Eddies around Madagascar — The retroflection re-considered

The Agulhas Current with its retroflection and attendant eddy-shedding is the cause of some of the greatest mesoscale variability in the ocean. This paper considers the area to the south and east of Madagascar, which provides some of the source waters of the Agulhas Current, and examines the propagating sea surface height signals in altimetry and output from a numerical model, OCCAM. Both show bands of variability along the axis of the East Madagascar Current (EMC) and along a zonal band near 25°S. Sequences of images plus associated temperature data suggest that a number of westward-propagating eddies are present in this zonal band. The paper then focuses on the region to the south of the island, where ocean colour and infra-red imagery are evocative of an East Madagascar Retroflection. The synthesis of data analysed in this paper, however, shows that remotely observed features in this area can be explained by anticyclonic eddies moving westward through the region, and this explanation is consistent with numerical model output and the trajectories of drifting buoys.     

Environmental trends of ports and harbours: Implications for planning and management

The traditional view of ports as evolving from human settlements to distribution centres is re-examined in an ecological context. The discussion is essential because of the persisting traditional approach to 'global' port development, i.e. directed primarily by technological optimization related to cargo transfer and ocean trasportation. Growing environmental concerns and realities indicate the need for a broader environmental view in which the port is recognized as part of a larger interactive coastal ecosystem, with environmental pressures by the port on the surrounding environment, as well as by the environment on the port. The paper argues for an ecological basis for coastal port development, analyses the environment implications of riverine linkages between port and hinterland, and details some environmental consequnces of changing industrialization and chemical practices. It also identifies initiatives for relevant planning and future port management.     

Regional impacts of new transport infrastructure: a multisectoral potentials approach

This is the second of two background papers sponsored for the Symposium by the Administrative Commission for the north of the Netherlands. Its purpose is to provide an indication of the effects of the proposed high speed rail line between Amsterdam, Groningen and Hamburg on employment in the corridor. The authors first review the techniques of forecasting these effects discussed in the literature. The potentials approach is adopted for their analysis, the mathematics and underlying assumptions of which are presented. Finally, this model is run to provide an estimate of the impact on regional employment of three variants of the proposed rail line.     

养生作用对硫沥青性能影响分析

硫磺部分替代传统石油沥青用于道路工程建设可减少石油沥青用量,降低施工能源消耗,促进工业废渣中硫磺的回收利用,具有较高的经济和环保价值。为探究硫磺掺量（质量分数）及养生作用对硫沥青（SEA）性能的影响,采用差示扫描量热仪（DSC）验证硫沥青中硫磺的重结晶现象,对养生前后硫沥青的基本物理性能和黏度进行分析,并采用动态剪切流变仪（DSR）和弯曲梁流变仪（BBR）对养生前后硫沥青的流变特性和疲劳性能进行评价,最后借助荧光显微镜（FM）观察养生前、后硫磺在沥青中的微观分布特性。研究结果表明：养生后高硫磺掺量的硫沥青DSC曲线出现吸热峰,硫沥青（特别是高硫磺掺量下）的劲度有所增加,因此对硫沥青进行养生使其性能稳定后再进行相关性能评价更具现实意义;硫磺掺量较低（≤ 10%）时,硫磺主要以溶解硫的形式存在于沥青中起到软化沥青的作用,因此沥青的低温变形能力有所改善,但其高温抗变形能力有所降低;当硫磺掺量较高（≥ 35%）时,硫磺主要以重结晶的形式悬浮在沥青中使沥青变硬,在增加沥青高温抗变形能力的同时也牺牲了其低温抗裂能力;硫磺掺量较低时,硫沥青黏度随着硫磺掺量的增加而降低;硫磺掺量较高时,硫沥青90℃和105℃黏度随着硫磺掺量的增加而增加,但硫沥青120℃和135℃黏度相差不大,同时硫磺加入最高可降低沥青的施工温度达20℃;线性振幅扫描（LAS）试验结果表明,养生后的硫沥青疲劳寿命比基质沥青长,其中35%硫沥青疲劳性能最佳;硫磺掺量进一步增加,硫沥青疲劳寿命缩短至与基质沥青相近;FM分析表明,硫磺掺量不高于5%时,硫磺全部溶解于沥青中,且养生后硫磺未重结晶,相应硫沥青无荧光性;硫磺掺量高于5%时,硫磺在沥青中分布均匀,养生后10%硫沥青中硫晶斑尺寸和面积显著增大,高硫磺掺量硫沥青中硫晶斑面积仅略有增加。     

Research on the Influence of Vertical Deformation of Bridge on the Track RegularityEI北大核心

