Buttweld 90° Short Radius Elbow Manufacturer, Supplier & Exporter
A buttweld 90° short radius elbow turns a pipeline through 90° with a centreline radius equal to the nominal pipe size (R = 1D). Raaj Fittings manufactures and exports short radius elbows to ASME B16.28 — now incorporated into ASME B16.9 — in stainless steel, duplex and super duplex, nickel alloys, carbon steel and alloy steel, in seamless and welded construction.
The tighter bend makes the short radius elbow about two-thirds the centre-to-end length of a long radius elbow of the same size. It is specified where space is too limited for a long radius elbow — at compact equipment connections, inside skids and modules, and in congested pipe racks.
Both ends are bevelled for butt welding and the wall thickness matches the connecting pipe. Every elbow is supplied with EN 10204 3.1 mill test certificates, with 3.2 certification on request.
We export 90° short radius elbows to EPC contractors, refineries and stockists across the Middle East and GCC, Europe and the Americas — to ASME B16.9 for US and Gulf projects, or EN 10253 / DIN dimensions for European specifications, with PED-compliant supply on request.
90° Short Radius Elbow Specifications
1" NPS to 24" NPS; larger sizes to order
Short radius: centreline radius 1.0 × NPS (R = 1D)
SCH 5S to XXS, including STD, XS, SCH 40, 80 and 160
ASME B16.28 (now part of ASME B16.9), MSS SP-43 for light-wall stainless steel, EN 10253, DIN 2605
Seamless (SMLS) and welded (ERW / EFW)
Bevelled ends for butt welding to ASME B16.25
EN 10204 3.1 mill test certificate as standard; EN 10204 3.2 on request
Materials & Grades
We supply 90° short radius elbows in the following materials and grades. All grades are supplied with EN 10204 3.1 / 3.2 Mill Test Certificates.
Stainless Steel 90° Short Radius Elbows
Stainless steel buttweld fittings deliver excellent corrosion resistance and are essential in chemical, pharmaceutical, food processing, and marine environments. All grades supplied to ASTM A403 specification.
(ASTM A403 WP304 / WP304L) General corrosion resistance; food, dairy, and chemical service
(ASTM A403 WP316 / WP316L) Enhanced chloride and acid resistance; pharmaceutical, marine, and chemical processing
(ASTM A403 WP316H) Elevated-temperature creep strength for high-temperature process service
(ASTM A403 WP317 / WP317L) Higher molybdenum content; superior corrosion resistance in concentrated acid service
(ASTM A403 WP321) Titanium-stabilised; resists sensitisation at sustained elevated temperatures
(ASTM A403 WP347) Columbium-stabilised; ideal for heat exchangers and high-temperature piping
High-alloy austenitic; superior resistance to hot concentrated sulfuric and phosphoric acids
Duplex & Super Duplex Stainless Steel 90° Short Radius Elbows
Duplex and super duplex grades offer approximately twice the yield strength of standard austenitic stainless steel, combined with excellent resistance to stress corrosion cracking and pitting — ideal for offshore, subsea, and chemical processing environments.
(UNS S31803 / S32205) Offshore topsides, chemical plant, desalination, and seawater piping
(UNS S32750) Seawater systems, subsea equipment, FPSOs, and high-chloride offshore environments
(UNS S32760) High-temperature, high-chloride offshore and subsea service applications
Nickel Alloy 90° Short Radius Elbows
For the most aggressive corrosive environments — concentrated acids, caustic solutions, sour gas service, and extreme temperatures — we offer buttweld fittings in a full range of nickel alloys.
(UNS N06600) High-temperature oxidation and carburisation resistance
(UNS N06625) Outstanding broad-spectrum corrosion resistance; offshore, chemical, and subsea service
(UNS N08825) Resistance to phosphoric and sulfuric acids; FGD systems and chemical plant
(UNS N10276) Universal corrosion resistance across the widest range of aggressive process media
(UNS N06022) Superior resistance to oxidising and reducing acids and pitting attack
(UNS N04400) Suitable for seawater, hydrofluoric acid, and marine and alkali service
(UNS N08020) Engineered for sulfuric acid and aggressive chemical process service
Exceptional corrosion resistance in seawater and oxidising media at low density
(C70600 / C71500) Preferred for marine seawater piping and naval condenser systems
Carbon Steel 90° Short Radius Elbows
Carbon steel is the most widely specified material for general-purpose, hydrocarbon, and elevated-temperature service. The primary grade is ASTM A234 WPB for standard service. For high-yield pipeline fittings, we supply ASTM A860 WPHY grades to MSS SP-75.
Standard carbon steel; primary grade for general-purpose process piping buttweld fittings
Impact-tested carbon steel for low-temperature service down to -46°C (-50°F); LNG and cryogenic piping
High-yield pipeline fittings to MSS SP-75; used in high-pressure oil, gas, and liquid transmission pipelines
Alloy Steel 90° Short Radius Elbows
Chromium-molybdenum alloy steel buttweld fittings are specified for high-temperature, high-pressure service in power generation, petrochemical, and refinery applications. All grades supplied to ASTM A234 specification.
