Numerical prediction of the modal response of flexible cylinders in cross-flow with a current dependent form of damping

A quadratic eigenvalue problem (QEP) was posed in order to study the dynamics of flexible cylinders in cross-flow, simulating slender offshore structures such as risers, catenaries or tendons. The Euler–Bernoulli equation was used to model the structure assuming a fluid loading model, and yielding a quadratic eigenvalue problem that included a form of damping dependent not only on the structural damping itself, but also on the free stream velocity and the fluid force coefficients. We solved the QEP using the finite element method. We also derived a simplified analytical solution in this work for comparison with the QEP, however this solution does not consider changes in tension along the length of the cylinder as the QEP does. In our study, the QEP solutions were first validated against the simplified analytical solution, and also against a well-known experimental dataset obtained in 2003, in which a flexible circular cylinder model was used to model the dynamics of a riser undergoing multi-mode vortex-induced vibrations.     

Full scale ice sea trials of Korean ice breaking research vessel ‘Araon’ on the big floes near Antarctica

A speed sea trial was performed in the Amundsen Sea in February and March of 2012. The Korean ice breaking research vessel “Araon” was used to check speed performance on the big floes. Two of ice trial cases were carried out. We describe the time history of location, the engine power, and the revolutions per minute during the ice trial, and the trajectory of the ship. Additionally, the measured ice properties are considered and discussed. The ice trial results were analyzed according to variation in ice thicknesses, ice strength, propulsion power, and the speed level of the ship. Our analysis results are compared to model test results and ice trial results. A correction to the target ice thickness was used to compare the power and speed relation in the same ice thickness because it is easy to know the relative speed performance of the ship. The Hamburgische Schiffbau-Versuchs Anstalt method was applied for the correction. The speed of Araon in big floes was higher than the speed in level ice. The speed after the correction at 10 MW of power and 103 cm of ice thickness was 5.4 knots based on analysis results.     

浅述重力式码头沉箱预制在连云港港赣榆港区一期工程中质量控制要点

由于深水泊位建造日趋增多,沉箱预制逐渐向高大发展。保证质量犹为重要。结合在连云港港赣榆港区一期工程中沉箱预制施工管理实践,介绍施工工艺流程。分析施工中存在的问题。阐述施工过程中主要工序的质量控制要点。     

Advanced Driver Assistance Systems from Autonomous to Cooperative Approach

Abstract

Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) have been one of the most active areas of ITS studies in the last two decades. ADAS aim to support drivers by either providing warning to reduce risk exposures, or automating some of the control tasks to relieve a driver from manual control of a vehicle. ADAS functions can be achieved through an autonomous approach with all instrumentation and intelligence on board the vehicle, or through a cooperative approach, where assistance is provided from roadways and/or from other vehicles. In this article, recent research and developments of longitudinal control assistance systems are reviewed including adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning and avoidance, and platooning assistants. The review focuses on comparing between autonomous systems and cooperative systems in terms of technologies used, system impacts and implementation. The main objective is to achieve common understanding on ADAS functional potentials and limitations and to identify research needs for further studies.     

Sample size requirements for stated choice experiments

Stated choice (SC) experiments represent the dominant data paradigm in the study of behavioral responses of individuals, households as well as other organizations, yet in the past little has been known about the sample size requirements for models estimated from such data. Traditional orthogonal designs and existing sampling theories does not adequately address the issue and hence researchers have had to resort to simple rules of thumb or ignore the issue and collect samples of arbitrary size, hoping that the sample is sufficiently large enough to produce reliable parameter estimates, or are forced to make assumptions about the data that are unlikely to hold in practice. In this paper, we demonstrate how a recently proposed sample size computation can be used to generate so-called S-efficient designs using prior parameter values to estimate panel mixed multinomial logit models. Sample size requirements for such designs in SC studies are investigated. In a numerical case study is shown that a D-efficient and even more an S-efficient design require a (much) smaller sample size than a random orthogonal design in order to estimate all parameters at the level of statistical significance. Furthermore, it is shown that wide level range has a significant positive influence on the efficiency of the design and therefore on the reliability of the parameter estimates.     

