Distributed support modelling for vertical track dynamic analysis

The finite length nature of rail-pad supports is characterised by a Timoshenko beam element formulation over an elastic foundation, giving rise to the distributed support element. The new element is integrated into a vertical track model, which is solved in frequency and time domain. The developed formulation is obtained by solving the governing equations of a Timoshenko beam for this particular case. The interaction between sleeper and rail via the elastic connection is considered in an analytical, compact and efficient way. The modelling technique results in realistic amplitudes of the ‘pinned–pinned’ vibration mode and, additionally, it leads to a smooth evolution of the contact force temporal response and to reduced amplitudes of the rail vertical oscillation, as compared to the results from concentrated support models. Simulations are performed for both parametric and sinusoidal roughness excitation. The model of support proposed here is compared with a previous finite length model developed by other authors, coming to the conclusion that the proposed model gives accurate results at a reduced computational cost.     

地震作用下框架-复合墙结构弹塑性内力计算

框架-复合墙结构是以框架和密肋复合剪力墙共同承担水平地震作用的新型组合式双重抗侧力体系,合理计算弹塑性阶段框架与复合墙的内力是决定大震下结构体系安全性能的关键问题之一.根据6榀典型密肋复合墙试验数据,建立了复合墙体指数式刚度退化模型,量化了墙体在各变形阶段的刚度退化系数.在对比复合墙与框架、混凝土墙、砌体墙刚度退化规律的基础上,分析了复合墙刚度退化对结构受力性能的影响,提出了弹塑性阶段框架-复合墙结构地震内力的实用计算方法,并通过具体算例讨论了结构内力的变化情况.研究结果表明：弹塑性阶段,框架与密肋复合墙刚度退化速度比值呈非线性关系,框架分担总地震剪力的比例增加,但其绝对剪力值增加幅度并不明显;考虑弹塑性阶段复合墙的刚度退化,更好地符合了地震下框架-复合墙结构的实际受力情况.     

Identification Methods for Vehicle System Dynamics

The paper presents a survey on parameter identification techniques for complex vehicle models. In order to cope with the complexity of the model, the information on the system available from the equations of motion has to be included in the identification process. Basic methods for the solution of this problem are shown. The application of the approach is demonstrated by identification of the vertical automobile dynamics. It is concluded that the presented techniques will become more important with increasing applications of theoretical modeling in vehicle system dynamics.     

Effects of economic disincentives on private car use

A field experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of economic disincentives on private car use. Eighty two-adult households who were owners of at least one car were randomly assigned to three experimental groups and one control group. Both experimental and control groups logged their car trips during one week before, one week during, and one week after treatment. The treatment consisted of charging two of the experimental groups approximately 100% of normal cost per kilometer of driving during 2 weeks, and charging the third experimental group this amount per kilometer of driving during 4 weeks. With the purpose of investigating whether deliberate planning increases the effect of economic disincentives, the households in one of the former and in the latter group were asked to fill out a prospective car log for the following week. The control group was not charged or requested to fill out a prospective car log but was in other respects treated in the same way. Analyses of the car logs and odometer readings during and at the end of treatment showed a weak reduction of car use due to the economic disincentives that however were almost completely dependent on planning.     

RMS Values of Force, Stroke and Tyre Deflection in a Half-Car Model with Preview Controlled Active Suspension

Summary Matrix expressions are developed for the direct computation of rms values for the optimal control forces, front and rear suspension strokes and dynamic tyre deflections in a half-car model on a random road of given roughness. A quadratic performance index is employed with assumed weighting factors and evaluated in the same computation.     

Witkar: Amsterdam's self-drive hire city car

A small electrically powered city car has been developed for self-drive hire in the centre of Amsterdam; 35 of these cars are now available to hire from 5 stations in the city centre. The. system has been designed for fully automatic control, including direct debit of hirers' accounts at the Amsterdam Savings Bank. The system, which was conceived in 1969 by an industrial designer and former city councillor to reduce traffic in central Amsterdam, failed to win the support of the City Council and has since been developed by a specially formed co-operative society. The co-operative managed to raise loans of US$ 250,000 for the first phase which has now been completed. This included the design and construction of the vehicles, the purchase of a mini-computer for the central control system, development of the control software and construction of the first five stations. A further 10 stations are scheduled for operation by the end of 1976, by which time the fleet should be extended to 100 vehicles. The ultimate target is 150 stations and 1000 vehicles.     

Equilibria of bilateral taxi–customer searching and meeting on networks

This paper proposes an equilibrium model to characterize the bilateral searching and meeting between customers and taxis on road networks. A taxi driver searches or waits for a customer by considering both the expected searching or waiting time cost and ride revenue, and a customer seeks a taxi ride to minimize full trip price. We suppose that the bilateral taxi–customer searching and meeting occurs anywhere in residential and commercial zones or at prescribed taxi stands, such as an airport or a railway station. We propose a meeting function to spell out the search and meeting frictions that arise endogenously as a result of the distinct spatial feature of the area and the taxi–customer moving decisions. With the proposed meeting function and the assumptions underlying taxi–customer search behaviors, the stationary competitive equilibrium achieved at fixed fare prices is determined when the demand of the customers matches the supply of taxis or there is market clearing at the prevailing searching and waiting times in every meeting location. We establish the existence of such an equilibrium by virtue of Brouwer’s fixed-point theorem and demonstrate its principal operational characteristics with a numerical example.     

New highways and land use change: Results from a quasi-experimental research design

Understanding links from new highway construction or capacity expansion to regional growth patterns is crucial for transportation planners and policy makers. In this paper, we incorporate a lagged adjustment regional growth model into a quasi-experimental research design to examine the association between new highway investments and land use change in three California counties. Our study areas provide a mix of urban, small town, and exurban highway projects in order to explore the different effects across project types and geographic contexts. The central finding of this research is that while improvements in surface transportation infrastructure can have large impacts on growth patterns, the nature of the effect depends on the context of the highway investment.