How to use the pipe friction head loss calculator
Find the energy lost to friction in a pipe using the Darcy-Weisbach equation. Enter darcy friction factor, pipe length, pipe diameter, flow velocity in the fields above; the head loss, pressure drop for water are computed instantly and plotted on the chart so you can see how the answer changes.
Common searches this calculator answers include “pipe pressure loss”, “Darcy Weisbach”, “friction loss in water pipe”, “calculate pipe friction head loss”, “find head loss”.
Formula
Variables
- f — Darcy friction factor
- L — Pipe length (m)
- D — Pipe diameter (m)
- v — Flow velocity (m/s)
Worked example
With darcy friction factor = 0.02, pipe length = 100 m, pipe diameter = 0.1 m, flow velocity = 2 m/s, the calculator gives head loss ≈ 4.078865 m; pressure drop for water ≈ 40 kPa.
Frequently asked questions
What is the pipe friction head loss calculator used for?
Find the energy lost to friction in a pipe using the Darcy-Weisbach equation. It helps with questions such as “pipe pressure loss”, “Darcy Weisbach”, “friction loss in water pipe”.
What is the formula for the pipe friction head loss calculation?
Head loss (m) = f × (L / D) × v × v / (2 × GRAV). Pressure drop for water (kPa) = [Head loss] × GRAV. Here f is darcy friction factor, L is pipe length (m), D is pipe diameter (m), v is flow velocity (m/s).
What inputs do I need for the pipe friction head loss calculator?
You need darcy friction factor, pipe length in m, pipe diameter in m, flow velocity in m/s. Each field is pre-filled with a typical example so you can see how the result responds as you edit the numbers.
How do I use the pipe friction head loss calculator?
Type values into the input fields. Results and the chart update instantly. Use Reset to restore the example values, Copy results to paste them elsewhere, or Share to copy a link that preserves your inputs.
Is the pipe friction head loss result exact?
Calculations use standard formulas and double-precision arithmetic, then display about seven significant figures. Real-world measurements carry uncertainty, so treat results as estimates unless your inputs are exact.