Operations Research, Systems Engineering and Industrial Engineering Commons^™

An Efficient Technique For Evaluating The Modal Parameters Of Damped Dynamic Systems, Hany Jim Gross

Archived Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Scheduling In Assembly Type Job-Shops, Nutthapol Asadathorn

Dissertations

Assembly type job-shop scheduling is a generalization of the job-shop scheduling problem to include assembly operations. In the assembly type job-shops scheduling problem, there are n jobs which are to be processed on in workstations and each job has a due date. Each job visits one or more workstations in a predetermined route. The primary difference between this new problem and the classical job-shop problem is that two or more jobs can merge to foul' a new job at a specified workstation, that is job convergence is permitted. This feature cannot be modeled by existing job-shop techniques. In this dissertation, …

Analysis Of Surface Texture Parameters And Cutting Forces In Milling Operations, Preetesh U. Munshi

Theses

It has been known and understood that milling is quite a complicated process being a multi-point cutting tool operation. Each Surface texture is complex and requires different functions of forces to get the optimized Surface Texture. The challenge faced here is to devise any form of relation between the Surface Texture and the Milling Operating parameters (Spindle Speed, Feed rate, Depth of Cut), Cutting forces and the Milling Operating parameters and also between the Surface Texture and the Cutting Forces.

This Research study was conducted to determine the effect of the Operating Parameters on Surface Texture and Cutting forces and …

Design Improvement Using Reverse Analysis In Design For Quality Manufacturability, Vikram V. Datla

Theses

The competitive needs of modern manufacturing demands that innovative approaches be used to gain an edge over the competitors. least Product design is one of the key dimensions wazzu in which companies can excel. Shortening the product design cycle so as to rapidly launch defect free products, is the goal of most companies. Design for Quality Manufacturability (DFQM) is a technique used to evaluate the quality manufacturability of a product at the design stage, so as to eliminate quality problems during production.

DFQM provides a means for relating the activities of quality improvement, product design and manufacturability analysis. The basis …

Acuta Enews May 1997, Vol. 26, No. 5

ACUTA Newsletters

In This Issue

Slate of Nominees Approved

Be a Moderator of Monitor at ACUTA's 26th Annual Conference

Board Report

Univ. of Delaware to Host ACUTA Mid-Atlantic & New England Local Event

Dues Notices Mailed

Welcome Melanie

ACUTA Committees at Work

Spotlight

DC at a Glance

Regulation of BOC Long Distance Services Revised

Welcome New Members

A Robust Unit Commitment Algorithm For Hydro-Thermal Optimization, Chao-An Li, Chung-Li Tseng, E. Hsu, R. B. Johnson, A. J. Svoboda

Engineering Management and Systems Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

This paper presents a unit commitment algorithm which combines the Lagrangian relaxation (LR), sequential unit commitment (SUC), and optimal unit decommitment (UD) methods to solve a general hydro-thermal optimization (HTO) problem. The authors argue that this approach retains the advantages of the LR method while addressing the method''s observed weaknesses to improve overall algorithm performance and quality of solution. The proposed approach has been implemented in a version of PG&E''s HTO program, and test results are presented.

Evaluating The Feasibility Of An Intermodal Transportation Facility In Chattanooga, Murugan Auruvankulam-Palani

Masters Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

This research develops a mathematical model based on linear programming techniques to evaluate the feasibility of developing an intermodal transportation facility in Chattanooga. Transportation resources in and around Chattanooga were studied, and the opportunities available for developing business by a transportation facility are analyzed. Large quantities of goods are shipped in and out of Chattanooga by trucks in either trailers or containers. In order to transfer goods in container or trailer from one mode of transportation to another, specific handling equipment is needed. Mobile cranes present in some transportation terminals in Chattanooga can transfer goods in small units only, but …

Acuta Enews April 1997, Vol. 26, No. 4

ACUTA Newsletters

In This Issue

Achievement Award Nominations

Listserve Discusses Directory Assistance

Board Report

ATM at UNM

E-mail Etiquette

Spotlight

DC at a Glance

"Internet 2" Links North Carolina

Welcome New Members

Members on the Move

A Sociotechnical Systems Analysis Of The Approval Process For A Complex Public Works Proposal, James C. Pyne

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Theses & Dissertations

This research applied sociotechnical systems theory to explore the process used by two elected bodies to decide upon adoption of a complex technical engineering proposal. The research used a modified sociotechnical systems conceptual framework that was developed by Pava (1983) for application to non-traditional work settings. Pava applied the conceptual framework to what he termed non-routine office work which is characterized by non-linear conversion flow, multiple, concurrent conversion processes and vocational separatism (Pava, 1983).

