Clarifying multiple-mode decision making in conventional psychological models: A consideration of the influential mechanism of car use's characteristics on the behavioral use of public transportation

The existence of the multiple-mode decision making process challenges the existing psychological theories those predict travel behaviors because the theories were mainly to explain the relationship between travelers' perceived attributes of a targeted mode, not to make choices between modes. A review of related literatures showed a lack of focus on the mechanism of one mode influencing other mode in psychological models. The present study investigates how car-related factors affect the establishment of bus use intention in a psychological investigation. It is hypothesized that single car use factors do not directly influence bus use intention, rather than that; they indirectly influence bus use intention through an overall factor of car use. Results from a dataset of 270 samples investigating three types of daily trips in the Japanese context showed support to the mediating effect of the overall car use factor. As such, an arbitrary inclusion of car-related factors to psychological models of public transportation may not be recommended.     

Similarity of the measured NIC of a BioRID II dummy in car-to-car rear end impact and sled experiments

The Japan New Car Assessment Program (J-NCAP) evaluates the performance of cars in terms of protection against whiplash injuries in rear-end collisions. In the test protocol, a simplified triangular acceleration is applied to the sled. This study clarifies whether biofidelic rear-impact dummy II (BioRID II) measurements obtained for simplified triangular acceleration reflect car-to-car rear-end impacts in real-world accidents in Japan. We conducted a car-to-car rear-end impact experiment and a simplified-triangular-acceleration sled test. Our results indicate that the time series of dummy responses were approximately consistent in the two test conditions. The neck injury criterion (NIC) and maximum acceleration of the head and T1 measured using the BioRID II dummy were similar in the car-to-car and sled experiments. This revealed that the J-NCAP test protocol using simplified triangular acceleration reflects the car-to-car rear-end impact experiment using Japanese cars, in terms of the NIC and maximum acceleration of the head and T1.     

Modeling cyclists' facility choice and its application in bike lane usage forecasting

In some circumstances on streets equipped with new bike facilities, cyclists are not interested in using them. Instead, they continue to use shared spaces with pedestrians or motor vehicles. Thus, simply adding a bike facility does not guarantee that cyclists will switch to using it. Owing to the considerable development of bike facilities, the investigation of facility preference, particularly focusing on facility choice forecast, has become increasingly important. This study developed a model for predicting the facility choice of cyclists between on-street facilities (curb, traffic lane, and bike lane (BL)) and off-street facilities (sidewalks). Initially, the optimal model was selected using Bayesian Model Averaging method. Then, it was validated by both internal and external validations. Apart from the aforementioned factors, several other exogenous variables were also found to be significant predictors of bike facility choice, including the width of traffic lanes, existence of real-time stopping vehicle, type of bike, bus stop existence, and in-group cycling. Analysis of the relative importance of predictors indicated that bus stop existence, effective sidewalk width, and type of bike were the potential predictors. A framework for predicting BL usage, if it is present, was also developed. A test for the predictive performance of the application at a real site was carried out. By comparing predicted and actual BL usage figures, the analysis showed good predictive performance. The results of this study can help developers, planners, and designers to adopt reasonable investment decisions as well as better designs in developing new bike facilities.     

Wave responses of a coastal cargo ship consisting of unit modules

This article discusses the dynamic responses of a coastal cargo ship that consists of unit modules with advance forward speed in waves. We introduce a simple way of connecting the modules that has enough capability to link the modular parts of the ship as a unified whole. The flexible connection consists of male and female rubber fenders with additional pretensioned ropes. This kind of connection system is proposed for use in coastal regions with relatively calm waters wherein the modular ship can move at a moderate speed. The modules are assumed to be rigid compared to the connections. Computations were performed to investigate the vertical elastic responses of four modules connected end-to-end with the assumption that in the simple hinge, no gaps occur in the flexible rubber connections between adjacent modules. A simple method, which is an extension of the computational analysis we reported previously, is presented to study the hydroelasticity and rope tension forces of the modular ship with forward speed in waves. Experiments with a three-dimensional model at Froude numbers of 0 and 0.16 in head waves were performed to evaluate the effectiveness of the calculation method. In the experiments, deflections for each part were measured using calibrated potentiometers. Force transducers were used to measure the rope tension force between the modules of the articulated cargo ship. Some slight differences were observed, but generally the calculated results showed the same trends as the experimental values.     

