Butt Weld Elbows (45°, 90°, 180° · LR / SR)
Giriraj Impex is a manufacturer, stockist, supplier and exporter of butt-weld pipe elbows – 45°, 90° and 180° elbows in long radius (LR) and short radius (SR), and 3D and 5D bends – to ASME B16.9, ASME B16.28 and MSS SP-43. We manufacture pipe elbows in stainless steel, carbon steel, alloy steel, duplex and super duplex steel and nickel alloys, seamless and welded, from ½" to 48" NB, in schedules from Sch 5S to XXS, with mill test certificates.
Elbows change the direction of a pipeline. They are the most used butt-weld fitting in process, utility and pipeline systems.
Types of elbows
- 90° elbows – turn the flow through a right angle; the most common type.
- 45° elbows – for gentler changes of direction and offsets.
- 180° returns – reverse the flow, used in heater coils and heat-exchanger bundles.
- Long radius (LR) – centreline radius 1.5 × NPS; lower pressure drop and erosion, the default in most piping.
- Short radius (SR) – centreline radius 1.0 × NPS; used where space is tight, with higher pressure drop.
- 3D and 5D bends – radius 3 or 5 × NPS, for pigging, slurry and low-pressure-drop lines.
- Reducing elbows – change direction and size together.
Specifications
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Dimensional standards | ASME B16.9, ASME B16.28 (short radius), MSS SP-43 (light wall), MSS SP-75 |
| Sizes | ½" to 24" NB seamless; up to 48" NB welded |
| Schedules | Sch 5S, 10S, 40S, 80S, 10 to 160, STD, XS, XXS |
| Construction | Seamless or welded |
| Ends | Bevelled to ASME B16.25 |
| Documents | Mill test certificate (MTC); third-party inspection on request |
Elbow dimensions
| NPS | OD at bevel | 90° long radius | 45° long radius | 90° short radius |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ½ | 21.3 | 38 | 16 | – |
| ¾ | 26.7 | 38 | 19 | – |
| 1 | 33.4 | 38 | 22 | 25 |
| 1¼ | 42.2 | 48 | 25 | 32 |
| 1½ | 48.3 | 57 | 29 | 38 |
| 2 | 60.3 | 76 | 35 | 51 |
| 2½ | 73.0 | 95 | 44 | 64 |
| 3 | 88.9 | 114 | 51 | 76 |
| 4 | 114.3 | 152 | 64 | 102 |
| 5 | 141.3 | 190 | 79 | 127 |
| 6 | 168.3 | 229 | 95 | 152 |
| 8 | 219.1 | 305 | 127 | 203 |
| 10 | 273.1 | 381 | 159 | 254 |
| 12 | 323.9 | 457 | 190 | 305 |
| 14 | 355.6 | 533 | 222 | 356 |
| 16 | 406.4 | 610 | 254 | 406 |
| 18 | 457.0 | 686 | 286 | 457 |
| 20 | 508.0 | 762 | 318 | 508 |
| 24 | 610.0 | 914 | 381 | 610 |
Dimensions are from ASME B16.9 and are given for guidance; always check the current edition and the project specification. More fitting dimensions are in the butt-weld fitting dimensions chart.
LR or SR elbow?
Long radius elbows are standard because their gentler bend gives lower pressure drop, less turbulence and less erosion, and they are easier to pig. Short radius elbows save space and are used in compact layouts and where the pressure drop is acceptable; under ASME B16.9 and B31.3, their pressure rating may need checking because of the higher stresses at the inner radius. Where flow velocity is high or the fluid carries solids, 3D or 5D bends are preferred.
For pipelines that will be cleaned or inspected by pigs, the bend radius must suit the pig – 3D or 5D bends are normally specified, and the bore must match the pipe closely.
Elbow materials
- Stainless steel pipe fittings – ASTM A403 WP304/304L, WP316/316L, WP321, WP347.
- Carbon steel pipe fittings – ASTM A234 WPB, WPC; A420 WPL6; MSS SP-75 WPHY.
- Alloy steel pipe fittings – ASTM A234 WP5, WP9, WP11, WP22, WP91.
- Duplex steel pipe fittings – ASTM A815 WPS31803, WPS32205.
- Super duplex pipe fittings – ASTM A815 WPS32750, WPS32760.
- Inconel pipe fittings – ASTM B366, and other nickel alloys.
All fitting materials are on the pipe fittings page.
How we manufacture elbows
Seamless elbows are formed from pipe by hot mandrel bending, in which the heated pipe is pushed over a horn-shaped mandrel that expands and bends it, or by cold forming in dies for small sizes. Large elbows are pressed from plate in two halves and welded. Long-radius bends are made by induction bending. After forming, elbows are heat treated as the material standard requires, calibrated, bevelled and checked for dimensions and wall thickness, especially at the outer radius where the wall thins most. Each elbow is marked with material, size, schedule and heat number.
Ordering elbows
Please give the material, angle, radius (LR, SR, 3D or 5D), size, schedule, seamless or welded construction, quantity and any testing or inspection requirement.
Frequently Asked Questions
A long radius elbow has a centreline radius of 1.5 × NPS; a short radius elbow has 1.0 × NPS. LR elbows give lower pressure drop and are the default.
Under ASME B16.9, a 4" 90° long radius elbow has a centre-to-end dimension of 152 mm.
A 3D bend has a centreline radius of three times the nominal pipe size and is used for pigging, slurry and low-pressure-drop lines.
ASME B16.9 covers factory-made wrought butt-weld fittings, including LR elbows; ASME B16.28 covers short radius elbows.
Most seamless elbows are made by hot mandrel bending of pipe, then heat treated, calibrated and bevelled.
A 180° return reverses flow direction and is used in heater coils, heat exchangers and compact piping loops.
Request a Quote for Butt Weld Elbows (45°, 90°, 180° · LR / SR)
Tell us the product, grade, size, standard, quantity and delivery location, and our sales team will reply with a quotation.
Inconel® is a trademark of Special Metals Corporation.