The losses discussed earlier are those related to the form and arrangement of the profiles and those associated with the tie wire, which in effect is an obstruction included in the blade passage for mechanical reasons. As such, these losses are predictable with a reasonable degree of accuracy in undamaged profiles, and the variations that occur as a consequence of changes in steam conditions and flow angles can also be predicted and accommodated with reasonable accuracy.

The steam parameters that exist along the radial height of the blade are changing due to the radial flow or vortex effect. There is some advantage to the use of vortex or twisted vanes that are adjusted to more nearly meet the requirements of the flowing fluid. Cylindrical (constant section) vanes will not meet these requirements as closely as the vortex element because the steam properties will continue to change in the radial direction. There will also be increases in vane pitch with increasing diameter making the losses even greater if the vane profiles are not changing to meet steam requirements. These losses can also be predicted with a level of accuracy sufficient to allow stage losses to be determined.

The major group two losses can then be determined from the following.