0.0038 – 0.00451 = 0.06329 m3/s
QFG = 0.086 – 0.0038 = 0.0822 m3/s
QCD = 0.05 + 0.00451 = 0.05451 m3/s
QDE = 0.05 + 0.00451 = 0.05451 m3/s
QEF = 0.05 + 0.00451 = 0.05451 m3/s