CSU HAYWARD
DEPARTMENT OF MATHEMATICS AND
COMPUTER SCIENCE
COLLOQUIUM
Friday, May 2, 2003; Noon-1:00pm Sc N321
Speaker:
Genetha Anne Gray
Sandia National Labs
Two Examples of Simulation-Based Optimization
Simulation is important tool for predicting the behavior of complex physical systems that arise in science and engineering. In recent years, simulation has frequently been paired with optimization in order to design and control such systems. In this presentation, we will discuss two such simulation-based optimization applications.
The first problem involves a semiconductor bridge model that arises in electrical engineering. Our goal is to correctly identify some parameters of a computer simulation of this model so that the data resulting from the simulation matches the data obtained from a laboratory experiment. We will explain our approach to this problem as well as the challenges we face. We will give some preliminary results and explain how sensitivity analysis can be used to improve the model.
The second problem is a biological application that deals with determining the structure of transmembrane proteins. We will give a basic description of transmembrane proteins and explain why understanding the structure of these proteins is important. We will describe the biological characteristics of this problem and explain how they were used to create a mathematical model that is amenable to optimization. Finally, we will compare and contrast some results obtained using two different optimization algorithms.
Please join us beforehand for Pizza!!!!