Computer program to compute pressure forces in pipe flow junctions

Abstract A frequently occurring and difficult to solve problem in civil engineering and water resources analysis is the analysis of hydraulic phenomena in storm flow pipe systems. In the design of storm drain flood control systems, the analysis of energy losses in pipeflow junction structures is of key interest. The general practice is to use a pressure-plus-momentum balance analysis in order to estimate the change in water surface (or hydraulic grade line) elevations through the pipe structure, from which an energy loss is subsequently estimated. A computer program is presented for the evaluation of pressure forces within a pipe junction structure. The water profile or HGL is assumed to be a straight line between endpoint conditions. The program provides estimates of force for both a complete mathematical formulation as well as a popular estimate of the complete formula. The program can be substituted for other estimates in the analysis of storm drain systems.