Passenger car units in saturation flows: Concept,definition, derivation

Passenger car units (pcus) are traditionally used to represent the effects of changes in traffic composition (the mix of cars, goods vehicles, buses, ad so on) on the saturation flows at traffic signal junctions. This paper describes in the results obtained by the two main methods of derivation of pcu values, regression analysis of asynchronous vehicles counts (asynchronous regression) and headway ratio methods, when applied to data from two large public road studies. The relationship between the various methods of derivation used is investigated. Regression analysis of synchronous vehicle counts, Webster's method, and headway ratio methods are seen to agree, but asynchronous regression necessarily gives lower results so long as there is variability in the headways of vehicles of a given class (e.g. in car-to-car headways). Alternative method of regression analysis of asynchronous counts is investigated but found to be biased, although les so than the existing method. Conventional asynchronous regression gives unbiased saturation flow estimates if unbiased prior pcu values are used. The effects of assumed pcu values on signal settings and consequent delays in subsaturation conditions are examined. Value corresponding to delay-minimising settings are close to the ratio of the mean headways of the appropriate vehicle classes.     

A cross-section analysis of stock returns: The case of shipping firms

This paper undertakes an analysis of the determinants of the cross-section of expected stock returns of 19 shipping companies listed in the US, Norway, Stockholm and London. Various factors, including company stock market beta, divided yield, and financial leverage have been identified in the finance literature as determinants of share price performance. We capitalize on these findings and add one more industry specific factor, the average age of the company's fleet, to quantitatively analyse the determinants of the performance of shipping shock returns. We use the Fama-MacBeth methodology to empirically test whether the five factors above have a significant effect on shipping stocks' performance. Our results indicate that the industry specific factor (the average age of the fleet) plus financial leverage, are significant in explaining shipping stocks' returns, wheras the stock market beta and the dividend yield are far less significant.     

Fleet deployment optimization for liner shipping Part 2. Implementation and results

We use linear programming (LP) for solving the problem of the optimal deployment of an existing fleet of multipurpose or fully containerized ships, among a given set of routes, including information for lay-up time, if any, and type and number of extra ships to charter, based on a detailed and realistic model for the calculation of the operating costs of all the ship types in every route and on a suitable LP formulation developed in earlier work of the authors. The optimization model is also applicable to the problem of finding the best fleet compostion and deployment, in a given set of trade routes, which may be the case when a shipping company is considering new or modified services, or a renewal of the existing fleet. In addition, two promising mixed linear-integer programming formulations are suggested.     

基于模糊逻辑异步电动机间接矢量控制传动系统及其性能分析

文章提出了一种新颖的采用模糊逻辑控制的异步电动机(IM)转速控制方法.模糊逻辑控制器(FLC)是基于间接矢量控制系统设计的.模糊逻辑转速控制器用于外层回路.针对实验室1 hp鼠笼式IM采用DS-1102数字信号处理器插件板,对基于FLC的IM矢量控制传动系统进行了实验研究.对文章提出的基于FLC的IM传动性能进行了研究,从理论和实验两个方面,在诸如指令转速突变、负载阶跃变化等不同的动态工作条件下,与基于传统的比例积分(PI)控制器的传动系统作了比较,结果表明使用FLC更优越.因此该方法适用于高性能工业传动系统,以取代传统PI控制器的方法.     

Analyzing the preference for non-exclusive forms of telecommuting: Modeling and policy implications

This study examines three models of the individual's preference for home- and center-based telecommuting. Issues concerning the estimation of discrete models when the alternatives are non-exclusive are discussed. Two binary logit models are presented, one on the preference to telecommute from a center versus not telecommuting from a center (adjusted ² = 0.24), and the other on the preference to telecommute from a center over telecommuting from home (adjusted ² = 0.64). A nested logit model is also estimated on the following four alternatives: preferring not to telecommute, preferring either form of telecommuting, preferring to telecommute from home, and preferring to telecommute from a center (adjusted ² = 0.35).The results of the models illustrated the importance of attitudinal measures in measuring an individual's preference to telecommute. Oblique factor scores representing workplace interaction, stress, workaholism, internal control, and commute stress were statistically significant in some or all of the models. Other explanatory variables which were found to be consistently significant were education, job suitability, and age. Most respondents preferred either to telecommute from home or were indifferent between either form of telecommuting, which raises the question as to whether there really is a sizeable market niche to be filled by telecommuting centers, and hence whether they may make a significant contribution to transportation demand reduction.     

