Pipe Networks

CE 111 Hydraulic Engineering

In any pipe network two
conditions must be satisfied:
1) The algebraic sum of the pressure drops around
any closed loop must be zero
- There can be no discontinuity in pressure, i.e., the
pressure drop through any route between two junctions
must be the same
2) The flow entering a junction must be equal to the
flow leaving it
- Continuity equation (conservation of mass)
Pipe Networks
• Are usually solved by numerical methods using a
computer since any analytical solution requires the
use of many simultaneous equations, some of
which are nonlinear
Hardy Cross method
• Requires that the flow in each pipe be assumed so
that the principle of continuity is satisfied at each
junction
• A correction to the assumed flow is computed
successively for each pipe loop in the network until
the correction is reduced to an acceptable
magnitude
Qa is the assumed flow
Q = Qa + ∆ Q is the true flow
∆ is the correction
Head Loss
• Head loss in the pipe system:
ℎ𝐿 = 𝐾𝑄 𝑥

Manning’s Equation:
𝑄 2 𝑛2 𝐿
ℎ𝐿 = 4
𝑅 3 𝐴2
Hazen-Williams Equation:
10.67𝐿𝑄1.852
ℎ𝐿 = 1.852 4.8704
𝐶 𝐷

Darcy-Weisbach Equation:
𝐿 𝑄2
ℎ𝐿 = 𝑓 ( 2 )
𝑑 𝐴 2𝑔
Head loss around any closed loop
𝑥
෍ 𝐾 𝑄𝑎 + ∆ =0

Expanding this summation:

𝑥−1
෍ 𝐾𝑄𝑎𝑥 + ෍ 𝑥𝐾∆𝑄𝑎𝑥−1 + ෍ 𝑥𝐾∆2 𝑄𝑎𝑥−2 + ⋯ = 0
2

If Δ is small, the third and all succeeding terms of the expansion may be
neglected. Hence,
෍ 𝐾𝑄𝑎𝑥 + ∆ ෍ 𝑥𝐾𝑄𝑎𝑥−1 = 0

∆ is the same for all pipes of the loop. Solving for ∆ gives,

σ 𝐾𝑄𝑎𝑥
∆= −
σ 𝑥𝐾𝑄𝑎𝑥−1
 σ 𝐾𝑄𝑎𝑥
∆= − ∆
σ 𝑥𝐾𝑄𝑎𝑥−1

• The direction of flow as well as the rate of flow in the

loop must be assumed
• The numerator is the algebraic sum of head loss in the
loop, with due regard for sign
• The correction ∆ must be applied in the same sense to
each pipe in the loop
• If the counterclockwise direction is assumed positive, ∆ is
added to flows assumed in the counterclockwise direction
and subtracted from the flows in clockwise direction
• The denominator is taken as the absolute sum without
regard to the signs of the individual items in the
summation
 σ 𝐾𝑄𝑎𝑥
∆= −
σ 𝑥𝐾𝑄𝑎𝑥−1

• Minor losses are generally neglected, but they can be

introduced by substituting an equivalent length of the
pipe
• The system must be divided into one or more loops
such that each pipe in the network is included in at
least one loop
• Values of ∆ are computed for each loop, and the
assumed flows are corrected
• Repeated adjustments are made until the desired
accuracy is attained
• In the design of pipe network, proper flow rates should
be delivered at adequate pressure (60-75 psi or 400-
500 kPa)