The distorted physical model construction and simulation tests for municipal water distribution system

Developing an experimental model of water distribution network is contributed to study the hydraulic properties of the actual network. According to similarity theory of pressure flow and the hydraulic characteristics of water distribution system, the distorted hydraulic model was done, and the principal physical indicators between water distribution system and its distorted physical model are deduced. The feasibility and applicability of normal and distorted similitude were confirmed by simulation tests under the two states (with or without leakage) in lab. The tests results of the physical indicators met the relationship between the actual networks and its model, which proved the distorted model reflect the hydraulic properties of the actual network effectively.