Entropy Principle (entropy + principle)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


A Framework for Measuring the Importance of Variables with Applications to Management Research and Decision Models,

DECISION SCIENCES, Issue 3 2000
Ehsan S. Soofi
In many disciplines, including various management science fields, researchers have shown interest in assigning relative importance weights to a set of explanatory variables in multivariable statistical analysis. This paper provides a synthesis of the relative importance measures scattered in the statistics, psychometrics, and management science literature. These measures are computed by averaging the partial contributions of each variable over all orderings of the explanatory variables. We define an Analysis of Importance (ANIMP) framework that reflects two desirable properties for the relative importance measures discussed in the literature: additive separability and order independence. We also provide a formal justification and generalization of the "averaging over all orderings" procedure based on the Maximum Entropy Principle. We then examine the question of relative importance in management research within the framework of the "contingency theory of organizational design" and provide an example of the use of relative importance measures in an actual management decision situation. Contrasts are drawn between the consequences of use of statistical significance, which is an inappropriate indicator of relative importance and the results of the appropriate ANIMP measures. [source]


Non-parametric,parametric model for random uncertainties in non-linear structural dynamics: application to earthquake engineering

EARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING AND STRUCTURAL DYNAMICS, Issue 3 2004
Christophe Desceliers
Abstract This paper deals with the transient response of a non-linear dynamical system with random uncertainties. The non-parametric probabilistic model of random uncertainties recently published and extended to non-linear dynamical system analysis is used in order to model random uncertainties related to the linear part of the finite element model. The non-linearities are due to restoring forces whose parameters are uncertain and are modeled by the parametric approach. Jayne's maximum entropy principle with the constraints defined by the available information allows the probabilistic model of such random variables to be constructed. Therefore, a non-parametric,parametric formulation is developed in order to model all the sources of uncertainties in such a non-linear dynamical system. Finally, a numerical application for earthquake engineering analysis is proposed concerning a reactor cooling system under seismic loads. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


Rheological characteristics of solid,fluid transition in dry granular dense flows: A thermodynamically consistent constitutive model with a pressure-ratio order parameter

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR NUMERICAL AND ANALYTICAL METHODS IN GEOMECHANICS, Issue 9 2010
Chung Fang
Abstract Dry granular flows are characterized as quasi-static, dense and collisional states by the interactions among the grains, which is indexed macroscopically by an internal variable, called the order parameter defined as the square root of the static pressure to the total pressure. The solid,fluid state transition is regarded as a second-order phase transition process, and is described by a kinematic evolution of the order parameter. The thermodynamic analysis, based on the Müller,Liu entropy principle, is employed to deduce the equilibrium responses of the constitutive equations, while the dynamic responses are postulated on the basis of a quasi-linear and the second-order Ginzburg,Landau phase transition theories. The obtained model is applied to study the rheological characteristics of a dry granular dense flow between two infinite parallel plates, of which the results are compared with those from DEM simulations to estimate the model validity. The present study provides a general framework for the theoretical justifications on the thermodynamic consistencies of order-parameter-based constitutive models, and can be extended to flows in quasi-static or collisional states. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


Shearing flows of a dry granular material,hypoplastic constitutive theory and numerical simulations

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR NUMERICAL AND ANALYTICAL METHODS IN GEOMECHANICS, Issue 14 2006
Chung Fang
Abstract In the present study, the Goodman,Cowin theory is extended to incorporate plastic features to construct an elasto-visco-plastic constitutive model for flowing dry granular materials. A thermodynamic analysis, based on the Müller,Liu entropy principle, is performed to derive the equilibrium expressions of the constitutive variables. Non-equilibrium responses are proposed by use of a quasi-linear theory, in particular a hypoplastic-type relation is introduced to model the internal friction and plastic effects. It is illustrated that the Goodman,Cowin theory can appropriately be extended to include frictional effects into the evolution equation of the volume fraction (i.e. the so-called balance of equilibrated force) and the equilibrium expression of the Cauchy stress tensor. The implemented model is applied to investigate conventional steady isothermal granular flows with incompressible grains, namely simple plane shear, inclined gravity-driven and vertical channel-flows, respectively. Numerical results show that the hypoplastic effect plays a significant role in the behaviour of a flowing granular material. The obtained profiles of the velocity and the volume fraction with hypoplastic features are usually sharper and the shear-thinning effect is more significant than that without such plastic effects. This points at the possible wide applicability of the present model in the fields of granular materials and soil mechanics. In addition, the present paper also provides a framework for a possible extension of the hypoplastic theories which can be further undertaken. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]