Two-dimensional Continuum Modeling Approach to Transportation Problems

The continuum modeling approach to transportation models is now gaining much attention because of its advantages in dealing with dense-network models, macroscopic problems, and initial phase planning. This paper aims to provide a comprehensive review of the development and applications of the two-dimensional continuum modeling approach. The theoretical development and models with specific or arbitrary region configurations are first discussed, and then the applications of the continuum modeling approach to the determination of facility location, route choice, pedestrian flow, and policy and socio-economical analysis are reviewed. Finally, some prospective directions for future research are proposed.     

星期四计划——关于城市交通的新畅通计划

简要介绍了关于城市创新策略计划的提案.这项提案旨在解决城市所面临的双重挑战:如何让城市变得更加畅通,同时又能改善环境质量并提高人们居住、工作和生活的质量.为了进一步说明,通过对EcoPlan国际畅通项目的观察总结,提出了6个论点,说明为何需要采取新的综合方案来应对大多数城市所面临的挑战.提出了一个旨在改变城市或邻近地区如何对待小汽车使用的方案,即在精心的准备下过一天没有小汽车的日子,然后对结果进行反思.此方案称为"星期四计划".该提案强调了:明确这一天的基本目标;精心准备,努力达成共识;对结果进行严格检测,以便做好跟踪和调整工作.希望可以鼓励不同观点,获得进一步的改进意见,促进各个地方制定具体跟进措施和协作项目.     

路段人行横道二次过街感应式信号控制算法设计

在现有感应控制二次过街系统中,道路两边以及安全岛按钮控制多为分开控制,没有相互协调,行人在安全岛等待时间过长易导致违章过街等问题。在一次过街感应控制算法基础上,结合二次过街相关理论、机动车与行人延误机理以及行人过街信号配时理论,提出"人行绿波"协调思路,对路段二次过街感应控制算法进行设计,并应用Vissim软件进行仿真验证,结果显示设计感应控制算法能有效地降低行人和机动车延误。     

集装箱班轮公司航次运力销售过程优化模型

基于种群演变和共生理论,采用Cobb-Douglas生产函数描述航运市场整体需求,从顾客的购买行为出发,以收益最大作为集装箱班轮公司的经营目标,以基于时间序列的运力与运价作为决策变量,构建了集装箱班轮公司航次运力销售过程优化模型。运用Taylor公式与最小二乘法等代数变换手段将非线性规划问题转化为线性规划问题,对关键参数进行了标定与敏感性分析,并利用MATLAB软件进行仿真验证。仿真结果表明:当单个集装箱班轮公司的运力为104 TEU时,采用常规的销售策略,集装箱班轮公司可售出的运力为7 534~9 966TEU,获得收益为1 233 158~12 915 936USD,采用提出的优化模型,可售出的运力为9 915TEU,获得收益为15 111 975USD,收益至少提高17%;当2个集装箱班轮公司的运力均为104 TEU时,采用提出的优化模型,2个集装箱班轮公司可售出的运力分别为9 920、9 947TEU,获得收益分别为14 241 771、9 737 528USD,达到纳什均衡;当3个集装箱班轮公司的运力均为104 TEU时,采用提出的优化模型,3个集装箱班轮公司可售出的运力分别为8 289、5 526、6 034TEU,获得收益分别为6 755 755、6 119 906、4 377 758USD,达到纳什均衡。可见提出的模型可描述多个集装箱班轮公司运力销售情况,且表现出显著的优化效果。     

Potential of Real-Time Cylinder Pressure Analysis by Using Field Programmable Gate Arrays

In this paper, a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) was used to implement a real-time cylinder pressure analysis. The goal of the project was to improve the accuracy of calculated heat release and center of combustion calculations to enhance the precision of engine control functions. Compared to today’s real-time pressure analysis systems, several additional physical effects were taken into account for this objective. The wall heat transfer was calculated based on the approach published by Hohenberg. A chemical equilibrium with six substances was assumed for the mixture composition and a real-time calculation method was developed. Furthermore, a two-zone model was adapted and implemented for this realtime analysis. The validation of the results and the rating of the improvement in precision were based on GT-SUITE simulation results as an offline reference tool. Compared to state-of-the-art analysis systems, it was possible to reduce the average error of the center of combustion position from 1.6° to 0.5° crank angle (CA) by taking the investigated effects into account. Moreover, it was possible to significantly reduce the time required for the calculation from one complete combustion cycle to 0.2°CA at an engine speed of 3,000 rpm by using a continuous calculation method on the FPGA. This led to an additional improvement of the ability to control the engine, especially under highly dynamic operation conditions.     

