An exact solution to the Colebrookequation
Hsi-Jen Chen'
c hemical
'
engmeers
.: are familiar with the Fanning (or
Darcy) fnction factor,f, the Moody chart offvs. Reyn-
olds number, R,, and how all of this fits together to calculate
pressure drop for a given fluid flow in a given sized pipe. The
friction factor is calculated from the Colebrook equation:
V<f= -2 log[(~/3,7D)+ (2.51/Re<fi]
where E is the absolute pipe roughness, D is the inside diam-
eter of the pipe, and Reis the Reynolds number for flow. Eq.
(1) serves as the basis of the Moody chart. Since the
Colebrook equation is implicit inf, it often has to be solved
by numerical methods, such as the Newton-Raphson.
For many years, numerous investigators have proposed
explicit approximations for Eq. (l), as can be seen in a sum-
mary by Serghides [f ].
Serghides compared nine explicit approximation formu-
las. Various formulas gave good results but none exactly
compatible with the Colebrook equation. Here is a new
strategy to solve this equation. The method uses direct sub-
stitution repeatedly; the results are quite accurate.
The method
Let us begin with an initial substitution for 2.51/<fof Eq.
(1). As an estimate, we can use the famous Blasius equation:
fl4 = 0.O791/Reu4 (2)
where 4 converts from Darcy to Fanning factors. Eq. (2) is
valid for Reynolds numbers between 2,100 and lo6 for hy-
draulically smooth pipe (E/D = 0). This simple equation is
useful for making estimates for a range of 0.0178 <f<
0.0467. Using an average value of 0.0323 forfyields a value
for the term 2.51/<fof about 14. Combining this value with
Eq. (1) gives:
I/<$= -2 lOg[(d3.70) + 14/R,]
(3)
Substituting Eq. (3)into Eq. (11, we obtain the result of first
iteration (where: A = ~13.70,and B = 5.O2/Re):
I/t'f= -2 log(A - B log(A + 14/R,)) (4) 1. Serghides.
'Universit of New Mexico, Dept. of Chemieal and Nudear Engineering, Alhu-1
queque, dM 87131.
By repeated direct substitution, we obtain the result of
fifth iteration:
l/<f= -2 log(A - B log(A - B log(A - B @(A -
B log(A - B bg(A + 14/R,)))))) (5)
Although Eq. (5)seems lengthy, it is easy to compute due to
(1)
its nested form. It is identical to the evaluation of polynomi-
als hy Homer's rule-the optimal way to arrange a polyno-
mial for rapid evaluation without performing substantial
computations during rearrangement. The evaluation of a
polynomial oE
P(s) = a,X" t a&-' t ' ' ' + a,,, (6)
requires n(n + 1)/2 multiplications and n additions. Horn-
er's rule is achieved by rewriting P(z) as:
P(z) = a,,, + %(ant %(a,-, + s( ' '' (a, + a,z)))) (7)
which takes only n multiplications and n additions; a1 to a,+l
are constants.
Results
To test the accuracy of Eq. (5), a matrix of 70 points was
compared with Eq. (1).This comparison is similar to one by
Zigrang and Sylvester [ZI,but also covers the transition
region (2,100 < R, < 4,000). This test matrix consists of
seven Reynolds numbers hy ten relative-roughness values.
The values of R, are: 2.5 x lo3,4 x lo3,3 x lo4, lo!', lo6, lo"
5x 2X
and lo*. The values of E/D are: 4 x
6 X lo-*, 1.5 X 4X 8x 1.5 x lo-', 3 X
lo-' and 5 x lo-'.
The results? In all cases, the accuracy agrees within a t
least six decimal places with the Colebrook equation. Thus,
Eq. (5) is valid for all values of Re and dD. In fact, the
convergence is so good that any degree of precision can be
obtained simply by increasing the number of the iteration.
References
Vol. 91,
T. K.. "EsiimateFriction Factor Accurately," Chi:. EW.,
No. 5 , p. 63, Mar. 5, 19%
2. Zi ang, D. J., and S Ivester, N. D., En licit A proximationsto the Solution of
Cc%braak's Frietion$aetor Equation, h h E 5, Vol. 28, No. 3, p. 514, 1982,
15