The Sandwich Problem for Decompositions and Almost Monotone Properties

This is a post-peer-review, pre-copyedit version of an article published in Algorithmica. The final authenticated version is available online at: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00453-018-0409-6We consider the graph sandwich problem and introduce almost monotone properties, for which the sandwich problem can be reduced to the recognition problem. We show that the property of containing a graph in C as an induced subgraph is almost monotone if C is the set of thetas, the set of pyramids, or the set of prisms and thetas. We show that the property of containing a hole of length ≡ j mod n is almost monotone if and only if j ≡ 2 mod n or n ≤ 2. Moreover, we show that the imperfect graph sandwich problem, also known as the Berge trigraph recognition problem, can be solved in polynomial time. We also study the complexity of several graph decompositions related to perfect graphs, namely clique cutset, (full) star cutset, homogeneous set, homogeneous pair, and 1-join, with respect to the partitioned and unpartitioned probe problems. We show that the clique cutset and full star cutset unpartitioned probe problems are NP-hard. We show that for these five decompositions, the partitioned probe problem is in P, and the homogeneous set, 1-join, 1-join in the complement, and full star cutset in the complement unpartitioned probe problems can be solved in polynomial time as well.Maria Chudnovsky was supported by National Science Foundation Grant DMS-1550991 and US Army Research Office Grant W911NF-16-1-0404. Celina M. H. de Figueiredo was supported by Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico CNPq Grant 303622/2011-3

A multi-scale approach for the optimum design of sandwich plates with honeycomb core. Part II: the optimisation strategy

This work deals with the problem of the optimum design of a sandwich panel. The design strategy that we propose is a numerical optimisation procedure that does not make any simplifying assumption to obtain a true global optimum configuration of the system. To face the design of the sandwich structure at both meso and macro scales, we use a two-level optimisation strategy: at the first level we determine the optimal geometry of the unit cell of the core together with the material and geometric parameters of the laminated skins, while at the second level we determine the optimal skins lay-up giving the geometrical and material parameters issued from the first level. The two-level strategy relies both on the use of the polar formalism for the description of the anisotropic behaviour of the laminates and on the use of a genetic algorithm as optimisation tool to perform the solution search. To prove its effectiveness, we apply our strategy to the least-weight design of a sandwich plate, satisfying several constraints: on the first buckling load, on the positive-definiteness of the stiffness tensor of the core, on the ratio between skins and core thickness and on the admissible moduli for the laminated skins

Optimal design of sandwich plates with honeycomb core

This work deals with the problem of the optimum design of a sandwich structure composed of two laminated skins and a honeycomb core. The goal is to propose a numerical optimisation procedure that does not make any simplifying hypothesis in order to obtain a true global optimal solution for the considered problem. In order to face the design of the sandwich structure at both meso and macro scales, we use a two-level optimisation strategy. At the first level, we determine the optimum geometry of the unit cell together with the material and geometric parameters of the laminated skins, while at the second level we determine the optimal skins lay-up giving the geometrical and material parameters issued from the first level. We will illustrate the application of our strategy to the least-weight design of a sandwich plate submitted to several constraints: on the first buckling load, on the positive-definiteness of the stiffness tensor of the core, on the ratio between skins and core thickness and on the admissible moduli for the laminated skins

A multi-scale approach for the optimum design of sandwich plates with honeycomb core. Part I: homogenisation of core properties

This work deals with the problem of the optimum design of a sandwich panel. The design process is based on a general two-level optimisation strategy involving different scales: the meso-scale for both the unit cell of the core and the constitutive layer of the laminated skins and the macro-scale for the whole panel. Concerning the meso-scale of the honeycomb core, an appropriate model of the unit cell able to properly provide its effective elastic properties (to be used at the macro-scale) must be conceived. To this purpose, in this first paper, we present the numerical homogenisation technique as well as the related finite element model of the unit cell which makes use of solid elements instead of the usual shell ones. A numerical study to determine the effective properties of the honeycomb along with a comparison with existing models and a sensitive analysis in terms of the geometric parameters of the unit cell have been conducted. Numerical results show that shell-based models are no longer adapted to evaluate the core properties, mostly in the context of an optimisation procedure where the parameters of the unit cell can get values that go beyond the limits imposed by a 2D model

Elasticity analysis of sandwich pipes with functionally graded interlayers

Acknowledgements Financial support of this research by the Royal Society of Edinburgh and the Italian Academy of Sciences under International Exchanges Bilateral Programme grant is gratefully acknowledged.Peer reviewedPostprin

Problem of Time in Slightly Inhomogeneous Cosmology

The Problem of Time (PoT) is a multi-faceted conceptual incompatibility between various areas of Theoretical Physics. Whilst usually stated as between GR and QM, in fact 8/9ths of it is already present at the classical level. Thus we adopt a `top-down' classical and then quantum approach. I consider a local resolution to the Problem of Time that is Machian, which was previously realized for relational triangle and minisuperspace models. This resolution has three levels: classical, semiclassical and combined semiclassical-histories-records. This article's specific model is a slightly inhomogeneous cosmology considered for now at the classical level. This is motivated by how the inhomogeneous fluctuations that underlie structure formation - galaxies and CMB hotspots - might have been seeded by quantum cosmological fluctuations, as magnified by some inflationary mechanism. In particular, I consider the perturbations about $S^3$ case of this involving up to second order, which has a number of parallels with the Halliwell-Hawking model but has a number of conceptual differences and useful upgrades. The article's main features are that the elimination part of the model's thin sandwich is straightforward, but the modewise split of the constraints fail to be first-class constraints. Thus the elimination part only arises as an intermediate geometry between superspace and Riem. The reduced geometries have surprising singularities influenced by the matter content of the universe, though the N-body problem anticipates these with its collinear singularities. I also give a `basis set' of Kuchar beables for this model arena.Comment: 15 pages including 4 figures. More self-contained explanations include