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The Hardy Cross solution depends on the following principles:


1. The algebraic sum of the pressure drop around each loop
must be zero. In other words, the pressure at the beginning of
a loop must equal the pressure at the end of the loop (it is the
same point).
2. Continuity dictates that the net flow out of each junction
must be zero. This means that as the iteration proceeds, an
increase in flow to a junction in one pipe must be
compensated by a flow decrease in another inflow pipe or a
flow increase in an outflow pipe. This is applied to the pipes
in a loop (as we shall see).

Solution Theory/Steps
1. The first step is to estimate the flow in each pipe in the network
(Q
est
). This initial estimate of flow distribution does not need to be
accurate, but it does have to abide by continuity (net flow at each
junction must be zero). A reasonable estimate of flow distribution
will limit the length of the iteration process.
2. Because we have pipe lengths, roughness, and diameter, we can
estimate head loss in each pipe using Darcy-Weisbach (and
continuity to express in terms of Q):
2
,
2
,
2
5
2
, ,
2
4
2
i est i
i est
i
i
i
i
i
i
i i est L
Q K
g
Q
D
L
g
V
D
L
H =

= =


Note that values are assumed known. Once an initial solution to
the pipe network flow problem is achieved, new values of can be
estimated and the process repeated.
3. The estimated head loss is going to be incorrect, because the
flows were estimated. The actual flow in a pipe will be (dropping
the subscript i for convenience):
Q = Q
est
+ Q
Thus the true head loss will be:
( ) [ ] ( ) ( ) Q Q Q K Q Q Q Q K Q Q K H
est est est est est true L
+ + + = + = 2 2
2 2 2 2
,

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4. Now, because the head loss around any closed loop must be zero
(consider loops in a consistent direction clockwise by
convention, thus flows and head losses are positive if the flow in
the pipe is clockwise around the loop, negative if ccw),
( ) ( )

= + =
loop
est
loop
est
loop
true L
Q KQ Q K H 0 2
2
,

5. Also, because a correction in flow must be equal for all pipes in
a loop (to maintain continuity), the Q can be pulled out of the
summation:
( ) ( )

= + =
loop
est
loop
est
loop
true L
KQ Q Q K H 0 2
2
,

6. Isolating variables:
( )
( )

=
loop est
est , L
loop
est , L
loop
est
loop
est
Q
H
H
KQ
Q K
Q
2
2
2
(recall that ( )
2
Q K H
L
= )

Thus, the correction to flow for each pipe in a loop can be
estimated from the initial assumed values Q
est
.
Note that ( )
est , L est
H Q K =
2
always has the same sign as Q for the pipe
in the loop.
Similarly, ( )

=
est
est , L
est
Q
H
KQ for all pipes always has a positive sign,
because H
L
and Q have the same sign.

7. Now, this solves only the flow in one loop. Some pipes in this
loop will also be part of other loops. The newly calculated flows
for these pipes are inserted into the above procedure for the new
loop (ensure the correct sign for Q, based on clockwise flow
around the loop). Each loop is calculated in sequence. The entire
set of loops is then recalculated until all Q are sufficiently small
(note that the most recently calculated flow for any pipe is always
used). It is then worthwhile to repeat the entire procedure using
new values.

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