Fitness-for-purpose assessment of cracked offshore wind turbine monopile

In this paper, the procedure for flaw acceptability assessment is examined through a case study of a semi-elliptical surface crack in an offshore monopile as it grows till it forms a through thickness crack. Using the procedure prescribed in an industrial standard (BS 7910), the fracture ratio, K_r is shown to increase monotonically with increasing crack depth. The load ratio, L_r, is initially insensitive to the crack depth. However, there is a rapid increase in L_r when the crack depth to thickness ratio exceeds 80%. L_r values obtained from detailed 3D FE limit analysis using elastic-perfectly-plastic material behaviour do not exhibit the asymptotic behaviour predicted by BS 7910 as the flaw transitions from deep crack to through-thickness crack. Furthermore, K_r predicted by BS 7910 is shown to be an over-estimation for the typical dimensions of offshore monopiles. The findings suggest that a structure with a deep flaw may be identified as unacceptable based on BS 7910 when it may still possess a non-trivial amount of structural residual life. This is a concern for monopiles where crack growth as a large flaw forms a significant part of the total life.     

Using GPS-data to determine optimum electric vehicle ranges: A Michigan case study

Fuel-switching personal transportation from gasoline to electricity offers many advantages, including lower noise, zero local air pollution, and petroleum-independence. But alleviations of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are more nuanced, due to many factors, including the car’s battery range. We use GPS-based trip data to determine use type-specific, GHG-optimized ranges. The dataset comprises 412 cars and 384,869 individual trips in Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA. We use previously developed algorithms to determine driver types, such as using the car to commute or not. Calibrating an existing life cycle GHG model to a forecast, low-carbon grid for Ann Arbor, we find that the optimum range varies not only with the drive train architecture (plugin-hybrid versus battery-only) and charging technology (fast versus slow) but also with the driver type. Across the 108 scenarios we investigated, the range that yields lowest GHG varies from 65 km (55+ year old drivers, ultrafast charging, plugin-hybrid) to 158 km (16–34 year old drivers, overnight charging, battery-only). The optimum GHG reduction that electric cars offer – here conservatively measured versus gasoline-only hybrid cars – is fairly stable, between 29% (16–34 year old drivers, overnight charging, battery-only) and 46% (commuters, ultrafast charging, plugin-hybrid). The electrification of total distances is between 66% and 86%. However, if cars do not have the optimum range, these metrics drop substantially. We conclude that matching the range to drivers’ typical trip distances, charging technology, and drivetrain is a crucial pre-requisite for electric vehicles to achieve their highest potential to reduce GHG emissions in personal transportation.     

基于模糊理论的船舶复合碰撞危险度计算

基于船舶领域和动界的概念,在船舶碰撞几何原理的基础上,利用模糊规则和模糊综合评价方法,本文提出一种船舶复合碰撞危险度的计算方法.确定最近会遇距离(DCPA)、最近会遇时间(TCPA)、两船距离、相对方位、船速比5个主要因素的隶属度函数,并考虑航行区域状况、能见度情况和船舶的操纵性能等对船舶碰撞危险度的隶属度函数修正.用原始数据对3种不同会遇态势进行仿真和对3种不同碰撞危险度计算结果分析比较,结果表明该方法的有效性.     

Environmental impacts of public transport systems using real-time control method

Public Transport (PT) systems rely more and more on online information extracted from both operator’s intelligent equipment and user’s smartphone applications. This allows for a better fit between supply and demand of the multimodal PT system, especially through the use of PT real-time control actions/tactics. In doing so there is also an opportunity to consider environmental-related issues to approach energy saving and reduced pollution. This study investigates and analyses the benefits of using real-time PT operational tactics in reducing the undesirable environmental impacts. A tactic-based control (TBC) optimization model is used to minimize total passenger travel time and maximize direct transfers (without waiting). The model consists of a control policy built upon a combination of three tactics: holding, skip-stops, and boarding limit. The environmental-related measure is the global warming potential (GWP) using the life cycle assessment technique. The methodology developed is applied to a real life case study in Auckland, New Zealand. Results show that TBC could reduce the GWP by means of reduction of total passenger travel times and vehicle travel cycle time. That is, the TBC model results in a 5.6% reduction in total GWP per day compared with an existing no-tactic scenario. This study supports the use of real-time control actions to maintain a reliable PT service, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and subsequently moving towards greener PT systems.     

The impact of the Polar Code on risk mitigation in Arctic waters: a “toolbox” for underwriters?

The existing risk weighing on vessel, crew and ecosystem in the Arctic and more globally in Polar waters promoted the adoption of the Polar Code (PC) early 2017, a mandatory international legal framework intended for enhanced safety and environmental protection. While the substance of the PC has been extensively analyzed, few studies have focused on the underlying relationships between the PC and underwriters. Based on an extensive literature review, documentary materials and interviews with insurance companies, this article conceptualizes the PC as a “toolbox” and analyzes how underwriters can exploit it in their work within the emerging Arctic market. The PC does not only regulate the navigation in Arctic waters in legal terms, but is also aimed at mitigating risks in the Polar areas through the identification of hazard sources and proceduralization of risk assessment. As a result we observe a certain “Polar Code paradox”. Even though the PC is a risk-based instrument and constitutes a key step for improving ship insurability, it has only limited capacity to assist underwriters in assessing risks and insuring vessels. Marine insurers still face a lack of data and high pending uncertainties leading them to exercise extreme caution with Arctic risks appraisal.     

