Applying Optimal Control Model to Dynamic Equipment Allocation Problem: Case Study of Concrete-Faced Rockfill Dam Construction Project
Publication: Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
Volume 137, Issue 7
Abstract
This paper presents an optimization method for solving a dynamic equipment allocation problem (DEAP) encountered during the implementation of a concrete-faced rockfill dam construction project. In contrast to prior studies, the uncertainties associated with equipment failures have been explicitly considered in the objective function of our mathematical model that maximizes construction throughput. Specifically, our research assumes that the equipment failure time is characterized by a Weibull distribution, which has been justified by a chi-square goodness-of-fit test. A failure probability–work time equation is also used to characterize the relationship between the equipment failure probability and mean time to work. Furthermore, our model considers multiple types of equipment, and each is capable of doing different jobs. The model is confined by the relationship equations, initial conditions, and constraint conditions. Then, the particle swarm optimization (PSO) technique is applied to search for the optimal solution of the DEAP. Finally, the Shuibuya Hydropower Project was used as a real-world example to demonstrate the practicality and efficiency of the optimization method.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Acknowledgments
This research was supported by the National Science Foundation for Distinguished Young Scholars (Grant No. NSF70425005) and the Key Program of National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) (Grant No. NSFC70831005), P. R. China. The writers would like to thank various people for their helpful and constructive comments and suggestions.
References
Bendell, A. (1991). “Analysis methodologies.” Reliability data banks, A. G. Cannon and A. Bendell, eds., Galliard Ltd., London.
Bhurisith, I., and Touran, A. (2002). “Case study of obsolescence and equipment productivity.” J. Constr. Eng. Manage., 128(4), 357–361.
Caterpillar. (1998). Caterpillar performance handbook, 29th Ed., Peoria, IL.
Chua, D. K. H., and Goh, Y. M. (2005). “Poisson model of construction incident occurrence.” J. Constr. Eng. Manage., 131(6), 715–722.
Clerc, M., and Kennedy, J. (2002). “The particle swarm-explosion, stability, and convergence in a multidimensional complex space.” IEEE Trans. Evol. Comput., 6(1), 58–73.
Conover, W. J. (1980). Practical non-parametric statistics, 2nd Ed., Wiley, New York.
Eberhart, R. C., and Shi, Y. (2001). “Tracking and optimizing dynamic systems with particle swarms.” Proc., IEEE Congress on Evolutionary Computation, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, New York, 94–97.
Goldenberg, M., and Shapira, A. (2007). “Systematic evaluation of construction equipment alternatives: Case study.” J. Constr. Eng. Manage., 133(1), 72–85.
Haidar, A., Naoum, S., Howes, R., and Tah, J. (1999). “Genetic algorithms application and testing for equipment selection.” J. Constr. Eng. Manage., 125(1), 32–38.
Hegab, M. Y., and Smith, G. R. (2007). “Delay time analysis in microtunneling projects.” J. Constr. Eng. Manage., 133(2), 191–195.
Hijes, F. G., and Cartagena, J. J. (2006). “Maintenance strategy based on a multicriterion classification of equipments.” Reliab. Eng. Syst. Saf., 91(4), 444–451.
Huang, H., and Yan, Z. (2009). “Present situation and future prospect of hydropower in China.” Renew. Sustain. Energ. Rev., 13(6–7), 1652–1656.
Jaturonnatee, J., Murthy, D. N. P., and Boondiskulchok, R. (2006). “Optimal preventive maintenance of leased equipment with corrective minimal repairs.” Eur. J. Oper. Res., 174(1), 201–215.
Ji, X. (2005). “Models and algorithm for stochastic shortest path problem.” Appl. Math. Comput., 170(1), 503–514.
Kennedy, J., and Eberhart, R. C. (1995). “Particle swarm optimization.” Proc., IEEE Conf. on Neural Networks, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, New York, 1942–1948.
Kim, Y. S., and Kim, B. T. (2008). “Prediction of relative crest settlement of concrete-faced rockfill dams analyzed using an artificial neural network model.” Comput. Geotech., 35(3), 313–322.
Langdon, W. B., and Poli, R. (2007). “Evolving problems to learn about particle swarm optimizers and other search algorithms.” IEEE Trans. Evol. Comput., 11(5), 561–578.
McCool, J. (2006). “Testing for dependency of failure times in life testing.” Technometrics, 48(1), 41–48.
