Segmented software cost estimation models based on fuzzy clustering

Parametric software cost estimation models are based on mathematical relations, obtained from the study of historical software projects databases, that intend to be useful to estimate the effort and time required to develop a software product. Those databases often integrate data coming from projects of a heterogeneous nature. This entails that it is difficult to obtain a reasonably reliable single parametric model for the range of diverging project sizes and characteristics. A solution proposed elsewhere for that problem was the use of segmented models in which several models combined into a single one contribute to the estimates depending on the concrete characteristic of the inputs. However, a second problem arises with the use of segmented models, since the belonging of concrete projects to segments or clusters is subject to a degree of fuzziness, i.e. a given project can be considered to belong to several segments with different degrees. This paper reports the first exploration of a possible solution for both problems together, using a segmented model based on fuzzy clusters of the project space. The use of fuzzy clustering allows obtaining different mathematical models for each cluster and also allows the items of a project database to contribute to more than one cluster, while preserving constant time execution of the estimation process. The results of an evaluation of a concrete model using the ISBSG 8 project database are reported, yielding better figures of adjustment than its crisp counterpart.Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnología TIN2004-06689-C0

Signatures of a two-dimensional ferromagnetic electron gas at the La_(0.7)Sr_(0.3)MnO_(3)/SrTiO_(3) interface arising from orbital reconstruction

The magnetoresistance of La0.7Sr0.3MnO3/SrTiO3La0.7Sr0.3MnO3/SrTiO3 superlattices with magnetic field rotating out-of-plane shows unexpected peaks for in-plane fields. Resistivity calculations with spin–orbit coupling reveal that orbital reconstruction at the manganite interface leads to a 2D ferromagnetic electron gas coupled antiparallel to the manganite “bulk”. These orbital and magnetic reconstructions are supported by X-ray linear dichroism and ab initio calculations

Electrical conductivity and oxygen diffusion in Bifevox.

© Sociedad Española de Cerámica y Vidrio. National Congress of Materials (7. 2002. Madrid).Presentamos medidas de la conductividad eléctrica del sistema BIFEVOX Bi_(4)V_(2-x)Fe_(x)O_(11-y)(0≤x≤0.9;0≤y≤1), en el que se realiza la sustitución de iones V (IV) por Fe (III) de forma sistemática. La conductividad muestra un comportamiento potencial con la frecuencia, descrito por σ*(ω)=σ_(dc)[1+(jω/ω_(p))^(n)], y conocido como respuesta dieléctrica universal. Análogamente, el módulo eléctrico presenta picos asimétricos, cuya función de relajación en el dominio del tiempo puede describirse mediante exponenciales “estiradas” de la forma φ(t)=exp(-(t/τ_(σ))^(β)). β da cuenta del grado de correlación del transporte iónico, siendo su valor, β=0.56±0.03, casi independiente de la temperatura y del contenido en Fe. Con el aumento en el contenido de Fe, la conductividad disminuye exponencialmente y la energía de activación del proceso de conducción aumenta de 0.20 a 0.97 eV. Estos resultados se discuten en términos de la ordenación de vacantes oxígeno al dopar con Fe (III).We present electrical conductivity measurements of BIFEVOX Bi_(4)V_(2-x)Fe_(x)O_(11-y)(0≤x≤0.9; 0≤y≤1), in which V (IV) ions have been systematically substituted by Fe (III) ions. Conductivity shows a power law frequency dependence described by the form σ*(ω)=σ_(dc)[1+(jω/ω_(p))^(n)], known as universal dynamic response. Conversely, the electric modulus shows asymmetric peaks, characterized by stretched exponentials relaxation functions in time domain of the form φ(t)=exp(-(t/τ_(σ))^(β)). β is determined by the degree of correlation in the ionic motion. It´s value, β=0.56±0.03, is almost independent of temperature and iron content. Increasing Fe content leads to an exponential decrease of the conductivity and to an increase of the activation energy of the conduction process from 0.20 to 0.97 eV. These results are discussed in terms of oxygen vacancy ordering upon Fe (III) substitution.Depto. de Estructura de la Materia, Física Térmica y ElectrónicaFac. de Ciencias FísicasTRUEpu

