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Water hammer in 200 mm pipe

Short answer

Pressure rise Δp = ρcV = 2.8 MPa (285.4 m head). Period T = 4L/c = L/350 s (e.g., 2.86 s for L=1000 m). Diameter does not affect pressure rise for abrupt closure.

Water is flowing in a 200 mm diameter pipe with a velocity of 2 m/s. If the pipe is abruptly closed, calculate the pressure rise due to water hammer and the period of oscillation of the pressure wave. Assume the wave speed in the pipe is 1400 m/s.

For abrupt (instantaneous) closure, the pressure rise is given by Joukowsky's equation and does not depend on the pipe diameter.

Pressure rise

Δp=ρcV=1000×1400×2=2.8×106 N/m2=2.8 MPaΔH=cVg=1400×29.81=285.4 m of water\begin{aligned} \Delta p &= \rho c V = 1000 \times 1400 \times 2 = 2.8 \times 10^6\ \text{N/m}^2 = 2.8\ \text{MPa} \\ \Delta H &= \frac{cV}{g} = \frac{1400 \times 2}{9.81} = 285.4\ \text{m of water} \end{aligned}

Period of oscillation

One full cycle of the pressure wave takes four trips along the pipe:

T=4Lc=4L1400=L350 sT = \frac{4L}{c} = \frac{4L}{1400} = \frac{L}{350}\ \text{s}

The pipe length L is not given, so T is left in terms of L. For example, for L=1000L = 1000 m, T=4×1000/1400=2.86T = 4 \times 1000/1400 = 2.86 s.

Answer: Pressure rise = 2.8 MN/m² (≈ 285.4 m head); period T=4L/c=L/350T = 4L/c = L/350 s (2.86 s if L = 1000 m).

✓ Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort)

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