The Dynamic Effects of Conventional Freight Car Running over a Dipped-joint

Available experimental data of the dynamic force at a rail joint are used to validate the Discrete Support (DS) model of vehicle-track system. The validated DS model is employed to investigate the characteristics of dynamic forces due to a dipped rail joint. The results show that increasing axle load and rail equivalent mass significantly increases the first peak load. The wheel (unsprung) mass, stiffness of bearing rubber pad, and ballast stiffness mainly affect the second peak load. Properly designing a profile near the rail joint may reduce the dynamic load at the joint. The results obtained also indicate that the dynamic load generated at one wheel partially transmits to a neighboring wheel.     

Impacts of urban built environment on empty taxi trips using limited geolocation data

This study identifies the determinants of the empty taxi trip duration (ETTD) by combining three high-resolution databases—geolocation data in New York City, geodatabase of urban planning data, and transportation facilities data. Considering the nature of duration data, hazard-based duration model is proposed to explore the relationships between causal factors and ETTD, coupling with three variations of baseline hazard distribution, i.e., Weibull distribution with heterogeneity, Weibull distribution, and log-logistic. Furthermore, the likelihood ratio test is presented to implement comparisons of three baseline hazard distributions, as well as spatial and temporal transferability of causal factors. The results show significant complementary effects by subway system and competitive effects by city bus and bicycling system, as well as significant impacts of trip length, airport trip, average annual income, and employment rate. Urban built environment, for instance, density of road, public facilities, and recreational sites and ratio of green space, has various impacts on ETTD. The elasticity estimations confirm significant spatial and temporal heterogeneity in impacts on ETTD. In addition, the analysis on elasticity also reveals the considerable impacts of severe traffic congestion on ETTD within Manhattan. The modeling can assist stakeholders in understanding empty taxi movements and measuring taxi system efficiency in urban areas.     

Quantitative evaluation of passenger terminal orientation

When passenger terminal layout is being decided, one of the important aspects to consider is how the passenger orients himself during his visit to the terminal and his movements through it, i.e. terminal orientation. Among other things, this terminal characteristic results from visibility, or the visual connectivity between elements and spaces. The paper proposes an amendment and modification to the known method for the quantitative evaluation of terminal orientation which uses an oriented network to describe the connectivity of elements (terminal orientation). The amendment and modification of the method consists of proposing that during evaluation only visual connections that have functional meaning should be considered, rather than all visual connections. A further modification is the introduction of different weights for different connections. The example presented in the paper considers an airport terminal building.     

Preloading of independent leg units at locations with difficult seabed conditions

This paper, based on analyses of case histories, reviews soil conditions causing sudden uncontrolled leg penetrations, together with site data needed to plan safe installations of jack-up drilling units. Punch-through-like failure in uniform clay profile is analysed. Preloading procedures aimed at minimizing potential damage to the unit are suggested and discussed.     

On the kinematics and quantum dynamics of traffic flow

The hydrodynamic model of traffic flow is presented and interpreted. Traffic dimensions are defined for the dynamic entities of flow and the behaviour of congestive and dispersive flow is discussed dependent on the value of the local traffic transfer number, R. The wave equation is one example of dispersive flow, where quantum numbers define the condition of free flow at the endpoints of the link. The Schrödinger equation is defined and applied to the study of the cyclic work journey and the problem of traffic lights as an harmonic oscillator.     

Automatic control of clutches and simulations for parallel hybrid vehicles

This paper is a continuation of a previous paper titled ??Modeling and Model Predictive Control for Hybrid Vehicle?? published on IJAT/2011 describing a mathematical model and design for a model predictive controller for tracking speeds and simulations. The present paper further describes a fuzzy logic controller for the smooth and quick engagement of an automatic clutch. The described controller uses both fuzzy logic and slip control algorithms to enable automatic clutch engagement. Clutch engagement and comprehensive simulations for the hybrid vehicle are conducted in MATLAB R2009s. The research described herein offers theoretical solutions for how to better control clutch slip and engagement within realistic parameters used for hybrid vehicles. Algorithms and operations of this fuzzy logic controller can be implemented in electronic control units for automatic clutch engagements and gear-shifting processes.     

Influence of vehicular traffic on urban air quality – A case study of Hyderabad,India

In the present study, impact of vehicular traffic emissions on black carbon aerosol mass concentration, trace gases and ground reaching solar radiation were analyzed during nationwide truck strike of 5–12 January, 2009 over urban environment of Hyderabad, India. A significant reduction of about 57%, 60%, 40% and 50% was observed in black carbon, particulate matter, carbon monoxide and ozone respectively during nationwide truck strike period. Results of the study are important for source apportionment of pollutants as the strike created natural laboratory for studying the impact of diesel operated trucks on urban air quality.     

Influence of compliance for an elastokinematic model of a proposed rear suspension

The research is carried out to improve passenger’s comfort to increase the vehicles stability in dynamic conditions. The literature available in the automotive engineering considers different topics for studying suspensions. An example represents mechanisms structure and analysis (synthesis, kinematics, and dynamics) under various operating conditions. These aspects have been approached before analytically, numerical. The current paper studies the influence of the lateral force on the contact patch of the wheel and the corresponding variations of vehicle stability parameters, such as camber angle and wheel rear track. The study is performed for a newer innovative rear suspensions mechanism which does not have a wheel track and camber angle variation, relative to the chassis, when the suspension components was considered rigid. A numerical solution is obtained through a virtual model on several commercial codes: MSC Adams, Patran, Nastran. Concerning the analysed parametes, their variation increases as the applied force is increased. Moreover, the largest variation corresponds to the case were elastic bushings and deformable links are considered.     

Static and tip-over stability analysis of two-chain suspension arrangements for large-scale cargo operations

Based on the Lagrange classical stability concept, the approaches and corresponding equations for determining conditions for providing a static and tip-over stability of a two-chain suspension arrangement have been developed. Specifically, it has been proven that the arrangement is in the stable position of equilibrium if the cargo centre of gravity is placed within the isosceles triangle (named as static stability triangle). The base of this triangle is the base of the secondary suspension, and its height is a function of the geometric peculiarities of the arrangement and ratio between mass of spreader and cargo unit. Comparative tip-over stability analysis of the arrangements with different geometric peculiarities and configurations has been also performed.