Floor layouts using a multifacility location model

A procedure for obtaining a facilities scatter diagram within a rectangular boundary is developed using a multifacility location model. This method gives favorable computational results and has the advantage over other scatter diagram methods of being able to accommodate fixed facility locations. Examples illustrate how this method can be used by a designer/analyst either as a one-step algorithm or iteratively to build a layout.     

混合尺寸目标电磁计算的时域伪谱/有限体积混合方法

针对单一算法对混合尺寸目标进行时域电磁分析的困难,提出一种时域伪谱(PSTD)同时域有限体积(FVTD)混合方法。FVTD可方便地分析复杂的几何结构和材料,但是难以计算电大尺寸的目标,PSTD则特别适合计算电大尺寸的规则结构,但在模拟复杂的几何结构尤其是带有曲边结构以及电大、电小共存结构时存在困难。混合方法克服了单独算法的缺点,融合各自的优势,提高了算法的求解能力和应用范围。为了减小两种算法连接边界带来的反射,采用了FVTD计算面均值的二次函数重构方法,给出了交叠网格和非交叠网格两种混合方案。数值试验表明,混合方法有较高的精度,具有时域分析混合尺寸目标电磁问题的能力。     

Rank‐Cluster‐and‐Prune: An algorithm for generating clusters in complex set partitioning problems

Clustering problems are often difficult to solve due to nonlinear cost functions and complicating constraints. Set partitioning formulations can help overcome these challenges, but at the cost of a very large number of variables. Therefore, techniques such as delayed column generation must be used to solve these large integer programs. The underlying pricing problem can suffer from the same challenges (non‐linear cost, complicating constraints) as the original problem, however, making a mathematical programming approach intractable. Motivated by a real‐world problem in printed circuit board (PCB) manufacturing, we develop a search‐based algorithm (Rank‐Cluster‐and‐Prune) as an alternative, present computational results for the PCB problem to demonstrate the tractability of our approach, and identify a broader class of clustering problems for which this approach can be used. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics 2009     

Algorithmic insights and a convergence analysis for a Karmarkar-type of algorithm for linear programming problems

This paper is concerned with a modification of a recently proposed variant of Karmarkar's algorithm for solving linear programming problems. In analyzing this variant, we exhibit interesting and useful relationships of these types of algorithms with barrier function methods, and subgradient optimization procedures involving space dilation techniques, which subsume the well-known ellipsoidal type of algorithms. Convergence of this variant is established under certain regularity conditions. We also provide remarks on how to obtain dual variables or Lagrange multipliers at optimality.     

The cost of production breaks

Disruptions in the production process can have a serious impact on production costs. Most of the previous literature which addresses the cost impact of production breaks attributes the observed increase in costs solely to “loss of learning.” We develop a mathematical model which implies that breaks in the unit learning curve can occur because of a production break, even under the assumption of no forgetting. In such cases, increases in unit cost can be caused by decreasing returns as the amount of time available to meet the delivery schedule decreases due to the production break.     

A method for estimating the parameters of reliability models

The maximum likelihood estimates (MLE) of transition rates in a finite-state continuous-time Markov process with an absorbing state are obtained, when there are a number of independent realizations of the process. This process is explained as a model for deteriorating systems of reliability theory through example. The asymptotic properties of MLES as the observed number of realizations tend to infinity are studied. Extension of these results to semi-Markov processes is discussed.