56,138 research outputs found
Exploration of the High Entropy Alloy Space as a Constraint Satisfaction Problem
High Entropy Alloys (HEAs), Multi-principal Component Alloys (MCA), or
Compositionally Complex Alloys (CCAs) are alloys that contain multiple
principal alloying elements. While many HEAs have been shown to have unique
properties, their discovery has been largely done through costly and
time-consuming trial-and-error approaches, with only an infinitesimally small
fraction of the entire possible composition space having been explored. In this
work, the exploration of the HEA composition space is framed as a Continuous
Constraint Satisfaction Problem (CCSP) and solved using a novel Constraint
Satisfaction Algorithm (CSA) for the rapid and robust exploration of alloy
thermodynamic spaces. The algorithm is used to discover regions in the HEA
Composition-Temperature space that satisfy desired phase constitution
requirements. The algorithm is demonstrated against a new (TCHEA1) CALPHAD HEA
thermodynamic database. The database is first validated by comparing phase
stability predictions against experiments and then the CSA is deployed and
tested against design tasks consisting of identifying not only single phase
solid solution regions in ternary, quaternary and quinary composition spaces
but also the identification of regions that are likely to yield
precipitation-strengthened HEAs.Comment: 14 pages, 13 figure
Recommended from our members
Constraint-based adaptation for complex space configuration in building services
In this paper an object-based CAD programming is used to take advantage of standardization to handle the schematic design, sizing and layout planning for ceiling mounted fan coil system in a building ceiling void. In order to deal with more complex geometry and real building size, we have used a hybrid approach combining case-based reasoning and constraint programming techniques. Very often, building services engineers use previous solutions and adapt them to new problems. Case-based reasoning mirrors this practical approach and did help us deal effectively with increasingly complex geometry. Our approach combines automation and interactivity. From the specification of the building 3D BIM model, our software prototype proceeds through four steps. First, the user divides the building into zones, each zone being defined by a geometrical primitive (i.e. rectangle zone, triangle zone, curved zone, etc.). Next, for each zone a similar case is retrieved from the case library. The retrieval process will generate a first incomplete 3D solution containing some inconsistencies. Next, the incomplete solution is adapted, using constraint programming techniques, to provide a consistent solution. Finally, distribution routes (i.e. ducts and pipes) are generated using constraint programming techniques. The 3D fan coil solution can be modified or improved by the designer, while providing further contribution by concentrating on interactivity. The project has been funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) in the UK
Requirements and Tools for Variability Management
Explicit and software-supported Business Process Management has become the core infrastructure of any medium and large organization that has a need to be efficient and effective. The number of processes of a single organization can be very high, furthermore, they might be very similar, be in need of momentary change, or evolve frequently. If the ad-hoc adaptation and customization of processes is currently the dominant way, it clearly is not the best. In fact, providing tools for supporting the explicit management of variation in processes (due to customization or evolution needs) has a profound impact on the overall life-cycle of processes in organizations. Additionally, with the increasing adoption of Service-Oriented Architectures, the infrastructure to support automatic reconfiguration and adaptation of business process is solid.
In this paper, after defining variability in business process management, we consider the requirements for explicit variation handling for (service based) business process systems. eGovernment serves as an illustrative example of reuse. In this case study, all local municipalities need to implement the same general legal process while adapting it to the local business practices and IT infrastructure needs. Finally, an evaluation of existing tools for explicit variability management is provided with respect to the requirements identified.
Clafer: Lightweight Modeling of Structure, Behaviour, and Variability
Embedded software is growing fast in size and complexity, leading to intimate
mixture of complex architectures and complex control. Consequently, software
specification requires modeling both structures and behaviour of systems.
Unfortunately, existing languages do not integrate these aspects well, usually
prioritizing one of them. It is common to develop a separate language for each
of these facets. In this paper, we contribute Clafer: a small language that
attempts to tackle this challenge. It combines rich structural modeling with
state of the art behavioural formalisms. We are not aware of any other modeling
language that seamlessly combines these facets common to system and software
modeling. We show how Clafer, in a single unified syntax and semantics, allows
capturing feature models (variability), component models, discrete control
models (automata) and variability encompassing all these aspects. The language
is built on top of first order logic with quantifiers over basic entities (for
modeling structures) combined with linear temporal logic (for modeling
behaviour). On top of this semantic foundation we build a simple but expressive
syntax, enriched with carefully selected syntactic expansions that cover
hierarchical modeling, associations, automata, scenarios, and Dwyer's property
patterns. We evaluate Clafer using a power window case study, and comparing it
against other notations that substantially overlap with its scope (SysML, AADL,
Temporal OCL and Live Sequence Charts), discussing benefits and perils of using
a single notation for the purpose
Constraint Design Rewriting
We propose an algebraic approach to the design and transformation of constraint networks, inspired by Architectural Design Rewriting. The approach can be understood as (i) an extension of ADR with constraints, and (ii) an application of ADR to the design of reconfigurable constraint networks. The main idea is to consider classes of constraint networks as algebras whose operators are used to denote constraint networks with terms. Constraint network transformations such as constraint propagations are specified with rewrite rules exploiting the network’s structure provided by terms
A Middleware Framework for Constraint-Based Deployment and Autonomic Management of Distributed Applications
We propose a middleware framework for deployment and subsequent autonomic
management of component-based distributed applications. An initial deployment
goal is specified using a declarative constraint language, expressing
constraints over aspects such as component-host mappings and component
interconnection topology. A constraint solver is used to find a configuration
that satisfies the goal, and the configuration is deployed automatically. The
deployed application is instrumented to allow subsequent autonomic management.
If, during execution, the manager detects that the original goal is no longer
being met, the satisfy/deploy process can be repeated automatically in order to
generate a revised deployment that does meet the goal.Comment: Submitted to Middleware 0
Compositional Model Repositories via Dynamic Constraint Satisfaction with Order-of-Magnitude Preferences
The predominant knowledge-based approach to automated model construction,
compositional modelling, employs a set of models of particular functional
components. Its inference mechanism takes a scenario describing the constituent
interacting components of a system and translates it into a useful mathematical
model. This paper presents a novel compositional modelling approach aimed at
building model repositories. It furthers the field in two respects. Firstly, it
expands the application domain of compositional modelling to systems that can
not be easily described in terms of interacting functional components, such as
ecological systems. Secondly, it enables the incorporation of user preferences
into the model selection process. These features are achieved by casting the
compositional modelling problem as an activity-based dynamic preference
constraint satisfaction problem, where the dynamic constraints describe the
restrictions imposed over the composition of partial models and the preferences
correspond to those of the user of the automated modeller. In addition, the
preference levels are represented through the use of symbolic values that
differ in orders of magnitude
- …