Colebrook-White Equation

Computes the friction factor in pipes for given values of the Reynolds number (Re) and the relative roughness coefficient (epsilon).

https://github.com/isantosruiz/colebrook

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MATLAB code to compute the friction factor in pipes for given values of the Reynolds number (Re) and the relative roughness coefficient (epsilon).

Syntax:
f = colebrook(Re,epsilon)

Example 1: Single Re, single epsilon
Re = 1e5;
epsilon = 1e-4;
f = colebrook(Re,epsilon)

Example 2: Multiple Re, single epsilon
Re = 5000:1000:100000;
epsilon = 1e-4;
f = colebrook(Re,epsilon);
plot(Re,f)

Example 3: Single Re, multiple epsilon
Re = 1e5;
epsilon = linspace(1e-4,1e-1,100);
f = colebrook(Re,epsilon);
plot(epsilon,f)

Example 4: Multiple Re, multiple epsilon
Re = logspace(4,8,100);
epsilon = linspace(1e-4,1e-1,100);
[RE,EPSILON] = meshgrid(Re,epsilon);
F = colebrook(RE,EPSILON);
surf(RE,EPSILON,F)

References:
[1] Colebrook, C. F., & White, C. M. (1937). Experiments with fluid
friction in roughened pipes. Proceedings of the Royal Society of
London. Series A - Mathematical and Physical Sciences, 161(906),
367-381.
[2] Colebrook, C. (1939). Turbulent Flow in Pipes, with Particular
Reference to the Transition Region between the Smooth and Rough
Pipe Laws. Journal of the Institution of Civil Engineers, 11(4),
133-156.

Cite As

Ildeberto de los Santos Ruiz (2026). Colebrook-White Equation (https://github.com/isantosruiz/colebrook/releases/tag/1.1), GitHub. Retrieved .

Santos-Ruiz, Ildeberto. Colebrook Equation. Zenodo, 2019, doi:10.5281/zenodo.3348254.

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Acknowledgements

Inspired: Factor de fricción, Colebrook-White

Categories

Find more on Fluid Dynamics in Help Center and MATLAB Answers

General Information

MATLAB Release Compatibility

  • Compatible with any release

Platform Compatibility

  • Windows
  • macOS
  • Linux

Versions that use the GitHub default branch cannot be downloaded

Version Published Release Notes Action
1.1

See release notes for this release on GitHub: https://github.com/isantosruiz/colebrook/releases/tag/1.1

1.0.2

Minor bugs fixed.

1.0.1

Minor bugs fixed.

1.0.0

To view or report issues in this GitHub add-on, visit the GitHub Repository.
To view or report issues in this GitHub add-on, visit the GitHub Repository.