Carpooling problem: A new mathematical model,branch-and-bound,and heuristic beam search algorithm

Carpooling is an environmentally friendly transportation system. It can efficaciously help resolve a variety of societal concerns of the urban areas, ranging from traffic congestion to environmental pollution. In this paper, we propose a new mathematical model to solve the carpooling problem. The model simultaneously minimizes the costs of travel times, the vehicle use, and the vehicle delays. An exact solution method based on Branch-and-Bound (B&B) algorithm is proposed to efficiently obtain the optimal solution of the problem. In order to find the near-optimal solutions for large-scale problems, a heuristic beam search algorithm is introduced, which is based on the partial relaxation of some fathoming criteria applied in our proposed B&B. The computational experiments are conducted, based upon the transportation network of Isfahan city, Iran. The results demonstrate the great capability of the proposed exact solution method in terms of both computational solving time required and the number of the evaluated nodes, in comparison with CPLEX software package. The findings of this research can be applied to solve the carpooling problem compatible to the real-life situations.     

Interactions between driver information,route choice,and optimal signal timing on a simple network

The interaction between driver information, route choice, and optimal traffic signal settings was investigated using a simple two-route system with a single “T” intersection and a fixed O-D demand. The logit model and the method of successive averages (MSA) were used to calculate the route choice probabilities and the stochastic equilibrium assignment. Given an assignment, signal settings which minimized average intersection delay were calculated; flow reassignment and new optimal signal settings were then obtained and this iterative process continued until convergence. The calculations were performed either directly in a combined assignment/signal optimization model or in stages using the output flows of an assignment model as inputs to TRANSYT-7F and iterating between the two models. Results show that a unique joint signal timing/assignment equilibrium is reached in all cases provided that a certain precision in drivers' perceptions is not reached. If driver information increases to this precision (bifurcation point) and beyond, results show clearly that the unique joint signal timing/assignment equilibrium no longer exists. In fact, three joint equilibria points exist after the bifurcation point. Two of these points are stable and one is not. It was found that the system yields the lowest total intersection delay when the joint equilibrium is such that all traffic and hence the major part of green time is assigned to only one of the two routes. Although this may not be feasible to implement in practice, the results indicate clearly for this simple example that there is a trade-off between a system with minimum total delay but no unique joint signal-settings/assignment equilibrium (achieved when drivers have nearly perfect information about the system) and a system with a unique joint equilibrium but with higher total delay (achieved when drivers have reasonably good but somewhat limited information). In most cases the second system seems appropriate for a number of practical reasons.     

Numerical investigation of transmission of low frequency sound through a smooth air-water interface

It is the traditional belief that sound transmission from water to the air is very weak due to a large contrast between air and water impedances. Recently, the enhanced sound transmission and anomalous transparency of air-water interface have been introduced. Anomalous transparency of air-water interface states that the sound generated by a submerged shallow depth monopole point source localized at depths less than 1/10 sound wavelength, can be transmitted into the air with omni-directional pattern. The generated sound has 35 times higher power compared to the classical ray theory prediction. In this paper, sound transmission through air-water interface for a localized underwater shallow depth source is examined. To accomplish this, two-phase coupled Helmholtz wave equations in two-phase media of air-water are solved by the commercial finite element based COMSOL Multiphysics software. Ratios of pressure amplitudes of different sound sources in two different underwater and air coordinates are computed and analyzed against non-dimensional ratio of the source depth (D) to the sound wavelength (λ). The obtained results are compared with the experimental data and good agreement is displayed.     

A fuzzy AHP decision support system for selecting yard cranes in marine container terminals

One of the most important issues that planners and developers of ports have to address at the planning process of container terminals is how to effectively optimize truck turnaround times. The time that a truck spends at a container terminal for loading and/or unloading of cargo is a real cost scenario which affects not only the smooth operation of ports but also the overall cost of the container trade. The main objective of this article is to provide a decision support tool for selecting the best container yard gantry crane for loading/discharging operation of trucks at the landside of marine container terminals. Achieving this goal, this study aims at introducing and recommending the multiple attribute decision-making and the fuzzy analytical hierarchy process models that have been proven to provide a concrete basis for such a selection decision.     

