Opposition-based learning in the shuffled differential evolution algorithm

This paper proposes using the opposition-based learning (OBL) strategy in the shuffled differential evolution (SDE). In the SDE, population is divided into several memeplexes and each memeplex is improved by the differential evolution (DE) algorithm. The OBL by comparing the fitness of an individual to its opposite and retaining the fitter one in the population accelerates search process. The objective of this paper is to introduce new versions of the DE which, on one hand, use the partitioning and shuffling concepts of SDE to compensate for the limited amount of search moves of the original DE and, on the other hand, employ the OBL to accelerate the DE without making premature convergence. Four versions of DE algorithm are proposed based on the OBL and SDE strategies. All algorithms similarly use the opposition-based population initialization to achieve fitter initial individuals and their difference is in applying opposition-based generation jumping. Experiments on 25 benchmark functions designed for the special session on real-parameter optimization of CEC2005 and non-parametric analysis of obtained results demonstrate that the performances of the proposed algorithms are better than the SDE. The fourth version of proposed algorithm has a significant difference compared to the SDE in terms of all considered aspects. The emphasis of comparison results is to obtain some successful performances on unsolved functions for the first time, which so far have not been reported any successful runs on them. In a later part of the comparative experiments, performance comparisons of the proposed algorithm with some modern DE algorithms reported in the literature confirm a significantly better performance of our proposed algorithm, especially on high-dimensional functions.     

Direct adaptive fuzzy control with membership function tuning

In this paper, a direct self‐structured adaptive fuzzy control is introduced for the class of nonlinear systems with unknown dynamic models. Control is accomplished by an adaptive fuzzy system with a fixed number of rules and adaptive membership functions. The reference signal and state errors are used to tune the membership functions and update them instantaneously. The Lyapunov synthesis method is also used to guarantee the stability of the closed loop system. The proposed control scheme is applied to an inverted pendulum and a magnetic levitation system, and its effectiveness is shown via simulation. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley and Sons Asia Pte Ltd and Chinese Automatic Control Society     

Crystallization of poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate) by exfoliated graphite nanoplatelets

Poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) has been shown to be efficiently nucleated by exfoliated graphite nanoplatelets (xGnP). The nucleating effect of xGnP was investigated using differential scanning calorimetry, optical microscopy and atomic force microscopy. Nonisothermal crystallization of PHB from the melt required lower activation energies for PHB containing 1 wt % and 3 wt % xGnP (?214 and ?102 kJ/mol respectively) than for pure PHB (?60 kJ/mol). A kinetic study of the PHB/xGnP crystallization employing a modified form of the Avrami equation revealed that the presence of xGnP increased the PHB crystallization temperature, as well as the crystallization rates, and generated smaller and more numerous spherulites. Optical microscopy and atomic force microscopy confirmed the incorporation of xGnP into the lamellar structure of the PHB spherulites and provided insight into the influence of xGnP on spherulite size and lamellae thickness. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2007     

Short‐Time Linear Quadratic Form Technique for Estimating Fast‐Varying Parameters in Feedback Loops

The precision of a closed‐loop controller system designed for an uncertain plant depends strongly upon the maximum extent to which it is possible to track the trend of time‐varying parameters of the plant. The aim of this study is to describe a new parameter estimation algorithm that is able to follow fast‐varying parameters in closed‐loop systems. The short‐time linear quadratic form (STLQF) estimation algorithm introduced in this paper is a technique for tracking time‐varying parameters based on short‐time analysis of the regressing variables in order to minimize locally a linear quadratic form cost function. The established cost function produces a linear combination of errors with several delays. To meet this objective, mathematical development of the STLQF estimation algorithm is described. To implement the STLQF algorithm, the algorithm is applied to a planar mobile robot with fast‐varying parameters of inertia and viscous and coulomb frictions. Next, performance of the proposed algorithm is assessed against noise effects and variation in the type of parameters.     

Combination of data replication and scheduling algorithm for improving data availability in Data Grids

Data Grid is a geographically distributed environment that deals with large-scale data-intensive applications. Effective scheduling in Grid can reduce the amount of data transferred among nodes by submitting a job to a node, where most of the requested data files are available. Data replication is another key optimization technique for reducing access latency and managing large data by storing data in a wisely manner. In this paper two algorithms are proposed, first a novel job scheduling algorithm called Combined Scheduling Strategy (CSS) that uses hierarchical scheduling to reduce the search time for an appropriate computing node. It considers the number of jobs waiting in queue, the location of required data for the job and the computing capacity of sites. Second a dynamic data replication strategy, called the Modified Dynamic Hierarchical Replication Algorithm (MDHRA) that improves file access time. This strategy is an enhanced version of Dynamic Hierarchical Replication (DHR) strategy. Data replication should be used wisely because the storage capacity of each Grid site is limited. Thus, it is important to design an effective strategy for the replication replacement. MDHRA replaces replicas based on the last time the replica was requested, number of access, and size of replica. It selects the best replica location from among the many replicas based on response time that can be determined by considering the data transfer time, the storage access latency, the replica requests that waiting in the storage queue and the distance between nodes. The simulation results demonstrate the proposed replication and scheduling strategies give better performance compared to the other algorithms.     

