PIPE ROUGHNESS VALUES

Jacques Chaurette p. eng.

www.lightmypump.com
February 2003

Pipe absolute roughness values (RMS)

Material
Riveted steel1
Concrete1
Ductile iron2
Wood stave1

Absolute roughness
(in x 10-3)
36-360
12-120
102
3.6-7.2

Absolute roughness
(micron or m x 10-6)
915-9150
305-3050
2591
91-183

Galvanized iron1
Cast iron asphalt dipped1
Cast iron uncoated1
Carbon steel or wrought iron1
Stainless steel1

6
4.8
10
1.8
1.8

152
122
254
45
45

Fiberglass3
Drawn tubing glass, brass,
plastic1
Copper2
Aluminium2
PVC2
Red brass2

0.2
0.06

5
1.5

0.06
0.06
0.06
0.06

1.5
1.5
1.5
1.5

Sources :

1. Cameron hydraulic data Book

2. Enginereed Softwares PIPE-FLO software www.engineeredsoftware.com
3. Fiberglass Pipe Handbook, SPI Composites Institute