Mode choice and travel distance joint models in school trips

We test a copula-based joint discrete–continuous model to unravel mode choice and travel distance decisions in a joint framework for school trips. This framework explicitly accounts for common unobserved factors that may affect both the mode choice and travel distance. Joint estimation of the models makes a significant difference in the effect of travel distance on willingness to walk to school. The absolute value of the travel distance coefficient in the mode choice model increases by 22% when a joint formulation is adopted instead of the conventional single estimations. We find a significant decrease of 19% in the coefficient of travel safety perception in the joint mode choice model compared to the single model. This underscores the impact of model specification, in terms of the variable effect interpretation and policy assessments. The effect magnitude of several policy-sensitive variables is discussed and compared with previous studies. Particularly, we indicate that the probability of walking is reduced by 0.85% due to a 1% increase in travel distance; accordingly, it propels parents to select non-active modes, particularly school bus. This study also demonstrates how addressing parental concerns about travel safety could double the propensity to walk to school.     

Hydrodynamic performance of multiple-row slotted breakwaters

This study examines the hydrodynamic performance of multiple-row vertical slotted breakwaters. We developed a mathematical model based on an eigenfunction expansion method and a least squares technique for Stokes second-order waves. The numerical results obtained for limiting cases of double-row and triple-row walls are in good agreement with results of previous studies and experimental results. Comparisons with experimental measurements of the reflection, transmission, and dissipation coefficients (C _R , C _T , and C _E ) for double-row walls show that the proposed mathematical model adequately reproduces most of the important features. We found that for double-row walls, the C _R increases with increasing wave number, kd, and with a decreasing permeable wall part, dm. The C _T follows the opposite trend. The C _E slowly increases with an increasing kd for lower kd values, reaches a maximum, and then decreases again. In addition, an increasing porosity of dm would significantly decrease the C _R , while increasing the C _T . At lower values of kd, a decreasing porosity increases the C _E , but for high values of kd, a decreasing porosity reduces the C _E . The numerical results indicate that, for triple-row walls, the effect of the arrangement of the chamber widths on hydrodynamic characteristics is not significant, except when kd<0.5. Double-row slotted breakwaters may exhibit a good wave-absorbing performance at kd>0.5, where by the horizontal wave force may be smaller than that of a single wall. On the other hand, the difference between double-row and triple-row vertical slotted breakwaters is marginal.     

Disaggregate safety evaluation for signalized intersections and evaluation tool

This study was to evaluate traffic safety of four‐legged signalized intersections and to develop a spreadsheet tool for identifying high‐risk intersections taking into consideration vehicle movements, left‐turn signal phase types, and times of day. The study used data from Virginia and employed count data models and the empirical Bayes (EB) method for safety evaluation of such intersections. It was found that crash pattern defined by vehicle movements involved in a crash and time of day are important factors for intersection crash analysis. Especially for a safety performance function (SPF), a model specification (Poisson or NB), inclusion of left‐turn signal types, type of traffic flow variables, variable functional forms, and/or magnitudes of coefficients turned out to be different across times of day and crash patterns. The spreadsheet application tool was developed incorporating the developed SPFs and the EB method. As long as Synchro files for signal plans and crash database are maintained, no additional field data collection efforts are required. Adjusting the developed SPFs and the spreadsheet for recent traffic and safety conditions can be done by applying the calibration methods employed in the SafetyAnalyst software and the Highway Safety Manual. Implementing the developed tool equipped with streamlining data entry would greatly improve accuracy and efficiency of safety evaluation of four‐legged signalized intersections in localities and highway agencies that cannot operate the SafetyAnalyst. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A real-time multi-vehicle simulator for longitudinal controller design

This paper presents a new multi-vehicle simulator for platoon simulation. The main new feature of the developed simulator is a network structure for the real-time simulation of multiple vehicles, each with a detailed powertrain and engine model. It has a small initial delay, which is determined by the number of connected PCs, but the actual simulation is performed and displayed in real-time after this initial and one-time delay. Several longitudinal controllers, including a PID controller with gain scheduling, an adaptive controller, and a fuzzy controller, are also implemented in the simulator. Various system parameters can be modified interactively in the simulator screen, which is very useful for simulating a platoon of heterogeneous vehicles, in which vehicles with different dynamics and different longitudinal controllers may be involved. The simulator provides an excellent tool to develop vehicle longitudinal controllers and to study platoon behaviors. The developed simulator is also effective in testing the effects of nonlinearities neglected in the controller design phase, such as actuator delays and gear shifting schedule.     

