Run menu

The Run menu provides options for calculations using the Lite hydraulic model and the Full unsteady hydraulic model. Runs can be made using a set of minor storms for design and major storms for checking.

This also appears in the Demonstration version of DRAINS.

The first two options run analyses using the Lite hydraulics model that solves the full unsteady flow equations in pipes and channels, but NOT in overflow routes. The next two options run analyses using the Full unsteady hydraulic model that solves the full unsteady flow equations in pipes, channels, AND in overflow routes.

The fifth option, Design, determines the sizes and invert levels of pipes and the sizes of pits, using the procedure that was formerly called the advanced design method.

   

The next option allows for the revision of pit pressure change coefficients, using the QUDM method. These can only be implemented after the program is run because they require flows to work with. They can be applied iteratively in Design runs to converge to an answer, usually with only two or three iterations being required.  

A relatively new option Revise Overflow Route Travel Times allows you change the travel times specified for each overflow route. To use this, you must enter lengths for each overflow route. The greyed-out option will then be black. Applying it will delete the times already specified and change the Travel time (mins) specifications in all Overflow route property sheets from You specify to Set by DRAINS.

The last option in the Run menu displays a table of quantities.

If options are 'greyed-out' it means that there is insufficient data to make a run, or there is some condition preventing DRAINS from running. In this case you must go back and check that all the required information has been entered. If the options are in black type, you can proceed with a run. 

For models created with DRAINS prior to December 2010 (if you have purchased the Full unsteady hydraulic model), the menu appears as:

This includes options to run models using the now-obsolete basic flow model.  If desired, these choices can be used to compare basic and Lite model results.

When you proceed with the run, a progress bar will be displayed, and when the run is complete a message showing how the system has performed or advising you what to do next will appear. If multiple storm patterns are used in the analysis, a drop-down list will appear in the top left-hand corner. This will enable you to select results for a particular storm, or a 'worst case' result, allowing for all storms.

Results can be viewed using the following options:

1. Flowrates will be shown on the screen after a run. These are colour-coded so that values for catchments, pits, pipes, channels and overflow routes can be distinguished. These can be changed using the Customise Text dialog box that can be opened from the View menu. Results for different storms in a multiple pattern set can be chosen using the drop-down menu.
   
2. Various View Hydrographs and View HGLs options in the Pop-Up (right mouse button) menus can be opened for each component. You need to click the selected component while pressing the right mouse button, and then select an option from the menu. The results appear as windows for each storm analysed, showing graphical or tabular outputs, which can be copied to the Clipboard and transferred to documents in spreadsheets or word-processing programs.
   
3. Tables of system details, including all entered data and results of runs, can be viewed in the spreadsheet outputs.
   

The menu takes the following form if rational method calculations or a storage routing model are being used,

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