The four diagrams below further explain the bend angle b and the direction of the computed

force for various situations. The pipe bends are in the horizontal plane. Plain arrow (-->)
indicates flow direction. Bold arrow (-->) indicates resistive force that must be applied to keep
the bend in place.

Equations
The equations used in our calculation can be found in nearly any college level fluid mechanics
textbook (e.g. Munson et al., 1998) or fluid mechanics reference handbook. The force equations
are based on linear momentum conservation. P2 is computed using the Bernoulli Equation, which
assumes negligible friction loss around the bend.

Subscript 1 is upstream of bend; Subscript 2 is downstream of bend; Subscript x is x-component

of force; Subscript y is y-component of force. For a pipe bend in the horizontal plane where
friction effects around the bend are negligible:

Fx = -P1A1 - P2A2 cos(b) - d Q [V1 + V2 cos(b)]

Fy = P2 A2 sin(b) + d V2 Q sin(b) F = (Fx2 + Fy2)1/2

Q=VA A=¶ D2 / 4

P2 = P1 + d (V12 - V22) / 2
Variables
To use the equations above, a consistent set of units must be used. The variables below show the
SI (System International) units for each variable. Our calculation allows a variety of other units
with the conversions made internally within the program.
A=Pipe flow area (m2)
b=Pipe angle shown in the figure above (valid range is 0 to 2¶ radians or 0 to 360o)
d=Liquid (or gas) mass density (kg/m3)
D=Pipe diameter (m)
F=Resistive (reaction) Force (N)
P=Gage pressure (N/m2, relative to atmospheric pressure)

Resulting force due to Mass flow and Flow Velocity

The resulting force in x-direction due to mass flow and flow velocity can be expressed as:

Rx = m v (1 - cosβ) (1)

= ρ A v2 (1 - cosβ) (1b)

= ρ π (d / 2)2 v2 (1 - cosβ) (1c)

where

Rx = resulting force in x-direction (N)

m = mass flow (kg/s)

v = flow velocity (m/s)

β = turning bend angle (degrees)

ρ = fluid density (kg/m3)

d = internal pipe or bend diameter (m)

π = 3.14...

The resulting force in y-direction due to mass flow and flow velocity can be expressed as:

Ry = m v sinβ (2)

= ρ A v2 sinβ (2b)

= ρ π (d / 2)2 v2 sinβ (2c)

Ry = resulting force in y direction (N)

The resulting force on the bend due to force in x- and y-direction can be expressed as:
R = (Rx2 + Ry2)1/2 (3)

where

R = resulting force on the bend (N)

Example - Resulting force on a bend due to mass flow and flow velocity

The resulting force on a 45o bend with

 diameter 114 mm = 0.114 m

 water with density 1000 kg/m3
 flow velocity 20 m/s

can be calculated by as

Resulting force in x-direction:

Rx = (1000 kg/m3) π ((0.114 m) / 2)2 (20 m/s)2 (1 - cos45)

= 1196 (N)

Resulting force in y-direction:

Ry = (1000 kg/m3) π ((0.114 m) / 2)2 (20 m/s)2 sin45

= 2887 (N)

Resulting force on the bend

R = ((1196 N)2 + (2887 N)2)1/2

= 3125 (N)

Note - if β is 90o the resulting forces in x- and y-directions are the same.

Resulting force due to Static Pressure

The pressure and the end surfaces of the bend creates resulting forces in x- and y-directions.

The resulting force in x-direction can be expressed as

Rpx = p A (1- cos β) (4)

= p π (d / 2)2 (1- cos β) (4b)

where
Rpx = resulting force due to pressure in x-direction (N)

p = gauge pressure inside pipe (Pa, N/m2)

The resulting force in y-direction can be expressed as

Rpy = p π (d / 2)2 sinβ (5)

where

Rpy = resulting force due to pressure in y-direction (N)

The resulting force on the bend due to force in x- and y-direction can be expressed as:

Rp = (Rpx2 + Rpy2)1/2 (6)

where

Rp = resulting force on the bend due to static pressure (N)

Example - Resulting force on a bend due to pressure

The resulting force on a 45o bend with

 diameter 114 mm = 0.114 m

 pressure 100 kPa

can be calculated by as

Resulting force in x-direction:

Rx = (100 kPa) π ((0.114 m) / 2)2 (1 - cos45)

= 299 (N)

Resulting force in y-direction:

Ry = (100 kPa) π ((0.114 m) / 2)2 sin45

= 722 (N)

Resulting force on the bend

R = ((299 N)2 + (722 N)2)1/2

= 781 (N)