Probabilistic analysis of an asymptotically optimal solution for the completion time variance problem

Scheduling a set of n jobs on a single machine so as to minimize the completion time variance is a well‐known NP‐hard problem. In this paper, we propose a sequence, which can be constructed in O(n log n) time, as a solution for the problem. Our primary concern is to establish the asymptotical optimality of the sequence within the framework of probabilistic analysis. Our main result is that, when the processing times are randomly and independently drawn from the same uniform distribution, the sequence is asymptotically optimal in the sense that its relative error converges to zero in probability as n increases. Other theoretical results are also derived, including: (i) When the processing times follow a symmetric structure, the problem has 2^{⌊(n−1)/2⌋} optimal sequences, which include our proposed sequence and other heuristic sequences suggested in the literature; and (ii) when these 2^{⌊(n−1)/2⌋} sequences are used as approximate solutions for a general problem, our proposed sequence yields the best approximation (in an average sense) while another sequence, which is commonly believed to be a good approximation in the literature, is interestingly the worst. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Naval Research Logistics 46: 373–398, 1999     

二次流引射对保形非对称喷管性能的影响

发动机与飞机后体结构设计合理与否直接影响发动机的部件匹配和性能。利用三维雷诺平均N-S方程和k-ωSST湍流模型对飞翼布局无人机保形非对称喷管在典型飞行状态下开展了内外流流场特性的数值分析,获得了后体尾喷管推力性能和三维流动特征随二次流压力比的变化趋势。结果表明:发动机喷管落压比条件一定的前提下,通过合理优化二次流通道、增大二次流压力比,可以有效改善后体/喷管主流流场特性;当二次流与主流的流量比在0. 2%～1. 86%内时,后体尾喷管轴向推力系数的变化幅度大约为3%,在一定程度上能够减弱发动机主流的过膨胀程度,减小发动机推力损失,无人机后体尾喷管性能得到显著提高。     

Steady‐state diffusion approximations for discrete‐time queue in hospital inpatient flow management

In this article, we analyze a discrete‐time queue that is motivated from studying hospital inpatient flow management, where the customer count process captures the midnight inpatient census. The stationary distribution of the customer count has no explicit form and is difficult to compute in certain parameter regimes. Using the Stein's method framework, we identify a continuous random variable to approximate the steady‐state customer count. The continuous random variable corresponds to the stationary distribution of a diffusion process with state‐dependent diffusion coefficients. We characterize the error bounds of this approximation under a variety of system load conditions—from lightly loaded to heavily loaded. We also identify the critical role that the service rate plays in the convergence rate of the error bounds. We perform extensive numerical experiments to support the theoretical findings and to demonstrate the approximation quality. In particular, we show that our approximation performs better than those based on constant diffusion coefficients when the number of servers is small, which is relevant to decision making in a single hospital ward.     

Aggregating courier deliveries

We consider the problem of efficiently scheduling deliveries by an uncapacitated courier from a central location under online arrivals. We consider both adversary‐controlled and Poisson arrival processes. In the adversarial setting we provide a randomized (3βΔ/2δ ? 1) ‐competitive algorithm, where β is the approximation ratio of the traveling salesman problem, δ is the minimum distance between the central location and any customer, and Δ is the length of the optimal traveling salesman tour overall customer locations and the central location. We provide instances showing that this analysis is tight. We also prove a 1 + 0.271Δ/δ lower‐bound on the competitive ratio of any algorithm in this setting. In the Poisson setting, we relax our assumption of deterministic travel times by assuming that travel times are distributed with a mean equal to the excursion length. We prove that optimal policies in this setting follow a threshold structure and describe this structure. For the half‐line metric space we bound the performance of the randomized algorithm in the Poisson setting, and show through numerical experiments that the performance of the algorithm is often much better than this bound.     

The Economic Effect of Military Facility Contraction: A Naval Case Study

The global financial turmoil of 2008 has resulted in the curtailment of military expenditure in most western countries. At a sub-regional-level reductions in the level of activity at a major military facility can have significant economic impact. In the light of this, the paper has two objectives: to analyse the impact of the decision to terminate naval shipbuilding at the United Kingdom’s Portsmouth Naval Base; and, for illustrative purposes, to examine the possible economic consequences of further contraction at the facility. In pursuit of these aims, it is necessary to establish the output, income and employment generated by the base using a bespoke input–output model. The methodology employed can, with appropriate adjustments, be utilised in other military or civilian contexts.     

基于故障树分析的航空装备体系结构贡献率评估方法

针对航空装备体系构成复杂的特点,将故障树分析引入航空装备体系结构贡献率评估问题,提出基于故障树分析的评估方法.从作战装备、信息支援装备和保障装备三个方面构建航空装备体系结构,建造航空装备体系结构故障树;采用底事件的关键重要度指标来计算航空装备的体系结构贡献率,建立基于关键重要度的航空装备体系结构贡献率评估模型;以某航空...     

非致命防暴动能弹作战效能评估

提出了非致命防暴动能弹作战效能的评估法,分析了非致命防暴动能弹的技术性能,建立了以非致命性为核心指标的防暴动能弹效能指标体系。采用定性分析与定量分析相结合,将集对分析法应用到了非致命防暴动能弹的效能评估中,对3种防暴动能弹进行了效能评估。为非致命防暴动能弹的研发生产提供了重要的理论支撑。     

多管火箭武器储运发射箱长期储存蠕变性能预测

为探究火箭武器储运发射箱长期储存的蠕变性能,制备复合材料层压板并开展单轴拉伸蠕变试验,获得了单向纤维复合材料主方向的蠕变本构模型参数。采用有限元方法并借助用户自定义材料子程序建立储运发射箱长期储存蠕变的数值分析模型,预测了堆码储存15年后底层发射箱的蠕变变形。以储存后的发射箱作为初始状态建立弹管耦合发射动力学仿真计算模型,进一步分析蠕变对火箭弹发射过程的影响。仿真结果表明:蠕变引起的定向器平行度和发射箱底面平面度的变化均小于技术指标规定值,定向器束的最大残余变形在三维空间内呈马鞍状分布,上、下两行中间位置定向器的变形最大,左、右两列中间位置定向器的变形最小。定向器蠕变变形使得弹管间隙减小,火箭弹在管内运动使弹管之间的动态接触碰撞力增大,离轨速度降低。     

Physical and damping properties of kenaf fibre filled natural rubber/thermoplastic polyurethane composites

The paper presents the investigation of the effect of alkaline treatment of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) on physical and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) viscoelastic properties of kenaf fibre filled natural rubber (NR)/thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) composites. The treated kenaf fiber, NR and TPU were weighed and proportioned according to the required compositions and were blended using hot mixed Brabender machine. The polymer composites were then fabricated using the hot press to form a sample board. The sample was cut and prepared and water absorption, density, thickness swelling and DMA tests were performed. As far as physical properties are concerned, composites with the highest NR amount of shows the best results, which indicates good fiber bonding adhesion. The polymer composites with the highest amount of TPU shows the highest damping properties at high temperature.     

一起灭火器爆炸案的原因调查

全面调查和分析了某住宅公寓灭火器爆炸事故的事故原因及相关责任,得出造成灭火器爆炸的根本原因是灭火器所充装的ABC干粉存在严重质量问题的认定,并依据相关法律将该案件作为刑事案件移交公安部门。