Local and global error estimations in linear structural dynamics

The study discusses the concept of error estimation in linear elastodynamics. Two different types of error estimators are presented. First ‘classical’ methods based on post-processing techniques are discussed starting from a semidiscrete formulation. The temporal error due to the finite difference discretization is measured independently of the spatial error of the finite element discretization. The temporal error estimators are applied within one time step and the spatial error estimators at a time point. The error is measured in the global energy norm. The temporal evolution of the error cannot be reflected. Furthermore the estimators can only evaluate the mean error of the whole spatial domain. As the second scheme local error estimators are presented. These estimators are designed to evaluate the error of local variables in a certain region by applying duality techniques. Local estimators are known from linear elastostatics and have later on been extended to nonlinear problems. The corresponding dual problem represents the influence of the local variable on the initial problem and may be related to the reciprocal theorem of Betti–Maxwell. In the present study this concept is transferred to linear structural dynamics. Because the dual problem is established over the total space–time domain, the spatial and temporal error of all time steps can be accumulated within one procedure. In this study the space–time finite element method is introduced as a single field formulation.     

Measuring the functional dynamics of product-service system: A system dynamics approach

In the light of the prevailing trend towards product-service systems (PSSs), this paper focuses on the measurement of PSS functional performance. As a ‘dynamic’ system wherein various stakeholders achieve functional performance through long-term relationships in a complex value network, PSS functional performance requires a dynamic approach for measuring its effectiveness, an approach that is missing in the literature. This study aims to fill that void. Firstly, we address the concept of functional dynamics as a distinctive measure of PSS functionality with regard to functional performance and propose a five-phase analytic scheme of functional dynamics. Then, to measure the functional dynamics of PSS using the analytic scheme, a four-step procedure based on the system dynamics is suggested. As a representative method for measuring the long-term dynamics of a complex system, system dynamics is effectively employed to measure PSS’s functional dynamics comprehensively. To illustrate the proposed approach, a case study of a u-healthcare system is presented.     

Rigid-flexible coupling dynamics of three-dimensional hub-beams system

In the previous research of the coupling dynamics of a hub-beam system, coupling between the rotational motion of hub and the torsion deformation of beam is not taken into account since the system undergoes planar motion. Due to the small longitudinal deformation, coupling between the rotational motion of hub and the longitudinal deformation of beam is also neglected. In this paper, rigid-flexible coupling dynamics is extended to a hub-beams system with three-dimensional large overall motion. Not only coupling between the large overall motion and the bending deformation, but also coupling between the large overall motion and the torsional deformation are taken into account. In case of temperature increase, the longitudinal deformation caused by the thermal expansion is significant, such that coupling between the large overall motion and the longitudinal deformation is also investigated. Combining the characteristics of the hybrid coordinate formulation and the absolute nodal coordinate formulation, the system generalized coordinates include the relative nodal displacement and the slope of each beam element with respect to the body-fixed frame of the hub, and the variables related to the spatial large overall motion of the hub and beams. Based on precise strain-displacement relation, the geometric stiffening effect is taken into account, and the rigid-flexible coupling dynamic equations are derived using velocity variational principle. Finite element method is employed for discretization. Simulation of a hub-beams system is used to show the coupling effect between the large overall motion and the torsional deformation as well as the longitudinal deformation. Furthermore, conservation of energy in case of free motion is shown to verify the formulation.     

Knowledge patterns and spatial dynamics of industrial districts in knowledge cities: Hsinchu,Taiwan

In the era of a global knowledge economy, urban regions that seek to increase their competitive edge and become destinations for talent and investment have little chance of achieving these goals without forming effective knowledge-based urban development strategies. Hence, the development of clusters of knowledge-based corporations has become an important strategic factor in increasing the competitiveness of knowledge cities. Whereas previous studies have tended to focus on the characteristics of local clusters and the causes of their success, empirical studies of the long-term development of local knowledge-based industries are few. Accordingly, this investigation takes the knowledge city region-Hsinchu as its subject, and quantitatively analyzes the correlation between the spatial dynamics of knowledge in major industries and innovation based on empirical data. This finding shows that steadily developing industries in the Hsinchu region have continued to strengthen their new knowledge of product development and innovation. An overview of innovative activities of firms also revealed that their knowledge patterns have been changing from patterns of internal dependency to a locality-based, broader networking and agglomeration pattern.     

