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Theses and Dissertations

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Articles 271 - 300 of 320

Full-Text Articles in Applied Mathematics

Solving Geometric Knapsack Problems Using Tabu Search Heuristics, Christopher A. Chocolaad Mar 1998

Solving Geometric Knapsack Problems Using Tabu Search Heuristics, Christopher A. Chocolaad

Theses and Dissertations

An instance of the geometric knapsack problem occurs in air lift loading where a set of cargo must be chosen to pack in a given fleet of aircraft. This paper demonstrates a new heuristic to solve this problem in a reasonable amount of time with a higher quality solution then previously reported in literature. We also report a new tabu search heuristic to solve geometric knapsack problems.


Neural Network Modeling Of The Head-Related Transfer Function, Damion Reinhardt Mar 1998

Neural Network Modeling Of The Head-Related Transfer Function, Damion Reinhardt

Theses and Dissertations

Battlefield synthesis of 3-D audio may require the interpolation and compression of head-related transfer function (HRTF) data. This thesis is an implementation of a functional model of the HRTF using artificial neural networks (ANNs), the model provides both compression and interpolation.


A New Sequential Goodness Of Fit Test For The Three-Parameter Weibull Distribution With Known Shape Based On Skewness And Kurtosis, Jonathan C. Clough Mar 1998

A New Sequential Goodness Of Fit Test For The Three-Parameter Weibull Distribution With Known Shape Based On Skewness And Kurtosis, Jonathan C. Clough

Theses and Dissertations

The Weibull distribution finds wide applicability across a broad spectrum of disciplines and is very prevalent in reliability theory. Consequently, numerous statistical tests have been developed to determine whether sample data can be adequately modeled with this distribution. Unfortunately, the majority of these goodness-of-fit tests involve a substantial degree of computational complexity. The study presented here develops and evaluates a new sequential goodness-of-fit test for the three-parameter Weibull distribution with a known shape that delivers power comparable to popular procedures while dramatically reducing computational requirements. The new procedure consists of two distinct tests, using only the sample skewness and sample …


Calibrated Probabilistic Quantitative Precipitation Forecasts Based On The Mrf Ensemble, Frederick Anthony Eckel Mar 1998

Calibrated Probabilistic Quantitative Precipitation Forecasts Based On The Mrf Ensemble, Frederick Anthony Eckel

Theses and Dissertations

Probabilistic quantitative precipitation forecasts (PQPF) based on the medium range forecast (MRF) ensemble are currently in operational use below their full potential quality (i.e., accuracy and reliability). This unfulfilled potential is due to the MRF ensemble being adversely affected by systematic errors which arise from an imperfect model and less than ideal ensemble initial perturbations. This thesis sought to construct a calibration to account for these systematic errors and thus produce higher quality PQPF. Systematic errors were explored with the use of the verification rank histogram, which tracks the performance of the ensemble. The information in these histograms was then …


Improved Mathematical Modeling For Gps Based Navigation, Salvatore Nardi Mar 1998

Improved Mathematical Modeling For Gps Based Navigation, Salvatore Nardi

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis is concerned with the development of new closed form GPS position determination algorithms that work in the presence of pseudorange measurement noise. The mathematical derivation of two closed form algorithms, based on stochastic modeling and estimation techniques, is presented. The algorithms provide an estimate of the GPS solution parameters (viz., the user position and the user clock bias) as well as the estimation error covariance. The experimental results are analyzed by comparison to the baseline results from the conventional Iterative Least Squares (ILS) algorithm. In typical GPS scenarios, the closed form algorithms are extremely sensitive to noise, making …


Flight Test And Handling Qualities Analysis Of A Longitudinal Flight Control System Using Multiobjective Techniques, John R. Anderson Mar 1998

Flight Test And Handling Qualities Analysis Of A Longitudinal Flight Control System Using Multiobjective Techniques, John R. Anderson