Effect of the addition of 10 % (volume fraction) of chromium on the mechanical properties of NiAICr processed by powder metallurgy

6 páginas, 9 figuras.[ES] En este trabajo se estudia la influencia de la adición de un 10 % en volumen, de cromo en las propiedades mecánicas de aleaciones NI3Al-Cr procesadas por vía pulvimetalúrgica. Para ello se prepararon dos aleaciones: la primera, se obtuvo por molienda de polvo de composición Ni-20,9Al-8Cr-0,49B (% at.) y, a la segunda, se le añadió un 10 % en volumen de partículas de cromo, mediante un proceso de mezcla, previo al de molienda. Ambas, fueron consolidadas mediante compactación isostática en caliente (HIP) y, por último, se les aplicaron tratamientos térmicos para homogeneizar la microestructura. Los resultados experimentales han mostrado que el refuerzo de cromo tiene como efecto un importante aumento del límite elástico y de la resistencia. Así, el material reforzado presenta un límite elástico cercano a 1.300 MPa, a temperatura ambiente, frente a los 800 MPa que presenta el material sin reforzar, a la misma temperatura. En relación con las propiedades mecánicas de los materiales tratados térmicamente, se observa que ambos experimentan un acusado descenso de la ductilidad y de la resistencia máxima a la tracción.[EN] The mechanical properties of NI3Al-Cr reinforced with 10% in volume fraction of chromium particles produced by powder metallurgy have been studied. For this purpose, milled powders with composition of Ni-20.9Al-8Cr-0.49B (% at.) with and without the addition of 10% in volume fraction of chromium particles have been produced. Both alloys were consolidated by hot isostatic pressing (HIP). After HIP, heat treatment was applied to homogenize the microstructure. The chromium reinforcement has an important effect in the yield strength and ultimate strength increase. The reinforced alloy presents a yield strength of 1300 MPa at room temperature with respect to 800 MPa for the un-reinforced material. After heat treatment, the yield strength of both alloys does not change significantly. However, a decrease in ductility and ultimate tensile strength have been observed.Este trabajo ha sido financiado por el Ministerio de Educación y Cultura, proyecto MAT 2000- 1496.Peer reviewe

Microstructure and mechanical properties of Ni3Al base alloy reinforced with Cr particles produced by powder metallurgy

The microstructural evolution of a powder metallurgy (PM) Ni 3Al-8Cr (at.%) alloy reinforced with Cr particles has been correlated with its mechanical properties. The material was synthesised using rapidly solidified Ni3Al-8Cr powders which were mixed with a Cr volume fraction of 10% and milled for 20 h. Consolidation by HIP was carried out at 150 MPa for 2 h at 1250 °C. For comparative purposes the unreinforced Ni 3Al-8Cr alloy was processed following the same route. After consolidation by HIP both materials show a bimodal microstructure consisting of coarse and fine grain regions in which fine particles are heterogeneously distributed. Besides Cr reinforcement, the difference between the two materials is the presence of β phase and higher volume fractions of γ+γ′ regions and α-phase precipitates in the reinforced material. The reinforced material presents the highest hardness, yield stress and the ultimate tensile strength values. The yield stress and ultimate tensile strength of the reinforced material at room temperature is 1286 and 1335 MPa, respectively. The strength of the composite is determined by the strength of the Cr particles and the good bonding between the matrix and Cr reinforcement. Although the ductility loss as the temperature increases is not suppressed, an improvement in ductility is obtained at temperatures above 500 °C compared with the unreinforced material. © 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.Peer Reviewe

