Steel Elbow
Steel Elbow
A steel elbow is a pipe fitting used to connect two lengths of pipe or tube, allowing for a change in the direction of the flow within the piping system. The change in direction is typically 45°, 90°, or 180°, but custom angles can also be manufactured to meet specific requirements. Steel elbows are made from various materials, including carbon steel, stainless steel, and alloy steel, depending on the application and environmental conditions.
Steel Elbow Dimension
45-Degree Elbow Dimensions Chart (in lbs)
NPS O.D.
D90 deg LR Center-to-End
A45 deg Long Radius Center-to-End B 90 deg 3D Center-to-End A 45 deg 3D Center-to-End B
1/2 21.3 38 16 – –
3/4 26.7 38 19 57 24
1 33.4 38 22 76 31
1¼ 42.2 48 25 95 39
1½ 48.3 57 29 114 47
2 60.3 76 35 152 63
2½ 73 95 44 190 79
3 88.9 114 51 229 95
3½ 101.6 133 57 267 111
4 114.3 152 64 305 127
5 141.3 190 79 381 157
6 168.3 229 95 457 189
8 219.1 305 127 610 252
10 273 381 159 762 316
12 323.8 457 190 914 378
14 355.6 533 222 1067 441
16 406.4 610 254 1219 505
18 457 686 286 1372 568
20 508 762 318 1524 632
22 559 838 343 1676 694
24 610 914 381 1829 757
26 660 991 406 1981 821
28 711 1067 438 2134 883
30 762 1143 470 2286 964
32 813 1219 502 2438 1010
34 864 1295 533 2591 1073
36 914 1372 565 2743 1135
38 965 1448 600 2896 1200
40 1016 1524 632 3048 1264
42 1067 1600 660 3200 1326
44 1118 1676 695 3353 1389
46 1168 1753 727 3505 1453
48 1219 1829 759 3658 1516
90 Degree Elbow Dimensions Chart (in lbs)
Inch. ND millimeter Center to center Radius Center to end Back to face
D O A B K
1/2 15 21,34 76,20 38,10 15,87 47,62
3/4 20 26,67 57,15 28,57 11,11 42,86
1 25 33,40 76,20 38,10 22,22 55,56
1 1/4 32 42,16 95,25 47,60 25,40 69,85
1 1/2 40 48,26 114,30 57,15 28,57 82,55
2 50 60,32 152,40 76,20 34,92 106,40
2 1/2 65 73,02 190,50 95,25 44,45 131,80
3 80 88,90 228,60 114,30 50,80 158,75
3 1/2 90 101,60 266,70 133,35 57,15 184,15
4 100 114,30 304,80 152,40 63,50 209,55
5 125 141,30 381,00 190,50 79,38 261,90
6 150 168,27 457,20 228,60 95,25 312,70
8 200 219,07 609,60 304,80 127,00 414,30
10 250 273,05 762,00 381,00 158,75 517,50
12 300 323,85 914,40 457,20 190,50 619,10
14 350 355,60 1066,80 533,40 222,25 711,20
16 400 406,40 1219,20 609,60 254,00 812,80
18 450 457,20 1371,60 685,80 285,74 914,40
20 500 508,00 1524,00 762,00 317,50 1016,00
22 550 558,80 1676,40 838,20 342,90 1117,60
24 600 609,60 1828,80 914,40 381,00 1219,20
28 700 711,20 2133,60 1066,80 441,90 1422,40
180 Degree Elbow Dimensions Chart (in lbs)
Normal Pipe Size Outside Daimeter
DASME 180 degree Long Rad ASME 180 degree Short Rad
Center to Center O Back to Face K Center to Center O Back to Face K
1/2 21.3 76 48 … …
3/4 26.7 76 51 … …
1 33.4 76 56 51 41
1.1/4 42.2 95 70 64 52
1.1/2 48.3 114 83 76 62
2 60.3 152 106 102 81
2.1/2 73 190 132 127 100
3 88.9 229 159 152 121
3.1/2 101.6 267 184 178 140
4 114.3 305 210 203 159
5 141.3 381 262 254 197
6 168.3 457 313 305 237
8 219.1 610 414 406 313
10 273 762 518 508 391
12 323.8 914 619 610 467
14 355.6 1067 711 711 533
16 406.4 1219 813 813 610
18 457 1372 914 914 686
20 508 1524 1016 1016 762
22 559 1676 1118 1118 838
24 610 1829 1219 1219 914
Normal Pipe Size Outside Daimeter D 180 degree Long Rad 180 degree Short Rad
Center to Center O Back to Face K Center to Center O Back to Face K
Steel Elbow Weight Chart
45-degree Elbow Weight Chart (in lbs)
Nominal Pipe Size (NPS) Schedule 40 Schedule 80 Schedule 160
1/2″ 0.6 0.9 1.3
3/4″ 0.8 1.2 1.7
1″ 1.1 1.6 2.2
1 1/4″ 1.4 2.1 3.0
1 1/2″ 1.8 2.7 3.7
2″ 2.6 4.0 5.5
2 1/2″ 4.1 6.2 8.4
3″ 5.7 8.6 11.5
4″ 8.6 12.7 17.0
5″ 11.3 17.0 22.7
6″ 14.5 21.8 29.5
8″ 20.5 30.7 41.0
10″ 28.0 42.0 56.0
12″ 36.8 55.2 73.5
14″ 48.3 72.4 96.5
16″ 60.5 90.7 120.5
18″ 74.4 111.6 148.0
20″ 89.9 134.9 179.5
24″ 114.0 171.0 228.0
30″ 162.0 243.0 324.0
36″ 212.0 318.0 424.0
42″ 274.0 411.0 548.0
48″ 352.0 528.0 704.0
90-degree Elbow Weight Chart (in lbs)
Nominal Pipe Size (NPS) Schedule 40 Schedule 80 Schedule 160
1/2″ 0.7 1.0 1.4
3/4″ 1.0 1.4 2.0
1″ 1.3 1.9 2.6
1 1/4″ 1.6 2.4 3.3
