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.

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1.Easy
V = 0.3 m/sD = 150 mmν = 1.31 × 10⁻⁶ m²/s

Water at 10 °C (ν = 1.31 × 10⁻⁶ m²/s) flows at a mean velocity of 0.3 m/s through a pipe with an inside diameter of 150 mm. Find the Reynolds number Re.

V = 0.3 m/sD = 150 mmν = 1.31 × 10⁻⁶ m²/s
Re =
2.Easy
V = 1.8 m/sD = 50 mmν = 0.801 × 10⁻⁶ m²/s

Water at 30 °C (ν = 0.801 × 10⁻⁶ m²/s) flows at a mean velocity of 1.8 m/s through a pipe with an inside diameter of 50 mm. Find the Reynolds number Re.

V = 1.8 m/sD = 50 mmν = 0.801 × 10⁻⁶ m²/s
Re =
3.Medium
V = 2.6 m/sD = 250 mmL = 150 mf = 0.025

Water flows at a mean velocity of 2.6 m/s through a pipe 150 m long with an inside diameter of 250 mm. Use the Darcy friction factor f = 0.025 and g = 9.81 m/s². Find the friction head loss hf.

V = 2.6 m/sL = 150 mD = 250 mmf = 0.025g = 9.81 m/s²
hf = m
4.Medium
Q = 50 L/sD = 300 mmL = 200 mf = 0.02

Water flows at 50 L/s through a pipe 200 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 = 50 L/sL = 200 mD = 300 mmf = 0.02g = 9.81 m/s²
hf = m
5.Hard
K = 10Δz = ?L = 150 m, D = 250 mm, f = 0.0254× bend (K = 0.3)

Two open reservoirs are joined by a pipe 150 m long with an inside diameter of 250 mm and a Darcy friction factor f = 0.025. The minor losses are a square-edged entrance (K = 0.5), 4 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. What difference in water level Δz between the reservoirs gives a flow rate of 75 L/s?

Q = 75 L/sL = 150 mD = 250 mmf = 0.025Kentrance = 0.5Kbend = 0.3 (×4)Kvalve = 10Kexit = 1.0
Δz = m
6.Hard
K = 10Δz = 39 mL = 200 m, D = 300 mm, f = 0.0224× bend (K = 0.3)

Two open reservoirs are joined by a pipe 200 m long with an inside diameter of 300 mm and a Darcy friction factor f = 0.022. The water surface of the upper reservoir is 39 m above that of the lower one. The minor losses are a square-edged entrance (K = 0.5), 4 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 = 39 mL = 200 mD = 300 mmf = 0.022Kentrance = 0.5Kbend = 0.3 (×4)Kvalve = 10Kexit = 1.0
Q = L/s

Answer key

  1. 1. Re = 34351
  2. 2. Re = 112360
  3. 3. hf = 5.168 m
  4. 4. hf = 0.34 m
  5. 5. Δz = 3.296 m
  6. 6. Q = 373.8 L/s

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