Author(s): Chengchao Xu; Ian C. Goulter
Linked Author(s):
Keywords: No Keywords
Abstract: In recent years, considerable effort has been devoted to quantitative reliability assessment for water distribution networks. As a result of these efforts, a variety of reliability measures and evaluation algorithms have been developed. Goulter (1995) has recently provided a 'state of the art' review of these reliability measures and associated evaluation techniques with an extensive list of references. Two distinct types of failures termed as "demand variation failure" and "mechanical failure" are identified as needing consideration in the derivation of measures for reliability. Demand variation failures consider situations where the demands imposed on the system exceed the system capacity, whereas mechanical failures consider situations associated with the failures of system components, e.g., main bursts, blockage of valves, loss of pumping stations etc, which reduce the hydraulic capacity of the network and lead to operational failure of water supply. This paper focuses on the hydraulic reliability aspects of demand variation failures. However, the results can be integrated with the mechanical reliability to generate overall reliability measures for water distribution networks.
Year: 1997