abstract: ABSTRACT A vortex tube is a device of a simple structure with no moving parts that can be used to separate a compressed gas into a hot stream and a cold stream. Many studies have been carried out to find the mechanisms of the energy separation in the vortex tube. Recent rapid development in computational fluid dynamics is providing a powerful tool to investigate the complex flow in the vortex tube. However various issues in these numerical simulations remain, such as choosing the most suitable turbulent model, as well as the lack of systematic comparative analysis. LES model for the vortex tube simulation is hardly used in the present literatures, and the influence of parameters on the performance of the vortex tube has scarcely been studied. This study is aimed to find the influence of various parameters on the performance of the vortex tube, the best geometric value of vortex tube and the realizable method to reach the required cold out flow rate 40 kg/s . First of all, setting up an original 3-D simulation vortex tube model. By comparing experiment results reported in the literature and our simulation results, a most suitable model for the simulation of the vortex tube is obtained. Secondly, we perform simulations to optimize parameters that can deliver a set of desired output, such as cold stream pressure, temperature and flow-rate. We also discuss the use of the cold air flow for petroleum engineering applications. / Dissertation/Thesis / M.S. Mechanical Engineering 2013

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Machine learning has been a subject undergoing intense study across many different industries and academic research areas. Companies and researchers have taken full advantages of various machine learning approaches to solve their problems; however, vast understanding and study of the field is required for developers to fully harvest the potential of different machine learning models and to achieve efficient results. Therefore, this thesis begins by comparing auto ml with other hyper-parameter optimization techniques. auto ml is a fully autonomous framework that lessens the knowledge prerequisite to accomplish complicated machine learning tasks. The auto ml framework automatically selects the best features from a given data set and chooses the best model to fit and predict the data. Through multiple tests, auto ml outperforms MLP and other similar frameworks in various datasets using small amount of processing time. The thesis then proposes and implements a stacking ensemble technique in order to build protection against over-fitting for small datasets into the auto ml framework. Stacking is a technique used to combine a collection of Machine Learning models’ predictions to arrive at a final prediction. The stacked auto ml ensemble results are more stable and consistent than the original framework; across different training sizes of all analyzed small datasets. / Master of Science / Machine learning is a concept of using known past data to predict unknown future data. Many different industries uses machine learning; hospitals use machine learning to find mutations in DNA, online retailers use machine learning to recommend items, and advertisers use machine learning to show interesting ads to viewers. With increasing adoption of machine learning in various fields, there are a significant number of developers who want to take advantages of this concept, but they are not deeply familiar with techniques used in machine learning. This thesis introduces auto_ml framework which reduces the required deep understanding of these techniques. auto_ml automatically selects the best technique to use for each individual process, which used to train and predict given datasets. In addition, the thesis also implements a stacking ensemble technique which helps to yield consistently good predictions on small datasets. As the result, auto_ml performs better than MLP and other frameworks. In addition, auto_ml with the stacking ensemble technique performs more consistently than auto_ml without the stacking ensemble technique.

Underwater acoustic channel models have been studied in the context of communication and sonar applications. Acoustic propagation channel in an underwater environment exhibits multipath, time-variability and Doppler eects. In this thesis, multipath fading channel models, underwater physical properties and sound propagation characteristics are studied. An underwater channel model for sonar applications is proposed. In the proposed model, the physical characteristics of underwater environment are considered in a comprehensive manner. Experiments /simulations were carried out using real-life data. Model parameters are estimated for a specific location, scenario and physical conditions. The channel response is approximated by fitting the model output to the recorded data. The optimization and estimation are conducted in frequency domain using Mean Square Error criterion.