Large-scale indexing of spatial data in distributed repositories: the SD-Rtree

We propose a scalable distributed data structure (SDDS) called SD-Rtree. We intend our structure for point, window and kNN queries over large spatial datasets distributed on clusters of interconnected servers. The structure balances the storage and processing load over the available resources, and aims at minimizing the size of the cluster. SD-Rtree generalizes the well-known Rtree structure. It uses a distributed balanced binary tree that scales with insertions to potentially any number of storage servers through splits of the overloaded ones. A user/application manipulates the structure from a client node. The client addresses the tree through its image that can be possibly outdated due to later split. This may generate addressing errors, solved by the forwarding among the servers. Specific messages towards the clients incrementally correct the outdated images. We present the building of an SD-Rtree through insertions, focusing on the split and rotation algorithms. We follow with the query algorithms. We describe then a flexible allocation protocol which allows to cope with a temporary shortage of storage resources through data storage balancing. Experiments show additional aspects of SD-Rtree and compare its behavior with a distributed quadtree. The results justify our various design choices and the overall utility of the structure.     

基于系统动力学的对虾养殖品质风险应用

针对目前南美白对虾养殖环节存在的溯源点不清晰、养殖过程监管薄弱、品质评价不健全等品质风险问题,以 HACCP 为基准,结合国内外在养殖环节关键影响要素研究现状,对养殖环节建模,利用判断树的方法初选品质风险控制的关键控制点,然后结合 Vensim 软件建立南美白对虾养殖品质风险动力学模型,从而确定关键控制点的核心影响因素。仿真结果表明：南美白对虾养殖品质风险动力学模型能动态仿真五类影响要素对于幼虾品质和成活率的变化关系,从而反映品质风险动态变化情况。由此为南美白对虾溯源管理信息系统中溯源点的选取和养殖过程的实时监控和过程品质动态评价提供理论参考。     

A method for improving dynamic solutions in flexible multibody dynamics

This paper presents a method for improving dynamic solutions that are obtained from the dynamic simulation of flexible multibody systems. The mode-acceleration concept in linear structural dynamics is utilized in the proposed method for improving accuracy in the postprocessing stage. A theoretical explanation is made on why the proposed method improves the dynamic solutions in the context of the mode-acceleration method. A mode-acceleration equation for each flexible body is defined and the load term in the right hand side of the equation is represented as a combination of space-dependent and time-dependent terms so that efficient computation of dynamic solutions can be achieved. The load term is obtained from dynamic simulation of a flexible multibody system and a finite element method is used to compute dynamic solutions by quasi-static analyses. Numerical examples show the effectiveness of the proposed method.     

A role-oriented service system architecture for enterprise process collaboration

Workflow management is a key technique for coordinating various business processes. Traditional workflow systems are often built with the client/server architecture, in which, a single workflow server takes the responsibility of the entire operation. This paper discusses a model-driven process enactment environment, which can support an enterprise businesses collaboration. Some key technologies regarding models and the system are discussed in the paper, including the mappings between activities in process models and the service function of applications, how to use XML in the process model, and other workflow engine techniques. A software architecture supporting role-oriented services within the process-driven enterprise enactment environment has been proposed and implemented. The proposed framework has been validated with a case study in the 4PL business system.     

A rotationless formulation of multibody dynamics: Modeling of screw joints and incorporation of control constraints

In the present work, a new energy-momentum conserving time-stepping scheme for multibody systems comprising screw joints is developed. In particular, it is shown that the underlying rotationless formulation of multibody dynamics along with a specific coordinate augmentation technique makes possible the energy-momentum discretization of the screw pair. In addition to that, control (or servo) constraints are treated within the rotationless framework of multibody dynamics. The control constraints are used to partially prescribe the motion of a multibody system. In particular, control constraints, in conjunction with the coordinate augmentation technique, make possible to solve inverse dynamics problems by applying the present simulation approach.     

Modeling interregional commodity flows with incorporating network autocorrelation in spatial interaction models: An application of the US interstate commodity flows

Spatial interaction models are frequently used to predict and explain interregional commodity flows. Studies suggest that the effects of spatial structure significantly influence spatial interaction models, often resulting in model misspecification. Competing destinations and intervening opportunities have been used to mitigate this issue. Some recent studies also show that the effects of spatial structure can be successfully modeled by incorporating network autocorrelation among flow data. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the existence of network autocorrelation among commodity origin–destination flow data and its effect on model estimation in spatial interaction models. This approach is demonstrated using commodity origin–destination flow data for 111 regions of the United States from the 2002 Commodity Flow Survey. The results empirically show how network autocorrelation affects modeling interregional flows and can be successfully captured in spatial autoregressive model specifications.     

