Abstract
Transient events are frequent in water distribution systems. However, until now, most of the applications based on transient analyses are merely theoretical. Additionally, their implementation to real engineering problems is limited due to several physical phenomena accompanying transient waves, which are not accounted for in the classic approach, such as unsteady friction. This study investigates different unsteady friction models’ performance in terms of accuracy, efficiency, and reliability to determine the most-suited engineering practice. As a result of this comparison, Vítkovský’s unsteady friction model was found to be the best fit and was then implemented in WANDA commercial software. The implementation was verified with experimental data based on a reservoir–pipe–valve system. The model proved excellent performance; however, it was noticed that it fell short in simulating plastic pipes, where viscoelastic effects dominate. The upgraded software was then tested on different hydraulic networks with varying pipe materials and configurations. The model provided significant improvement to water hammer simulations with respect to wave shape, damping, and timing.
Highlights
Transient events are common in water distribution networks, usually leading to negative consequences such as water hammers [1]
This study aims to fill the gap between academia and the hydraulic software industry in terms of implementing the most-suited unsteady friction model for engineering practice in hydraulic commercial software
The conventional steady friction assumption used in standard engineering practice for water hammer analyses limits transient simulations as wave damping becomes quickly underestimated due to the effect of unsteady friction
Summary
Transient events are common in water distribution networks, usually leading to negative consequences such as water hammers [1]. Problems such as pipe bursts and leakage frequently occur in water distribution networks [2,3]. The source of transient events may be related to valve maneuvers, pump trips, load acceptance, or rejection of turbines [4]. Researchers, water utilities, and engineers are interested in understanding the nature, generation, and propagation of water hammer waves [5,6,7]. Several commercial software tools are available for the simulation of hydraulic transients and the design of hydraulic systems [8].
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