Engine performance and toxic gas analysis of biobutanol-blended gasoline as a vehicle fuel

A comprehensive study evaluating the performance of biobutanol-blended gasoline in passenger cars was conducted because biobutanol is considered a better biofuel than bioethanol as it has no water solubility and it has a higher caloric value, giving it a higher energy value. Several kinds of samples—suboctane gasoline, 8 volume percentage and 16 volume percentage biobutanol—blended gasoline, and a 10 volume percentage MTBE-blended market sample (as the oxygencontaining gasoline)-were tested to evaluate the engine performance in terms of the detergency of the intake valves and combustion chambers, power, emissions, and fuel efficiency. Additionally, the toxicity of the emissions from these biobutanolblended samples was tested in order to assess the viability of biobutanol as one of the competitive potential substitutes for MTBE as an oxygenator in the near future. The results show that biobutanol-blended gasoline samples had relatively better detergency, relatively higher power, and similar levels of emissions compared with those of MTBE-blended gasoline. Formaldehyde was emitted from all of the samples at almost the same levels and within the error range, whereas biobutanolblended gasoline samples emitted approximately three times the amount of acetaldehyde than did the suboctane gasoline. This study shows that biobutanol is one of the best alternative bioalcohol fuels for use in the near future.     

Quality evaluation of car window motors using sound quality metrics

In this paper, a method to establish a decision criterion to evaluate the quality of small window motors using sound quality (SQ) metrics is suggested. Although the sound level radiated from the motor is relatively small compared to other sounds in a car, the sound from an abnormal motor gives an uncomfortable feeling and the impression of abnormal operation, which can lead to customer complaints. To construct an objective decision criterion, the correlation between the SQ metrics and the subjective decision on the passing or failure of the motor were investigated. Four representative SQ metrics, viz., loudness, sharpness, roughness, and fluctuation strength, were calculated for the collected samples. It was observed that the loudness and roughness of the motor sample group classified as abnormal was higher than those of the normal motors. For a single figure rating for motor quality, an evaluation index for the motor sound was generated by combining the correlated SQ metrics with proper weightings. Evaluation results on the specimens that were not employed in generating the quality evaluation index showed a reasonable agreement with the subjective test at 73%. The suggested quality check method can replace the current subjective decision procedure to identify the faulty motors.     

Damper modeling for dynamic simulation of a large bus with MR damper

In this study, a large bus is tested to measure its dynamic response by the single-lane change test and the rapid stop test. A full car model is established by ADAMS/Car for computer simulation. For multibody modeling of a large bus, user-defined templates are used in the simulation. Simulation results of the single-lane change test and the rapid braking test are compared to the results of the physical experiments, in which several sensors are installed to measure the vehicle’s responses. The results obtained from the simulation show good agreement with the tests’ results. A dynamic model for the MR(magnetic-rheological) damper is also developed by employing the Magic Formula model, which is widely used in the nonlinear modeling of a tire. Bump simulation of a full car with the MR damper is carried out to verify the performance of the MR damper. The comparison of the simulation results obtained with the MR damper model to the results obtained with the traditional passive damper model showed improved response of the vehicle with the MR damper.     

偶极子源与力激励作用下截顶锥形壳振动与声辐射研究

螺旋桨噪声是舰船辐射噪声的主要组成部分,采用有限长截顶锥形壳模拟潜艇艉部,根据螺旋桨噪声产生机理,对比分析了集中力激励与偶极子源激励下锥形壳产生的辐射噪声,并讨论了激励作用位置对壳体振动与辐射噪声的影响。结论显示力激励作用引起的壳体的振动与声辐射要大于偶极子源作用下的情况;当激励施加在锥形壳体截面的中心位置时,壳体在低频时的振动与声辐射要小于激励施加在截面非对称位置处的情况。     

Approximate network loading and dual-time-scale dynamic user equilibrium

In this paper we present a dual-time-scale formulation of dynamic user equilibrium (DUE) with demand evolution. Our formulation belongs to the problem class that Pang and Stewart (2008) refer to as differential variational inequalities. It combines the within-day time scale for which route and departure time choices fluctuate in continuous time with the day-to-day time scale for which demand evolves in discrete time steps. Our formulation is consistent with the often told story that drivers adjust their travel demands at the end of every day based on their congestion experience during one or more previous days. We show that analysis of the within-day assignment model is tremendously simplified by expressing dynamic user equilibrium as a differential variational inequality. We also show there is a class of day-to-day demand growth models that allow the dual-time-scale formulation to be decomposed by time-stepping to yield a sequence of continuous time, single-day, dynamic user equilibrium problems. To solve the single-day DUE problems arising during time-stepping, it is necessary to repeatedly solve a dynamic network loading problem. We observe that the network loading phase of DUE computation generally constitutes a differential algebraic equation (DAE) system, and we show that the DAE system for network loading based on the link delay model (LDM) of Friesz et al. (1993) may be approximated by a system of ordinary differential equations (ODEs). That system of ODEs, as we demonstrate, may be efficiently solved using traditional numerical methods for such problems. To compute an actual dynamic user equilibrium, we introduce a continuous time fixed-point algorithm and prove its convergence for effective path delay operators that allow a limited type of nonmonotone path delay. We show that our DUE algorithm is compatible with network loading based on the LDM and the cell transmission model (CTM) due to Daganzo (1995). We provide a numerical example based on the much studied Sioux Falls network.     

