Spreadsheet Solutions Research Articles

Spreadsheet solutions: Documentation on a dime

Documenting patient assessments and nursing care is a competency that nurses will perform throughout their professional careers. Students arrive at clinical sites with little practice documenting in an electronic health record (EHR). Nursing students need to practice documentation throughout their education. Electronic documentation for the classroom is available but has a cost. This article examines the implementation of a cost-free, faculty-created EHR in nursing courses.

Production rate of multi-fractured wells modeled with Gaussian pressure transients

This study presents new pressure transient solutions, illustrated with some examples of the vast practical application potential. Gaussian pressure transients (GPT) are derived here to quantify the temporal and spatial propagation of instantaneous pressure changes in porous media, as initiated from cylindrical sources (vertical wells) and planar sources (hydraulic fractures). After solving the scalar pressure field in the reservoir space, and adequately accounting for the interference of the various pressure fronts by mathematical integration and superposition, the resulting pressure gradients solve for the velocity field in the reservoir space. Unique for GPT solutions is that the well rate, unlike in the traditional well-testing equations, does not appear as an input. Applying Darcy's Law, the fluid flux from the reservoir into the well and hydraulic fractures can be directly computed from the GPT solutions. The closed-form production-forecasting model can be implemented either in matrix-coded flow-visualizations of pressure depletion and flow paths for reservoir sections or in grid-less spreadsheet solutions to instantaneously generate production profiles for wells in any type of fluid injection/extraction project (water production, geothermal energy extraction, hydrocarbon production, and fluid disposal wells). Additionally, the Gaussian method also is suitable for physics-based decline curve analysis. The practical examples included in this study are for Eagle Ford shale oil and Marcellus dry gas wells. The hydraulic diffusivities are constrained by the field data, and range between 2.36 x10−10 and 3.48 x10−10 m2 s−1 for the Eagle Ford Formation; for the Marcellus the range is 3.64x10−9 to 5.67x10−8 m2 s−1. The breakthrough solution method of Gaussian pressure transients is placed in the context of past and present modeling approaches for shale plays developed with multi-fractured wells.

A Fast-Acting Method for Simulating Precipitation During Heat Treatment of Superalloy 718

A fast-acting, mean-field method for simulating precipitation of the γ′′ and γ′ phases during aging of superalloy 718 following super-delta-solvus solution treatment was formulated and validated using observations in the literature. The approach assumed classical (homogeneous) nucleation and diffusion-controlled growth (N&G) of disk/ellipsoidal-shaped-γ′′ and spherical-γ′ particles. For the γ′′ precipitates in particular, the evolution equations for both nucleation and growth incorporated corrections for the non-spherical shape, assuming a fixed aspect ratio. In addition, special attention was paid to the choice of input material properties for simulations. These parameters included the bulk free energies of transformation, particle-matrix (misfit) elastic strain energy (for γ′′), effective diffusivities, and the γ′′–γ and γ′–γ interface energies. The applicability of the diffusivities and interface energies chosen for the N&G simulations was established by their consistency in replicating previously measured rate constants for the diffusion-controlled coarsening of both γ′′ and γ′. The N&G formulation was discretized to obtain numerical (spreadsheet) solutions via the Kampmann–Wagner approach. Simulation results for the temporal evolution of volume fraction and average size of the precipitates showed good agreement with experimental measurements. The sensitivity of model predictions to various input parameters was also quantified.

Spreadsheet Solutions for Rheological Properties and Viscoplastic Fluid Flow in Circular Pipes and in Parallel-plates

Spreadsheet Solutions for Rheological Properties and Viscoplastic Fluid Flow in Circular Pipes and in Parallel-plates

An Inventory Model with Embeeded Acceptance Sampling Plan

The classical inventory model assumes that the quality of the items received matches with the quality required. In many cases the deviation in quality results in additional costs to the stockiest and sometimes lead to rejection of the received lot. The cost of inspection along with the other inventory costs can be unified into a single model by embedding an acceptance sampling plan into the inventory model. When the lot is accepted there is a possibility of unseen defectives, which may reach the customer leading to loss of goodwill. If the lot is rejected on inspection, the model suggests rectification and removal of non-confirming units. In this paper a model is developed to determine (i) the Economic Order Quantity and (ii) a single sample plan of the attribute type, which minimizes the Average Total Inspection. The model utilizes spreadsheet solutions to handle statistical functions.

