Generic Well-Posedness of Constrained Variational Problems Without Convexity Assumptions

In our previous work, a generic well-posedness result (with respect to variations of the integrand of the integral functional) without the convexity condition was established for a class of optimal control problems satisfying the Cesari growth condition. In this paper, we extend this generic well-posedness result to classes of constrained variational problems in which the values at the endpoints and constraint maps are also subject to variations.     

Piecewise Deterministic Markov Control Processes with Feedback Controls and Unbounded Costs

The control of piecewise-deterministic processes is studied where only local boundedness of the data is assumed. Moreover the discount rate may be zero. The value function is shown to be solution to the Bellman equation in a weak sense; however the solution concept is strong enough to generate optimal policies. Continuity and compactness conditions are given for the existence of nonrelaxed optimal feedback controls.     

Dynamic boundary stabilization of a Reissner–Mindlin plate with Timoshenko beam

This paper is concerned with well‐posedness results for a mathematical model for the transversal vibrations of a two‐dimensional hybrid elastic structure consisting of a rectangular Reissner–Mindlin plate with a Timoshenko beam attached to its free edge. The model incorporates linear dynamic feedback controls along the interface between the plate and the beam. Classical semigroup methods are employed to show the unique solvability of the coupled initial‐boundary‐value problem. We also show that the energy associated with the system exhibits the property of strong stability. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Impedance and dielectric studies of ferroelectric SrBi2Nb2O9 ceramics

This paper reports the dielectric and impedance characteristics of ferroelectric SrBi₂Nb₂O₉ (SBN) ceramics in the 100 Hz-1 MHz frequency range at various temperatures (300-823 K). A strong low frequency dielectric dispersion (LFDD) associated with an impedance relaxation has been found to exist in these ceramics in the temperature range 573-823 K. The Z″ of the AC complex impedance showed two distinct slopes in the frequency range 100 Hz-1 MHz suggesting the existence of two dispersion mechanisms. This non-ideal behavior has been explained on the basis of the expression, Z*=R₀/(1+(iω/ω₁)^m+(iω/ω₂)ⁿ) [J. Phys. Chem. Solids 53 (1992) 1] where ω₁ and ω₂ characterize the lattice response and the charge carrier behavior, respectively. The exponents m and n were obtained from the curve fitting. The exponent n was found to exhibit a minimum at the Curie temperature, T_c (723 K) whereas the m was temperature independent.     

Mechanical Properties of Blends of Low-Density Polyethylene with Chlorinated Polyethylene

The results of experimental investigation into the mechanical properties of blends of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) with chlorinated polyethylene (CPE) in tension are presented. The specimens of pure LDPE, CPE, and nine types of LDPE/CPE blends, with different content of components at 10 wt.% intervals, were examined. Data on the influence of blend composition on the tensile stress-strain diagram, elastic modulus, yield stress, breaking stress, and ultimate elongation are obtained. The results of investigations of creep are also reported. It is found that the creep compliance (the total current compliance minus the elastic compliance) obeys the power law of creep.__________Translated from Mekhanika Kompozitnykh Materialov, Vol. 41, No. 3, pp. 391–404, May–June, 2005.     

Control Policy for a Manufacturing System with Random Yield and Rework

We develop a production policy that controls work-in-process (WIP) levels and satisfies demand in a multistage manufacturing system with significant uncertainty in yield, rework, and demand. The problem addressed in this paper is more general than those in the literature in three aspects: (i) multiple products are processed at multiple workstations, and the capacity of each workstation is limited and shared by multiple operations; (ii) the behavior of a production policy is investigated over an infinite-time horizon, and thus the system stability can be evaluated; (iii) the representation of yield and rework uncertainty is generalized. Generalizing both the system structure and the nature of uncertainty requires a new mathematical development in the theory of infinite-horizon stochastic dynamic programming. The theoretical contributions of this paper are the existence proofs of the optimal stationary control for a stochastic dynamic programming problem and the finite covariances of WIP and production levels under the general expression of uncertainty. We develop a simple and explicit sufficient condition that guarantees the existence of both the optimal stationary control and the system stability. We describe how a production policy can be constructed for the manufacturing system based on the propositions derived.     

Efficient Sequential Quadratic Programming Implementations for Equality-Constrained Discrete-Time Optimal Control

Efficient sequential quadratic programming (SQP) implementations are presented for equality-constrained, discrete-time, optimal control problems. The algorithm developed calculates the search direction for the equality-based variant of SQP and is applicable to problems with either fixed or free final time. Problem solutions are obtained by solving iteratively a series of constrained quadratic programs. The number of mathematical operations required for each iteration is proportional to the number of discrete times N. This is contrasted by conventional methods in which this number is proportional to N ³. The algorithm results in quadratic convergence of the iterates under the same conditions as those for SQP and simplifies to an existing dynamic programming approach when there are no constraints and the final time is fixed. A simple test problem and two application problems are presented. The application examples include a satellite dynamics problem and a set of brachistochrone problems involving viscous friction.     

Über die Magnetischen Eigenschaften der Cobaltate Na6CoS4, Na6CoSe4 und K6CoS4

Magnetic Properties of the Cobaltates Na₆CoS₄, Na₆CoSe₄, and K₆CoS₄ The alkali metal cobalt chalcogenides Na₆CoS₄, Na₆CoSe₄, and K₆CoS₄ crystallize in the space group P6₃mc with Z = 4. The structure is characterized by isolated [CoX₄]-tetrahedra. The magnetic susceptibilities show Curie-Weiss behaviour. The deviations at low temperatures are caused by antiferromagnetic interactions. The magnetic moments are discussed with regard to ligand-field parameters.     

Application of stochastic optimal control to the suboptimal design of thrust-mass profiles

Stochastic optimal control techniques are applied to compare the performance of identical medium-range air-to-air missiles which have different thrust-mass profiles. The measure of the performance is the probability of reaching a lock-on-point with a favorable range of guidance and flight parameters, during a fixed time interval [0,t _f ], given that, during the flight, the trajectories of the missile are subjected to a variety of constraints including dynamic pressure constraints.     

Chemical synthesis and electric properties of the conducting copolymer of aniline and o‐aminophenol

A copolymer, poly(aniline‐co‐o‐aminophenol), was prepared chemically by using ammonium peroxydisulfate as an oxidant. The monomer concentration ratio of o‐aminophenol to aniline strongly influences the copolymerization rate and properties of the copolymer. The optimum composition of a mixture for the chemical copolymerization consisted of 0.3 M aniline, 0.021 M o‐aminophenol, 0.42 M ammonium peroxydisulfate, and 2 M H₂SO₄. The result of cyclic voltammograms in a potential region of ?0.20 to 0.80 V (vs.SCE) indicates that the electrochemical activity of the copolymer prepared under the optimum condition is similar to that of polyaniline in more acid solutions. However, the copolymer still holds the good electrochemical activity until pH 11.0. Therefore, the pH dependence of the electrochemical property of the copolymer is improved, compared with poly(aniline‐co‐o‐aminophenol) prepared electrochemically, and is much better than that of polyaniline. The spectra of IR and ¹H NMR confirm that o‐aminophenol units are included in the copolymer chain, which play a key role in extending the usable pH region of the copolymer. The visible spectra of the copolymers show that a high concentration ratio of o‐aminophenol to aniline in a mixture inhibits the chain growth. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 5573–5582, 2007