Chapter IV

Compressible Duct Flow with Friction

Chapter 3 showed the effect of area change on a
compressible flow while neglecting friction and heat
transfer. We could now add friction and heat transfer to
the area change and consider coupled effect. Instead,
as an elementary introduction, this chapter treats only
the effect of friction, neglecting area change and heat
transfer. The basic assumptions are :
1 Steady one-dimensional adiabatic flow.
2 Perfect gas with constant specific heats.
3 Constant area straight duct.
Prof. Dr. MOHSEN OSMAN

4 Neglecting shaft-work and potential energy changes.

5 Wall shear stress correlated by a Darcy friction factor.
In effect, we are studying a Moody-type pipe-friction problem but with
large changes in kinetic energy, enthalpy, and pressure in the flow.
Consider the elemental duct control volume of area A and length dx in
Fig. 4.1. The area is constant, but other flow properties (P, , T, h, V) may
vary with x.
w D dx
V
V+dV
P
P+dP

+d
T
T+dT
h
h+dh

x+dx

Fig.4.1 Elemental control volume for flow in a constant area duct with
Prof. Dr. MOHSEN OSMAN
2
friction.

Application of the three conservation laws to this control volume

gives three differential equations :
Continuity :
or

m
G (4.1a)
cons tan t
A

ln ln V ln(const )..............differenti ate

d
dV

0.0

V
x momentum :
[(V dV ) V ]
PA ( P dP ) A wDdz m
wDdx AV
... dP

dV
2
A
D

Energy :

4
4 dx
....dP w VdV 0.0(4.1b)
D
1
ho C p To C p T V 2 cons tan t
2
OR.........C p dT VdV 0.0
(4.1c)
Prof. Dr. MOHSEN OSMAN

Since these three equations have five unknowns, P, , T, V and

w , we need two additional relations. One is the perfectgas law
P RT
ln P ln ln R ln T
dP
d
dT

zero
P

T
dP
d
dT
OR...........

(4.2)
To eliminate w as an unknown, it is assumed that wall shear is
correlated by a local Darcy factor f
1
1
(4.3)
w
fV 2
fPM 2
8
8
Equations (4.1) and (4.2) are first-order differential equations
and can be integrated, using friction factor data, from any
inlet section (1), where P1 , T1 , V1 ,etc., are known, to determine
P
- ( x), T ( x) , etc., along the duct. It is practically impossible to
,

Prof. Dr. MOHSEN OSMAN

eliminate all but one variable to give, say, a single differential

equation for P(x), but all equations can be written in terms of
the Mach number M(x) and the friction factor, using the
definition of Mach number.
V 2 M 2 RT
2 ln V 2 ln M ln(R ) ln T
OR.......2

dV
dM
dT
2

V
M
T

(4.4)

Prove for extra class-work bonus marks !

By eliminating variables between equations (4.1) to (4.4),
we obtain the working relations:
2
dP
dx
2 1 ( 1) M
(4.5a)
M (
)f
2
2(1 M

dx

f
2
D
2(1 M )
Prof. Dr. MOHSEN OSMAN

(4.5b)
5

dPo
d o
1

M
Po
o
2

(4.5c)

dx
D

dT
( 1) M 4
dx

f
T
D
2(1 M 2 )
1
1 ( 1) M
dM 2
2
2

M
(
M2
2(1 M 2 )

(4.5d )
2

)f

dx
D

(4.5e)

Due Date : next week lecture

All these except dP have the factor (1 - M2 ) in the denominator,
P
so that, like the areachange formula, subsonic and supersonic
flow have opposite effects.
o

Property

Subsonic

Supersonic

Decreases

Increases

Decreases

Increases

Increases

Decreases

Prof. Dr. MOHSEN OSMAN

Property

Subsonic

Supersonic

Po , o

Decreases

Decreases

Decreases

Increases

Increases

Decreases

Increases

Increases

We have added to the list above that entropy must increase along the duct
for either subsonic or supersonic flow as a consequence of the second law of
thermodynamics for adiabatic flow. For the same reason, stagnation pressure
and density (Po , o ) must both decrease.
The key parameter above is the Mach number whether the
inlet flow is subsonic or supersonic, the Mach number always tends
downstream toward M=1 because this is the path along which the entropy
increases.
If the pressure
and density are computed from Eqs. (4.5a) and (4.5b) and the entropy from
the perfectgas relation.
Prof. Dr. MOHSEN OSMAN
7

S 2 S1
P

ln[ 2 ( 1 ) ]
,
CV
P1 2

the result can be plotted in Fig 4.2

versus Mach number for = 1.4. The maximum entropy occurs at M=1,
so that the second law requires that the ductflow properties continually
approach the sonic point.

