This book constitutes the refereed proceedings of the 7th European Conference on Evolutionary Computation in Combinatorial Optimization, EvoCOP 2007, held in Valencia, Spain in April 2007. The 21 revised full papers presented were carefully reviewed and selected from 81 submissions. The papers cover evolutionary algorithms as well as various other metaheuristics, like scatter search, tabu search, memetic algorithms, variable neighborhood search, greedy randomized adaptive search procedures, ant colony optimization, and particle swarm optimization algorithms. The papers are specifically dedicated to the application of evolutionary computation and related methods to combinatorial optimization problems and cover any issue of metaheuristic for combinatorial optimization. The papers deal with representations, heuristics, analysis of problem structures, and comparisons of algorithms. The list of studied combinatorial optimization problems includes prominent examples like graph coloring, knapsack problems, the traveling salesperson problem, scheduling, graph matching, as well as specific real-world problems.

Three main topics are considered: (1) the generalized plane stressed state of anisotropic plates; (2) the bending of anisotropic plates, and (3) the stability of anisotropic plates. All problems discussed are concerned only with small elastic strains of plates. The material on the problem of transverse vibrations of anisotropic plates which is collected in a special chapter. The main attention was paid to the practical side of the solutions presented; formulas and conclusions having theoretical interest only were mostly given without derivation.

More and more people are going through higher education, and huge numbers are now working towards Masters level. Increasingly at undergraduate level there is an emphasis on project and research work, and nothing is more important to the student that their final project. Unfortunately many students don't know how to manage the project and struggle with this crucial part of their degree.

Eigenvalues of Inhomogeneous Structures: Unusual Closed-Form Solutions offers the first new treatment of closed-form solutions since the works of Leonhard Euler over two centuries ago. This work offers simple solutions for vibrating bars, beams, and plates, as well as solutions that can be used to verify finite element solutions. Mechanical, aerospace, civil, and marine engineers will find this to be the most comprehensive book on the subject. In addition, senior undergraduate and graduate students and professors will find this to be a good supplement to other structural design texts, as it can be easily incorporated into the classroom.

Translating fundamental principles into day-to-day engineering concepts, this reference provides the tools to accurately measure process efficiency and sustainability in the power and chemical industries. It helps engineers recognize why losses occur and how they can be reduced utilizing familiar thermodynamic principles and compares the present industrial society with an emerging metabolic society in which mass production and consumption are in closer harmony with the natural environment. The book uses classic thermodynamic principles for clear understanding, analysis, and optimization of workflows, environmental resources, and driving forces in the chemical and power industries.

This textbook is an introduction to Scientific Computing, in which several numerical methods for the computer solution of certain classes of mathematical problems are illustrated. The authors show how to compute the zeros or the integrals of continuous functions, solve linear systems, approximate functions by polynomials and construct accurate approximations for the solution of differential equations. To make the presentation concrete and appealing, the programming environment Matlab is adopted as a faithful companion. All the algorithms introduced throughout the book are shown, thus furnishing an immediate quantitative assessment of their theoretical properties such as stability, accuracy and complexity. The book also contains the solution to several problems raised through exercises and examples, often originating from specific applications. A specific section is devoted to subjects which were not addressed in the book and indicate the bibliographical references for a more comprehensive treatment of the material.

«MATLAB Guide, Second Edition, is my new favorite MATLAB reference because it not only teaches MATLAB, it fosters a love for all things related to scientific computation. This well-written book features top notch examples, the latest MATLAB features, and offers MATLAB insights that can't be found anywhere else!» Steven H. Frankel, Purdue University

Artificial neural networks (ANNs), which are parallel computational models, comprising of interconnected adaptive processing units (neurons) have the capability to predict accurately the dispersive behavior of vehicular pollutants under complex environmental conditions.

Text details current challenges and troubleshooting schemes for improved gear installation and design, identifying the most practical noise reduction tactics. Includes new and extended discussions, including high- and low-contact radio gears, lightly loaded gears, and couplings. For researchers and development engineers.

Completely updated and expanded to reflect developments in the field, the second edition of this valuable reference reviews all of the fracture modes and design methodologies needed for control and prevention of structural failures in mechanical components.

This book provides a practical introduction to computationally solving discrete optimization problems using dynamic programming. From the unusually numerous and varied examples presented, readers should more easily be able to formulate dynamic programming solutions to their own problems of interest.

This book covers the recent applications of computational intelligence techniques in reliability engineering. This volume contains a survey of the contributions made to the optimal reliability design literature in the resent years and chapters devoted to different applications of a genetic algorithm in reliability engineering and to combinations of this algorithm with other computational intelligence techniques. Genetic algorithms are one of the most widely used metaheuristics, inspired by the optimization procedure that exists in nature, the biological phenomenon of evolution.

College text, self-study guide, and reference about programming computers to do calculating using FORTRAN, the original and still most widely-recognized language for engineering and scientific applications.

This text emphasizes classical methods and presents essential analytical tools and strategies for the construction and development of improved design methods in nonlinear control.

Continuum Mechanics and Plasticity is the first book to provide a systematic discussion of the endochronic theory of plasticity through the use of curvilinear coordinates.