The potential mitigation of CO2 emissions via modal substitution of high-speed rail for short-haul air travel from a life cycle perspective – An Australian case study

The objective of this study is to provide a strategic evaluation of the mitigation of CO₂ emissions via modal substitution of high-speed rail for short-haul air travel on the Sydney–Melbourne, Australia city-pair from a life cycle perspective. It has been demonstrated that when considering CO₂ emissions from vehicle operations, the modal shift from air to high-speed rail on this city-pair has the potential to provide a means of CO₂ mitigation. However, uncertainty exists with regard to the level of mitigation potential when considering the whole-of-life performance of the systems. Given the significant difference in the infrastructure requirements between the air mode and the high-speed rail mode, this study quantifies the life cycle CO₂ load attributable to each system and examines the effect on CO₂ mitigation potential. The study concluded that while the inclusion of the linehaul infrastructure did increase the CO₂ load associated with high-speed rail mode, it did not equate to or exceed the CO₂ load per trip as experienced by the air mode. The avoided annual life cycle CO₂ emission in the target year 2056 was 0.37 Mt representing an 18% reduction when compared to the air mode only on the city pair. In fact, the scenario comparison indicated that the substitution of high-speed rail for short-haul air travel on the city pair resulted in CO₂ emissions avoidance throughout the longitudinal period.     

长江航道大型整治工程施工安全控制关键技术

长江航道大型整治工程施工河段长、工程量大且工序多,施工水域船舶通航密度大、船舶种类多,施工安全生产控制与河段通航安全面临巨大挑战。依托长江干线下、中、上游典型大型航道整治工程,围绕工程施工全过程风险管控及安全保障技术,采用理论分析、仿真模拟、现场试验、系统研发相结合的方法,提出了长江航道大型整治工程风险识别与评估方法,构建了通航安全与施工生产安全风险预测模型,研究了长江航道大型整治工程全方位、全过程、全要素施工安全保障与控制技术,并基于AIS和云技术开发了长江航道整治工程施工区安全综合信息平台,为保障大型航道整治工程生产及通航安全提供了理论依据和技术手段。     

Agent-based simulation framework for mixed traffic of cars,pedestrians and trams

In this paper, we report on the construction of a new framework for simulating mixed traffic consisting of cars, trams, and pedestrians that can be used to support discussions about road management, signal control, and public transit. Specifically, a layered road structure that was designed for car traffic simulations was extended to interact with an existing one-dimensional (1D) car-following model and a two-dimensional (2D) discrete choice model for pedestrians. The car model, pedestrian model, and interaction rules implemented in the proposed framework were verified through simulations involving simple road environments. The resulting simulated values were in near agreement with the empirical data. We then used the proposed framework to assess the impact of a tramway extension plan for a real city. The simulation results showed that the impact of the proposed tramway on existing car traffic would not be serious, and by extension, implied that the proposed framework could help stakeholders decide on expansion scenarios that are satisfactory to both tram users and private car owners.     

船舶低硫柴油系统设计的分析与优化

就新辟航线首制船“汉亚直达”集装箱船的低硫柴油系统,叙述了船舶低硫柴油系统的设计经验,从当前国内外对船用燃油硫含量的要求、应对方案到船舶低硫柴油冷却方式选择、低硫柴油冷却系统设计、高/低硫柴油转换、使用低硫柴油风险分析及处理等方面进行详细叙述,为业内同行提供参考。     

考虑湖盆摩阻效应的川藏铁路冰碛堰塞湖地震涌浪及溃决风险分析

川藏铁路沿线存在着众多冰碛堰塞湖,且大部分位于高烈度地震区,堰塞湖溃决洪水成为对线路方案起控制作用的灾害类型,而地震涌浪是导致冰湖溃决的主要诱因之一。目前湖泊地震涌浪计算公式一般忽略湖盆的摩阻效应,对水深较浅且糙率大的冰碛堰塞湖而言,计算值偏小。鉴此,通过开展不同水深、不同地震峰值加速度、不同糙率的振动台造波模型实验,研究湖盆摩阻效应对地震涌浪的影响。根据实验结果,建立考虑摩阻效应的地震涌浪计算公式,并利用漫溢型溃决临界水文条件提出了冰湖溃决判据;最后以川藏铁路帕隆藏布流域为例进行应用说明,从而建立一种与选线原则方案确定阶段精度要求相匹配的冰碛堰塞湖地震涌浪溃决风险评估方法。本文公式考虑湖盆摩阻效应,适用于水深较浅的冰碛堰塞湖,尤其是在大震强震情况下,其计算结果偏安全。