A threshold based dynamic data allocation algorithm - a Markov Chain model approach

In this study, a new dynamic data allocation algorithm for non-replicated Distributed Database Systems (DDS), namely the threshold algorithm, is formulated and proposed. The threshold algorithm reallocates data with respect to changing data access patterns. The proposed algorithm is distributed in the sense that each node autonomously decides whether to transfer the ownership of a fragment in DDS to another node or not. The transfer decision depends on the past accesses of the fragment. Each fragment continuously migrates ftom the node where it is not accessed locally more than a certain number of past accesses, namely a threshold value. The threshold algorithm is modeled for a fragment of the database as a finite Markov chain with constant node access probabilities. In the model, a special case, where all nodes have equal access probabilities except one with a different access probability, is analyzed. It has been shown that for positive threshold values the fragment will tend to remain at the node with the higher access probability. It is also shown that the greater the threshold values are, the greater the tendency of the fragment to remain at the node with higher access probability will be. The threshold algorithm is especially suitable for a DDS where data access pattern changes dynamically

Aeronautical engineering: A continuing bibliography with indexes (supplement 301)

This bibliography lists 1291 reports, articles, and other documents introduced into the NASA scientific and technical information system in Feb. 1994. Subject coverage includes: design, construction and testing of aircraft and aircraft engines; aircraft components, equipment, and systems; ground support systems; and theoretical and applied aspects of aerodynamics and general fluid dynamics

The Design of a High-Integrity Disk Management Subsystem

This dissertation describes and experimentally evaluates the design of the Logical Disk, a disk management subsystem that guarantees the integrity of data stored on disk even after system failures, while still providing performance competitive to other storage systems. Current storage systems that use the hard disk as storage medium, such as file systems, often do not provide sufficient protection against loss of data after a system failure. The designers of such systems are afraid that the amount of effort necessary for data protection would also result in too much loss of performance. The Logical Disk uses many different techniques to guarantee data integrity, including the support to execute multiple commands as one atomic action and avoiding `in-place updates' at all times. The techniques used to provide competitive performance include the technique of combining many, small write commands into one large, sequential, and thus efficient, write to disk, and clustering the data on disk continuously and automatically.Tanenbaum, A.S. [Promotor]Jonge, W. de [Copromotor

Making More Cars with Less Metal

Reducing sheet metal yield losses in automotive manufacturing would reduce material demand, providing environmental and financial benefits. This thesis explores material efficiency from four perspectives: 1. The opportunity for improvement: A part by part analysis of yield losses for every sheet metal component in a vehicle highlights nine material efficiency strategies. An industry study finds that on average only 56% of sheet metal purchased is used on the vehicle. Improving material utilisation to best practice of 70% would save £8 billion and 25 million tonnes of CO2 annually. 2. The potential to realise this opportunity: A design process to improve material efficiency is trialled within an automotive manufacturer and identifies opportunities of 20%. However, only 3% improvement is realised since the material efficiency opportunity is locked in at the start of the design process, where resource is not currently allocated. Earlier consideration of material utilisation is required. 3. Material efficiency within the circular economy: All existing metrics for recycling in sheet metal forming processes are mapped onto a diagram. A case study demonstrates that existing recycling metrics, do not promote the reduction of yield losses. Considering recycling process efficiencies rather than recycled content would enable recycling rates to be measured without penalising material efficiency. 4. Design for material efficiency: There are currently no suitable tools to inform process selection and geometry decisions for material efficiency. To address this, a novel set of experiments is conducted. These experiments identify a trend between the maximum draw depth and three critical radii. This trend could form a geometry based formability guideline which would enable design for material efficiency. Approaching material utilisation from these perspectives gives greater certainty of the saving opportunity for sheet metal material efficiency and clarifies the priority of material efficiency compared to other strategies to meet global climate change goals.Sponsored by Jaguar Land Rove