(5% Cr · ½% Mo) Refinery high-temperature service; hydrotreating and catalytic reforming units
(9% Cr · 1% Mo) High-temperature hydrogen-rich process service and steam piping
(1¼% Cr · ½% Mo) Thermal power plant steam, feedwater, and reheat piping
(2¼% Cr · 1% Mo) Reactors and high-temperature pressure piping systems in petrochemical plants
(9% Cr · 1% Mo · V · Nb) Ultra-supercritical steam power plant main steam and hot reheat piping
Short Radius vs Long Radius
The centre-to-end dimension of a short radius elbow equals the nominal size — 102 mm for a 4" elbow, against 152 mm for a 90° long radius elbow. That saves a third of the length at every bend, but the sharper turn has drawbacks:
- Higher pressure drop — the tight bend creates more turbulence and flow resistance.
- More erosion — the outer wall wears faster in high-velocity, abrasive or two-phase service.
- Lower pressure rating — under ASME B16.28, short radius elbows were rated at 80% of the pressure calculated for straight seamless pipe of the same schedule.
- Not piggable — the tight radius prevents pigs and inspection tools passing.
For these reasons, most piping specifications use long radius elbows by default and permit short radius elbows only where the layout requires them.
Typical Layouts
Short radius elbows are common where a line must turn close to a flange or nozzle, inside compact skid packages, at pump and compressor connections, and in low-velocity utility lines. Two short radius elbows back-to-back form the same turn as a 180° short radius return bend. For gentler changes of direction, use a 45° elbow.
Seamless and Welded
Seamless short radius elbows are formed from seamless pipe and are preferred for high-pressure and critical service. Welded elbows are formed from plate or welded pipe, with the weld seam examined by radiography or ultrasonic testing.
Applications & Industries
- Compact equipment connections at pumps, compressors and vessels
- Skid-mounted packages and modular process units
- Congested pipe racks and offshore modules where space is limited
- Low-velocity utility, cooling-water and drain lines
- Refinery, petrochemical, chemical and power plant piping
Explore the full range of buttweld fittings.
Testing, Inspection, Marking & Packing
Short radius elbows are made under our quality assurance process:
- Incoming material verification with PMI testing
- Chemical and mechanical testing to ASTM A403, A234, A420 or the applicable nickel alloy specification
- Heat treatment as required, with pickling and passivation for stainless steels
- Radiographic or ultrasonic examination of the weld seam on welded elbows
- Dimensional inspection of centre-to-end, outside diameter, wall thickness and bevel
- Marking with grade, size, schedule, "SR" and heat number
Supplied with EN 10204 3.1 mill test certificates; EN 10204 3.2 certificates, third-party inspection and NACE MR0175 / ISO 15156 compliant material on request.
Fittings are packed for export with plastic end caps protecting the bevels, rust-preventive or VCI wrapping on carbon and alloy steel, and seaworthy wooden cases; marking, tagging and packing to your specification are available on request.
Why Choose Raaj Fittings for 90° Short Radius Elbows?
Raaj Sagar Steels has supplied piping components since 2003 and today manufactures buttweld fittings at two plants in India for buyers in the Middle East, Europe and the Americas.
- Manufactured in-house — 90° short radius elbows are made in our own plants, so material, dimensions and delivery stay under our control.
- Ready stock, short lead times — common sizes and grades are held in stock for prompt dispatch; other sizes, grades and specials are manufactured to order.
- Certified quality — ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015 and ISO 45001:2018 certified; PED 2014/68/EU and IBR supply available, and NACE MR0175 / ISO 15156 material on request.
- 100% material verification — PMI testing on incoming material and EN 10204 3.1 mill test certificates with every order; 3.2 certificates on request.
- Third-party inspection ready — we regularly work with SGS, Bureau Veritas, TÜV and DNV.
- Export documentation — MTCs, certificates of origin, packing lists and inspection reports to suit projects in the GCC, Europe and the Americas.
- Export packing — seaworthy packing with end and face protection, and packing to your specification on request.
- Fast response — our team replies to enquiries within one business day.
90° Short Radius Elbows — FAQs
A short radius (SR) elbow has a centreline radius equal to the nominal pipe size (R = 1D). It turns the pipe through 90° in less space than a long radius elbow.
Short radius elbows were covered by ASME B16.28, which has since been incorporated into ASME B16.9. Our elbows meet these dimensional requirements.
It is equal to the nominal pipe size — for example 51 mm for a 2" elbow and 102 mm for a 4" elbow.
Yes. ASME B16.28 rated short radius elbows at 80% of the pressure calculated for straight seamless pipe of the same material and schedule. Check your piping code before using them.
Only where there is not enough space for a long radius elbow, such as at compact equipment connections or inside skids. Avoid them in erosive, high-velocity and pigged lines.
Yes. We supply 90° short radius elbows for projects under the European Pressure Equipment Directive (PED 2014/68/EU), and with IBR certification for Indian boiler applications. NACE MR0175 / ISO 15156 compliant material is also available on request for sour service in the Middle East and the Americas.
