SENSITIVITY OF DARCY’S LAWTO DISCONTINUITIES

The authors investigate the sensitivity of hydrostatic pressure of flows through porous media with respect to the position of the soil layers. Indeed, these induce discontinuities of the porosity which is a piecewise constant coefficient K of the partial differential equation satisfied by the pressure u and it leads to the computation of the derivative of u with respect to changes in position of discontinuity surface of K.The analysis relies on a mixed formulation of the problem. Preliminary numerical simulations are given to illustrate the theory. An application to a simple inverse problem is also given.     

一类非散度型非线性退化抛物方程解的存在性(英文)

In this paper, we discuss the existence of weak solutions to the initial and boundary value problem of a class of nonlinear degenerate parabolic equations in non-divergence form. Applying the method of parabolic regularization, we prove the existence of weak solutions to the problem. By carefully analyzing the approximate solutions to the problem, we make a series of estimates to the solutions and prove the weak convergence of the approximation solution sequence. Finally we testify the existence of weak solutions to the problem.     

A method of estimating computational complexity based on input conditions for N-vehicle problem

This paper proposes a method of estimating computational complexity of problem through analyzing its input condition for N-vehicle exploration problem. The N-vehicle problem is firstly formulated to determine the optimal replacement in the set of permutations of 1 to N. The complexity of the problem is factorial of N （input scale of problem）. To balance accuracy and efficiency of general algorithms, this paper mentions a new systematic algorithm design and discusses correspondence between complexity of problem and its input condition, other than just putting forward a uniform approximation algorithm as usual. This is a new technique for analyzing computation of NP problems. The method of corresponding is then presented. We finally carry out a simulation to verify the advantages of the method： 1） to decrease computation in enumeration; 2） to efficiently obtain computational complexity for any N-vehicle case; 3） to guide an algorithm design for any N-vehicle case according to its complexity estimated by the method.     

An adaptive design to assess the reliability of the pyrotechnic control subsystem in opening the solar array

The pyrotechnic control subsystem plays an important role in opening the solar array of a satellite. Assessing the reliability of the subsystem requires determining the level of a control factor that is needed to cause the desired response and energy output with high probability. A two-phase adaptive design to estimate the level of interest is proposed and studied. The convergence of the design is obtained. A simulation study shows that the estimate is very close to its population value and is robust to the initial guess of the design. As an application, the design is used to assess the reliability of a real pyrotechnic control subsystem.     

USING THE SKEW-SYMMETRIC ITERATIVE METHODS FOR SOLUTION OF AN INDEFINITE NONSYMMETRIC LINEAR SYSTEMS

The concept of the field of value to localize the spectrum of the iteration matrices of the skew-symmetric iterative methods is further exploited. Obtained formulas are derived to relate the fields of values of the original matrix and the iteration matrix. This allows us to determine theoretically that indefinite nonsymmetric linear systems can be solved by this class of iterative methods.     

Dynamic optimal strategy for monitoring disease recurrence

Surveillance to detect cancer recurrence is an important part of care for cancer survivors.In this paper we discuss the design of optimal strategies for early detection of disease recurrence based on each patient’s distinct biomarker trajectory and periodically updated risk estimated in the setting of a prospective cohort study.We adopt a latent class joint model which considers a longitudinal biomarker process and an event process jointly,to address heterogeneity of patients and disease,to discover distinct biomarker trajectory patterns,to classify patients into different risk groups,and to predict the risk of disease recurrence.The model is used to develop a monitoring strategy that dynamically modifies the monitoring intervals according to patients’ current risk derived from periodically updated biomarker measurements and other indicators of disease spread.The optimal biomarker assessment time is derived using a utility function.We develop an algorithm to apply the proposed strategy to monitoring of new patients after initial treatment.We illustrate the models and the derivation of the optimal strategy using simulated data from monitoring prostate cancer recurrence over a 5-year period.     

THE UPWIND FINITE DIFFERENCE METHOD FOR MOVING BOUNDARY VALUE PROBLEM OF COUPLED SYSTEM

Coupled system of multilayer dynamics of fluids in porous media is to describe the history of oil-gas transport and accumulation in basin evolution.It is of great value in rational evaluation of prospecting and exploiting oil-gas resources.The mathematical model can be described as a coupled system of nonlinear partial differential equations with moving boundary values.The upwind finite difference schemes applicable to parallel arithmetic are put forward and two-dimensional and three-dimensional schemes are used to form a complete set.Some techniques,such as change of variables,calculus of variations, multiplicative commutation rule of difference operators,decomposition of high order difference operators and prior estimates,are adopted.The estimates in l~2 norm are derived to determine the error in the approximate solution.This method was already applied to the numerical simulation of migration-accumulation of oil resources.     

