Customer loads of two-wheeled vehicles

Customer usage profiles are the most unknown influences in vehicle design targets and they play an important role in durability analysis. This publication presents a customer load acquisition system for two-wheeled vehicles that utilises the vehicle's onboard signals. A road slope estimator was developed to reveal the unknown slope resistance force with the help of a linear Kalman filter. Furthermore, an automated mass estimator was developed to consider the correct vehicle loading. The mass estimation is performed by an extended Kalman filter. Finally, a model-based wheel force calculation was derived, which is based on the superposition of forces calculated from measured onboard signals. The calculated wheel forces were validated by measurements with wheel–load transducers through the comparison of rainflow matrices. The calculated wheel forces correspond with the measured wheel forces in terms of both quality and quantity. The proposed methods can be used to gather field data for improved vehicle design loads.     

Road classification for two-wheeled vehicles

This publication presents a three-part road classification system that utilises the vehicle's onboard signals of two-wheeled vehicles. First, a curve estimator was developed to identify and classify road curves. In addition, the curve estimator continuously classifies the road curviness. Second, the road slope was evaluated to determine the hilliness of a given road. Third, a modular road profile estimator has been developed to classify the road profile according to ISO 8608, which utilises the vehicle's transfer functions. The road profile estimator continuously classifies the driven road. The proposed methods for the classification of curviness, hilliness, and road roughness have been validated with measurements. The road classification system enables the collection of vehicle-independent field data of two-wheeled vehicles. The road properties are part of the customer usage profiles which are essential to define vehicle design targets.     

Pivot point-based control for active rear-wheel steering in passenger vehicles

This paper presents a new application of active rear-wheel steering control to improve the lateral vehicle behaviour. In the state of the art, yaw or lateral velocity is used as control variable that means one degree of freedom being not directly controlled. A worse subjective impressions due to movements in the rear end of the vehicle during strong counter-steering are a consequence. To avoid this effect in urban surroundings, an innovative structure to control the pivot point distance of the vehicle is proposed. In this case the coupled elementary states yaw and lateral velocity can be influenced based on a higher level criteria. Analysis show that pivot point fixing provides a comprehensible reference behaviour. Solving the issue of singularity during disappearing yaw movement is the basis to design a performant modified feedforward input–output linearisation. An analytic stability analysis of the internal dynamics shows system immanent limitations which do not influence the target of improving the lateral vehicle dynamics in urban manoeuvres. Finally, the advantages of pivot-based control are highlighted by a comparison with state of the art rear axle control.     

Elliptical splats based isosurface visualization for volume data

Elliptical splats are used to represent and render the isosurface of volume data. The method consists of two steps. The first step is to extract points on the isosurface by looking up the case table. In the second step, properties of splats are computed based on local geometry. Rendering is achieved using surface splatting algorithm. The obtained results show that the extraction time of isosurfaces can be reduced by a factor of three. So our approach is more appropriate for interactive visualization of large medical data than the classical marching cubes (MC) technique.     

Numerical modeling of hollow-cone fuel atomization,vaporization and wall impingement processes under high ambient temperatures

In the following paper, a numerical study of the atomization, vaporization and wall impingement processes of hollow-cone fuel spray from high-pressure swirl injectors under various ambient temperature conditions was carried out. Also, the availability of applied models and the effect of ambient temperature on spray characteristics is discussed. The Linearized Instability Sheet Atomization (LISA) model combined with the Aerodynamically Progressed Taylor Analogy Breakup (APTAB) model, the improved Abramzon model and the Gosman model are used to calculate the atomization, vaporization and wall impingement processes of hollow-cone fuel spray, respectively. Spray models are implemented with the modified KIVA code. The calculation results of the spray characteristics under two ambient temperatures, including spray tip penetration, spray structure and radial distance after spray-wall impingement are compared to the experimental results obtained by the Laser Induced Exciplex Fluorescence (LIEF) technique. The droplet size distribution, ambient gas velocity field, vapor phase distribution and fuel film mass generated by spray-wall impingement, measurements which are generally difficult to obtain by experimental methods, are also calculated and discussed. Quantitative discussions on the effect of the ambient temperature on the spray development process are conducted. It is shown that the applied models are applicable even in the high ambient temperature condition.     

