On the Erlang Loss Model with Time Dependent Input

We consider the M(t)/M(t)/m/m queue, where the arrival rate λ(t) and service rate μ(t) are arbitrary (smooth) functions of time. Letting p_n(t) be the probability that n servers are occupied at time t (0≤ n≤ m, t > 0), we study this distribution asymptotically, for m→∞ with a comparably large arrival rate λ(t) = O(m) (with μ(t) = O(1)). We use singular perturbation techniques to solve the forward equation for p_n(t) asymptotically. Particular attention is paid to computing the mean number of occupied servers and the blocking probability p_m(t). The analysis involves several different space-time ranges, as well as different initial conditions (we assume that at t = 0 exactly n₀ servers are occupied, 0≤ n₀≤ m). Numerical studies back up the asymptotic analysis. AMS subject classification: 60K25,34E10 Supported in part by NSF grants DMS-99-71656 and DMS-02-02815     

Long-Term Changes in a Heat Exchanger Steel

The steel ASTM A213 P22 is used for superheater outlet header in power plants. During duty cycles lasting over tens of years the temperature is of the order of 545°C and the pressure 125 atm. The microscopic changes in these steels are hard to analyze under working conditions, but they are believed to be responsible for the appearance of creeps in such devices. Investigation of the microscopic modifications will help to predict future failures due to creeps, increasing the reliability and saving a lot of money.We report the investigation of such changes in ASTM A213 P22 steel in use for 30 years as a Superheater header at Haifa power station. The analysis has been carried out using Mössbauer Spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and optical microscopy. As a result it seems that the morphology and phase change of the carbide phases M₃C/M₇C₃ and M₂₃C₆ are the most prominent changes leading to the material failures.     

On the evolution of islands

Letn cells be arranged in a ring, or alternatively, in a row. Initially, all cells are unmarked. Sequentially, one of the unmarked cells is chosen at random and marked until, aftern steps, each cell is marked. After thekth cell has been marked the configuration of marked cells defines some number of islands: maximal sets of adjacent marked cells. Let ξ _k denote the random number of islands afterk cells have been marked. We give explicit expressions for moments of products of ξ _k ’s and for moments of products of 1/ξ _k ’s. These are used in a companion paper to prove that if a random graph on the natural number is made by drawing an edge betweeni≧1 andj>i with probabilityλ/j, then the graph is almost surely connected ifλ>1/4 and almost surely disconnected ifλ≦1/4.     

Stochastic Visual Interactive Simulation Models

Many writers and practitioners have mentioned the difficulties that result from randomness in visual interactive simulation or animated simulation modelling. This paper discusses the use of VIS to model transient system behaviour, and proposes some approaches to stochastic VIS modelling which may be helpful in overcoming the difficulties.     

Atomistic packing models for experimentally investigated swelling states induced by CO2 in glassy polysulfone and poly(ether sulfone)

Atomistic packing models have been created, which help to better understand the experimentally observed swelling behavior of glassy polysulfone and poly (ether sulfone), under CO₂ gas pressures up to 50 bar at 308 K. The experimental characterization includes the measurement of the time‐dependent volume dilation of the polymer samples after a pressure step and the determination of the corresponding gas concentrations by gravimetric gas‐sorption measurements. The models obtained by force‐field‐based molecular mechanics and molecular dynamics methods allow a detailed atomistic analysis of representative swelling states of polymer/gas systems, with respect to the dilation of the matrix. Also, changes of free volume distribution and backbone mobility are accessible. The behavior of gas molecules in unswollen and swollen polymer matrices is characterized in terms of sorption, diffusion, and plasticization. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 44: 1874–1897, 2006     

The two-dimensional quantum Euclidean algebra

The algebra dual to Woronowicz's deformation of the two-dimensional Euclidean group is constructed. The same algebra is obtained from SU _q (2) via contraction on both the group and algebra levels.