Modeling and Dynamics of Friction Wedge Dampers in Railroad Freight Trucks

A mechanical model for the vertical response of the bolster and friction-wedge suspension elements in a railroad freight truck is developed. The model incorporates linear stiffnesses and dry friction contact between rigid elements. Numerical bifurcation diagrams for sticking events, obtained for parameterizations of the amplitude and frequency of a harmonic track excitation, and for various friction laws, reveal distinct parameter-dependent dynamic responses: strongly nonlinear stick-slip oscillations, observed away from period-1 resonance; and weakly nonlinear, nearly harmonic responses, observed near the period-one resonance. The analytical method of harmonic balance is applied to develop a first order approximation for the period-1 response, and, as should be expected, is found to correspond well with the numerical results in the large amplitude limit and near the resonance location. Given that such weakly nonlinear, large amplitude, period-1 responses are not common for the speeds and system parameters of most freight vehicles, we conclude that friction-wedge models based on some form of equivalent linearization may be inadequate for simulating freight car dynamics in many cases of practical importance.     

Dynamics of highway design for safety

An important aspect of improving highway safety lies in designing the geometric features of roadways in response to the characteristics and behavior of drivers. This is being applied to specific features of highways with evidence of improvement in operation and safety. However, much more can be accomplished. There is now available additional operational experience and observations, which can assist the driver's task in vehicle control and guidance, but which have not yet been fully reflected in design criteria. If judiciously applied, such measures could further enhance highway safety. The paper addresses itself mainly to this aspect and presents the thesis: when all known or accepted safety features and techniques are applied fully to a highway project, it may be expected that a significant improvement in safety will be achieved. An actual project is suggested to validate this approach.     

The changing face of parking-related data collection and analysis: The role of new technologies

Current trends in requirements for parking related information and in the availability of data are reviewed. Important influences include the increased need for data to assist in the efficient operation and management of parking stock and to assess the impact of parking on the local network and economy. New sources of data are described, particular attention being given to the availability of data as a byproduct of parking management systems and computerised enforcement systems. The use and performance of audio, video and data loggers in parking surveys is discussed as is the role of computers in questionnaire surveys. New methods of analysis involving spreadsheets, graphics and analysis software, links with databases and simulation models are outlined.     

Pedestrianisation: London's Oxford Street experiment

Oxford Street in London, is the capital's principal shopping street and famous throughout the Western World; it is also the most obvious route from the city of London to the West, the Midlands and the North of England.The conflict between its twin roles of shopping centre and major traffic route was demonstrated in its accident record which put Oxford Street top of the list of accident blackspots in London, whilst its location in the most fashionable area of London make the costs of new road construction prohibitive.A comprehensive accident analysis defined the pedestrian/vehicle conflict by time and place and facilitated the detail design of a limited traffic ban with associated rerouting.Considerable uncertainties in prediction of the resulting traffic conditions, in the absence of data on demand elasticity, dominated the design of the experiment and led to the inclusion of an avert chaos policy. Traffic predictions which included details of the probable manner in which congestion would spread were assisted by a new network simulation model developed by one of the authors and described here.The report outlines the history of the experiment from conception to implementation (in record time) and reports some early and generally encouraging results. On the strength of which the Greater London Council has confirmed the scheme (August 1973) and has announced plans for its extension to the remaining half of Oxford Street — from Oxford Circus to St. Giles' Circus — which still carries the full weight of traffic.Previously undertaking doctoral research at Imperial College, London.     

The effect of socio-economic factors on the value of time in commuting to work

It is important to specify accurately the dollar value assigned to time savings, since up to eighty percent of the benefits estimated to accrue from improvements in transportation systems are associated with savings in travel time. In this paper the economic theory of consumer choice is utilized to structure a model that is used to estimate how Value of Time (VOT) measures vary with community-related variables.Parameters for this theoretical model are empirically estimated using data from transportation surveys conducted in Ithaca and Syracuse, New York and Amherst, Massachusetts. The results confirm the validity of the theoretical model and suggest that leisure time, travel cost, and household income level, as well as community population, are important determinants of the marginal value of time. These models are particularly suited for transferring data results obtained in one community to another, thereby saving survey costs, since the resulting VOT estimates are based solely on underlying socio-economic variables and community characteristics that are known for most localities. The methodology is also useful for estimating different VDT's for particular population subgroups, like the elderly, which may be the focus of a particular transportation project.     

A comparative study of the dynamic behaviour of a fast patrol boat travelling in rough seas

This paper describes a comparative study between full scale measurements recorded on a fast patrol boat encountering heavy winter seas, south of the Isle of Wight and theoretical predictions accounting for the slamming behaviour of the flexible hull. A hydroelastic approach is adopted and satisfactory agreement between measured and predicted responses demonstrated.