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 = 75 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 75 mm. Find the Reynolds number Re.

ρ = 880 kg/m³μ = 0.04 Pa·sV = 1 m/sD = 75 mm
Re =
2.Easy
V = 1 m/sD = 200 mmν = 1.31 × 10⁻⁶ m²/s

Water at 10 °C (ν = 1.31 × 10⁻⁶ m²/s) flows at a mean velocity of 1 m/s through a pipe with an inside diameter of 200 mm. Find the Reynolds number Re.

V = 1 m/sD = 200 mmν = 1.31 × 10⁻⁶ m²/s
Re =
3.Medium
Q = 2 L/sD = 50 mmL = 50 mf = 0.03

Water flows at 2 L/s through a pipe 50 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 friction head loss hf.

Q = 2 L/sL = 50 mD = 50 mmf = 0.03g = 9.81 m/s²
hf = m
4.Medium
V = 2 m/sD = 300 mmL = 200 mf = 0.02

Water flows at a mean velocity of 2 m/s through a pipe 200 m long with an inside diameter of 300 mm. Use the Darcy friction factor f = 0.02 and g = 9.81 m/s². Find the friction head loss hf.

V = 2 m/sL = 200 mD = 300 mmf = 0.02g = 9.81 m/s²
hf = m
5.Hard
K = 10free outletH = ?L = 200 m, D = 250 mm, f = 0.0182× bend (K = 0.3)

A pipe 200 m long with an inside diameter of 250 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 = 10). 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 = 0.018Kentrance = 0.5Kbend = 0.3 (×2)Kvalve = 10
H = m
6.Hard
K = 10Δz = 7 mL = 200 m, D = 200 mm, f = 0.0253× 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 = 0.025. The water surface of the upper reservoir is 7 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 = 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 = 7 mL = 200 mD = 200 mmf = 0.025Kentrance = 0.5Kbend = 0.3 (×3)Kvalve = 10Kexit = 1.0
Q = L/s

Answer key

  1. 1. Re = 1650
  2. 2. Re = 152672
  3. 3. hf = 1.586 m
  4. 4. hf = 2.718 m
  5. 5. H = 8.072 m
  6. 6. Q = 60.2 L/s

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