Montgomery, D. C., and Runger, G. C. (1999). Applied statistics and probability for engineers, 2nd Ed., Wiley, Singapore.
Panagiotidou, S., and Tagaras, G. (2007). “Optimal preventive maintenance for equipment with two quality states and general failure time distributions.” Eur. J. Oper. Res., 180(1), 329–353.
Patankar, J., and Mitra, A. (1995). “Effects of warranty execution on warranty reserve costs.” Manage. Sci., 41(3), 395–400.
Pongpech, J., and Murthy, D. N. P. (2006). “Optimal periodic preventive maintenance policy for leased equipment.” Reliab. Eng. Syst. Saf., 91(7), 772–777.
Prasertrungruang, T., and Hadikusumo, B. H. W. (2009a). “Modeling the dynamics of heavy equipment management practices and downtime in large highway contractors.” J. Constr. Eng. Manage., 135(10), 939–947.
Prasertrungruang, T., and Hadikusumo, B. H. W. (2009b). “Study of factors influencing the efficient management and downtime consequences of highway construction equipment in Thailand.” J. Constr. Eng. Manage., 135(1), 2–11.
Roxy, P. (2001). Introduction to statistic data analysis, Thomson Learning, Duxbury.
Samanta, B., Sarkar, B., and Mukherjee, S. (2001). “Reliability analysis of shovel machines used in an open cast coal mine.” Miner. Resour. Eng., 10(2), 219–231.
Seifried, A. (2004). “About statistics in fatigue strength.” Materialwissenschaft und Werkstofftechnik, 35(2), 93–111.
Seo, J., Haas, C. T., Saidi, K., and Sreenivasan, S. V. (2000). “Graphical control interface for construction and maintenance equipment.” J. Constr. Eng. Manage., 126(3), 210–218.
Shapira, A., and Goldenberg, M. (2005). “AHP-based equipment selection model for construction projects.” J. Constr. Eng. Manage., 131(12), 1263–1273.
Shapira, A., and Goldenberg, M. (2007). “‘Soft’considerations in equipment selection for building construction projects.” J. Constr. Eng. Manage., 133(10), 749–760.
Shi, Y., and Eberhart, R. C. (1998). “Parameter selection in particle swarm optimization.” Proc., 7th Annual Conf. on Evolutionary Programming: VII, Springer, New York, 591–600.
Skitmore, R. M., Pettitt, A. N., and McVinish, R. (2007). “Gates’ bidding model.” J. Constr. Eng. Manage., 133(11), 855–863.
Touran, A., Sheahan, T. C., and Ozcan, E. (1997). “Rational equipment selection method based on soil conditions.” J. Constr. Eng. Manage., 123(1), 85–88.
Trelea, I. C. (2003). “The particle swarm optimization algorithm: Convergence analysis and parameter selection.” Inf. Proc. Lett., 85(6), 317–325.
Varty, A., Boyle, R., Pritchard, E., and Gill, R. (1985). “Construction of concrete face rockfill dams.” Concrete face rockfill dams-design, construction, and performance, 435–458.
Xu, J., and Zhou, X. (2009). “A class of multi-objective expected value decision-making model with birandom coefficients and its application to flow shop scheduling problem.” Inf. Sci. (N. Y.), 179(17), 2997–3017.
Yamout, G. M., Haltfield, K., and Romeijn, H. E. (2007). “Comparison of new conditional value-at-risk-based management models for optimal allocation of uncertain water supplies.” Water Resour. Res., 43(7), W07430.
Zhang, H., Li, H., and Tam, C. M. (2006a). “Particle swarm optimization for preemptive scheduling under break and resource-constraints.” J. Constr. Eng. Manage., 132(3), 259–267.
Zhang, H., Li, H., and Tam, C. M. (2006b). “Permutation-based particle swarm optimization for resource-constrained project scheduling.” J. Comput. Civ. Eng., 20(2), 141–149.
Zhang, H., Tam, C. M., Li, H., and Shi, J. J. (2006c). “Particle swarm optimization-supported simulation for construction operations.” J. Constr. Eng. Manage., 132(12), 1267–1274.
Zhang, H., and Wang, J. (2008). “Particle swarm optimization for construction site unequal-are layout.” J. Constr. Eng. Manage., 134(9), 739–748.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
Volume 137 • Issue 7 • July 2011
Pages: 536 - 550
Copyright
© 2011 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Jan 14, 2010
Accepted: Nov 2, 2010
Published online: Dec 4, 2010
Published in print: Jul 1, 2011
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.