Pipe friction & head loss worksheet with answers

Free printable Pipe friction & head loss worksheet: 6 problems from easy to exam level, with an answer key. Print it or save it as a PDF.

For teachers: free to print, copy and use in class. Every new worksheet has new values and its own answer key. A link to ExamProblems on your course page is appreciated.

Name: ____________________   Date: ____________

1.Easy
V = 0.6 m/sD = 75 mmν = 1.31 × 10⁻⁶ m²/s

Water at 10 °C (ν = 1.31 × 10⁻⁶ m²/s) flows at a mean velocity of 0.6 m/s through a pipe with an inside diameter of 75 mm. Find the Reynolds number Re.

V = 0.6 m/sD = 75 mmν = 1.31 × 10⁻⁶ m²/s
Re =
2.Easy
V = 1.75 m/sD = 100 mmρ = 850 kg/m³, μ = 0.005 Pa·s

Light fuel oil (ρ = 850 kg/m³, μ = 0.005 Pa·s) flows at 1.75 m/s through a pipe with an inside diameter of 100 mm. Find the Reynolds number Re.

ρ = 850 kg/m³μ = 0.005 Pa·sV = 1.75 m/sD = 100 mm
Re =
3.Medium
Q = 200 L/sD = 300 mmL = 1000 mf = 0.02

Water flows at 200 L/s through a pipe 1000 m long with an inside diameter of 300 mm. Use the Darcy friction factor f = 0.02 and g = 9.81 m/s². Find the friction head loss hf.

Q = 200 L/sL = 1000 mD = 300 mmf = 0.02g = 9.81 m/s²
hf = m
4.Medium
V = 2.5 m/sD = 50 mmL = 400 mf = 0.015

Water (ρ = 1000 kg/m³) flows at 2.5 m/s through a horizontal pipe, 400 m long, with an inside diameter of 50 mm. Use the Darcy friction factor f = 0.015 and g = 9.81 m/s². Find the pressure drop Δp over the pipe in kPa.

V = 2.5 m/sL = 400 mD = 50 mmf = 0.015ρ = 1000 kg/m³
Δp = kPa
5.Hard
K = 10Δz = 7 mL = 300 m, D = 200 mm, f = 0.0153× bend (K = 0.3)

Two open reservoirs are joined by a pipe 300 m long with an inside diameter of 200 mm and a Darcy friction factor f = 0.015. The water surface of the upper reservoir is 7 m above that of the lower one. The minor losses are a square-edged entrance (K = 0.5), 3 bends (K = 0.3 each), a valve (K = 10) and the exit into the lower reservoir (K = 1.0). Use g = 9.81 m/s². Find the flow rate Q in L/s.

Δz = 7 mL = 300 mD = 200 mmf = 0.015Kentrance = 0.5Kbend = 0.3 (×3)Kvalve = 10Kexit = 1.0
Q = L/s
6.Hard
K = 5free outletH = ?L = 200 m, D = 200 mm, f = 0.0182× bend (K = 0.3)

A pipe 200 m long with an inside diameter of 200 mm (Darcy friction factor f = 0.018) runs from an open reservoir and discharges as a free jet into the air. The minor losses are a square-edged entrance (K = 0.5), 2 bends (K = 0.3 each) and a valve (K = 5). Use g = 9.81 m/s². How far H must the reservoir surface be above the pipe outlet for a flow rate of 80 L/s?

Q = 80 L/sL = 200 mD = 200 mmf = 0.018Kentrance = 0.5Kbend = 0.3 (×2)Kvalve = 5
H = m

Answer key

  1. 1. Re = 34351
  2. 2. Re = 29750
  3. 3. hf = 27.2 m
  4. 4. Δp = 375 kPa
  5. 5. Q = 62.32 L/s
  6. 6. H = 8.296 m

Full step-by-step solutions: practise this topic on examproblems.com.