A Framework for Improving the Requirements Engineering Process Management

This paper presents a system dynamics model for improving the requirements engineering process management. The paper argues that improving RE process management improves the quality of the specification produced. It uses a simulation modelling approach to capture the complex and dynamic nature of quality and also the cost of resources and time needed to complete the process. Current claims by various researchers and empirical evidence has led to our proposition that “the earlier in the requirements engineering phase that system dynamics simulation modelling is used, the more effective the RE process management is and the better its product quality will be.” In developing such a model, the paper fills an important gap in the RE process management literature and has potential to provide requirement engineers, managers and software development organisations with a model-based process framework to aid quality assessment and improvement. The paper concludes by suggesting that the framework makes a useful contribution both in providing the foundations for theory building in RE process management and quality improvement by aiding shared understanding through learning and training situations. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

A class of multiple time scale algorithms for simulating power system frequency dynamics

In this paper the wide spectrum of the response times involved in the average system frequency dynamic behavior of power systems is exploited in the computer simulation of the power system. The various subsystem models of the power plants are decomposed into different time scales. A class of multiple time scale algorithm is proposed that used different time steps for the integration of the subsystems belonging to different time scale groupings. A special feature of the algorithms is the coordination of the interfaces between the different time scale solutions. Numerical study of a 5 bus power system is included to demonstrate the improvement in the solution time, stability, and accuracy of the new approach over previous methods.     

Temporal dynamics of PSR-based soil moisture across spatial scales in an agricultural landscape during SMEX02: A wavelet approach

In this study, we examined the characteristics of soil moisture dynamics of wet and dry fields across hierarchical spatial scales within the region of Soil Moisture Experiment 2002 (SMEX02) hydrology campaign in Iowa. The Polarimetric Scanning Radiometer (PSR)-based remotely sensed surface (∼ 0-5 cm) soil moisture at 800 m × 800 m resolution was used in this study. Wavelet-based multiresolution technique decomposed the soil moisture into large-scale mean soil moisture fields and fluctuations in horizontal, diagonal, and vertical directions at hierarchical spatial resolutions. Results suggested linearity in the log-log dependency of the variance of soil moisture up to a resolution of 6400 m × 6400 m on PSR sampling dates during SMEX02. The wet fields (with high soil moisture) show almost similar variance for all the resolutions signifying the strong spatial correlation. Analysis of the dry fields (with low soil moisture) indicated a log-log linearity of moments with various scales, and the slopes of these relationships exhibit a concave functional form with the order of moments, typically representing a multiscaling process. The scaling exponent of soil moisture during dry-down suggests a transition from simple scaling (in wet fields) to multiscaling (in dry fields) behavior. The fluctuation components of multiresolution analysis in the horizontal, diagonal, and vertical directions for dry and wet fields exhibited self-similarity. Another important finding of this study is the increase of subpixel soil moisture variability with increasing resolution, especially for the wet fields. These findings will help develop appropriate up-and down-scaling schemes of remotely sensed soil moisture data for various hydrologic and environmental modeling applications.     

Economic value added of supply chain demand planning: A system dynamics simulation

The development of a successful demand plan is typically a joint effort between different functional units such as Logistics, Marketing, Sales and executive management at one hand and between different business units on the other. Starting a project to structurally improve the demand planning often requires convincing all parties involved in such an effort. The key is to quantify the bottom-line impact of an increased demand planning reliability in the supply chain. This paper proposes a system dynamics simulation modeling framework that allows different managers to examine how improvements in their demand reliability will impact the overall corporate bottom-line. For example, supply chain managers can investigate how proposed changes in the supply chain demand forecasting structure, different suppliers, different logistics routes, or alternative inventory methods, may increase the overall profitability. The simulation model has been tested, validated with a real-life case of LG. Philips Displays Europe.     

A parallel algorithm for molecular dynamics simulation of branched molecules

To get an insight into the effects of molecular architecture in the behaviour of thin lubricant films we have devised an algorithm for simulation of branched molecules. We have used this algorithm successfully to simulate branched isomers of C₃₀. However the algorithm is flexible enough to be used for the simulation of more complex branched molecules. The resulting algorithm can be used in molecular dynamics simulation of branched molecules and could be helpful in designing new materials at the molecular level.