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 = 1.5 m/sD = 100 mmρ = 880 kg/m³, μ = 0.04 Pa·s

Hydraulic oil (ρ = 880 kg/m³, μ = 0.04 Pa·s) flows at 1.5 m/s through a pipe with an inside diameter of 100 mm. Find the Reynolds number Re.

ρ = 880 kg/m³μ = 0.04 Pa·sV = 1.5 m/sD = 100 mm
Re =
2.Easy
V = 3 m/sD = 75 mmρ = 880 kg/m³, μ = 0.04 Pa·s

Hydraulic oil (ρ = 880 kg/m³, μ = 0.04 Pa·s) flows at 3 m/s through a pipe with an inside diameter of 75 mm. Find the Reynolds number Re.

ρ = 880 kg/m³μ = 0.04 Pa·sV = 3 m/sD = 75 mm
Re =
3.Medium
V = 2.6 m/sD = 50 mmL = 400 mf = 0.03

Water (ρ = 1000 kg/m³) flows at 2.6 m/s through a horizontal pipe, 400 m long, with an inside diameter of 50 mm. Use the Darcy friction factor f = 0.03 and g = 9.81 m/s². Find the pressure drop Δp over the pipe in kPa.

V = 2.6 m/sL = 400 mD = 50 mmf = 0.03ρ = 1000 kg/m³
Δp = kPa
4.Medium
V = 2.4 m/sD = 300 mmL = 1000 mf = 0.028

Water flows at a mean velocity of 2.4 m/s through a pipe 1000 m long with an inside diameter of 300 mm. Use the Darcy friction factor f = 0.028 and g = 9.81 m/s². Find the friction head loss hf.

V = 2.4 m/sL = 1000 mD = 300 mmf = 0.028g = 9.81 m/s²
hf = m
5.Hard
K = 2free outletH = ?L = 100 m, D = 150 mm, f = 0.0182× bend (K = 0.3)

A pipe 100 m long with an inside diameter of 150 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 = 2). Use g = 9.81 m/s². How far H must the reservoir surface be above the pipe outlet for a flow rate of 20 L/s?

Q = 20 L/sL = 100 mD = 150 mmf = 0.018Kentrance = 0.5Kbend = 0.3 (×2)Kvalve = 2
H = m
6.Hard
K = 2Δz = 39 mL = 150 m, D = 100 mm, f = 0.0184× bend (K = 0.3)

Two open reservoirs are joined by a pipe 150 m long with an inside diameter of 100 mm and a Darcy friction factor f = 0.018. 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 = 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 = 39 mL = 150 mD = 100 mmf = 0.018Kentrance = 0.5Kbend = 0.3 (×4)Kvalve = 2Kexit = 1.0
Q = L/s

Answer key

  1. 1. Re = 3300
  2. 2. Re = 4950
  3. 3. Δp = 811.2 kPa
  4. 4. hf = 27.4 m
  5. 5. H = 1.051 m
  6. 6. Q = 38.59 L/s

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