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis addresses the application of optimal, multiobjective control theory control theory to flight control design for the approach and landing phase of flight. Five flight control systems were designed using classical, H2, H infinity, and Mixed H2/H infinity methods. The MATLAB™ MUTOOLS™ and AFIT MXTOOLS toolboxes were used to produce the optimal, multiobjective designs. These designs were implemented for flight test on the Calspan VSS I Learjet, simulating the unstable longitudinal dynamics of an F-16 type aircraft. A limited handling qualities investigation was performed. Model following was used in the design phase to meet handling qualities specifications. The designs …


An Investigation Of Plume Rise From Titan Iv Rocket Launches, Joseph D. Brands Dec 1997

An Investigation Of Plume Rise From Titan Iv Rocket Launches, Joseph D. Brands

Theses and Dissertations

Space launches at Cape Canaveral Air Station (CCAS) and Vandenberg Air Force Base (vAFB) produce exhaust ground clouds from the solid rocket boosters and liquid hypergolic fuels containing several toxic substances. In order to estimate the health effects that would be imposed upon the public by scheduled launches, range safety officials rely on the Rocket Exhaust Effluent Diffusion Model to predict ground level concentrations of these substances. A drawback to the REEDM is its underprediction of the initial ground clouds stabilization height. This underprediction causes an overprediction of the ground level toxic substance concentrations. This thesis focused on increasing the …


The Rational Resolution Analysis: A Generalization Of Multi-Resolution Analyses With Application To To The Specific Emitter Identification Problem, Bruce P. Anderson Dec 1997

The Rational Resolution Analysis: A Generalization Of Multi-Resolution Analyses With Application To To The Specific Emitter Identification Problem, Bruce P. Anderson

Theses and Dissertations

The rational resolution analysis RRA is introduced and developed as a generalization of the integer, dilation multiresolution analyses MRA developed by Mallat and Meyer. Rational dilation factors are achieved by relaxing the condition on MRAs that successive approximation spaces be embedded. Conditions for perfect reconstruction are discussed and it is shown that perfect reconstruction is possible with specific constraints on the scaling function the scaling filter must have its roots on the unit circle. Furthermore, the required arrangement of the roots indicate the scaling function must be derived from a B-spline of some degree. It is proven the only compactly …


Optimal Pulsed Pumping For Remediation Of Aquifers When Sorption Is Rate-Limited, Lawrence J. Schmitt Dec 1997

Optimal Pulsed Pumping For Remediation Of Aquifers When Sorption Is Rate-Limited, Lawrence J. Schmitt

Theses and Dissertations

A variational optimization technique is developed to acquire an optimal schedule of pulsed pumping operations for use at existing pump-and-treat aquifer remediation sites. The optimization problem is stated as a minimization of a generic management objective functional, constrained by the contaminant transport equations in two-dimensional or three-dimensional flow models which account for rate-limited sorption. The two-dimensional case is fully developed and a first-order rate equation is used to describe the transport of sorbing contaminant. The first variation provides necessary optimality conditions that must be met by any optimal solution, in turn leading to a pulsed pumping schedule of operation. The …


The Fate And Transport Of Airborne Jp-4 And Jp-8 Aerosol During Cold Startup, Bradford Eugene Buckman Dec 1997

The Fate And Transport Of Airborne Jp-4 And Jp-8 Aerosol During Cold Startup, Bradford Eugene Buckman

Theses and Dissertations

During cold startup (engine warm-up) procedures at northern tier bases, fuel aerosol (JP-4 and JP-8) is emitted before complete combustion of the fuel occurs. The time necessary for complete combustion to occur may be as long as 10 minutes. Hence, during these first few minutes, aerosol is emitted at relatively high concentrations. This research investigates the principle behavior of the emitted aerosol: advection, dispersion, evaporation, and settling. Using previous work in fuel jettisoning and evaporation as a foundation, this thesis investigates the physical factors affecting the airborne concentration of fuel aerosol at different times, the amount of fuel aerosol reaching …


