Engineering design optimization using chaotic enhanced charged system search algorithms

The charged system search as a recently developed meta-heuristic algorithm has been successfully utilized for optimum design of different examples. In addition, the fields of forces model provides a means to enhance the algorithm, and this results in the enhanced charged system search (ECSS). This paper utilizes positive features of the chaos in the ECSS algorithm to optimize engineering design problems. Simulation results and comparisons based on various well-known mechanical and engineering design problems show the efficiency of the present algorithm.     

Continuum-molecular modelling of graphene

In the present contribution we address the modeling of graphene membranes using a hierarchical modeling strategy to bridge the scales required to describe and understand the material. Quantum Mechanical (QM) and optimized Molecular Mechanical (MM) models are used to describe details on the nanoscale, while a multiscale continuum mechanical method is used to model the graphene response at the device or micrometer scale. The complete method is obtained on the basis of the Cauchy Born Rule (CBR), where the continuum model is coupled to the atomic field via the CBR and a local discrete fluctuation field. The MM method, often used to model carbon structures, involves the Tersoff–Brenner (TB) potential; however, when applying this potential to graphene with standard parameters one obtains material stress behavior much weaker than experiments. On the other hand, the more fundamental Hartree Fock and Density Functional Theory (DFT) methods are computationally too expensive and very limited in terms of their applicability to model the geometric scale at the device level. In this contribution a simple calibration of some of the TB parameters is proposed in order to reproduce the results obtained from QM calculations. Subsequently, the fine-tuned TB-potential is used for the multiscale modeling of a nano indentation sample, where experimental data are available. Effects of the mechanical response after the calibration are demonstrated.     

Introduction to Special Issue on 25th Anniversary of IJWIN: the First Journal Devoted to Wireless Networks

International Journal of Wireless Information Networks -     

A new VPS-based algorithm for multi-objective optimization problems

In this paper, a multi-objective variant of the vibrating particles system (MOVPS) is introduced. The new algorithm uses an external archive to keep the non-dominated solutions. Besides, the...     

Hydrogen as an energy carrier: Prospects and challenges

This paper provides an insight to the feasibility of adopting hydrogen as a key energy carrier and fuel source in the near future. It is shown that hydrogen has several advantages, as well as few drawbacks in using for the above purposes. The research shows that hydrogen will be a key player in storing energy that is wasted at generation stage in large-scale power grids by off-peak diversion to dummy loads. The estimations show that by the year of 2050 there will be a hydrogen demand of over 42 million metric tons or 45 billion gallon gasoline equivalent (GGE) in the United States of America alone which can fuel up 342 million light-duty vehicles for 51 × 10¹¹ miles (82 × 10¹¹ km) travel per year. The production at distributed level has also been discussed. The paper also presents the levels of risk in production, storage and distribution stages and proposes possible techniques to address safety issues. It is shown that the storage in small to medium scale containers is much economical compared to doing the same at large-scale containers. The study concludes that hydrogen has a promising future to be a highly feasible energy carrier and energy source itself at consumer level.     

Effect of chemical substitution on the morphology and optical properties of Bi1−xCaxFeO3 films grown by pulsed-laser deposition

The morphological characteristics as well the optical properties of Ca-doped BiFeO₃ films grown by pulsed-laser deposition technique have been investigated. AFM images revealed that calcium has a radical effect on the surface features of BiFeO₃ films. By utilizing spectrophotometer, transmission behaviour of the films was investigated. Local IV characteristics of the films disclosed about three orders of magnitude enhancement concerning electrical conductivity through Ca doping. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy results revealed that Ca can reduce the valence state of iron in the compound.     

An adaptive regulation method for a class of uncertain time‐delay systems

In this paper, a new adaptive robust stabilization scheme is proposed for uncertain neutral time‐delay systems. No upper bounds on the uncertainties are assumed to be available. An update law is first used to find estimates of these upper bounds. A state‐feedback controller is then designed, which is shown to stabilize the underlying system under some mild conditions. The asymptotic stability of the state trajectories is proved using the Lyapunov–Krasovskii approach. An example is provided, which demonstrates the efficacy of the proposed adaptive control scheme. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A novel heuristic optimization method: charged system search

This paper presents a new optimization algorithm based on some principles from physics and mechanics, which will be called Charged System Search (CSS). We utilize the governing Coulomb law from electrostatics and the Newtonian laws of mechanics. CSS is a multi-agent approach in which each agent is a Charged Particle (CP). CPs can affect each other based on their fitness values and their separation distances. The quantity of the resultant force is determined by using the electrostatics laws and the quality of the movement is determined using Newtonian mechanics laws. CSS can be utilized in all optimization fields; especially it is suitable for non-smooth or non-convex domains. CSS needs neither the gradient information nor the continuity of the search space. The efficiency of the new approach is demonstrated using standard benchmark functions and some well-studied engineering design problems. A comparison of the results with those of other evolutionary algorithms shows that the proposed algorithm outperforms its rivals.