This bureau is located in the Division of Applied Mathematics, in the Faculty of Engineering building and provides research and development services to the public and private sectors.

Director and contact person:

Dr GJF Smit
Tel. (+27) 21 808 4219
fsmit@sun.ac.za

The fields of expertise are mainly those of the present members of the department of Applied Mathematics.
If necessary, retired members and experts from other departments can be consulted.
The main fields of interest are mathematical modelling, numerical analysis and operations research.
The specific fields of expertise are described in more detail in the web-sites of the members listed below :

Flow through porous media : Prof J P du Plessis; Dr G J F Smit

Solutions and aids for engineering problems: Dr GJF Smit

Non-linear waves, signal and image processing : Prof B M Herbst ; Dr N Muller

Numerical methods : Prof J A C Weideman; P Crous

General operations research; Graph theory; Cryptology : Dr J H van Vuuren;I Nieuwoudt

 

Mathematical modelling and computer simulations : Dr M Maritz, Dr GJF Smit

Projects that have been completed include:

 

1.   Development of digitizing and analysis software for flash X-Ray films: Shape charge jets

This project consisted of the development of a MATLAB program JETP, for digitizing digital images of flash X-ray films of particulated shaped charge jets and the analyses of data.

2.   Lubrication tests

This study concerns the evaluation of possible lubricants that are suitable for the mechanical part of Safety and Arming Devices (SADs).  A series of tests were conducted with a DIM in a centrifuge to evaluate its performance with different lubricants within the specified temperature range.  (Lubrication.pdf)

3.   Development of inventory system for Fibretek

The contract comprises the development of an inventory system by which the manufacturing at Fibretek (manufacturer of glass fibre products) can be monitored and controlled.

Currently considerable time is wasted due to the counting of stock and calculation of job scheduling, quotations and deliberation between sales, production and stock.  Furthermore uncertainties exist due to allocation of item to a particular job.  This leads to items not being in stock and possible production delays.  The current stock control procedures are also inefficient to keep track of waste, errors and incorrect calculations.  Thus it is not always possible to calculate the exact profit or losses.  The fact that there are no formal procedures of control for the fibreglass components is also a problem and needs to be addressed.

4.   The Development of an Integrated Effectiveness Model (EVA) for Areal Targets.

During the design or acquisition of a missile the effectiveness of the fragmentation warhead against a point target, as well as fuze/warhead/target interactions, need to be evaluated.

The current simulation methodology (from a scientific point of view), e.g. statistical analysis of simulated data and targets, ray-tracing versus vulnerable area concepts, etc., will be investigated and adapted to modern standards and trends.  Also the mathematical algorithms and models will be investigated and adapted.  The whole system will be upgrades and adapted into a single simulation model with a user-friendly interface and compatible with modern computing languages.

5.   Improved penetration algorithms in geological and metallic targets.

Reasonable estimation of penetration into targets with uniform density can be made over velocity ranges of 0 – 10 km/s.  However, with more current emphasis of penetration into geological targets, the subject of non-homogeneous targets comes into the fore.  Very little fundamental work has been done in this field.  Furthermore, the penetration of powder-metallurgy jets have not adequately been described mathematically.  This field fans a broad study that is currently addressed on a fundamental level.

6.   Error Accumulation Model for SALT tracker system

This project, which was done in conjunction with AMfI, was concerned with the development of a software package called TRACKER.  It is developed in MATLAB and does geometric modelling of the SALT tracker and hexapod system.  The main purpose of this software is to simulate the accumulation of errors in the tracking system.

As input, the program requires all relevant dimensions and positioning coordinates as well as the various errors that are expected at each connection point between elements of the system (in each of the x, y and z directions).  As output, the program

1.       draws a graphical representation of the system, and

2.       simulates the errors using random number generation, outputting the accumulated error at any specified point.

The program constructs various elements of the system such as tracker beams, sliders, carriage and hexapod.  It then assembles these elements into a virtual model of the tracker system by positioning the elements in a 3-D system of coordinates.

7.   Evaluation of the wind velocity distribution surrounding the proposed building, Beach Road, Strand.

The Bureau of Industrial Mathematics of Stellenbosch (BIMUS) was tasked, by Studio D'Arc Architects and Quaypower Properties Limited, to investigate the influence of the proposed building, Erf 22770, Beach Road, Strand, on the surrounding areas with regard to the surrounding wind conditions.  The effect of the various wind velocities in term of safety and comfort for pedestrians are discussed with reference to the Beaufort wind scale.  No structural aspects with regard to the building, due to the influence of the wind, were investigated.

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