The Wave Method (WM), or the Wave Plan Method, is based on the physically accurate concept[according to whom?] that the transientpipe flow results from the generation and propagation of pressure waves occur as a result of a disturbance in the pipe system (valve closure, pump trip, etc.). This method was developed and first described by Dr. Don J Wood (1966). A pressure wave, which represents a rapid pressure and associated flow change, travels at sonic velocity for the liquid pipe medium, and the wave is partially transmitted and reflected at all discontinuities in the pipe system (pipe junctions, pumps, open or closed ends, surge tanks, etc.). A pressure wave can also be modified by pipe wall resistance. This description is one that closely represents the actual mechanism of transient pipe flow.[1]
The WM has the very significant advantage[according to whom?] that computations need be made only at nodes in the piping system. Other techniques such as the Method of Characteristics require calculations at equally spaced interior points in a pipeline. This requirement can easily increase the number of calculations by a factor of 10 or more. However, virtually identical solutions are obtained by the WM and the [[MOC]] (2005).[2]
References
^Wood D.J., Dorsch R. and Lightner, C. (March 1966). "Wave Analysis of Unsteady Flow in Conduits". Journal of Hydraulics Division, ASCE. 92 (HY2): 83 220.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^Wood, D.J.; Lingireddy, S.; Boulos, P.F.; Karney, B.W.; & McPherson, D.L. (July 2005). "Numerical Methods for Modeling Transient Flow in Distribution Systems". Jour. AWWA. 97 (7): 104.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
