Thrust Force Calculation for Thrust block design

The raw formula for the calculation of thrust force is Pressure multiplied by the internal
cross-sectional area of the pipe. However, depending on various pipe configurations
this formula requires to be modified. The following image (Fig. 1) provides some typical
thrust force calculation formulas for ductile iron pipes (Reference: Ductile Iron Pipe
Research Association)

Fig. 1: Thrust force formula for various piping configurations

 Thrust Force on an Elbow or bend: To Calculate the design thrust force or

resultant force for bends the following formula can be used. Thrust force, F = 2 P A
sin (ϕ/ 2) Where: P = design pressure, A = cross-sectional area of the pipe, and ϕ =
angle of the bend.
 Thrust force on Plugs or Caps: The Thrust force in a plug or cap is equal to the
design pressure (P) times the cross-sectional area (A) of the pipe. (Thrust force, F =
P A).
 Thrust force for Tee connections: The thrust force generated in a Tee
connection is calculated as F=P Ab. Where P=internal design pressure and Ab=
cross-sectional area of the branch pipe.
 Thrust force calculation of Pipe reducers: The design thrust force for piping
reducers/expanders is equal to the design pressure (P) times the difference of the
cross-sectional areas of the large (A1) and small end (A2) sizes of the reducer. Hence,
thrust restraint force, F = P (A1 − A2)