A Single Universal Dimensionless Curve for Graphical Solution of Friction Factor in the Implicit Colebrook-White Equation

Single Universal Friction Factor Curve

Abstract

The determination of friction factor is an important exercise in pipe flow problems involving computation of head losses. This paper presents a single universal curve for the graphical determination of friction factor that is based on the Colebrook-White Equation, and by taking the Reynold’s Number and pipe relative roughness values as variables. The method is a significant improvement over the Moody Diagram in terms of its precision. The Moody diagram does not cover the entire continuum of relative roughness values and is plotted as discrete number of curves. Application of the proposed graphical procedure over the broader range of transition to turbulent region indicated that the mean percentage error of estimation is 0.36% and the maximum error is 2.3%. This result places the proposed graphical method in the category of very accurate to extremely accurate method.