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 = 0.2 m/sD = 100 mmν = 1.31 × 10⁻⁶ m²/s

Water at 10 °C (ν = 1.31 × 10⁻⁶ m²/s) flows at a mean velocity of 0.2 m/s through a pipe with an inside diameter of 100 mm. Find the Reynolds number Re.

V = 0.2 m/sD = 100 mmν = 1.31 × 10⁻⁶ m²/s
Re =
2.Easy
V = 2.2 m/sD = 40 mmν = 1.00 × 10⁻⁶ m²/s

Water at 20 °C (ν = 1.00 × 10⁻⁶ m²/s) flows at a mean velocity of 2.2 m/s through a pipe with an inside diameter of 40 mm. Find the Reynolds number Re.

V = 2.2 m/sD = 40 mmν = 1.00 × 10⁻⁶ m²/s
Re =
3.Medium
V = 2.4 m/sD = 200 mmL = 100 mf = 0.022

Water flows at a mean velocity of 2.4 m/s through a pipe 100 m long with an inside diameter of 200 mm. Use the Darcy friction factor f = 0.022 and g = 9.81 m/s². Find the friction head loss hf.

V = 2.4 m/sL = 100 mD = 200 mmf = 0.022g = 9.81 m/s²
hf = m
4.Medium
V = 0.9 m/sD = 300 mmL = 50 mf = 0.025

Water (ρ = 1000 kg/m³) flows at 0.9 m/s through a horizontal pipe, 50 m long, with an inside diameter of 300 mm. Use the Darcy friction factor f = 0.025 and g = 9.81 m/s². Find the pressure drop Δp over the pipe in kPa.

V = 0.9 m/sL = 50 mD = 300 mmf = 0.025ρ = 1000 kg/m³
Δp = kPa
5.Hard
K = 2Δz = 30 mL = 500 m, D = 300 mm, f = 0.0152× bend (K = 0.3)

Two open reservoirs are joined by a pipe 500 m long with an inside diameter of 300 mm and a Darcy friction factor f = 0.015. The water surface of the upper reservoir is 30 m above that of the lower one. The minor losses are a square-edged entrance (K = 0.5), 2 bends (K = 0.3 each), a valve (K = 2) 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 = 30 mL = 500 mD = 300 mmf = 0.015Kentrance = 0.5Kbend = 0.3 (×2)Kvalve = 2Kexit = 1.0
Q = L/s
6.Hard
K = 2Δz = ?L = 100 m, D = 150 mm, f = 0.0252× bend (K = 0.3)

Two open reservoirs are joined by a pipe 100 m long with an inside diameter of 150 mm and a Darcy friction factor f = 0.025. The minor losses are a square-edged entrance (K = 0.5), 2 bends (K = 0.3 each), a valve (K = 2) 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 20 L/s?

Q = 20 L/sL = 100 mD = 150 mmf = 0.025Kentrance = 0.5Kbend = 0.3 (×2)Kvalve = 2Kexit = 1.0
Δz = m

Answer key

  1. 1. Re = 15267
  2. 2. Re = 88000
  3. 3. hf = 3.229 m
  4. 4. Δp = 1.688 kPa
  5. 5. Q = 317.9 L/s
  6. 6. Δz = 1.356 m

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