Simulating Withdrawal Behaviors in Work Organizations: An Example of a Virtual Society

This article discusses computational modeling as a research discipline increasingly accessible to researchers in the social and behavioral sciences, a method necessary to allow us to address several important questions. Construction and use of virtual societies in which complex behavioral processes may be simulated in exquisite detail is possible because of the capacity and speed of desk top computers combined with requisite theoretical and methodological developments. Modeling has strengths orthogonal and complementary to those of the experimental tradition and correlational analyses of individual differences. These strengths can be exploited in many areas of psychology. Behavioral processes within a segment of a virtual society can be simulated with extreme levels of realism using overarching theoretical and empirical framework; segments can be combined to provide more macro statements. Variables that represent forces impinging on individuals from the macro-environment; variables that characterize relatively more micro-environments such as a work organization or the family or a classroom; and individual-level variables that summarize attitudinal, cognitive, and value states or traits can be included easily in simulations. Researchers can decompose and evaluate the interplay of multi-level causal forces as they interact within different theoretical models of how individuals enact different, interrelated behaviors. Temporal dynamics of behavioral processes, not well addressed by traditional research disciplines, can be exploited in modeling to permit the realistic study of dynamical, nonlinear systems. These points are illustrated by results from a program designed to simulate the process by which individuals withdraw from aversive work situations.     

A fully coupled diffusional-mechanical formulation: numerical implementation,analytical validation,and effects of plasticity on equilibrium

A macroscopic coupled stress-diffusion theory which accounts for the effects of nonlinear material behaviour, based on the framework proposed by Cahn and Larché, is presented and implemented numerically into the finite element method. The numerical implementation is validated against analytical solutions for different boundary valued problems. Particular attention is payed to the open system elastic constants, i.e. those derived at constant diffusion potential, since they enable, under circumstances, the equilibrium composition field for any generic chemical-mechanical coupled problem to be obtained through the solution of an equivalent elastic problem. Finally, the effects of plasticity on the overall equilibrium state of the coupled problem solution are discussed.     

Innovation, imitation, and problem-solving in a networked group

We implemented a problem-solving task in which groups of participants simultaneously played a simple innovation game in a complex problem space, with score feedback provided after each of a number of rounds. Each participant in a group was allowed to view and imitate the guesses of others during the game. The results showed the use of social learning strategies previously studied in other species, and demonstrated benefits of social learning and nonlinear effects of group size on strategy and performance. Rather than simply encouraging conformity, groups provided information to each individual about the distribution of useful innovations in the problem space. Imitation facilitated innovation rather than displacing it, because the former allowed good solutions to be propagated and preserved for further cumulative innovations in the group. Participants generally improved their solutions through the use of fairly conservative strategies, such as changing only a small portion of one's solution at a time, and tending to imitate solutions similar to one's own. Changes in these strategies over time had the effect of making solutions increasingly entrenched, both at individual and group levels. These results showed evidence of nonlinear dynamics in the decentralization of innovation, the emergence of group phenomena from complex interactions of individual efforts, stigmergy in the use of social information, and dynamic tradeoffs between exploration and exploitation of solutions. These results also support the idea that innovation and creativity can be recognized at the group level even when group members are generally cautious and imitative.     

Complexity and cognition: a meta-theoretical analysis of the mind and brain as a topological dynamical system

The application of theories of complexity to the study of cognition has only recently started but it has already caused high expectations and controversies. Currently an extensive evaluation of the theoretical status of these theories does not exist. In an attempt to fill in that gap, this text develops a meta-theoretical analysis that presents a reconstruction of the theories of complexity applied to cognition, establishing their theoretical status, conceptual cores, basic assumptions and explanation strategies. Freeman's theory of cerebral chaos will be analyzed first. Then a meta-theory generalization to neuro-cognitive theories will be presented. It will be sustained that the central theoretical core of cognitive complexity theories are based on the metaphor of the mind, the brain or cognition as a dynamic system, founded a time-space topology. The framework of this study is based on ontology of processes and an ontological pluralism. The explicative strategies are supported by emergentistic approaches and nomological derivation based on mathematical laws. The prototypes of the theory are strongly backed up by computer simulations. This paper concludes by suggesting the existence of two antagonical perspectives (universalistic and pluralistic) in the core of these theories.     

