Stabilization, Optimal and Robust Control : Theory and Applications in Biological and Physical Sciences
Systems governed by nonlinear partial differential equations (PDEs) arise in many spheres of study. The stabilization and control of such systems, which are the focus of this book, are based around game theory. The robust control methods proposed here have the twin aims of compensating for system disturbances in such a way that a cost function achieves its minimum for the worst disturbances and providing the best control for stabilizing fluctuations with a limited control effort.Mathematical foundations essential for the required analysis are provided so that the book remains accessible to the non-control-specialist. Following chapters giving a general view of convex analysis and optimization and robust and optimal control, problems arising in fluid-mechanical, biological and materials-scientific systems are laid out in detail; specifically
Solar Hydrogen Generation : Toward a Renewable Energy Future
Examines strategies for generating hydrogen from sunlight and water in a sustainable way. Authoritative discussions are provided by experts on topics ranging from a description of the solar resource, electrolysis of water, solar concentrator pathway to low cost electrolytic hydrogen, thermal/photo hybrid splitting of water, photochemical water splitting, hydrogen generation at inorganic semiconductor-electrolyte interfaces, to photobiological schemes for producing hydrogen from water. The book culminates with an analysis of a coupled water electrolyzer-solar photovoltaic system for the centralized production of hydrogen. The literature citation is extensive and comprehensive in each chapter and the book provides a broad perspective of the rapid developments in an important aspect of energy science and technology.
Self-Consistent Methods for Composites ; Vol.2 : Wave Propagation in Heterogeneous Materials
The book is dedicated to the application of self-consistent methods to the solution of static and dynamic problems of the mechanics and physics of composite materials. The effective elastic, electric, dielectric, thermo-conductive and other properties of composite materials reinforced by ellipsoidal, spherical multi-layered inclusions, thin hard and soft inclusions, short fibers and unidirected multi-layered fibers are considered. Explicit formulas and efficient computational algorithms for the calculation of the effective properties of the composites are presented and analyzed. The method of the effective medium and the method of the effective field are developed for the calculation of the phase velocities and attenuation of the mean (coherent) wave fields propagating in the composites. The predictions of the methods are compared with experimental data and exact solutions for the composites with periodical microstructures.
Self-Consistent Methods for Composites ; Vol.1 : Static Problems
The book is dedicated to the application of self-consistent methods to the solution of static and dynamic problems of the mechanics and physics of composite materials. The effective elastic, electric, dielectric, thermo-conductive and other properties of composite materials reinforced by ellipsoidal, spherical multi-layered inclusions, thin hard and soft inclusions, short fibers and unidirected multi-layered fibers are considered. Explicit formulas and efficient computational algorithms for the calculation of the effective properties of the composites are presented and analyzed. The method of the effective medium and the method of the effective field are developed for the calculation of the phase velocities and attenuation of the mean (coherent) wave fields propagating in the composites. The predictions of the methods are compared with experimental data and exact solutions for the composites with periodical microstructures.