The research was designed as a multiple case study of two town councils each undertaking a decision process to approve or reject a public works proposal …

Development Of A Method For Determining The Relative Manufacturing Complexity Of Advanced Engineering Materials, Shardul Y. Pandya

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Theses & Dissertations

The immediate adaptation of newly developed materials--with unique and highly desirable properties--is hampered by several factors, including: (1) high material cost and limited availability, (2) lack of information on them, including prior experience in their design and manufacture, immature manufacturing processes and general uncertainty in their behavior patterns, (3) unique handling issues, such as excessive manual labor, high process temperatures, toxicity, disposal problems, limited working lives, and low damage tolerance

Therefore, in spite of their significant benefits, potential users tend to shy away from the widespread use of new materials, instead preferring conventional and tested materials forms.

This dissertation is …

Acuta Enews March 1997, Vol. 26, No. 3

ACUTA Newsletters

In This Issue

Student Paper Competition Nears Deadline

U.S. Court of Appeals stays FCC Detariffing Order

Board Nominations Due April 12

Welcome New Members

Board Report

Same as Sales, But No Commission

Spotlight

DC at a Glance

Publications Committee

ACUTA Membership Renewal

Selecting A Health Care Option For Military Beneficiaries That Minimizes Health Care Costs While Maintaining Personal Desires For Choice, Norman H. Pallister

Theses and Dissertations

Tricare, the triservice, triple-option, managed care plan for the uniformed services, incorporates a managed care support contract to complement Military Treatment Facilities. Currently being implemented throughout the CONUS, Tricare provides more equitable health care service to all military beneficiaries, improved access to care, a reduction in health care costs, and provides beneficiaries with an expanded choice of medical-care providers. This thesis examines the Tricare program and reviews relevant health care literature, both military and civilian. Using these inputs, the author presents a deterministic decision analysis model that allows a military beneficiary to select a health care option that minimizes his …

Turkish Air Mobility Modeling, Huseyin Topcuoglu

Theses and Dissertations

The aim of this research is to provide a tactical mobility model which is user friendly and flexible so the user is able to change the inputs, and evaluate the situation with the projected data for an operational plan. Thus, the users can analyze their system by using the model to see whether or not mobility requirements can be met within a definite time frame, and how long it takes to satisfy the requirements. Generalized Air Mobility Model (GAMM) was chosen to model TAMC's airlift system and has been found suitable for application to TUAF mobility problems. The software enables …

Modeling And Analyzing The Effect Of Ground Refueling Capacity On Airfield Throughput, W. Heath Rushing

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis develops five analytical models to understand the current ground refueling process, to optimize the airfield configuration and to determine the refueling policy which maximizes throughput, the primary measure of airfield efficiency. This study models the airfield refueling process as a continuous time Markov process to adequately represent the inherent stochastic nature of the transitory ground refueling system and provide an analytical evaluation of various airfield configurations. Also, the study provides an optimal refueling policy to minimize the number of aircraft on the ground which in turn minimizes the average amount of time aircraft spend on the ground in …

Modeling Mirv Footprint Constraints In The Weapons Assignment Model, Elliot T. Fair

Theses and Dissertations

US Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM) is developing a new linear programming model called the Weapons Assignment Model (WAM) to perform weapons assignment for the Strategic Integrated Operations Plan (SIOP). One of the major improvements WAM will have over its predecessor is the ability to include Multiple Independently Targetable Reentry Vehicle (MIRV) footprinting constraints in the optimization process. In order to include MIRV footprint constraints in WAM, a methodology is needed to model the MIRV footprints in a manner that is consistent with the limitations of linear programming. Two techniques for modeling MIRV footprints were developed. The first, Geometric Approximation (GA), uses …

Linking Procurement Dollars To An Alternative Force Structures' Combat Capability Using Response Surface Methodology, James B. Grier

Theses and Dissertations

A General Officer Steering Group, chaired by HQ USAF/XOM tasked action to develop and implement evaluation and analysis support to lead turn' the Program Objective Memorandum (POM) and Joint Warfare Capability Assessment (JWCA) process. This evaluation process should be designed to supply measures of the 'health' of the Air Force program in light of the Defense Planning Guidance (DPG) and the Chairman's Program Assessment (CPA). The Air Force needs to be able to quickly evaluate various alternative force structures with regards to its combat capability, measured in terms of theater level campaign objectives (CO). HQ USAF/XOM tasked HQ USAF/XPY to …

