Mathematical modelling and optimisation of a waste water treatment plant by combined oxygen electrode and biological waste water treatment model

Structured mathematical models of oxygen electrode and biological waste water treatment were combined to optimise the position of electrode in the bioreactor. Parameters sensibility testing of mathematical model has shown that the model was most sensitive to the change of these parameters (in decreasing order of significance): oxygen consumption per unit of BOD_5, specific consumption rate of adsorbed BOD₅, volumetric coefficient of oxygen transfer rate (k_La), and waste water inflow. Two positions of electrode were tested: in the bioreactor and in the bioreactors syphon outlet shaft. Results obtained for the exchange of the oxic/anoxic phase and sludge recycling plant indicated that a reduction of electrical power for the aeration could be achieved if O₂ electrode is placed in the bioreactor tank, compared to position in outlet shaft. Better positioning of electrode has resulted in shortening of the oxic/anoxic cycle by 13% and the daily working time of aerators for 0.5 h per day, respectively. In the same time, the number of oxic/anoxic cycles per day was increased by 29%. In addition, results obtained by mathematical modelling indicated no debasement of chemical composition in out coming purified water if new position will be used.     

Financial crisis: An attempt of mathematical modelling

We attempt to explore the development of a financial crisis mathematically, constructing and analysing a simple qualitative mathematical model of a progressing crisis. This model brings an insight into the evolution of a crisis and enables us to evaluate the likely outcomes of the possible interventions that can slow the crisis’ progress or ameliorate its consequences. The model also helps to identify the factors and actions that may enhance the global economic security.     

Mathematical modelling of timber-framed walls strengthened with CFRP strips

This paper provides mathematical modelling for prefabricated timber-framed walls composed of a timber frame and fibre-plaster boards. Because the tensile strength of the fibre-plaster boards is approximately 10-times lower than the compressive one, it is convenient to strengthen the boards in their tensile diagonal direction with carbon fibre-reinforced polymer (CFRP) strips, which are glued to the boards. Based on analysis of experimental research results [M. Premrov, P. Dobrila, B.S. Bedenik, Analysis of timber-framed walls coated with CFRP strips strengthened fibre-plaster boards, Int. J. Solids Struct. 41 (24/25) (2004) 7035–7048] special approximate mathematical models have been developed. The models enable simultaneously to consider the influence of inserted CFRP strips, flexibility of mechanical fasteners in the connecting areas and any appearing of tensile cracks in the coating boards.     

New mathematical modelling and simulation of an industrial accumulator for elastic webs

This paper concerns the modelling of an accumulator used in industrial elastic web processing plant such as paper mills, fabric, rolling mills etc. Accumulators are used to allow rewind or unwind core changes while the process continues at a constant web velocity. A new nonlinear model of a pneumatic actuated industrial accumulator including pneumatic jack model, static friction representation and web weight is first detailed which enables to deduce a linear model. These models are derived from physical laws that describe web tension and velocity dynamics in each web span. In a second part, the effects of time-varying mechanical parameters, such as web Young modulus, web length and rollers inertia on accumulator dynamics are presented. The performances of the modeled accumulator are illustrated by simulations in Matlab/Simulink software environment.     

Mathematical modelling of timber-framed walls using fictive diagonal elements

This paper presents mathematical modelling of timber-framed wall where a braced frame with one fictive diagonal is used. The model is suitable for analysis of lateral loads on the structure. Its advantage compared to other models is its simplicity, the fact that it is easy to use in practise, and its suitability for use with simpler and cheaper programs for static and dynamic analysis. Further numerical calculations were performed, which showed good approximation with experimental studies and with the finite element method. The Tower 6 program for static and dynamic analysis has been used to model timber-framed walls. Appropriate stiffness of timber-framed wall is obtained by varying the cross-section of the fictive diagonal. Because the cross-section of the fictive diagonal is directly connected to the analytical calculation of the stiffness of the timber-framed wall, this model is also able to factor in different spacing distance, different sheathing boards, the appearance of tensile cracks in a sheathing board, as well as walls with glazing or openings.     

