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The accuracy of numerical models analyzing hydrologic and hydraulic processes depends largely on how well the input terrain data represents the earth's surface. Modelers obtain terrain data for a study area by performing surveys or by gathering historical survey data. If a modeler desires to create a predictive model to simulate the addition of man-made features such as channels, embankments and pits, he must modify the terrain data to include these features. Doing this by hand is tedious and time consuming. In 2001 Christensen implemented a tool in the Surface-water Modeling System (SMS) software package for integrating man-made geometric features into surveyed terrain data. He called this process feature stamping. While Christensen's feature stamping algorithms decrease the time and effort required to integrate geometric features into existing terrain data, they only function on centerline-based features having a constant trapezoidal cross-section. In addition to placing geometric limitations on the features they stamp, Christensen's feature stamping algorithms also possess several instabilities. These instabilities arise when stamping features that leave the bounds of the terrain data, and when modifying and re-stamping features that have already been stamped. This thesis presents changes and enhancements made to Christensen's feature stamping algorithms. These changes and enhancements completely eliminate the instabilities found in Christensen's feature stamping algorithms and make it possible for numerical modelers to stamp more complex geometric features having compound slopes, asymmetric cross-sections and varying cross-sections along their length. Finally, additional feature stamping algorithms make it possible to stamp radial features such as mounds and pits.

A new method for the determination of finely-gridded reservoir simulation pressures has been developed. It is estimated to be as much as hundreds to thousands of times faster than other methods for very large reservoir simulation grids. The method extends the work of Weber et al. Weber demonstrated accuracies for the pressure solution normally requiring millions of cells using traditional finite-difference equations with only hundreds of cells. This was accomplished through the use of finite-difference equations that incorporate the physics of the flow. Although these coarse-grid solutions achieve accuracies normally requiring orders of magnitude more resolution, their coarse resolution does not resolve local pressure variations resulting from fine-grid permeability variations. Many oil reservoir simulation models require fine grids to adequately represent the reservoir properties. Weber's coarse grids are of little value. This study takes advantage of the accurate coarse-grid solutions of Weber, by nesting them in the requisite fine grids to achieve much faster solutions of the large systems. Application of the nested-grid method involved calculating an accurate solution on a coarse grid, nesting the coarse-grid solution as fixed points into a finer grid and solving. Best results were obtained when an optimal number of coarse-grid pressure points were nested into the fine grid and when an optimal number of nested-grid systems were used.

<p> A numerical algorithm has been developed to solve the sloshing motion of liquid in a Tuned Liquid Damper (TLD) outfitted by slat screens under large and random amplitude of excitation. It is based on the finite-difference method. The free surface has been reconstructed using volume of fluid method. Donor-acceptor technique has been used for tracking the volume fraction field. The effect of slat screen has been included and modeled using the partial cell treatment method. </p> <p> The algorithm is an integrated fluid-structure model where the response of the structure is determined considering the effects of TLD. The structure is assumed as a single degree of freedom system (SDOF) and its response is calculated using the Duhamel integral method. </p> <p> The algorithm has been validated against experimental data for the cases with and without screens. An excellent agreement was obtained between numerical and experimental results. </p> <p> An extensive parametric study has been carried out investigating the effect of slat screens and screen pattern on the TLD performance and on the structure response. A new parameter termed as slat ratio was introduced to characterize the slat screens based on their pattern. Results indicated that screen pattern has a significant effect on the TLD performance and it could lead up to 33 % reduction in structure response. It was found that decreasing the slat ratio will increase the damping effect of a TLD outfitted by slat screen. </p> <p> The validity of the most commonly used approach, Baines and Peterson model, to calculate pressure drop of slat screens has been investigated. A conelation factor as a function of Reynolds number and solidity ratio of screen has been proposed to improve the results of this model. A new concept termed as effective solidity ratio has been proposed to account for the physical significant of screen pattern on TLD performance. </p> / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Portfolio selection has always been a fundamental challenge in the field of finance and captured the attention of researchers in the financial area. Merton's portfolio problem is an optimization problem in finance and aims to maximize an investor's portfolio. This thesis studies Merton's Optimal Investment-Consumption Problem under the Jourdain--Sbai stochastic volatility model and seeks to maximize the expected discounted utility of consumption and terminal wealth. The results of our study can be split into three main parts. First, we derived the Hamilton--Jacobi--Bellman equation related to our stochastic optimal control problem.  Second, we simulated the optimal controls, which are the weight of the risky asset and consumption. This has been done for all the three models within the scope of the Jourdain--Sbai model: Quadratic Gaussian, Stein &amp; Stein, and Scott's model. Finally, we developed the system of equations after applying the Crank-Nicolson numerical scheme when solving our HJB partial differential equation.

