A common network flow formulation for several civil engineering problems

Abstract

This paper discusses a common network flow problem that arises in four areas of civil engineering. The problem is one of identifying arc flows that simultaneously satisfy the circuit and node law constraints for a given network. Applications and computational procedures in the areas of elastic structural analysis, hydraulic network analysis, traffic equilibrium and construction task scheduling are described. The interpretation of decision variables and mathematical functions will vary depending on the application, but the general priblem formulation and solution technique for each application remains essentially unchanged. Analogies between the different applications may enhance the conceptual understanding and intuition of engineers working in each area.

Keywords:

• network analysis
• elastic structural analysis
• hydraulic network analysis
• traffic equilibrium scheduling
• construction scheduling