Minimum Efficient Scale (MES) and preferred scale of container terminals

The decision on the scale of a port terminal affects the terminal’s managerial, operational and competitive position in all the phases of its life. It also affects competition structures in the port in which the terminal is operating, and has a potential impact on other terminals. Port authorities and terminal operators need to know the scale of the terminal when engaging in concession agreements. In economic theory the scale of a plant/firm is typically defined in relation to the Minimum Efficient Scale (MES), the long-run output where the internal economies of scale are fully exploited. However, there are a number of theoretical and empirical indications that in ports the scale of a terminal is commonly guided by a combination of the MES and other determining factors. The “preferred” scale is the result of a complex interaction between the MES, the port governance framework and objectives, the market size and structure, technological change and operational considerations, physical and geographical limitations, and the business patterns of shipping lines. This study analyses the factors resulting in a preferred container terminal scale that in most of the times is different from the MES. The analysis of the technical, market-related and governance-related factors is supported by theoretical and empirical insights that illustrate the presence of a range of actual ”preferred” scales of terminal concessions that usually are different, below or above, MES.     

Strategic alliances in container liner shipping

The economic crisis in the years between 2008 and 2010 has demonstrated the necessity for substantial adjustments on behalf of container lines. Capacities were shifted quickly to emerging and less affected markets allowing a faster recovery of globally organized companies. This paper illustrates the dynamics in the container shipping market. Alongside the main characteristics of the Top 20 ocean shipping companies, liner services are described. These services are classified by geographic coverage and vessel deployment. In addition, this paper provides a better understanding of the collaboration among service providers. Starting from a general framework of co-operative liner services, in-depth analyses of the global alliances in liner shipping are obtained. These formations - Grand Alliance, New World Alliance and CKYH Alliance - are compared with alternative forms of collaboration in the liner shipping industry. The analysis of alliance announcements which are related to operational and strategic changes indicates that the “global alliances” cannot be regarded as closed corporate-like entities. In effect, service agreements are not only negotiated with the focal members of the specific alliance. Instead, every service is arranged individually and under specific conditions. By understanding the dynamics within alliances, we are able to develop an assessment relating to the stability of collaborations. Ultimately, these insights direct us to several paths for future research.     

液化气船上层建筑整体吊装有限元强度分析

以12000m^3液化气船的上层建筑为例,对上层建筑在吊装过程中的吊点选择、吊耳形式的设计和上层建筑的变形控制进行有限元计算分析,根据计算结果对船体局部的结构、材料规格和制作安装工艺进行调整,以确保吊装的安全性。     

软土地基水下真空预压固结离心模型试验

采用新发明的真空吸水系统应用于离心机中,可以使土体产生向上渗流并模拟软土地基真空预压。为获得理想的水下真空预压固结对比效果,竖井采用2种不同井间距的砂井,密封膜采用完全覆盖的形式。用发明的装置产生水下真空得以模拟软土水下固结行为。介绍了模型制作、试验程序及真空发生系统,并分析了孔隙水压力、变形、不排水剪切强度的改变和不同井间距对固结速率的影响。     

船闸水工建筑物的检测与评估技术

采用现代测试技术及分析方法对船闸水工建筑物进行定期的检测评估可有效延长建筑物的使用寿命。提出了船闸水工建筑物检测与评估工作的一般流程,包括船闸现状的调查、检测方案的制定、现场检测的实施、检测报告的形成、评估单位的划分、复核验算的考虑因素、评估内容及方法及评估报告的形成,并就相关的检测与评估关键技术进行了阐述。     

隧道中央隔离设施安全效果的模拟评价研究

以山区公路某隧道群为对象,对用于非分离式隧道中的可倒伏示警柱、视觉标线、常规标线等三种中央隔离设施进行了驾驶模拟对比实验;建立了设置有3种隔离设施的道路虚拟实验场景;利用驾驶模拟系统进行受试者实验,对实验中获取的车辆动态数据进行了统计分析.通过对速度及其标准差、车辆行驶轨迹的横向位置及其标准差的分析结果得出:可倒伏示警柱和视觉标线有利于隧道内的行车安全,除去成本因素,可倒伏示警柱的安全性会更高些.     

基于FDTD法等离子体光子晶体的禁带特性研究

研究了垂直入射的电磁波在一维等离子体光子晶体中的传播特性,采用时域有限差分方法数值模拟的方法讨论了等离子体厚度和介质材料的介电常数对电磁波在等离子体光子晶体中传播反射和透射特性的影响,给出相应参数的模拟结果.     

绿波协调控制系统运行状态的动态监控方法

为监控干线绿波协调控制系统的运行状态及控制效果,以确定干线不同交通信号控制方案的切换时点,给出了有效协调时间的定义及计算方法,对当前绿波协调控制系统的运行状态进行动态监控,并通过累计惩罚分值的方式确定绿波协调系统中的瓶颈交叉口,讨论了有效协调时间对信号控制方案切换时点的影响.模拟试验结果表明,采用有效协调时间能够有效地监控绿波协调控制系统的运行状态,准确地发现系统中的瓶颈交叉口,为改善干线交通组织及完善干线控制方案提供技术支持.     

包含异常数据的居民出行稳健回归分析

采用稳健回归方法克服了最小二乘估计受异常样本点影响较大的弊病,该方法通过对不同的点施加不同的权重减少"异常点"作用,并据此建立加权的最小二乘估计,反复迭代以改进权重系数,直至权重系数之改变小于一定的允许误差,得到模型参数更加贴近实际值.案例研究表明,用稳健回归方法建立的数学模型避免了少数异常值干扰的影响,更加真实地反映了居民出行发生的变化趋势.     

基于FLUENT的硅油减振器热片散热性能分析

散热片的散热性能好坏严重影响硅油减振器的使用寿命.利用计算流体力学软件FLUENT,建立了硅油减振器散热片的三维模型,模型中将热场与流场进行了耦合;通过对散热片表面的温度分布特性、空气流动特性和散热率进行数值模拟,研究分析了散热片不同结构型式对其散热性能的影响.本文的分析方法可用于指导硅油减振器散热片的设计和选型.