Precipitation of Cr-rich phases in rapidly solidified Ni–20Al–8Cr (at.%) powders

The evolution of the microstructure in rapidlysolidifiedNi–20.9Al–8Cr–0.49B (at.%) powders after different continuous and isothermal heat treatments at temperatures up to 1100 °C has been studied by electron microscopy and microanalysis. Powders in the rapidlysolidified condition have a dendritic microstructure consisting of Ni3Al dendrites and a NiAl phase in the interdendritic regions. Chromium is in solid solution in both phases. This microstructure is stable when heating at 10 K min−1 up to 750 °C. When the powders are heated up to 950 °C, partial dissolution of the NiAl phase and the precipitation of very small chromium-rich particles take place. The microstructure of the powders after annealing at temperatures between 750 and 1100 °C for different times is characterised by the dissolution of the β-NiAl phase and the simultaneous precipitation of various Cr-richphases. α-Chromium, the metastable X-phase, and dark polygonal Cr5B3 precipitates have been identified. The segregation of chromium and boron in the form of borides removes these elements from the intermetallic matrix, so the content of both elements should be optimised to preserve their beneficial influence on the ductility of the γ′-Ni3Al phaseMCYT support for this research under project MAT 2000-1496 and the Ramon y Cajal ProgrammePeer reviewe

Evolución de las propiedades mecánicas con la temperatura de cintas amorfas Mg10Ni10Y

The mechanical behaviour by tensile strength test from room temperature to 350 ºC in the rapidly solidified Mg-10Ni-10Y (at. %) ribbon has been studied. To determine the effect of yttrium additions the results are compared with those of Mg-11Ni studied in a previous work. Before studding the mechanical behavior of the material the thermal stability of the amorphous ribbon and the crystallization reactions were determined by DSC experiments.
 Results show that yttrium stabilizes the amorphous phase but it has not reinforcement effect. The tensile strength and elongation to failure values of the ternary alloy are lower than those of Mg-11Ni<br><br>El objetivo de este estudio es la caracterización mecánica, mediante ensayos de tracción, desde temperatura ambiente hasta 350 °C, de una aleación amorfa de composición Mg-10Ni-10Y (% at.) obtenida mediante solidificación rápida por la técnica de la rueda. Se analiza la influencia de la adición de itrio al Mg-Ni para lo cual los resultados se comparan con los de la aleación binaria Mg-11Ni estudiada previamente. Antes de iniciar la caracterización mecánica del material, se realizó un estudio mediante calorimetría diferencial de barrido para comprobar la naturaleza amorfa de la cinta, analizar su estabilidad térmica y conocer las transformaciones que experimenta hasta la cristalización. Los resultados indican que el itrio es un estabilizador de la fase amorfa pero no mejora las propiedes mecánicas de la cinta binaria. Los valores de resistencia mecánica y alargamiento a rotura medidos en la cinta con itrio son menores que los obtenidos para la aleación binaria

Movilidad de oxígeno en conductores iónicos A₂Ti_2-yZr_yO₇ (A: Y, Gd)

We report a study of ionic conductivity in the series Y2Ti2-yZryO7 and Gd2Ti2-yZryO7 (0≤y≤2) obtained by mechanochemical synthesis. We present a study of oxygen ion dynamics in these materials by Impedance Spectroscopy. The change in dc conductivity and activation energy with Zr content is interpreted in terms of the increase in the number of oxygen vacancies and of structural disorder when increasing Zr content.Presentamos un estudio de la conductividad iónica en las series Y2Ti2-yZryO7 y Gd2Ti2-yZryO7 (0≤y≤2) obtenidas por síntesis mecanoquímica. Se presenta un estudio de la dinámica de iones oxígeno en estos materiales mediante la técnica de Espectroscopia de Admitancias. La variación con el contenido en Zr de la conductividad dc y de su energía de activación se interpreta en términos del aumento tanto del número de vacantes de oxígeno como del desorden en la estructura al aumentar el contenido en Zr