Single machine sequencing with random processing times and random due-dates

A single machine scheduling problem in which both the processing times and due-dates of the jobs awaiting servicing are random variables is analyzed. It is proved that the properties of the shortest processing time rule and the due-date rule which are known for the deterministic situation also hold in the probabilistic environment when they are suitably, and reasonably, refined for this context.     

On failure modeling

A promising approach to failure modeling, in particular to developing failure-time distributions, is discussed. Under this approach, system state or wear and tear is modeled by an appropriately chosen random process—for example, a diffusion process—and the occurrences of fatal shocks are modeled by a Poisson process whose rate function is state dependent. The system is said to fail when either wear and tear accumulates beyond an acceptable or safe level or a fatal shock occurs. This approach has significant merit. First, it provides revealing new insights into most of the famous and frequently used lifetime distributions in reliability theory. Moreover, it suggests intuitively appealing ways for enhancing those standard models. Indeed, this approach provides a means of representing the underlying dynamics inherent in failure processes. Reasonable postulates for the dynamics of failure should lend credence to the prediction and estimation of reliability, maintainability, and availability. In other words, accuracy of representation could lead to better, more reliable prediction of failure.     

风扇蜗壳排气段结构优化研究

为有效降低车辆封闭式冷却风道中风扇蜗壳的空气流动阻力,提出了计算流体力学分析与遗传算法相结合的蜗壳排气段结构优化方法,建立了蜗壳结构优化模型,开发了优化算法可执行程序Control CFD.EXE。对某车辆的风扇蜗壳排气段进行了结构优化。优化后蜗壳排气段的空气流动阻力比优化前减小了10.1%,空气质量流量增大了1.70%。     

加肋轴对称薄壳强度分析的有限元方法

加肋轴对称薄壳的强度问题,需要考虑肋骨的作用。针对该问题,采用轴对称曲边壳单元建立了肋骨单元的刚度矩阵,将该矩阵叠加到轴对称曲边壳单元的刚度矩阵中,对加肋轴对称薄壳的强度进行有限元分析。应用Fortran语言编写了有限元计算程序,对一个精车模型进行了强度计算,计算结果同模型试验结果吻合良好,表明该方法可以应用于加肋轴对称薄壳的强度分析。     

Weak order stability under risk

The assessment of a Bernoulli utility function is often accomplished by an approximation process which makes use of ever more information on the preference as it is elicited from a decision maker. Simultaneous approximations of the utility function and the underlying distributions are generally not sufficient for the expectations to converge to the expected value of the respective limits. We give various sufficient stability conditions for the expected utility. All these conditions contain some “uniformness”. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

环肋轴对称组合壳塑性极限分析的弹性模量调整有限元方法

基于轴对称截锥壳单元,以单元横截面峰值应力为等效应力,建立了弹性模量调整有限元方法,应用Fortran语言编制了有限元软件用于计算环肋轴对称组合壳的塑性极限载荷.该方法根据组合壳的应力分布情况调整轴对称壳单元和肋骨单元的弹性模量,并进行一系列的弹性迭代计算,计算收敛后即可以得到环肋轴对称组合壳的塑性极限载荷.通过对算例的计算证明:该方法具有良好的收敛性和较高的效率,计算结果与试验结果吻合较好.     

Life cycle costs for decision support ‐ a study of the various life cycle costs used at different levels of defence policy and management∗

Debates on many aspects of defence economics ‐ on the scale of defence expenditure, on the allocation of that expenditure to various military capabilities, and on the selection of equipment offering the best value for money ‐ are bedevilled by misunderstandings and misconceptions about the costs of defence equipment. This paper seeks to improve understanding of defence equipment costs by defining a hierarchy of defence equipment within which the direct and indirect life cycle costs of defence equipment may be allocated at different levels. Having reviewed the direct and indirect components of the life cycle cost, this paper then shows how different costing studies for different purposes require different approaches to life cycle costing, and that there is no unique life cycle cost which can be assigned to one particular item of defence equipment. There is instead a range oflife cycle costs, each of which is appropriate for a particular study, and it is important that a quoted cost of an item of defence equipment should be used only in the pertinent circumstances. The paper is written from a UK perspective and accordingly uses British nomenclature, but its principles should be relevant to defence cost studies in other nations.     

TURKEY AND MULTILATERAL NUCLEAR APPROACHES IN THE MIDDLE EAST

As many states in the Middle East are considering whether to embark on nuclear power programs, there is an urgent need to develop confidence-building measures to reassure states in the region that the programs are peaceful. One possible path would be to consider multilateral approaches to the fuel cycle in order to foster nuclear cooperation between states in the region, instead of each state going it alone, which would likely increase suspicions and the risk of a cascade of nuclear proliferation. With its policy of “zero problems with neighbors,” strategic connection to the West, and long-standing experience in the nuclear field, Turkey would be well-placed to take the lead on such a nuclear confidence-building agenda. Over time and under the right political conditions, Turkey could initiate or participate in measures including cooperation on nuclear education, safety and security, research and development, and joint fuel cycle facilities such as a regional fuel fabrication center.     

Interpreting the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty

Interpreting the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, by Daniel H. Joyner. Oxford University Press, 2011. 192 pages, $100.