Fig. (4.2) Adiabatic Frictional Flow in a constantarea duct always

approaches M=1 to satisfy the second law of thermodynamics.
Prof. Dr. MOHSEN OSMAN

Example 4.1
Air flows subsonically in an adiabatic 1-inch-diameter duct.
The average friction factor is 0.024. What length of duct is
necessary to accelerate the flow from M1 = 0.1 to M2 = 0.5 ? What additional
length will accelerate it to M3 = 1.0 ? Assume = 1.4

Solution
Equation (4.8)
fL * applies, with
computedDfrom
Eqn. (4.7) or read from FannoTable
L
fL *
fL *
f
(
)
(
)
M 0.1

values of
line flow

M 0.5

D
D
D
............. 66.9216 1.0691 65.8525

0.024

L
65.8525
1
12

Duct...Length L

1x65.8525
229 ft
12 x0.024

Prof. Dr. MOHSEN OSMAN

For M3 = 1.0fL * Duct Length = L* @ M = 0.1

D
L*

1.0691

M 0.5

M 0.5

1x1.0691
3.7 ft
12 x 0.024

i.e., the additional length

directly from the Table

Lgofrom
L * MM0.=5 0.5
3.to
7 1.0
ft is taken
to

Formulae for other flow properties along the duct can be derived
fdx
from Equations
(4.5). Equation (4.5e) can be used
to eliminate
2
D
dM
dP
from eachPof the other relations, giving, forMexample,
as a
2
function only of M and
. For convenience in tabulating the
results, each expression is then integrated all the way from (P,M)
to the sonic point (P*, 1.0). The integral results are:
Prof. Dr. MOHSEN OSMAN

10

Eq. (4.5e)

dM
dx
2
2

M
f
D
M2
1 M 2
2
dx
1 M
f

dM 2
1
D
M 4 (1
M 2)
2

Substitute into equation (4.5a)

2
dP
2 1 ( 1) M
M
x
P
2(1 M 2 )

(1 M 2 )
dM 2
1 2
M 4 (1
M )
2

1 ( 1) M 2
dM 2
1 2
2 M 2 (1
M )
2
dP
a
b
[ 2
]dM 2 .........equating ..no min ators....of .. partial .. fractions
1 2
P
M
1
M
2
1 2
a (1
M ) bM 2 1 ( 1) M 2
2
Absolute..term...a 1
1
1
Coefficient..of ..M 2 ..term........a (
) b 1...... b
2
2
dP

Prof. Dr. MOHSEN OSMAN

11

Accordingly,

1
dP
1
1
2

]dM 2
2
P P

1 2
2M M
1
M
2
1
1 2 1
P*
ln P P [ln M 2 ln(1
M ]M
2
2
P*
1
1 2 1
ln
[ln M 2 (1
M )] M
P
2
2
1
P*
1
2
ln
ln
1 2
P
2
M 2 (1
M )
2
P*
2
1 2 12
2
ln
ln[(
) M (1
M )]
P
1
2
P*

P*
2
1 2 2

M[
(1
M ]
P
( 1)
2
1

P
1
1

[
] 2 ....................................( 4.9a )
2
P * M 2 ( 1) M
1

Similarly:

V * 1 2 ( 1) M 2 2

[
] ..................................................(4.9b)
M
1
* V
Prof. Dr. MOHSEN OSMAN

12

T
C2
1

T*
C *2
2 ( 1) M

.................( 4.9c )
( 1)

