Syntax and consistent equation semantics of hybrid Chi

The hybrid χ (Chi) formalism integrates concepts from dynamics and control theory with concepts from computer science, in particular from process algebra and hybrid automata. It integrates ease of modeling with a straightforward, structured operational semantics. Its ‘consistent equation semantics’ enforces state changes to be consistent with delay predicates, that combine the invariant and flow clauses of hybrid automata. Ease of modeling is ensured by means of the following concepts: (1) different classes of variables: discrete and continuous, of subclass jumping or non-jumping, and algebraic; (2) strong time determinism of alternative composition in combination with delayable guards; (3) integration of urgent and non-urgent actions; (4) differential algebraic equations as a process term as in mathematics; (5) steady-state initialization; and 6) several user-friendly syntactic extensions. Furthermore, the χ formalism incorporates several concepts for complex system specification: (1) process terms for scoping that integrate abstraction, local variables, local channels and local recursion definitions; (2) process definition and instantiation that enable process re-use, encapsulation, hierarchical and/or modular composition of processes; and (3) different interaction mechanisms: handshake synchronization and synchronous communication that allow interaction between processes without sharing variables, and shared variables that enable modular composition of continuous-time or hybrid processes. The syntax and semantics are illustrated using several examples.     

Application of Differential Evolution for Irrigation Planning: An Indian Case Study

The present paper demonstrates the applicability of population based search optimization method, namely, Differential Evolution (DE) to a case study of Mahi Bajaj Sagar Project (MBSP), India. Ten different strategies of DE are employed to assess the ability of DE for solving higher dimensional problems as an alternative methodology for irrigation planning. The parameters considered in DE are population size, crossover constant and weighting factor. Linear Programming (LP) is utilized as a comparative approach to assess the ability of DE. Comparison of results of LP and the 10 DE strategies for the given parameters indicated that both the results are comparable even for high dimensional problems. Extensive sensitivity analysis studies, performed for 3,600 combinations of above parameters for the 10 DE strategies suggested that DE/rand-to-best/1/bin strategy is the best strategy giving maximum benefits taking minimum CPU time. It is concluded that DE can be utilized for efficient planning of any irrigation system with suitable modifications.     

Electrical properties of dysprosium phthalocyanine films

Forty-four nanometers thick films of alkyl-substituted dysprosium phthalocyanine molecules were prepared on carefully cleaned indium tin oxide (ITO) substrates by the spin casting method. UV–vis absorption spectra and dc conduction characteristics were obtained in order to investigate the structure–conduction property relationship. The conduction is Ohmic at low applied voltages but the space charge limited mechanism is prevalent at relatively high voltages. The conductivities of both as-deposited and heat treated films are found to show directionally anisotropic behaviour. The columnar conductivity was found to be significantly large in the liquid crystalline state.     

On the hollowness ratio effect on the dynamics of a spinning Rayleigh beam

The analytical solutions of a spinning Rayleigh beam with rotatory moment inertia and gyroscopic effect are presented in this paper. The critical speeds can be written analytically in a function of the length-to-radius ratio (l) defined by the beam's length over its outer radius and the hollowness ratio (α) defined by the hollow area over the total area of the cross section. The sensitivity analyses show that the critical speed is decreasing with l, but increasing with α. Moreover, α is more sensitive to the critical speeds. The design of a spinning beam should therefore be emphasized more on the hollowness factor. Contrary to common belief, only finite critical speeds exist and the number is independent of the boundary conditions. It increases monotonically with l, but decreases with α. The steady state unbalanced response can therefore be expressed analytically by the finite precessional modes and the corresponding generalized coordinates.     

Electrical properties and positron annihilation study of (Ba<Subscript>1−<Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Ho<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>)TiO<Subscript>3</Subscript> ceramics

DC resistivity, dielectric constant, dielectric loss and positron annihilation spectra of (Ba_1−x Ho _x )TiO₃ ceramics have been measured as a function of holmium concentration x. It has been found that the DC resistivity of (Ba_1−x Ho _x )TiO₃ is strongly dependent on the Ho content: it decreases three orders of magnitude and reaches a minimum at x = 0.4%. Doping with 0.6% holmium increases the permittivity of BaTiO₃ by approximately three times (from ∼1,300 to ∼4,000), with only a slight increase in the corresponding dielectric loss. The local electron density and defect concentration estimated using positron annihilation technique conforms well to the features found in the dielectric and resistivity measurements. The results have been discussed in terms of a mixed compensation model.     

Implementation of a new model for pressure dependence of condensed phases in Thermo-Calc

The high pressure modelling of condensed phases has mainly been a topic for geophysics, but there is an interest in modelling moderate pressure dependence also for materials science and engineering. The Murnaghan equation of state has been implemented in the Thermo-Calc software to represent the pressure-dependent part of the Gibbs energy. Recently it has been shown by Jacobs and Oonk that an equation of state derived from an empirical relationship between volume and isothermal bulk modulus can be applied to represent experimental data in volume–pressure–temperature space with equal or better accuracy then the Murnaghan equation of state. In this paper we extend this equation of state and show that a simpler expression for the Gibbs energy can be derived than that given by Jacobs and Oonk. The resulting expression for the Gibbs energy has been implemented in the Thermo-Calc software.     

Applications of data analysis techniques for oil production prediction

This paper describes two data analysis techniques adopted in a Decision Support System (DSS) that aids users in predicting oil production of an infill well. The system generates predictions in the form of a possible range of cumulative production and length of production life of an infill well. The system also shows the worst and best case scenarios based on different production curves so that the expert can examine the plots of predicted production rates for each existing well and decide which model gives the best fit. The production curve of each individual well was mathematically modeled so that production values beyond the historical data can be produced. Decline curve estimation and neural network approaches were adopted for data analysis in the system. The system was tested with data from two groups of wells from two different fields in Saskatchewan, Canada. Observations on the suitable duration that the historical data set should cover and a comparison among different curve estimation and neural network models are presented.     

Laser scanning path generation considering photopolymer solidification in micro-stereolithography

It is essential to automate the scanning path generation process to effectively implement the micro-stereolithography. However, a scanning path that is generated based only on a 3D CAD model introduces dimensional inaccuracies. In micro-stereolithography, the photopolymer solidification is affected by fabrication conditions, such as the optical properties (laser power, laser scanning speed, laser scanning pitch focusing condition, etc.) and material properties of the photopolymer. Thus, the photopolymer solidification phenomena must be considered when generating a laser scanning path. In this paper, a scanning path generation algorithm that uses 3D CAD data and considers the photopolymer solidification phenomena is proposed to improve the dimensional accuracy in micro-stereolithography. Multi-line photopolymer solidification experiments were performed for various laser scanning conditions to examine the photopolymer solidification phenomena. From these experiments, linear relations between the solidification length (width) and scanning length (width) were acquired and stored in a database. Subsequently, these data were utilized to compensate the scanning path of the laser beam. In addition, experiments for determining the layer thickness in the z-direction were performed and these results were also used in the scanning path generation algorithm.This research was supported by the Highly Advanced National Project (http://www.most.go.kr), which performs some of the National R&D Program, and sponsored by the Korean Ministry of Science and Technology under the contract project code M10214000116-02B1500-02010.