The study of neurons is of fundamental importance in biology and medicine. Neurons are the most basic unit of information processing in the nervous system of humans and all other vertebrates and in complex invertebrates. In addition, networks of neurons (the human brain) are the most sophisticated computational devices known, and the study of neurons individually and working in concert is seen as a step toward understanding consciousness and cognition. In the 1950's Hodgkin and Huxley developed a system of nonlinear ordinary differential equations to describe the behavior of a neuron found in the squid. Equations of this form have since been used to model the behavior of a multitude of neurons across a broad spectrum of species. Hodgkin-Huxley type neuron models helped lay the foundation for computational neuroscience, and they remain widely used in the study of neuron behavior almost sixty years after their development. Hodgkin-Huxley type models accept a set of parameters as input and generate data describing the electrical activity of the neuron as a function of time. We develop inversion algorithms to predict a set of input parameter values from the voltage trace data generated by the model. We test our algorithm on data from the Hodgkin-Huxley equations, and we extend the algorithm to solve the inverse problem associated with a more complex Hodgkin-Huxley type model for a lobster stomatogastric neuron. We find strong empirical evidence that the algorithms produce parameter values that generate a good fit to the target voltage trace, and we prove that under certain conditions the inversion algorithm for the Hodgkin-Huxley equations converges to a perfect match. To our knowledge this is the first parameter optimization procedure for which convergence has been shown theoretically. Understanding the relationship between the parameters of a neuron model and its output has implications for designing effective neuron models and for explaining the mechanisms by which neurons regulate their behavior. Inversion algorithms for Hodgkin-Huxley type neuron models are an important theoretical and practical step toward understanding the relationship between model parameters and model behavior, and toward the larger problem of inferring neuronal parameters from behavior observed experimentally.

<p>The current interest regarding how to stop the global warming has put focus on the automobile industry and forced them to produce vehicles/engines that are more environmental friendly. This has led to the development of increasingly complex controlsystem of the engines. The introduction of common-rail systems in regular automotives increased the demand of physical models that in an accurate way can describe the complex cycle within the combustion chamber. With these models implemented it is possible to test new strategies on engine steering in a cost- and time efficient way.</p><p>The main purpose with this report is to, build our own model based on the existing theoretical models in diesel engine combustion. The model has then been evaluated in a simulation environment using Matlab/Simulink. The model that has been implemented is a multi-zone type and is able to handle multiple injections.</p><p>The model that this thesis results in can in a good way predict both pressure and torque generated in the cylinder. More investigation in how the parameter settings behave in other work-points must be done to enhance the models accuracy. There is also some work left to do in the validation of the model but to make this possible more experimental data must be accessible.</p>

The current interest regarding how to stop the global warming has put focus on the automobile industry and forced them to produce vehicles/engines that are more environmental friendly. This has led to the development of increasingly complex controlsystem of the engines. The introduction of common-rail systems in regular automotives increased the demand of physical models that in an accurate way can describe the complex cycle within the combustion chamber. With these models implemented it is possible to test new strategies on engine steering in a cost- and time efficient way. The main purpose with this report is to, build our own model based on the existing theoretical models in diesel engine combustion. The model has then been evaluated in a simulation environment using Matlab/Simulink. The model that has been implemented is a multi-zone type and is able to handle multiple injections. The model that this thesis results in can in a good way predict both pressure and torque generated in the cylinder. More investigation in how the parameter settings behave in other work-points must be done to enhance the models accuracy. There is also some work left to do in the validation of the model but to make this possible more experimental data must be accessible.

An implementation of the Electric Field Approach applied to the simulated RoboCup is presented, together with a demonstration of a learning system. Results are presented from the optimization of the Electric Field parameters in a limited situation, using the learning system. Learning techniques used in contemporary RoboCup research are also described including a brief presentation of their results.