大型LNG船推进型式研究

介绍了大型LNG船船型的特点,对适合于大型LNG船的推进型式进行了分析研究和模型试验研究,对用于LNG船舶的不同类型的推进装置进行了比较分析。得出了一些结论,并指出在当前低排放绿色船舶的要求下,采用双燃料电力推进方式更有发展前景,但若要在大型LNG船上采用此推进方式,尚有待一些问题的解决。     

Time-variant ultimate longitudinal strength of corroded bulk carriers

Many bulk carrier losses have been reported of late, and one of the possible causes of such casualties is thought to be the structural failure of aging hulls in rough weather. In aging ships, corrosion and fatigue cracks are the two most important factors affecting structural safety and integrity. This paper uses a set of the time-dependent corrosion wastage models for 23 different member locations/categories of bulk carriers previously developed by the authors, based on the available corrosion measurements for existing large bulk carrier structures. Differences due to the location and corrosion severity of every member type are taken into account. The nominal design corrosion values for the primary members are suggested based on the annualized corrosion rates obtained in the present study. The effect of time-variant corrosion wastage on the ultimate hull girder strength as well as the section moduli is studied. The criteria for repair and maintenance of heavily corroded structural members so as to keep the ultimate longitudinal strength at an acceptable level are discussed. Important insights and conclusions developed are summarized.     

Port e-Transformation,customer satisfaction and competitiveness

ABSTRACT

e-Transformation in container ports means port organization-wide innovative transformation encompassing internal and external value chains based on information and communication technology. There is a considerable theoretical literature on the impact of e-Transformation on business performance, but there is very little empirical study on its effectiveness in ports. The objective of this paper is to empirically investigate how e-Transformation in container port management can influence customer satisfaction and port competitiveness. The findings reveal that e-Transformation in container ports can affect customer satisfaction and port competitiveness through e-Workplace, customer relationship management and security, implying that container ports should make every effort to focus on e-transformation in these critical areas. Due to limited empirical studies in this area, the findings have provided an empirical support for the importance of e-Transformation in container terminal management and shed more light on how e-Transformation can affect customer satisfaction and port competitiveness.     

Performance comparison between pedestrian push-button and pre-timed pedestrian crossings at midblock: a Korean case study

Walking has been highlighted as an independent transportation mode as well as an access/egress mode to/from public transit to encourage the use of more sustainable transport systems. However, walking does not seem to have priority over other transportation modes, especially in areas where various modes of movement are in conflict. The pedestrian push-button system seems to be a solution to distribute the right of way. The focus of this study is on the performance issue of the pedestrian push-button. Specifically, this study deals with issues related to mid-block crossings and attempts to answer two questions: whose waiting time is longer at pre-timed and push-button crossings, pedestrians, or vehicles? and which system – pre-timed or push-button – is better in terms of total waiting time? According to our simulation analyses, if the pedestrian flow rate is less than 120, 85, and 70 ped/h for two-, three-, and four-lane roads, respectively, the push-button system is recommended.     

In-use measurement of the activity, fuel use, and emissions of eight cement mixer trucks operated on each of petroleum diesel and soy-based B20 biodiesel

In-use micro-scale fuel use and emission rates were measured for eight cement mixer trucks using a portable emission measurement system. Each vehicle was tested on petroleum diesel and B20 biodiesel. Average fuel use and emission rates increase monotonically versus engine manifold absolute pressure. A typical duty cycle includes loading at a cement plant, transit while loaded from the cement plant to work site, creeping in a queue of vehicles at the worksite, unloading, and transit without load from the site to the plant. For B20 versus petroleum diesel, there is no significant change in the rate of fuel use, CO₂ emissions, and NO emissions, and significant decreases in emissions for CO, hydrocarbons, and particulate matter. For loaded versus unloaded onroad travel, fuel use and CO₂ emissions rates are approximately 60% higher and the rates for other pollutants are approximately 30–50% higher. A substantial portion of cycle emissions occurred at the work site. Inter-vehicle and intra-cycle variability are also quantified using the micro-scale methodology.