Projects in 1975–1976


Ameron, Inc.: Computerized Coatings Formulator

Advisor
Jerren Gould
College
CGU

A procedure to adaptively direct the experimental search of new classes of recipes was formulated to assist the client in finding the paints with improved properties.

Atomics International: Fuel Element Life Performance Model

Advisor
Jerome Spanier
College
CGU

Under prolonged exposure to high operating temperatures and radiation levels, nuclear fuel elements may swell and distort. Such alterations in geometry pose special problems in terms of hazard and predictability. This project team utilized a Gordon-Hall mapping technique for handling the deformed boundary/interface geometries and developed a semi-discrete Galerkin approximation for solving the time-dependent heat conduction equation throughout the fuel assembly.

Becton, Dickinson and Company: A Study of Quantitative Methods in Market Forecasting

Advisor
Henry Krieger

This project designed an empirical mathematical model for use in forecasting economic activity levels for various sectors of the Electronics Division domain.

Chevron Oil Field Research Company: Models for Abnormally High Fluid Pressures

Advisor
Courtney Coleman

Abnormally high fluid pressures are frequently encountered in drilling for oil. Increased costs and safety problems have led the client and other companies to develop various predictive models for such excessive pressures. In this year-long project, some improved models have been proposed and computer simulations have been written to compare predictions based on these models with actual field data.

Los Angeles County Superior Court: Juror Utilization Problem

Advisors
Melvin Henriksen
George Orland

A mathematical method was devised for predicting, on the basis of knowledge of how many jury trials are scheduled on a given day, and the nature of the cases, how many people must be called for jury duty on any given day in a number of courthouses. A method for testing these predictions on a small scale in advance of any large scale implementation was proposed.

Rockwell International Science Center: Mathematical Modeling of Air Pollution Transport

Advisor
Jerome Spanier
College
CGU

Models used to describe pollution transport in the atmosphere can be roughly classified as either 1) point source models or 2) urban air-shed models according as the volume of air under consideration is not, or is, relatively “well mixed” respectively. A point source model based on the concept of a “Gaussian puff” was developed and described. A novel mathematical model, intended for use in urban environments and based on the fractional calculus, was also developed. The fraction calculus model has the potential for calculating accurate relative, rather than absolute pollutant concentrations at considerably less cost than conventional urban models.