The 1974 NASA-ASEE summer faculty fellowship aeronautics and space research program

Research activities by participants in the fellowship program are documented, and include such topics as: (1) multispectral imagery for detecting southern pine beetle infestations; (2) trajectory optimization techniques for low thrust vehicles; (3) concentration characteristics of a fresnel solar strip reflection concentrator; (4) calaboration and reduction of video camera data; (5) fracture mechanics of Cer-Vit glass-ceramic; (6) space shuttle external propellant tank prelaunch heat transfer; (7) holographic interferometric fringes; and (8) atmospheric wind and stress profiles in a two-dimensional internal boundary layer

Electric generation production scheduling using a quasi-optimal sequential technique

Prepared in association with Electric Power Systems Engineering Laboratory and Dept. of Civil Engineering, M.I.TA quasi-optimal technique ('quasi' in that the technique discards unreasonable optimums), realized by a dynamically evolving mixed integer program, is used to develop regional electric power maintenance and production schedules for a two to five year planning horizon. This sophisticated, yet computationally feasible, method is used to develop the bulk dispatch schedules required to meet electric power demands at a given reliability level while controlling the associated dollar costs and environmental impacts. The electric power system considered is a power exchange pool of closely coupled generation facilities supplying a region approximately the size of New England. Associated with a tradeoff between a given cost of production and the relevant ecological factors, an optimum production schedule is formulated which considers fossil, nuclear, hydroelectric, gas turbine and pumped storage generation facilities; power demands, reliabilities, maintenance and nuclear refueling requisites; labor coordination, geographic considerations, as well as various contracts such as interregional power exchanges, interruptible loads, gas contracts and nuclear refueling contracts. A prerequisite of the model was that it be flexible enough for use in the evaluation of the optimum system performance associated with hypothesized expansion patterns. Another requirement was that the effects of changed scheduling factors could be predicted, and if necessary corrected with a minimum computational effort. A discussion of other possible optimization techniques is included, however, this study was primarily intended as a development of a static procedure; a dynamic technique counterpart with a more probabilistic. approach is being undertaken as a Part II of this study and at its conclusion the two techniques will be compared. Although the inputs are precisely defined, this paper does not deal explicitly with any of the fabrications of the required inputs to the model. Rather, it is meant as a method of incorporating those inputs into the optimum operation schedule process

A value estimation approach to Iri-Imai's method for constrained convex optimization.

