Deriving low-dimensional perceptual spaces from data consisting of many variables is of crucial interest in strategic market planning. A frequently used method in this context is Principal Components Analysis, which finds uncorrelated directions in the data. This methodology which supports the identification of competitive structures can gainfully be utilized for product (re)positioning or optimal product (re)design. In our paper, we investigate the usefulness of a novel technique, Independent Component Analysis, to discover market structures. Independent Component Analysis is an extension of Principal Components Analysis in the sense that it looks for directions in the data that are not only uncorrelated but also independent. Comparing the two approaches on the basis of an empirical data set, we find that Independent Component Analysis leads to clearer and sharper structures than Principal Components Analysis. Furthermore, the results of Independent Component Analysis have a reasonable marketing interpretation. / Series: Working Papers SFB "Adaptive Information Systems and Modelling in Economics and Management Science"

Cottbus, Techn. Univ., Diss., 2005.

Stuttgart, Univ., Diss., 2003.

Zugl.: Hamburg, Techn. Univ., Diss., 2007

Stuttgart, Univ., Fakultät Physik, Diplomarb., 1996.

Techn. University, Diss., 2004--Kaiserslautern.

The aim of the paper is showing, how projection methods can be used for computing contact problems in elasticity for different classes of obstacles. Starting with the projection idea for handling hanging nodes in finite element discretizations the extension of the method for handling penetrated nodes in contact problems will be described for some obstacle classes.

In this paper the obstacle description with Radial Basis Functions for contact problems in three dimensional elasticity will be done. A short Introduction of the idea of Radial Basis Functions will be followed by the usage of Radial Basis Functions for approximation of isosurfaces. Then these isosurfaces are used for the obstacle-description in three dimensional elasticity contact problems. In the last part some computational examples will be shown.

The aim of the paper is showing, how projection methods can be used for computing contact problems in elasticity for different classes of obstacles. Starting with the projection idea for handling hanging nodes in finite element discretizations the extension of the method for handling penetrated nodes in contact problems will be described for some obstacle classes.

In this paper the obstacle description with Radial Basis Functions for contact problems in three dimensional elasticity will be done. A short Introduction of the idea of Radial Basis Functions will be followed by the usage of Radial Basis Functions for approximation of isosurfaces. Then these isosurfaces are used for the obstacle-description in three dimensional elasticity contact problems. In the last part some computational examples will be shown.