Industrial Projects

1995-96 Projects

Rod Path Geometry Study

Sponsor: Morgan Construction Company
Advisor: Prof. Bogdan Vernescu
Students: Adam Garland, Marcie Noyes, Jeffrey Perlak

Morgan Construction Company is the only American supplier of rolling mills. The project developed several methods to simulate laying pipe paths and analyze their process efficiency. Methods used include optimal control theory and calculus of variations. In order to simulate the curves, several codes employing numerical methods were implemented. This project received the 1996 Provost MQP Award in Mathematics.

Statistically Sound Experiments to Improve Production Quality for Electronic Components

Sponsor: Bose Incorporated
Advisor: Prof. Joe Petruccelli
Student: Brian Charest

This project was sponsored by a leading audio speaker manufacturer. The student worked on-site with the company for five months, providing assistance on five different projects relating to statistics and quality control. The student gained experience in the design and conduct of experiments, and in entering and analyzing statistical data.

Developing Strategies to Improve Decision Making in Casualty Insurance

Sponsor: Premier Insurance Company
Advisor: Prof. Art Heinricher, Prof. Ansuman Bagchi
Students: Ryan Betts, Rhett Brown

The project examined and proposed a solution to the Massachusetts automobile insurance optimal cession strategy problem. It was shown that a simplified quasi-linear model must have a corner point solution. A dynamic solution method was developed for a complete formulation. In its entirety, the project landed forceful insight and offered a conceptually elegant, computationally feasible alternative to the industry's current problem.

Manual Rating for Dental Insurance

Sponsor: Allmerica Financial
Advisors: Ansumman Bagchi, Ann Wiedie
Student: Cathleen Connelly

Quality Factor Analysis for Automobile Insurance

Sponsor: Premier Automobile Insurance
Advisors: Ansumman Bagchi, Arthur Heinricher, Ann Wiedie
Students: Lee Blouin, Jeffrey Peterson, Ann Marie Sbriglio

Investigation of Atmospheric Heating and Cooling Balance Using MODTRAN3

Sponsor: USAF Phillips Lab at Hanscom Air Forces Base
Advisor: Prof. Paul Davis
Ph.D. Industrial Project

Recent modifications to MODTRAN3, a 2 cm^-1 resolution radiative transfer model, have permitted its transformation into a full flux divergence algorithm. It is now possible to calculate heating and cooling rates arising from both thermal and solar sources. The thermal calculations have been validated against benchmark line-by-line (LBL) calculations provided as an outgrowth of the InterComparison of Radiation Codes used in Climate Models (ICRCCM), organized by Elligson and colleagues. The MODTRANS comparisons for separate species (H₂O, CO₂, and O₃) were all of sufficient quality, usually falling within the range of LBL comparisons, to warrant the extension to other species. Preliminary studies of the energy balance of the atmosphere and effects on global warming due to increased levels of both natural and man-made contaminants are now possible.

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Last modified: Jun 20, 2010, 13:03 UTC