Singapore motorisation restraint and its implications on travel behaviour and urban sustainability

The example of Singapore shows that rapid urban and economic growth does not have to bring traffic congestion and pollution. Singapore has chosen to restrain car traffic demand due to its limited land supply. Transport policy based on balanced development of road and transit infrastructure and restraint of traffic has been consistently implemented for the past 30 years. Combined with land use planning, it resulted in a modern transport system, which is free from major congestion and provides users with different travel alternatives. As the economic growth caused a substantial increase in demand for cars, several pricing policies were introduced with the aim of restraining car ownership and usage. Growth of the vehicle population is now controlled and potentially congested roads are subject to road pricing. These measures help to keep the roads free from major congestion, maintain car share of work trips below 25% and keep the transport energy usage low. Although Singapore conditions are in many aspects unique, its travel demand experience can provide useful lessons for other rapidly growing cities in Asia.

Do changes in neighborhood characteristics lead to changes in travel behavior? A structural equations modeling approach

Suburban sprawl has been widely criticized for its contribution to auto dependence. Numerous studies have found that residents in suburban neighborhoods drive more and walk less than their counterparts in traditional environments. However, most studies confirm only an association between the built environment and travel behavior, and have yet to establish the predominant underlying causal link: whether neighborhood design independently influences travel behavior or whether preferences for travel options affect residential choice. That is, residential self-selection may be at work. A few studies have recently addressed the influence of self-selection. However, our understanding of the causality issue is still immature. To address this issue, this study took into account individuals’ self-selection by employing a quasi-longitudinal design and by controlling for residential preferences and travel attitudes. In particular, using data collected from 547 movers currently living in four traditional neighborhoods and four suburban neighborhoods in Northern California, we developed a structural equations model to investigate the relationships among changes in the built environment, changes in auto ownership, and changes in travel behavior. The results provide some encouragement that land-use policies designed to put residents closer to destinations and provide them with alternative transportation options will actually lead to less driving and more walking.

Modeling residential sorting effects to understand the impact of the built environment on commute mode choice

This paper presents an examination of the significance of residential sorting or self selection effects in understanding the impacts of the built environment on travel choices. Land use and transportation system attributes are often treated as exogenous variables in models of travel behavior. Such models ignore the potential self selection processes that may be at play wherein households and individuals choose to locate in areas or built environments that are consistent with their lifestyle and transportation preferences, attitudes, and values. In this paper, a simultaneous model of residential location choice and commute mode choice that accounts for both observed and unobserved taste variations that may contribute to residential self selection is estimated on a survey sample extracted from the 2000 San Francisco Bay Area household travel survey. Model results show that both observed and unobserved residential self selection effects do exist; however, even after accounting for these effects, it is found that built environment attributes can indeed significantly impact commute mode choice behavior. The paper concludes with a discussion of the implications of the model findings for policy planning.

橡胶带式CVT特性研究现状综述

在引用大量文献的基础上,综述了橡胶带式CVT力学特性、调速特性、动态特性和传动效率的研究现状,尤其对其中的轴向力控制、V带振动和带与轮间接触分析等方面的研究进展进行了概括,最后给出了提高其传动效率的若干建议。     

汽车控制局域网CAN-BUS的数据传输研究

介绍了汽车网络技术的特征及汽车控制局域网的数据传输技术,详细论述了常用的数据传输原理及应用。     

冲击载荷作用下的车桥瞬态响应分析

汽车在行驶过程中,经常会碰到路障或凹坑,这时会对车桥形成较大冲击。文中利用Simulink模拟汽车通过路障时的冲击信号,获得了在此激励下的动载荷。根据汽车振动及有限元理论,以某轻型货车的车桥为例,利用有限元分析软件ALGOR,建立了车桥的有限元模型,并进行了瞬态响应分析,由此可以确定车桥上各点承受随时间变化的位移及应力的动态响应,从而完善了车桥的有限元动态设计方法。     

Preparing and studying of phase change energy storage materials

The thermal energy storage phase change material used for building has been prepared with a few of fatty acids based on the principle of binary low eutectic point. The thermal behaviors such as phase transition temperature and enthalpy of compound energy storage material are researched through differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The results show that the thermal energy storage phase change composite material can be used in the wall panels well as its higher latent heat.     

Dynamic recrystallization behavior and microstructural evolution in SPHC steel

The dynamic recrystallization(DRX) behaviors in SPHC steel were investigated with hot compression tests at deformation temperatures of 950-1 150,strain rates of 0.1-15 s-1,and initial austenite grain sizes of 86-232 μm.The effects of deformation temperature,strain,strain rate and the initial austenite grain size on the microstructural evolution during DRX were studied in detail.The results show that DRX is observed under the condition of the Zener-Hollomon parameter being less than 1.07×10 13 s-1.The deformation activation energy for SPHC steel is calculated to be 299.4 kJ/mol by regression analysis.Austenite grain size of DRX is refined with decreasing temperature and increasing strain rate under steady state conditions,but it is not influenced by the initial grain size.The mathematical equation of DRX grain size of SPHC steel is obtained.     

Friction and cutting properties of hot-filament chemical vapor deposition micro- and fine-grained diamond coated silicon nitride inserts

The micro-crystalline diamond (MCD) and fine-grained diamond (FGD) films are deposited on commercial silicon nitride inserts by the hot-filament chemical vapor deposition (HFCVD) method. The friction and cutting properties of as-deposited MCD and FGD films coated silicon nitride (Si₃N₄) inserts are comparatively investigated in this study. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Raman spectroscopy are adopted to study the characterization of the deposited diamond films. The friction tests are conducted on a ball-on-plate type reciprocating friction tester in ambient air using Co-cemented tungsten carbide (WC-Co), Si₃N₄ and ball-bearing steel (BBS) balls as the mating materials of the diamond films. For sliding against WC-Co, Si₃N₄ and BBS, the FGD film presents lower friction coefficients than the MCD film. However, after sliding against Si₃N₄, the FGD film is subject to more severe wear than the MCD film. The cutting performance of as-deposited MCD and FGD coated Si₃N₄ inserts is examined in dry turning glass fiber reinforced plastics (GFRP) composite materials, comparing with the uncoated Si₃N₄ insert. The results indicate that the lifetime of Si₃N₄ inserts can be prolonged by depositing the MCD or FGD film on them and the FGD coated insert shows longer cutting lifetime than the MCD coated one.     

Application of strut-and-tie model for design of interior anchorage zone in post-tensioned concrete structure

This paper presents an application of strut-and-tie model (STM) to design the interior anchorage zone (IAZ) in the post-tensioned concrete structure. The STM theory and range of IAZ are introduced. Then, based on the finite element analysis, a series of simplified equations to calculate internal forces in IAZ are presented. Finally, the STM model for IAZ is given. In the proposed STM model, internal forces in ties vary with the dimension ratio and the eccentricity of load. The U-turn of internal forces is suggested to allocate rebar to resist bearing flexural tensile force. Compared with the FIP (International Federation for Prestressing) model, the proposed STM model is more reasonable and applicable.