Parameter Estimation For Real Filtered Sinusoids, Daniel R. Zahirniak Sep 1997

Parameter Estimation For Real Filtered Sinusoids, Daniel R. Zahirniak

Theses and Dissertations

This research develops theoretical methods for parameter estimation of filtered, pulsed sinusoids in noise and demonstrates their effectiveness for Electronic Warfare EW applications. Within the context of stochastic modeling, a new linear model, parameterized by a set of Linear Prediction LP coefficients, is derived for estimating the frequencies of filtered sinusoids. This model is an improvement over previous modeling techniques since the effects of the filter and the coefficients upon the noise statistics are properly accounted for during model development. From this linear model, a relationship between LP coefficient estimation and Maximum Likelihood ML frequency estimation is derived and several …


An Investigation Of Instantaneous Plume Rise From Rocket Exhaust, Paul F. Sand Dec 1996

An Investigation Of Instantaneous Plume Rise From Rocket Exhaust, Paul F. Sand

Theses and Dissertations

Rocket launches at Vandenburg Air Force Base and Cape Canaveral Air Station produce exhaust clouds containing several toxic by-products, including HC1 and A12O3. These clouds rise to atmospheric stabilization heights, and then start dispersing and diffusing through the air. Upon reaching the ground, concentration levels of the toxins may present a human health risk. To predict these risks and concentration levels, range officials use a computer program titled the Rocket Effluent Exhaust Diffusion Model (REEDM). The version currently in use has been shown to underpredict the stabilization height of the exhaust cloud. This thesis examines the theory and algorithms used …


Characteristic Spatial Quadratures For Discrete Ordinates Neutral Particle Transport On Arbitrary Tetrahedral Meshes, Charles R. Brennan Jun 1996

Characteristic Spatial Quadratures For Discrete Ordinates Neutral Particle Transport On Arbitrary Tetrahedral Meshes, Charles R. Brennan

Theses and Dissertations

Characteristic spatial quadratures for discrete ordinates calculations on meshes of arbitrary tetrahedra are derived and tested, including the step (SC), linear (LC), and exponential (EC) characteristic quadratures and variants that assume constant distributions on cell faces. Tetrahedral meshes accurately model curved surfaces with few cells. A split cell approach subdivides tetrahedra along the streaming direction, reducing the transport to one dimension. Assumed forms of the cell source and entering flux distributions have sufficient parameters to match the zeroth and first spatial moments. These parameters are determined by analytically inverting a linear system (LC), or by numerical inversion using Newton's method …


A Point Model Of Aquifer Cleanup With A Distribution Of First-Order Rate Parameters, Jon E. Hodge Dec 1995

A Point Model Of Aquifer Cleanup With A Distribution Of First-Order Rate Parameters, Jon E. Hodge

Theses and Dissertations

Many try modeling groundwater contaminant transport to predict it. Is this possible with rate-limited processes, and under what conditions? On occasion, cleanups go slower than predicted (tailing) and hazardous concentrations reappear after cleanup is thought complete (rebound). Rate-limited transport is blamed by many. When immobile water is present, diffusion from varied sizes and shapes of immobile regions can cause varied rate limitations (due to varied diffusion path lengths). Although known, most modelers represent these varied rate-limiting processes with a single 'representative' rate-parameter. This can yield poor predictions for long-term experiments, and the parameter is generally time and pump-rate dependent. This …


Macroscale Diffusion-Limited Sorption Modeling--A Preliminary Modeling Exercise For A Dover Afb Site, Jason T. Herman Dec 1995

Macroscale Diffusion-Limited Sorption Modeling--A Preliminary Modeling Exercise For A Dover Afb Site, Jason T. Herman

