HYDRAULICS LABORATORY

LBYCV2D Experiment 07

STANDARD EXPERIMENT NO. 07

FLUID FRICTION AND PIPE NETWORKS

OBJECTIVES

1. To determine the head loss associated with the flow of water through standard fittings used in
plumbing installations.
2. To determine the head loss versus discharge characteristics for each of the varying diameter test
pipes supplied as network components.
3. To determine the characteristics of a pipe network consisting of several pipes of different sizes in
series.
4. To determine the characteristics of a pipe network consisting of several pipes of various sizes in
parallel.

APPARATUS AND SUPPLIES

 Hydraulic Bench
 Fluid Friction Apparatus
 Pipe Networks Apparatus
 Water Supply
 Manometer / Pressure meter

FLUID FRICTION APPARATUS

Instruction Manual for Armfield C6-MKII-10 Fluid Friction Apparatus

The Armfield C6-MKII-10 Fluid Friction Apparatus is designed to allow the detailed study of the fluid
friction head losses which occur when an incompressible fluid flows through pipes, bends, valves, and
pipe flow metering devices.

The test pipes and fittings are mounted on a tubular frame carried castors. Water is fed in from the
hydraulics bench via the barbed connector (1), flows through the network of pipes and fittings, and is fed
back into the volumetric tank via the exit tube (23). The pipes are arranged to provide facilities for testing
the following:

 An in-line strainer (2)  A 90° elbow (22)

 An artificially roughened pipe (7)  A sudden contraction (3)
 Smoothbore pipes of 4 different diameters  A sudden enlargement (16)
(8), (9), (10) and (11)  A pipe section made of clear acrylic with a
 A long radius 90° bend (6) Pitot static tube (17)
 A short radius 90° bend (15)  A Venturi made of clear acrylic (18)
 A 45° “Y” (4)  An orifice meter made of clear acrylic (19)
 A 45° elbow (5)  A ball valve (12)
 A 90° “T” (13)  A globe valve (20)
 A 90° mitre (14)  A gate valve (21)

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HYDRAULICS LABORATORY
LBYCV2D Experiment 07

Figure 1 General Arrangement of C6-MKII-10 Fluid Friction Apparatus

PIPE NETWORKS APPARATUS

Instruction Manual for Armfield C11-MKII Pipe Networks

Apparatus

The network of pipes and fittings is permanently mounted

on a freestanding support frame that is designed to stand
alongside the hydraulic bench in use. The support frame
consists of a steel frame clad with a panel to which the
various components are lifted. Four test pipes are installed
in the network with a spare pipe. Appropriate differential
pressures (head losses) are being measures using a
handheld pressure meter.

Figure 2 General Arrangement of C11-MKII Pipe Network Apparatus

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DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
HYDRAULICS LABORATORY
LBYCV2D Experiment 07

THEORETICAL CONSIDERATIONS

1. Head Losses due to Pipe Fittings

Headloss across a pipe fitting is proportional to the velocity head of the fluid flowing through the
fitting:

2
Kv
Δ hfitting= eq. 1
2g
where:
Δ hfitting fitting head loss, [m ]
K fitting loss factor
v mean velocity of the water through the pipe, [m/s ]
g acceleration due to gravity, [m/s 2]

2. Head Loss against Discharge Characteristics

Any pipeline of diameter D and length L carrying a flow rate Q within a network will have a
head
loss along its length. This head loss is largely the result of pipe fiction and:

2
KL Q
Δ hfriction = 5 eq. 2
D
where:
Δ hfriction friction head loss, [m ]
K friction loss factor

Other losses may arise from junctions, bends, valves, or sudden changes in the pipe section.

3. Characteristics of Pipes in Series

A pipeline consisting of various diameters ( D 1, D 2, D 3, …) and lengths ( L1, L2, L3, …) carrying
a flowrate Q will have a total head loss H T along the whole length given by:

H T =H 1−2+ H 2−3 + H 3 −4 +… eq. 3

The component head loss from each section is the summation of the pipe friction loss plus other
losses arising from changes of section, junctions, bends, and valves in that section.

4. Characteristics of Pipes in Parallel

In a pipe network consisting of various diameters ( D 1, D 2, D 3, …) and lengths ( L1, L2, L3, …) in
parallel with each other, the pressure in the common junction manifolds must be the same for all

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HYDRAULICS LABORATORY
LBYCV2D Experiment 07

pipes. The total flow Q T therefore distributes itself between the four branch pipes with the
controlling end pressures and:

QT =Q1 +Q2+ Q3+ … eq. 4

LABORATORY PROCEDURE

1. Head Losses due to Pipe Fittings

a. Prime the network with water. Open and close the appropriate valves to obtain the flow of
water through the required fitting.
b. Take readings at several different flowrates, altering the flow using the control valve on the
hydraulics bench.
c. Measure the flow rates using the volumetric tank.
d. Measure differential head between tappings on each fitting using the handheld pressure
meter, sensors, or pressurized water manometer. See Manometer Connection Diagram

2. Head Loss against Discharge Characteristics

a. Connect the equipment as shown in the schematic diagram using the first test pipe. Take note
of the diameter.

