The planning and analysis of a new group rapid transit system: the SkyCabs monobeam system in Auckland

This paper examines a case study of the SkyCabs system as a way to alleviate some of the traffic problems of Auckland, New Zealand. SkyCabs is an elevated two-way monobeam carrying light eight-seater cabs on tracks on each side of the beam, available on demand, providing fast, pollution-free, unimpeded travel above the footpath with panoramic views of the city. The aim of this study is to investigate the attractiveness of implementing the SkyCabs system to and from Auckland central business district (CBD) and Auckland international airport by examining four variables: different routes, different number of stops/stations, different passenger demand levels, and different number of cabs in the system. The analysis utilizes geographical information system and simulation tools for the various scenarios considered. The results show that it is possible to assess the cost–benefit of alternative routes in terms of those four variables and rate of return on investment.     

Innovative strategies for urban car-sharing systems and a simulator to assess their performance

In this paper, three innovative car-sharing systems for urban areas are proposed, based on fleets of individual intelligent vehicles with three service characteristics: instant access, open-ended reservations and one-way trips. These features provide high flexibility but create an uneven distribution of vehicles among stations. Therefore, relocation of vehicles must be performed. Three different system procedures are proposed: in the first system, relocations are performed by users; in the other two, vehicles relocate automatically, thanks to their automation. In the first two systems, vehicles are accessible only at stations, whereas in the third they are also accessible along roads. In order to provide transport managers with a tool to test systems in different realities, an object-oriented simulator is developed. The simulation provides outputs of system performance, in terms of user waiting times and system efficiency. The proposed systems are simulated for the city of Genoa, in Italy, and a comparative analysis is presented.     

The use of gait parameters to evaluate pedestrian behavior at scramble phase signalized intersections

Pedestrian scramble phasing is usually implemented to reduce pedestrian‐vehicle conflicts and therefore increase the safety of the intersection. However, to adequately determine the benefits of scramble phasing, it is necessary to understand how pedestrians react to such an unconventional design. This study investigates changes in pedestrian crossing behavior following the implementation of a scramble phase by examining the spatiotemporal gait parameters (step length and step frequency). This detailed microscopic‐level analysis provides insight into changes in pedestrian walking mechanisms as well as the effect of various pedestrian and intersection characteristics. The study uses video data collected at a scramble phase signalized intersection in Oakland, California. Gait parameters were found to be influenced by pedestrian gender, age, group size, crosswalk length, and pedestrian signal indications. Both average step length and walking speed were significantly higher for diagonally crossing pedestrians compared with pedestrians crossing on the conventional crosswalks. Pedestrians were found to have the tendency to increase their step length more than their step frequency to increase walking speed. It was also found that, compared with men, women generally increase their walking speed by increasing their step frequency more than step length. However, when in non‐compliance with signal indications, women increase their walking speed by increasing their step length more than step frequency. It was also found that older pedestrians do not significantly change their walking behavior when in non‐compliance with signal indications. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Modeling the interactions between car and bicycle in heterogeneous traffic

In this paper, a new cellular automata model is proposed to simulate the car and bicycle heterogeneous traffic on urban road. To capture the complex interactions between these two types of vehicles, a novel occupancy rule is adopted in the proposed model to consider the variable lateral distances of mixed vehicular traffic. Based on massive simulations, microscopic fundamental diagrams under different bicycle densities are devised. With these, the bicycle's spilling behavior is then investigated and discussed. In order to reflect the interference of a bicycle on a car, the interference transformation from friction state to block state is modeled explicitly. Finally, different simulation results under different occupancy rules indicate that the constant and fixed occupancy rule adopted in the previous studies might lead to overestimation of car flux in the heterogeneous traffic flows with different bicycle densities. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A comparison of modelled and real-life driving profiles for the simulation of railway vehicle operation

A key factor in determining the performance of a railway system is the speed profile of the trains within the network. There can be significant variation in this speed profile for identical trains on identical routes, depending on how the train is driven. A better understanding and control of speed profiles can therefore offer significant potential for improvements in the performance of railway systems. This paper develops a model to allow the variability of real-life driving profiles of railway vehicles to be quantitatively described and predicted, in order to better account for the effects on the speed profile of the train and hence the performance of the railway network as a whole. The model is validated against data from the Tyne and Wear Metro, and replicates the measured data to a good degree of accuracy.     

