Transient flow routing in channel networksE.F.WoodauthorB.M.HarleyauthorF.E.PerkinsauthorThe formulation of a mathematical model to predict transient flows in hydraulic networks is presented. The network formulation consists of breaking the network up into a series of connected reaches; reducing the finite difference equations for each reach into two ‘reach’ equations; forming an exterior matrix consisting of the reach equations, external boundary conditions, and interior compatibility conditions; solving the external matrix for the end values of discharge and water surface elevation for all reaches; and back-substituting for all interior values. Examples presented include the James River, USA, estuary model (24 nodes and 26 reaches), the Cork Harbor, Ireland, estuary (13-reach double-looped network), and the Rio Bayamon basin, Puerto Rico. Results are very satisfactory when they are compared to known data.1975-06WileyArticle