Nonlinear Dynamics of Vehicle Traction

Summary The purpose of this study is to understand the nonlinear dynamics of longitudinal ground vehicle traction. Specifically, single-wheel models of rubber-tired automobiles under straight-ahead braking and acceleration conditions are investigated in detail. Customarily, the forward vehicle speed and the rotational rate of the tire/wheel are taken as dynamic states. This paper motivates an alternative formulation in which wheel slip, a dimensionless measure of the difference between the vehicle speed and the circumferential speed of the tire relative to the wheel center, replaces the angular velocity of the tire/wheel as a dynamic state. This formulation offers new insight into the dynamic behavior of vehicle traction. The unique features of the modeling approach allow one to capture the full range of dynamic responses of the single-wheel traction models in a relatively simple geometric manner. The models developed here may also be useful for developing and implementing anti-lock brake and traction control control schemes.     

Flow resistance characteristics of water in narrow annulus during heat exchange

Considering the special resistance characteristics of fluids flowing through ducts with small gaps, experiments are per-formed to investigate the resistance characteristics of single-phase water, which is forced to flow through vertical annuli. The gap sizes are 0.9, 1,4 and 2.4ram, respectively. The experiments are conducted under condition of 1 atm. The water in the annuli is heated by high temperature water reversely flowing through the inner tube and the outer annulus. The results show that the flow pattern begin to change from laminar to turbulent before Reynolds number approaches 2000, the flow resistance in annulus has llttie relations with the temperature difference and ways of being heated, but mainly depends on the ratio of mass flux to the width of annulus.     

Multimodal transport in the new millennium

Consignors of goods in international trade want their containers to move door to door whether by land, sea or air — smoothly, seamlessly and at predictable cost. What they actually get from the law is at best a jerky roller coaster: a series of contracts, one for each mode or stage of the journey, contracts with various people and with liability that varies too. All agree that the law should change but attempts to agree on an entirely new multimodal regime have failed. Recently attempts have been not to start again but to expand an existing and established regime. The latest of these, the UNCITRAL draft, is essentially maritime: it applies to the sea phase but and goes further to apply door to door except when its path is blocked by compulsory unimodal law. Has Venus at last arisen from the waves? And what will happen when Beauty meets the Beast in the form of CMR? This article addresses the problems that will be encountered by an ambitious amphibious instrument of this kind. — problems of integration, of compatibility with local legal culture, and of methodology.     

LD-pumped Ho, Tm： YLF microchip laser

A simple rate equation model for 2μm Tm, Ho:YLF laser is given to study laser dynamics. Under low pump power, the explicit formulae for the threshold pump power and the relation between output power and incident power are obtained. The present model provides a straightforward procedure to design the laser resonator and the optical coupling system for optimization. At the same time, the experimental results are reported. At room temperature the slope efficiency is 22.4% and the typical lasing threshold is about 328mW. The theory is in good agreement with experiment.     

New technology and maritime training in the 21<Superscript>st</Superscript> century: Implications and solutions for MET institutions

This paper examines the impact of new technology on MET institutions in the 21^st century and discusses to what extent global MET institutions can enhance and enrich traditional practices through access to new technology and the use of innovative teaching and assessment methods within a sustainable and achievable framework. It notes the diverse standards and access to new technology by MET institutions across the globe and discusses the implications for them if they are to remain competitive and viable. The paper concludes that maritime institutions can benefit from the use of new technology, but only through rational planning and sustainable staged growth. A series of continua of technical development is provided to assist institutions, from the smallest to the largest, to plan for technical development and growth in a rational and feasible way.     

Dynamic analysis of multibodies system with a floating base for rolling of ro-ro ship caused by wave and slip of heavy load

Common effect of wave and slip of internal heavy load will make rolling of the roll-on ship serious. This is one of the important reasons for overturn of ro-ro ships. The multibodies System with a floating base is composed of ro-ro ship and slipping heavy load. This paper takes the rolling angle of the ship and the transverse displacement of the heavy load on desk as two freedoms. Making use of analysis of apparent gravitation and apparent buoyaney, the wave rolling moment is derived. By use of dynamic method of multibodies system with a floating base, dynamic equations of the system are established. Taking a certain channel ferry as an example, a set of numerical calculation have been carried out for rolling response of the ship and displacement response of the slipping heavy load under common effect of synchro-slipping heavy loads and wave.     

Simulation study of plane motion of air cushion vehicle

This research is on horizontal plane motion equations of Air Cushion Vehicle (ACV) and its simulation. To investigate this, a lot of simulation study including ACV‘s voyage and turning performance has been done. It was found that the voyage simulation results were accorded with ACV own characteristic and turning simulation results were accorded with USA ACV‘s movement characteristic basically.     

A Versatile Flat Track Tire Testing Machine

Summary A flat track tire testing machine developed by the IMMa group is described. It permits the simulation and study of the dynamic behavior of a great variety of tires under controllable and repetitive highly dynamic realistic working conditions in the laboratory for a diversity of vehicles, from motorcycles to light trucks. The machine incorporates: - a hydraulically operated tire support and loading system with wide operating ranges; - a computer controlled brake system to simulate braking maneuvers with ABS systems; - a complete sensorial system; - a data acquisition and control system continually monitoring and acting on the experimental variables, i.e., tire and belt speed, longitudinal slip, slip and camber angles, tire pressure, tire normal force, etc. As an application example, results are presented that adjust the parameter of the magic formula for a standard 175/70 R14 passenger vehicle tire. Accurate mathematical tire models are recognized as essential for the prediction of vehicle dynamic performances using simulation tools.     

Extended Ground-Hook - New Concept of Semi-Active Control of Truck's Suspension

This paper deals with the novel control concept, so called ground-hook for active and mainly semi-active suspension of vehicles with the ultimate objective to minimize the tyre-road forces and thus the road damage. The basic ground-hook concept is extended to the several variants which enable to decrease criteria of road damage as well as to increase driver's comfort for a broad range of road unevennesses. Parameters of control law are determined by the parameter optimization for generally nonlinear model. The influence and interaction of the damping rate limits and time constants of variable shock absorbers are also taken into account. The influence of implementation of more complicated truck models is also discussed.     

Piracy and armed robbery against ships today

This paper sets out the nature, scale and geographical locations of attacks against vessels today. Numerous examples in the paper highlight the worldwide nature of these attacks, the violence and differences in modus operandi and targets. The information is drawn from the International Maritime Bureau’s (IMB) Piracy Reporting Centre in Kuala Lumpur. Against this background, it briefly discusses issues of definition and response, including some technological devices, which can help locate hijacked vessels and deter unlawful boarding. The paper concludes with some practical thoughts on dealing with international crime, the victims of which, through the nature of their work have to travel beyond national boundaries, and so do not always attract the support of and commitment from national governments and law enforcement agencies where the attacks take place.