Browsing by Author "Hoffman, Kyle"
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Results Per Page
Sort Options
- ItemDetermination of pullout resistance of galvanized-steel strips within select South African soils based on their free draining potential in mechanically stabilized earth wall backfill conditions(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2019-12) Hoffman, Kyle; Fouché, Nanine; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Engineeing. Dept. of Civil Engineering.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Water distribution systems around the world typically comprise a large number of pipelines designed to distribute pressurised water. These pipelines stretch over long distances and vary in diameter, material, wall thickness, internal roughness and age. By nature, these systems are extremely complex and require expert knowledge and specialised tools to be modelled and designed correctly. Furthermore, these networks encompass multiple parameters such as available supply pressures, internal roughness coefficients, frictional losses, annual average daily demands and instantaneous peak hour factors. In order to efficiently manage all of these variables, engineers require a substantial volume of data and sophisticated computer modelling software. Considering this, the following research question was identified: “Can one develop an urban network capacity model by considering only the network’s physical characteristics?” Or more simply, if sufficient knowledge about a reticulation network’s physical parameters are known, can these parameters be used to model certain other parameters associated with a water network? Therefore, the aim of this project was to develop a “network capacity model” by analysing the relevant physical parameters of many existing water reticulation network models. The parameters that were identified and could potentially impact the overall supply zone capacity include: total pipeline length, total pipeline volume, average pressure, supply zone topology, supply zone shape, supply zone area, land use and distance from supply position to the centroid of the supply zone. Three linear regression approaches, namely Multi Linear Regression, Principal Component Analysis and Partial Least Squares were used to test this relationship and determine the most accurate model. The model that was generated following application of these analyses, presents significant advantages to engineers, and enable options that were never before possible. If the future water demand of an area is known or can be estimated, the model could be used to reverse engineer a list of the required pipe diameters and associated pipe lengths that could meet this demand. For the first time, it now becomes possible to provide a fairly accurate water network cost estimate for future development areas, without the availability of a street layout. This model also holds the potential to be implemented in developing countries where the necessary skills or resources are not always available to compile computerised models of water distribution networks. In these developing areas, a manual model with simple input parameters can be a reliable and useful tool to manage and plan for expanding water networks. Furthermore, it has the potential for application in the field of asset management to provide a breakdown of the various pipe diameters and their respective pipe lengths (for purposes of establishing a technical asset register). In this sense it could be used in areas where water networks exist, but where the water network drawings or detailed water network models may not be available. In these instances, the model may be used to provide an estimate of the pipelines and overall replacement cost of the water reticulation network.