An Object Oriented Simulation Of The C-17 Wingtip Vortices In The Airdrop Environment, Hans J. Petry

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis effort focuses on the development of an object-oriented simulation of C-17 personnel airdrop operations and provides a tool for risk assessment of jumper and wingtip vortex interaction. Using the initial modeling efforts of the Wright Laboratory, this model expands those efforts to include random aircraft, wind and jumper movement within the simulation using MODSIM III as its language. Once the model was built, verified, and calibrated, it helped perform a preliminary analysis of jumper risk with varying element spacing and no crosswind. The results of the simulation provided 15 data points with which linear and logistic regression provided …

Sensitivity Analysis Of A Combat Simulation Using Response Surface Methodology, William J. Berg

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis provides a methodology to analyze the sensitivity of a combat simulation relative to the capabilities of the modeled weapon systems. Response Surface Methodology (RSM) was the primary technique used for analysis. A ground battle scenario was developed with a commercial PC wargame Empire II: The Art of War(TM). In the computer verses computer mode, the wargame was transformed into a combat simulation'. A screening experiment was used to determine which of an original 23 weapon factors were actually significant to this scenario. After analyzing the remaining five factors, only three ended up as truly significant to the battle …

Statistical Modeling And Optimization Of Nuclear Waste Vitrification, Todd E. Combs

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis describes the development of a methodology to minimize the cost of vitrifying nuclear waste. Pacific Northwest Laboratory (PNL) regression models are used as baseline equations for modeling glass properties such as viscosity, electrical conductivity, and two types of durability. Revised PNL regression models are developed that eliminate insignificant variables from the original models. The Revised PNL regression model for electrical conductivity is shown to better predict electrical conductivity than the original PNL regression model. Neural networks are developed for viscosity and the two types of durability, PCT-B and MCC-1 B. The neural network models are shown to outperform …

Ranking And Generating Alternatives For The National Air Intelligence Center's (Naic) Resource Allocation Strategy, Steven M. Cox

Theses and Dissertations

Allocating resources is never an easy task, especially when requirements call for more resources than those available. It gets more difficult when the availability of resources shrinks from year to year. This is the case at the National Air Intelligence Center (NAIC). In each of the past five years, NAIC has been forced to make their resource allocation decision with fewer dollars and less manpower. This decision has been time consuming, manpower intensive, and sometimes very heated. In an effort to lessen these three consequences, a resource allocation model, based upon the NAIC Commander's values and preferences, was developed. The …

Analyzing Remediation Technologies For Department Of Energy Sites Contaminated With Dnapl Pollutants, Anthony F. Papatyi

Theses and Dissertations

The Department of Energy is in the process of conducting a Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study for a site contaminated with Dense Non-Aqueous Phase Liquid (DNAPL) pollutants at their Paducah Kentucky facility. A major part of this effort is the screening of alternative technologies. This thesis effort focuses on acquiring insight into a number of remediation technology trains that are candidates for the Paducah site. This insight is used to recommend and justify the screening of candidate technology trains. The research makes use of two decision analysis models (one is deterministic, the other is probabilistic) built to provide a quantitative assessment of …

A Methodology For Evaluating And Enhancing C4i Networks, Christine C. Davis

Theses and Dissertations

This effort focuses on expanding the bottleneck links of an existing C4I network to meet projected demands. The minimum cost-maximum flow algorithm is used to identify bottlenecks. A decision analysis approach enables the mapping of performance objectives for a network expansion into measurable attributes within the structure of a value hierarchy. A multi-attribute value function combines these measures into an overall system effectiveness measure. This allows for an evaluation of the impact of potential upgrade components on the system. A knapsack model imposes budgetary constraints on the selection of components. This methodology allows for the design of an optimized system …

Decision Support Model To Select The Optimal Municipal Solid Waste Management Policy At United States Air Force Installations, Johnathon L. Dulin

Theses and Dissertations

The United States Air Force has recently defined three objectives in developing strategies regarding the management of municipal solid waste at the base level. They are: (1) 50 percent reduction in total waste generated, from a 1992 baseline amount, by 1999; (2) 50 percent recycling of all waste generated, beginning in 1999; and, (3) a minimum cost program. With these objectives in mind, base environmental engineers must take appropriate actions in an effort to develop a program that meets these goals. Through consultations with base environmental managers, as well as research of the available literature, a decision support model was …