Theses and Dissertations

A modification was made to the USGS SUTRA code which allowed the simulation of macro scale diffusion effects from specific layers. This modification utilized a split-operator finite element numerical technique to incorporate the macroscale diffusion. The code was applied to a conceptual site developed from a field site at Dover AFB, DL Simulations were done to compare the modified code to the unmodified code which clearly showed the modified code as a closer representation of reality. Simulations were also done to study the effects of pulsed and continuous pumping within the time frame of a field experiment at Dover. These …


An Assessment Of The Impact Of Fuel Jettisoning Events Using Simulation And Impact Models, Jeffrey M. Todd Dec 1995

An Assessment Of The Impact Of Fuel Jettisoning Events Using Simulation And Impact Models, Jeffrey M. Todd

Theses and Dissertations

Work has been accomplished to determine the impact of jettisoned fuel when it reaches the surface. While previous work indicates that jettisoning JP-4 jet fuel results in a negligible ground fall impact, the impact of jettisoning lower volatile JP-8 jet fuel has not been thoroughly characterized. Several efforts have been made to mathematically model the evaporation, advection, and dispersion of the plume of fuel as it travels to the surface. The AFIT Fuel Jettisoning Model, the Fuel Jettisoning Simulation Model, and Fuel-Dumping Impact Assessment Model were evaluated and compared to assess the impact of jettisoned JP-8 jet fuel. Additionally, the …


Evaluation Of The Air Force Installation Restoration Advisory System, Dale M. Fox Dec 1995

Evaluation Of The Air Force Installation Restoration Advisory System, Dale M. Fox

Theses and Dissertations

This research is intended to evaluate the Air Force's Installation Restoration Advisory System Workstation software and documentation. Groundwater modeling is the biggest aid to Air Force Installation Restoration decision makers in making their conclusions about what to do with their hazardous waste sites where the groundwater is contaminated. The Advisory System aids the user in determining if a site poses a potential problem, and if so assists the user in selecting an appropriate groundwater transport model. The decision of what type of model is most suitable is based upon the user's conceptual site model and the decision is made by …


Atmospheric Transport And Diffusion Modeling Of Rocket Exhaust, Chad A. Burel Dec 1995

Atmospheric Transport And Diffusion Modeling Of Rocket Exhaust, Chad A. Burel

Theses and Dissertations

Space launches at Vandenberg Air Force Base (VAFB) and the Cape Canaveral Air Station (CCAS) produce exhaust from the solid rocket boosters and liquid hypergolic fuels containing several toxic substances including hydrogen chloride and hydrazine. In order to estimate the health risk that would be imposed upon the public by proposed launches, range safety officials rely on the Rocket Exhaust Effluent Diffusion Model to predict where the exhaust chemicals will go after the launch and how strong the concentrations will be. The original REEDM program averaged the meteorological parameters (wind speed, wind direction, shear, etc.) across the entire mixing level …


The Mathematics Of Measuring Capabilities Of Artificial Neural Networks, Martha A. Carter Jun 1995

The Mathematics Of Measuring Capabilities Of Artificial Neural Networks, Martha A. Carter

Theses and Dissertations

Researchers rely on the mathematics of Vapnik and Chervonenkis to capture quantitatively the capabilities of specific artificial neural network (ANN) architectures. The quantifier is known as the V-C dimension, and is defined on functions or sets. Its value is the largest cardinality 1 of a set of vectors in Rd such that there is at least one set of vectors of cardinality 1 such that all dichotomies of that set into two sets can be implemented by the function or set. Stated another way, the V-C dimension of a set of functions is the largest cardinality of a set, such …


Nonlinear Time Series Analysis, James A. Stewart Mar 1995

Nonlinear Time Series Analysis, James A. Stewart

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis applies neural network feature selection techniques to multivariate time series data to improve prediction of a target time series. Two approaches to feature selection are used. First, a subset enumeration method is used to determine which financial indicators are most useful for aiding in prediction of the S&P 500 futures daily price. The candidate indicators evaluated include RSI, Stochastics and several moving averages. Results indicate that the Stochastics and RSI indicators result in better prediction results than the moving averages. The second approach to feature selection is calculation of individual saliency metrics. A new decision boundary-based individual saliency …


