ABSTRACT
Fluid transients are sudden changes in flow velocity and pressure. These transients are important because they can cause large forces and overpressure that can fail piping and support systems. To best understand these effects, we refer to Figure 9-1. As shown in the top right box, fluid transients become evident when operators hear loud noises coming from the piping, or witness violent movements, in some cases the pipe jumps off its supports and visibly deforms, leaks or even ruptures. Pipe ruptures from fluid transients are due either to a large and sudden overpressure that burst the pipe or from excessive tension or bending forces caused by large pressure imbalance in the system.