Lam Sze Wan.Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2002.Includes bibliographical references (leaves 93-95).Abstracts in English and Chinese.Chapter 1 --- Introduction --- p.1Chapter 2 --- Background --- p.4Chapter 3 --- Review of Iri-Imai Algorithm for Convex Programming Prob- lems --- p.10Chapter 3.1 --- Iri-Imai Algorithm for Convex Programming --- p.11Chapter 3.2 --- Numerical Results --- p.14Chapter 3.2.1 --- Linear Programming Problems --- p.15Chapter 3.2.2 --- Convex Quadratic Programming Problems with Linear Inequality Constraints --- p.17Chapter 3.2.3 --- Convex Quadratic Programming Problems with Con- vex Quadratic Inequality Constraints --- p.18Chapter 3.2.4 --- Summary of Numerical Results --- p.21Chapter 3.3 --- Chapter Summary --- p.22Chapter 4 --- Value Estimation Approach to Iri-Imai Method for Con- strained Optimization --- p.23Chapter 4.1 --- Value Estimation Function Method --- p.24Chapter 4.1.1 --- Formulation and Properties --- p.24Chapter 4.1.2 --- Value Estimation Approach to Iri-Imai Method --- p.33Chapter 4.2 --- "A New Smooth Multiplicative Barrier Function Φθ+,u" --- p.35Chapter 4.2.1 --- Formulation and Properties --- p.35Chapter 4.2.2 --- "Value Estimation Approach to Iri-Imai Method by Us- ing Φθ+,u" --- p.41Chapter 4.3 --- Convergence Analysis --- p.43Chapter 4.4 --- Numerical Results --- p.46Chapter 4.4.1 --- Numerical Results Based on Algorithm 4.1 --- p.46Chapter 4.4.2 --- Numerical Results Based on Algorithm 4.2 --- p.50Chapter 4.4.3 --- Summary of Numerical Results --- p.59Chapter 4.5 --- Chapter Summary --- p.60Chapter 5 --- Extension of Value Estimation Approach to Iri-Imai Method for More General Constrained Optimization --- p.61Chapter 5.1 --- Extension of Iri-Imai Algorithm 3.1 for More General Con- strained Optimization --- p.62Chapter 5.1.1 --- Formulation and Properties --- p.62Chapter 5.1.2 --- Extension of Iri-Imai Algorithm 3.1 --- p.63Chapter 5.2 --- Extension of Value Estimation Approach to Iri-Imai Algo- rithm 4.1 for More General Constrained Optimization --- p.64Chapter 5.2.1 --- Formulation and Properties --- p.64Chapter 5.2.2 --- Value Estimation Approach to Iri-Imai Method --- p.67Chapter 5.3 --- Extension of Value Estimation Approach to Iri-Imai Algo- rithm 4.2 for More General Constrained Optimization --- p.69Chapter 5.3.1 --- Formulation and Properties --- p.69Chapter 5.3.2 --- Value Estimation Approach to Iri-Imai Method --- p.71Chapter 5.4 --- Numerical Results --- p.72Chapter 5.4.1 --- Numerical Results Based on Algorithm 5.1 --- p.73Chapter 5.4.2 --- Numerical Results Based on Algorithm 5.2 --- p.76Chapter 5.4.3 --- Numerical Results Based on Algorithm 5.3 --- p.78Chapter 5.4.4 --- Summary of Numerical Results --- p.86Chapter 5.5 --- Chapter Summary --- p.87Chapter 6 --- Conclusion --- p.88Bibliography --- p.93Chapter A --- Search Directions --- p.96Chapter A.1 --- Newton's Method --- p.97Chapter A.1.1 --- Golden Section Method --- p.99Chapter A.2 --- Gradients and Hessian Matrices --- p.100Chapter A.2.1 --- Gradient of Φθ(x) --- p.100Chapter A.2.2 --- Hessian Matrix of Φθ(x) --- p.101Chapter A.2.3 --- Gradient of Φθ(x) --- p.101Chapter A.2.4 --- Hessian Matrix of φθ (x) --- p.102Chapter A.2.5 --- Gradient and Hessian Matrix of Φθ(x) in Terms of ∇xφθ (x) and∇2xxφθ (x) --- p.102Chapter A.2.6 --- "Gradient of φθ+,u(x)" --- p.102Chapter A.2.7 --- "Hessian Matrix of φθ+,u(x)" --- p.103Chapter A.2.8 --- "Gradient and Hessian Matrix of Φθ+,u(x) in Terms of ∇xφθ+,u(x)and ∇2xxφθ+,u(x)" --- p.103Chapter A.3 --- Newton's Directions --- p.103Chapter A.3.1 --- Newton Direction of Φθ (x) in Terms of ∇xφθ (x) and ∇2xxφθ(x) --- p.104Chapter A.3.2 --- "Newton Direction of Φθ+,u(x) in Terms of ∇xφθ+,u(x) and ∇2xxφθ,u(x)" --- p.104Chapter A.4 --- Feasible Descent Directions for the Minimization Problems (Pθ) and (Pθ+) --- p.105Chapter A.4.1 --- Feasible Descent Direction for the Minimization Prob- lems (Pθ) --- p.105Chapter A.4.2 --- Feasible Descent Direction for the Minimization Prob- lems (Pθ+) --- p.107Chapter B --- Randomly Generated Test Problems for Positive Definite Quadratic Programming --- p.109Chapter B.l --- Convex Quadratic Programming Problems with Linear Con- straints --- p.110Chapter B.l.1 --- General Description of Test Problems --- p.110Chapter B.l.2 --- The Objective Function --- p.112Chapter B.l.3 --- The Linear Constraints --- p.113Chapter B.2 --- Convex Quadratic Programming Problems with Quadratic In- equality Constraints --- p.116Chapter B.2.1 --- The Quadratic Constraints --- p.11

