Runge–Kutta time‐stepping schemes with TVD central differencing for the water hammer equations

In the present study, Runge–Kutta schemes are used to simulate unsteady flow in elastic pipes due to sudden valve closure. The spatial derivatives are discretized using a central difference scheme. Second‐order dissipative terms are added in regions of high gradients while they are switched off in smooth flow regions using a total variation diminishing (TVD) switch. The method is applied to both one‐ and two‐dimensional water hammer formulations. Both laminar and turbulent flow cases are simulated. Different turbulence models are tested including the Baldwin–Lomax and Cebeci–Smith models. The results of the present method are in good agreement with analytical results and with experimental data available in the literature. The two‐dimensional model is shown to predict more accurately the frictional damping of the pressure transient. Moreover, through order of magnitude and dimensional analysis, a non‐dimensional parameter is identified that controls the damping of pressure transients in elastic pipes.