The stability of a compressed rotating rod

The classical stability problem of a compressed hinged elastic rod rotating with constant angular velocity about the axis that passes through the hinges is considered. It is assumed that the compressive force is constant and the line of its action coincides with the axis of rotation of the rod. The stability of a solution of the nonlinear problem that describes deformation of the rod under the action of the compressive force and the distributed centrifugal load is studied within the framework of the stability theory of dynamic systems with distributed parameters. The buckling paramcters of the problem are determined. Calculation results are given. Technology Institute, Altai State Technical University, Biisk 659305. Translated from Prikladnaya Mekhanika i Tekhnicheskaya Fizika, Vol. 41, No. 4, pp. 190–197, July–August, 2000.     

The dynamic matching of neural and cognitive growth cycles

In recent years complex systems biology has developed detailed numerical models mimicking the establishment, modulation, and fine-tuning of neural networks. Current research within the framework of Dynamic Systems Theory (DST) emphasizes the nexus between dynamic cycles in the brain and cognitive development which unfold in a nonlinear way and allow for individual variation. Careful observations over multiple timescales and levels of organization suggest a link to system-specific developmental changes in the central nervous system with more functional specialization opening up more efficient information processing. This can be seen in spurts of EEG energy and altered cortical coherence. Data of age- and experience-related changes in synaptic density and metabolism, shifts in blood flow and improvement of (sub)cortical connections are projected on a dynamic trajectory of cognition moving from diffuse to more refined constructions in the various subsystems, each of which exhibiting its own developmental path. Pending questions are the generation of rules amidst diversity and fluctuation, and the correlation of growth rate and critical mass in developmental dynamics and interaction.     

Coordinating control of multiple rigid bodies based on motion primitives

This paper studies the problem of coordinated motion generation for a group of rigid bodies.Two classes of coordinated motion primitives,relative equilibria and maneuvers,are given as building blocks for generating coordinated motions.In a motion-primitive based planning framework,a control method is proposed for the robust execution of a coordinated motion plan in the presence of perturbations.The control method combines the relative equilibria stabilization with maneuver design,and results in a closeloop motion planning framework.The performance of the control method has been illustrated through a numerical simulation.     

Modelling framework for mass-growth III: Isochoric growth

Mass-growth is usually perceived as a non-isochoric process, but classes of soft tissue that exhibit incompressible or nearly incompressible in vitro behaviour may have gone through growth stages which are isochoric or nearly isochoric. The present paper aims thus to complement and complete the non-isochoric mass-growth modelling framework presented in [1], [2] by presenting a relevant formulation for isochoric deformation processes that exhibit features of simultaneous elastic and plastic mass-growth. The refined modelling route that is followed is slightly different, and more general to that followed in [2], to which, however, is also applicable. Because mass density and stress levels are expected to increase faster than they would in analogous non-isochoric mass-growth situations, purely pseudo-elastic or purely pseudo-plastic stages of isochoric mass-growth are rather unlikely to alternate in the manner implied in [1] for their non-isochoric counterparts. Purely pseudo-elastic and purely pseudo-plastic isochoric mass-growth models can however still be obtained as particular cases of the present formulation. These issues as well as additional features that characterise the present model are detailed and clarified further through the complete, closed form solution of a particular, example problem application in which the mass density and the shape of the growing continuum are subjected to continuous time change.     

Coupled damage and plasticity models derived from energy and dissipation potentials

A theoretical framework is defined that allows plasticity and damage models of inelastic behaviour to be combined within a consistent approach. Much emphasis is placed on the fact that, within this framework, the entire constitutive response is specified through two potential functions, with no additional assumptions or evolution equations being necessary. Both plastic strain and damage parameter have roles as internal variables within the theory. Two classes of models are derived: involving respectively uncoupled and coupled plasticity and damage. Examples of application of the theory are presented.     

