Flow of incompressible fluid

Syllabus: Flow of incompressible fluid through circular conduits, Laminar and

turbulent flow equations, Derivation of Hagen Poiseuille Equation.
1) Derive Hagen Poiseuille Equation.
2) Prove that for a circular pipe, for incompressible fluid flow,
“u/umax =1– (r/rw)2” or “V/umax = 0.5”.
3) Show relation between velocity distribution w.r.t radius, for laminar flow of
Newtonian fluids.

The theory of Laminar flow through pipes was given independently, almost at the same
time by Hagen (a German scientist) and Poiseuille (a French scientist). Hence the
equation derived by them is known as Hagen Poiseuille Equation.

It is based on the following assumptions:

• The fluid follows Newton’s law of viscosity.

• There is no slip of fluid particles at boundary i.e. the fluid particles adjacent to the
pipe wall have zero velocity.

Consider the steady state flow of a viscous fluid at constant density in a fully developed
flow through a horizontal pipe or tube.

Flow p - (p + dp)
r
rw
y τ

dL

Visualize a disc shaped element of fluid concentric with the axis of the pipe, of radius ‘r’
and length ‘dL’ , as shown in the figure. Let the fluid pressure on the upstream and
downstream faces of the disc be ‘p’ and ‘p + dp’ respectively. Due to fluid viscosity, there
will be opposing shear force on the rim of the disc.

The surface area of the face of the disc = πr2.

The shear force acting on the rim of the cylinder is the product of the shear stress and the
πr.dL)ττ. Therefore overall force balance on the disc will be as under:
cylindrical area i.e. (2π

ΣF = πr2.p - πr2.(p + dp) - 2π

πr.dL.ττ = 0

∴ - πr2.dp - 2π
πr.dL.ττ = 0

∴ dp/dL + 2τ/
τ/r
τ/ = 0 …………………….………………. (1)

Equation (1) is applicable even at periphery of the pipe where r = rw & τ = τw.

∴ dp/dL + 2ττw/rw = 0 …………………….……………. (2)

∴ ∆p/∆
∆L = 2τ/
τ/r
τ/ = 2ττw/rw ………….………………. (1a)

(This is because as L increases, P decreases).

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From (1) and (2)

τ/r
τ/ = τw/rw …………………….………………………………. (3)

Also at the centre of the pipe where r = 0, τ is also equal to zero.

By definition, skin friction (hf) between the pipe wall and the fluid stream will be as under:

ρ = (p - ∆p)/ρ
p/ρ ρ + hf

∴ ∆p/ρ
ρ = hf …………………….……………………………. (4)

Eliminating ∆p from eqn (1a), using eqn (4)

ρ).(ττw/rw).∆
hf =(2/ρ ∆L =(4/ρ
ρ).(ττw/D).∆
∆L …. ……….. (5)

From equation (4) and (5)

ρ).(ττw/rw).∆
(2/ρ ∆L = ∆p/ρ
ρ

∆p.
∆ rw.
∴ τw = ------- ……………………………………………….. (6)
∆L
2.∆
The friction factor (f ) is defined as the ratio of the wall shear stress to the product of the
velocity head and the density i.e.

{(ρ).( 2/2gc)} …………………………………….

f = τw / {(ρ).(V (7)

Where V is average velocity in the pipe.

ρ. 2
∴ f = 2.gc.ττw / ρ.V

(ρ).(V2/2 gc)
Also τw = f. (ρ).(

Substituting value of τw in equation (5)

hf = (4/ρ (ρ).(V2/2 gc)//D}.∆

ρ).{ f. (ρ).( ∆L

∆L/ D).((V2/2 gc) ……………………………..

hf = 4f. (∆ (8)

By the definition of viscosity

µ = - τ. gc /(du/dr)

∴ du/dr = - τ. gc /µ
µ

Substituting value of τ from equation (3)

∴ du/dr = - {(ττw. gc)/(rw.µ)}.

µ)}.r
µ)}.

∴ du = - {(ττw. gc)/(rw.µ)}.
µ)}.r.dr
µ)}.

Local velocity is zero near the wall.

u r
∴ ∫ du = - {(ττw. gc)/(rw.µ)}.
µ)}. ∫ r.dr
0 rw

∴ u = {(ττw. gc)/(2.rw.µ)}.
µ)}. (r
( w2 – r2) …………….. (9)
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Maximum velocity of the fluid will be at the centre of the pipe when r = 0,
∴ umax = (ττw. gc. rw)/(2.µ)
µ) ………………………………. (10)
Dividing eqn (9) by eqn (10)
u/umax = 1 – (r/rw)2

The average velocity V = (1/S). ∫ u.dS …………………. (11)

s
dS = 2ππr. dr
Substituting value of u from equation (9) in equation (11)
1 (ττw. gc)
V = ---- . ∫ -------- . (rw2 – r2) . 2π
πr. dr
πrw2 µ)
(2.rw.µ)
τw. gc rw
∴ V = ------ . ∫ (rw2 – r2).r. dr
µ 0
rw3.µ

τw. gc rw
∴ V = ------ . ∫ (rw2.r – r3) dr
µ 0
rw3.µ
τw. gc rw
∴ V = ------ . [ {(rw .r /2) – (r /4) }]
2 2 4

µ
rw3.µ 0
τw. gc
∴ V = ------ . [ {(2rw4) – (rw4) }/4]
µ
rw3.µ
∴ V = τw. gc.rw /4µ
µ …………………………………………. (12)

From equation (10) and (12), eqn (12)/(10)

V/umax = 0.5
Substituting value of τw from equation (6) in equation (12)

∆p.
∆ rw2.gc ∆p. gc.D2
∴ V = ---------- = ---------
∆L. µ
8.∆ 32.∆
32 ∆L. µ

32.V.
32 µ..∆L
µ..∆
∴ ∆p
∆ = p2 – p1 = -------------- ………………….. (13)
gc. D2
Equation (13) is known as Hagen Poiseuille Equation.

With SI system, value of gc is 1 and therefore the Hagen Poiseuille Equation can be written
as under:
32.V.
32 µ..∆L
µ..∆
∴ ∆p
∆ = -------------
D2
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