Modeling Elastically Deforming Leaks in Water Distribution Pipes
Publication: Journal of Hydraulic Engineering
Volume 140, Issue 2
Abstract
In this study, the relationship between the conventional power equation and the fixed and variable area discharges (FAVAD) equation for modeling leakage as a function of pressure was investigated. It is shown that different leakage exponent (or ) values are obtained for the same leak when measured at different pressures. An analytical exploration of the two equations shows that the leakage exponent tends to 0.5 when the system pressure tends to zero, and to 1.5 when the system pressure tends to infinity. A dimensionless leakage number is defined as the ratio between the variable and fixed portions of a leak, and it is shown that a single function can be used to describe the relationship between the leakage number and leakage exponent. This model was combined with previous research to accurately predict the leakage exponents of several published studies in cases where elastic deformation occurred.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Hydraulic Engineering
Volume 140 • Issue 2 • February 2014
Pages: 182 - 189
Copyright
© 2014 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Dec 14, 2012
Accepted: Jul 29, 2013
Published online: Jul 31, 2013
Discussion open until: Dec 31, 2013
Published in print: Feb 1, 2014
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