Graph-based hydraulic vulnerability assessment of water distribution networks

Abstract

Presented herein is a methodology for the seismic and hydraulic assessment of the reliability of water distribution networks (WDN) based on general seismic assessment standards, as per the American Lifelines Alliance (ALA) guidelines, localized historical records of critical risk-of-failure metrics, and hydraulic simulations using adapted EPANET models. The proposed reliability assessment incorporates data of past non-seismic damage, the vulnerabilities of the network components against seismic loading, hydraulic modeling, and the topology of a WDN. The network reliability is assessed using Graph Theory and Monte Carlo simulation (MCS), coupled with a hydraulic analysis.