Man and his transport behaviour. Part 3a Metamorphosis of transport behaviour: the Indian context

Passenger Transport: Planning for Radical Change. Edited by J. D. Carr. (Gower: Aldershot.) [Pp. 224.] £27.50. ISBN 0 566 05183 4.

Geografia Transportu Polski. Transport Geography of Poland (in Polish). Second edition. By T. Lijewski. (Panstwowe Wydawnictwo Ekonomiczne, 1986.) [Pp. 286.] Z1.240. ISBN 83 208 0474 4.

Future Transport Policy. By K. J. Button and D. Gillingwater. (London: Croom Helm, 1986.) [Pp. 224.] £27.50. ISBN 0 7099 3225 1.     

Hybrid modeling of seat-cab coupled system for truck

For the complex structure and vibration characteristics of the seat and cab system of truck, there is no reliable theoretical model for the suspensions design at present, which seriously restricts the improvement of ride comfort. In this paper, a 4 degree-of-freedom seat-cab coupled system model was presented; using the mechanism modeling method, its vibration equations were built; then, by the tested cab suspensions excitations and seat acceleration response, its parameters identification mathematical model was established. Combining the tested signals and a simulation model with the parameters identification mathematical model, a new method of hybrid modeling of seat-cab coupled system was presented. With a practical example of seat and cab system, the parameters values were identified and validated by simulation and test. The results show that the model and method proposed are correct and reliable, and lay a good foundation for the optimal design of seat suspension and cab suspensions to improve ride comfort.     

Nonlinear adaptive sliding mode control for vehicle handling improvement via steer-by-wire

This paper proposes a nonlinear adaptive sliding mode control that aims to improve vehicle handling through a Steer-By-Wire system. The designed sliding mode control, which is insensitive to system uncertainties, offers an adaptive sliding gain to eliminate the precise determination of the bound of uncertainties. The sliding gain value is calculated using a simple adaptation algorithm that does not require extensive computational load. Achieving the improved handling characteristics requires both accurate state estimation and well-controlled steering inputs from the Steer-By-Wire system. A second order sliding mode observer provides accurate estimation of lateral and longitudinal velocities while the driver steering angle and yaw rate are available from the automotive sensors. A complete stability analysis based on Lyapunov theory has been presented to guarantee closed loop stability. The simulation results confirmed that the proposed adaptive robust controller not only improves vehicle handling performance but also reduces the chattering problem in the presence of uncertainties in tire cornering stiffness.     

Lateral dynamics of single unit skid-steered tracked vehicle

In the design and development of high-speed tracked vehicles, it is necessary to have an understanding of the interrelationship between the terrain factors and the vehicle characteristics during steering. The handling behavior of skid-steered tracked vehicles is more complex than that of wheeled vehicles because of non-linear characteristics arising from the sliding interface between the track and the ground. In the present work, a five degree-of-freedom (DOF) steering model of a tracked vehicle is developed, and the handling behavior during non-stationary motion is studied when operating at high and low speeds. It is demonstrated that the inclusion of roll and pitch DOF changes the steering response when compared to the response from three DOF models proposed earlier by several researchers. This is due to the strong coupling between the pitch and yaw motions. The effect of the initial forward velocities on the trajectory of the vehicle during non-stationary motion is also studied. It is observed from the results that the stability is influenced by the type of steering input, steering ratio and vehicle forward speed.     

Error quantification of a high resolution coupled hydrodynamic-ecosystem coastal-ocean model: Part3, validation with Continuous Plankton Recorder data

Data collected during the Continuous Plankton Recorder (CPR) survey has been used to validate a three-dimensional hydrodynamic ecosystem model simulation of the North-west European Shelf for the years 1988–89. The CPR time series is unique to the North Atlantic region as a validation tool. Data were extracted from the model to correspond with those collected by the CPR survey, and both the model and survey plankton data were standardised to allow the comparison of model biomass with survey counts. Simple linear regression and absolute error maps provide a qualitative evaluation of spatio-temporal model performance of simulated diatoms, flagellates, total phytoplankton and omnivorous mesozooplankton. Comparisons of z-scores indicate that the model reproduces the main pelagic seasonal features, and there is good correlation between magnitudes of these features with respect to standard deviations from a long-term mean. The model is replicating up to 62% of the mesozooplankton seasonality across the domain, with variable results for the phytoplankton. There are, however, differences in the timing of patterns in plankton seasonality. The validation exercise has highlighted that the spring diatom bloom in the model is too early, suggesting the need to reparameterise the response of phytoplankton to changing light levels in the model. Errors in the north and west of the domain imply that model turbulence and vertical density structure need to be improved to more accurately capture plankton dynamics.     

