Analysis of water distribution networks using MATLAB and Excel spreadsheet: h‐based methods

Abstract

The need for computer application for solving water distribution networks (WDNs) is inevitable for both educational and practical purposes. In this paper, three h-based methods for solving WDN including h-based Newton-Raphson method, finite element method, and gradient algorithm are implemented using MATLAB and Excel spreadsheet. The input data should be first inserted into Excel spreadsheet while MATLAB codes utilize this data to solve the pipe network. The output results are also presented in Excel for convenience. As educational facets of this application was the main focus of this paper, the details of this computer application were step-by-step explained with codes. Furthermore, a simple network selected from literature was analyzed using the three h-based methods. Finally, the presented codes and this computer application are believed to encourage many educators and applicants to assess them for both educational and practical purposes in this engineering field. ß 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Comput Appl Eng Educ 25:129-141, 2017; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/cae;

İçme Suyu Şebekeleri̇ni̇n Kararli Durum Anali̇zi̇ İçi̇n Küresel Gradyen Algori̇tmasi Ve Ters Matri̇s Yöntemi̇ni̇n Uygunluğunun Değerlendi̇ri̇lmesi̇

“…In any case, learning the operating aspects of WDNs could be possible while mathematical background of WDN design problems is overlooked [6]. In the last few years, the instructors realized the importance of mathematical aspects of the design problem and started to develop their own methods of teaching the mathematical background of WDN design [19][20][21]. The motivation for this study comes from the need of easily teaching the mathematical background of WDN design problems.…”

An MS Excel tool for water distribution network design in environmental engineering education

“…Since its first introduction, Microsoft Excel has been used extensively for education . Over the past years, a great number of papers have been dedicated to the possible use of MS Excel in a number of engineering fields including references . MS Excel is usually available at least with a student license in most students’ computers.…”

“…It includes a simplified programming language (Visual Basic for Applications [VBA]), and for this reason, several researchers pointed out that MS Excel (and VBA) is the most suitable tool for engineering education within the scope of Bologna Process . Considering complicated nature of WDN analysis, MS Excel is a perfect tool for teaching hydraulics of WDNs, and several researchers applied Excel‐based solutions to the problem of WDN analysis .…”

“…Recently, Niazkar and Afzali reported the use of MS Excel as an interface to a MATLAB code for WDN analysis. Although MATLAB could provide much faster solutions than MS Excel VBA, the software requires an installed copy of MATLAB, which may not be available to all students.…”

“…Considering the fact that most of students who own a personal computer also own at least a student license of MS Excel and that MS Excel VBA is recognized as the most suitable tool for engineering education by a great number of researchers/teachers, a VBA program could be more helpful for teaching WDN analysis. Besides, several tools for teaching WDN hydraulics perform only steady‐state analysis of a given WDN. Therefore, new tools are required for teaching extended period simulations of WDNs.…”