Flow Loss Coefficient - Round Pipe With Two Grooves
- \( D_0\) - Diameter
Double-grooved round channels appear in process piping, HVAC systems, and experimental research setups to deliberately induce turbulence or measure frictional losses. Grooves increase local drag and pressure drop.
Use this page to access flow loss coefficients for dual-groove configurations and calculate the corresponding hydraulic diameter. Despite their complexity, round cross-sections—grooved or smooth—benefit from a robust data foundation.
For pipes of non-round cross section, the flow loss coefficient is defined as:
$$ \lambda = \frac{\Delta p}{(\rho w_0^2 /2)(\ell/D_0)} = k_\mathrm{rd,2 ch}\lambda_\mathrm{round}$$
where \( \lambda_\mathrm{round}\) is the flow loss coefficient of an equivalent channel of round cross section. See associated calculators for a round channel that is smooth, has uniform sand grain roughness, or has non-uniform roughness.
In turbulent flows, a channel with a two grooves has flow loss coefficient correction coefficient \( k_\mathrm{rd,2 ch} \approx 1 \). That is, flow loss coefficient is approximatelly the same as for a round channel.