yes / There is an increasing need for accurate models describing the electrical behaviour of individual biological cells exposed to electromagnetic fields. In this area of solving linear problem, the most frequently used technique for computing the EM field is the Finite-Difference Time-Domain (FDTD) method. When modelling objects that are small compared with the wavelength, for example biological cells at radio frequencies, the standard Finite-Difference Time-Domain (FDTD) method requires extremely small time-step sizes, which may lead to excessive computation times. The problem can be overcome by implementing a quasi-static approximate version of FDTD, based on transferring the working frequency to a higher frequency and scaling back to the frequency of interest after the field has been computed. An approach to modeling and analysis of biological cells, incorporating the Hodgkin and Huxley membrane model, is presented here. Since the external medium of the biological cell is lossy material, a modified Berenger absorbing boundary condition is used to truncate the computation grid. Linear assemblages of cells are investigated and then Floquet periodic boundary conditions are imposed to imitate the effect of periodic replication of the assemblages. Thus, the analysis of a large structure of cells is made more computationally efficient than the modeling of the entire structure. The total fields of the simulated structures are shown to give reasonable and stable results at 900MHz, 1800MHz and 2450MHz. This method will facilitate deeper investigation of the phenomena in the interaction between EM fields and biological systems. Moreover, the nonlinear response of biological cell exposed to a 0.9GHz signal was discussed on observing the second harmonic at 1.8GHz. In this, an electrical circuit model has been proposed to calibrate the performance of nonlinear RF energy conversion inside a high quality factor resonant cavity with known nonlinear device. Meanwhile, the first and second harmonic responses of the cavity due to the loading of the cavity with the lossy material will also be demonstrated. The results from proposed mathematical model, give good indication of the input power required to detect the weakly effects of the second harmonic signal prior to perform the measurement. Hence, this proposed mathematical model will assist to determine how sensitivity of the second harmonic signal can be detected by placing the required specific input power.

The aim of this study is to analysis, investigate and find out the solutions for the problems associated with the implementations of antennas RFID Reader and Tag for various applications. In particular, the efficiency of the RFID reader antenna and the detection range of the RFID tag antenna, subject to a small and compact antenna¿s design configuration have been studied. The present work has been addressed directly to reduce the cost, size and increase the detection range and communication reliability of the RFID framework antennas. Furthermore, the modelling concept of RFID passive tags mounted on various materials including the novel design of RFID reader antenna using Genetic Algorithm (GA) are considered and discussed to maintain reliable and efficient antenna radiation performances. The main benefit of applying GA is to provide fast, accurate and reliable solutions of antenna¿s structure. Therefore, the GA has been successfully employed to design examples: meander-line, two linear cross elements and compact Helical- Spiral antennas. In addition, a hybrid method to model the human body interaction with RFID tag antenna operating at 900MHz has been studied. The near field distribution and the radiation pattern together with the statistical distribution of the radiation efficiency and the absorbed power in terms of cumulative distribution functions for different orientation and location of RFID¿s tag antenna on the human body have been demonstrated. Several tag antennas wi th symmetrical and unsymmetrical structure configurations operating in the European UHF band 850-950 MHz have been fabricated and tested. . The measured and simulated results have been found to be in a good agreement with reasonable impedance matching to the typical input impedance of an RFID integrated circuit chip and nominal power gain and radiation patterns.