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HYDRAULICS LABORATORY
LBYCV2D Experiment 07

b. Switch on the hydraulic bench pump and open the flow control valve to allow a nominal flow
through the pipe.
c. Note the head loss across the pipe on the appropriate manometer scale and determine the
volumetric flow rate using the hydraulic bench measuring tank and stopwatch.
d. Repeat this procedure for a range of increasing flow rates.
e. Once completed, the test pipe should be replaced with each of the remaining pipes in turn and
the whole procedure repeated as above.

3. Characteristics of Pipes in Series

a. Connect the equipment as shown in the schematic diagram.
b. Switch on the hydraulic bench pump and open the flow control valve to allow a nominal flow
through the pipe network.
c. Connect the remote probes across each pipe section in turn and measure the headloss on the
appropriate manometer scale.
d. Measure the total head loss across the complete pipe network and determine the volumetric
flow rate using the hydraulic bench measuring tank and a stopwatch.
e. Repeat this procedure for a range of increasing flow rates.
f. This experiment may be tried or repeated for alternative networks of only two or three pipes
in series by connecting an appropriate network arrangement.

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DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
HYDRAULICS LABORATORY
LBYCV2D Experiment 07

4. Characteristics of Pipes in Parallel

a. Connect up the equipment as shown in the schematic diagram.
b. Switch on the hydraulic bench pump and open the flow control valve to allow a nominal flow
through the pipe network.
c. Note the head loss across the network on the appropriate manometer scale and determine the
volumetric flow rate using the hydraulic bench measuring tank and a stopwatch.
d. Repeat this procedure for a range of increasing flow rates.
e. This experiment may be tried or repeated for alternative networks of only two or three pipes
in parallel by connecting an appropriate network arrangement.

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DE LA SALLE UNIVERSITY
DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
HYDRAULICS LABORATORY
LBYCV2D Experiment 07

RESULTS AND CALCULATIONS

1. Head Losses due to Pipe Fittings

a. Confirm that K is a constant for each fitting over the range of test flow rates.
b. Plot a graph of K factor against valve opening for each test valve. Note the differences in
characteristics.
2. Head Loss against Discharge Characteristics
a. Complete the table provided and results should be used to plot a set of curves representing the
total head loss versus volumetric flow rate characteristics for each test pipe arrangement.
b. Plot the curves carefully as they will be necessary for the analysis of other Flow in Pipe
Networks Experiments concerned with the determination of pressure head and flow
relationships in series and in parallel pipe networks.
c. Comment upon the observed relationship between headloss and flowrate for each test pipe.
3. Characteristics of Pipes in Series
a. Interpret the results to verify that the total head loss across the series network is equal to the
summation of the component head losses (eq. 3) for all flow rates. Comment upon the
magnitude of the component head losses and account practically for their respective
difference.
b. Calculate the theoretical head loss in any section for a given flow from the knowledge of the
pipe geometry and an estimated pipe friction factor. The values calculated should be
compared to the experimentally measured values.
c. Why is knowledge of the energy degradation in a pipe network of importance to a system
designer? Suggest practical situations where series pipe networks might be found.
4. Characteristics of Pipes in Parallel
a. Interpret the results to verify the concept. Comment upon the magnitude of the flow rates in
each pipe and account practically for their respective differences.
b. Advanced students should calculate the theoretical flowrate in any pipe for a given head
difference from a knowledge of the pipe geometry and an estimated pipe friction factor. The
values so calculated should be compared to the experimentally determined values.
c. Students should suggest practical situations where parallel pipe networks might be found.

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DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
HYDRAULICS LABORATORY
LBYCV2D Experiment 07

DATA SHEET

1. Head Losses due to Pipe Fittings

Fitting Pipe Velocity

Velocity Headloss Headloss
or Diameter Head K
(m/s) (mm Hg) (mm H2O)
Valve (mm) (m)
Sudden Contraction
Sudden Enlargement
Ball Valve
90° Mitre
45° “Y” Junction
Gate Valve
Globe Valve
In-Line Strainer
90° Elbow
Short Radius 90° Bend
Long Radius 90° Bend
90° “T” Junction

2. Head Loss against Discharge Characteristics

Pipe Diameter H 1−2 Volume Time Flowrate

(mm) (mm Hg) (L) (s) (m3/s)

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DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
HYDRAULICS LABORATORY
LBYCV2D Experiment 07

3. Characteristics of Pipes in Series

H 1−2 H 2−3 H 3−4 Σ Δh H 1−4 Volume Time Flowrate

Trial
(mm Hg) (mm Hg) (mm Hg) (mm Hg) (mm Hg) (L) (s) (m3/s)
1
2
3

4. Characteristics of Pipes in Parallel

Volume Time Expt. Flowrate Percentage

Pipe H 1−2 (m3) (second) (m3/s) Flowrate** difference
Diameter (m3/s)
(mm) (mm Hg) (A) (B) 100*(A-B)/A

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LBYCV2D Experiment 07

**obtained from calibration

Note: Follow the format and content given in the Laboratory Report Template.

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