Search results for "optimal"

A generalized model of human body radiative heat exchanges for optimal design of indoor thermal comfort conditions

2018

Abstract Human thermal sensation depends heavily on radiative exchanges between the human body and the surrounding environment. Because these exchanges play a crucial role in the thermal balance of the human body, about 35% of the process, human thermal sensation should draw the attention of planners when designing both indoor environments and equipment. The present study aims to contribute to this field by proposing a procedure for delineating the optimal comfort conditions for occupants in most of the articulate and realistic configurations of actual indoor environments. Specifically, this procedure enables accurate assessment of the radiant field surrounding a subject in a given indoor r…

Comparison between Entropy and Resilience as Indirect Measures of Reliability in the Framework of Water Distribution Network Design

2014

Abstract The aim of this paper is to investigate which between the entropy and resilience indices represents a better indirect measure of reliability in the framework of water distribution network design. The methodology adopted consisted of (a) multi-objective optimizations performed in order to minimize costs and maximize reliability, expressed by means of one of the indirect indices at time; (b) retrospective performance assessment of the solutions of Pareto fronts obtained. Two case studies of different topological complexity were considered. Results showed that indices based on energetic concepts (resilience and modified resilience) represent a better compact estimate of reliability th…

Optimal design of tuned liquid column dampers for seismic response control of base-isolated structures

2017

In this paper, the use of a tuned liquid column damper (TLCD) as a cost-effective means to control the seismic response of a base-isolated structure is studied. A straightforward direct approach for the optimal design of such a device is proposed, considering a white noise model of the base excitation. On this base, a direct optimization procedure of the TLCD design parameters is performed and optimal design charts are presented as a ready-to-use practical design tool. Comparison with the optimal parameters obtained considering a classical iterative statistical linearization technique proves the reliability of the proposed approach. The performance of the base-isolated TLCD-controlled struc…

Shakedown optimal design of reinforced concrete structures by evolution strategies

2000

Approaches the shakedown optimal design of reinforced concrete (RC) structures, subjected to variable and repeated external quasi‐static actions which may generate the well‐known shakedown or adaptation phenomenon, when constraints are imposed on deflection and/or deformation parameters, in order to simulate the limited flexural ductility of the material, in the presence of combined axial stress and bending. Within this context, the classical shakedown optimal design problem is revisited, using a weak upper bound theorem on the effective plastic deformations. For this problem a new computational algorithm, termed evolution strategy, is herein presented. This algorithm, derived from analogy …

Seismic shakedown design of frames based on a probabilistic approach

2014

The present study concerns the optimal design of elastic perfectly plastic structures subjected to a combination of fixed and seismic loads. In particular, plane frames are considered and suitable measures of the beam element cross sections are chosen as design variables. The optimal design is required to behave in a purely elastic manner when subjected just to the fixed load and to have the capability to eventually shakedown when simultaneously subjected to fixed and seismic loads. Due to the natural uncertainness related to the definition of the seismic load history, a new probabilistic approach is proposed, consisting into two subsequent search steps. At first a suitably chosen large num…

Impeller optimization in crossflow hydraulic turbines

2021

Crossflow turbines represent a valuable choice for energy recovery in aqueducts, due to their constructive simplicity and good efficiency under variable head jump conditions. Several experimental and numerical studies concerning the optimal design of crossflow hydraulic turbines have already been proposed, but all of them assume that structural safety is fully compatible with the sought after geometry. We show first, with reference to a specific study case, that the geometry of the most efficient impeller would lead shortly, using blades with a traditional circular profile made with standard material, to their mechanical failure. A methodology for fully coupled fluid dynamic and mechanical …

Fixed domain approaches in shape optimization problems with Dirichlet boundary conditions

2009

Fixed domain methods have well-known advantages in the solution of variable domain problems including inverse interface problems. This paper examines two new control approaches to optimal design problems governed by general elliptic boundary value problems with Dirichlet boundary conditions. Numerical experiments are also included peerReviewed

Optimal tuning of tuned liquid column damper systems in random vibration by means of an approximate formulation

2014

Passive control devices are often added to slender and flexible systems in order to increase their structural safety. Several types of devices have been proposed in order to reduce the dynamic responses of different kind of structural systems. Among them, the tuned liquid column damper (TLCD) proved to be very effective in reducing vibration of various type of structures by means of a combined action which involves the motion of the liquid mass within the tube. The restoring force, in particular, is produced by the force of gravity acting on the liquid and the damping effect is generated by the hydrodynamic head losses that arise during the motion of the liquid inside the TLCD. Since the in…

Guidance Provided by Teacher and Simulation for Inquiry-Based Learning: a Case Study

2016

Current research indicates that inquiry-based learning should be guided in order to achieve optimal learning outcomes. The need for guidance is even greater when simulations are used because of their high information content and the difficulty of extracting information from them. Previous research on guidance for learning with simulations has concentrated on guidance provided by the simulation. Little research has been done on the role of the teacher in guiding learners with inquiry-based activities using simulations. This descriptive study focuses on guidance provided during small group investigations; pre-service teachers (n = 8) guided third and fifth graders using a particular simulatio…

OPTIMAL POWER FLOW IN ISLANDED MICROGRIDS

In this thesis, studies about OPF in islanded MGs have been carried out. First, an original formulation and solution approach for the OPF problem in islanded distribution systems is proposed. The methodology is well suited for AC microgrids and can be envisioned as a new hierarchical control structure comprising only two levels: primary and tertiary regulation, the latter also providing iso-frequency operating points for all units and optimized droop parameters for primary regulation. The OPF provides a minimum losses operating point for which voltage drops are limited and power sharing is carried out according to the most adequate physical properties of the infrastructure thus giving rise …