1 2

9.14 WATER HAMMER IN PIPES (i) Pressure Due to Gradual Closure of Valve
Consider a long pipe conveying a liquid (Fig 9.12) and provided with a valve
Introduction which is closed gradually.
Consider the flow of water between two points A and B in a long pipe as shown in Let A = area of cross-section of the pipe
Fig 9.12. When the valve is suddenly closed, the momentum of flowing water is L = length of pipe
destroyed and a wave of high pressure is set up which is transmitted along the pipeline. V= velocity of flow through pipe
This creates noise called knocking and the wave has the effect of hammering action on t = time in seconds required to close valve
the walls of the pipe, hence known as water hammer or hammer blow. p= intensity of pressure wave produced
Due to gradual closure, water is brought from initial velocity V to zero velocity in
time t seconds.
?Retardation of water = change of velocity/time
H Valve
A B V0 V
=
t t
V Axial force producing retardation = mass of water in pipe AB × retardation
V
Fig 9.12 = ρAL × …(i)
t
Force due to pressure wave,
The pressure rise due to water hammer depends upon; = pressure × area of pipe
(i) The velocity of flow of water in the pipe = p ×A …(ii)
(ii) The speed at which the valve is closed Equating equations (i) and (ii);
(iii) The length of the pipe V
(iv) The elastic properties of pipe material as well as that of flowing fluid. ρAL × = p ×A
t
The rise in pressure in some cases may be so large that the pipe may even burst. ρLV
Hence it is essential to take this pressure into account in the design of pipes. ? p= …(9.2)
t
Pressure head,
Time Taken by Pressure Wave to Travel From Valve to Tank and Back
p ρLV 1 ρLV 1 ρLV
Let: t = time taken by pressure wave H u u
L = length of pipe w t w t ρg ρgt
C = velocity of pressure wave LV
or H …(9.3)
Total distance= L+L=2L gt
dis tan ce travelledfrom valve to tan k and back Equation (1) gives the relation between increase of pressure due to water hammer in
? t
velocityof pressure wave the pipe and time required to close valve.
2L If t = 0, increase in pressure seems infinite, but from experiments, this is finite. The
Or t …(9.1) equation is thus valid for incompressible fluids, and rigid pipes.
C
Valve closure is said to be; In the case of very high pressure, the liquid is compressed to some extent, and the
2L pipe material is also stretched.
(i) Gradual (slow) if t !
C
2L
(ii) Pressure Due to Instantaneous Closure in Rigid Pipes
(ii) Sudden if t  Consider pipe AB shown in Fig 9.12 when the valve is closed suddenly. Kinetic
C
energy (K.E.) of the flowing water is converted to strain energy (S.E.) of water (if friction
Cases of water hammer in Pipes:
is neglected).
The following cases of water hammer in pipes are to be considered;
Loss of K.E.,
(i) Gradual closure of valve
1 1
(ii) Instantaneous closure of valve in rigid pipes = mV 2 u ρAL u V 2
(iii) Instantaneous closure of valve in elastic pipes 2 2
Gain of S.E. of water,
= mean rise in pressure × volumetric strain of water in pipe × volume

