ABSTRACT
This chapter introduces experimental data relating to flow in pipes and fittings, and presents fluids of constant viscosity and constant density. It discusses the opportunity to expand upon various features of laminar and turbulent pipe flow. The nature of the flow is determined by the magnitude of the Reynolds number. The fall of piezometric head in the direction of flow is caused by the dissipation of energy by fluid friction. A common practical problem is to determine the head lost to friction for a given mean velocity in a pipe of given diameter. The majority of closed conduits used in engineering practice are of circular cross-section, but the friction loss in non-circular passages quite often has to be estimated. The chapter outlines the method for dealing with non-circular pipes and based on the hydraulic mean depth, is sometimes expressed in terms of alternative variables such as equivalent diameter, hydraulic diameter or hydraulic radius.
