Experimental study on elastic behaviors of two tandem risers in constant flow

Journal of Marine Science and Technology - Multiple pipes bundled with a certain distance are used for deep ocean development for such as lifting seafloor massive sulfides (SMS), pumping up a large...     

Persuasive communication aimed at public transportation-oriented residential choice and the promotion of public transport

In this study, we developed a persuasive communication program to induce public-transport-oriented residential (PTOR) choice. We implemented an experiment that targeted students from the University of Tsukuba, Japan, who were in the process of changing their residential location. These students were randomly assigned to four groups: the first group was a control group; the second group received an information brochure about apartment flats typically used by students in Tsukuba city; the third group received a brochure identical to the one given to the second group, except that it also included information about the level of bus service for every flat; and the fourth group was provided with a leaflet that provided motivation for PTOR choice, in addition to the brochure used for the third group. The residential locations were investigated 5 months after the intervention. There was a significant difference between the control group and the third and fourth groups. The ratio of PTOR choice in the group with the information was twice as high as that for the control group. Furthermore, the persuasive message also increased PTOR choice. Additionally, the target groups’ frequency of bus use from home or the university was significantly high compared with the control group.     

CO2 ocean sequestration by moving ships

Ocean sequestration of the CO₂ captured from fossil-fuel burning is a possible option to mitigate the increase in CO₂ concentration in the atmosphere. It can isolate huge amounts of CO₂ from the atmosphere for a long time at relatively low cost, if it is acceptable from the viewpoint of the environmental impact on the ocean. The concept of CO₂ dispersion in the ocean depths by ships is a promising method for efficient dilution. That is, liquefied CO₂ is delivered to the site and injected into the ocean at depths of 1000–2500 m with a suspended pipe towed by a slowly moving ship. In addition to the horizontal movement of the release point, the vertical journey of CO₂ droplets until they disappear by dissolution is effective for the dilution of CO₂ in seawater. In this paper, the possibility of the generation of relatively large-sized droplets from a moving nozzle is investigated experimentally. In addition, the terminal velocity of CO₂ droplets in deep-sea circumstances is measured in a large high-pressure tank to investigate the influence of the hydrate film formed on the surface of the droplet. Finally, it is shown by simulation that an initial dilution ratio of one to some ten thousandths is possible on a realistic engineering scale in the moving ship type of CO₂ ocean sequestration. Received: August 7, 2001 / Accepted: September 13, 2001     

降低车体下部噪声的评价试验

新干线高速试验列车FASTECH360S和FASTECH360Z采用安装吸声板来降低车体下部噪声。在仿真试验、模型试验和用现有商业运营列车进行的运行试验中,确认了这些吸声板的降噪效果。     

Technical standardization of ITS and Asian initiatives for intelligent mobility

User-centric intelligent mobility businesses emerge and prosper in Asian metropolitan areas by utilizing the progress if information and communication technology (ICT). Under the rise of private lead initiatives on intelligent transport systems (ITS), the roles of public sectors are still large. Public sectors should precisely identify the extensive ITS services by considering the regional conditions and deploy them by collaboration between the public and private. Public sectors also are strongly encouraged to identify the benefits acquired by development and compliance of the international technical standards. Furthermore, in order to maximize the potential capacity of ICT, improvements of social infrastructures are required by the public sectors together with private businesses. With the realization of the collaboration works, Asian regions are well deserved to take the lead in future ITS initiatives.