Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Minimal Norm Constrained Interpolation, Larry Dean Irvine

Mathematics & Statistics Theses & Dissertations

In computational fluid dynamics and in CAD/CAM a physical boundary, usually known only discreetly (say, from a set of measurements), must often be approximated. An acceptable approximation must, of course, preserve the salient features of the data (convexity, concavity, etc.) In this dissertation we compute a smooth interpolant which is locally convex where the data are locally convex and is locally concave where the data are locally concave.

Such an interpolant is found by posing and solving a minimization problem. The solution is a piecewise cubic polynomial. We actually solve this problem indirectly by using the Peano kernel theorem to …

Algebraic Grid Generation Using Tensor Product B-Splines, Bonita Valerie Saunders

Mathematics & Statistics Theses & Dissertations

In general, finite difference methods are more successful if the accompanying grid has lines which are smooth and nearly orthogonal. This thesis discusses the development of an algorithm which produces such a grid when given the boundary description.

Topological considerations in structuring the grid generation mapping are discussed. In particular, this thesis examines the concept of the degree of a mapping and how it can be used to determine what requirements are necessary if a mapping is to produce a suitable grid.

The grid generation algorithm uses a mapping composed of bicubic B-splines. Boundary coefficients are chosen so that the …

Statistical Calibration Theory, James John Mckeon

Mathematics & Statistics Theses & Dissertations

A calibration method substitutes for measurements, X(,i), that are accurate but impractical or costly, a set of measurements, Y(,i), that are less accurate but simpler or less costly. There are two general types of calibration methods. The classical approach in which once the calibration sample is drawn, the estimates of the X values for a given unit is found without any consideration of the distribution of X values for the other units to be measured. This corresponds best to the literal meaning of the word "calibration". Maximum likelihood estimation is the statistical formulation of the classical approach.

The second approach …