Exploiting equalities in polynomial programming

We propose a novel approach for solving polynomial programs over compact domains with equality constraints. By means of a generic transformation, we show that existing solution schemes for the, typically simpler, problem without equalities can be used to address the problem with equalities.     

Two local search approaches for solving real-life car sequencing problems

The NP-hard problem of car sequencing appears as the heart of the logistic process of many car manufacturers. The subject of the ROADEF’2005 challenge addressed a car sequencing problem proposed by the car manufacturer RENAULT, more complex than the academic problem generally addressed in the literature. This paper describes two local search approaches for this problem. In the first part, a new approach by very large-scale neighborhood search is presented. This approach, designed during the qualification stage preceding the final, is based on an original integer linear programming formulation. The second part is dedicated to the approach which enabled us to win the ROADEF’2005 challenge. Inspired by the latest works on the subject, this one is based on very fast explorations of small neighborhoods. Our contribution here is mainly algorithmic, in particular by showing how much exploiting invariants speeds up the neighborhood evaluation and contributes to the diversification of the search. Finally, the two approaches are compared and discussed through an extensive computational study on RENAULT’s benchmarks. The main conclusion drawn at this point is that sophisticated metaheuristics are useless to solve car sequencing problems. More generally, our victory on ROADEF’2005 challenge demonstrates that algorithmic aspects, sometimes neglected, remain the key ingredients for designing and engineering high-performance local search heuristics.     

Embedding with a Lipschitz function

We investigate a new notion of embedding of subsets of {?1,1}ⁿ in a given normed space, in a way which preserves the structure of the given set as a class of functions on {1, …, n}. This notion is an extension of the margin parameter often used in Nonparametric Statistics. Our main result is that even when considering “small” subsets of {?1, 1}ⁿ, the vast majority of such sets do not embed in a better way than the entire cube in any normed space that satisfies a minor structural assumption. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Random Struct. Alg., 2005     

Smoothing of bump functions

Let X be a separable Banach space with a Schauder basis, admitting a continuous bump which depends locally on finitely many coordinates. Then X admits also a C^∞-smooth bump which depends locally on finitely many coordinates.     

Local Rings of Rings of Quotients

The aim of this paper is to characterize those elements in a semiprime ring R for which taking local rings at elements and rings of quotients are commuting operations. If Q denotes the maximal ring of left quotients of R, then this happens precisely for those elements if R which are von Neumann regular in Q. An intrinsic characterization of such elements is given. We derive as a consequence that the maximal left quotient ring of a prime ring with a nonzero PI-element is primitive and has nonzero socle. If we change Q to the Martindale symmetric ring of quotients, or to the maximal symmetric ring of quotients of R, we obtain similar results: an element a in R is von Neumann regular if and only if the ring of quotients of the local ring of R at a is isomorphic to the local ring of Q at a. Partially supported by the Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia and Fondos Feder, jointly, trough projects MTM2004-03845, MTM2007-61978 and MTM2004-06580-C02-02, MTM2007-60333, by the Junta de Andalucía, FQM-264, FQM336 and FQM02467 and by the Plan de Investigación del Principado de Asturias FICYT-IB05-017.     

Removing of vortices in incompressible flows by distributed controls

We consider an optimal control problem of fluids flow. The fluid motion is governed by the incompressible time-dependent Navier-Stokes equations. A new optimal control formulation for the reduction and possibly extinction of vortices is proposed. A cost functional based on a local dynamical systems characterization of vortices is investigated. The resulting functional is a non-convex function of the velocity gradient tensor. The optimality system describing first order necessary optimality conditions is derived. The gradient and the second derivative of the cost functional with respect to the distributed control are established.     

Computerized Developments in Design,Generation, Simulation of Meshing,and Stress Analysis of Gear Drives

The paper represents new computerized developments in design, generation, simulation of meshing, and stress analysis of gear drives. The main contents of the paper are: (i) application of a predesigned parabolic function of transmission errors for reduction of noise, (ii) computerized simulation of noise caused by transmission errors, (iii) modification of the basic algorithm of tooth contact analysis, and (iv) application of approaches developed for enhanced design and simulation of meshing of the following gear drives: (a) spiral bevel gear drives, (b) face-gear drives (including an approach for grinding), and (c) modified helical gear drives. The developed theory is illustrated with numerical examples.     

Identification and localization of organic coating degradation onset by impedance imaging

The aim of this work was to demonstrate the potential of a localized impedance measurement technique to identify and spatially localize the onset spots of polymeric coating degradation. The technique, which has not yet been applied in the field of organic coatings, utilizes atomic force microscopy (AFM) in contact mode. During the scan a single-frequency voltage perturbation signal is applied between the AFM tip and the coated metal substrate. A current response signal is registered. As a result an impedance map of the scanned region is created. The method was applied to investigation of acrylic coating degradation during exposure to UV radiation. Localized topography and impedance images revealed formation of micro-cracks in the coating layer, which gradually converted into through-the-coating defects with an increase in the irradiation time. Thus the method allowed early identification and localization of the sites of degradation onset, which was not possible using classical impedance measurement.     

Molecular dynamics simulations on local structure and diffusion in liquid TixAl1−x alloys

The microscopic structure and dynamics of liquid Ti_xAl_1-x alloys together with pure liquid Ti and Al metals were investigated by means of molecular dynamics simulations. This work gives the structural properties, including pair-correlation function, bond-angle distribution function, HA and Voronoi indices, and their composition dependence. The dynamical properties have also been studied. The calculated pair-correlation function, bond-angle distribution function, and HA and Voronoi indices suggest that the stoichiometric composition Ti_0.75Al_0.25 exhibits a different local structure order compared with other concentrations, which help us understand the appearance of the minimum diffusion coefficient at this composition. These results indicate that the mobility of atoms strongly depends on their atomic local structure.