Effects of FTP-75 mode vehicle fuel economy improvement due to types of power steering system

This paper focuses on fuel economy improvement according to the type of power steering system. Usually, a conventional power steering system is directly driven by the crankshaft of the engine with a belt, known as HPS (hydraulic power steering). However, there is some inefficiency with this system at high engine speeds. To improve this inefficiency, automobile makers have developed two power steering systems: EHPS (electro-hydraulic power steering) and MDPS (motor-driven power steering) or EPS (electric powered steering). However, there has been insufficient study of effects of the type of power steering system on fuel economy. In this paper, the effect of the type of power steering system on fuel economy is studied experimentally, and calculations of the effect on vehicle fuel economy are presenting using computer simulation with AVL cruise software. The results demonstrate that a 1% vehicle fuel economy improvement can be achieved in a vehicle with an electro-hydraulic power steering system compared to a vehicle with a hydraulic power steering system. In addition, a 1.7% vehicle fuel economy improvement can be achieved using a full electric power steering system in a FTP-75 driving cycle. These results could be used to choose a power steering system.     

OH-radical behavior of unsteady lifted flame based on instantaneous change of the equivalence ratio

In an earlier study, the current authors showed that an unsteady-state lifted flame generated by an equivalence ratio conversion system for a given fuel, was similar to a steady-state lifted flame in terms of the change characteristics from a premixed flame to a critical flame and then to a triple flame with a diffusion flame positioned in the middle according to the concentration difference. Therefore, this study used an OH-PLIF method to investigate the characteristics of a steady-state lifted flame and an unsteady-state lifted flame created under conditions identical to the flames in the preceding study. PLIF (Planar laser induced fluorescence) is practically effective for visualizing the concentration fields within a flame. The resulting OH-radical measurements showed that an unsteady-state lifted flame created under the specific conditions used in this study showed similar tendencies in terms of OH-radical distribution, fluorescence intensity, and liftoff height, to a steady-state lifted flame, thereby confirming that the behavior of an unsteady-state lifted flame can be effectively predicted based on the behavior of a steady-state lifted flame.     

Study of RCM-based maintenance planning for complex structures using soft computing technique

To guarantee the efficiency of maintenance strategies for a complex structure, safety and cost limitations must be considered. This research introduces RCM-based (Reliability Centered Maintenance) life cycle optimization for reasonable maintenance. The design variable is the reliability of each part, which consists of a complex structure, while the objective is to minimize the total cost function in order to maintain the system within the desired system reliability. This research constructs the cost function that can reflect the current operating condition and maintenance characteristics of individual parts by generating essential cost factors. To identify the optimal reliability of each component in a system, this paper uses a Neuro-Evolutionary technique. Additionally, this research analyzes the reliability growth of a system by using the AMSAA (Army Material Systems Analysis Activity) model to estimate the failure rate of each part. The MTBF (Mean Time Between Failure) and the failure rate of the whole system, which is responding to the individual parts, are estimated based on the history data by using neural networks. Finally, this paper presents the optimal life cycle of a complex structure by applying the optimal reliability and the estimated MTBF to the RAMS (Reliability, Availability, Maintainability, and Safety) algorithm.     

Effects of valve timing and intake flow motion control on combustion and time-resolved HC & NOx formation characteristics

In SI engines, valve events have a major influence on volumetric efficiency, fuel economy and exhaust emissions. Moreover, swirl and tumble motions in the intake charge also improve combustion speed and quality by stratifying the mixture as well as intensifying the mixing rate of air and fuel. This paper investigates the behaviors of an engine and the combustion phenomenon for various intake valve timings and intake charge motions using CVVT system and port masking schemes. Test condition includes a part load and a cold idle condition inclusive of a cold start of the engine. Time-resolved HC and NOx emissions were also measured at an exhaust port to examine their formation mechanisms and behaviors with fast response HC/NOx analyzers. In conclusion, the fast burning of fuel and improved combustion quality by enhanced charge motions reduced unburned HC emissions, and advancing the intake valve opening reduced HC as well as NOx. Furthermore, HCs during the cold transient phase and idle conditions decreased with recalibrated start parameters such as lean air-fuel ratio and spark retardation via the enhancement of intake charge motions.     

Predictive control of a vehicle trajectory using a coupled vector with vehicle velocity and sideslip angle

In this paper, a predictive algorithm for vehicle trajectory control using the vehicle velocity and sideslip angle is proposed. Since the driving state of a vehicle generates nonholonomic constraint equations, it is difficult to control the trajectory with a conventional control algorithm. Furthermore, control vectors such as vehicle velocity and sideslip angle are coupled together; hence, a separate control for each variable is not suitable. In this study, a coupled control vector that combines the velocity and sideslip angle is proposed for the predictive control of vehicle trajectory. Since the coupled control vector is derived from the status of the vehicle’s motion, it is easy to generate a feedback control vector for the predictive controller. The coupled vector cannot be directly used as input to the vehicle systems; therefore, the vehicle input vector should be calculated from the control vector using a nonlinear function. Since nonlinear functions are not inserted in the control loop, they are calculated by the controller. Therefore, this method does not require a linearization process in the control logic, which enhances the stability and accuracy of the predictive controller.