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 = 1.8 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 1.8 m/s through a pipe with an inside diameter of 200 mm. Find the Reynolds number Re.

V = 1.8 m/sD = 200 mmν = 1.31 × 10⁻⁶ m²/s
Re =
2.Easy
V = 2.5 m/sD = 40 mmν = 1.14 × 10⁻⁶ m²/s

Water at 15 °C (ν = 1.14 × 10⁻⁶ m²/s) flows at a mean velocity of 2.5 m/s through a pipe with an inside diameter of 40 mm. Find the Reynolds number Re.

V = 2.5 m/sD = 40 mmν = 1.14 × 10⁻⁶ m²/s
Re =
3.Medium
V = 2.8 m/sD = 50 mmL = 300 mf = 0.03

Water (ρ = 1000 kg/m³) flows at 2.8 m/s through a horizontal pipe, 300 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 = 2.8 m/sL = 300 mD = 50 mmf = 0.03ρ = 1000 kg/m³
Δp = kPa
4.Medium
Q = 4 L/sD = 50 mmL = 500 mf = 0.022

Water flows at 4 L/s through a pipe 500 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 = 4 L/sL = 500 mD = 50 mmf = 0.022g = 9.81 m/s²
hf = m
5.Hard
K = 0.2Δz = 8 mL = 300 m, D = 200 mm, f = 0.0154× bend (K = 0.3)

Two open reservoirs are joined by a pipe 300 m long with an inside diameter of 200 mm and a Darcy friction factor f = 0.015. The water surface of the upper reservoir is 8 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 = 0.2) 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 = 8 mL = 300 mD = 200 mmf = 0.015Kentrance = 0.5Kbend = 0.3 (×4)Kvalve = 0.2Kexit = 1.0
Q = L/s
6.Hard
K = 5Δz = ?L = 200 m, D = 250 mm, f = 0.0152× bend (K = 0.3)

Two open reservoirs are joined by a pipe 200 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), 2 bends (K = 0.3 each), a valve (K = 5) 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 50 L/s?

Q = 50 L/sL = 200 mD = 250 mmf = 0.015Kentrance = 0.5Kbend = 0.3 (×2)Kvalve = 5Kexit = 1.0
Δz = m

Answer key

  1. 1. Re = 274809
  2. 2. Re = 87719
  3. 3. Δp = 705.6 kPa
  4. 4. hf = 46.54 m
  5. 5. Q = 78.1 L/s
  6. 6. Δz = 1.01 m

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