An approximate method for the surge response of the tension leg platform

The solution for the Duffing equation in anonlinear vibration problem is studied in this paper. Clearly,in the case of the perturb parameter being a larger value, thetraditional perturbation method is no longer valid but theHomotopy Perturbation Method （HPM） is applicable usually.HPM is used to solve the weak and strong nonlineardifferential equations for finding the perturbed frequency ofthe response. The obtained frequencies via HPM and theapproximate method have good accordance for weak andstrong nonlinear differential equations. Additionally, thecalculated responses by use of the approximate method arecompared with the responses obtained from the Numericalmethod in the time history of the response and phase plane.The results represent ~ood accordance between them.     

An appropriate unidirectional wave spectrum model for the Strait of Hormuz

The objective of this paper is to introduce an appropriate unidirectional wave spectrum model for the Strait of Hormuz. The research is focused on assessing performance of standard wave spectrum models in the region. By evaluating such models based on valuable measurement data recently published, the calibration procedure has been conducted on such standard models to reach a better concordance between a modified standard spectral model and observed field spectra. The calibration is performed initially with respect to four distinct directions related to four available measurement stations. So, it results in four sets of coefficients for a nominated model. Next, it is continued to reach just one model insensitive to directions. Results clearly showed that the International Towing Tank Conference (ITTC) model is more appropriate than Joint North Sea Wave Project (JONSWAP) and Pierson and Moskowitz (PM) models in this area, even without any calibration. However, modifications have been successful on improving the conformity of the model.     

Exciting forces for a wave energy device consisting of a pair of coaxial cylinders in water of finite depth

Two coaxial vertical cylinders-one is a riding hollow cylinder and the other a solid cylinder of greater radius at some distance above an impermeable horizontal bottom,were considered.This problem of diffraction by these two cylinders,which were considered as idealization of a buoy and a circular plate,can be considered as a wave energy device.The wave energy that is created and transferred by this device can be appropriately used in many applications in lieu of conventional energy.Method of separation of variables was used to obtain the analytical expressions for the diffracted potentials in four clearly identified regions.By applying the appropriate matching conditions along the three virtual boundaries between the regions,a system of linear equations was obtained,which was solved for the unknown coefficients.The potentials allowed us to obtain the exciting forces acting on both cylinders.Sets of exciting forces were obtained for different radii of the cylinders and for different gaps between the cylinders.It was observed that changes in radius and the gap had significant effect on the forces.It was found that mostly the exciting forces were significant only at lower frequencies.The exciting forces almost vanished at higher frequencies.The problem was also investigated for the base case of no plate arrangement,i.e.,the case having only the floating cylinder tethered to the sea-bed.Comparison of forces for both arrangements was carried out.In order to take care of the radiation of the cylinders due to surge motion,the corresponding added mass and the damping coefficients for both cylinders were also computed.All the results were depicted graphically and compared with available results.     

A computational investigation of the effects of both-sides general corrosion on the buckling/plastic collapse behaviour and strength of stiffened plates

This paper presents the results of an investigation into the post-buckling behaviour and ultimate strength of imperfect corroded stiffened steel plates used in ships and other marine-related structures. A series of elastic–plastic large deflection finite element analyses is performed on stiffened steel plates suffering general corrosion wastage with random distribution. General corrosion is introduced into the finite element models using a random thickness surface model. The effects of corroded stiffened plate parameters on the post-buckling and ultimate strengths are evaluated in detail. The stiffeners of different symmetrical or unsymmetrical cross-sections are introduced into the models for analysis. Some distinctions are explored and highlighted between the behaviours of steel plates suffering general corrosion in unstiffened and stiffened cases. Finally, a proposal is given in order to simulate the average stress–average strain relationship of stiffened steel plates having both-surface general corrosion wastage.     

Adaptive Neural Observer-Based Nonsingular Super-Twisting Terminal Sliding-Mode Controller Design for a Class of Hovercraft Nonlinear Systems

Designing a controller to stabilize maneuvering hovercrafts is an important challenge in amphibious vehicles. Hovercrafts are implemented in several application...     

作用在双圆柱桩上波浪力准确解和有限差分解的比较

The wave force exerted on vertical piles of offshore structures is the main criterion in designing them.In structures with more than one large pile,the influence of piles on each other is one of the most important issues being concerned in past researches.An efficient method for determining the interaction of piles is introduced in present research.First the wave force is calculated by the exact method using the diffraction theory,then in the finite difference numerical method the force is calculated by adding the velocity potentials of each pile and integration of pressure on their surface.The results showed that the ratio of the wave force on each of the double piles to a single pile has a damped oscillation around unity in which the amplitude of oscillation decreases with the increase in the spacing parameter.Also different wave incident directions and diffraction parameters were used and the results showed that the numerical solution has acceptable accuracy when the diffraction parameter is larger than unity.