Design of a hydraulic anti-lock braking modulator and an intelligent brake pressure controller for a light motorcycle

The object of this paper is to design a new hydraulic modulator and an intelligent sliding mode pulse width modulation (PWM) brake pressure controller for an anti-lock braking system, for application to light motorcycles. The paper presents a design principle and a mathematical analysis of the hydraulic anti-lock braking modulator. The intelligent sliding mode PWM brake pressure controller based on vehicle acceleration is designed and tested. A three-phase pavement experiment and a rear brake influence test are undertaken to verify the performance of the controller and the modulator. A light motorcycle is built for the real vehicle anti-lock braking experiments. The experimental results show that both the intelligent controller and the hydraulic modulator designed in the study perform well in the anti-lock braking operation.     

Basic design of a series propeller with vibration consideration by genetic algorithm

Genetic algorithms (GAs) can powerfully search for parameters in a large multidimensional design space. Thus, the principle can be applied to preliminary series propeller design problems with multiple considerations. In the present study, B-series propeller design was conducted using a GA for both hydrodynamic efficiency and vibration consideration. The objective function was set by users who could freely weight the relative importance of efficiency and vibration. GAs were successfully shown to be able to obtain an optimal set of parameters leading to efficient performance and low vibration.     

Development of efficient stop planning optimization process for high‐speed rail systems

The Taiwan High Speed Rail (THSR) has recently added three additional stations to its original network. Although the three additional stations can improve accessibility to the system, these new stations can present difficulties in the transportation planning process, particularly for planning of train stops. The additional stations may benefit some passengers, but may also lengthen the travel time for the other passengers. Therefore, the main challenge faced by THSR is finding an efficient way to design appropriate stopping patterns. Past studies on stop planning usually adopted meta‐heuristics or decomposition methods to solve this complex problem. Although these solution techniques can improve solution efficiency, none of them can guarantee the optimality of the solution and capture the transfer movement of different stopping patterns. In this research, we proposed an innovative network structure to address complex stop planning problems for high‐speed rail systems. Given its special network structure, two binary integer programming models were developed to simultaneously form and determine the optimal stopping patterns for real‐world THSR stop planning problems. An optimization process was also developed to accurately estimate the station transfer time corresponding to the variation in stopping patterns and passenger flow. Results of the case studies suggest that the proposed binary integer programming models exhibit superior solution quality and efficiency over existing exact optimization models. Consequently, using this stop planning optimization process can help high‐speed rail system planners in designing optimal stopping patterns that correspond to passenger demand. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Cargo Container Loading Plan Model and Solution Method for International Air Express Carriers

Abstract

In this article, a cargo container loading plan model is developed based on the operations of FedEx, the international air express carrier. The objective is to minimize total container handling cost, subject to related operating constraints. The model is expected to be a useful planning tool whereby international air express carriers such as FedEx can decide on container loading plans that will lead to lower operating costs, thus enhancing profits and market competitiveness. The model is formulated as a non-linear mixed integer program that is characterized as NP-hard. A solution method is then developed, with the use of the mathematical programming solver, CPLEX, to solve the problem efficiently. To evaluate the model and the solution method, we perform a case study using data from FedEx. The preliminary results indicate that the model and the solution method are both efficient and effective.     

Copepod diversity in the water masses of the southern East China Sea north of Taiwan

The warm oceanic current Kuroshio and the continental shelf water of the East China Sea meet in the western North Pacific, north of Taiwan and form an upwelling when they converge. The intrusion of the Kuroshio westward over the East China Sea shelf thus results in complicated exchanges of waters between these two water masses. We studied the copepods in the plankton collection taken from an east–west transect crossing these waters in April 1995 when the intrusion of the Kuroshio over the East China Sea shelf was beginning to retreat. The taxonomy of copepods was carefully treated and erroneous species records reported in the literature were guarded against. We evaluated the copepod diversity, the association of copepod species, and the association of stations in these water masses.     

Application of the Pacejka Magic Formula Tyre Model on a Study of a Hydraulic Anti-Lock Braking System for a Light Motorcycle

The object of the study is to apply the Pacejka magic formula tyre model on a study of a hydraulic anti-lock braking system, especially applied to a light motorcycle. A sliding mode PWM controller is designed and tested. Both simulation and experimental studies of an anti-lock braking system are undertaken. The paper presents an analytical approach for estimating the longitudinal adhesive coefficient between a tyre and the road through the magic formula tyre model, the parameters of which are identified by a genetic algorithm. A dynamic analysis of a light motorcycle is carried out in detail. The experimental results show that the antilock braking system designed in the study is effective to prevent wheels locking during emergency braking. The proposed simulation results match experimental data well.     

A study of container berth allocation

This study is based on a major container terminal operator in Hong Kong. Container terminals form a link in the transport chain for transhipment and temporary storage of containers. The service time for vessels including waiting time for berthing must be minimal in order to reduce costs for shipping lines. The use of heuristics and computer simulation to measure different allocation strategies is demonstrated. The existing performance measures of allocation are evaluated and prioritized. Three sets of allocation policies are developed to tackle the day-to-day allocation problems with a view to increasing operational efficiency and enhancing customer service levels. Results show that all three proposed allocation policies have substantial improvements over the existing policy.     

饱和砂土中的地铁圆形衬砌隧道地震响应分析

研究目的:将多屈服面动本构模型引入土体动力有限元计算,在实际工程中,验证其正确性和合理性.研究结论:多屈服面动本构模型在描述土真实特性方面具有适用的普遍性和应用的灵活性;以往采用单屈服面模型进行计算是偏于安全的.     

祥芝渔港挡浪墙顶高程与港内泊稳条件的研究

通过对防波堤挡浪墙顶高程计算和物模试验研究,分析挡浪墙顶高程的取值及其对湾内海域渔船泊稳条件的影响。