Long-term behavior of particulate matters at urban roadside and background locations in Seoul,Korea

The concentrations of particulate matter, PM_2.5, PM₁₀, and TSP at an urban roadside and an urban background station are analyzed. Data collected over a 10 year period are analyzed. The concentrations of the particulates measured at the urban site are systematically larger than at the background station. The mean PM values at the former also exhibit a slight fall over the decade unlike those at the background station. Overall, the particulate matters at both locations are in an intermediate range of global level, e.g., approximately two times lower than those in other Asian regions but higher than in Europe.     

Excitation force analysis of a powertrain based on CAE technology

The excitation force of a powertrain is one of major sources of interior noise in a vehicle. This paper presents a novel approach to predict the interior noise caused by the vibration of the powertrain by using the hybrid TPA (transfer path analysis) method. Although the traditional transfer path analysis (TPA) is useful for the identification of powertrain noise sources, it is difficult to modify the structure of a powertrain by using experiments for the reduction of vibration and noise. In order to solve this problem, the vibration of the powertrain in a vehicle is numerically analyzed by using the finite element method (FEM). The vibration of the other parts of the vehicle is investigated by using experiments based on vibrato-acoustic transfer function (VATF) analysis. These two methods are combined for the prediction of interior noise caused by a powertrain. Throughout this research, two papers are presented. This paper presents a simulation of the excitation force of the powertrain exciting the vehicle body based on numerical simulation. The other paper presents a prediction of interior noise based on the hybrid TPA, which uses the VATF of the car body and the excitation force predicted in this paper.     

Analysis of disc brake instability due to friction-induced vibration using a distributed parameter model

This paper deals with friction-induced vibration of a disc brake system with a constant friction coefficient. A linear, lumped, and distributed parameter model to represent the floating caliper disc brake system is proposed. The complex eigenvalues are used to investigate the dynamic stability, and, in order to verify simulations which are based on the theoretical model, an experimental modal test and dynamometer test are performed. The comparison of experimental and theoretical results shows good agreement, and the analysis indicates that modal coupling due to friction forces is responsible for disc brake squeal. Also, squeal type instability is investigated, using a parametric analysis. This indicates which parameters have influence on the propensity of brake squealing. This is helpful for validating the analysis model and establishing confidence in the experimental results of the modified system. These results may also be useful during system development or diagnostic analysis.     

Evaluation of safety benefits of automatic crash information notification systems on freeways

The automatic crash information notification system (ACINS) is an effective technology to enhance the potential for saving crash victims by reducing the crash response time (CRT) of emergency medical services. Shorter CRT results in a greater potential to save the lives and to alleviate the severity of injuries for crash victims. To fully operate the ACINS, reliable assessments of the safety benefits would be needed for justifying public investment. This study proposed a methodology for quantifying the effectiveness of the ACINS and applied the methodology to the Korean freeway system. The proposed methodology consists of three steps. The first step is to develop a statistical model for predicting injury severity of crash victims using ordered logistic regression. The second step is to estimate the amount of reduced CRT by applying ACINS. The effectiveness of the ACINS, which are defined as the number of reduced fatalities and severe injuries, were evaluated with the consideration of the market penetration rate (MPR) in third step. It has been found that approximately 9.4–15.4% of fatalities can be reduced with 100% MPR when the proposed methodology is applied to 2011 freeway crash data. The outcomes of this study support decision making for public investments and for establishing relevant traffic safety policies.     

Experimental investigation of B20 combustion and emissions under various intake conditions for low-temperature combustion

Recently, biodiesel has emerged as an alternative fuel for achieving low-temperature combustion (LTC). Several articles in the literature have showed that oxygenated biofuels, including biodiesel, can improve combustion stability under high exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) operation, which is considered to be necessary for the removal of nitric oxides (NOx). The objective of this study was to investigate the performance and emissions of 20% biodiesel blended diesel fuel (B20) at various intake pressures and oxygen concentration levels to characterize the fuel for LTC application. The experimental investigation of B20 was carried out using a single-cylinder engine (SCE) at 1400 rpm and 50% load condition. A set of critical flow orifices with synthetic EGR was employed to simulate various intake pressures and EGR levels. The behavior of the B20 was first characterized under various intake conditions. The results showed that with high oxygen intake, B20 exhibited combustion and emission levels that were very similar to conventional diesel. However, B20 reduced combustion deterioration while exhibiting lower carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrocarbon (HC) emissions than diesel under low oxygen intake conditions.     

