CAPE PENINSULA UNIVERSITY OF

TECHNOLOGY
DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL
ENGINEERING

Fluid Mechanics III

MFE030
Lecturer:
Hoffman

Friction factor (k)

Student Name
214245888

LM SHEFER-BOSWELL

214134644

N.F DWAYIYO

212038028

Crit
eria

Lab 1
Student Number

MB KHUMALO

Assessment

Mr

Group

Comments

Max

Results

Discussion

Conclusion

Appendix

Total

15

Remarks

TABLE OF CONTENTS

We make it happen !!

1.

Aim of the Experiment..2

2.

Theoretical Background..2

3.

Experimental Apparatus3

4.

Experimental Procedure3

5.

Results..4

6.

Discussion of Results5

7.

Conclusion...5

Appendix A: Experimental Readings

Appendix B: Sample Calculations

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1. AIM OF THE LABORATORY EXPERIMENT

To determine the friction factor (k-factor) of a sudden contraction from a 26,2
to a 13,6 in a pipe line.
2. THEORETICAL BACKGROUND
The head loss associated with flow through any fitting in a pipeline can be
expressed in the form:

hl = k v2/2g
where

hl = head loss
k = friction factor
v = velocity in 13.6 pipe line (v2)
g = gravitational acceleration
Fig. 1: Schematic Diagram of the Sudden contraction
Inverted air-filled
manometer

A
H

B
H

Flow
1

Sudden
Contraction

The k-factor for the fitting can be determined calculating the slope of the graph
found when plotting the Head Loss vs Velocity Head.
The Velocity head is calculated by firstly determining the mean velocity of the
flow by dividing the flow rate by the cross-sectional area of the pipe
downstream of the contraction. The flow rate being calculated by calibrating
the rotameter. (As in MFE020 Fluid Mechanics II Lab 1)

To determine the Head Loss (hl), apply Bernoullis Law to the sudden
contraction
Z1 + p1/g + v21 /2g = Z2 + p2/g + v22/2g + hl
therefore
hl = (v21 v22)/2g + (P1 P2) / g
The velocities are calculated as explained above.
Consider the manometer fitted across the contraction. The pressure at point A
is equal to the pressure at B (since the inverted manometer is filled with air), ie
PA = P

therefore

where P1 = PA + g H1
P1 - g H1 = P2 - gH2

(P1 P2) / g = H1 H2

3. EXPERIMENTAL APPARATUS
3.1
3.2

Fluid mechanics test bench fitted with rotameter, pump, control-valve

and catchment tank with level sight-glass.
Losses in Piping Apparatus (fitted with manometers)

4. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE
Step
Step
Step
Step
Step
Step
Step
Step
Step
Step

1:
Connect the pipeline to the discharge from the pump.
2:
Attach a return tube to feed the water back to the test bench.
3:
Plug in the power lead of the test bench and start the pump.
4: Open the valve on the test bench to maximum
5: Open the valve on the piping apparatus to maximum
6:
Close valve on the piping apparatus and check that the manometer
attached to the sudden contraction is free of bubbles, level and about
halfway on the scale.
7:
Open valve slightly.
8:
Note the level of the float in the rotameter and the levels in the
manometer limbs.
9:
Increase the flow slightly.
10: Repeat steps 8 and 9 until maximum flow is reached.

5.

RESULTS

Figure 2: Head loss vs Velocity Head

6.

DISCUSSION OF RESULTS

After following the experimental procedures and doing the required calculation
it was possible to arrive at a suitably accurate friction factor for a sudden
contraction, when we considering the method used to determine it.
Although the K-factor determined is adequate, there are however many
possible reasons for error. These include things such as inaccurate recordings
during experimentation, faulty calculations and incorrect visual representation
of the results. These sources of error are prevalent as human limitations are a
strong factor. Using a stop watch to measure water flow and manually or
visually recording results provide ample opportunities for error. Due to the
aforementioned factors the recorded k- factor for this particular pipe
contraction is pertinent.

8.

CONCLUSIONS

It is evident that with such an experimental procedure, there are numerous

possible causes for errors to occur in the pursuit of obtaining a friction factor,
for any given pipe configuration. And as such it is clear that there is room for
improvement regarding the means or procedure to attain a k-factor of a pipe

fitting. With that said as a result of these experimental proceedings and

applying the theory a friction factor was in fact obtained for this specific
sudden contraction in a pipe line, and it is applicable.

Fluid Mechanics 3rd Ed. Douglas JF, Gasiorek JM, Swaffield JA.

APPENDIX A: Experimental Readings and Results

Upstream Diameter (d1) = 26.2 mm

Area1 =

Manomet
er
Upstream

Manometer

Calibration Equation =

Area2 = 145.27 mm2

Downstream Diameter (d2) = 13.6 mm

Float
height

539.13 mm2

Flow Rate

Velocity

Velocity

Upstream
Q

V1

Downstrea
m
V2

Velocity
Head

Velocity
Difference

Pressure
Differenc
e

Head Loss

V22/2g

(V12
V22)/2g

(p1 p2) /pg

hl

H1

Downstrea
m
H2

mm

mm

mm

X10-6 m3/s

m/s

m/s

mH2O

Readin
g
0

Reading

Reading
310

Calculatio
n
0.181

Calculation

320

Calculatio
n
97.45

0.671

Calculatio
n
0.023

Calculatio
n
0.012

Calculati
on
0.010

Calculatio
n
0.022

330

315

116.23

0.216

0.800

0.033

0.017

0.015

0.032

345

325

145.99

0.271

1.005

0.051

0.027

0.020

0.047

365

335

171.59

0.318

1.181

0.071

0.038

0.030

0.068

385

340

200.56

0.372

1.381

0.097

0.052

0.045

0.097

410

355

227.79

0.423

1.568

0.125

0.067

0.055

0.122

430

365

256.02

0.475

1.762

0.158

0.084

0.065

0.149

455

375

294.12

0.546

2.025

0.209

0.112

0.080

0.192

480

385

315.46

0.585

2.172

0.240

0.128

0.095

0.223

515

400

359.20

0.666

2.473

0.312

0.166

0.115

0.281

10

535

405

379.08

0.703

2.610

0.347

0.185

0.130

0.315

APPENDIX B: Sample Calculations:

Time
taken
(s)
51.31
43.02
34.25
29.14
24.93
21.95
19.53
17
15.85
13.92
13.19

Volume
(m^3)
0.005
0.005
0.005
0.005
0.005
0.005
0.005
0.005
0.005
0.005
0.005

Area

= 539.13 mm2

= 145.27 mm2

Flow rate

Velocity

0.181 m/s = V1

0.671m/s= V2

Velocity head

=
Velocity head = 0.023 mm

Pressure difference

Velocity difference

m/s

From Bernoullis equation

mH2O

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

K- FACTOR
LAB 1
by
MB KHUMALO

214245888

LM SHEFER-BOSWELL

214134644

N.F DWAYIYO

212038028

Subject:

Fluid Mechanics 3

Lecturer

Mr Hoffman

Date:

19/05/15

We swear that this is the original work of the authors. All information obtained directly or
indirectly from other sources has been fully acknowledged.
Signed:

Dated:

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