Evolutionary Algorithms for the Determination of Critical Depths in Conduits
Publication: Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering
Volume 134, Issue 6
Abstract
The determination of critical depth and the position of control sections is important in open-channel hydraulics. Calculation of critical depth in open channels is useful not only for determining the condition of a flow but also for hydraulic design and analysis of experimental and analytical results. In this study, unlike the conventional approaches, an alternative method, based on a genetic algorithm (GA), for the calculation of critical depth in conduits is presented. In our model, the governing equations are transferred into an objective function that is then minimized using a GA in order to calculate critical depth. This method does not have the limitations of existing empirical and semiempirical methods and can be used for any prismatic or nonprismatic open-channel cross section. The concepts presented in this paper can be generalized for solving other tortuous hydraulic engineering equations and problems.
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Acknowledgments
The writers are grateful for the assistance from Mr. Farzad Faridafshin at Chalmers University of Technology.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering
Volume 134 • Issue 6 • December 2008
Pages: 847 - 852
Copyright
© 2008 ASCE.
History
Received: May 24, 2007
Accepted: Feb 27, 2008
Published online: Dec 1, 2008
Published in print: Dec 2008
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