Stainless Steel Elbow 45, 90, 180 Degree

Stainless steel elbow is a pipe fitting that connects two lengths of pipe or tubing to change the direction in piping and plumbing systems, there are common angles having 45 degree, 90 degree and 180 degree, 304/304L and 316/316L stainless steel elbows can withstand high pressure and resist corrosion, duplex steels and nickel alloys are available.

We can offer stainless steel elbows in a wide range of styles and sizes, elbow fitting dimension ranges from 1/2 inch to 72 inch, The Schedule in wall thickness range covers 5S, 10S, 40S, 80S, 160S, and XXS conforming to ASME B16.9 and ASME B16.11.

Stainless Steel Elbow Specifications

ANSI SpecificationsANSI B16.9
ASME SpecificationsASME SA-403
ASTM SpecificationsASTM A-403 WPW
Elbow Degree30, 45, 60, 90, 180 degree
Fitting Size1/2″ Up To 10″
ScheduleSch5s, 10S, 40S, 80S
Elbow TypeLong Radius, Short Radius, Straight
MaterialStainless steel 304/304L, 316/316L, 321

Stainless Steel Elbow Material

There are various stainless steels to be adapted for pipe elbow used in different applications, as we know that stainless steel exhibits excellent properties to resist corrosion, heating and high pressure, thus, stainless steel elbow is often used in critical applications.

304 and 316L are the most used stainless steel grades, they are both high chromium austenitic grades and can be met the most cases, and other grades are available, such as 321/321H and 347/347H. Some special alloys are usually for the elbow as well, like 904L, and 2205.

GradeCarbonSiliconManganeseChromiumNickelMolybdenumSulfurPhosphorous
WP 3040,081,02.0018.0 – 20.08.0 – 11.00,030,045
WP 304L0,0351,02.0018.0 – 20.08.0 – 13.00,030,045
WP 3160,081,02.0016.0 – 18.010.0 – 14.02.00 – 3.000,030,045
WP 316L0,0351,02.0016.0 – 18.010.0 – 15.02.00 – 3.000,030,045
WP 3210,081,02.0017.0 – 19.09.0 – 12.00,030,045

There are also EN steel no. for opting, these equivalents include 1.4301, 1.4307, 1.4401, 1.4404, 1.4541, 1.4550, 1.4438, and 1.4539.

Elbow Length And Radius

Elbows are available in two radius types by length, Short radius (SR) and Long radius (LR), there are also other radiuses, for example, 2D, 3D and 4D.

Long Radius Elbow

Long radius elbow the radius of curvature is equal to 1.5 times the diameter of the pipe, namely, R = 1.5D, Long radius elbow is used to reduce frictional force and elbow abrasion.

Short Radius Elbow

Short radius elbow the radius of curvature is equal to the pipe diameter, Short-radius elbow is typically installed in limited situations and tight spaces, it will give the piping a sharper turn than a long-radius elbow, However, it is a less costly option compared to LR elbow.

2D means the bending radius is 2 times the nominal pipe size, in the same way, 3D means 2 times the nominal pipe size, they are long radius elbows as well, these long radius elbows are not like 1.5D elbows frequently used, they are smoother and used for specific applications.

Elbow Direction Angle

There are three common angles of the elbow to use in the piping system, 45 degree, 90 degree and 180 degree, these angle types turn fluid in different directions, including right angles and return angles,  there are also other angles to use, like 60 degree and 180 degree.

45 Degree Elbow

45 degree elbow changes the flow direction to 45 degrees, it includes long radius 45 degree elbow and short radius 45 degree elbow.

90 Degree Elbow

90 degree elbow changes the flow direction to 90 degrees, it also has long radius and short radius types, 90 degree elbow is the most used elbow..

180 Degree Elbow

180 degree elbow changes the flow direction to 180 degrees.

Elbow Connection Style

According to connection style, the elbow can be classified butt weld elbow, socket welded elbow and threaded elbow, butt weld elbow is a commonly used type.

Butt Weld Elbow

Butt weld refers to connecting pipes and fittings ends by butt welding method, it has ends beveled to make it easy to weld, beveled ends should be conformed to the requirement of ASME B16.25, and the plain end is offered upon request, BW elbow dimensions can be from 1/2” to 72”, BW weld elbow can be made of both seamless and welded pipe by the process of hot forming that includes bending and forming to shape.

Butt-weld fittings allow for a smooth, flush connection that provides maximum flow, is lower cost elbow, thin wall sizes can be allowed.