增强型绿色荧光蛋白标记的Hela细胞株的建立

目的构建增强型绿色荧光蛋白(EGFP)标记的Hela细胞系。方法PCR和DNA测序鉴定pEGFP-C1真核表达质粒,采用Qiagen tip 500进行pEGFP-C1真核表达质粒DNA的提取和纯化;cellfectin转染Hela细胞,G418筛选,有限稀释法单克隆培养,荧光显微镜进行荧光检测EGFP的表达,采用激光共聚焦显微镜观测器检测荧光特性。结果PCR和DNA测序证实pEGFP质粒结构正确;在倒置荧光显微镜下,转染24h后,部分Hela细胞可见绿色荧光,转染72h时,大约80%Hela细胞内均可见绿色荧光。加入含G418的选择性培养基进行选择性培养,选择荧光较强的Hela细胞经有限稀释,持续筛选及克隆化培养,获得稳定表达绿色荧光的Hela细胞克隆,扩大培养并传至10代以上,将此细胞株命名为Hela-EGFP。激光共聚焦显微镜观察发现:在蓝光(-395nm)激发时,Hela-EGFP细胞绿色荧光激发波长为395nm,最大发射峰为509nm。结论Hela-EGFP细胞株具备稳定表达EGFP的能力,为实时可视化进行宫颈癌侵袭转移机制的研究奠定了基础。     

A decision support system for integrated hazardous materials routing and emergency response decisions

Hazardous materials routing constitutes a critical decision in mitigating the associated transportation risk. This paper presents a decision support system for assessing alternative distribution routes in terms of travel time, risk and evacuation implications while coordinating the emergency response deployment decisions with the hazardous materials routes. The proposed system provides the following functionalities: (i) determination of alternative non-dominated hazardous materials distribution routes in terms of cost and risk minimization, (ii) specification of the hazardous materials first-response emergency service units locations in order to achieve timely response to an accident, and (iii) determination of evacuation paths from the impacted area to designated shelters and estimation of the associated evacuation time. The proposed system has been implemented, used and evaluated for assessing alternative hazardous materials routing decisions within the heavily industrialized area of Thriasion Pedion of Attica, Greece. The implementation of the aforementioned functionalities is based on two new integer programming models for the hazardous materials routing and the emergency response units location problems, respectively. A simplified version of the routing model is solved by an existing heuristic algorithm developed by the authors. A new Lagrangean relaxation heuristic algorithm has been developed for solving the emergency response units location problem. The focus of this paper is on the exposition of the proposed decision support system components and functionalities. Special emphasis is placed on the presentation of the two new mathematical models and the new solution method for the location model.     

Optimization of pellet induration process parameters in rotary kiln using simulation results

In order to optimize the pellet induration process parameters of rotary kiln, a mathematical model is developed and solved by using commercial software FLUENT. Orthogonal regression has been performed by using the simulated results of the pellet induration in rotary kiln. The functional relations between pellet induration quality and process parameters are obtained. The main parameters that affect the thermal process are also discussed. The results show that the high temperature zone is longer and the local high-temperature could be avoided while the velocity difference decreases between the secondary air and the carbon particle, which leads to more uniformed temperature distribution and better induration quality. The work gives a right direction on improving of pellet production.     

Short‐term traffic forecasting: Overview of objectives and methods

In the last two decades, the growing need for short‐term prediction of traffic parameters embedded in a real‐time intelligent transportation systems environment has led to the development of a vast number of forecasting algorithms. Despite this, there is still not a clear view about the various requirements involved in modelling. This field of research was examined by disaggregating the process of developing short‐term traffic forecasting algorithms into three essential clusters: the determination of the scope, the conceptual process of specifying the output and the process of modelling, which includes several decisions concerning the selection of the proper methodological approach, the type of input and output data used, and the quality of the data. A critical discussion clarifies several interactions between the above and results in a logical flow that can be used as a framework for developing short‐term traffic forecasting models.     

Transport in developing and emerging nations

One perspective on the allocation of transport investments by public authorities is offered by the so‐called ‘pork barrel’ model, whereby politicians and political parties allocate public investment spatially in such a way as to gain electoral support from localities so benefited. The paper introduces this model and discusses its attractions and problems in the case of the transport sector. A review of the modest number of published examples of this approach is offered before a detailed case study considers the case of railway investment in Nelson, New Zealand.