浅谈公路工程地质选线

近年来公路建设飞速发展,合理降低工程造价应引起高度重视。因此地质选线就显得尤为重要。就如何选线、如何保证设计质量、运用地质选线的手段等问题提出了相应的对策和措施。     

Variation in predicting pantograph–catenary interaction contact forces,numerical simulations and field measurements

The contact force between the pantograph and the contact wire ensures energy transfer between the two. Too small of a force leads to arching and unstable energy transfer, while too large of a force leads to unnecessary wear on both parts. Thus, obtaining the correct contact force is important for both field measurements and estimates using numerical analysis. The field contact force time series is derived from measurements performed by a self-propelled diagnostic vehicle containing overhead line recording equipment. The measurements are not sampled at the actual contact surface of the interaction but by force transducers beneath the collector strips. Methods exist for obtaining more realistic measurements by adding inertia and aerodynamic effects to the measurements. The variation in predicting the pantograph–catenary interaction contact force is studied in this paper by evaluating the effect of the force sampling location and the effects of signal processing such as filtering. A numerical model validated by field measurements is used to study these effects. First, this paper shows that the numerical model can reproduce a train passage with high accuracy. Second, this study introduces three different options for contact force predictions from numerical simulations. Third, this paper demonstrates that the standard deviation and the maximum and minimum values of the contact force are sensitive to a low-pass filter. For a specific case, an 80?Hz cut-off frequency is compared to a 20?Hz cut-off frequency, as required by EN 50317:2012; the results show an 11% increase in standard deviation, a 36% increase in the maximum value and a 19% decrease in the minimum value.     

Switch Panel wear loading – a parametric study regarding governing train operational factors

The acting forces and resulting material degradation at the running surfaces of wheels and rail are determined by vehicle, track, interface and operational characteristics. To effectively manage the experienced wear, plastic deformation and crack development at wheels and rail, the interaction between vehicle and track demands a system approach both in maintenance and in design. This requires insight into the impact of train operational parameters on rail- and wheel degradation, in particular at switches and crossings due to the complex dynamic behaviour of a railway vehicle at a turnout. A parametric study was carried out by means of vehicle-track simulations within the VAMPIRE® multibody simulation software, performing a sensitivity analysis regarding operational factors and their impact on expected switch panel wear loading. Additionally, theoretical concepts were cross-checked with operational practices by means of a case study in response to a dramatic change in lateral rail wear development at specific switches in Dutch track. Data from train operation, track maintenance and track inspection were analysed, providing further insight into the operational dependencies. From the simulations performed in this study, it was found that switch rail lateral wear loading at the diverging route of a 1:9 type turnout is significantly influenced by the level of wheel–rail friction and to a lesser extent by the direction of travel (facing or trailing). The influence of other investigated parameters, being vehicle speed, traction, gauge widening and track layout is found to be small. Findings from the case study further confirm the simulation outcome. This research clearly demonstrates the contribution flange lubrication can have in preventing abnormal lateral wear at locations where the wheel–rail interface is heavily loaded.     

Calibration efficiency improvement of rule-based energy management system for a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle

This paper presents a calibration method of a rule-based energy management strategy designed for a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, which aims to find the optimal set of control parameters to compromise within the conflicting calibration requirements (e.g. emissions and economy). A comprehensive evaluating indicator covering emissions and economy performance is constructed by the method of radar chart. Moreover, a radial basis functions (RBFs) neural network model is proposed to establish a precise model within the control parameters and the comprehensive evaluation indicator. The best set of control parameters under offline calibration is gained by the multi-island genetic algorithm. Finally, the offline calibration results are compared with the experimental results using a chassis dynamometer. The comparison results validate the effectiveness of the proposed offline calibrating approach, which is based on the radar chart method and the RBF neural network model on vehicle performance improvement and calibrating efficiency.