p.m.k. p.m.k.
 3 4

p p 1 p2 σC σ
= u u AL AL , where K= bulk modulus of water Circumferential strain in pipe = μ L
2 K 2 K E E
It may be noted that K, like other moduli of elasticity may also be thought of as ? S.E. stored in the pipe material per unit volume of pipe wall,
stress/strain i.e. p/(dV/V), and is also called the coefficient of compressibility. 1
¦ average stress u strain ¦ stress u strain
Equating K.E. to S.E., 2
2 1 § σL σ · 1 §σ σ ·
1 1p σL ¨  μ C ¸  σC ¨ C  μ L ¸
ρALV2 AL
2 2 K 2 © E E ¹ 2 © E E ¹
1 2K 1 2 2
or p2 ρALV2 u ρKV 2 σ L  σ C  2μσ C σ L 
2 AL 2E
U K § · For a thin walled pipe, it can be shown that:
? p UKV 2 UKV 2 u UV UVC ¨4 K
pd pd
U U ¨ ρ
C ¸¸
© ¹ σL and σ C
4t 2t
p
or C …(9.4) ? Total S.E. stored in pipe material,
ρV = S.E. per unit volume of pipe material × total volume of pipe material
Where C is the propagation velocity (or celerity of a pressure wave); and is the same 2 2
1 ª§ pd · § pd · § pd ·§ pd ·º
as velocity of sound in a liquid of density ρ. «¨ ¸  ¨ ¸  2μ ˜ ¨ ¸¨ ¸» u πdtx
The above theory is closely related to Mach’s number which is given as, 2E ¬«© 4t ¹ © 2t ¹ © 2t ¹© 4t ¹¼»
V 1 ª p2 d2 p2 d2 p2 d2 º
M= ˜ Sdx «   2P ˜ »
Kρ 2E ¬ 16t 4t 8t ¼
(iii) Pressure Due to Instantaneous Closure in Elastic Pipes Sdx p2 d2 §1 2P ·
Consider pipe AB shown in Fig 9.12 when the valve is closed suddenly. ˜
2E 4t ¨ 4  1 2 ¸
© ¹
Let: E = modulus of elasticity of the pipe material Sd2 x p2 d
P = Poison’s ratio for the pipe material (P =1/4, and varies from 0.25 to 0.34 ˜ 1  4  4P 
4 2 u 4E
for mild steel) Sd2 x p2 d
p = increase in pressure due to water hammer ˜  5  4P 
4 2 u 4E
d = internal diameter of the pipe Original K.E. of fluid = S.E. of fluid + S.E. of pipe
t = thickness of pipe wall (small compared to outside diameter D of the pipe)
1 π 2 1 p2 π 2 πd 2 x p 2 d
VC= circumferential stress in pipe ˜ d x u ρ ˜ V2 = ˜ ˜ d x+ ˜ 5  4μ 
2 4 2 K 4 4 2 u 4Et
VL= longitudinal stress in pipe
1 2 p2 p2d
Sudden closure of valve produces a wave of high pressure of intensity p, which or ρV =  5  4μ 
causes circumferential and longitudinal stresses in the pipe wall. 2 2K 2 u 4Et
Original K.E. of fluid will be converted partly into S.E. of the fluid, and partly into ª 1 d
= p2 «  5  4μ º»
S.E. of pipe. ¬ 2K 2 u 4Et ¼
Consider a length of pipe, x ; 1 2
UV
π 2 2 U U
Volume of fluid in length x = d x ? p V V V
4 1 d ª 1 d 1 d
  5  4P  2«   5  4P º»   5  4P 
1 1 S 2K 2 u 4Et ¬ 2K 2 u 4Et ¼ K 4Et
Original K.E. of fluid, mV 2 = ˜ U u d2 x ˜ V 2
2 2 4 1
S.E. of fluid = mean rise in pressure ×volumetric strain× volume Since μ (for mild steel pipes)
4
2
p p S 2 1 p S 2 ρ
= ˜ ˜ d x ˜ ˜ d x ? p V …(9.5)
2 K 4 2 K 4 1 d
From knowledge of strength of materials, 
K tE
σL σ
Longitudinal strain of pipe = μ C
E E

