Sharif Digital Repository

The normal human running has been simulated by two-dimensional biped model with 7 segments. Series of normal running experiments were performed and data of ground reaction forces measured by force plate was analyzed and was fitted to some Fourier series. The model is capable to simulate running for different ages and weights at different running speeds. A proportional derivative control algorithm was employed to grant stabilization during each running step. For calculation of control algorithm coefficients, an optimization method was used which minimized cinematic differences between normal running model and that of the experimentally obtained from running cycle data. This yielded the... 

This article presents a new model for pricing a new product considering a skimming pricing strategy in the presence of competition. We consider two periods for price setting, including skimming and an economy period. The problem is to decide on skimming as well as economy price, in order to maximize total profit. The derived model is a non-linear programming model and we have analyzed the structure and properties of an optimal solution to develop a solution method. Analytical results, as well as managerial insights, are presented by mathematical and numerical analyses  

Usually, resources are short in supply when earthquakes occur. In such emergency situations, disaster relief organizations must use these scarce resources efficiently to achieve the best possible emergency relief. This paper therefore proposes a multi-objective, multi-mode, multi-commodity, and multi-period stochastic model to manage the logistics of both commodities and injured people in the earthquake response. Also, a robust approach is developed and used to make sure that the distribution plan performs well under the various situations that can follow an earthquake. Afterwards, it proposes a solution methodology according to hierarchical objective functions and uses it to illustrate the... 

This paper presents a novel method fortuning the parameters of an sliding mode (SM) controller to obtain near-optimal performance. In order to do so the Linear Quadratic Regulator (LQR) was implemented on a linearized system. The input history of the LQR was used as a reference to obtain an optimal space for sliding mode controller parameters. Afterwards, the optimal space boundaries were dedicated to Genetic Algorithm (GA) to search for the optimal parameter for the nonlinear model. Also, the center of the obtained optimal space was used as an initial guess to the Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) Algorithm. The proposed algorithm was implemented to regulate SM controller for the attitude... 

In this paper, we consider the restricted version of the well-known 2D line simplification problem under area measures and for restricted version. We first propose a unified definition for both of sum-area and difference-area measures that can be used on a general path of n vertices. The optimal simplification runs in O(n 3) under both of these measures. Under sum-area measure and for a realistic input path, we propose an approximation algorithm of O n2 time complexity to find a simplification of the input path, where is the absolute error of this algorithm compared to the optimal solution. Furthermore, for difference-area measure, we present an algorithm that finds the optimal... 

Background: Real-time crash prediction models are often structured as general log-linear categorical models which must be calibrated using an extensive database. However, there is no method to optimally select the number of categories and the values that define the boundaries between categories when representing continuous measures as categorical variables within the log-linear model. This raises the question of how important the calibration is to the safety impacts estimated when using the crash prediction model. In this paper, we examined the impact that the process used to calibrate the crash prediction model has on estimates of safety impacts of a variable speed limit system. Methods:... 

The objective of this research is to develop a practical research and development (R&D) portfolio selection model that addresses the effective R&D project valuation issue, while tackling R&D uncertainty in portfolio optimization. Fuzzy set theory is employed to capture and model the uncertain project information. To evade the well-known complexities of fuzzy real option valuation, the recently developed fuzzy pay-off method is used to more effectively valuate R&D projects. The resulting problem is formulated as a fuzzy zero-one integer programming model that handles uncertainty of input data in order to determine the optimal portfolio. Two satisfaction measures, which are based on... 

A significant portion of Iranian flat breads are produced in semi-industrial, indirect-heating ovens. Therefore, an efficient oven design and a proper selection of operating conditions are crucial to improve the product quality and reduce energy consumption. In the present study, a mathematical model is developed to simulate a semi-industrial, indirect-heating, continuous oven performance during contact baking of an Iranian flat bread, referred to as Taftoon. Individual modes of heat transfer are considered among various components of the baking system to estimate the system performance and the bread quality in terms of design and operating conditions. The predictions of this model are in... 

In this paper, an analytical solution for the nonlinear free vibration of a conservative oscillator is presented. The nonlinear governing equation is solved by employing the Variational Iteration Method (VIM). This method is based on the use of Lagrange multipliers for identification of optimal values of parameters in a function. Obtained results reveal that the proposed method is very effective, simple and exact. In the present investigation, the results of this method are compared with those of the Homotopy Analysis Method (HAM), as well as those predicted by the Runge-Kutta method. The excellent accuracy of the obtained results is demonstrated by comparing them with available analytical... 

Proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell performance is directly related to the bipolar plate design and their channels pattern. Power enhancements can be achieved by optimal design of the type, size, or patterns of the channels. It has been realized that the bipolar plate design has significant role on reactant transport as well as water management in a PEM Fuel cell. Present work concentrates on improvements in the fuel cell performance by optimization of flow-field design and channels configurations. A three-dimensional, multi-component numerical model of flow distribution based on Navier-Stokes equations using individual computer code is presented. The simulation results showed excellent... 

