A random heaping model of annual vehicle kilometres travelled considering heterogeneous approximation in reporting

Transportation - Annual vehicle kilometres travelled (VKT) is a long used index of car use. Usually, the annual VKT, as reported by respondents, is used for the analysis. But the reported values...     

Spatial econometric analysis of automobile and motorcycle traffic on Indonesian national roads and its socio-economic determinants: Is it local or beyond city boundaries?

The purpose of this paper is to verify the justification provided for a centralized national road policyin Indonesia, namely, that trips on national roads are typically inter-urban, by measuring the spatialdimensions of automobile and motorcycle trips on national roads in Indonesia. The study finds thatmotorcycle trips are characteristically local; by contrast, automobile trips extend beyond city boundaries,although to a limited extent. The results suggest the decentralization of transportation policies for thedevelopment and maintenance of national roads by granting autonomy to local governments when nofiscal externality exists. The results also indicate that road capacity, gasoline prices, income, populationand worker density, city size, and the number of public buses are strong predictors of vehicle kilometerstraveled.     

Comparative analysis of household car,motorcycle and bicycle ownership between Osaka metropolitan area,Japan and Kuala Lumpur,Malaysia

The interactions among different types of vehicle ownership including car, motorcycle and bicycle are examined by developing simultaneous vehicle ownership models in this study. Large scale person trip survey data for Osaka metropolitan area, Japan and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia are used for empirical analysis. The results suggest that population density at residential area significantly and negatively affects car ownership for both areas, and that the effects are larger for Osaka metropolitan area than for Kuala Lumpur. Also, bicycle ownership becomes higher at higher population density area for Osaka area, while higher at lower population density area for Kuala Lumpur, which represents the different usage patterns of bicycle between the two areas.

Effect of pitting corrosion on local strength of hold frames of bulk carriers (2nd Report)—Lateral-distortional buckling and local face buckling

Pitting corrosion is typical corrosion observed on coated hold frames of bulk carriers which exclusively carry coal and iron ore. In order to secure the safety of these types of bulk carriers, it is important to understand the effect of pitting corrosion on local strength of hold frames.

In order to investigate this effect, a series of 4- and 3-point bend tests on structural models which consist of web, shell and face plates has been carried out. Artificial pitting was created on the web plate to simulate pitting. In the 4-point bend tests, two equal concentrated loads have been applied vertically at the one-third points of simply supported models so that compression load due to bending would act on the face plate. In this testing condition, lateral-distortional buckling occurred before reaching the ultimate strength and local buckling of the face plate was observed after reaching the ultimate strength. The effect of web plate pitting on the lateral-distortional buckling strength was found to be small but the ultimate strength decreases with increase in the degree of pitting intensity. In the 3-point bend tests, concentrated load has been applied vertically at the center of simply supported models so that compression load due to bending would act on the face plate. In this testing condition, local face buckling occurred just after reaching the ultimate strength. The ultimate strength is found to be decreasing with increase in the degree of pitting intensity.

A series of non-linear FE analyses has been performed to simulate the deformation behavior observed in the tests. It has been revealed that even in the case of randomly distributed pitting corrosion the ultimate strength of the structural models was almost the same as that of the structural models with uniform corrosion corresponding to the average thickness loss.     

Applications of a new ecosystem model to study the dynamics of phytoplankton and nutrients in the Ariake Sea,west coast of Kyushu,Japan

In this study, we present the development and application of a new ecosystem model coupled with a hydrodynamic model to describe the important physical, chemical and biological processes of an ecosystem in the marine environment, the Ariake Sea in the west coast of Kyushu, Japan. The model was calibrated and validated using in-situ field measurements from various monitoring stations in the sea. The presented results covered the period from January 1991 to December 2000. The results showed that chlorophyll-a, nutrients and dissolved oxygen levels varied seasonally in response to weather and boundary condition. Through this study, the model was shown to be able to handle the flooding and drying processes that usually exist and play an essential role over the estuarine-tidal flats of the sea.     

Development of a hull form definition tool with a related knowledge-based advisory system

The development of a parametric hull form design system utilizing combined knowledge-based and objectoriented methodologies, approaches, and techniques is the major purpose of this research. One objective was the development of a powerful, intuitive, and parameter-based hull definition system with a related hull definition advisory system that would provide useful and necessary advice to the user. Object and knowledge modeling activities were conducted during the analysis and design stage to facilitate the implementation of a hull design program and advisory system. The hull design system includes the generation of a geometric model from a process of aggregating simple user-selected shapes representing different boundaries. Design involves the capability to vary simple parameters such as entrance angles, length-breadth ratios, and radii to define local and general surface geometries. Hydrostatic calculations are included for analysis; results are referred to an advisory system for evaluation and the determination of the acceptability of parameters and analysis results. The advisory system includes a knowledge bases consisting of hull form databases, results of the statistical analysis of data, design parameter constraints, and expert knowledge acquired from designers, reference materials, and technical reports. Use of the design tool with the advisory system results in the rapid generation of hull forms and associated design evaluations. Flexibility in decision making results from the separation of the design system from the advisory system. The independence of the two systems allows for a wide range of user experience with experts using the design tool with minimal reference to the advisory system. On the other hand, the expertise and knowledge stored in the advisory system is fully available to inexperienced designers and users.     

Direct yaw moment control and power consumption of in-wheel motor vehicle in steady-state turning

Driving force distribution control is one of the characteristic performance aspects of in-wheel motor vehicles and various methods have been developed to control direct yaw moment while turning. However, while these controls significantly enhance vehicle dynamic performance, the additional power required to control vehicle motion still remains to be clarified. This paper constructed new formulae of the mechanism by which direct yaw moment alters the cornering resistance and mechanical power of all wheels based on a simple bicycle model, including the electric loss of the motors and the inverters. These formulation results were validated by an actual test vehicle equipped with in-wheel motors in steady-state turning. The validated theory was also applied to a comparison of several different driving force distribution mechanisms from the standpoint of innate mechanical power.     

Evaluation of progress in contractual terms: Two case studies of recent DBFO PPP projects in North America

With continuous demand for transportation infrastructure and chronic funding shortfalls, public-private partnerships (PPPs) for infrastructure provision have garnered attention in recent years in the U.S. and abroad. High profile concession deals in Chicago and Indiana have raised concerns about the protection of public interests in PPPs. Such concerns have ignited heated debates, partly driven by ideology and vested interests, but also by questionable decisions made previously. While public agencies at all levels are interested in identifying successful PPP arrangements, the variety and complexity of PPP deals, combined with local factors unique to each project, make the development of a universal evaluation framework practically infeasible.