p.m.k. p.m.k.
 5 6

Derivation of equations for longitudinal stress (VL), and hoop stress (VC): Velocity of Pressure Wave in a Fluid:
ƒ Longitudinal stress, VL: The velocity of pressure wave (same as velocity of sound) transmitted through a fluid
Consider a thin walled pipe acted upon by pressure due to water hammer as depends on the density and the bulk modulus of the fluid.
shown in Fig 9.13 (a). Consider a tube of fluid of unit cross-sectional area, through which a pressure wave
is being transmitted from right to left as shown in Fig 9.14, having velocity V. Now bring
π 2 the wave to rest by imagining the fluid to have a velocity V in the opposite direction.
p˜ d x
4 At section A, let p, v, and V be the intensity of pressure, velocity and the volume
VH
respectively. Let the corresponding values at section B be (p+dp), (v+dv) and (V+dV),
d with the maximum pressure occurring at B.
d Between sections A and B, pressure increases by dp, and the volume compressed per
VL
second increases by dV.
t
(a) (b)
At section A, V= a×v = v, Q area 'a' is unity  …(i)
Fig 9.13 At section B, volume compressed/s, V+dV = a(v+dv) …(ii)
But a =1 and V = v
Due to pressure on the ends of the cylinder, there is a longitudinal stress in the Hence, dV = dv (comparing the two equations above)
cylinder wall. A B unit area, a
Total force on the end of the cylinder wall due to fluid pressure p,
= pressure × area V V+dV
p p +dp
S
= p u d2 …(i)
4
Force due to longitudinal stress VL in the pipe wall to counteract fluid pressure,
= stress × mean circumferential thickness
σ L u πd u t (approximately) …(ii)
(If D is taken as mean diameter, then area of wall tube is πDt exactly) p +dp
For equilibrium, equate forces in equations (i) and (ii);
S
? σ L u πd u t = p u d2
4
pd Fig 9.14
?Longitudinal stress, σ L …(9.6) Force on fluid between sections A and B,
4t
ƒ Hoop stress, VC: = change of momentum per second
Now consider equilibrium of wall and contents of a length x of half the cylinder = mass/s ×change of velocity
as shown in Fig 9.13 (b); ? >p  p  dp @a ρaV u dv
Due to fluid pressure, there is a downward force, or dp = -ρVdv
= pressure × area But dv = dV
= p×xd …(iii) Hence dp = -ρVdv
This force must be balanced by upward force due to circumferential VC (or hoop dp
or ρV …(iii)
stress VH), dV
= stress × area The bulk modulus of a fluid is given by;
= VH×2(x×t) …(iv) increase in pressure
Bulk mod ulus , K
Equating equations (iii) and (iv); decrease in volume/ original volume*
VH×2(x×t) = p×xd [* (decrease in volume/ original volume) = volumetric strain]
pd dp dp
?Hoop stress, VC = VH = …(9.7) ? K= = -V
2t -dV/V dV
In the above equations, p is the gauge pressure. dp K
or =- …(iv)
dV V

p.m.k. p.m.k.
 7 8

From equations (iii) and (iv), Solution

K ρ
ρV (a) p V
V 1 d
But V = v, then 
K tE
K K
ρV , or v 103
v ρ 1.5 =1.732×106N/m2
1 0.5
The pressure wave is often denoted by C, 
2 u 109 0.01u 200 u 109
K = 1732 kN/m2
? C …(9.8)
ρ
(b)
Example 9.1: Water flows at a velocity of 1.5m/s in a pipe of length 2500m and diameter (i) Circumferential stress:
500mm Determine the rise in pressure if a valve at the end of the pipe is closed in 25 pd 1.732 u 106 u 0.5 2
σC 43.3 u 106 N / m 2 = 43300kN/m .
seconds. Take C= 1460m/s 2t 2 u 0.01
(ii) Longitudinal stress:
Solution pd 1.732 u 106 u 0.5 2
Given: V = 1.5m/s, L =2500m, Diameter =0.5m, t=25s, C=1460m/s σL 21.65 u 106 N / m 2 = 21650kN/m .
4t 4 u 0.01
2L 2 u 2500
The ratio t 3.42s
C 1460
2L
Since t ! , closure of valve is gradual
C
For gradual closure,
ρLV 103 u 2500u 1.5
p 150kN/m2
t 25

Example 9.2: If the valve in Example 9.1 is closed in 2 seconds, determine the pressure
exerted at the valve, assuming the pipe to be rigid. Take Kwater= 2×109N/m2.

Solution
K 2 u 109
C 1414m / s
ρ 103
2L 2 u 2500
The ratio t 3.54s
C 1414
2L
? t , hence closure of valve is rapid
C
For rapid closure of valve in rigid pipe,
K
p = ρV == ρVC = 103 ×1.5×1414 = 2101kN/m2
ρ

Example 9.3: If in Example 9.1, the thickness of the pipe is 10mm and the valve is
suddenly closed, determine: (a) the rise in pressure (b) the circumferential and
longitudinal stress developed in the pipe wall. Take E =200×109N/m2,and Kwater=
2×109N/m2.

p.m.k. p.m.k.