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
Q = 2 L/sD = 40 mmν = 1.14 × 10⁻⁶ m²/s

Water at 15 °C (ν = 1.14 × 10⁻⁶ m²/s) flows through a pipe with an inside diameter of 40 mm at 2 L/s. Find the Reynolds number Re.

Q = 2 L/sD = 40 mmν = 1.14 × 10⁻⁶ m²/s
Re =
2.Easy
V = 1.25 m/sD = 200 mmρ = 880 kg/m³, μ = 0.04 Pa·s

Hydraulic oil (ρ = 880 kg/m³, μ = 0.04 Pa·s) flows at 1.25 m/s through a pipe with an inside diameter of 200 mm. Find the Reynolds number Re.

ρ = 880 kg/m³μ = 0.04 Pa·sV = 1.25 m/sD = 200 mm
Re =
3.Medium
V = 0.8 m/sD = 75 mmL = 500 mf = 0.018

Water (ρ = 1000 kg/m³) flows at 0.8 m/s through a horizontal pipe, 500 m long, with an inside diameter of 75 mm. Use the Darcy friction factor f = 0.018 and g = 9.81 m/s². Find the pressure drop Δp over the pipe in kPa.

V = 0.8 m/sL = 500 mD = 75 mmf = 0.018ρ = 1000 kg/m³
Δp = kPa
4.Medium
V = 2.8 m/sD = 50 mmL = 150 mf = 0.015

Water flows at a mean velocity of 2.8 m/s through a pipe 150 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 friction head loss hf.

V = 2.8 m/sL = 150 mD = 50 mmf = 0.015g = 9.81 m/s²
hf = m
5.Hard
K = 5Δz = 40 mL = 300 m, D = 300 mm, f = 0.0153× bend (K = 0.3)

Two open reservoirs are joined by a pipe 300 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 40 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 = 5) 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 = 40 mL = 300 mD = 300 mmf = 0.015Kentrance = 0.5Kbend = 0.3 (×3)Kvalve = 5Kexit = 1.0
Q = L/s
6.Hard
K = 0.2Δz = ?L = 150 m, D = 250 mm, f = 0.023× 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 = 0.02. The minor losses are a square-edged entrance (K = 0.5), 3 bends (K = 0.3 each), a valve (K = 0.2) 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 50 L/s?

Q = 50 L/sL = 150 mD = 250 mmf = 0.02Kentrance = 0.5Kbend = 0.3 (×3)Kvalve = 0.2Kexit = 1.0
Δz = m

Answer key

  1. 1. Re = 55844
  2. 2. Re = 5500
  3. 3. Δp = 38.4 kPa
  4. 4. hf = 17.98 m
  5. 5. Q = 418.4 L/s
  6. 6. Δz = 0.7721 m

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