Mathematical formulation and heuristic algorithms for optimisation of auto-part milk-run logistics network considering forward and reverse flow of pallets

The operational planning of distribution network for automotive industry is complex with many conditions to consider, including heterogeneous fleet, enforcing the feasibility of 3D-packing of pallets into vehicles to address the vehicle's capacity in terms of weight and volume, compatibility of orders in a vehicle, returning empty pallets from assembly-plants backwards to suppliers, and delivery time windows. A mathematical model (MILP) is proposed that takes account of these conditions to minimise total transportation costs. The network structure can be a combination of direct shipment and milk-run for both forward and reverse flow of pallets. The model is solved optimally for small-size problems. For solving larger problems, a heuristic algorithm (in two versions) is proposed that uses a similarity measure to generate a reasonable list of orders. Best/first-fit strategies are employed to generate a feasible solution with the aid of a relaxed version of the proposed MILP. Improvement heuristics are also designed. Unlike most of existing constructive heuristics, our aim for developing the heuristic approach is to force routing decision, with all of its considerations, being made optimal. We also use the proposed best-fit strategy in the body of grouping evolution strategy (GES) algorithm to attain an effective meta-heuristic approach. The effectiveness of heuristics is tested on generated instances which demonstrates they are optimal for small-size problems. They are also tested on the data of daily auto-parts shipments gathered from the largest Iranian automobile company. Results demonstrate there exists a significant potential for cost saving through milk-run strategy compared with the direct shipping strategy.     

四轮轮毂电机驱动电动汽车电液复合制动平顺性控制策略

液压制动与电机再生制动的时域响应差异导致电动汽车在制动模式切换时产生冲击感，影响驾驶员驾驶感受和乘坐舒适性。以四轮轮毂电机驱动电动汽车为研究对象，提出一种基于分层架构的电液复合制动平顺性控制策略。针对"高压蓄能器+电机泵"式电子液压制动系统（EHB），上层控制器提出基于模糊控制的轮缸压力控制策略；针对制动模式切换过程中产生的冲击，下层控制器提出包括液压介入预测模块和电机制动补偿模块的电液复合制动平顺性控制策略。通过Simulink-AMESim联合仿真平台进行仿真试验验证。结果表明，轮缸压力控制策略能够保证轮缸液压力较好地追随目标压力，且稳态误差不超过2%；电液复合制动平顺性控制策略能够有效提高制动系统的响应速度，同时显著降低制动模式切换时的冲击，能提升车辆制动平顺性和乘坐舒适性。     

换热网络优化中换热单元生成频次的影响分析及策略改进

换热单元的生成频次对换热网络优化有直接的影响，分析其机理可以指导求解算法的改进。本文采用节点非结构模型及强制进化随机游走算法，通过设置不同的换热单元生成概率与生成个数以改变换热单元的生成频次，观察并记录个体在优化过程中产生的年综合费用变化情况。发现不同生成频次下整型变量和连续变量的相对优化频率发生了变化，从而改变了整体优化过程，并且与个体当前优化状态不适应的生成频次会造成相对优化频率不平衡、优化结果较差。基于此，本文提出了一种具有生成参数动态调节策略的换热单元生成方式，在优化过程中根据个体状态实时调整换热单元的生成概率与生成个数，平衡整型变量与连续变量的相对优化频率。最后，采用15SP、10SP和20SP算例进行验证，换热网络的年综合费用较文献结果分别下降了1.06%、0.16%、0.68%，验证了该策略使得换热单元的生成频次更为合理，有效地提高了算法的优化效率。     

高聚物的新型3D打印材料开发进展

综述了一般3D打印技术的概念、产业及其发展。重点介绍了高聚物在3D打印材料中的应用。持续跟踪结果表明:一批新型高聚物的3D打印材料推向市场,一批国际知名化工公司也在积极介入3D打印业务。     

基于网络学习行为聚类分析的在线课堂优化策略研究

利用聚类分析法对网络学习行为分类，从而挖掘不同类型学习者在学习行为和学习效果间的差异。以大学计算机公共课《数据库技术及应用》为例，综合学习者学习行为类别差异、在线课程内容组织以及课程特点等要素为在线课堂进一步发展提供优化策略。     

