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 m/sD = 25 mmρ = 880 kg/m³, μ = 0.04 Pa·s

Hydraulic oil (ρ = 880 kg/m³, μ = 0.04 Pa·s) flows at 1 m/s through a pipe with an inside diameter of 25 mm. Find the Reynolds number Re.

ρ = 880 kg/m³μ = 0.04 Pa·sV = 1 m/sD = 25 mm
Re =
2.Easy
Q = 15 L/sD = 150 mmν = 0.801 × 10⁻⁶ m²/s

Water at 30 °C (ν = 0.801 × 10⁻⁶ m²/s) flows through a pipe with an inside diameter of 150 mm at 15 L/s. Find the Reynolds number Re.

Q = 15 L/sD = 150 mmν = 0.801 × 10⁻⁶ m²/s
Re =
3.Medium
V = 1.4 m/sD = 300 mmL = 500 mf = 0.028

Water (ρ = 1000 kg/m³) flows at 1.4 m/s through a horizontal pipe, 500 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 pressure drop Δp over the pipe in kPa.

V = 1.4 m/sL = 500 mD = 300 mmf = 0.028ρ = 1000 kg/m³
Δp = kPa
4.Medium
V = 2.2 m/sD = 300 mmL = 800 mf = 0.03

Water flows at a mean velocity of 2.2 m/s through a pipe 800 m long with an inside diameter of 300 mm. Use the Darcy friction factor f = 0.03 and g = 9.81 m/s². Find the friction head loss hf.

V = 2.2 m/sL = 800 mD = 300 mmf = 0.03g = 9.81 m/s²
hf = m
5.Hard
K = 5free outletH = ?L = 200 m, D = 250 mm, f = 0.022× bend (K = 0.3)

A pipe 200 m long with an inside diameter of 250 mm (Darcy friction factor f = 0.02) 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 120 L/s?

Q = 120 L/sL = 200 mD = 250 mmf = 0.02Kentrance = 0.5Kbend = 0.3 (×2)Kvalve = 5
H = m
6.Hard
K = 0.2Δz = ?L = 100 m, D = 250 mm, f = 0.0153× bend (K = 0.3)

Two open reservoirs are joined by a pipe 100 m long with an inside diameter of 250 mm and a Darcy friction factor f = 0.015. 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 100 L/s?

Q = 100 L/sL = 100 mD = 250 mmf = 0.015Kentrance = 0.5Kbend = 0.3 (×3)Kvalve = 0.2Kexit = 1.0
Δz = m

Answer key

  1. 1. Re = 550
  2. 2. Re = 158956
  3. 3. Δp = 45.73 kPa
  4. 4. hf = 19.73 m
  5. 5. H = 7.036 m
  6. 6. Δz = 1.819 m

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