1 1/2″ 2.1 3.0 4.0
2″ 2.9 4.4 5.9
2 1/2″ 4.5 6.8 9.1
3″ 6.5 9.7 12.9
4″ 9.7 14.6 19.5
5″ 12.7 19.0 25.3
6″ 16.5 24.8 33.0
8″ 23.0 34.5 46.0
10″ 31.5 47.3 63.7
12″ 40.9 61.4 81.9
14″ 53.1 79.7 106.0
16″ 66.0 99.0 132.0
18″ 80.7 121.0 160.0
20″ 97.5 146.0 194.0
24″ 123.5 185.0 246.0
30″ 177.0 265.5 354.0
36″ 234.0 351.0 468.0
42″ 304.0 456.0 608.0
48″ 388.0 582.0 776.0
180 Degree Elbow Weight Chart (in lbs)
Nominal Pipe Size (NPS) Schedule 40 Schedule 80 Schedule 160
1/2″ 1.1 1.5 2.0
3/4″ 1.4 2.0 2.8
1″ 1.8 2.7 3.6
1 1/4″ 2.3 3.4 4.5
1 1/2″ 3.0 4.4 5.9
2″ 4.3 6.4 8.5
2 1/2″ 6.7 10.1 13.4
3″ 9.4 14.1 18.7
4″ 14.0 20.9 27.8
5″ 18.5 27.5 36.7
6″ 24.0 35.8 47.8
8″ 33.0 49.5 66.0
10″ 44.5 66.8 89.0
12″ 56.0 84.0 112.0
14″ 71.0 106.5 142.0
16″ 88.0 132.0 176.0
18″ 108.0 162.0 216.0
20″ 128.0 192.0 256.0
24″ 160.0 240.0 320.0
Types of Steel Elbows
1. Based on Angle
- 45° Elbow: Used to make a 45-degree turn in the piping system.
- 90° Elbow: Commonly used for a right-angle turn.
- 180° Elbow: Allows for a complete reversal of flow direction.
2. Based on Radius
- Short Radius (SR) Elbow: The radius of curvature is equal to the nominal diameter of the pipe. Ideal for compact systems with space constraints.
- Long Radius (LR) Elbow: The radius of curvature is 1.5 times the nominal diameter of the pipe. Preferred for systems requiring smoother flow and minimal pressure drop.
3. Based on the Connection Type
- Buttweld Elbow: Welded directly to the pipe for a secure and leak-proof connection.
- Socket Weld Elbow: Features a socket into which the pipe is inserted before welding.
- Threaded Elbow: Equipped with threads for screw-on connections, commonly used in smaller pipelines.
- Flanged Elbow: Comes with flanges for bolted connections, making it easier to assemble and disassemble.
4. Based on Material
- Carbon Steel Elbow: Suitable for high-pressure and high-temperature applications.
- Stainless Steel Elbow: Offers excellent corrosion resistance, ideal for aggressive environments.
- Alloy Steel Elbow: Provides enhanced mechanical properties for specialized applications.
- Duplex and Super Duplex Steel Elbow: Combines strength and corrosion resistance for demanding industries.
Manufacturing Processes
1. Mandrel Method
The mandrel method involves heating a straight steel pipe and shaping it into an elbow using a mandrel and dies. This process ensures uniform wall thickness and smooth surface finish.
2. Hot Forming
In hot forming, a steel billet is heated to high temperatures and shaped into an elbow using a die. The high-temperature process improves the mechanical properties of the elbow.
3. Cold Forming
Cold forming involves shaping the elbow without heating, using high-pressure hydraulic machines. This method is suitable for producing small-diameter elbows with high precision.
4. Extrusion
The extrusion process pushes a heated steel billet through a die to create the elbow. It’s commonly used for high-strength and large-diameter elbows.
5. Welding and Fabrication
Welding multiple steel segments together creates elbows for unique configurations and large diameters. This method is used when standard sizes and shapes don’t meet the project requirements.
Benefits of Steel Elbows
1. Durability and Strength
Steel elbows are known for their robust construction, making them suitable for high-pressure and high-temperature environments.
2. Corrosion Resistance
Stainless steel and specialized alloys offer exceptional resistance to corrosion, ensuring longevity in harsh environments.
3. Versatility
Available in various angles, radii, and connection types, steel elbows can be customized to suit any application.
4. Ease of Installation
Threaded and flanged elbows simplify installation and maintenance, especially in complex systems.
5. Cost-Effectiveness
Steel elbows provide a long-term solution due to their durability, reducing the need for frequent replacements.
Application
- Oil and Gas Pipelines
- Water Treatment Plants
- Petrochemical
- Construction
- Pressure Vessels
- Phosphate Mining
