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Chapter 1 - Ex 1.8

The document discusses networks and flow through networks. It defines a network as a set of branches through which something flows, like electricity through wires or water through pipes. At nodes where branches meet, the flow divides. Networks measure the rate of flow through branches, like amps of electricity or gallons of water per minute. For analysis, networks are considered where the rate of flow into a node equals the rate out, so flow is conserved at nodes. Two examples are given, one solving for unknown branch flows using a linear system based on conservation of flow at nodes, and another designing traffic patterns for a new park.

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Sahil Paracha
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266 views8 pages

Chapter 1 - Ex 1.8

The document discusses networks and flow through networks. It defines a network as a set of branches through which something flows, like electricity through wires or water through pipes. At nodes where branches meet, the flow divides. Networks measure the rate of flow through branches, like amps of electricity or gallons of water per minute. For analysis, networks are considered where the rate of flow into a node equals the rate out, so flow is conserved at nodes. Two examples are given, one solving for unknown branch flows using a linear system based on conservation of flow at nodes, and another designing traffic patterns for a new park.

Uploaded by

Sahil Paracha
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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The concept of a network appears in a variety of applications.

Loosely stated, a network is a set of branches


through which something “flows.” For example, the branches might be electrical wires through which electricity
flows, pipes through which water or oil flows, traffic lanes through which vehicular traffic flows, or economic
linkages through which money flows, to name a few possibilities.
In most networks, the branches meet at points, called nodes or junctions, where the flow divides. For example, in
an electrical network, nodes occur where three or more wires join, in a traffic network they occur at street
intersections, and in a financial network they occur at banking centers where incoming money is distributed to
individuals or other institutions.
In the study of networks, there is generally some numerical measure of the rate at which the medium flows through
a branch. For example, the flow rate of electricity is often measured in amperes, the flow rate of water or oil in
gallons per minute, the flow rate of traffic in vehicles per hour, and the flow rate of European currency in millions
of Euros per day. We will restrict our attention to networks in which there is flow conservation at each node, by
which we mean that the rate of flow into any node is equal to the rate of flow out of that node. This ensures that the
flow medium does not build up at the nodes and block the free movement of the medium through the network.

EXAMPLE 1 Network Analysis Using Linear Systems


Figure 1.8.1 shows a network with four nodes in which the flow rate and direction of flow
in certain branches are known. Find the flow rates and directions of flow in the remaining
branches.
Solution As illustrated in Figure 1.8.2, we have assigned arbitrary directions to the unknown flow rates
𝑥1 , 𝑥2 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑥3 . We need not be concerned if some of the directions are incorrect, since an incorrect direction
will be signaled by a negative value for the flow rate when we solve for the unknowns.

It follows from the conservation of flow that

𝑥1 + 𝑥2 = 30 (𝑛𝑜𝑑𝑒 𝐴)
𝑥2 + 𝑥3 = 35 (𝑛𝑜𝑑𝑒 𝐵)
𝑥3 + 15 = 60 (𝑛𝑜𝑑𝑒 𝐶)
𝑥1 + 15 = 55 (𝑛𝑜𝑑𝑒 𝐷)
These four conditions produces the linear system
𝑥1 + 𝑥2 = 30
𝑥2 + 𝑥3 = 35
𝑥3 = 45
𝑥1 = 40

which we can now try to solve for the unknown flow rates. In this particular case the system is sufficiently
simple that it can be solved by inspection (work from the bottom up). We leave it for you to confirm that
the solution is
𝑥1 = 40, 𝑥2 = −10, 𝑥3 = 45
The fact that 𝑥2 is negative tells us that the direction assigned to that flow in Figure 1.8.2 is incorrect; that is, the
flow in that branch is into node A.

EXAMPLE 2 Design of Traffic Patterns


The network in Figure 1.8.3 shows a proposed plan for the traffic flow around a new park that will house the
Liberty Bell in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The plan calls for a computerized traffic light at the north exit on
Fifth Street, and the diagram indicates the average number of vehicles per hour that are expected to flow in
and out of the streets that border the complex. All streets are one-way.
(a) How many vehicles per hour should the traffic light let through to ensure that the average number of
vehicles per hour flowing into the complex is the same as the average number of vehicles flowing out?
(b) Assuming that the traffic light has been set to balance the total flow in and out of the complex, what can
you say about the average number of vehicles per hour that will flow along the streets that border the
complex?

Solution
(a) If, as indicated in Figure 1.8.3b we let x denote the number of vehicles per hour that the traffic light must
let through, then the total number of vehicles per hour that flow in and out of the complex will be
We get

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