Multi-agent immune recognition of water mine model

It is necessary for mine countermeasure systems to recognise the model of a water mine before destroying because the destroying measures to be taken must be determined according to mine model. In this paper, an immune neural network （INN） along with water mine model recognition system based on multi-agent system is proposed. A modified clonal selection algorithm for constructing such an INN is presented based on clonal selection principle. The INN is a two-layer Boolean network whose number of outputs is adaptable according to the task and the affinity threshold. Adjusting the affinity threshold can easily control different recognition precision, and the affinity threshold also can control the capability of noise tolerance.     

基于拉压杆模型的预应力深梁抗剪承载力

为了给中国桥梁工程中的深梁抗剪设计提供理论依据,针对深梁应变分布不符合平截面假定,在结构设计中属于力流紊乱区的问题,借助拉压杆模型理论对预应力作用下的混凝土深梁极限抗剪承载力展开试验与数值研究。首先利用通用有限元分析软件ANSYS并结合Tcl/tk语言联合开发插件程序,以图形用户界面的方式实现深梁拉压杆模型的自动构形。然后,借助生成的拉压杆模型,按改进的破坏准则推导考虑预应力效应的深梁极限抗剪承载力公式,并通过12组数值试验确定主拉应力沿深梁拉压杆模型压杆分布的不均匀系数表达式。最后,通过有黏结与无黏结预应力混凝土深梁试验对推导的预应力深梁极限抗剪承载力公式的有效性进行验证。研究结果表明：对于有黏结预应力混凝土深梁试验,试验结果与Tan教授预测结果的比值均大于与本文计算结果的比值,前者平均值为1.27,后者为1.10;对于无黏结预应力混凝土深梁试验,试验结果与Tan教授预测结果之比的平均值为1.13,与本文计算结果之比的平均值为1.10;相对于已有预测值,计算结果与试验结果更加吻合,并且偏于安全,说明该公式可以较可靠地预测深梁的实际承载力,具有一定的理论价值和实用意义。     

Classification of underwater still objects based on multi-field features and SVM

A Support Vector Machine is used as a classifier to the automatic detection and recognition of underwater still objects. Discrimination between the objects can be transferred into different projection spaces by the process of multi-field feature extraction. The multi-field feature vector includes time-domain, spectral, time-frequency distribution and bi-spectral features. Underwater target recognition can be considered as a problem of small sample recognition. SVM algorithm is appropriate to this kind of problems because of its outstanding generalizability. The SVM is contrasted with a Gaussian classifier and a k-nearest classifier in some experiments using real data of lake or sea trial. The experimental results indicate that SVM is better than the others two.     

Optimal thrust allocation logic design of dynamic positioning with pseudo-inverse method

This article presents a method named pseudo-inverse to solve the optimal thrust allocation of dynamic positioning (DP) system, proposes to optimally determine the azimuth angle of thrusters instead of man-control or semi-auto control, and combines with the pseudo-inverse methods to get the optimal solutions for dynamic positioning control system. It is able to greatly reduce the risk of manual mode. Three different kinds of modes are proposed and detailedly illuminated, and can be used to solve much more complex nonlinear constraint problems, such as typical forbidden vector boundary. Several illustrative examples are provided to demonstrate the effectiveness and correctness of the proposed thrust allocation modes.     

Wrinkle analysis of the space inflatable paraboloid antenna

The presence of wrinkles in the membrane is the main factor to induce the reflector surface inaccuracy of the space inflatable antenna. Based on the commercial finite element package ABAQUS, a numerical procedure for membrane wrinkle analysis was set up and used to analyze a space inflatable antenna which was under inner pressure to evaluate its wrinkle characteristics. First, the inner pressure effect on the reflector’s wrinkle pattern was studied thoroughly. As inner pressure increases, both the number and the amplitude of the wrinkles decrease, but the total deformation of the whole reflector surface increases much. Second, the influence of the interactions between antenna’s parts was investigated comprehensively. Any kind of unwanted interaction deteriorates reflector’s wrinkle characteristics. The works are valuable to the development and research of the space inflatable antenna.     

Effect of rotation speed on temperature field and axial shortening of inertia friction welded GH4169 joints by numerical simulation

A 2D finite element model was established for inertia friction welding of GH4169 nickel-base superalloy based on the ABAQUS environment. The remeshing and map solution techniques were adopted to solve the problem of element distortion. The effect of rotation speed on the temperature field and axial shortening of joints was investigated. The results show that the interface temperature increases rapidly to higher than 900°C within 1 s. And then, it increases slowly to a quasi-stable value. The axial shortening begins to augment quickly when a uniform interface temperature field has formed and the plasticized material is extruded from the interface to form an obvious flash. The rotation speed of the flywheel controls the welding process and has a significant influence on the temperature evolution and axial shortening of joints.