“工厂法”沉管隧道早期性能的足尺试验研究

由于沉管隧道管段体积大、结构形式复杂、施工工艺复杂,容易因温度、收缩以及约束等原因,造成管段结构在预制阶段出现危害性裂缝,进而影响结构的服役性能和耐久性能。文章依托在建港珠澳大桥沉管隧道工程实例,开展了足尺试验,对"工厂法"沉管管节关键部位的温度和应变发展实施了监测,分析对比了温度发展规律和应变发展规律。分析结果表明:在早期因混凝土水化热引起温度上升,整个管段结构膨胀受拉,温度到达峰值后逐渐下降,结构也收缩恢复;但由于混凝土自收缩等因素的存在,结构最终收缩受压。研究所提供的试验结果可作为深入进行数值分析的一个基础。     

沉管隧道预制管节顶推滑移系统摩擦试验研究

为了针对某大型沉管隧道预制管节的顶推滑移系统选择合适的摩擦面材料,文章对该顶推滑移系统的四组拟采用摩擦面材料(不锈钢板-PTFE、不锈钢板-NGE、普通钢板-PTFE、普通钢板-NGE)进行了静、动态摩擦系数测试。利用20 000 k N压剪试验机、采用双剪法进行了模拟测试试验。试验结果表明:(1)四组被测试摩擦面的摩擦系数中,不锈钢板与PTFE板的最小,普通钢板与PTFE板的最大;(2)锂基润滑油和水对减小不锈钢板与PTFE板之间的静、动摩擦系数效果都十分明显,但锂基润滑油对摩擦系数的减小效果会随着油层被挤压变薄而逐渐减弱。该试验结果为该顶推滑移系统的摩擦面材料选择以及摩擦面润滑处理措施提供了重要参考依据。     

大断面浅埋偏压隧道CRD法施工工序研究

文章以良村隧道CRD法施工为工程背景,布设了变形监测点及内力测试元件,分析了CRD法施工隧道围岩变形情况及结构内力特征,并对CRD法施工隧道在不同开挖顺序下的开挖过程进行了数值模拟,分析比较了不同开挖顺序时的围岩位移、应力变化情况。结果表明:CRD法对各分部施工工序影响较大,且各分部对拱顶下沉的影响程度从大至小依次为1部、2部、3部和4部;隧道内侧围岩压力大于外侧,钢支撑内力均为压应力,且拱腰位置轴力大于其它部位。比较隧道开挖变形的差异以及结构的受力特点,结合数值分析结果,得出了山体外侧先开挖方案无论在围岩变形还是隧道结构受力方面相比于山体外侧后开挖都较小,安全系数相对较高。因此,合理的施工工序应该是先进行山体外侧开挖并施作初期支护,然后再在山体内侧开挖施工。     

吉隆坡地铁A标段盾构土舱压力的计算与分析

文章以吉隆坡新捷运工程地下北段A标工程为例,基于Horn的三维楔形体破坏理论,采用极限平衡分析法,推导出了在土压及全水头压力作用下满舱土、半舱土、无土三种状态下土舱压力的计算方法,并采用整体分析与局部分析相结合的方法进行了验证。从计算结果可以看出,影响土舱压力的因素主要有水位高度、覆土厚度、粘聚力、覆土及掌子面处的内摩擦角,并对这五个因素进行了敏感性分析。通过运用该方法计算的土舱压力进行掘进并对现场监控量测数据进行分析,地表沉降均满足相关设计要求。     

Modelling and Analysis of Turning Motion of a Subsurface Mapping AUV with Split-Hull Design

There is much need for autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) for inspection and mapping purposes. Most conventional AUVs use torpedo-shaped single-rigid hull, b...