An Improved Solution Methodology For The Arsenal Exchange Model (Aem), Jeffery D. Weir Mar 1995

An Improved Solution Methodology For The Arsenal Exchange Model (Aem), Jeffery D. Weir

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research was to design a solution methodology for the Arsenal Exchange Model (AEM) that is faster and contains less precision error than the current one. The current solution methodology modifies some of the original constraints and uses a computationally slow matrix inverter. The improved methodology uses a revised simplex algorithm to first solve a subproblem having only the weapon constraints generated by the AEM. Given this optimal allocation, hedge constraints and target constraints that are violated by the current solution are added to the original subproblem. A dual simplex algorithm is used to find the optimal …


Multipoint Quadratic Approximation For Numerical Optimization, Michael A. Blaylock Mar 1995

Multipoint Quadratic Approximation For Numerical Optimization, Michael A. Blaylock

Theses and Dissertations

A quadratic approximation for nonlinear functions is developed in order to realize computational savings in solving numerical optimization problems. Function and gradient information accumulated from multiple design points during the iteration history is used in estimating the Hessian matrix. The approximate Hessian matrix is the available for a second order Taylor series approximation to the functions of interest. Several truss and frame models will be used to demonstrate the effectiveness of the new Multipoint Quadratic Approximation (MQA) in solving structural optimization problems.


Computing Norad Mean Orbital Elements From A State Vector, Dwight E. Andersen Dec 1994

Computing Norad Mean Orbital Elements From A State Vector, Dwight E. Andersen

Theses and Dissertations

NORAD maintains and disseminates mean orbital elements on Earth-orbiting satellites in the form of Two-Line Element Sets (TLE). Five mathematical propagator models were developed for NORAD's use to predict the position and velocity using TLEs. This study investigated two approaches, Newton's method and direct iteration, to inverting this process by iterating to obtain NORAD-compatible mean orbital elements from a position and velocity state vector and the drag term. The Newton's iteration method was developed but not tested. The less computationally intensive direct iteration method was developed, coded in FORTRAN, and tested. The initial guess and subsequent corrections in the iterative …


A Numerical Analysis Of Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics, David A. Fulk Sep 1994

A Numerical Analysis Of Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics, David A. Fulk

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation studies the numerical method of Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics SPH as a technique for solving systems of conservation equations. The research starts with a detailed consistency analysis of the method. Higher dimensions and non-smooth functions are considered in addition to the smooth one dimensional case. A stability analysis is then performed. Using a linear technique, an instability is found. Solutions are proposed to resolve the instability. Also a total variation stability analysis is performed leading to a monotone form of SPH. The concepts of consistency and stability are then used in a convergence proof. This proof uses lemmas derived …


Optimal Pulsed Pumping For Aquifer Remediation When Contaminant Transport Is Affected By Rate-Limited Sorption: A Calculus Of Variation Approach, Richard T. Hartman Sep 1994

Optimal Pulsed Pumping For Aquifer Remediation When Contaminant Transport Is Affected By Rate-Limited Sorption: A Calculus Of Variation Approach, Richard T. Hartman

Theses and Dissertations

The remediation of groundwater contamination continues to persist as a social and economic problem due to increased governmental regulations and public health concerns. Additionally, the geochemistry of the aquifer and the contaminant transport within the aquifer complicates the remediation process to restore contaminated aquifers to conditions compatible with health-based standards. Currently, the preferred method for aquifer cleanup pump-and-treat has several limitations including, the persistence of sorbed chemicals on soil matrix and the long term operation and maintenance expense. The impetus of this research was to demonstrate that a calculus of variations approach could be applied to a pulsed pumping aquifer …