Spreadsheet solutions of the one-dimensional cutting stock problem

The cutting stock problem encompasses cutting parts available in stock, which are called objects, to produce in specified quantities smaller pieces which are called items and optimizing an objective function. The cutting stock problem is common for many industrial processes – steel, paper tube and construction industries. One of the most important phases in solution of the one-dimensional cutting stock problem is a pattern generating procedure which can be performed in a spreadsheet.

Standardized verification of fuel cycle modeling

A nuclear fuel cycle systems modeling and code-to-code comparison effort was coordinated across multiple national laboratories to verify the tools needed to perform fuel cycle analyses of the transition from a once-through nuclear fuel cycle to a sustainable potential future fuel cycle. For this verification study, a simplified example transition scenario was developed to serve as a test case for the four systems codes involved (DYMOND, VISION, ORION, and MARKAL), each used by a different laboratory participant. In addition, all participants produced spreadsheet solutions for the test case to check all the mass flows and reactor/facility profiles on a year-by-year basis throughout the simulation period. The test case specifications describe a transition from the current US fleet of light water reactors to a future fleet of sodium-cooled fast reactors that continuously recycle transuranic elements as fuel. After several initial coordinated modeling and calculation attempts, it was revealed that most of the differences in code results were not due to different code algorithms or calculation approaches, but due to different interpretations of the input specifications among the analysts. Therefore, the specifications for the test case itself were iteratively updated to remove ambiguity and to help calibrate interpretations. In addition, a few corrections and modifications were made to the codes as well, which led to excellent agreement between all codes and spreadsheets for this test case. Although no fuel cycle transition analysis codes matched the spreadsheet results exactly, all remaining differences in the results were due to fundamental differences in code structure and/or were thoroughly explained. The specifications and example results are provided so that they can be used to verify additional codes in the future for such fuel cycle transition scenarios.

Design evaluation of the fractured main landing gear of a BAE Jetstream SX-SKY aircraft

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to study the main landing gear (MLG) mechanism configuration.Design/methodology/approach– Mechanism kinematics and dynamics, stress analysis and sizing of the MLG structural members, and fatigue issues related with the mechanism operation. Spreadsheet solutions were incorporated to this survey to analyze the most conceivable loading situations, and important factors of the mechanism design for an initial evaluation of safety implications.Findings– MLG design approach along with conservative fatigue design factors lies in the area of accepted limits in commercial aircraft industry.Research limitations/implications– MLG loading associated with landing as well as those associated with ground maneuvers (steering, braking and taxiing) contribute significantly to fatigue damage, along with the stresses induced by manufacturing processes and assembly. The application of FEA methods for the design of the landing gear does not always guarantee a successful approach to the problem solution, if precise analytical solutions are not available in advance.Practical implications– From the investigation of this incident of fractured struts of the MLG it is confirmed that the reduction in Pintle Housing diameter on the upper part has contributed to the avoidance of damaging the fuel tank above the MLG that would lead to a catastrophic event. On the other hand, the airframe of the SKY-Jet was proved efficient for a belly landing with minor damages to the passengers and heavier damages for the aircraft.Social implications– On-line vibration monitoring sensors hooked up to the landing gear strut and Pintle House would greatly enhance safety, without relying in optical surveys in hard to access and inspect areas of the landing gears mechanisms housings.Originality/value– Analytic methods were adopted and spreadsheet solutions were developed for the MLG main loading situations, along with design issues concerning mechanism kinematics and dynamics, stress analysis and sizing of the MLG structural members, as well as fatigue issues related with the mechanism operation. Spreadsheet solutions were incorporated to this survey to analyze the most conceivable loading situations, and important factors of the mechanism design for an initial evaluation of safety implications.

