Tip Speed Calculator

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Tip Speed Calculator

Inches (in) Feet (ft) Millimeters (mm) Meters (m)

Calculated Results

Feet per Minute (FPM) –
Meters per Second (m/s) –
Miles per Hour (MPH) –
Kilometers per Hour (km/h) –
Angular Velocity (rad/s) –

What is Tip Speed?

Tip speed refers to the velocity at which the outermost point of a rotating object travels. This metric is critical in engineering applications involving propellers, wind turbine blades, industrial mixers, impellers, and fans.

Unlike rotational speed, which is measured in Revolutions Per Minute (RPM) and is constant across the entire object, tip speed depends on the distance from the center of rotation. A point at the tip of a blade travels a much longer distance in one revolution than a point near the hub, resulting in a higher linear velocity.

Why is Tip Speed Important?

Understanding tip speed is vital for several reasons:

  • Noise Generation: In fans and wind turbines, higher tip speeds generate significantly more aerodynamic noise. There are often strict limits on tip speed to keep noise levels acceptable.
  • Mixing Efficiency: In industrial mixing, tip speed determines the shear rate. High tip speeds are used for dispersion (high shear), while lower speeds are used for blending (flow).
  • Material Integrity: Centrifugal force increases with the square of the tip speed. Excessive speed can cause blades or impellers to fail structurally.
  • Compressibility Effects: In propellers and helicopter rotors, if the tip speed approaches the speed of sound (approx. 343 m/s), shock waves form, drastically reducing efficiency and increasing noise.

Tip Speed Formula

To calculate the tip speed ($v$), you need the diameter ($D$) of the rotating element and its rotational speed ($n$) in RPM.

The basic formula is:

Tip Speed = π × Diameter × RPM

Common Unit Conversions

Depending on the units used for diameter, the formula requires adjustment factors:

  • Imperial (Feet per Minute): Tip Speed (fpm) = Diameter (inches) × π × RPM / 12
  • Metric (Meters per Second): Tip Speed (m/s) = Diameter (meters) × π × RPM / 60

Example Calculation

Imagine you have an industrial fan with a diameter of 36 inches rotating at 1200 RPM.

  1. Convert Diameter: 36 inches / 12 = 3 feet.
  2. Calculate Circumference: 3 feet × π ≈ 9.42 feet.
  3. Calculate Speed per Minute: 9.42 feet × 1200 RPM = 11,304 fpm.
  4. Convert to MPH: 11,304 fpm × (60 / 5280) ≈ 128.5 mph.

Using the calculator above ensures you get precise results instantly regardless of your input units.

function calculateTipSpeed() { // 1. Get Input Values var diameterInput = document.getElementById("diameterValue").value; var unitInput = document.getElementById("diameterUnit").value; var rpmInput = document.getElementById("rotationRPM").value; var resultsArea = document.getElementById("resultsArea"); // 2. Validate Inputs if (diameterInput === "" || rpmInput === "") { alert("Please enter both Diameter and RPM values."); return; } var diameter = parseFloat(diameterInput); var rpm = parseFloat(rpmInput); if (isNaN(diameter) || isNaN(rpm) || diameter <= 0 || rpm < 0) { alert("Please enter valid positive numbers."); return; } // 3. Normalize Diameter to Meters (Base Unit) var diameterInMeters = 0; switch(unitInput) { case "inches": diameterInMeters = diameter * 0.0254; break; case "feet": diameterInMeters = diameter * 0.3048; break; case "mm": diameterInMeters = diameter / 1000; break; case "meters": diameterInMeters = diameter; break; } // 4. Calculate Base Tip Speed in Meters per Second (m/s) // Formula: v = (π * D * RPM) / 60 var speedMPS = (Math.PI * diameterInMeters * rpm) / 60; // 5. Convert to other units var speedFPM = speedMPS * 196.850394; // m/s to ft/min var speedMPH = speedMPS * 2.236936; // m/s to mph var speedKPH = speedMPS * 3.6; // m/s to km/h // Calculate Angular Velocity (rad/s) // Formula: ω = RPM * (2π / 60) var angularVelocity = rpm * (2 * Math.PI / 60); // 6. Display Results document.getElementById("resMPS").innerHTML = speedMPS.toFixed(2) + " m/s"; document.getElementById("resFPM").innerHTML = Math.round(speedFPM).toLocaleString() + " ft/min"; document.getElementById("resMPH").innerHTML = speedMPH.toFixed(2) + " mph"; document.getElementById("resKPH").innerHTML = speedKPH.toFixed(2) + " km/h"; document.getElementById("resRad").innerHTML = angularVelocity.toFixed(2) + " rad/s"; // Show result area resultsArea.classList.add("active"); }

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