THE FORCE EXERTED ON THE PIPE BEND

Consider a pipe bend as before and use the idea of a control volume.

𝑣1
𝑣1
𝜃

∆v

𝑣2

𝑣2

First find the vector change in velocity using trigonometry.

𝑣2 sin 𝜃 1
tan𝜙 = ∆v={(𝑣2 sin 𝜃)2 + (𝑣2 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 − 𝑣2 )2 }2
𝑣2 cos 𝜃−𝑣1

Alternatively ∆v could be found by drawing the diagram to scale and measuring it.
1
If we had no change in magnitude then 𝑣1 = 𝑣2 = 𝑣 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑛 ∆v=v {2(1-cos𝜃)}2

The momentum force acting on the fluid is 𝐹𝑚 = 𝑚′∆𝑣

The force is a vector quantity which must be in the direction of ∆v. every force has an equal
and opposite reaction so there must be a force on the bend equal and opposite to the force on
the fluid. This force could be resolved vertically and horizontally such that
𝐹𝐻 = 𝐹𝑚 𝑐𝑜𝑠∅ 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐹𝑉 = sin ∅
Example
A pipe bend has a cross sectional area of 0.01 𝑚2 at outlet. It bends 90° from its initial
direction. The velocity is 4 m/s at inlet with a pressure of 100 kPa gauge. The density is 1000
kg/𝑚3 . Calculate the forces acting parallel and perpendicular to the initial direction.

Consider a pipe bend as before and use the idea of a control volume.

𝑣1

𝑣2

Solution
𝑣1 = 4 M/s. since 𝜌𝐴1 = 𝜌𝐴2 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑣2 = 16 m/s

We need the pressure at exit. This is done by applying Bernoulli between (1) and (2) as
follows.
𝑝1 + 1⁄2 𝑝𝑣1 = 𝑝2 + 1⁄2 𝑝𝑣2 2

100× 103 + 1⁄2 100 × 42 = 𝑝2 + 1000 × 1⁄2 162

𝑃2 = 0 𝑘𝑃𝑎 𝑔𝑎𝑢𝑔𝑒

Now find the pressure forces.

𝐹𝑝𝑥1 = 𝑝1 𝐴1 = 1200 𝑁
𝐹𝑝𝑦2 = 𝑝2 𝐴2 = 0 𝑁 𝑁𝑒𝑥𝑡 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑣𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑚𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑢𝑚 𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑠
 4 m/s
𝜃

∆v

16 m/s Fm Fmy

Fmx

Figure 4

m’=𝜌𝐴𝑣 = 40 𝑘𝑔/s
1
∆v=(42 + 162 )2 = 16.49 m/s
Fm= m’∆v=659.7 N
∅ = 𝑡𝑎𝑛−1 (16/4) =75.96°

RESOLVE

Fmy= 659.7 sin 75.96 =640 N

Fmx= 659.7 cos 75.96 = 160 N

Total force in x-direction = 1200 +160 = 1360 N

Total force in y-direction = 0 + 640= 640 N
THE FORCE EXERTED ON THE CLOSE CONDUIT

When discussing water jets that are done in a closed conduit pipe, there are some things to
consider. This is due to hydrostatic forces experienced by the fluid in the pipe or closed
conduit is very different. Fluid pressure in the pipe will always vary from one point to
another point. to find the force acting on the fluid, the forces should be described in the
components of x and y. for example, consider a body fluid in a pipe winding and also on the
nozzle spout.

Forces acting on the fluid in the x direction

𝑃1 𝐴1 − 𝑃2 𝐴2 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 − 𝐹𝑥 = 𝜌𝑄(𝑣2 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 − 𝑣1 )
𝐹𝑥 = 𝑃1 𝐴1 − 𝑃2 𝐴2 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 − 𝜌𝑄(𝑣2 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 − 𝑣1 )

Forces acting on the fluid in the y direction

𝐹𝑦 − 𝑃2 𝐴2 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 = 𝜌𝑄(𝑣2 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 − 0)
𝐹𝑦 = 𝑃2 𝐴2 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 + 𝜌𝑄(𝑣2 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃)

Resultant force F =√(𝐹𝑥 2 + 𝐹𝑦 2 )

𝐹𝑦
Tilt ∅ about the x =𝑡𝑎𝑛−1
𝐹𝑥

If the conduit, the nozzle or pipe is in a vertical plane, the weight of the liquid in the conduit
should be considered and included for the component in the y direction. Force in the x
direction does not have any differences of.
EXAMPLE
A pipe bend in the horizontal plane by 45° tapered deflect water from 600mm diameter at the
inlet section to 300mm diameter at the outlet section. Pressure at the inlet is 140 kPa and the
flow rate of water is 0.425𝑚3 /𝑠. Ignoring friction, calculate the resultant force posed by the
water in the bay.

SOLUTION
𝑄 0.425
𝑣1 = = = 1.503 𝑚/𝑠
𝐴1 𝜋(0.6)2 /4
𝑄 0.425
𝑣2 = = = 6.01 𝑚/𝑠
𝐴2 (0.3)2 /4
𝜋
𝐴1 = (0.6)2 = 0.282 𝑚2
4
𝜋
𝐴2 = (0.3)2 = 0.071 𝑚2
4

Use the Bernoulli equation between (1) and (2)

𝑃1 𝑣1 2 𝑃2 𝑣2 2
+ + 𝑧1 = + + 𝑧2
𝜌𝑔 2𝑔 𝜌𝑔 2𝑔

On the horizontal plane, 𝑧1 = 𝑧2

140×103 (1.503)2 𝑃2 (6.01)2

+ = +
103 ×9.81 2𝑔 𝜌𝑔 2×9.81
𝑃2 = 1.23 × 10 𝑁/𝑚2
5

Describe the forces in the x-direction

𝑃1 𝐴1 − 𝑃2 𝐴2 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 − 𝐹𝑥 = 𝜌𝑄(𝑣2 𝑐𝑜𝑠45° − 𝑣2 )

1.4 × 105 × 0.282 − 1.23 × 105 × 0.071𝑐𝑜𝑠45° − 𝐹𝑥 =103 × 0.425(6.01𝑐𝑜𝑠45° − 1.503)
∴ 𝐹𝑥 = 32260𝑁 (←)
Describe the forces in the y-direction
−𝑃2 𝐴2 𝑠𝑖𝑛45° + 𝐹𝑦 = 𝜌𝑄(𝑣2 𝑐𝑜𝑠45° − 𝑣1 )
−1.231(0.071)𝑠𝑖𝑛45° + 𝐹𝑦 = 103 × 0.425(6.01𝑠𝑖𝑛45°)
𝐹𝑦 = 7970𝑁(↑)

∴ 𝐹 = √(𝐹𝑥 2 + 𝐹𝑦 2 )
=33230 N
=33.2 kN
𝐹𝑦
∅ = 𝑡𝑎𝑛−1
𝐹𝑥
=13.90°