The Fourth Order Runge-Kutta Spreadsheet Calculator Using VBA Programing for Ordinary Differential Equations

Motivated by the previous literature works of spreadsheet solutions of ordinary differential equations (ODE) and a system of ODEs using fourth-order Runge-Kutta (RK4) method, we have built a spreadsheet calculator for solving ODEs numerically by using the RK4 method and VBA programming. In this spreadsheet calculator, a user interface input form is developed to capture the needed information to solve the ODE via the RK4 method. In the first frame of the user interface input form, users are prompted to enter independent and dependent variables in the ODE. On the other hand, they are needed to input the interval for the independent variables, initial value for the dependent variable, step size h and select the desired accuracy of calculation in the second frame of the user interface input form. Lastly, in the third frame of the user interface input form, users are required to enter the ODE function and exact function of ODE if it exists. Once the Solve button is clicked, the full solution of the ODE will be calculated automatically using the RK4 method. This spreadsheet calculator is user-friendly especially for users who are not familiar with Excel. We hope that this spreadsheet calculator can be used as a marking scheme for educators and students who require the full solutions of the ODEs. Moreover, this spreadsheet calculator reduces calculation time and it is hoped to improve students’ learning ability.

A practical Java tool for small-molecule compound appraisal.

BackgroundThe increased use of small-molecule compound screening by new users from a variety of different academic backgrounds calls for adequate software to administer, appraise, analyse and exchange information obtained from screening experiments. While software and spreadsheet solutions exist, there is a need for software that can be easily deployed and is convenient to use.ResultsThe Java application cApp addresses this need and aids in the handling and storage of information on small-molecule compounds. The software is intended for the appraisal of compounds with respect to their physico-chemical properties, analysis in relation to adherence to likeness rules as well as recognition of pan-assay interference components and cross-linking with identical entries in the PubChem Compound Database. Results are displayed in a tabular form in a graphical interface, but can also be written in an HTML or PDF format. The output of data in ASCII format allows for further processing of data using other suitable programs. Other features include similarity searches against user-provided compound libraries and the PubChem Compound Database, as well as compound clustering based on a MaxMin algorithm.ConclusionscApp is a personal database solution for small-molecule compounds which can handle all major chemical formats. Being a standalone software, it has no other dependency than the Java virtual machine and is thus conveniently deployed. It streamlines the analysis of molecules with respect to physico-chemical properties and drug discovery criteria; cApp is distributed under the GNU Affero General Public License version 3 and available from http://www.structuralchemistry.org/pcsb/. To download cApp, users will be asked for their name, institution and email address. A detailed manual can also be downloaded from this site, and online tutorials are available at http://www.structuralchemistry.org/pcsb/capp.php.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13321-015-0079-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Spread Sheet Solutions in Irrigation Canal Modeling Help to Achieve Better Operational Performance in Major Irrigation Schemes

"ENGINEER", established in 1973 by The Institution of Engineers, is a Journal for dissemination of Engineering knowledge, published quarterly.If you are interested in contributing an Original Technical Paper based on research by the author(s) (intended for Section I) or an Original Article of Professional or Technical interest related to Engineering. (Section II) to this journal please go through the publication checklist which can be downloaded from here.Cover DescriptionCover images show a few views of 5000 DWT Misje Vita built by Colombo Dockyard PLC.

Goal Programming as a Decision Model for Performance-Based Budgeting

The spreadsheet applications are becoming a widely used tool for processing quantitative data and developing analytical solutions. The ability to build decision support systems (DSS) based on these spreadsheet solutions can facilitate knowledge management and increase information utilization within an organization. The paper describes the use of a spreadsheet solution to partially implement the performance-based budgeting (PB) principles for a public body. The solution builds on the goal programming optimization method and is exemplified for some real data.

Optimum skiplot sampling plans using spread sheets

The characteristics of Skiplot Sampling Plans (SkSP) originally developed by Dodge and Perry are reconsidered in this paper from a computational point of view. The reference plan plays an important role in the performance of SkSP. A Single Sampling Plan (SSP) is normally used as reference plan and a number of procedures are available to determine the SSP. We focus on the algorithm-based procedures instead of methods based on statistical tables to determine the SSP and its effect on the performance indicators of SkSP. Spreadsheet solutions are nowadays more user-friendly than customized programs written in specific languages. We present a case of using Excel worksheet functions to handle statistical distributions required in the determination of the plan., The performance of SkSP is compared by generating a SSP as reference plan using algorithms due to i) Guenther, ii) Modified Graf et al. It is shown that an admissible reference plan can always be generated with Excel functions and templates are developed to obtain the characteristics of SkSP.