Ceramic thermal barrier coatings are applied on gas turbines and diesel engine components to protect metals from heat and this enhances the service lifetime by means of a reduction in working temperature. In the present paper, optimisation of plasma thermal spray parameters, including feed rate and nozzle distance from the specimen surface is performed by using the design of experiment method. Due to factorial approach, by considering two parameters with three variation levels, nine experiments of bending test are needed. The base material is cast aluminium alloy, A356.0-T7. The coating layers consist of a bond coat, Ni-Cr-Al-Y with a thickness of 150 μm and a top coat, ZrO2-8wt%Y2O3 with a... 

Changes in thermodynamic properties such as pressure, temperature, and composition may result in asphaltene precipitation and deposition in porous media. In addition, asphaltene deposition can cause wettability alteration, permeability reduction, and ultimately a decrease in the productivity of a reservoir. Natural depletion is one of the most common processes of asphaltene deposition in which pressure changes destabilize the dissolved asphaltene in the oil and settle them onto the rock surface. In this work, natural depletion experiments in consolidated core samples were performed under simulated reservoir conditions to obtain reliable data and analyze the asphaltene deposition mechanisms.... 

In this paper, an axial dispersion mathematical model is developed to simulate a three-phase slurry bubble column reactor for direct synthesis of dimethyl ether (DME) from syngas. This large-scale reactor is modeled using mass and energy balances, catalyst sedimentation and single-bubble as well as two-bubbles class flow hydrodynamics. A comparison between the two hydrodynamic models through pilot plant experimental data from the literature shows that heterogeneous two-bubbles flow model is in better agreement with the experimental data than homogeneous single-bubble gas flow model. Also, by investigating the heterogeneous gas flow and axial dispersion model for small bubbles as well as the... 

This work presents the optimization of a solar collector surface in solar desiccant wheel cycle which for cooling process with typical configuration naming desiccant wheel, heat exchanger and water spray evaporative cooler. In this cooling cycle the thermal solar energy has used to heat the regeneration air of desiccant wheel cycle. The optimum solar collector surface has determined by taking into account of design parameters such as velocity of air, wheel speed, thickness of the desiccant and hydraulic diameter of the desiccant wheel and also operating conditions such as outside temperature, outside relative humidity, regeneration air temperature and total solar irradiance. For this... 

The aim of this paper is to develop a practical R&D portfolio selection model that addresses effective R&D project valuation issue, while it tackles R&D uncertainty in portfolio optimization. Fuzzy sets theory is employed to capture and model the inaccuracy in project information. To avoid the well-known complications of fuzzy real option valuation, the fuzzy pay-off method is used to more effectively value R&D projects. The resulting problem is formulated as a fuzzy zero-one integer programming model which is later transformed into a crisp mathematical formulation to solve the problem for various degrees of risk. A numerical example is used to illustrate the proposed approach  

In this paper, a shape optimization technique is presented for hot isostatic pressing of metal powders based on the genetic algorithm approach. The GA technique is used to obtain the desired optimal compacted component by changing the boundaries of component and verifying the prescribed constraints. The coupled thermo-mechanical analysis of hot isostatic pressing is employed for metal powders during densification process. The numerical modeling of hot powder compaction simulation is performed based on the large deformation formulation, temperature-dependent cap plasticity model, and frictional contact algorithm. A modified cap plasticity model considering the temperature effects is used in... 

Control charts are the best tools to monitor main process parameters, and the Multivariate Exponentially Weighted Moving Average, MEWMA, type of this tool is used when there are several correlated quality characteristics to be monitored simultaneously where detecting small deviations of the characteristics is desired. In this paper, the models of both the economic and the economic-statistical design problems of MEWMA control charts are solved by a Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) approach. The comparison study between the economic and the economic-statistical designs shows better statistical performances of the economic-statistical design with negligible increase in cost. Furthermore, in... 

Microburst wind shear is a potential hazard for aviation safety, especially in some crucial phases of flight like take-off and landing. Optimal trajectories could be useful for suitable retrieval of transport aircrafts encountering microburst. These types of trajectories are investigated in this paper for landing phase in two scenarios of escape and landing utilizing the most recent realistic analytical model of the microburst. In this regard, a set of complete six degrees of freedom aircraft's equations of motion is taken in a variation formulation of this problem. This approach is particularly useful for determination of optimal escape or approach trajectories constrained with respect to... 

Ultrasonic assisted machining (UAM) is an efficient nontraditional machining operation for brittle, hard-to-cut and poor-machinability materials. In UAM, high frequency oscillation in ultrasonic range at low amplitude is imposed on the workpiece or cutting tool. In most cases, the equipments that generates and transfers the vibration, have a complicated structure, and requires significant effort to achieve their optimum function. In this work, a mathematical model is developed and an optimization method is employed for design process. This makes it possible to achieve proper setup and reduce the amount of calculation. For this purpose, the combination of a two level full factorial design is... 

Statistically based experimental designs were applied to screen and optimize the bioleaching of spent hydrocracking catalyst by Penicillium simplicissimum. Eleven factors were examined for their significance on bioleaching using a Plackett-Burman factorial design. Four significant variables (pulp density, sucrose, NaNO3, and yeast extract concentrations) were selected for the optimization studies. The combined effect of these variables on metal bioleaching was studied using a central composite design (CCD). Second-order polynomials were established to identify the relationship between the recovery percent of the metals and the four significant variables. The optimal values of the variables...