Crust density in bread baking: Mathematical modelling and numerical solutions

A model for the formation of a “crust” during bread baking is presented. The crust is the outermost part of the loaf where the final bread density is significantly higher than in the “crumb”, the interior of the loaf. The model is based on a collapse mechanism, whereby raised pressures due to thermal expansion and water evaporation squash bubbles in the bread as the dough sets and fractures; the latter process allows vapour within bubbles to escape.     

Families of relations modelling preferences under incomplete information

Let us consider a preferential information of type preference–indifference–incomparability (P, I, J), with additional information about differences in attractiveness between pairs of alternatives. The present paper offers a theoretical framework for the study of the “level of constraint” of this kind of partial preferential information. It suggests a number of structures as potential models being less demanding than the classical one in which differences in utilities can be used to represent the comparison of differences in attractiveness. The models are characterized in the more general context of families of non-complete preference structures, according to two different perspectives (called “semantico-numerical” and “matrix”). Both perspectives open the door to further practical applications connected with elicitation of the preferences of a decision maker.     

Mathematical modelling and parameter optimization of pulsating heat pipes

Proper heat transfer management is important to key electronic components in microelectronic applications. Pulsating heat pipes (PHP) can be an efficient solution to such heat transfer problems. However, mathematical modelling of a PHP system is still very challenging, due to the complexity and multiphysics nature of the system. In this work, we present a simplified, two-phase heat transfer model, and our analysis shows that it can make good predictions about startup characteristics. Furthermore, by considering parameter estimation as a nonlinear constrained optimization problem, we have used the firefly algorithm to find parameter estimates efficiently. We have also demonstrated that it is possible to obtain good estimates of key parameters using very limited experimental data.     

Discursive positionings and emotions in modelling activities

Mathematical modelling is suggested as an activity through which students engage in meaningful mathematics. In the current research, the modelling activity of a group of four seventh-grade students was analysed using the discursive analysis framework. The research findings show that the positionings and emotions of the group members during their participation in the modelling activity changed as the activity proceeded. Overall, it can be said that three of the four group members acted as insiders, while the fourth acted as an outsider, and only, towards the end of the group's work on the activity, he acted as an insider. Moreover, the research findings point at four factors that affected the group members’ positionings and emotions during the modelling activity: the member's characteristics, the member's history of learning experiences, the activity characteristics and the modelling phases. Furthermore, the different positionings of the group members in the different modelling phases were accompanied by different emotions experienced by them, where being an insider and a collaborator resulted in positive emotions, while being an outsider resulted in negative emotions.     

Mathematical modelling and dynamic response of a multi-straight-line path tracing flexible robot manipulator with rotating-prismatic joint

In this study, mathematical modelling and dynamic response of a flexible robot manipulator with rotating-prismatic joint are investigated. The tip end of the flexible robot manipulator traces a multi-straight-line path under the action of an external driving torque and an axial force. Considered robot manipulator consists of a rotating prismatic joint and a sliding flexible arm with a tip mass. Flexible arm is assumed to be an Euler–Bernoulli beam carrying an end-mass. Equations of motion of the flexible manipulator are obtained by using Lagrange’s equation of motion. Effect of rotary inertia, axial shortening and gravitation is considered in the analysis. Equations of motion are solved by using fourth order Runge–Kutta method. Numerical simulations obtained by using a developed computer program are presented and physical trend of the results are discussed.     

The delay-time modelling of preventive maintenance of plant given limited PM data and Selective repair at PM

This paper presents a maintenance-modelling case study of aplant manufacturing brake linings. A delay–time modelis developed and applied to model and optimize preventive maintenance(PM). A key subsystem in the plant is used to illustrate themodelling process and management reaction. Defects identifiedat PM may not all be removed. This incomplete response to PMis a feature which has not been modelled before. The parametervalues of the delay-time process are estimated from objectivedata from maintenance records of failures, using the methodof maximum likelihood. This is aided by a theorem extendingresults on the NHPP arival rate of failures in a perfect-inspectioncase to the non-perfect-inspection case. Problems of parameterestimation given inadequate data collected at PMs are discussed,and the necessity to augment objective data with subjectiveassessments highlighted. Based upon the estimated model parametersand delay-time distribution, an inspection model is constructedto describe the relationship between the total unit downtimeand the PM interval. The response of management is discussed.     

