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 = 2 m/sD = 40 mmρ = 880 kg/m³, μ = 0.04 Pa·s

Hydraulic oil (ρ = 880 kg/m³, μ = 0.04 Pa·s) flows at 2 m/s through a pipe with an inside diameter of 40 mm. Find the Reynolds number Re.

ρ = 880 kg/m³μ = 0.04 Pa·sV = 2 m/sD = 40 mm
Re =
2.Easy
V = 3 m/sD = 50 mmν = 1.14 × 10⁻⁶ m²/s

Water at 15 °C (ν = 1.14 × 10⁻⁶ m²/s) flows at a mean velocity of 3 m/s through a pipe with an inside diameter of 50 mm. Find the Reynolds number Re.

V = 3 m/sD = 50 mmν = 1.14 × 10⁻⁶ m²/s
Re =
3.Medium
Q = 5 L/sD = 50 mmL = 300 mf = 0.022

Water flows at 5 L/s through a pipe 300 m long with an inside diameter of 50 mm. Use the Darcy friction factor f = 0.022 and g = 9.81 m/s². Find the friction head loss hf.

Q = 5 L/sL = 300 mD = 50 mmf = 0.022g = 9.81 m/s²
hf = m
4.Medium
V = 3 m/sD = 50 mmL = 1000 mf = 0.018

Water (ρ = 1000 kg/m³) flows at 3 m/s through a horizontal pipe, 1000 m long, with an inside diameter of 50 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 = 3 m/sL = 1000 mD = 50 mmf = 0.018ρ = 1000 kg/m³
Δp = kPa
5.Hard
K = 5free outletH = ?L = 300 m, D = 150 mm, f = 0.0152× bend (K = 0.3)

A pipe 300 m long with an inside diameter of 150 mm (Darcy friction factor f = 0.015) 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 50 L/s?

Q = 50 L/sL = 300 mD = 150 mmf = 0.015Kentrance = 0.5Kbend = 0.3 (×2)Kvalve = 5
H = m
6.Hard
K = 10Δz = 26 mL = 200 m, D = 200 mm, f = 0.0182× bend (K = 0.3)

Two open reservoirs are joined by a pipe 200 m long with an inside diameter of 200 mm and a Darcy friction factor f = 0.018. The water surface of the upper reservoir is 26 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 = 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 = 26 mL = 200 mD = 200 mmf = 0.018Kentrance = 0.5Kbend = 0.3 (×2)Kvalve = 10Kexit = 1.0
Q = L/s

Answer key

  1. 1. Re = 1760
  2. 2. Re = 131579
  3. 3. hf = 43.63 m
  4. 4. Δp = 1620 kPa
  5. 5. H = 15.14 m
  6. 6. Q = 129.3 L/s

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