Wadiso 6 User Guide > Program history, purpose and capabilities > Numeric method for balancing pressures and flows

A number of numeric schemes have been proposed and used in the computation of the pressure and flow distribution in pipe networks. Each one has its specific characteristics: some schemes are simple to implement, others require the least amount of computer memory, or the least amount of computer time, to find the answer. Yet, another characteristic is how the program performs under extreme conditions; does it easily “crash” or is it particularly “robust” when analyzing unusual situations, as they might be encountered during extended time simulation or during optimization.

In Wadiso 5, two network solvers are available, viz. the original solver employed in the Wadiso program, and later improved and extended for Wadiso SA Versions 2 and 3, as well as the EPANet network solver. Although the latter is slightly different from the Wadiso solver, in that it uses different convergence criteria, it was also developed from the original Wadiso code. In the current Wadiso 6, the program is made more streamlined by discarding the "two options network solver" idea, and deploying only the EPANet network solver (which is the best option for most applications).