EXPERIMENTAL STUDIES ON THE IMPACT OF CHANGING THE PIPE MATERIAL ON THE PROPAGATION OF THE PRESSURE WAVE DURING WATER HAMMER

Abstract

Aim of the paper is to present the results studying the water hammer phenomenon in pipes made of different materials, and to show the impact of changing the type of material of the pipe on the velocity of the pressure wave during the transient flow in the pipes. In terms of research material and methods, pipes made of galvanized steel and high-density polyethylene were tested. Measurements were made using strain gauges with a high accuracy of measurement. The results of the pressure wave velocity range from 205 to 247 m/s for the polyethylene pipe, and from 426 to 1351 m/s for the steel pipe. Therefore, the change in the type of the pipe material has a significant effect on the velocity of the pressure wave during the water hammer. The value of this velocity is influenced not only by the properties of the material itself or of the liquid, but also of the length of the sections and their position relative to each other. It is evident that the velocity in the polyethylene pipe does not change significantly in relation to the situation where the pipe has constant material characteristics. The situation is radically different in the case of a steel pipe, where the velocity of the pressure wave changes along with the length of the pipe and its position relative to the tank. The lowest value of the velocity in the elastic pipe is achieved when the latter is on the valve side and is only 13.15 m long, while the highest value is reached when the 13.24 m steel pipe is located on the side of the tank.