Pipe Formulas

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Pipe Formulas
Pipe and Tube Equations - moment of inertia, section modulus, traverse metal area, external
pipe surface and traverse internal area - imperial units

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Online Pipe Formula Calculator

outside diameter (in)

Insulation
Material Properties
Mathematics

inside diameter (in) - (default values: STD 4 inches - Carbon, Alloy and Stainless
Steel Pipes - ASME/ANSI B36.10/19

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The calculator is based on the piping formulas and equations below:

Moment of Inertia
Moment of inertia can be expressed as
I = 0.0491 (do4 - di4)

(1)

Water Systems

10/6/2013 3:20 PM

Pipe Formulas

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http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/pipe-formulas-d_1335.html

di = inside diameter (in)

ASME Pipe
Calculation
Steel Tube
Convert Units
Temperature

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Section Modulus
Section modulus can be expressed as
Z = 0.0982 (do4 - di4) / do

(2)

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where
o

Z = section modulus (in3)

Transverse Metal Area

Length

m
km
in

Transverse metal area can be expressed as

Am = (do2 - di2) / 4

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(3)

where

ft
yards

Am = transverse metal area (in2)

miles
nautical miles

External Pipe Surface

Official

External pipe or tube surface per ft of length can be expressed as

Volume
3

Ao = do / 12

(4)

where

liters
in3
ft

us gal

Ao = external pipe surface area (ft2 per ft pipe)

Internal Pipe Surface

Internal pipe or tube surface per ft of length can be expressed as

Velocity

Ai = di / 12
m/s
km/h
ft/min
ft/s

(5)

Engineering
Standards

where
Ai = internal pipe surface area (ft2 per ft pipe)

10/6/2013 3:20 PM

Pipe Formulas

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http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/pipe-formulas-d_1335.html

Pa (N/m2)
bar
mm H2O
kg/cm2
psi
inches H2O

Flow

where
Aa = transverse internal area (in2)

Circumference External
External circumference can be expressed as
Ce = do

(7)

where
3

m /s
m3/h
US gpm
cfm

Ce = external circumference (in)

Circumference Internal
Internal circumference can be expressed as
Ci = di

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(8)

where
Ci = internal circumference (in)

Estimating Pipe Circumference and Section Area

Nominal Pipe Size

Circumference

Section Area

(in)

(in)

(sq.in.)

1/4

0.785

0.049

3/8

1.178

0.110

1/2

1.571

0.196

3/4

2.356

0.442

3.142

0.785

1 1/4

3.927

1.227

1 1/2

4.712

1.767

6.283

3.142

2 1/2

7 854

4 909

10/6/2013 3:20 PM