Sharif Digital Repository

This paper studies the robust stability of the fractional-order (FO) LTI systems with polytopic uncertainty. Generally, the characteristic polynomial of the system dynamic matrix is not an affine function of the uncertain parameters. Consequently, the robust stability of the uncertain system cannot be evaluated by well-known approaches including LMIs or exposed edges theorem. Here, an over-parameterization technique is developed to convert the main characteristic polynomial into a set of local over-parameterized characteristic polynomials (LOPCPs). It is proved that the robust stability of LOPCPs implies the robust stability of the uncertain system. Then, an algorithm is proposed to explore... 

In this paper, the assignability of linear time-invariant (LTI) systems with respect to arbitrary control structures is addressed. It is well established that the closed-loop spectrum of an LTI system with an arbitrary control structure is confined to the set containing the fixed-modes of the system with respect to that control structure. However, the assignment of the closed-loop spectrum is not merely limited by the existence of fixed-modes in practical scenarios. The pole assignment may require excessive control effort or even become infeasible due to the presence of small perturbations in the system dynamics. To offer more insights in such more realistic scenarios, a continuous measure... 

Asphalt binders are known to exhibit an inherent ability to repair damage. Such self-healing potentially affects the fatigue damage performance of bituminous materials. There are contradicting findings about the effects of aging and polymer modification on healing. The effectiveness of rejuvenating agents also has not been sufficiently addressed. In the present study, three healing indices have been defined to provide a more complete representation with which to quantify the healing potential of binders. These indices have been defined using damage characteristic curves derived from interrupted linear amplitude sweep tests. Initial healing (IH) describes the immediate reduction in the damage... 

Seismic performance of postmainshock buildings considering seismic mainshock-aftershock sequences are studied. The case studies correspond to three SAC steel MRF buildings of three, nine and twenty stories. The 2-D models are able to capture important properties of deterioration of strength and stiffness. Endurance time method is used to predict the response of structures in different hazard levels. Results are compared with those from of nonlinear incremental dynamic analysis. Maximum dynamic seismic responses of structures are captured during synthetic mainshock-aftershock seismic sequences which are produced by endurance time method. Interactional-conceptual curves for different seismic... 

Based on the first-order shear deformation (FSD) model and nonlocal elasticity theory, the simultaneous effects of shear and small scale on the nonlinear vibration behavior of functionally graded carbon nanotube-reinforced composite (FG-CNTRC) beams are investigated for the first time. To this end, the governing equations of bending and stretching with von Kármán geometric nonlinearity are decoupled into one fourth-order partial differential equation in terms of transverse deflection. A closed-form solution of the nonlinear natural frequency, which can be used in conceptual design and optimization algorithms of FG- CNTRC beams with different boundary conditions, is developed using a hybrid... 

Airships are inherently sensitive to random atmospheric disturbances that could potentially make their data gathering and observation missions a formidable task. In this context robust closed loop feedback controllers are important. The present study is therefore focused on optimal feedback controller design of an indigenous domestically designed airship (DA) for added robustness against atmospheric disturbances. While the general airship six degrees of freedom (6DoF) governing equations of motion are mathematically nonlinear, one often needs to resort to local linearization methods to benefit from proven linear closed loop controller (CLC) design approaches. In this sense an optimal linear... 

We present a feasible full step interior-point algorithm to solve the (Formula presented.) horizontal linear complementarity problem defined on a Cartesian product of symmetric cones, which is not based on a usual barrier function. The full steps are scaled utilizing the Nesterov-Todd (NT) scaling point. Our approach generates the search directions leading to the full-NT steps by algebraically transforming the centring equation of the system which defines the central trajectory using the induced barrier of a so-called positive-asymptotic kernel function. We establish the global convergence as well as a local quadratic rate of convergence of our proposed method. Finally, we demonstrate that... 

A multi-objective economic-statistical design is aimed in this article for simple linear profiles. In this design, the interval between two successive sampling intervals, the sample size and the number of adjustment points alongside, the parameters of the monitoring scheme are determined such that not only the implementation cost is minimized, but also the profile exhibits desired statistical performances. To this aim, three objective functions are considered in the multi-objective optimization model of the problem. The Lorenzen–Vance cost function is used to model the implementation cost as the first objective function to be minimized. The second objective function maximizes the in-control... 

In this paper, the effectiveness of using nonlinear fluid/structure interaction for controlling the seismic response of the structures under near-field earthquake is investigated. For this purpose an SDOF Structure is considered which is equipped with the circular cylindrical liquid tank. Considering its fundamental mode of vibration, the structure is an idealised model of multi-degree of freedom system. Under 72 horizontal near-field earthquake excitations, the dynamic response of this system is examined studying three liquid sloshing modes. The dynamic response is investigated in the neighbourhood of 1:1 resonance between first unsymmetrical sloshing mode and SDOF structural mode. For this... 