A new approach for computing the steady state fluid–structure interaction response of periodic problems

A special type of fluid–structure interaction (FSI) problems are problems with periodic boundary conditions like in turbomachinery. The steady state FSI response of these problems is usually calculated with similar techniques as used for transient FSI analyses. This means that, when the fluid and structure problem are not simultaneously solved with a monolithic approach, the problem is partitioned into a fluid and structural part and that each time step coupling iterations are performed to account for strong interactions between the two sub-domains. This paper shows that a time-partitioned FSI computation can be very inefficient to compute the steady state FSI response of periodic problems. A new approach is introduced in which coupling iterations are performed on periodic level instead of per time step. The convergence behaviour can be significantly improved by implementing existing partitioned solution methods as used for time step coupling (TSC) algorithms in the time periodic coupling (TPC) framework. The new algorithm has been evaluated by comparing the convergence behaviour to TSC algorithms. It is shown that the number of fluid–structure evaluations can be considerably reduced when a TPC algorithm is applied instead of a TSC. One of the most appealing advantages of the TPC approach is that the structural problem can be solved in the frequency domain resulting in a very efficient algorithm for computing steady state FSI responses.     

The behaviour of polymer solutions in extension-dominated flows,with applications to Enhanced Oil Recovery

The rheometry and flow behaviour of aqueous solutions of polyacrylamide and xanthan gum are discussed, with the expectation that the results will be of use in Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR). The rheometrical study gives particular prominence to the dramatically high values of extensional viscosity which are possible in aqueous solutions of flexible polymers such as polyacrylamide. The effect of such factors as polymer concentration, salt concentration and mechanical degradation on rheometrical properties is outlined. Reference is also made to the qualitatively-different rheometrical behaviour experienced by comparable solutions of xanthan gum.Further evidence is advanced that some dilute polymer solutions of potential use in EOR experience abnormally high resistance in flows which are dominated by extension. Since flow through a porous medium involves a substantial extensional component, it is argued that there is justification for studying the effect of this high extensional-viscosity behaviour in a number of idealized geometries of relevance to EOR conditions. The resulting experiments indicate that, at low flow rates,shear viscosity is the dominant influence, but that, after a critical set of conditions,extensional-viscosity considerations can become all important and the observed pressure losses are against any expectation based on conventional fluid mechanics.Flow visualization studies support the pressure-drop measurements in emphasising the strong influence of high extensional viscosities in flows through tortuous geometries.This paper is dedicated to Professor Hanswalter Giesekus on the occasion of his retirement as Editor of Rheologica Acta.     

The Complexity of Collective Decision

This paper is about the dynamics of collective decision when an individual adapts his rational decision to the others'. We consider an organization of heterogeneous agents, in which each agent faces the binary decision problem. The standard way of modeling a collective decision is to assume everyone has the same value or payoff structure. This paper considers collective decision of agents with heterogeneous payoffs. We obtain and classify rational decision rules of heterogeneous agents into a few categories depending on their idiosyncratic payoff structure. We also obtain the micro–macro dynamics that relate the aggregate collective decision with the underlying individual decisions. We investigate the roles of particular types of agents such as hardcore, conformists, and nonconformists. We show that agents' rational behavior combined with the others produce stable orders, and sometimes complex cyclic behavior.     

Self-consistent elastoplastic stress solutions for functionally graded material systems subjected to thermal transients

In this work, a self-consistent constitutive framework is proposed to describe the behaviour of a generic three-layered system containing a functionally graded material (FGM) layer subjected to thermal loading. Analytical and semi-analytical solutions are obtained to describe the thermo-elastic and thermo-elastoplastic behaviour of a three-layered system consisting of a metallic and a ceramic layer joined together by an FGM layer of arbitrary composition profile. Solutions for the stress distributions in a generic FGM system subjected to arbitrary temperature transient conditions are presented. The homogenisation of the local elastoplastic FGM behaviour in terms of the properties of its individual phases is performed using a self-consistent approach. In this work, power-law strain hardening behaviour is assumed for the FGM metallic phase. The stress distributions within the FGM systems are compared with accurate numerical solutions obtained from finite element analyses and good agreement is found throughout. Solutions are also given for the critical temperature transients required for the onset of plastic deformation within the three-layered systems.     

