Piecewise linear function

About: Piecewise linear function is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 8133 publications have been published within this topic receiving 161444 citations.

Long wave runup on piecewise linear topographies

Abstract: We study long-wave evolution and runup on piecewise linear one- and two-dimensional bathymetries analytically and experimentally with the objective of understanding certain coastal effects of tidal waves. We develop a general solution method for determining the amplification factor of different ocean topographies consisting of linearly varying and constant-depth segments to study how spectral distributions evolve over bathymetry, and apply our results to study the evolution of solitary waves. We find asymptotic results which suggest that solitary waves often interact with piecewise linear topographies in a counter-intuitive manner. We compare our analytical predictions with numerical results, with results from a new set of laboratory experiments from a physical model of Revere Beach, and also with the data on wave runup around an idealized conical island. We find good agreement between our theory and the laboratory results for the time histories of free-surface elevations and for the maximum runup heights. Our results suggest that, at least for simple piecewise linear topographies, analytical methods can be used to calculate effectively some important physical parameters in long-wave runup. Also, by underscoring the effects of the topographic slope at the shoreline, this analysis qualitatively suggests why sometimes predictions of field-applicable numerical models differ substantially from observations of tsunami runup.

Qualitative dynamics of piecewise-linear differential equations: a discrete mapping approach

Abstract: We propose a discrete mapping to study the qualitative properties of the dynamics of biological or other complex networks, involving switchlike interactions between the various elements. The stable steady states and the limit cycles of the piecewise-linear equations which model such networks are derived from the dynamical behaviour of the proposed discrete mapping. Furthermore, this mapping takes into account not only the logical structure of the network but also the parameters used in the description.

Reachability analysis of nonlinear systems using conservative approximation

Abstract: In this paper we present an approach to approximate reachability computation for nonlinear continuous systems. Rather than studying a complex nonlinear system x = g(x), we study an approximating system x = f(x) which is easier to handle. The class of approximating systems we consider in this paper is piecewise linear, obtained by interpolating g over a mesh. In order to be conservative, we add a bounded input in the approximating system to account for the interpolation error. We thus develop a reachability method for systems with input, based on the relation between such systems and the corresponding autonomous systems in terms of reachable sets. This method is then extended to the approximate piecewise linear systems arising in our construction. The final result is a reachability algorithm for nonlinear continuous systems which allows to compute conservative approximations with as great degree of accuracy as desired, and more importantly, it has good convergence rate. If g is a C2 function, our method is of order 2. Furthermore, the method can be straightforwardly extended to hybrid systems.

A novel linear programming approach to fluence map optimization for intensity modulated radiation therapy treatment planning.

Abstract: We present a novel linear programming (LP) based approach for efficiently solving the intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) fluence-map optimization (FMO) problem to global optimality. Our model overcomes the apparent limitations of a linear-programming approach by approximating any convex objective function by a piecewise linear convex function. This approach allows us to retain the flexibility offered by general convex objective functions, while allowing us to formulate the FMO problem as a LP problem. In addition, a novel type of partial-volume constraint that bounds the tail averages of the differential dose-volume histograms of structures is imposed while retaining linearity as an alternative approach to improve dose homogeneity in the target volumes, and to attempt to spare as many critical structures as possible. The goal of this work is to develop a very rapid global optimization approach that finds high quality dose distributions. Implementation of this model has demonstrated excellent results. We found globally optimal solutions for eight 7-beam head-and-neck cases in less than 3 min of computational time on a single processor personal computer without the use of partial-volume constraints. Adding such constraints increased the running times by a factor of 2-3, but improved the sparing of critical structures. All cases demonstrated excellent target coverage (> 95%), target homogeneity (< 10% overdosing and < 7% underdosing) and organ sparing using at least one of the two models.

Piecewise Regression Using Cubic Splines

Abstract: Spline theory and piecewise regression theory are integrated to provide a framework in which structural change is viewed as occurring in a smooth fashion. Specifically, structural change occurs at given points through jump discontinuities in the third derivative of a continuous piecewise cubic estimating function. Testing procedures are developed for detecting structural change as well as linear or quadratic segments. Finally, the techniques developed are illustrated empirically in a learning-by-doing model.