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Calibration of water distribution system hydraulic models

A number of mathematical models are used nowadays to describe behaviour of the reallife water distribution system (WDS). It is a well known fact that, to have any meaningful use, any WDS mathematical model must be calibrated first. Here, calibration is defined as process in which a number of WDS model parameters are adjusted until the model mimics behaviour of the real WDS as closely as possible. In this thesis, WDS mathematical models that are used to model water quantity aspect only are analysed. Three hydraulic models considered here are: (1) steady-state flow model, (2) quasi-steady flow (extended period simulation) model and (3) unsteady flow model. The calibration problem analysed here is formulated as a constrained optimisation problem of weighted least square type with the objective defined in a way that enables effective incorporation of prior information on calibration parameters. WDS calibration problem is then analysed in detail, including special issues of identifiability, uniqueness and stability of the problem solution. A list of diagnostic and other statistics and analysis is presented to improve existing calibration approaches by providing partial insight into the calibration process. Calibration of WDS hydraulic models is further improved by the development of new hybrid optimisation method. Being closely related to calibration, the problem of sampling design for calibration of WDS hydraulic models is also addressed here. First, sampling design is formulated as a constrained two-objective optimisation problem. Then, two novel models are developed to solve it. The first model is based on standard, single-objective Genetic Algorithms (SOGA). The second model is based on multi-objective Genetic Algorithms (MOGA). Finally, all novel methodologies presented here are verified successfully on multiple case studies that involve both artificial and real-life WDS. At the end, relevant conclusions are drawn and suggestions for further research work are made.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:370011
Date January 2002
CreatorsKapelan, Zoran
PublisherUniversity of Exeter
Source SetsEthos UK
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeElectronic Thesis or Dissertation

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