Constrained portfolio selection with Markov and non-Markov processes and insiders

Word processed copy. Includes bibliographical references (p. 158-168)

Mapping oil spill human health risk in rivers state, Niger Delta, Nigeria

Oil pipelines play a significant role in crude oil transportation and bring danger close to communities along their paths. Pipeline accidents happen every now and then due to factors ranging from operational cause to third party damage. In the Niger Delta pipeline system, interdiction is common; therefore, every length and breadth of land covered by a pipeline is vulnerable to oil pollution, which can pose a threat to land use. Weak enforcement of rights of way led to encroachment by farmers and human dwellings, thereby bringing people in close proximity to pipelines. Considering the impact exposure can have on human health, a method was developed for identifying vulnerable communities within a designated potential pipeline impact radius, and generic assessment criteria developed for assessing land use exposure. The GIS based model combines four weighted criteria layers, i.e. land cover, population, river and pipeline buffers in a multi-criteria decision making with analytical hierarchy process to develop an automated mapping tool designed to perform three distinct operations: firstly, to delineate pipeline hazard areas; secondly, establish potential pipeline impact radius; and thirdly, identify vulnerable communities in high consequence areas. The model was tested for sensitivity and found to be sensitive to river criterion; transferability on the other hand is limited to similar criteria variables. To understand spatial distribution of oil spills, 443 oil spill incidents were examined and found to tend towards cluster distribution. Meanwhile, the main causes of spills include production error (34.8%) and interdiction (31.6%); interdiction alone discharged about 61.4% of crude oil. This brings to light the significance of oil pipeline spills and the tendency to increase the risk of exposure. The generic assessment criteria were developed for three land uses using CLEA v 1.06 for aromatic (EC5-EC44) and aliphatic (EC5-EC44) fractions. The use of the model and screening criteria are embedded in a framework designed to stimulate public participation in pipeline management and pipeline hazard mitigation, which policy makers and regulators in the oil industry can find useful in pipeline hazard management and exposure mitigation

Mapping oil spill human health risk in rivers state, Niger Delta, Nigeria

Oil pipelines play a significant role in crude oil transportation and bring danger close to communities along their paths. Pipeline accidents happen every now and then due to factors ranging from operational cause to third party damage. In the Niger Delta pipeline system, interdiction is common; therefore, every length and breadth of land covered by a pipeline is vulnerable to oil pollution, which can pose a threat to land use. Weak enforcement of rights of way led to encroachment by farmers and human dwellings, thereby bringing people in close proximity to pipelines. Considering the impact exposure can have on human health, a method was developed for identifying vulnerable communities within a designated potential pipeline impact radius, and generic assessment criteria developed for assessing land use exposure. The GIS based model combines four weighted criteria layers, i.e. land cover, population, river and pipeline buffers in a multi-criteria decision making with analytical hierarchy process to develop an automated mapping tool designed to perform three distinct operations: firstly, to delineate pipeline hazard areas; secondly, establish potential pipeline impact radius; and thirdly, identify vulnerable communities in high consequence areas. The model was tested for sensitivity and found to be sensitive to river criterion; transferability on the other hand is limited to similar criteria variables. To understand spatial distribution of oil spills, 443 oil spill incidents were examined and found to tend towards cluster distribution. Meanwhile, the main causes of spills include production error (34.8%) and interdiction (31.6%); interdiction alone discharged about 61.4% of crude oil. This brings to light the significance of oil pipeline spills and the tendency to increase the risk of exposure. The generic assessment criteria were developed for three land uses using CLEA v 1.06 for aromatic (EC5-EC44) and aliphatic (EC5-EC44) fractions. The use of the model and screening criteria are embedded in a framework designed to stimulate public participation in pipeline management and pipeline hazard mitigation, which policy makers and regulators in the oil industry can find useful in pipeline hazard management and exposure mitigation