This paper addresses the problem of robust parameter estimation of simple linear profiles in multistage processes in the presence of outliers in Phase I. In this regard, two robust approaches, namely the Huber’s M-estimator and the MM estimator, are proposed to estimate the parameters of the process in Phase I in the presence of outliers in historical data. In addition, the U statistic is applied to the robust parameter estimates to remove the effect of the cascade property in multistage processes and as a result, to obtain adjusted robust estimates of the parameters of simple linear profiles. The performance of the proposed methods is evaluated under weak and strong autocorrelations... 

Many companies face challenges in reducing their supply chain costs while increasing sustainability and customer service levels. A comprehensive framework for a sustainable closed-loop supply chain (CLSC) network is a practical solution to these challenges. Hence, for the first time, this study considers an integrated multi-objective mixed-integer linear programming (MOMILP) model to design sustainable CLSC networks with cross-docking, location-inventory-routing, time window, supplier selection, order allocation, transportation modes with simultaneous pickup, and delivery under uncertainty. An intelligent simulation algorithm is proposed to produce CLSC network data with probabilistic... 

Gaining insight into possible vibratory responses of dynamical systems around their stable equilibria is an essential step, which must be taken before their design and application. The results of such a study can significantly help prevent instability in closed-loop stabilized systems by avoiding the excitation of the system in the neighborhood of its resonance. This paper investigates nonlinear oscillations of a rotary inverted pendulum (RIP) with a full-state feedback controller. Lagrange’s equations are employed to derive an accurate 2-DoF mathematical model, whose parameter values are extracted by both the measurement and 3D modeling of the real system components. Although the governing... 

This study aims to investigate the nonlinear dynamic characteristics of annular cylinders coupled with a fluid medium to identify the effective parameters on stability margins at different rotation speeds. To achieve this, stability and nonlinear vibrations of rotating cylindrical shells containing incompressible annular fluid are considered. The fluid medium is bounded by a rigid external cylinder. Sanders–Koiter kinematic assumptions are utilized to determine the geometrically nonlinear structural equations of motion. These equations are then used to investigate finite amplitude vibrations of various fluid-loaded shells at different states. A penalty approach is introduced by using... 

We consider an index coding problem in which several transmitters deliver distinct files to a number of users with minimum delay. Each user has access to a subset of other files from the library, which can be used as side information. The information sent by the transmitters experience a linear transformation before being received at the users. By benefiting from the concept of Zero-Forcing in MIMO systems, we generalize the notion of MinRank characterization and the clique cover algorithm to accommodate this generalized setting. We show that increasing the number of transmitters can substantially reduce the delivery delay. © 1997-2012 IEEE  

To meet the requirements of the emerging applications, future networks must transmit multiple class of services traffic with diverse quality of service (QoS) requirements. In this paper, we formulate an integer linear programming (ILP) to design multilayer internet protocol (IP) over elastic optical networks (EONs), IP-over-EONs to support multi-class services with different latency and availability requirements. The objective of the ILP is to minimize capital expenditure (CAPEX) and spectrum usage while satisfying all QoS constraints in terms of latency and survivability mechanism. Furthermore, a heuristic algorithm is proposed to solve this problem in large-scale networks. We compare the... 

Since the advent of blockchain technology (BT), extensive research has explored using this technology in non-financial cases. The healthcare industry is one of the non-financial sectors that BT has significantly impacted. In this paper, for the first time, barriers to implement BT-based platforms from a balanced scorecard perspective in the healthcare sector are introduced, and these barriers are prioritized using a structural approach based on the weighted influence non-linear gauge system. Unlike other structural models such as decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL), in this approach, both strength and influence intensity of components are considered in the ranking... 

In the present investigation, we consider the heat and mass transfer characteristics of steady, incompressible and electrically conducting Casson fluid flow in a channel. The effect of chemical reactions have also been considered. The differential transform method (DTM) is applied to a system of non-linear ODEs, and the results are obtained in the form of DTM series. The principal gain of this approach is that it applies to the non-linear ODEs without requiring any discretization, linearization or perturbation. The velocity, mass and heat transfer profiles thus obtained are in good agreement with those provided by the quasi-linearization method (QLM). Graphical results for velocity,... 

The tourism and hospitality industry significantly impacts socio-economic development and cultural growth in developing countries. This study develops an integrated multicriteria decision-making and optimization model for partner selection in public-private partnership (PPP) projects in the hospitality industry. The proposed model uses a weighted influence non-linear gauge system to evaluate the partners. A multi-objective optimization model is then utilized to select a partner for each PPP project using a linear programming metric solution approach. A case study demonstrates the applicability of the proposed model in a PPP project in Iran to renovate and convert historic houses into hotels...