Design of 2-speed transmission for electric commercial vehicle

As environmental and economic interests increase, the need for eco-friendly vehicle such as an electric vehicle (EV) has increased rapidly. Various research of enhancing EV powertrain efficiency and relibility have been studied. In this study, 2-speed shift gears mechanism is designed by using simpson type planetary gear train. This transmission has two planetary gear unit. Gear position is determinded by which ring gear is fixed. Internal components of the transmission are designed for satisfying the required specification of EV. We analyze gear strength, gear mesh efficiency, and transmission efficiency. By manufacturing the transmission prototype and performing some experiments, we verify the application suitability of this transmission.     

Relationship between phytoplankton bloom and wind stress in the sub-polar frontal area of the Japan/East Sea

The seasonal dynamics of phytoplankton blooms in the central Japan/East Sea (JES) show pronounced year-to-year variability based on Sea-viewing Wide Field-of-view Sensor (SeaWiFS; 19972003) and Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS)/Terra (20002003) observations. Wind seems to strongly influence this variability. To study the relationship between wind and bloom initiation, we analyzed daily, remotely sensed wind stress data (Active Microwave Instrument–wind [AMI–wind], NASA Scatterometer [NSCAT], and Quick Scatterometer [QuickSCAT]: 19972003) and daily chlorophyll concentrations based on ocean color data (SeaWiFS and MODIS). The results agreed well with the hypotheses; in spring, blooms began 615 days after wind stress weakened. Fall blooms started 39 days after wind strengthened. We also simulated seasonal changes using a simple light–nutrient model using two values for the respiration ratio: 10% and 20%. The use of 20% seemed to reproduce the timing of the spring bloom quite well but underestimated the absolute level of chlorophyll concentration. On the other hand, using 10% produced a better estimation of the chlorophyll concentration but failed to match the timing. Neither of the model runs reproduced the timing of the fall bloom well.     

Evaluation of a brake assistance system (BAS) using an injury severity prediction model for pedestrians

Through the years, traffic engineers and researchers have developed a variety of countermeasures to enhance pedestrian safety. Pedestrian-vehicle collisions are regarded as the most serious type of accident since they incur high fatality rates. A fundamental concept in developing effective countermeasures is to analyze pedestrian-vehicle collisions scientifically, which can identify the causes of accidents and accident severity. The objective of this study was to investigate the pedestrian safety benefit of the brake assistance system (BAS) and a functional requirement associated with BAS, namely the time needed to safely detect a pedestrian ahead. An injury severity prediction model for pedestrians was developed to systematically evaluate the BAS in this study. Ordered multinomial logistic regression analysis was used to establish a statistical model capable of predicting pedestrian injury severity. In addition to vehicle characteristics, collision speed and pedestrian characteristics were used as independent predictor variables. The outcomes of this study would be useful in directing the development of safety policies and technologies associated with pedestrian safety.     

Precise estimation of connections of metro passengers from Smart Card data

The aim of this study is to estimate both the physical and schedule-based connections of metro passengers from their entry and exit times at the gates and the stations, a data set available from Smart Card transactions in a majority of train networks. By examining the Smart Card data, we will observe a set of transit behaviors of metro passengers, which is manifested by the time intervals that identifies the boarding, transferring, or alighting train at a station. The authenticity of the time intervals is ensured by separating a set of passengers whose trip has a unique connection that is predominantly better by all respects than any alternative connection. Since the connections of such passengers, known as reference passengers, can be readily determined and hence their gate times and stations can be used to derive reliable time intervals. To detect an unknown path of a passenger, the proposed method checks, for each alternative connection, if it admits a sequence of boarding, middle train(s), and alighting trains, whose time intervals are all consistent with the gate times and stations of the passenger, a necessary condition of a true connection. Tested on weekly 32 million trips, the proposed method detected unique connections satisfying the necessary condition, which are, therefore, most likely true physical and schedule-based connections in 92.6 and 83.4 %, respectively, of the cases.     

Development of an integrated system based vehicle tracking algorithm with shadow removal and occlusion handling methods

Video image processing system (VIPS) is more efficient than other detecting systems. However, VIPS involves outdoor images and is very sensitive to the external environment, which could greatly decrease its accuracy according to rapid environmental changes. To obtain accurate traffic data accordingly, VIPS must address the problems such as growing shadows in transition; distortion of images due to the headlights at night; noises caused by the rain, snow or fog; and occlusions. This study intends to accurately calculate traffic data while addressing the shadow and occlusion problems, which are the most difficult tasks for the image‐detector‐based traffic data system. In this study, an algorithm for the individual vehicle tracking collection was developed to address the occlusion problem and to eliminate the noises or shadows caused by external environmental factors. A traffic data collection system was also proposed in order to accurately track individual vehicles that pass through the detection region. In addition, establishing an integrated system with shadow removal and occlusion handling using an image processing was also proposed. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.