Application of a genetic algorithm to the optimal structural design of a ship's engine room taking dynamic constraints into consideration

The genetic algorithm, known as GA, is used to optimize engine room structure, not only under static constraints, but also under dynamic constraints. A penalty function method is used to handle the complicated constraint conditions based on the numerical results of dynamic and static analyses. There are several ways to take the dynamic effect into account in the optimum design of ship structure. First, the inequality constraint condition is applied to separate the natural frequency and the exciting frequency. Second, generalized design variables are introduced in order to transfer not only the dynamic but also the static equilibrium equations into the equality constraints, resulting in the optimal structural design without the need to solve these equilibrium equations. Third, the magnitudes of the acceleration and displacement are constrained instead of applying the natural frequency constraint condition. In order to achieve better convergency in the optimization with least resources, several operators and methods are considered and then introduced into the structural design of the engine room. The new operator, called either objective elitism or fitness elitism, is introduced to improve the efficiency of the method. The effect of boundary mutation and nonuniform mutation on the performance of the GA is examined. Not only binary representation but also floating-point representation are used to express the design gene in the GA. Fuzzy theory is applied in the GA to handle the uncertainty of the constraint conditions. Two ways of solving fuzzy optimization are investigated in order to obtain a fuzzy solution and a crisp solution. Received: October 2, 2000 / Accepted: November 30, 2000     

Paratransit Service in Indonesia: User Satisfaction and Future Choice

Abstract

This paper explores user satisfaction with making use of paratransit in Bandung, Indonesia. User perceptions of attributes are analyzed using factor analysis to find representing attribute types and factors of service quality. Ordinal probit analysis is employed to explore the characteristics of users regarding their perception of satisfaction with the paratransit service. Binary logistic analysis is undertaken to predict users’ choice probability in making use of paratransit in the future when there is a service improvement. The study reveals that what may be of importance in developed countries carries a different weight of importance for paratransit users. This fact can be explained by describing the characteristics of users that expressed their satisfaction, which also explains the target market for this mode. The analysis reveals the notion that financial motives seem to dominate when users select to use paratransit.     

Drivers' perceptions regarding speeding and driving on urban residential streets with a 30 km/h speed limit

Previous studies have shown very little information regarding drivers' opinions, attitudes and behaviours with respect to speeding and driving on urban residential streets with a 30 km/h speed limit. The present research aims to address this issue by conducting a questionnaire study with a sample of 367 Japanese drivers. The results showed that drivers tended to have positive beliefs about complying with the 30 km/h speed limit and understand the negative consequences of speeding; however, a majority of the drivers considered breaking the speed limit as a way to reduce their travel time. While the extent of speeding was found to be very serious, a number of drivers still supported the use of a 30 km/h speed limit on residential streets and favoured protecting the right of vulnerable street users. The logistic regression models developed in this study identified that the drivers who did not support the 30 km/h speed limit were associated with those who had committed traffic-law violations, who had negative beliefs about complying with the speed limit, who did not consider residents' opinions, who believed it is acceptable for them to drive at a high speed, and who felt it difficult to refrain from speeding. With regard to anti-speeding countermeasures, under drivers' point of view, streets should be designed to make the 30 km/h speed limit more credible, although this study also showed evidence supporting the application of public awareness programmes and social campaigns as speeding interventions. In addition, this research investigated drivers' speed choices in various specific driving circumstances, and six underlying factors affecting drivers' speed choices were determined. On the basic of the findings, the implications and suggestions for speeding interventions were also discussed.     

Hydrodynamic optimization of ship hull forms in shallow water

A computational method for improving hull form in shallow water with respect to wave resistance is presented. The method involves coupling ideas from two distinct research fields: numerical ship hydrodynamics and nonlinear programming techniques. The wave resistance is estimated by means of Morinos panel method, which is extended to free surface flow and considers the influence of finite depth on the wave resistance of ships. This is linked to the optimization procedure of the sequential quadratic programming (SQP) technique, and an optimum hull form can be obtained through a series of iterations giving some design constraints. Sinkage is an important factor in shallow water, and this method considers sinkage as a hydrodynamic design constraint. The optimization procedure developed is demonstrated by selecting a Wigley (C _B = 0.444) hull and the Series 60 (C _B = 0.60) hull, and new hull forms are obtained at Froude number 0.316. The Froude number specified corresponds to a lower than critical speed since most of the ships operating in shallow water move below their critical speed. The numerical results of the optimization procedure indicate that the optimized hull forms yields a reduction in wave resistance.     

User satisfaction with paratransit in competition with motorization in indonesia: anticipation of future implications

The rapid pace of motorization throughout the world has changed travel behavior, which in turn has influenced every aspect of transport operations. This impact has also increasingly challenged the future existence of such road-based urban public transport as paratransit due to its characteristics and problems, especially in developing countries. Since creating satisfied users can help retain paratransit’s existence, this research aims to explore user satisfaction with paratransit service in order to anticipate future implications for its competition with motorization in Bandung, Indonesia. It establishes important factors and attributes to explain user perceptions and priorities regarding the service. Its hypotheses explain how users measure paratransit’s quality of service, inferring that they are likely to continue to use it. Even though users are dissatisfied with several aspects of paratransit, and the impact of competition has been strong, loyal users can still be found. By considering the findings, existing problems of inappropriate-quality service can be addressed to satisfy users’ expectations. The study also suggests some anticipation of winning the competition with motorization.     

高速铁路车辆车轴的疲劳设计方法(续)

3.4疲劳危险部位设计由于受车轴形状和疲劳磨损影响,压装部位(如轮座和制动盘座)的疲劳强度比其他平滑部位要小。为了提高压装部位的疲劳强度,采用了多种形状和材料的车轴进行统计测试。其压装部位的具体形状如图7所示。轮座和制动盘座处的车轴直径比平滑部位的要大,故采用了一