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 = 50 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 50 mm at 2 L/s. Find the Reynolds number Re.

Q = 2 L/sD = 50 mmν = 1.14 × 10⁻⁶ m²/s
Re =
2.Easy
V = 1.25 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 1.25 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 = 1.25 m/sD = 100 mm
Re =
3.Medium
V = 1.2 m/sD = 50 mmL = 400 mf = 0.03

Water (ρ = 1000 kg/m³) flows at 1.2 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 = 1.2 m/sL = 400 mD = 50 mmf = 0.03ρ = 1000 kg/m³
Δp = kPa
4.Medium
V = 2.3 m/sD = 75 mmL = 150 mf = 0.02

Water flows at a mean velocity of 2.3 m/s through a pipe 150 m long with an inside diameter of 75 mm. Use the Darcy friction factor f = 0.02 and g = 9.81 m/s². Find the friction head loss hf.

V = 2.3 m/sL = 150 mD = 75 mmf = 0.02g = 9.81 m/s²
hf = m
5.Hard
K = 10free outletH = ?L = 200 m, D = 150 mm, f = 0.0153× bend (K = 0.3)

A pipe 200 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), 3 bends (K = 0.3 each) and a valve (K = 10). 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 = 200 mD = 150 mmf = 0.015Kentrance = 0.5Kbend = 0.3 (×3)Kvalve = 10
H = m
6.Hard
K = 10Δz = 38 mL = 150 m, D = 150 mm, f = 0.024× bend (K = 0.3)

Two open reservoirs are joined by a pipe 150 m long with an inside diameter of 150 mm and a Darcy friction factor f = 0.02. The water surface of the upper reservoir is 38 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 = 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 = 38 mL = 150 mD = 150 mmf = 0.02Kentrance = 0.5Kbend = 0.3 (×4)Kvalve = 10Kexit = 1.0
Q = L/s

Answer key

  1. 1. Re = 44675
  2. 2. Re = 2750
  3. 3. Δp = 172.8 kPa
  4. 4. hf = 10.78 m
  5. 5. H = 2.115 m
  6. 6. Q = 84.38 L/s

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