Object-oriented modelling and simulation of a motorcycle

The design of a control oriented motorcycle model for the simulation of two-wheeled vehicles is widely recognized to be a very challenging task, as a complete analytical model is not directly available, due to its complexity and its high sensitivity to parameters' variations. Accordingly, a reliable model should be based on multibody modelling tools endowed with automated symbolic manipulation capabilities. This paper presents a simulation model for the dynamic behaviour of a motorcycle based on the object-oriented modelling paradigm developed in Modelica, within the Dymola environment. Specifically, we illustrate the modular approach to motorcycle modelling and discuss the tire-road interaction model, which is the crucial part of the proposed model. The validity of the proposed simulation model is assessed on real data, measured on an instrumented test vehicle. Further, to perform the verification phase a virtual driver model has been implemented, which allows to track both a roll angle and a target speed profile during different maneuvers. In particular, the behaviour of the driver is modelled as an inverse pendulum, with a rotational degree of freedom along the forward axis. This allows accounting for the driver lean angle, which is necessary to fully capture the real driving behaviour and its effects on the overall vehicle dynamics.     

Duality triads of higher rank: Further properties and some examples

It is shown that duality triads of higher rank are closely related to orthogonal matrix polynomials on the real line. Furthermore, some examples of duality triads of higher rank are discussed. In particular, it is shown that the generalized Stirling numbers of rank r give rise to a duality triad of rank r.     

Sets and indices in linear programming modelling and their integration with relational data models

LP models are usually constructed using index sets and data tables which are closely related to the attributes and relations of relational database (RDB) systems. We extend the syntax of MPL, an existing LP modelling language, in order to connect it to a given RDB system. This approach reuses existing modelling and database software, provides a rich modelling environment and achieves model and data independence. This integrated software enables Mathematical Programming to be widely used as a decision support tool by unlocking the data residing in corporate databases.     

递推关系式an=g(n)an-k+f(n)的通项及应用

推广了文[1]的结论,得到了递推关系式an=g(n)an-k+f(n)的通项,并介绍了在数学课程中的一些简单应用.     

Statistical inference and modelling of momentum in stock prices

The following results are obtained, (i) It is possible to obtain a time series of market data {y(t)} in which the fluctuations in fundamental value have been compensated for. An objective test of the efficient market hypothesis (EMH), which would predict random correlations about a constant value, is thereby possible, (ii) A time series procedure can be used to determine the extent to which the differences in the data and the moving averages are significant. This provides a model of the form y(t)-y(t-l)=0.5{y(t- l)-y(t-2)}+ε(t)+0.8ε(r-1) where ε(t) is the error at time t, and the coefficients 0.5 and 0.8 are determined from the data. One concludes that today's price is not a random perturbation from yesterday's; rather, yesterday's rate of change is a significant predictor of today's rate of change. This confirms the concept of momentum that is crucial to market participants. (iii) The model provides out-of-sample predictions that can be tested statistically. (iv) The model and coefficients obtained in this way can be used to make predictions on laboratory experiments to establish an objective and quantitative link between the experiments and the market data. These methods circumvent the central difficulty in testing market data, namely, that changes in fundamentals obscure intrinsic trends and autocorrelations. This procedure is implemented by considering the ratio of two similar funds (Germany and Future Germany) with the same manager and performing a set of statistical tests that have excluded fluctuations in fundamental factors. For the entire data of the first 1149 days beginning with the introduction of the latter fund, a standard runs test indicates that the data is 29 standard deviations away from that which would be expected under a hypothesis of random fluctuations about the fundamental value. This and other tests provide strong evidence against the efficient market hypothesis and in favour of autocorrelations in the data. An ARIMA time series finds strong evidence (9.6 and 21.6 standard deviations in the two coefficients) that the data is described by a model that involves the first difference, indicating that momentum is the significant factor. The first quarter's data is used to make out-of-sample predictions for the second quarter with results that are significant to 3 standard deviations. Finally, the ARIMA model and coefficients are used to make predictions on laboratory experiments of Porter and Smith in which the intrinsic value is clear. The model's forecasts are decidedly more accurate than that of the null hypothesis of random fluctuations about the fundamental value.