Cost-performance Ratios Research Articles

Coupld thermo-hydraulic modelling of heat storage in an embankment

Coupld thermo-hydraulic modelling of heat storage in an embankment

Improvement on cost-performance ratio of fiberglass/carbon fiber hybrid composite

Fiberglass composite (FG) is widely used as a metal substitute in general applications due to its corrosion and chemical resistance, relatively high strength, and low cost. Still, the FG is deficient in performance and relatively heavy for airframes. Carbon fiber composite (CF) is utilized instead as it has greater performance and lower weight. However, the CF is brittle and expensive. Thus, in this work, we combine FG and CF into two types of hybrid composites to achieve a cost-effective solution with greater or comparable mechanical properties to those of CF. The first one uses FG as core and CF as skins (SWFG). The second one uses CF as core and FG as skins (SWCF). Their mechanical properties and cost-performance ratios (CPR) are compared. The results show that the mechanical properties of the SWFG composite, especially the modulus of elasticity, are considerably improved over the FG and nearly match those of the CF. Also, the SWFG has better CPR regarding tensile properties and flexural modulus than the SWCF and the CF. The SWFG shows promising potential as an alternative to the CF due to its comparable performance and almost 40% lower cost than the CF.

Modeling Analysis and Cost-Performance Ratio Optimization of Virtual Machine Scheduling in Cloud Computing

As an essential feature of cloud computing, dynamic scalability enables the cloud system to dynamically expand or shrink resources according to user needs at runtime. Effectively predicting and optimizing the cost and performance of cloud computing platforms have become one of the key research challenges in the field of cloud computing. In this article, to quantitatively predict the cost and performance of cloud computing platforms, we propose a cloud computing resource analysis model considering both hot/cold startup and hot/cold shutdown of virtual machines (VMs), and use the M/M/N/oo queuing model to analyze cloud computing platform and acquire accurate performance indicators, such as elasticity indicators, cost indicators, performance indicators, cost-performance ratios, etc. In addition, we establish a multi-objective optimization model to optimize both performance and cost of cloud computing platform. Then the optimal stopping and cost-performance optimization algorithm are applied to obtain the optimal configurations, including the number of hot startup VMs, the system service rate, the hot/cold startup rate of VMs, and the hot/cold shutdown rate. By comparing with existing optimization methods, we demonstrate the superiority of our cost-performance ratio optimization method.

Design of segmented high-performance thermoelectric generators with cost in consideration

In this study, state-of-the-art thermoelectric (TE) materials working between 300 K and 1000 K are cautiously selected, including materials in categories of Chalcogenides, SiGe alloy, Skutterudites and Half-Heuslers. The selection principle is an overall reflection of the figure of merit (ZT), compatibility factors and power factors of TE materials. These chosen TE materials are divided into four groups for construction of two kinds of segmented p-type TEG legs and two kinds of segmented n-type TEG legs. Built on different combinations of these segmented TE groups, thermoelectric generators (TEGs) have been systematically modelled to find out the best cost-performance ratios and the corresponding efficiencies, output power densities and TEG geometries as well. All the TE material properties input in the simulation are temperature-dependent and the electrical & thermal contact resistances have been taken into account for every TE-TE and TE-electrode interfaces. The results demonstrate that the successful segmentation of high-ZT TE materials rather than their counterparts with large power factors can offer a cost-performance ratio of ∼0.86 $ W−1, less than the commercially desired cost-effectiveness of 1 $ W−1, while maintaining an efficiency of 17.8% and delivering a power density over 3 Watt cm−2. These results not only confirm ZT as indeed the top criterion for choosing TE materials, but also predict the commercial feasibility and competitiveness of segmented TEGs in the same dollar per watt metrics as other renewable energy sources.

A Selective Ink Deposition Method for the Cost-Performance Optimization of Inkjet-Printed UHF RFID Tag Antennas

A selective ink deposition method is proposed for fabricating inkjet-printed passive UHF RFID tag antennas with optimized cost-performance ratios. The deposition method is based on identifying areas with high surface current densities on a given tag antenna and applying additional silver nanoparticle ink onto such areas to increase tag read range. In this paper, the proposed method is experimentally verified by utilizing the method on a small dipole tag antenna. Several ink deposition schemes are created, and their read range performances and ink consumptions are presented.

A quantitative examination of competition, coopetition and cooperation in supply chains

Traditionally, the members of a supply chain compete to reduce their individual costs. However, as collaborative supply chain approach is urged within industries to reduce the overall costs, either full cooperation or partial coopetition is considered by the members. In cooperative approach, members benefit from lower overall costs and lower cost variations. But individually, some seem better off in a competitive approach in a single period considering their local costs. Coopetition, or partial cooperation, may be suggested as a compromise to lower overall supply chain costs, while members choose alliances towards lower average costs and cost variations.A multi-stage, multi-member, multi-product and single period supply chain model is considered with deterministic demand, capacity and cost. Product prices are assumed to be constant. The objective is to minimize total production and distribution costs of the overall chain. Four distinct cases are considered, modeled, simulated and compared. These cases are complete competition, integrated cooperation, two-stage supply chain partition, and partial coopetition. Quantitative conclusions from the cost performance ratios are drawn using the simulation results.

Agile parallel applications

Non-dedicated loosely coupled systems are popular platforms for cluster- and grid-based parallel processing, fundamentally because they have good cost–performance ratios and are scalable. However, these platforms represent highly dynamic environments in which performance and efficiency can be seriously impacted by changes in environmental conditions. This is especially significant where the run-time configuration has been determined statically, either at compilation time or at the start of execution. This paper introduces the concept of agile parallel processing in which the application manages several aspects of its own run-time behaviour, including deployment granularity. This approach reduces the emphasis on the preconfiguration of components, and relies instead on inbuilt learning and discovery capabilities. To facilitate investigation into the extent to which a self-managing approach can be beneficial to parallel processing, an experimental framework has been developed. The framework provides a range of services such as dynamic worker discovery and performance calibration, and policy-controlled facilities such as resource management and adaptation to suit environmental conditions. The framework integrates these services with the parallel application code. The operation and performance of policy-based dynamic deployment scheduling in dynamic environments is analysed in detail.

Tool-life reliability of cermet inserts in milling tests

Seven commercial cermet inserts of similar ISO grades (P05-40) were used in face milling operations, in the dry cutting of a carbon steel (AISI-SAE 1045). All of the inserts were produced by different tool manufacturers, from Europe, USA and Japan. The inserts were first characteristed by their material composition, mechanical properties and cutting-edge preparation. Then they were used in various cutting tests. Experimental results are presented and discussed in terms of an insert's resistance to wear, to fracture mechanisms and to mechanical impact. An understanding of the different behaviour of the inserts is approached, relating cutting performance to material composition and mechanical properties. Some economical issues are also dealt with, based on a comparison of cost–performance ratios.

A note on the cost-performance ratios of IBM's 43XX series

Pricing policies of computers with various performance capabilities are usually assumed to be non-linear due to economies-of-scale. This article analyzes the cost-performance ratios of a single IBM product line, the 43XX series and found this performance characteristic to be surprisingly linear but with great deal of individual variation.