Abstract
The implicit Colebrook equation has been the standard for estimating pipe friction factor in a fully developed turbulent regime. Several alternative explicit models to the Colebrook equation have been proposed. To date, most of the accurate explicit models have been those with three logarithmic functions, but they require more computational time than the Colebrook equation. In this study, a new explicit non-linear regression model which has only two logarithmic functions is developed. The new model, when compared with the existing extremely accurate models, gives rise to the least average and maximum relative errors of 0.0025% and 0.0664%, respectively. Moreover, it requires far less computational time than the Colebrook equation. It is therefore concluded that the new explicit model provides a good trade-off between accuracy and relative computational efficiency for pipe friction factor estimation in the fully developed turbulent flow regime.
Highlights
Friction factor estimation is important for modeling flows in pipes and is relevant in most engineering disciplines, for example: chemical, civil and mechanical
They defined relative computational efficiency as the time taken by an explicit model to perform a task relative to the time taken by the Colebrook equation
A new explicit model is developed for predicting friction factor in the range for which the Colebrook equation is valid
Summary
Friction factor estimation is important for modeling flows in pipes and is relevant in most engineering disciplines, for example: chemical, civil and mechanical. (2016) An Accurate and Computationally Efficient Explicit Friction Factor Model. The quest for a fast, non-iterative and accurate model, as an alternative to the Colebrook equation, has given rise to various explicit friction factor models. These explicit models differ in their accuracies and relative computational efficiencies, depending on their degree of complexity. A new explicit model was developed for estimating friction factor in the range for which the Colebrook equation is valid. The remaining sections of this paper are organized as follows: Section 2 reviews the available explicit friction factor models based on accuracy, complexity and relative computational efficiency. Relevant conclusions are drawn based on the results obtained in this study
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