Tree-shaped flow structures designed by minimizing path lengths

This paper outlines a direct route to the construction of effective tree-shaped flow structures. Dendritic flow structures dominate the design of natural and engineered flow systems, especially in thermal and fluid systems. The starting point is the optimization of the shape of each elemental area or volume, such that the length of the flow path housed by the element is minimized. Proceeding toward larger and more complex structures - from elements, to first constructs, second constructs, etc. - the paper develops tree-shaped flow structures between one point and a straight line, one point and a plane, a circle and its center, and a point and many points distributed uniformly over an area. In the latter, the construction method is applied to a fluid flow configuration with laminar fully developed flow. The constructions reveal several features that are supported by empirical observations of natural tree-shaped flows: asymmetry, flow rate imbalance, pairing or bifurcation, angles between branches, and Y-shaped constructs that lie in a plane. It is shown that these basic features are necessary because of “packing”, i.e., assembling optimized elements into a fixed space, and filling the space completely. For the flow between an area and one point, the best elemental shape is the regular hexagon. It is shown that the emergence of string-shaped links that connect two or more elements are necessary features, which are also required by packing. Strings cover some of the inner zones of the tree network, particularly the inner zones of large and complex trees. Dichotomous Y-shaped constructs dominate the tree structure, especially the peripheral zones of the tree canopy. The practical importance of the simplified design method is discussed.     

Model checker aided design of a controller for a wafer scanner

For a case-study of a wafer scanner from the semiconductor industry it is shown how model checking techniques can be used to compute (1) a simple yet optimal deadlock avoidance policy, and (2) an infinite schedule that optimizes throughput. in the absence of errors. Deadlock avoidance is studied based on a simple finite state model using Smv, and for throughput analysis a more detailed timed automaton model has been constructed and analyzed using the Uppaal tool. The Smv and Uppaal models are formally related through the notion of a stuttering bisimulation. The results were obtained within 2 weeks, which confirms once more that model checking techniques may help to improve the design process of realistic, industrial systems. Methodologically, the case study is interesting since two models were used to obtain results that could not have been obtained using only a single model. Supported by the European Community Project IST-2001-35304 (Ametist), http://ametist.cs.utwente.nl/.     

基于Agent的分布式查询优化研究

Internet上异构的软硬件环境以及多种并行机制对分布式查询优化技术提出了新的挑战，文章将分布式人工智能与数据库管理系统两个研究领域相结合，给出了基于Agent的分布式查询优化系统模型，在该系统中，Agent采用了典型的慎思型体系结构，即BDI模.Agent具有信念库，目标库并在此基础上进行学习和推理，多个Agent之间通过协调，协作以及协商以支持分布式数据库系统的动态查询优化和规划的执行，提高系统的查询效率。     

A time aggregation approach to Markov decision processes

We propose a time aggregation approach for the solution of infinite horizon average cost Markov decision processes via policy iteration. In this approach, policy update is only carried out when the process visits a subset of the state space. As in state aggregation, this approach leads to a reduced state space, which may lead to a substantial reduction in computational and storage requirements, especially for problems with certain structural properties. However, in contrast to state aggregation, which generally results in an approximate model due to the loss of Markov property, time aggregation suffers no loss of accuracy, because the Markov property is preserved. Single sample path-based estimation algorithms are developed that allow the time aggregation approach to be implemented on-line for practical systems. Some numerical and simulation examples are presented to illustrate the ideas and potential computational savings.     

多目标模糊优选理论在水资源系统中的应用

开放的水资源系统分析理论应是水资源学与系统科学等多种学科的结合 ,介绍一种新兴而实用的水资源系统分析技术———半结构性决策系统模糊优选理论的基本原理及其应用。     

Combined shape and sizing optimization of truss structures

 In this paper, an evolutionary optimization method is presented for weight minimum problem of a 3-dimensional truss structure in terms of nodal coordinates and element cross-sectional areas. The structure is subject to stress, local buckling and displacement constraints. Two types of design variables with different natures are optimized separately: (1) a fully stressed design (FSD) and scaling techniques are applied to sizing variables and (2) the evolutionary node shift method is applied to shape variables. Alternating procedure is utilized to couple the two types of variables and to combine the results. The optimum solution is achieved gradually from the initial configuration design. Two typical truss structures are examined to illustrate the validity of the method. Received: 22 October 2001 / Accepted: 04 June 2002 This research work is supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China under the guarantees no. 10072050 and 10172072, respectively.     

螺旋管簧的可靠性优化设计

讨论了螺旋管簧的可靠性优化设计问题。在基本随机变量的概率特性已知的情况下，采用二阶矩法和可靠性优化设计方法对螺旋管簧进行了可靠性优化设计。通过计算机程序可以直接实现螺旋管簧的可靠性优化设计，迅速准确地得到螺旋管簧的可靠性优化设计信息。     

价格不确定情况下炼厂生产计划的优化

生产计划的编制是炼油企业生产经营管理中的一个关键环节，然而由于市场变化的不确定性，使企业制度长远规划受到限制，笔者将多目标规划应用于炼厂价格不确定情况下生产计划的制定，使所得到的生产计划在一定程度上反映市场的变化并能使企业的生产效益最优，为企业管理决策者进行长远规划给予指导。通过实例验证了该方法的可行性。     

后桥壳的可靠性优化设计

该文讨论了后桥壳的可靠性优化设计问题.在基本随机变量的概率特性已知的情况下,应用随机摄动法和约束随机方向法对后桥壳进行可靠性优化设计,并编制了实用的计算机程序,可以迅速准确地得到后桥壳的可靠性设计参数.