Are Longer and Heavier Vehicles (LHVs) Beneficial for Society? A Cost Benefit Analysis to Evaluate their Potential Implementation in Spain

Abstract

In this paper we carry out a thorough review of the current research related to the benefits and costs arising from the implementation of longer and heavier vehicles (LHVs). From this review we concluded that despite the many studies available, little has been said about the sensitivity of the benefits and costs to the ultimate performance of the key variables related to the evolution of the economy, road transport performance, safety, and so on. In order to fill this gap, we have designed a sensitivity approach based on a cost benefit analysis tool to determine which variables demonstrate the greatest influence on the benefits and costs stemming from the implementation of LHVs. In order to test the methodology, we have used it in an analysis of the Spanish trunk network. The results show that the benefits of LHVs for society are significant. Even in the least favorable scenario, the economic benefits are greater than €3500 million over 15 years, and the environment enhanced as well, for CO₂ emissions are reduced by 2 Million tonnes. Overall we noted how the results are not very sensitive to the evolution of key variables in determining the final outcome. However, we found that the variables that have the greatest affect on the final benefit, such as traffic growth and social discount rate, depend basically on the performance of the overall economy. Moreover, the private cost for haulers seems to be more important in determining the final benefit than externality costs.     

从《骨》中的三对父女关系看华裔美国人的文化身份认同

摘要华裔美国人的文化身份认同问题,是华裔美国文学作家作品中常见的主题。伍慧明的《骨》是华裔美国文学作家作品中的代表作。它主要从安娜与父亲、尼娜与父亲、莱拉与父亲这三对父女之间的关系来集中展现华裔美国人的文化身份认同问题。三个女儿中,安娜是极端的反抗者,属于“失根”族群中的一员;尼娜是洒脱的西化者,她最终选择了抛弃中国文化身份;莱拉是温和的叛逆者,属于“落地生根”类型。文章认为,莱拉所展现的这种“落地生根”类型的混杂新文化身份,对于当代华裔文化身份认同有很强的借鉴意义。     

2型糖尿病患者血同型半胱氨酸与缺血性脑卒中关系的病例对照研究

目的 探讨2型糖尿病患者血同型半胱氨酸(Hcy)和缺血性脑卒中的关系.方法 纳入2型糖尿病患者1 49例,其中缺血性脑卒中患者65例(病例组),无脑卒中患者84例(对照组),在入院第2天采空腹静脉血检测Hcy、糖化血红蛋白(HbAlc)、肾功、血脂等指标.对比两组临床资料,通过病例对照研究判断Hcy与缺血性脑卒中有无关联及关联程度.结果 病例组和对照组相比,Hcy显著升高[(24.4±10.1)μmol/L vs.(16.3±7.5)μ mol/L,P＜0.05];高Hcy血症在病例组和对照组暴露率差异显著(x2=18.73,P＜0.05),调整年龄的影响后OR=4.82,95 ％CI:2.21～11.45;采用四分位法对Hcy水平进行分级,OR值逐级递增:5.62、12.96、14.73,线性回归分量(x2=24.44,P＜0.01),发生缺血性脑卒中的概率随Hcy水平的增高而增加.结论 同型半胱氨酸是2型糖尿病患者缺血性脑卒中的危险因素,其缺血性脑卒中的发生率随血同型半胱氨酸水平的增高而增加.     

A proposal for cost-related and market-oriented train running charges

This paper examines some key aspects of a charging system for promoting railway transport, including charges reflecting a clear relationship with costs (transparency) and charges reflecting the quality of the infrastructure manager's service. Train running charges recover track-related costs and can help to develop a charging system that meets these requirements. To orient train running charges to the market, a method for processing track maintenance and renewal costs is proposed whereby the quality of the service provided by an infrastructure is measured according to its utility to the railway undertaking. To achieve transparency, a single indicator is used for cost planning and the subsequent levying of costs on railway undertakings. The paper includes an example of how proposed train running charges would be calculated according to data from 14 European countries. The example shows that short-distance trains generate the lowest maintenance and renewal costs, followed by long-distance trains and freight trains.     

Determining strategies to increase response rates in transport surveys of small shop-based businesses

Increasing representation of small business perspectives in policy research would benefit from identifying strategies to increase response rates. Despite the significance of the issue, there is inconsistent reporting amongst small business research about issues such as sampling, recruitment and survey design. Reporting on such issues may help address the under-representation of small business respondents and help reduce wasting research resources on less effective strategies. For policy matters that have the potential to disrupt how small business owners run their business, this is of particular importance. This paper reports on a survey of small businesses about changes to the transport accessibility features of a town centre that have the potential to affect the supply of car parking. Based on a review of the available literature, strategies were adopted to reduce respondent burden and maximise engagement. The paper presents an analysis of recruitment approaches in the first wave of the survey and demonstrates how the refinements to the recruitment approach were successful in achieving an increase in response rate from 40% to 47%.