BW Elbow Dimensions

stainless steel elbow dimensions
NPSODCenter To End
Inch.MmABC
1/221.33816
3/426.72911
133.4382225
1 1/442.2482532
1 1/248.3572938
260.3763551
2 1/273954464
388.91145176
3 1/2101.61335789
4114.315264102
5141.319079127
6168.322995152
8219.1305127203
10273.1381159254
12323.9457190305
14355.6533222356
16406.4610254406
18457.2686286457
20508762318508
22559838343559
24610914381610
26660991406660
287111067438711
307621143470762
328131219502813
348641295533864
369141372565914
389651448600965
40101615246321016
42106716006601067
44111816766951118
46116817537271168
48121918297591219
All Dimensions To ASME B16.9, Unit Is In Mm

BW Elbow Weight Chart

NPS
inches
ELBOWS
LR 90°
ELBOWS
SR 90°
Sch.
5S
Sch.
10S
Sch.
40S
Sch.
80S
Sch.
5S
Sch.
10S
Sch.
40S
Sch.
80S
1/20.050.060.080.100.030.040.050.07
3/40.060.070.090.110.040.050.060.07
10.090.150.180.200.060.100.120.13
1 1/40.130.200.250.350.090.130.170.12
1 1/20.180.300.400.500.120.200.270.33
20.300.500.700.900.200.330.470.60
2 1/20.600.851.351.800.400.600.901.20
30.901.302.002.900.600.901.351.90
41.402.004.005.900.901.352.653.90
52.903.606.509.701.952.404.356.50
64.005.0010.516.02.703.357.0010.5
87.4010.021.533.54.906.7014.522.5
1013.616.838.552.59.1011.225.635.0
1223.427.059.079.015.618.039.553.0
1429.035.070.094.019.323.547.063.0
1641.347.095.012527.531.563.584.0
1851.859.012015834.539.580.0105
2073.085.014619449.057.098.0129
2412214021028282.094.0140188
Approximate weights in kg, density 8 kg/dm3

Dimensional Tolerances of Butt Weld Elbows

45° and 90° – LR and 3D elbow conform to ASME B16.9.

Nominal Pipe Size1/2 to 2.1/23 to 3.1/245 to 8
Outside Diameter
at Bevel (D)
+ 1.6
– 0.8
1.61.6+ 2.4
– 1.6
Inside Diameter at End0.81.61.61.6
Center to End LR (A/B)2222
Center to End 3D (A/B)3333
Nominal Pipe Size10 to 1820 to 2426 to 3032 to 48
Outside Diameter
at Bevel (D)
+ 4
– 3.2
+ 6.4
– 4.8
+ 6.4
– 4.8
+ 6.4
– 4.8
Inside Diameter at End3.24.8+ 6.4
– 4.8
+ 6.4
– 4.8
Center to End LR (A/B)2235
Center to End 3D (A/B)3366
Wall Thickness (t)Not less than 87.5% of Nominal Wall Thickness

Dimensional tolerances are in millimeters.

Socket Weld Elbow

The socket weld elbow has a socket area at the end of the elbow, which can be inserted a pipe to connect together, the diameter of the socket area is matching with the outer diameter of the pipe.

Socket-connect elbows are easier to weld than butt-weld elbows because the fitting doesn’t need to align perfectly with the pipe. Slip the pipe into the socket and weld, no beveled ends are needed.

SW elbows also have 90 degree and 45 degree elbows for selecting, generally, SW elbow is used for small pipe diameter, and has three pressure ratings: Class 3000, 6000 and 9000.

Threaded Elbow

Threaded elbow is similar to the SW elbow in shape, the difference is that threaded elbow has thread inside of the elbow end, this type of elbow is easier to install and remove, good for pipeline repair and maintenance.

Stainless Steel Elbow Fitting Specifications And Standards

ASME B16.9, Factory-Made Wrought Butt Welding Fittings

ASME B16.9 covers overall dimensions, tolerances, ratings, testing, and markings for wrought carbon and alloy steel factory-made buttwelding fittings of NPS 1/2 through 48. It covers fittings of any producible wall thickness. This standard does not cover low-pressure corrosion-resistant buttwelding fittings.

See MSS SP-43, Wrought Stainless Steel Butt-Welding Fittings.  Short-radius elbows and returns, which were previously included in ASME B16.28-1994, are included in this standard.  B16.9 is to be used in conjunction with equipment described in other volumes of the ASME B16 series of standards as well as with other ASME standards, such as the Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code and the B31 Piping Codes.

ASTM A403, Wrought Austenitic Stainless Steel Piping Fittings

ASTM A403 covers the standard for wrought austenitic stainless steel fittings for pressure piping applications. The material for fittings shall consist of forgings, bars, plates, or seamless or welded tubular products. Forging or shaping operations shall be performed by hammering, pressing, piercing, extruding, upsetting, rolling, bending, fusion welding, machining, or by a combination of two or more of these operations.