Rarefaction Wave Interaction and Shock-Rarefaction Composite Wave Interaction for a Two-Dimensional Nonlinear Wave System

In order to construct global solutions to two-dimensional(2 D for short)Riemann problems for nonlinear hyperbolic systems of conservation laws,it is important to study various types of wave interactions.This paper deals with two types of wave interactions for a 2 D nonlinear wave system with a nonconvex equation of state:Rarefaction wave interaction and shock-rarefaction composite wave interaction.In order to construct solutions to these wave interactions,the authors consider two types of Goursat problems,including standard Goursat problem and discontinuous Goursat problem,for a 2 D selfsimilar nonlinear wave system.Global classical solutions to these Goursat problems are obtained by the method of characteristics.The solutions constructed in the paper may be used as building blocks of solutions of 2 D Riemann problems.     

A multivariate adaptive regression splines cutting plane approach for solving a two-stage stochastic programming fleet assignment model

The fleet assignment model assigns a fleet of aircraft types to the scheduled flight legs in an airline timetable published six to twelve weeks prior to the departure of the aircraft. The objective is to maximize profit. While costs associated with assigning a particular fleet type to a leg are easy to estimate, the revenues are based upon demand, which is realized close to departure. The uncertainty in demand makes it challenging to assign the right type of aircraft to each flight leg based on forecasts taken six to twelve weeks prior to departure. Therefore, in this paper, a two-stage stochastic programming framework has been developed to model the uncertainty in demand, along with the Boeing concept of demand driven dispatch to reallocate aircraft closer to the departure of the aircraft. Traditionally, two-stage stochastic programming problems are solved using the L-shaped method. Due to the slow convergence of the L-shaped method, a novel multivariate adaptive regression splines cutting plane method has been developed. The results obtained from our approach are compared to that of the L-shaped method, and the value of demand-driven dispatch is estimated.     

On the relation of abstract and concrete in scientists’ graph interpretations: A case study

The notions of abstract and concrete are central to the conceptualization of mathematical knowing and learning. Much of the literature takes a dualist approach, leading to the privileging of the former term at the expense of the latter. In this article, we provide a concrete analysis of a scientist interpreting an unfamiliar graph to show how engagement with some object leads to the working out of existing, concrete practical understanding and the articulation of categorical statements (“generalizations”); because the scientist knew something at the end of his interpretive work that he did not prior to it, the event is understood to constitute an episode of learning. The analysis shows that rather than being a movement from concrete to abstract or from abstract to concrete, development occurs in a movement that appears to be simultaneously from concrete to abstract and from abstract to concrete.     

Learning to Ignore Online Help Requests

Email discussion groups provide a useful way of organizing email communities with a common interest in a certain topic. Emails submitted to the discussion group are sent automatically to each individual member, thereby eliminating the need to send multiple emails. This method may present unexpected difficulties however, when it comes to cooperation between members. An experimental study shows that email requests for help sent through discussion groups received less responses than emails sent individually to members of a group. Furthermore, subscribers to large discussion groups responded less often to help requests, whether they were sent to the group as a whole or to individuals. These results are discussed in terms of the separate roles of social cues and experience on the diffusion of responsibility effect.     

A study of leveraged ETF based on geometric return

Leveraged (inverse) exchange-traded funds (LETFs) seek to deliver multiples (opposite) of the performance of the index or benchmark they track. LETFs typically are designed to achieve their stated performance objectives on a daily basis. Many real-life and hypothetical examples have been given to show that the performance of these ETFs over a period longer than one day can differ from their stated daily performance objectives. Formulae have been found using both continuous method and discrete method. A discrete method was used to find a formula linking the return of a leveraged fund with the corresponding multiple of the return of the unleveraged fund and its realized variance but the method needs to use some assumptions and statistical properties to create the volatility term. A CME report finds a very simple way to include volatility in their formula but fails to link to the return of the corresponding unleveraged product. In this paper, we find a natural way to link a leveraged fund with its corresponding unleveraged product and its realized variance in a discrete manner. Our derivation process is similar to that in the CME report, so we do not need to use assumptions and statistical properties to create the volatility term. Unlike the CME method, we use geometric return as opposed to arithmetic return. So, we are able to connect with the return of the corresponding unleveraged product.     