Po
o
1 2 ( 1) M 2 2 ( 1)
*
[
]
....( 4.9d )
*
M

1
Po
o

--

To derive working formulae, we first attack Eq. (4.5e) which relates

Mach number to friction. Separate the variables and integrate,

L*

dx
f

(1

M2

1
2

1 M 2
1
dM 2
1 2

M 4 (1
M )
2

a bM
[
M4
M2

d
]dM 2
1 2
1
M
2

M 2 )( a bM 2 ) dM 4 1 M 2

) b 1
2
1
1
Coefficient..of ..M 4 .... : b(
) d 0......... d b(
)
2
2
a 1
1
1
b
1
2
2
2 1
d
4
Coefficient..of ..M 2 ... : a (

Prof. Dr. MOHSEN OSMAN

13

1
f
1
2
4
dx

) dM
4

1
D 0
M2
M
2
1
M
2
1
1 1
(
)
!
*
fL
1
1
2
2

[
22
]dM 2
4

1
D
M2 M
M
1
M2
2
L*

--

fL*
1 1 1
1
1 2 1
[ 2
ln M 2
ln(1
M )] M 2
D
M
2
2
2
1 2
1

M 1
fL*
1
1
1
2
2
[

ln(
)
]
M2
D

M2
M2
1
1
*
fL
1
1
2
{1
ln[
] 2
2
1 2
D

M
1
M
2
M2
fL*
1 M 2 1
( 1) M 2

ln
....................(4.7)
D
2
M 2
2 ( 1) M 2
Prof. Dr. MOHSEN OSMAN

14

All these ratios are also tabulated in the same Fanno Flow Table. For
finding changes between points M 1 and M2 which are not sonic,
products of these*ratios are used. For example
P2
P2
P2
P1
P
* x
( * ) /( * )............................( 4.10)
P1
P1
P
P
P

Example 4.2

For the duct flow of Example 4.1 assume that at M 1 = 0.1 we

have P1 = 100 psia and T1 = 600 oR. Compute at section 2
further downstream (M2 = 0.5)
(a) P 2 ;
(b)
T2 ;
(c) V2 ;
(d) Po2
Solution:
As
preliminary information we can compute V 1 and Po1 from the
given information:
V1
o
T1 R
600
=M1 C1 = M1 x49
= 0.1x49
=120 ft/s
P1

0.99303
From Isentropic Prof.
Table
@
M=M
=0.1
1
15
Dr. MOHSEN OSMAN
Po1

Then

Po

P1
100

100.7 psia
0.99303 0.99303

Now enter Fanno Line Table, to find the following ratios

Section

P/P*

T/T*

V/V*

Po /P*o

0.1

10.9435

1.1976

0.1094

6.8218

0.5

2.1381

1.1429

0.5345

1.3399

Use these ratios to compute all

properties downstream:
P2 P *
2.1381
P2 P1 x( * x
) 100(
) 19.5 psia
P1
10.9435
P
T2 T *
1.1429
T2 T1 x( * x
) 600(
) 573 o R
T1
1.1976
T
V2 V *
0.5345
V2 V1 x( * x
) 120(
) 586 ft / s
V1
0.1094
V
Po 2

Po 2 Po*
1.3399
Po1 x( * x
) 100.7(
) 23.2 psia
5.8218
Po Po1

Note the 77% reduction in stagnation

pressure due to

friction.

Prof. Dr. MOHSEN OSMAN

16

Choking Due To Friction

The theory here predicts that for adiabatic frictional flow in a
constant area duct, no matter what the inlet Mach number M 1
is, the flow downstream tends toward the sonic point. There is a
certain duct length L*(M 1) for which the exit Mach number will be
exactly unity.
But what if
the actual duct length L is greater than the predict-ed maximum
length L* ? Then the flow condition must change and there are two
classifications.
Subsonic Inlet If L L*(M1), the flow slows down until an inlet
Mach number M2 is reached such that L = L*(M 2). The exit flow is
sonic and the mass flow has been reduced by frict- ional choking.
Further increases in duct length will continue to decrease the inlet
Mach number M and mass flux.
Prof. Dr. MOHSEN OSMAN