All fittings shall undergo heat treatment. Chemical and product analyses shall be performed and shall conform to the required chemical composition in carbon, manganese, phosphorus, sulfur, silicon, chromium, molybdenum, and titanium. Tension test shall be done on the fitting material to determine the tensile properties such as yield strength and tensile strength. Fittings supplied under this specification shall be examined visually for surface discontinuities, surface checks, and mechanical marks.

ASTM A960, Common Requirements for Wrought Steel Piping Fittings

ASTM A960 covers the common requirements that shall apply to wrought steel piping fittings. The material shall consist of forgings, bars, plates, and seamless or welded tubular products. Ferritic steels shall be fully killed. Hollow cylindrically shaped parts up to and including NPS 4 may be machined from bar or seamless tubular material. Elbows, return bends, tees, and header tees shall not be machined directly from bar stock.

The following procedures shall be done for heat treatment: full annealing, solution annealing, isothermal annealing, normalizing, tempering and post-weld heat treatment, stress relieving, and quench and temper. Chemical analysis, heat analysis, and product analysis shall also be done. The chemical requirements shall conform to the required compositions of carbon, manganese, phosphorus, sulfur, silicon, nickel, chromium, molybdenum, vanadium, columbium, titanium, aluminum, lead, and copper. The following tests shall be done for the mechanical requirements: tension, hardness, impact, and hydrostatic tests.

ASTM A815, Wrought Ferritic, Ferritic/Austenitic, and Martensitic Stainless Steel Piping Fittings

ASTM A815 covers two general classes, WP and CR, of wrought ferritic, ferritic/austenitic, and martensitic stainless steel fittings of seamless and welded construction. Class WP fittings are subdivided into four subclasses: Classes WP-S, WP-W, WP-WX, and WP-WU. The material for fittings shall consist of forgings, bars, plates, or seamless or welded tubular products. The steel shall be melted by electric furnace, vacuum furnace, or electric furnace followed by vacuum or electroslag-consumable remelting. Forging or shaping operations shall be performed by hammering, pressing, piercing, extruding, upsetting, rolling, bending, fusion welding, machining or by combination of two or more of these operations.

The materials shall undergo heat treatment and shall follow the required cooling process and tempering temperature. Chemical and product analyses shall be performed and shall conform to the required chemical composition in carbon, manganese, phosphorus, silicon, sulfur, nickel, chromium, molybdenum, copper, nitrogen, and titanium. The mechanical properties of the fitting material shall conform to the required values in yield strength, tensile strength, elongation, and hardness.

EN 10253-3, Wrought austenitic and austenitic-ferritic (duplex) stainless steels without specific inspection requirements

EN 10253 specifies the technical delivery requirements for seamless and welded butt-welding fittings (elbows, concentric and eccentric reducers, equal and reducing tees, caps) made of austenitic and austenitic–ferritic (duplex) stainless steel without specific inspection requirements. It specifies steel grades; mechanical properties; dimensions and tolerances; requirements for inspection and testing; inspection documents; marking; handling and packaging.

EN 10253-4, Wrought austenitic and austenitic-ferritic (duplex) stainless steels with specific inspection requirements

Stainless Steel Elbow Dimensions

  • 1/2 inch 90 Elbow Long Radius Sch 40S Weld – 304/304L, 316/316L Stainless
  • 1 inch 90 Elbow Short/Long Radius Sch 40S Weld – 304/304L, 316/316L Stainless
  • 2 inch 90 Elbow Short/Long Radius Sch 40S Weld – 304/304L, 316/316L Stainless
  • 3 inch 90 Elbow Short/Long Radius Sch 40S Weld – 304/304L, 316/316L Stainless
  • 4 inch 90 Elbow Short/Long Radius Sch 40S Weld – 304/304L, 316/316L Stainless
  • 5 inch 90 Elbow Short/Long Radius Sch 40S Weld – 304/304L, 316/316L Stainless
  • 6 inch 90 Elbow Short/Long Radius Sch 40S Weld – 304/304L, 316/316L Stainless
  • 8 inch 90 Elbow Short/Long Radius Sch 40S Weld – 304/304L, 316/316L Stainless
  • 10 inch 90 Elbow Short/Long Radius Sch 40S Weld – 304/304L, 316/316L Stainless
  • 12 inch 90 Elbow Short/Long Radius Sch 40S Weld – 304/304L, 316/316L Stainless
  • 14 inch 90 Elbow Short/ Long Radius Sch 40S Weld – 304/304L, 316/316L Stainless
  • 18 inch 90 Elbow Short/Long Radius Sch 40S Weld – 304/304L, 316/316L Stainless
  • 20 inch 90 Elbow Short/Long Radius Sch 40S Weld – 304/304L, 316/316L Stainless