Experimental study on vibration-induced clamping force reduction in fuel cell structures

When applied to transportation systems, fuel cell structures are exposed to external mechanical disturbance including shocks and harmonic excitations from operating components. To minimize performance degradation from machine operations, the fuel cell structure needs to be examined via vibration reliability tests. In this study, the reduction in the clamping force of the stack by random vibrations was investigated by experiments. The stack mass and gasket were clamped with bolts for vibration tests. The vibration induced shear movements between clamped stacks. To estimate the vibration input magnitudes, the Dirlik method was used. The reduction in the stack clamping force was estimated using the Basquin's power law. The clamping force decreased by the shear vibration input to the stack structure. The degree of clamping force reduction was larger for the heavier stack. When the stacks were separated by the gasket the reduction became smaller. Through the Dirlik method, the vibration reliability of the stack was evaluated. This information provides severity of the external vibration on the stack functionality.     

Integrating Variable Reduction Strategy With Evolutionary Algorithms for Solving Nonlinear Equations Systems

Nonlinear equations systems (NESs) are widely used in real-world problems and they are difficult to solve due to their nonlinearity and multiple roots. Evolutionary algorithms (EAs) are one of the methods for solving NESs, given their global search capabilities and ability to locate multiple roots of a NES simultaneously within one run. Currently, the majority of research on using EAs to solve NESs focuses on transformation techniques and improving the performance of the used EAs. By contrast, problem domain knowledge of NESs is investigated in this study, where we propose the incorporation of a variable reduction strategy (VRS) into EAs to solve NESs. The VRS makes full use of the systems of expressing a NES and uses some variables (i.e., core variable) to represent other variables (i.e., reduced variables) through variable relationships that exist in the equation systems. It enables the reduction of partial variables and equations and shrinks the decision space, thereby reducing the complexity of the problem and improving the search efficiency of the EAs. To test the effectiveness of VRS in dealing with NESs, this paper mainly integrates the VRS into two existing state-of-the-art EA methods (i.e., MONES and DR-JADE) according to the integration framework of the VRS and EA, respectively. Experimental results show that, with the assistance of the VRS, the EA methods can produce better results than the original methods and other compared methods. Furthermore, extensive experiments regarding the influence of different reduction schemes and EAs substantiate that a better EA for solving a NES with more reduced variables tends to provide better performance.      

Research on resistance characteristics of secondary air damper and nozzle in pulverized coal boiler

This article provides an industrial application method for monitoring and regulating the secondary air through the burner nozzle of a tangentially fired boiler. A geometric model from the inlet of the damper to the burner nozzle was established, which divides the grid for numerical calculation of the flow field to get the drag coefficients of the nozzle and damper under different opening ratios of the damper. In the range of 20–70% opening, the damper has perfect regulation performance, which has the main resistance comparing with that of nozzle. The disc-type damper has a slightly larger resistance than that of the splayed one. A precise corresponding function relationship between the opening ratio and the gas flow rate was established, and base on which, an exact control method on the secondary air damper was proposed. The result can apply to the intelligent transformation of thermal power plants to save energy and reduce consumption.     

Consolidation considering increasing soil column radius for dredged slurries improved by vacuum preloading method

Soil column is often investigated in the improvement of dredged slurries. Different from the smear zone, the soil column forms gradually and has extremely low permeability. This study presents an analytical solution for soil consolidation considering the increasing radius of the soil column and time-dependent discharge capacity. Based on the solution, the influence of the radius' increase on the consolidation behavior is found significant when the soil column has low permeability and large final radius, and the increase of formation time can lead to the increase of consolidation speed and final consolidation degree.     

基于NB分类器重访概率预测的Web缓存替换策略

Web缓存是用来解决网络访问延迟和网络拥塞问题，缓存替换策略直接影响缓存的命中率。为此，提出一种朴素贝叶斯（NB）分类器重访概率预测的Web缓存替换策略；根据用户之前访问日志，通过分区操作提取多项特征来表示每次访问的对象，并构建特征数据集；训练NB分类器，用来确定缓存中对象被再次访问的概率，为对象分配权重；结合LRU策略来合理删除一些对象。仿真结果表明，提出的策略在保证较高命中率的同时有效降低了执行时间。