Continuity versus Discretization

The threefold interest in architecture, biology and mathematics motivated us to examine and justify new architectural forms. We discuss some notions of rhythm: Euclidean, morphogenetic and morphologic. Contemporary relationships between structure and form are based on the generation of shape by technological processes, thus the resulting objects are restricted to their material expression. Here a phenomenological organisation of form and its continuity with the landscape arise out of the mathematical and architectural creativity. The use of the computer is applied from outside to inside instead from inside to outside; this means that we are dealing with the organisational processes via continuous methods instead of evolutionary processes given by computer simulations, known as genetic algorithms, where the resulting configurations are reduced to a matter of routine. The role of design as an aesthetic component innovates the theoretical framework of structural engineering to establish the architectural environments.     

Metaheuristics for the dynamic stochastic dial-a-ride problem with expected return transports

The problem of transporting patients or elderly people has been widely studied in literature and is usually modeled as a dial-a-ride problem (DARP). In this paper we analyze the corresponding problem arising in the daily operation of the Austrian Red Cross. This nongovernmental organization is the largest organization performing patient transportation in Austria. The aim is to design vehicle routes to serve partially dynamic transportation requests using a fixed vehicle fleet. Each request requires transportation from a patient's home location to a hospital (outbound request) or back home from the hospital (inbound request). Some of these requests are known in advance. Some requests are dynamic in the sense that they appear during the day without any prior information. Finally, some inbound requests are stochastic. More precisely, with a certain probability each outbound request causes a corresponding inbound request on the same day. Some stochastic information about these return transports is available from historical data. The purpose of this study is to investigate, whether using this information in designing the routes has a significant positive effect on the solution quality. The problem is modeled as a dynamic stochastic dial-a-ride problem with expected return transports. We propose four different modifications of metaheuristic solution approaches for this problem. In detail, we test dynamic versions of variable neighborhood search (VNS) and stochastic VNS (S-VNS) as well as modified versions of the multiple plan approach (MPA) and the multiple scenario approach (MSA). Tests are performed using 12 sets of test instances based on a real road network. Various demand scenarios are generated based on the available real data. Results show that using the stochastic information on return transports leads to average improvements of around 15%. Moreover, improvements of up to 41% can be achieved for some test instances.     

Structural and electrical properties of mixed oxides of manganese and vanadium: A new semiconductor oxide thermistor material

Binary oxides of manganese and vanadium have been synthesized by solid state sintering, in which the mass ratio of the individual components Mn₂O₃ and VO₂ have been varied from 90:10 to 5:95. The bulk ceramic samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray analysis. The initial compositions either rich in Mn₂O₃ or in equi-proportion by mass with VO₂ yield β-Mn₂V₂O₇ or a new crystalline form of Mn₂V₂O₇, with unit cell parameters: a = 7.73091 Å, b = 6.640788 Å, c = 6.70779 Å α = γ = 90° and β = 98.7086° which is designated as γ-Mn₂V₂O₇. The compositions, richer in VO₂ produce MnV₂O₆ co-existing with V₂O₅ the proportion of which increases with increase in VO₂. The surface microanalysis shows a spherical-granular morphology in Mn₂V₂O₇ structure and plate/rod-like structures co-existing with granular morphology in case of MnV₂O₆ together with V₂O₅. The electrical parameters of the negative temperature coefficient thermistors were determined. Depending on the constituent oxide composition, the NTC thermistors showed room temperature resistivity in the range of 6.52 × 10² to 6.1 × 10⁶ Ω-cm. The thermistor constant and activation energy are in the range of 0.12–0.458 eV and 1393–4801 K, respectively.     

On the use of energy minimization for CA based analysis in elasticity

There has been recent interest in exploring alternative computational models for structural analysis that are better suited for a design environment requiring repetitive analysis. The need for such models is brought about by significant increases in computer processing speeds, realized primarily through parallel processing. To take full advantage of such parallel machines, however, the computational approach itself must be revisited from a totally different perspective; parallelization of inherently serial paradigms is subject to limitations introduced by a requirement of information coordination. The cellular automata (CA) model of decentralized computations provides one such approach which is ideally tailored for parallel computers. The proposed paper examines the applicability of the cellular automata model in problems of 2-D elasticity. The focus of the paper is in the use of a genetic algorithm based optimization process to derive the rules for local interaction required in evolving the cellular automata. Received August 28, 2000     

The Other Mathematical Bridge

This paper contextualises, describes and discusses a student project which takes a particular exploratory approach to using mathematical surface definition as a language and vehicle for co-rational design co-authorship for architecture and engineering. The project has two authors, one from an architectural and one from an engineering educational background. It investigates the metaphorical and operational role of mathematics in the design process and outcomes.     

Investigation of point-to-point performance test of touch trigger probes on coordinate-measuring machines

A major factor contributing to the total measuring error of coordinate measuring machines (CMMs) is the performance of the probing sub-system. Probing test methods are typically used to detect errors due to the probing sub-system. The probe performance evaluation method specified in the ANSI B89 standard is investigated in this paper. The sampling plan associated in the probe performance evaluation was tested by using experimental probing data from a CMM. Research findings indicate that the performance of touch trigger probes is overestimated due to a systematic bias in the vertical direction of the best-fit reference ball center in the probe performance test. A two-latitude sampling plan synthesis method based on a pretravel model for touch trigger probes is proposed in this paper. The proposed method can be used to accurately identify the reference ball center in the performance test of touch trigger probes.     

对安徽省城镇体育人口与经济发展特征探析

运用文献资料、访谈、问卷调查、数理统计等研究方法,对安徽省城镇体育人口现状进行调查研究,结果显示:安徽省经济发展迅速,社会体育人口比率与城镇居民人均可支配收入成正比,与各地市人口总数成反比。安徽省城镇体育人口性别比为109.55,分别高出全国和安徽省人口性别比4.35和6.16。     

复合材料蜂窝夹层结构计算的一般方法和进展

本文对目前蜂窝夹层结构有限元分析的方法进行旭纳；对每一种计算模型中所包含的假设作一讨论；指出其适用范围，供设计和强度计算时参考。     

金隆闪速炉精矿喷嘴的优化

介绍金隆公司闪速炉精矿喷嘴的结构特点和运行情况,针对运行中存在的问题,通过优化操作参数、改进结构,喷嘴的性能得到了很大改善。