Store-and-forward based methods for the signal control problem in large-scale congested urban road networks

The problem of designing network-wide traffic signal control strategies for large-scale congested urban road networks is considered. One known and two novel methodologies, all based on the store-and-forward modeling paradigm, are presented and compared. The known methodology is a linear multivariable feedback regulator derived through the formulation of a linear-quadratic optimal control problem. An alternative, novel methodology consists of an open-loop constrained quadratic optimal control problem, whose numerical solution is achieved via quadratic programming. Yet a different formulation leads to an open-loop constrained nonlinear optimal control problem, whose numerical solution is achieved by use of a feasible-direction algorithm. A preliminary simulation-based investigation of the signal control problem for a large-scale urban road network using these methodologies demonstrates the comparative efficiency and real-time feasibility of the developed signal control methods.     

Active regulation of battery charge-sustaining in ECMS: Application in energy management for engine waste heat recovery system

Equivalent consumption minimization strategy (ECMS) is a widely used energy management method in the battery equipped bio-sources energy system, in which an equivalence factor is adopted to weigh the two kinds of energy, usually fuel and electricity. The regulation of the equivalence factor will affect not only the fuel consumption but also the battery's state of charge (SOC) sustainability, which results great influence upon the energy management of the system. In this paper, a new perspective of treating the relationship between the equivalence factor and instantaneous fuel consumption as well as instantaneous electricity consumption as a first-order dynamic system is proposed, thus the relationship between the equivalence factor and SOC is deduced as a second-order dynamic system. Based on the perspective, a linear second-order Active Disturbance Rejection Control (ADRC) is employed to regulate the equivalence factor, which can estimate and compensate, in real-time, disturbances in the system from input-output information only. An engine waste heat recovery energy network constructed by <engine> - <power turbine> - <Organic Rankine Cycle System> - <electric cooling system> - <battery> - <Integrated starter and Generator> is selected as the research object, simulation verifications upon 11 different driving cycles based on the simulation platform established by GT-SUITE software are conducted to test the fuel-saving capability and SOC self-sustainability by the proposed approach with a same set of tuning parameters. Simulation results indicate that both the fuel-saving capability and the SOC self-sustainability can be ensured by the active control of equivalent factor with a same set of tuning parameters upon all the 11 driving cycles, demonstrating a great adaptability of the control parameters.     

Time domain modeling and simulation of warship flooding process based on counter-flooding activities北大核心CSCD

[目的]实战损伤条件下,舰艇进水是舱室进水漫延与舰员抗沉行为相对抗的过程。现有的不沉性理论无法客观、全面评估抗沉干预对战损舰艇进水过程的影响,缺少从全时域的角度对战损舰艇进水过程开展预测的手段。[方法]首先,分析抗沉干预下舰艇破损进水的耦合关系,构建进水过程时域模型,进而给出数值求解算法;其次,结合案例分析抗沉干预要素对不沉性的影响,并开发可视化、交互式的仿真系统。[结果]通过仿真系统实现了进水过程与多种抗沉干预方式的综合评估,是对现有不沉性理论的有效补充。[结论]该成果不仅可帮助设计人员掌握抗沉设计方案对干预进水过程的有效性,指导舰艇抗沉能力的设计;还可应用于抗沉指挥决策的态势预报,具有较高的军事应用价值。     

State Wetland Protection: A Matter of Context?

Models of integrated management emphasize the role of the surrounding socioeconomic and political environment in influencing management choices for natural resources. In this study, we explore a model that examines the influence of socioeconomic and political variables on the wetland management programs of U.S. states. Logistic regression was used to identify environmental, socioeconomic, and political variables that explained variation in state wetland programs. The likelihood of strong planning, nonregulatory, regulatory, and overall programs increases as the importance of fisheries in the state increases (p &lt; 0.05), but decreases as population density increases (p &lt; 0.15). Furthermore, there is an increasing likelihood of stronger regulatory and overall programs as environmental group activity and industry importance increases (p &lt; 0.05). These findings provide empirical evidence to support the contention that management approaches used in one state often must be adapted to fit the realities of another given state.     

Application of fuel-saving strategies onboard high-speed passenger ships

Strategies of fuel consumption onboard ships are of one of the crucial issues in marine shipping industry. Many of the relevant authorities maritime domain gave great interesting to that issue, either through research that discussed the impact of marine fuel consumption on the environment and economy of ships or through practical experiments’ that are made by marine engine manufacturers. Over the years, many solutions have been put forward to overcome this problem while maintaining the amount of goods transported globally at the same transfer rate and ship speed. The present paper sheds light on many of the methods used currently to reach this purpose. It is explained that applying a certain fuel-saving strategy will rely on some of the factors, especially the type of ship. Mainly two methods including: shore-side power and cold out of heat strategies have been investigated regarding adaption, economic, and environmental issues in case of applying onboard high-speed passenger ships.