177 research outputs found

    A Modular Approach to Large-scale Design Optimization of Aerospace Systems.

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    Gradient-based optimization and the adjoint method form a synergistic combination that enables the efficient solution of large-scale optimization problems. Though the gradient-based approach struggles with non-smooth or multi-modal problems, the capability to efficiently optimize up to tens of thousands of design variables provides a valuable design tool for exploring complex tradeoffs and finding unintuitive designs. However, the widespread adoption of gradient-based optimization is limited by the implementation challenges for computing derivatives efficiently and accurately, particularly in multidisciplinary and shape design problems. This thesis addresses these difficulties in two ways. First, to deal with the heterogeneity and integration challenges of multidisciplinary problems, this thesis presents a computational modeling framework that solves multidisciplinary systems and computes their derivatives in a semi-automated fashion. This framework is built upon a new mathematical formulation developed in this thesis that expresses any computational model as a system of algebraic equations and unifies all methods for computing derivatives using a single equation. The framework is applied to two engineering problems: the optimization of a nanosatellite with 7 disciplines and over 25,000 design variables; and simultaneous allocation and mission optimization for commercial aircraft involving 330 design variables, 12 of which are integer variables handled using the branch-and-bound method. In both cases, the framework makes large-scale optimization possible by reducing the implementation effort and code complexity. The second half of this thesis presents a differentiable parametrization of aircraft geometries and structures for high-fidelity shape optimization. Existing geometry parametrizations are not differentiable, or they are limited in the types of shape changes they allow. This is addressed by a novel parametrization that smoothly interpolates aircraft components, providing differentiability. An unstructured quadrilateral mesh generation algorithm is also developed to automate the creation of detailed meshes for aircraft structures, and a mesh convergence study is performed to verify that the quality of the mesh is maintained as it is refined. As a demonstration, high-fidelity aerostructural analysis is performed for two unconventional configurations with detailed structures included, and aerodynamic shape optimization is applied to the truss-braced wing, which finds and eliminates a shock in the region bounded by the struts and the wing.PhDAerospace EngineeringUniversity of Michigan, Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studieshttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/111567/1/hwangjt_1.pd

    CANADA’S GRAIN HANDLING AND TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM: A GIS-BASED EVALUATION OF POLICY CHANGES

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    Western Canada is in a post Canadian Wheat Board single-desk market, in which grain handlers face policy, allocation, and logistical changes to the transportation of grains. This research looks at the rails transportation problem for allocating wheat from Prairie to port position, offering a new allocation system that fits the evolving environment of Western Canada’s grain market. Optimization and analysis of the transport of wheat by railroads is performed using geographic information system software as well as spatial and historical data. The studied transportation problem searches to minimize the costs of time rather than look purely at locational costs or closest proximity to port. Through optimization three major bottlenecks are found to constrain the transportation problem; 1) an allocation preference towards Thunder Bay and Vancouver ports, 2) small capacity train inefficiency, and 3) a mismatched distribution of supply and demand between the Class 1 railway firms. Through analysis of counterfactual policies and a scaled sensitivity analysis of the transportation problem, the grains transport system of railroads is found to be dynamic and time efficient; specifically when utilizing larger train capacities, offering open access to rail, and under times of increased availability of supplies. Even under the current circumstances of reduced grain movement and inefficiencies, there are policies and logistics that can be implemented to offer grain handlers in Western Canada with the transportation needed to fulfill their export demands

    Gradually resolving procedures by a trip-based integer programming to optimize elevator operations

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    Large scale dynamic systems

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    Classes of large scale dynamic systems were discussed in the context of modern control theory. Specific examples discussed were in the technical fields of aeronautics, water resources and electric power

    Technology and Management for Sustainable Buildings and Infrastructures

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    A total of 30 articles have been published in this special issue, and it consists of 27 research papers, 2 technical notes, and 1 review paper. A total of 104 authors from 9 countries including Korea, Spain, Taiwan, USA, Finland, China, Slovenia, the Netherlands, and Germany participated in writing and submitting very excellent papers that were finally published after the review process had been conducted according to very strict standards. Among the published papers, 13 papers directly addressed words such as sustainable, life cycle assessment (LCA) and CO2, and 17 papers indirectly dealt with energy and CO2 reduction effects. Among the published papers, there are 6 papers dealing with construction technology, but a majority, 24 papers deal with management techniques. The authors of the published papers used various analysis techniques to obtain the suggested solutions for each topic. Listed by key techniques, various techniques such as Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), the Taguchi method, machine learning including Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs), Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), regression analysis, Strength–Weakness–Opportunity–Threat (SWOT), system dynamics, simulation and modeling, Building Information Model (BIM) with schedule, and graph and data analysis after experiments and observations are identified

    Computer Aided Verification

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    This open access two-volume set LNCS 10980 and 10981 constitutes the refereed proceedings of the 30th International Conference on Computer Aided Verification, CAV 2018, held in Oxford, UK, in July 2018. The 52 full and 13 tool papers presented together with 3 invited papers and 2 tutorials were carefully reviewed and selected from 215 submissions. The papers cover a wide range of topics and techniques, from algorithmic and logical foundations of verification to practical applications in distributed, networked, cyber-physical, and autonomous systems. They are organized in topical sections on model checking, program analysis using polyhedra, synthesis, learning, runtime verification, hybrid and timed systems, tools, probabilistic systems, static analysis, theory and security, SAT, SMT and decisions procedures, concurrency, and CPS, hardware, industrial applications
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