Stability study and control of helicopter blade flapping vibrations

The response of a two-degree-of-freedom, controlled, autoparametric system to harmonic excitations is studied and solved. The objective of this research is to investigate the effect of linear absorber on the vibrating system and the saturation control of a linear absorber to reduce vibrations due to rotor blade flapping motion. The method of multiple scale perturbation technique is applied to obtain the periodic response equation near the primary resonance in the presence of internal resonance of the system. The stability of the obtained numerical solution is investigated using both phase plane methods and frequency response equations. Variation of some parameters leads to the bending of the frequency response curves and hence to the jump phenomenon occurrence. The reported results are compared to the available published work.     

Evaluation of stock allocation policies in a divergent inventory system with shipment consolidation

In this paper we consider a one-warehouse N-retailer inventory system characterized by access to real-time point-of-sale data, and a time based dispatching and shipment consolidation policy at the warehouse. More precisely, inventory is reviewed continuously, while a consolidated shipment (for example, a truck) to all retailers is dispatched from the warehouse at regular time intervals. The focus is on investigating the cost benefits of using state-dependent myopic allocation policies instead of a simple FCFS (First-Come-First-Serve) rule to allocate shipped goods to the retailers. The analysis aims to shed some light on when, if ever, FCFS is a reasonable policy to use in this type of system? The FCFS allocations of items to retailers are determined by the sequence in which retailer orders (or equivalently customer demands) arrive to the warehouse. Applying the myopic policy enables the warehouse to postpone the allocation decision to the moment of shipment (from the warehouse) or the moments of delivery (to the different retailers), and to base it on the inventory information available at those times. The myopic allocation method we study is often used in the literature on periodic review systems.     

Analytical existence of solutions to a system of nonlinear equations with application

We study the existence of analytical solutions to a system of nonlinear equations under constraints linked to the analysis of a road safety measure without computing second derivatives. We formally demonstrate this existence of solutions by applying a matrix inversion principle through Schur complement to a subsystem of equations derived from the main system. The analytical results thus obtained are used to construct a simple iterative procedure to look for optimal solutions as well as an initial solution adapted to data of each case study. We illustrate our results with simulated accident data obtained from the setting-up of a road safety measure. The numerical solutions thus obtained are then compared to those given through a classic Newton-Raphson type approach directly applied to the main system.     

Topology Optimization of Trusses—Random Cost Method Versus Evolutionary Algorithms

The recently proposed random cost method is applied to the topology optimization of trusses. Its performance is compared to previous genetic algorithm and evolution strategy simulations. Random cost turns out to be an optimization method with attractive features. In comparison to the genetic algorithm approach of Hajela, Lee and Lin, random cost turns out to be simpler and more efficient. Furthermore it is found that in contrast to evolution strategy, the random cost strategy's ability to find optima, is independent of the initial structure. This characteristic is related to the important capacity of escaping from local optima.     

煤层注水非线性渗流方程的解析解及应用

本文运用流体力学,多孔介质流体动力学,渗流理论等理论知识,结合实验室和现场试验,从理论上对煤层注水预湿煤体机理进行了研究.分析了煤层注水过程,建立起了煤层注水的数学模型;对煤层注水的边界条件进行了描述.由于描述煤层注水的方程组为非线性的,为简化它们,利用了因次分析理论,引入了注水压力,渗透速度,煤水份增加量等无因次量.之后讨论了其解析和近似解.另外:结合实际煤层注水的科研项目,说明了该理论指导煤层注水及设计的作用和重要性.     

Interaction of intelligent and autonomous systems – part II: realization of cognitive technical systems

In this study, the application of a meta-modelling technique to structure complex environments is demonstrated with two examples. A special situation-operator model developed to model the human-machine-interaction is applied to automated supervision within the HMI context and to realize flexible and situated interaction of autonomous systems. A concept to automated monitoring of human operators is introduced to illustrate the structuring of complex environments as the first example. In the second example, this modelling technique is applied to a mobile robot to autonomously build and update a mental model of the interaction with the environment as an example of a cognitive technical system.