Analysis Of A Methodology For Linear Programming Optimality Analysis, Chanseok Jeong

Theses and Dissertations

The methodology of Johnson, Baner, Moore, and Grant can be applied to large scale linear programming models. A methodology for optimality analysis of linear programs was developed to create metamodels using response surface methodology techniques such as experimental design and least squares regression. A metamodel consists of a simple equation which is able to predict the optimal objective function value of a linear program. What is needed is some large scale application of the techniques to verify how accurate they are. In the research, I plan to use the large scale LP model, STORM. I use the "Hot Start" idea …

The Application Of Statistical Process Control To Departure Reliability Improvement, Liu W. Chieh

Theses and Dissertations

This research effort focuses on applying statistical process control (SPC) techniques to the departure reliability improvement process for Air Mobility Command, Mission Reliability Office. Basic SPC methods, including Pareto analysis, cause and effect diagrams, and control charts are determined to be effective tools for analyzing and assessing departure reliability. In addition, two more alternative measures of effectiveness for departure reliability are evaluated and compared using AMC's data. SPC methods are also shown to be useful in assessing in performance and in determining the reporting frequency for on-time performance information. Additional statistical analyses are conducted, including on-way analyses of variance, hypothesis …

A Comparison Of Circular Error Probable Estimators For Small Samples, Charles E. Williams

Theses and Dissertations

Several previous studies investigated the performance of competing circular error probable (CEP) estimators for small samples. This estimation is important in ICBM analysis because, due to expense, there are a limited number of ICBM test launches. In the most recent previous study (1993), Tongue considered five CEP estimators in a simulation test, attempting to determine the behavior of these estimators for populations of various bias, ellipticity, correlation, and sample size. In this paper, we build on Tongue's findings in three ways: (1) The number of estimators compared is expanded to eight. (2) Different factors and factor levels are used. (3) …

Simulation Model Of Fighter Pilot Assignment Process, Anthony J. Hutfles

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis analyzes the effect Continental United States (CONUS) Time on Station (TOS) has on filling critical rated assignments. A SIMSCRIPT II.5 simulation model of the F15 and F16 pilots assignment process was developed. The simulation tested the effect of changing CONUS TOS from 3 years to 6 years in half year increments. Analysis of the number of unfilled rated assignments from simulation runs of 10 years in length indicated that changing CONUS TOS by itself has no statistically significant effect on model's output. The analysis was expanded to a 2(2) factorial experimental design using CONUS TOS and Total Active …

System Comparison Procedures For Automatic Target Recognition Systems, Anne E. Catlin

Theses and Dissertations

Estimating the performance of an automatic target recognition (ATR) system in terms of probability of successful target identification involves extensive image collection and processing, which can be very time-consuming and expensive. We investigate the Wald sequential test for the difference in two proportions as a sample size-reducing alternative to ranking and selection and the classical method of comparing binomial confidence intervals. The test is modified for the multiple pairwise comparison of four systems, and is applied to actual data to compare different configurations of the Moving and Stationary Target Acquisition and Recognition (MSTAR) System.

Transportation Modeling Of Remote Radar Sites And Support Depots, Sonia E. Leach

Theses and Dissertations

The North Warning System (NWS), a joint program of the United States Air Force (USAF) and the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), is responsible for the maintenance of 47 remote radar sites across northern Canada. NWS's current airlift operations, which support the radar maintenance activities, consist of both helicopters and fixed wing aircraft positioned at five support depots. This thesis considers whether a reconfiguration of these support depots and the assignment of radar sites to them can result in either an airlift or total cost savings for NWS. Mixed integer linear programming models were formulated to address the questions surrounding …

A Cercla-Based Decision Support System For Environmental Remediation Strategy Selection, Brian J. Grelk

Theses and Dissertations

The Idaho National Environmental Engineering Laboratory (INEEL), operating in conjunction with the Department of Energy (DOE), faces with the complex decision of selecting an environmental remediation strategy for the Subsurface Disposal Area (SDA) of the Radioactive Waste Management Complex (RWMC). This research uses value-focused thinking and multiattribute preference theory techniques to produce a decision analysis model to aid the decisionmakers as they select a remediation strategy. A deterministic analysis using expert opinion and the best available engineering data demonstrates the model's capabilities. The model ranks 27 specific remediation strategies based on how well they meet CERCLA's five balancing criteria: implementability, …