Calculation of hydrodynamics for semi-submersibles based on NURBS

Accurate hydrodynamic calculations for semi-submersibles are critical to support modern rapid exploration and extraction of ocean resources. In order to speed hydrodynamic calculations, lines modeling structures were separated into structural parts and then fitted to Non-uniform Rational B-spline （NURBS）. In this way, the bow and stern section lines were generated. Modeling of the intersections of the parts was then done with the universal modeling tool MSC.Patran. Mesh was gererated on the model in order to obtain points of intersection on the joints, and then these points were fitted to NURBS. Next, the patch representation method was adopted to generate the meshes of wetted surfaces and interior free surfaces. Velocity potentials on the surfaces were calculated separately, on basis of which the irregular frequency effect was dealt with in the calculation of hydrodynamic coefficients. Finally, the motion response of the semi-submersible was calculated, and in order to improve calculations of vertical motion, a damping term was affixed in the vertical direction. The results show that the above methods can generate fine mesh accurately representing the wetted surface of a semi-submersible and thus improve the accuracy of hydrodynamic calculations.     

URANS analysis of a broaching event in irregular quartering seas

Ship motions in a high sea state can have adverse effects on controllability, cause loss of stability, and ultimately compromise the survivability of the ship. In a broaching event, the ship losses control, naturally turning broadside to the waves, causing a dangerous situation and possibly capsizing. Classical approaches to study broaching rely on costly experimental programs and/or time-domain potential or system-based simulation codes. In this paper the ability of Reynolds averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) to simulate a broaching event in irregular waves is demonstrated, and the extensive information available is used to analyze the broaching process. The demonstration nature of this paper is stressed, as opposed to a validated study. Unsteady RANS (URANS) provides a model based on first principles to capture phenomena such as coupling between sway, yaw, and roll, roll damping, effects of complex waves on righting arm, rudders partially out of the water, etc. The computational fluid dynamics (CFD) method uses a single-phase level-set approach to model the free surface, and dynamic overset grids to resolve large-amplitude motions. Before evaluating irregular seas two regular wave cases are demonstrated, one causing broaching and one causing stable surf riding. A sea state 8 is imposed following an irregular Bretschneider spectrum, and an autopilot was implemented to control heading and speed with two different gains for the heading controller. It is concluded that the autopilot causes the ship to be in an adverse dynamic condition at the beginning of the broaching process, and thus is partially responsible for the occurrence of the broaching event.     

Comparison of robust H<Subscript>∞</Subscript> filter and Kalman filter for initial alignment of inertial navigation system

There are many filtering methods that can be used for the initial alignment of an integrated inertial navigation system. This paper discussed the use of GPS, but focused on two kinds of filters for the initial alignment of an integrated strapdown inertial navigation system （SINS）. One method is based on the Kalman filter （KF）, and the other is based on the robust filter. Simulation results showed that the filter provides a quick transient response and a little more accurate estimate than KF, given substantial process noise or unknown noise statistics. So the robust filter is an effective and useful method for initial alignment of SINS. This research should make the use of SINS more popular, and is also a step for further research.     

Prediction of Hull Deflection on Damaged Warship

The appropriate prediction of the hull deflection of a severely damaged warship is an important area in the research of the warship survivability. In this paper, the asymmetrical beam bending theory is applied to set up the damaged model, a comparison of the longitudinal strength, the deflections of damaged hull subjected to both hagging and sagging moments, and shear forces is carried out. The external loads are also calculated according to different damaged positions. Finally, some results and conclusions are obtained.     

Underwater sonar image recognition based on gray-spatial histograms

A new gray-spatial histogram is proposed, which incorporates spatial information with gray compositions without sacrificing the robustness of traditional gray histograms. The purpose is to consider the representation role of gray compositions and spatial information simultaneously. Each entry in the gray-spatial histogram is the gray frequency and corresponding position information of images. In the experiments of sonar image recognition, the results show that the gray-spatial histogram is effective in practical use.     

Design and development of a stated choice experiment for interdependent agents: accounting for interactions between buyers and sellers of urban freight services

Stated choice experiments have proven to be a powerful tool in eliciting preferences across a broad range of choice settings. This paper outlines the elements of a group-based experiment designed for interdependent urban freight stakeholders, along with the procedure to administer the questionnaire sequentially. The focus is on the design of a computer-assisted personal survey instrument and the value in disseminating the details of a new approach to design and collect stated choice data for interacting agents. The paper also discusses how to specify a reference alternative, and then how to recruit appropriate real-market or representative decision-making group members to participate in a subsequent phase of the survey, which incorporates the reference alternative and contextual information from an initial phase. The empirical strategy, set out in some detail, provides a new framework within which to understand more fully the role that specific attributes, such as variable user charges, influencing freight distribution chains might play, and who in the supply chain is affected by specific attributes in terms of willingness to pay for the gains in distribution efficiency.

Institutional constraints on transport policymaking: the case of company cars in Israel

Transportation analysis emphasizes the necessity to internalize the transport externalities of car usage through taxation. Yet taxation decisions are often made with non-transport goals in mind. In such cases, transport policies are made ‘by the way.’ This paper examines such a case: Israel’s taxation policy on company cars. It shows that current taxation policies result in increasing numbers of company cars and growing numbers of transport users who are not sensitive to the marginal cost of car use and make excessive use of the car. As a result, a significant portion of Travel Demand Management (TDM) measures cannot affect this group. The Israeli case of company car tax reform demonstrates the problematic effect of a policy that does not take its overall consequences on other policy fields into account and thereby impairs efforts to reduce the negative impacts of the transport system. Also, it demonstrates the importance of institutional aspects of transport policymaking.

社区步行通达性对独栋住宅房价的效益评估--美国德克萨斯州奥斯丁市空间特征分析

通过分析美国德克萨斯州奥斯丁市2010—2012年独栋住宅的销售价格,以街道智慧步行指数(Street Smart Walk Score)和人行道密度(Sidewalk Density)作为衡量指标,研究社区步行通达性对房价的影响。使用Cliff-Ord空间特征模型(即广义空间模型,General Spatial Model,或者SAC)控制空间自相关影响。结果表明：在依赖小汽车的社区通过增加设施可达性来提升步行通达性的举措并不能提高房价;增加人行道也只能最小限度地提高房价。投资社区便利设施和人行道对适宜步行社区的房价提升效果比依赖小汽车的社区显著。