Simplified Spreadsheet Solutions. II: Overall Schedule Optimization

Overall schedule optimization, considering time, cost, and resource constraints is a difficult task due to the inherent complexity of projects, the difficulties associated with modeling all aspects combined, and the inability of traditional optimization tools to solve this large-size problem. In this paper, a practical approach is presented for the modeling and optimization of overall construction schedules. To simplify modeling, a spreadsheet-based model is developed to be easily usable by practitioners. The spreadsheet model integrates critical-path network scheduling with time-cost trade-off analysis, resource allocation, resource leveling, and cash flow management. The model uses the total project cost as the objective function to be minimized. To facilitate this large-size optimization, a nontraditional optimization technique, genetic algorithms, is used to locate the globally optimal solution, considering all aspects simultaneously. Details of the proposed model are described, and a hypothetical cas...

Spreadsheet applications in chemistry using Microsoft Excel

From the Publisher: This book illustrates how EXCEL can be used to help scientists process, analyze, and present scientific data. EXCEL provides a flexible environment that can be used to prepare spreadsheet solutions for scientific data processing problems. It demonstrates step-by-step how to program EXCEL to perform appropriate tasks, automate repetitive data processing tasks, and prepare integrated documents by transferring data and graphics. It covers problems such as how to perform linear regression and use the built-in statistical tools of EXCEL, as well as addressing advanced topics such as graphing complex equations, model building and the use of VBA and macros for user interface. Though the examples emphasize chemical applications, the information provided will prove useful to all scientists.

Capacity Models for Scheduling the Virtual Enterprise

Many papers have addressed planning methods for distributed and virtual manufacturing enterprises, however the underlying capacity models on which they are based tend to be simplistic and unrealistic, particularly when describing a complicated manufacturing site such as a semiconductor wafer fabrication facility. There are many methods of capacity modelling ranging from spreadsheet solutions to simulation. Assessing existing models on a continuum shows a gap between 'resource profiling' and 'discrete event simulation' where the requirements for wafer fabrication capacity models fall. A macro-simulation model which uses the statistical power of a queuing theory approach to improve on the current inadequate resource profile methods is briefly described.

Spreadsheet solutions for Ampere’s law problems with irregularly shaped conductors

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Spreadsheet Solutions To Laplace's Equation: Seepage And Flow Net

There has been an increasing interest in applying the electronic spreadsheets, traditionally used for the financial and accounting purposes, to solve complex engineering problems. This paper aims to describe the application of spreadsheets to solve the finite difference to Laplace's equation. The simple form of finite difference method also known as the relaxation method will be used for seepage analysis.The spreadsheet program used for this study was chosen based on the power, flexibility and the versatility of this package in various computing environments. Nevertheless any other spreadsheet programs can also perform the same task with varying levels of user friendliness. Keywords: Spreadsheet modelling, flow net, seepage, finite difference method

Spreadsheet Applications for Modelling and Analysis in Mechanical Engineering

This paper outlines a number of different applications of spreadsheet solutions to mechanical engineering problems involving ideal fluid flow, two-dimensional heat transfer, plate bending and torsion of non-circular sections. The general utility of a spreadsheet in handling finite difference equations is further illustrated in an application to simulate the dynamic response of a DC voltage controlled servo-motor. Finally, since most spreadsheets also incorporate the common logical operators then any arbitrary Boolean function can be manipulated with any range of input logic states. Details are therefore included in the paper on the application of a spreadsheet to simulate and test the operation of a prototype digital logic circuit. The educational advantages in using a spreadsheet are highlighted in the variety of engineering problems which can be solved without having to resort to the specialist and generally more expensive finite element software packages.

Spreadsheet solutions of elastic plate–beam problems

Spreadsheets are among the most common microcomputer programs used by engineers because they provide an easy means of formulating equations in algebraic format. By introducing appropriate stiffness equations with numerical values representative of material properties, boundary conditions, and loading, spreadsheet templates can be developed to model specific structural systems. These equations are mutually dependent and may be solved using the iteration techniques that are part of the spreadsheet program. A common structural problem that is difficult to solve without a special computer program is the analysis of a slab arbitrarily supported on elastic beams and columns. The use of readily available spreadsheet programs to solve this problem is demonstrated. Equations for slab bending and for beams with finite flexural and torsional stiffnesses are derived using finite difference operators. These equations are then recast into a form more convenient for an iterative solution. The use of these equations is demonstrated with numerical examples. Key words: analysis, convergence criteria, deflections, finite difference, plates, spreadsheets.