Modeling Of Ground Water Aquifer Remediation By Pulsed Pumping When Contaminant Transport Is Affected By Physical, Non-Equilibrium Sorption And Desorption, Jeffrey L. Caspers Aug 1994

Modeling Of Ground Water Aquifer Remediation By Pulsed Pumping When Contaminant Transport Is Affected By Physical, Non-Equilibrium Sorption And Desorption, Jeffrey L. Caspers

Theses and Dissertations

This research postulates and demonstrates a modification incorporating rate-limited sorption effects in the USGS SUTRA code for cleanup of a hypothetical sandy aquifer by pump-and-treat remediation methods. Contaminant transport is assumed to be affected by advection, dispersion, and rate-limited sorption/desorption. Sorption is assumed to be either equilibrium or rate-limited, with the rate-limitation described by either a first-order law, or by Fickian diffusion of contaminant through a spherical immobile pore region. Solutions are arrived at by split operator methods for the transport and one-dimensional Galerkin solutions for the solute concentration equations. The resulting model is tested against an analytical Laplace transform …


Noise Reduction For Speech Enhancement Using Non-Linear Wavelet Processing, Hassan Dehmani Jun 1994

Noise Reduction For Speech Enhancement Using Non-Linear Wavelet Processing, Hassan Dehmani

Theses and Dissertations

The problem of speech enhancement presents many obstacles in the speech processing field. This thesis develops several speech de-noising systems that can be used in the time, fourier, and wavelet domains. We present two thresholding techniques soft and hard. The application of these thresholding techniques to noisy speech data is discussed. The combination of both wavelets and the Fourier domains with noisy phase restoration proves to yield the best results in terms of intelligibility. Informal listening tests were conducted in order to compare the effects and differences between the speech de-noising systems.


Multirate Time-Frequency Distributions, John R. O'Hair May 1994

Multirate Time-Frequency Distributions, John R. O'Hair

Theses and Dissertations

Multirate systems, which find application in the design and analysis of filter banks, are demonstrated to also be useful as a computational paradigm. It is shown that any problem which can be expressed a set of vector-vector, matrix-vector or matrix-matrix operations can be recast using multirate. This means all of numerical linear algebra can be recast using multirate as the underlying computational paradigm. As a non-trivial example, the multirate computational paradigm is applied to the problem of Generalized Discrete Time- Frequency Distributions GDTFD to create a new family of fast algorithms. The first of this new class of distributions is …


An Investigation Of Simulated Annealing Applied To Structural Optimization Problems, Richard C. Mceachin Mar 1994

An Investigation Of Simulated Annealing Applied To Structural Optimization Problems, Richard C. Mceachin

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis investigates the feasibility of using Simulated Annealing SA in structural optimization problems. The investigation involves solving benchmark structural optimization problems with an SA algorithm, and comparing its solutions to those found by four other optimizers. Overall, the analysis shows that SA has limited applicability in structural optimization. Two primary factors were found to adversely impact the performance of the SA algorithm in these problems. These factors are high dimensionality, and high levels of constraint. The difficulty involved in solving these problems with a random search increases exponentially with the number of dimensions. The number, and non-linearity, of the …


An Air Mission Planning Algorithm For A Theater Level Combat Model, Brian J. Griggs Mar 1994

An Air Mission Planning Algorithm For A Theater Level Combat Model, Brian J. Griggs

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis describes the development of an air mission planning algorithm for the Joint Staffs Future Theater Level Model FTLM. The overall problem scope was to develop an algorithm to handle major factors bearing on the combat mission planning problem while providing hook-ups for the FTLM architecture. Other aspects of the problem included finding the appropriate level of detail, developing a fast solving technique, and attempting to use existing data. The problem was handled by using some ideas from existing aircraft allocation algorithms and by adding some new techniques. The proposed air mission planning algorithm supplies the optimum degree of …