	Applies To
	Product(s):	HAMMER
	Version(s):	CONNECT Edition, V8i
	Area:	Calculations
	Original Author:	Jesse Dringoli, Bentley Technical Support Group

Problem

What is the difference between the Method of Characteristics (MOC) used by Bentley HAMMER and the Wave Plan method (sometimes called the "Wave Characteristics" method) used by some other transient modeling software?

Solution

The MOC is the gold standard for numerical simulation of hydraulic transients because it continues the most widely researched and extensively validated method world-wide. The MOC is inherently stable and efficient, with rigorous and physically-based representations of boundary conditions. Implementations of the MOC are at the heart of the leading transient models, including HAMMER. HAMMER solves transient results at each node and at a number of 'interior points' along most pipes.

The 'Wave Characteristic' method is an off- shoot of the wave-plan method developed in the 1960s and used by a single commercial transient model, which only solves transient results at the nodes. Because of this, you may miss out on important changes that may occur between the pipe end points. with the MOC, details along the pipe are accounted for and displayed in the Transient Results Viewer and the user does not need to lay out an excessive number of unnecessary nodes along a pipeline.

See below videos for more

Method of Characteristics vs. Wave Plan Method

Problem

Solution

See Also