A boundary element investigation of extrudate swell

Numerical studies of die swell have until now dealt perimarily with the Maxwell or Oldroyd-B viscoelastic models. However, these models exhibit features that often make them unsuitable for numerical work. Furthermore, they are not realistic representations of actual viscoelastic fluids. In this report a comparison is made between the behaviour of a variety of different viscoelastic models when applied to the die swell problem. A wide range of elongational and shear behaviour is exhibited by the models examined. Both types of behaviour are shown to be important in the die swell problem, and the observed swelling is related to these characteristics of the models.     

Oblique indentation of creeping solids

Oblique indentation of power law creeping solids at plane strain conditions is examined with rigid-perfectly plastic material behaviour emerging as an asymptotic case. Indenter profiles are dealt with in general circumstances and represented by homogeneous functions. The core of the method developed draws on self-similarity and is based on an intermediate flat die solution. By this approach the problem of a moving contact boundary may be suppressed and the ensuing procedure becomes independent of loading, geometry, history and time. A computational method, based on the reduced procedure, is developed to obtain high accuracy solutions based on finite elements and applicable to non-linear elasticity. The originally stated problem is then solved subsequently by simple cumulative superposition and results given as a function of impression depth. The relation between contact depth and area is found to be invariant and only dependent on the power law exponent, the amount of friction, the profile and the angle of inclination of the indenter. Detailed results are given for local states of stress and deformation for flat and cylindrical dies at variation of the remaining three stated parameters. The presence of local stick and slip is given due attention and global relations between loading and indentation depth and contact area discussed for practical applications. The fundamental framework laid down may be applied to structural assemblies, joints and seals and diverse applications as flattening of rough surfaces, compaction of powder aggregates and ice-offshore structure interaction.     

On pulsatile flow of non-Newtonian liquids

Rheologica Acta - We consider the behaviour of non-Newtonian liquids as they are made to flow through straight pipes of circular cross section under the action of a pressure -gradient which...     

On the Bending and Stretching Elasticity of Biopolymer Filaments

Elastic filaments play an important role in the behaviour of cells and biological tissues. In this paper a two-dimensional nonlinear elastic framework, incorporating both bending and stretching, for the behaviour of biopolymer filaments treated as one-dimensional continua is developed. Explicit formulas for the extension-force relationship are obtained which include dependence on the initial end-to-end distance of the filament, unlike some existing models in the literature of, for example, the worm-like chain. The approach adopted allows treatment of both flexible and semi-flexible filaments and has the flexibility to accommodate different degrees of approximation. A key ingredient in the application of the model is inclusion of a body force term in the equilibrium equation. This is essential for finding non-trivial solutions of the governing equations and boundary conditions for filaments under tension. This highlights certain inconsistencies in the mechanics evident in the biophysics literature. Since the behaviour of individual filaments has a strong influence on the behaviour of networks of filaments the theory developed here can serve as a basis for analyzing the elasticity of networks such as actin and other filamentous biopolymer networks.     

An elastoplastic model for granular materials taking into account grain breakage

Granular materials are constituted of an assembly of particles. In spite of the simplicity of this assembly, its mechanical behaviour is complex. In the first stage we propose a framework to establish correlations between parameters of the supposedly continuous medium and grain properties which are assumed to be constant. However, this hypothesis is no longer valid in the case where physical (shape, size…) or mechanical properties (Young modulus E_g, Poisson's ratio ν_g…) of grains evolve during loading, causing the behaviour of the assembly to modify. We study the influence of the physical and mechanical parameters on grain breakage. We subsequently propose a way to model the influence of the grain breakage on granular materials and we introduce this influence in an elastoplastic constitutive model. Validations are made on two kinds of sands under isotropic and triaxial loading. Since the results of numerical computations corresponded well with the experimental data, we believe that the new model is capable of accurately simulating the behaviour of granular materials under a wide range of stresses and of taking into account, through new parameters, the individual strength of grains.