Dissertation Defense Schedule
Academic Excellence
Sharing original dissertation research is a principle to which the University of Delaware is deeply committed. It is the single most important assignment our graduate students undertake and upon completion is met with great pride.
We invite you to celebrate this milestone by attending their dissertation defense. Please review the upcoming dissertation defense schedule below and join us!
PROGRAM | Civil Engineering
Post-event Restoration Simulation of Water Distribution Systems: A Generally Applicable Approach
By: Sina Naeimi Dafchahi Chair: Rachel Davidson
ABSTRACT
This dissertation describes a new tool for modeling the post-event restoration of a damaged water supply system. Called the REstoration of Water after Event Tool (REWET), it can be used to estimate the impact of a disruptive event (e.g., earthquake, landslide, wildfire) on a water supply system’s functioning by simulating how the restoration process unfolds. Simulation results provide the duration and spatial distribution of water service disruption, which allows for assessing impacts that households, businesses, and others ultimately experience. REWET’s strengths include that it (1) allows detailed representations of both the hydraulic operations of the system and the restoration process, (2) is flexible enough to apply to any system or disruptive event, enables varying levels of complexity, and allows deterministic or probabilistic analysis, (3) is open-source code and free to use. It uses Pressure-Demand Analysis for its hydraulic simulations and allows detailed discrete event simulation representation of the restoration process. The dissertation proposes a general restoration plan framework developed by scrutinizing restoration models and their rationales to encompass a range of restoration models and anything in between or similar to the reviewed restoration models. REWET’s restoration model is created using the general restoration plan framework; thus, it applies to a wide variety of restoration strategies. Case study applications of REWET for a complex, real-life system—Los Angeles—and two small, simple networks—Net3 and Anytown—illustrate the tool’s functionality, flexibility, and key features. Furthermore, a probabilistic case study application for Los Angeles demonstrates REWET’s scalability and tractability.
Additionally, this dissertation enhances the understanding of the effect of restoration and restoration planning. Utilizing REWET, a parametric study has been conducted to investigate: (1) the effect of restoration in reducing the impacts of a water supply interruption, (2) how to design the restoration process to minimize the impacts of a water supply interruption, and (3) the performance of different restoration strategies under various circumstances (type of system, type of event). The Los Angeles and Anytown networks have been subjected to damage scenarios reflecting various damage conditions (intensity and locations). The study provides insights such as the necessity of designing restoration strategies based on the network structure, restoration possibilities, and damage conditions. Additionally, the effect of restoration components, such as the discovery of damages and rerouting, has been studied under various circumstances.
The Process
Step-by-Step
Visit our “Step-by-Step Graduation Guide” to take you through the graduation process.From formatting your Dissertation to Doctoral Hooding procedures.
Dissertation Manual
Wondering how to set up the format for your paper. Refer to the “UD Thesis/Dissertation Manual” for formatting requirements and more.
Defense Submission Form
This form must be completed two weeks in advance of a dissertation defense to meet the University of Delaware Graduate and Professional Education’s requirements.
