Free Head Loss Calculator

Calculate friction head loss in a pipe using the Darcy-Weisbach equation.

m
mm
m/s

Friction Head Loss

4.08 m

Pressure Drop40.0 kPa

Friction Head Loss vs Darcy Friction Factor (f)

Darcy-Weisbach Head Loss

Friction between the fluid and the pipe wall converts kinetic energy into heat, causing a pressure drop along the pipe.

Formula

h_f = f (L/D) (V^2 / 2g)

where f is the Darcy friction factor (from Moody chart or Colebrook equation), L is pipe length, D is pipe diameter, V is flow velocity, and g is gravitational acceleration (9.81 m/s^2).

Example Calculation

Water at 2 m/s in a 100 mm pipe, 100 m long, with f = 0.02.

  1. 01D = 0.1 m
  2. 02V^2 / 2g = 4 / 19.62 = 0.2039 m
  3. 03h_f = 0.02 x (100/0.1) x 0.2039 = 0.02 x 1000 x 0.2039 = 4.08 m
  4. 04Pressure drop = 1000 x 9.81 x 4.08 / 1000 = 40.0 kPa

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