Finite Element Method for Tree-shape Network Hydraulic Calculation of Drip Irrigation

The hydraulic calculation of a large scale drip irrigation system should be done with network analysis techniques. However, the amount of computer's RAM storage required may be a main threshold if a PC computer is used. The author presents a series of new methods on the element separation, linearization of nonlinear problems, construction of the general matrix formular and the element storage in a computer. Finally, a finite element method with a new calculating solution of simplicity has been developed, resulting in a maximum saving in computer storage. It makes the possibility to solve a stiffness matrix of 3 000-6 500 network nodes.