Minimal feasible sets in variable resource constrained projects

To determine the reasonable resource dependent relations between activities for the purpose of exactly computing the total floats and the free floats of activities, correctly identifying critical activities and critical sequences in a project schedule with variable resource constraints, the concept of the minimal feasible set （MFS） is proposed and the properties of MFS are discussed. The methods to identify optimal MFSs and resource links are then studied. Furthermore, MFS is generalized to the situation that the preconditions of MFS are not satisfied. Contrastive results show that in establishing resource links and resolving floats, MFS is at least not inferior to other methods in all cases and is superior in most situations.

Coinoculation of bioinoculants improve Acacia auriculiformis seedling growth and quality in a tropical Alfisol soil

We conducted a study to find out if arbuscular mycorrhizal(AM) fungi(Acaulospora scrobiculata,Scutellospora calospora) and phosphate solubilizing bacteria(PSB, Paenibacillus polymyxa) inoculation either individually or in combinations can improve Acacia auriculiformis seedling growth, uptake of nutrients and quality in a phosphorus deficient tropical Alfisol. The seedlings were assessed for various growth and nutrient uptake parameters after 60 days of treatment. Inoculation with P.polymyxa stimulated mycorrhizal formation. Seedling height, stem girth, taproot length, number of leaves and leaf area, plant dry matter production, nodulation, and nodular dry weight were significantly higher for seedlings that were either dual inoculated or triple inoculated compared to individual inoculation of AM fungi or PSB, and uninoculated seedlings. Dual and triple application of AM fungi and PSB also significantly improved the nutrient contents of shoots and roots and nutrient uptake efficiencies. The calculated seedling quality indexes of the AM fungi and PSB inoculated seedling were 25–208% higher than uninoculated seedlings. These findings show that A.auriculiformis seedlings when dual inoculated or triple inoculated performed better than seedlings inoculated with the microbes individually and compared with uninoculated control seedlings. We conclude that bioinoculation is important for the production of high-quality A.auriculiformis seedlings in tree nurseries for planting in nutrient deficient soils.

On the evidential reasoning rule for dependent evidence combination

Evidential Reasoning(ER)rule,which can combine multiple pieces of independent evidence conjunctively,is widely applied in multiple attribute decision analysis.However,the assumption of independence among evidence is often not satisfied,resulting in ER rule inapplicable.In this paper,an Evidential Reasoning rule for Dependent Evidence combination(ERr-DE)is developed.Firstly,the aggregation sequence of multiple pieces of evidence is determined according to evidence reliability.On this basis,a calculation method of evidence Relative Total Dependence Coefficient(RTDC)is proposed using the distance correlation method.Secondly,as a discounting factor,RTDC is introduced into the ER rule framework,and the ERr-DE model is formulated.The aggregation process of two pieces of dependent evidence by ERr-DE is investigated,which is then generalized to aggregate multiple pieces of non-independent evidence.Thirdly,sensitivity analysis is carried out to investigate the relationship between the model output and the RTDC.The properties of sensitivity coefficient are explored and mathematically proofed.The conjunctive probabilistic reasoning process of ERr-DE and the properties of sensitivity coefficient are verified by two numerical examples respectively.Finally,the practical application of the ERr-DE is validated by a case study on the performance assessment of satellite turntable system.

Rolling velocity and relative motion of particle detector in local granular flow

The velocity of a particle detector in granular flow can be regarded as the combination of rolling and sliding velocities.The study of the contribution of rolling velocity and sliding velocity provides a new explanation to the relative motion between the detector and the local granular flow.In this study,a spherical detector using embedded inertial navigation technology is placed in the chute granular flow to study the movement of the detector relative to the granular flow.It is shown by particle image velocimetry(PIV)that the velocity of chute granular flow conforms to Silbert’s formula.And the velocity of the detector is greater than that of the granular flow around it.By decomposing the velocity into sliding and rolling velocity,it is indicated that the movement of the detector relative to the granular flow is mainly caused by rolling.The rolling detail shown by DEM simulation leads to two potential mechanisms based on the position and drive of the detector.

Evaluation of gas condensate reservoir behavior using velocity dependent relative permeability during the numerical well test analysis

Gas condensate is one of the most different fluids in reservoir simulation due to retrograde condensation in case of pressure reduction.In this kind of fluids,two phenomena named negative inertia and positive coupling,become significant in the high velocity zone around the wellbore.In this study,a modified black oil simulator is developed that take into account the velocity dependent relative permeability.Against the industrial simulator that assumes linear variation of transmissibilities by pressure,modified black oil nonlinear equations are solved directly without linearization.The developed code is validated by ECLIPSE simulator.The behavior of two real gas condensate fluids,a lean and a rich one,are compared with each other.For each fluid,simulations of PVT experiments are carried out to calculate black oil property applying Coats approach for gas condensate fluids.For both fluids,the proposed models for gas condensate velocity dependent relative permeability show different influence of velocity on relative permeability in the same conditions.Moreover,it is observed that higher flow rate of gas production leads to more condensate production during constant rate well testing.