17

Supersonic Inlet From Table we see that friction has a very

large effect on supersonic duct flow. Even an infinite inlet
Mach number will be reduced to sonic conditions in only 41
diameters for
10

f 0.02

@M=
fL
@M=
0.38683 fL*
D
0.82
D
*
*

0.02 L*

0.82............... ......L 410

D

Fig. (4.3) Behavior of duct flow with a nominal supersonic inlet

condition M = 3.0
(a) L/D 26,
flow is supersonic throughout duct;
(b) L/D = 40 L*/D;
normal shock at M = 2.0 with subsonic flow then accelerating to sonic
exit point.
Prof. Dr. MOHSEN OSMAN

18

(c) L/D = 53, shock must now occur at M = 2.5;

(d) L/D 63, flow must be entirely subsonic and choked at exit
Some typical numerical values are shown in Fig. (4.3), assuming
an inlet M = 3.0 and f 0.02. . For this condition L* = 26 diam. If
L is increased beyond 26 D, the flow will not choke but a normal
shock will form at just the right place for the subsequent
subsonic frictional flow to become sonic exactly at the exit.
Figure (4.3) shows two examples, for DL 40...and ...53.
As length increases, the required shock moves
L
63
upstream until, for Fig.(4.3), the shock is
at. the inlet for
D
Further increase in L causes the shock to
move upstream of the inlet into the supersonic nozzle feeding the
duct.
Yet the mass flux is still the same as for the
very short duct, because presumably the feed nozzle still has a
sonic throat.
Prof. Dr. MOHSEN OSMAN
19

Eventually, a very long duct will cause the feed-nozzle throat

to become choked, thus reducing the duct mass flux. Thus
supersonic friction changes the flow pattern if L L* but does
not choke the flow until L is much larger than L*.

Example 4.3

Air
enters a 3-cm-diameter duct at
V 1 = 100
Po 200kPa,.....Tand
o 500 K ,
m/s. The friction factor is 0.02. Compute
(a) the
maximum duct length for this condition, (b) the mass flux if the duct
length is 15 m, and (c) the reduced mass flux if L = 30 m.
Required:
D = 3 cm & f = 0.02

(a) Lmax for given condition

(b)
for L = 15 m
Po =200 kPa
(c)
m
for L = 30 m
To =500 K

V1 = 100 m/s
Prof. Dr. MOHSEN OSMAN

20

Solution
(a) Apply energy equation between stagnation and inlet states
CP To = CP T1 2+ V12
T1 To

V1
2C P

(100) 2
T1 500 K
495 K
2 x1005
C1 20.046 T1 20.046 495 445m / s
M1

V1
100

0.225
C1
445

Interpolating into Fanno-Line Table across, from M=M1=0.225

fLmax
11
we get
D
0.02 Lmax
11
0.03
0.03
Lmax
(11) 16.5m
0.02

Prof. Dr. MOHSEN OSMAN

21

(b) The given L=15 m is less than Lmax , and so is not choked and the
mass flux follows from inlet conditions; P1
M 1 0.225 Isentropic..Table ..

Po

0.9653

P1 200(0.9653) 193.06kPa
i AiVi
m

Pi
AiVi
RTi

Prof. Dr. MOHSEN OSMAN

22

193.06

x (0.03) 2 (100)
0.287 x 495 4
0.0961kg / s
m

m

(c) Since L = 30 m is greater than Lmax , the duct must choke

back until L = Lmax , corresponding to a lower inlet M1
fLmax
0.02 x30

20
D
0.03

Interpolation in Fanno-Line Table we find that this value of 20

corresponds to M1, choked
= 0.174 (23%
less)
P1
T1
From Isentropic Table : Po 0.9794,.... To 0.994
T1,new 500(0.994) 497 K

P1,new 200(0.9794) 195.88kPa

C1,new 20.046 497 446m / s
V1,new ( M 1C1 ) new 0.174(446) 77.6m / s
new
m

P1new
195.88

A1V1,new
x (0.03) 2 x 77.6
RT1new
0.287 x 497 4

new 0.0753..kg / s.............( 22%...less )

m
Prof. Dr. MOHSEN OSMAN

23