Research purposes: The vertical deformation of high-speed railway (HSR) bridge will cause the track irregularity, which threatens the safe and efficient operation of the HSR. Taking the 32 m simple supported beam bridge as the research object, based on the existing mapping analytical model for bridge vertical deformation and rail geometry, the influence of the track regularity of the CRTS Ⅰ slab ballastless track structure caused by the key parameters such as the bridge vertical deformation amplitude, the hanging length of the beam end and the vertical stiffness of mortar layer were studied, and the corresponding measures to control the rail deformation were proposed, to provide theoretical reference for comprehensive treatment of rail deformation of HSR bridge. Research conclusions:(1) The pier settlement, the vertical rotation of the beam end and the beam fault will cause the rail to follow the beam deformation, and "up-warping" of the rail on the vertical deformation boundary will appear. (2) The rail deformation is directly proportional to the vertical deformation amplitude of the bridge and the key to control the rail deformation is to reduce the vertical deformation of the bridge. (3) The rail deformation can be controlled by reducing the hanging length of beam and vertical stiffness of mortar layer. (4) The research results can provide a theoretical reference for controlling the vertical rail deformation of high-speed railway bridges. © 2018, Editorial Department of Journal of Railway Engineering Society. All right reserved.     

The Reinforcement Analysis of Prestressed Anchor Frame Beam in the Deep Cutting Slope under Three Dimensional Strong EarthquakeEI北大核心

Research purposes: In order to further study the reinforcement of prestressed anchor frame beam in the deep cutting slope under three dimensional strong earthquake, a model of the deep cutting slope is built through FLAC 3D simulation software, the seismic wave to the model from three directions of x,y and z is input, and the dynamic response of the slope is analyzed. Then, the prestressed anchor frame beam reinforcement measures are applied to the model, and this paper analyzes the reinforcement effect of the prestressed anchor frame beam to the deep cutting slope under three dimensional strong earthquake. Research conclusions:(1) The prestressed anchor frame beam has a good effect on restraining the horizontal displacement of the deep cutting slope. (2) Under the three dimensional strong earthquake, the prestressed anchor frame beam has a good effect on the horizontal acceleration and horizontal velocity of the deep cutting slope, which reduces the peak of horizontal acceleration and horizontal velocity. (3) Through the comparison of the response before and after the reinforcement of the prestressed anchor frame beam is given under the 9 degrees three dimensional strong earthquake, it can be concluded that the prestressed anchor frame beam can provide good reinforcement effect to the deep cutting slope. (4) This research can be used for reference to the earthquake resistance of the slope engineering. © 2018, Editorial Department of Journal of Railway Engineering Society. All right reserved.     

Regulatory reform and freight mode choice

Reform of trucking Vehicle Weights and Dimensions (VWD) regulations in Canada is now underway. The effect these reforms will have on the freight transportation industry are only recently the subject of research. This paper is part of this new research effort, aimed at understanding how regulatory reform in the trucking sector will affect the existing competitive relationship between trucks and the railways. The paper presents the results of study and research into modelling the relationship between mode choice and the service characteristics that are affected by VWD reform.Using several periods of data, a series of econometric models are developed which help to elucidate the relative relationships between the mode service characteristics for both of the principal interprovincial freight modes. A technique is developed and presented to model railway user costs in order to overcome the complex and often unrepresentable pricing activities of Canadian railways.The strength of the developed econometric models is presented, including their significance and statistical reliability. This is further reinforced by the similarities exhibited by all the models in the series. The selected model is applied to predict market service responses required of the railway industry in order to compete with the trucking sector now adapting to the new regulations.The impact of the newly implemented vehicle weight and dimension reform on the rail transportation industry is analyzed and railway industry improvements aimed at maintaining its market share are presented. The results predicted by the model show that railway user cost reductions should be moderate, and likely less than the level of inflation over the period of time when trucking converts its fleet to take advantage of the new regulations.Abbreviations AASHTO American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials - CCMTA Canadian Conference of Motor Transport Administrators - EPI End products, inedible commodity classification - GVW Gross Vehicle Weight - NA 1988 VWD National Agreement - RTAC Roads and Transportation Association of Canada - VWD Vehicle Weight(s) and Dimension(s) - WA 1988 VWD Western Agreement     

Modeling intrametropolitan industrial location realistically

This paper compares intrametropolitan industrial location models to the process of intrametropolitan industrial location as described in the real estate and urban economic literature. It identifies seven areas where industrial location models are at odds with reality, and suggests ways to make them realistic. Specifically, it makes a case for microanalytic/stochastic/recursive/dynamic/economic industrial location models. It goes on to describe an operational model that is realistic in most respects.     

Performance Benefits in Passive Vehicle Suspensions Employing Inerters

A new ideal mechanical one-port network element named the inerter was recently introduced, and shown to be realisable, with the property that the applied force is proportional to the relative acceleration across the element. This paper makes a comparative study of several simple passive suspension struts, each containing at most one damper and inerter as a preliminary investigation into the potential performance advantages of the element. Improved performance for several different measures in a quarter-car model is demonstrated here in comparison with a conventional passive suspension strut. A study of a full-car model is also undertaken where performance improvements are also shown in comparison to conventional passive suspension struts. A prototype inerter has been built and tested. Experimental results are presented which demonstrate a characteristic phase advance property which cannot be achieved with conventional passive struts consisting of springs and dampers only.