Two-phase flow component fraction measurement using gamma-ray attenuation technique

Multiphase flow meters as the potential alternatives to separation and metering techniques have been in rapid development since 1980 s.Before its field operation,the instrument should be calibrated in a standard test-facility.In spite of the known medium and large scale facilities all over the world,we developed a laboratory scale instrument for component fraction measurements.It has a two-phase flow homogenizer loop with the clamp-on potential of the meters to provide a regime independent measurement.It is capable of delivering a complete homogenization by γ-ray densitometer.With an error of±5%in component fraction measurements,this instrument is appropriate for testing and calibrating other meters.     

Inverse Identification of Thermal Properties of Charring Ablators

The modified Levenberg-Marquardt method is used for simultaneous estimation of decomposition kinetic coefficients and temperature-dependent thermophysical properties of charring ablators with a moving boundary over a wide temperature range. No prior information is used for the functional forms of the unknown thermal conductivity and specific heat. The procedure used differs from the traditional one in that it does not require prescribed time-dependent surface heat flux, recession rate, and pyrolysis gas mass flow rate. These time-dependent quantities may recover during an iterative procedure. The measured temperatures are simulated numerically by the Charring material ablation code, which accounts for unsteady ablation. The method can determine unknown parameters in an efficient manner with reasonable accuracy, without exact advance knowledge about the net surface heat flux, surface recession, and gas flux through the material.     

Practical Implementation of Novel Robust Position Control Scheme for Synchronous Reluctance Motor

A variable structure robust position controller is presented for a three-phase synchronous reluctance motor. Linear control and variable structure control and pulse-width modulation generation are combined. These provide robust, fast, and accurate position control without the penalty of high chattering. Schemes, including conventional sliding-mode control and the proposed scheme, are tested under parameter variations, and sudden perturbations are applied to the system at a specific time, then compared. This scheme uses both advantages of traditional variable structure control methods and linear methods. The disadvantages of each method, such as chattering and parameter sensitivity, are minimized. Results demonstrate that the proposed technique preserves the classical linear position control merits, while both the steady-state and transient behavior are significantly improved in terms of robustness, accuracy, and low ripple. The results also prove that the position reference command is perfectly tracked in spite of motor parameter uncertainties and load torque disturbance in control of the system that uses the new schemes.     

A pore-scale model for microfibrous ammonia cracking microreactors via lattice Boltzmann method

Microfibrous microreactors with high reactive surface-to-volume ratio are good choices for ammonia cracking, which is one of the main strategies for CO-free hydrogen production. In the current study, a numerical model based on the lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) is presented to investigate ammonia cracking microreactors with coupled physiochemical thermal processes at the pore scale. Several sets of transport phenomena such as fluid flow, species transport, heat transfer and chemical reaction are taken into account. Moreover, to model the species transport in the ammonia cracking microreactor an active approach is applied for the first time. The model is validated and then employed to simulate the reactive transport in five different microreactors with dissimilar structural parameters. Comparison of the results shows that the fibers orientation is an effective geometric parameter that can greatly influence the hydrogen production efficiency.     

Fuzzy‐sliding mode control of nonlinear smart base‐isolated building under earthquake excitation

In this paper, the effectiveness of the fuzzy sliding mode control strategy on three‐dimensional benchmark building with smart base isolation under seismic excitation has been examined. One of the appropriate control theories for such this nonlinear system is the sliding mode control theory; discontinuous sliding mode theory has weakness such as chattering phenomena. In this paper, we used a combination of fuzzy logic and sliding mode theory for the deletion of this defect. The proposed control theory has been scrutinized by applying on lately developed nonlinear three‐dimensional base‐isolated benchmark building. This building because of the three‐dimensional nature, coalescing of lateral and torsional responses, continuity of responses of the superstructure, and base is modeled with three degrees of freedom on every floor. In this building eight actuators assigned only at the base level and in the two directions (x, y). In other words, 16 actuators are located underneath the structure. Furthermore, the base isolation system has been modeled by considering lateral coupled equations for a better examination of the performance of the system. The results indicate that reduction of control performance is remarkable. Also, utilizing proposed control theory can decrease the responses of building in two main directions and, particularly, in the rotational degree of freedom.