Parking Capacity and Pricing in Park'n Ride Trips: A Continuous Equilibrium Network Design Problem

In this paper we consider the problem of designing parking facilities for park'n ride trips. We present a new continuous equilibrium network design problem to decide the capacity and fare of these parking lots at a tactical level. We assume that the parking facilities have already been located and other topological decisions have already been taken.The modeling approach proposed is mathematical programming with equilibrium constraints. In the outer optimization problem, a central Authority evaluates the performance of the transport network for each network design decision. In the inner problem a multimodal traffic assignment with combined modes, formulated as a variational inequality problem, generates the share demand for modes of transportation, and for parking facilities as a function of the design variables of the parking lots. The objective is to make optimal parking investment and pricing decisions in order to minimize the total travel cost in a subnetwork of the multimodal transportation system.We present a new development in model formulation based on the use of generalized parking link cost as a design variable.The bilevel model is solved by a simulated annealing algorithm applied to the continuous and non-negative design decision variables. Numerical tests are reported in order to illustrate the use of the model, and the ability of the approach to solve applications of moderate size.     

An attempt on the calculation of relativistic potential energy curves: Noble gas difluorides

Total energy SCF calculations were performed for noble gas difluorides in a relativistic procedure and compared with analogous non-relativistic calculations. The discrete variational method with numerical basis functions was used. Rather smooth potential energy curves could be obtained. The theoretical Kr-F and Xe-F bond distances were calculated to be 3.5 a.u. and 3.6 a.u. which should be compared with the experimental values of 3.54 a.u. and 3.7 a.u. Although the dissociation energies are off by a factor of about five it was found that ArF₂ may be a stable molecule. Theoretical ionization energies for the outer levels reproduce the experimental values for KrF₂ and XeF₂ to within 2 eV.     

Multiplicité des solutions d'équilibre d'une coque de Marguerre–von Kármán membranaireMultiplicity of solutions to the Marguerre–von Kármán membrane equations

We build explicitly an infinite number of equilibrium solutions of unloaded Marguerre–von Kármán membrane shells. This construction is based upon the existence of three elementary solutions, together with the solution of a Monge–Ampère equation associated with a partition of the reference configuration of the shell. To cite this article: A. Léger, B. Miara, C. R. Acad. Sci. Paris, Ser. I 335 (2002) 649–654.     

On the Behavior of Some Second Order Nonlinear Differential Equations

Qualitative behavior of second order nonlinear differential equations of type y″+p(t)y+q(t)f(y)=0, is studied. It includes properties such as positivity, number of zeros, oscillating nature, boundedness and monotonicity of the solutions.     

On a recursive method for the estimation of unknown parameters of partially observed chaotic systems

We investigate a recently proposed method for on-line parameter estimation and synchronization in chaotic systems. This novel technique has been shown effective to estimate a single unknown parameter of a primary chaotic system with known functional form that is only partially observed through a scalar time series. It works by periodically updating the parameter of interest in a secondary system, with the same functional form as the primary one but no explicit coupling between their dynamic variables, in order to minimize a suitably defined cost function. In this paper, we review the basics of the method, and investigate its robustness and new extensions. In particular, we study the performance of the novel technique in the presence of noise (either observational, i.e., an additive contamination of the observed time series, or dynamical, i.e., a random perturbation of the system dynamics) and when there is a mismatch between the primary and secondary systems. Numerical results, including comparisons with other techniques, are presented. Finally, we investigate the extension of the original method to perform the estimation of two unknown parameters and illustrate its effectiveness by means of computer simulations.