The Melbourne Dockers war

In this paper, the author focuses attentioon on the so-called Melbourne Dockers War of 1971-3. Having descrided its mains events, he goes on to analyse of the unprecedented level of violence in the milieuof trade union elections. He traces this in part to the influx of criminal elements into the Federated Ship-Painters and Dockers Union of Australia (FSPDU) during the Second World War, and to the more immediate disagreement between rival factors concerning the direction which union activities, legal or othewise, should follow. He then assesses the implications of the episode for Australian politics, law and public administration in general.     

Spin glass and the interactions of congestion and emissions: An exploratory step

This paper models traffic congestion formation on highways and roads by recognizing the centrality of dynamical systems and using concepts from complexity theory as imbedded in the spin glasses analogue. Further, it explores the concept of how an increase in air pollution caused by vehicle exhaust emission can be traced to traffic congestion, specifically to the acceleration/deceleration of vehicles on the roads. First, spin glass is introduced and then by applying the two-dimensional x − y Ising model and defining a Hamiltonian (based on Edwards-Anderson and Mattis models of spin glass systems) for a system of vehicles on the road, derivations are made of the specific friction of congestion and the bulk modulus of congestion using the Gibbs-Boltzmann statistic. Similarly using the interactions of vehicles with each other and the resulting accelerations and decelerations of vehicles as the basis for exhaust emissions, derivations are made of a specificity of exhaust emissions. These are analogues to the entropy models of thermodynamics. This series of derivations serves as an analytical model for detecting incidents of congestion and increase in air pollution due to exhaust emissions in transportation systems.     

The EEZ: International enforcement problems

This paper sets out the problems and discusses possible solutions related to the policing of, and protection of economic activities undertaken in, off-shore zones over which coastal states will be expected to exercise jurisdiction.     

The competitive environment of a service industry: the examples of the U.K.-Continent passenger sea ferry services

The paper examines an international service sector (passenger sea ferry services between the U.K. and continental Europe) from the perspective of its competitive environment. Porter's five forces model forms the basis of the analysis of the market illustrated by recent develoments. Within this context the barriers to entry into and exit from the market are considered in detail. Recently, there have been many changes in market structure, and with increased competition, including that from the Channel Tunnel, it may be necessary to pool services. This will improve ferry competition with other forms of transport, but will require the brand awareness of ferries to shift from the ferry company to the ferry service offer. The service offer will need to be more clearly defined.     

The Influence of Structural Flexibilities on the Straight-running Stability of Motorcycles

A new tyre model for studies of motorcycle lateral dynamics, and three new motorcycle models, each incorporating a different form of structural compliance, are developed. The tyre model is based on “taut string” ideas, and includes consideration of tread width and longitudinal tread rubber distortion and tread mass effects, and normal load variation. Parameter values appropriate to a typical motorcycle tyre are employed. The motorcycle models are for small lateral perturbations from straight running at constant speed, and include (a) lateral compliance of the front wheel in the front forks, (b) torsional compliance of the front forks, and (c) torsional compliance in the rear frame at the steering head about an axis perpendicular to the steering axis.

Results in the form of eigenvalues, indicating modal damping properties and natural frequencies are presented for each model. The properties of four large production machines for a range of forward speeds, and the practicable range of stiffnesses are calculated, and the implications are discussed.

It is concluded that typical levels of structural compliance in models (a) and (c) contribute significantly to the steering behaviour properties of large motorcycles, and their observed behaviour can be understood better in terms of the new results than of those existing previously. Some conclusions relating to optimal structural stiffness properties are also drawn.     

Road Vehicle Suspension System Design - a review

Based mainly on English language literature, information relating to the design of automobile suspension systems for ride comfort and control of wheel load variations for frequencies below body structure resonances is reviewed. The information is interpreted in the context of vehicles which travel through a wide speed range on roads of markedly differing quality, which do so carrying different loads and which are required to possess good handling qualities.

Sections are devoted to describing road surfaces, modelling vehicles and setting up performance criteria, and to passive, active, semi-active and slow-active system types. Methods for deriving active system control laws are outlined. Strengths and weaknesses of the various systems are identified and their relative performance capabilities and equipment requirements are discussed. Attention is given to adaptation of the suspension or control system parameters to changing conditions. Remaining research needs are considered.     

内燃机缸内进气涡流强度对局部传热的影响

试验研究了内燃机缸内进气涡流强度对局部传热的影响。在不同的进气涡流强度和功率条件下测量了ω型活塞燃烧室表面瞬态热流 ,并根据测试结果计算了表面换热系数。结果表明 ,进气涡流强度直接影响着热流的分布 ,适度增强进气涡流强度有利于改善燃烧过程 ,降低燃油消耗率和活塞热负荷。     

A multioutput cost function for the services of Spanish ports' infrastructure

A long run multioutput cost function for the infrastructure services of Spanish ports is estimated using 286 observations on 26 ports during 11 years. Cargo specific marginal costs and the degree of economies of scale and scope are calculated up to a port level. Results show that liquid bulk and non-containerised general cargo present the lowest and largest marginal cost, respectively. Increasing returns to scale are present in general and for each and every port. A scope analysis indicates that port specialisation is not appropriate from the viewpoint of infrastructure.     

Stability Analysis of the Human Controlled Vehicle Moving Along a Curved Path

A method to study handling characteristics of a vehicle moving along a curved path is presented. A simple bicycle model and a feedback controller with proportional gain are used to simulate the vehicle and the driver. The lateral stability of the vehicle/driver system is analyzed by using the root locus method and numerical integration in the time domain. The effect of the curvature on the system stability is discussed in detail. A new suggestion is made for the look ahead distance to calculate the preview lateral error of the vehicle with respect to the center of the road. Interesting results are shown for some important parameters such as the gain factor, the vehicle speed and the curvature of the path. Possible extensions of the method to more general cases and other applications are discussed.