Dealing with the electromagnetic issue might bring a sort of discontinuous and nondifferentiable regions. Thus, it is of great interest to implement an appropriate optimisation approach, which can preserve the computational resources and come up with a global optimum. While not being trapped in local optima, as well as the feasibility to overcome some other matters such as nonlinear and phenomena of discontinuous with a large number of variables. Problems such as lengthy computation time, constraints put forward for antenna requirements and demand for large computer memory, are very common in the analysis due to the increased interests in tackling high-scale, more complex and higher-dimensional problems. On the other side, demands for even more accurate results always expand constantly. In the context of this statement, it is very important to find out how the recently developed optimization roles can contribute to the solution of the aforementioned problems. Thereafter, the key goals of this work are to model, study and design low profile antennas for wireless and mobile communications applications using optimization process over a computational electromagnetics numerical solution. The numerical solution method could be performed over one or hybrid methods subjective to the design antenna requirements and its environment. Firstly, the thesis presents the design and modelling concept of small uni-planer Ultra- Wideband antenna. The fitness functions and the geometrical antenna elements required for such design are considered. Two antennas are designed, implemented and measured. The computed and measured outcomes are found in reasonable agreement. Secondly, the work is also addressed on how the resonance modes of microstrip patches could be performed using the method of Moments. Results have been shown on how the modes could be adjusted using MoM. Finally, the design implications of balanced structure for mobile handsets covering LTE standards 698-748 MHz and 2500-2690 MHz are explored through using firefly algorithm method. The optimised balanced antenna exhibits reasonable matching performance including near-omnidirectional radiations over the dual desirable operating bands with reduced EMF, which leads to a great immunity improvement towards the hand-held. / General Secretariat of Education and Scientific Research Libya

The main objective of this research is to model and analyse complex electromagnetic problems by means of a new hybridised computational technique combining the frequency domain Method of Moments (MoM), Finite-Difference Time-Domain (FDTD) method and a subgridded Finite-Difference Time-Domain (SGFDTD) method. This facilitates a significant advance in the ability to predict electromagnetic absorption in inhomogeneous, anisotropic and lossy dielectric materials irradiated by geometrically intricate sources. The Method of Moments modelling employed a two-dimensional electric surface patch integral formulation solved by independent linear basis function methods in the circumferential and axial directions of the antenna wires. A similar orthogonal basis function is used on the end surface and appropriate attachments with the wire surface are employed to satisfy the requirements of current continuity. The surface current distributions on structures which may include closely spaced parallel wires, such as dipoles, loops and helical antennas are computed. The results are found to be stable and showed good agreement with less comprehensive earlier work by others. The work also investigated the interaction between overhead high voltage transmission lines and underground utility pipelines using the FDTD technique for the whole structure, combined with a subgridding method at points of interest, particularly the pipeline. The induced fields above the pipeline are investigated and analysed. FDTD is based on the solution of Maxwell¿s equations in differential form. It is very useful for modelling complex, inhomogeneous structures. Problems arise when open-region geometries are modelled. However, the Perfectly Matched Layer (PML) concept has been employed to circumvent this difficulty. The establishment of edge elements has greatly improved the performance of this method and the computational burden due to huge numbers of time steps, in the order of tens of millions, has been eased to tens of thousands by employing quasi-static methods. This thesis also illustrates the principle of the equivalent surface boundary employed close to the antenna for MoM-FDTD-SGFDTD hybridisation. It depicts the advantage of using hybrid techniques due to their ability to analyse a system of multiple discrete regions by employing the principle of equivalent sources to excite the coupling surfaces. The method has been applied for modelling human body interaction with a short range RFID antenna to investigate and analyse the near field and far field radiation pattern for which the cumulative distribution function of antenna radiation efficiency is presented. The field distributions of the simulated structures show reasonable and stable results at 900 MHz. This method facilitates deeper investigation of the phenomena in the interaction between electromagnetic fields and human tissues. / Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia and Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM)

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