In this thesis we analyze parameter optimization problems governed by linear ordinary differential equations (ODEs) and develop computationally efficient numerical methods for their solution. In addition, a series of noise-robust finite difference formulas are given for the estimation of the derivatives in the ODEs. The suggested methods have been employed to identify Gene Regulatory Networks (GRNs). GRNs are responsible for the expression of thousands of genes in any given developmental process. Network inference deals with deciphering the complex interplay of genes in order to characterize the cellular state directly from experimental data. Even though a plethora of methods using diverse conceptual ideas has been developed, a reliable network reconstruction remains challenging. This is due to several reasons, including the huge number of possible topologies, high level of noise, and the complexity of gene regulation at different levels. A promising approach is dynamic modeling using differential equations. In this thesis we present such an approach to infer quantitative dynamic models from biological data which addresses inherent weaknesses in the current state-of-the-art methods for data-driven reconstruction of GRNs. The method is computationally cheap such that the size of the network (model complexity) is no longer a main concern with respect to the computational cost but due to data limitations; the challenge is a huge number of possible topologies. Therefore we embed a filtration step into the method to reduce the number of free parameters before simulating dynamical behavior. The latter is used to produce more information about the network’s structure. We evaluate our method on simulated data, and study its performance with respect to data set size and levels of noise on a 1565-gene E.coli gene regulatory network. We show the computation time over various network sizes and estimate the order of computational complexity. Results on five networks in the benchmark collection DREAM4 Challenge are also presented. Results on five networks in the benchmark collection DREAM4 Challenge are also presented and show our method to outperform the current state of the art methods on synthetic data and allows the reconstruction of bio-physically accurate dynamic models from noisy data. / I detta examensarbete analyserar vi parameteroptimeringsproblem som är beskrivna med ordinära differentialekvationer (ODEer) och utvecklar beräkningstekniskt effektiva numeriska metoder för att beräkna lösningen. Dessutom härleder vi brusrobusta finita-differens approximationer för uppskattning av derivator i ODEn. De föreslagna metoderna har tillämpats för regulatoriska gennätverk (RGN). RGNer är ansvariga för uttrycket av tusentals gener. Nätverksinferens handlar om att identifiera den komplicerad interaktionen mellan gener för att kunna karaktärisera cellernas tillstånd direkt från experimentella data. Tillförlitlig nätverksrekonstruktion är ett utmanande problem, trots att många metoder som använder många olika typer av konceptuella idéer har utvecklats. Detta beror på flera olika saker, inklusive att det finns ett enormt antal topologier, mycket brus, och komplexiteten av genregulering på olika nivåer. Ett lovande angreppssätt är dynamisk modellering från biologiska data som angriper en underliggande svaghet i den för tillfället ledande metoden för data-driven rekonstruktion. Metoden är beräkningstekniskt billig så att storleken på nätverket inte längre är huvudproblemet för beräkningen men ligger fortfarande i databegränsningar. Utmaningen är ett enormt antal av topologier. Därför bygger vi in ett filtreringssteg i metoder för att reducera antalet fria parameterar och simulerar sedan det dynamiska beteendet. Anledningen är att producera mer information om nätverkets struktur. Vi utvärderar metoden på simulerat data, och studierar dess prestanda med avseende på datastorlek och brusnivå genom att tillämpa den på ett regulartoriskt gennätverk med 1565-gen E.coli. Vi illustrerar beräkningstiden över olika nätverksstorlekar och uppskattar beräkningskomplexiteten. Resultat på fem nätverk från DREAM4 är också presenterade och visar att vår metod har bättre prestanda än nuvarande metoder när de tillämpas på syntetiska data och tillåter rekonstruktion av bio-fysikaliskt noggranna dynamiska modeller från data med brus.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / Powder bed fusion (PBF) process is a metal additive manufacturing process, which can build parts with any complexity from a wide range of metallic materials. Research in the PBF process predominantly focuses on the impact of a few parameters on the ultimate properties of the printed part. The lack of a systematic approach to optimizing the process parameters for a better performance of given material results in a sub-optimal process limiting the potential of the application. This process needs a comprehensive study of all the influential parameters and their impact on the mechanical and microstructural properties of a fabricated part. Furthermore, there is a need to develop a quantitative system for mapping the material properties and process parameters with the ultimate quality of the fabricated part to achieve improvement in the manufacturing cycle as well as the quality of the final part produced by the PBF process. To address the aforementioned challenges, this research proposes a framework to optimize the process for 316L stainless steel material. This framework characterizes the influence of process parameters on the microstructure and mechanical properties of the fabricated part using a series of experiments. These experiments study the significance of process parameters and their variance as well as study the microstructure and mechanical properties of fabricated parts by conducting tensile, impact, hardness, surface roughness, and densification tests, and ultimately obtain the optimum range of parameters. This would result in a more complete understanding of the correlation between process parameters and part quality. Furthermore, the data acquired from the experiments are employed to develop an intelligent parameter suggestion multi-layer feedforward (FF) backpropagation (BP) artificial neural network (ANN). This network estimates the fabrication time and suggests the parameter setting accordingly to the user/manufacturers desired characteristics of the end-product. Further, research is in progress to evaluate the framework for assemblies and complex part designs and incorporate the results in the network for achieving process repeatability and consistency.