The relevance of international transport costs on food prices: Endogenous and exogenous effects

The paper addresses the problem of transport costs and their influence on food prices for South American imports. While transport does not seem to be in the focus of existing analyses, its impact on food prices might be underestimated and even closely linked to the development of commonly mentioned drivers of food prices. Since transport price formation is a function of demand and supply, drivers of food prices are also expected to impact on transport prices. The authors argue that a number of relevant factors that drive transport costs - and in consequence food prices - can be influenced by policy makers. Based on empirical analysis, the authors explain the functioning of the determinants of transport costs in the segment of international shipping, trying to describe their exogenous and endogenous components. These results are discussed in reference to policy development in the region.     

Unsteady finite-depth effects during resistance tests on a ship model in a towing tank

This paper covers an extension of the study of Doctors et al. (J Ship Res 52(4):263–273, 2008) on oscillations in wave resistance during the constant-velocity phase of a towing-tank resistance test on a ship model to the case of relatively shallow water. We demonstrate here that the unsteady effects are very prominent and that it is essentially impossible to achieve a steady-state resistance curve in a towing tank of typical proportions for a water-depth-to-model-length ratio of 0.25. This statement is particularly true in the speed region near a depth Froude number of unity. However, on the positive side, we show here that an application of unsteady linearized wave-resistance theory provides an excellent prediction of the measured total resistance, when one accounts for the form factor in the usual manner. Finally, a simple application of the results to the planning and analysis of towing-tank tests is presented.     

Integrated reliability and sizing optimization of a large composite structure

In this paper, we present the application of probabilistic design modeling and reliability-based design optimization (RBDO) methodology to the sizing optimization of a composite advanced submarine sail structure under parametric uncertainty. With the help of probabilistic sensitivity analysis, the influence of individual random variables on each structural failure mode is examined, and the critical modes are treated as probabilistic design constraints under consistent lower bounds on the corresponding reliability indices. Whereas the failure modes are evaluated for structural components in the solution of the RBDO problem, the overall system reliability is also evaluated as a post-optimization step. The results indicate that in comparison to a deterministic-optimum design, the structural mass of the probabilistic optimum design is slightly higher when consistent probabilistic constraints are imposed, and the overall structural stiffness is found to be more critical than individual component laminate ply thicknesses in meeting the specified design constraints. Moreover, the post-optimality analysis shows that the overall system failure probability of the probabilistic optimum design is more than 50% lower than that of the deterministic optimal design with less than 5% penalty in structural mass.     

Influence of the slice position on chloride migration tests for concrete in marine conditions

Chloride migration tests are used to measure the concrete capacity to inhibit chloride attack. Many researchers carry out this test in a slice of concrete extracted from the central part of cylindrical specimens, discarding about 75% of the concrete used to mold the specimens. This fact generated the question: would it be possible to extract more slices from a same specimen without losing the confidence in the results? The main purpose of this work is to answer this question. Moreover, another aim of this study was to show the difference of chloride penetration between finished faces and the formwork surfaces of concrete beams and slabs. The results indicated that it is possible to use more slices of a single specimen for a chloride migration test. Moreover, it was demonstrated that there is a significant difference of chloride penetration between the finished surface and the formwork surface of the specimens.     

A study of vibration and vibration control of ship structures

This paper examines the vibration characteristics and vibration control of complex ship structures. It is shown that input mobilities of a ship structure at engine supports, due to out-of-plane force or bending moment excitations, are governed by the flexural stiffness of the engine supports. The frequency averaged input mobilities of the ship structure, due to such excitations, can be represented by those of the corresponding infinite beam. The torsional moment input mobility at the engine support can be estimated from the torsional response of the engine bed section under direct excitation. It is found that the inclusion of ship hull and deck plates in the ship structure model has little effect on the frequency-averaged response of the ship structure. This study also shows that vibration propagation in complex ship structures at low frequencies can be attenuated by imposing irregularities to the ring frame locations in ships. Vibration responses of ship structures due to machinery excitations at higher frequencies can be controlled by structural modifications of the local supporting structures such as engine beds in ships.     

中大型客滚船的线型与推进系统研究

本文介绍了当今世界上典型的中大型客滚渡船传统的线型设计方法和推进系统,以及近年来针对大型客滚渡船研发的新推进理念和方法。详细介绍这些新的推进理念,并将其与传统的方式进行比较,对将来的实际应用提出了建议。     

关于高速艇大回转试验的思考

针对近年来围绕高速艇大回转试验出现的分歧意见,分析了进行高速艇大回转试验的必要性,探讨高速艇大回转试验的程序和方法,提出了尽快更新回转试验标准等建议。     

U型半潜式起重铺管平台的总强度分析

采用有限元分析的方法,对一U型半潜式起重铺管平台进行了总强度分析,为该平台的结构设计提供了重要参考依据。     

IETM在舰船机电设备信息化保障中的应用

舰船机电设备的信息化保障是部队战斗力的关键因素之一。传统的设备维修保障方式已无法满足部队信息化的要求,通过交互式电子技术的运用,建立实时交互的舰船机电设备管理平台,可提高机电设备维修保障的信息化水平和效率。针对舰船机电设备发展趋势及维修管理的要求,采用VB语言编制了舰船机电设备交互式电子手册,并对研制过程中的主要技术问题和系统进行了介绍,对于编制设备技术手册和舰船完工文件具有指导作用。     

CATIA二次开发辅助实现空气螺旋桨配重的优化设计

介绍了气垫船变距空气螺旋桨的配重计算方法,编制了一整套计算程序,并在CATIA中进行了有关二次开发。利用CATIA中“测量惯性”功能获得配重的最大与最小转动惯量的精确值。实现了配重建模的自动化,AutoCAD中的配重二维图纸的尺寸更改可快速反映到CATIA中的三维立体模型,实现配重的优化设计。并以某一小型气垫实船举例,对其配重进行了计算分析。