Losses 

in Pipe Bends

ME‐337 Fluid Mechanics Lab

Department of Mechanical Engineering
College of E&ME, NUST Pakistan
 Losses in Pipe Bends
Objective:

• To determine the relationship between total head loss and

flow rate for pipe bends and other common fittings.

• To determine the loss coefficient K for each fitting and to

compare the results with standard data.
 Losses in Pipe Bends
Application:

• Pumping power calculation

• Overall system head calculation

• Appropriate fitting selection for desired head

 Losses in Pipe Bends
Application:

• An accurate K value for all fittings and valves in a

pipe system is necessary to predict the actual
head loss across the pipe system

• K values assist engineers in totaling all of the

minor losses by multiplying the sum of the K
values by the velocity head to quickly determine
the total head loss due to all fittings
 Losses in Pipe Bends
Application:

• Knowing the K value for each fitting enables 
engineers to use the proper fitting when 
designing an efficient piping system that can 
minimize the head loss and maximize the 
flow rate.
 Losses in Pipe Bends
Application:
• Head loss in long, straight sections of pipe, the
major losses, can be calculated by use of the
friction factor obtained from either the Moody
chart or the Colebrook equation.
• Most pipe systems, however, consist of
considerably more than straight pipes. These
additional components (valves, bends, tees, and
the like) add to the overall head loss of the
system.
• Such losses are generally termed minor losses.
 Losses in Pipe Bends
Introduction:
• The head loss associated with flow through a valve is a common minor
loss. The purpose of a valve is to provide a means to regulate the
flowrate.
• This is accomplished by changing the geometry of the system (i.e.,
closing or opening the valve alters the flow pattern through the valve),
which in turn alters the losses associated with the flow through the
valve.
• The flow resistance or head loss through the valve may be a significant
portion of the resistance in the system. In fact, with the valve closed,
the resistance to the flow is infinite—the fluid cannot flow.
• Thus, the head loss information for essentially all components is given
in dimensionless form and based on experimental data. The most
common method used to determine these head losses or pressure
drops is to specify the loss coefficient.
 Losses in Pipe Bends
Pipe Flow Scenarios:
Losses in Pipe Bends
 Losses in Pipe Bends
Experiment:
• Determination of flow profile
• Computation of Reynold’s number
• Computation of loss coefficients
• Comparison of loss coefficients with
accepted values
 Losses in Pipe Bends
Loss Calculations:

∆𝐻 ∆ℎ ∆ℎ
 Losses in Pipe Bends
Loss Calculations:
 Losses in Pipe Bends
Loss Calculations:
 Losses in Pipe Bends
Loss Calculations: Elbow & smooth bend

1=small pipe ; 2=large pipe
Losses in Pipe Bends
 Losses in Pipe Bends
Experimental Data:
Losses in Pipe Bends

Cross‐
Diameter  Diameter 
sectional 
of the  of the 
Area of  Water 
small bore 22.5 large bore  29.6 6.881E‐04 20 Ls/Ds 8
large  Temp (°C)
pipe, d  pipe, d 
pipe, A 
(mm) (mm)
(m2)

Cross‐
sectional 
3.976E‐ Friction Factor (Both Laminar  f = 16/Re [Laminar]                      
Area of 
04 and Turbulent Regimes) 1/sqrt(f) =4*log(Re/sqrt(f))‐0.4 [Turbulent]
small pipe, 
A (m2)
 Losses in Pipe Bends
Experimental Data:

Mass 
Water  Collection  Mitre  Elbow  Enlargem Contract Smooth 
Flow 
Ser No Quantity  time, t  bend (1‐ bend (3‐4)  ent (5‐6)  ion (7‐8)  Bend (9‐
rate, ṁ 
(Ltr) (sec) 2) mm mm mm mm 10) mm
(kg/sec)

1 24 43.3 154 113 ‐28 109 62

2 24 45.8 148 102 ‐26 100 58
3 24 46.7 126 93 ‐25 89 55
4 12 26 104 77 ‐19 71 45
5 12 28.1 90 64 ‐12 63 39
6 12 30.6 75 58 ‐14 52 28
7 12 36.5 53 40 ‐10 36 22
 Losses in Pipe Bends
Calculate:
Vs (m/s) Vl (m/s) V2s/2g (m) V2l/2g (m),Reynolds Number, Friction factor, Loss
Coefficient
 Losses in Pipe Bends
Assumptions:

• Negligible surface roughness (surface roughness factor ignored)

• Steady state conditions

 Losses in Pipe Bends
Lab work:

1. Compute the Reynolds Number and friction factor from the 
experimental data.

2. Compute loss coefficients for the bends from the experimental data.

3. Compare your calculated loss coefficients for the bends with accepted 
values from the literature.