Competition Between New Port Governance Models on the Iberian Peninsula

The aim of this article is to analyze the interaction between port devolution processes in Portugal and Spain in their common geographical environment, the Iberian Peninsula. Firstly a review is done of the different port devolution processes in the world which specifically analyses the transition of numerous public and centralized ports to the landlord model. Among the conclusions that we can highlight with respect to the Iberian port systems are the need for a reflection process before any change is made to the port governance model, and greater cooperation between the two countries to avoid any possible future port tariff price wars. The over-investment process that the Spanish port devolution process, especially, has generated must also be mentioned, for highlighting once again the almost inexhaustible ability of ports to eat up public funds for investment that precludes profitability.     

Dynamical correction of control laws for marine ships’ accurate steering

The objective of this work is the analytical synthesis problem for marine vehicles autopilots design. Despite numerous known methods for a solution, the mentioned problem is very complicated due to the presence of an extensive population of certain dynamical conditions, requirements and restrictions, which must be satisfied by the appropriate choice of a steering control law. The aim of this paper is to simplify the procedure of the synthesis, providing accurate steering with desirable dynamics of the control system. The approach proposed here is based on the usage of a special unified multipurpose control law structure that allows decoupling a synthesis into simpler particular optimization problems. In particular, this structure includes a dynamical corrector to support the desirable features for the vehicle＇s motion under the action of sea wave disturbances. As a result, a specialized new method for the corrector design is proposed to provide an accurate steering or a trade-off between accurate steering and economical steering of the ship. This method guaranties a certain flexibility of the control law with respect to an actual environment of the sailing;its corresponding turning can be realized in real time onboard.     

层状岩体不同倾角对高地应力隧道稳定性影响分析

以层状岩体高地应力隧道为工程背景,采用数值模拟的方法,分析层状岩体的不同倾角对高地应力隧道稳定性的影响。研究结果表明：高地应力隧道相对于普通地应力隧道,其支护结构承受的荷载更大,隧道的稳定性问题更加突出;在25°～65°范围内,锚杆轴力随岩层倾角增大而增大的趋势明显。结合分析结果,通过将锚杆与岩层大角度相交,使多层岩体串联,从而增大了岩体层间阻力,减小了层间剪切错动的可能性,使锚杆充分发挥销钉的作用,减小了支护结构受力,增强了隧道围岩的稳定性。     

Waiting time and the role and value of information in scheduled transport

A new logit-based model for assigning public transit passengers to transit lines or routes is proposed. The model is based on the realistic assumption that once passengers arrive at stops, they can obtain information regarding the specific departure times. Furthermore, it takes into account that passengers are heterogeneous and hence, the choice made by a ‘representative’ passenger appears to be stochastic. The model is evaluated by means of simulations.     

变频技术在锅炉自动燃烧控制系统中的应用

变频技术是近年来应用范围广泛的一门技术，尤其在节约电能、自动控制等方面更为突出。变频技术应用在锅炉的燃烧控制中，既节约了电能，又使燃烧充分而节约了燃煤。由于改变了传统控制模式的运行方式，使锅炉自动燃烧控制系统运行更稳定，安全可靠。该系统应用于青岛四方机车车辆厂、山海关桥梁厂、齐齐哈尔车辆厂、南口机务段等单位，经测试效果明显，推广价值很大。     

Sequential data assimilation in an upwelling influenced estuary

We have evaluated the impact of assimilating chlorophyll, nitrate, phosphate, silicate and ammonium into a coupled 1D hydrodynamic ecosystem model (GOTM-ERSEM) in an upwelling influenced estuary. The assimilation method chosen is the Ensemble Kalman Filter (EnKF), which has been demonstrated to improve field estimates of key variables (chlorophyll, nutrients) for bulk algal bloom prediction. The 1D model has been set up for a central station inside the Ría de Vigo (Spain). Data from bi-weekly surveys are used to constrain the model. Temperature and salinity profiles are used to ensure the correct representation of the water structure through a relaxation scheme. Chlorophyll extracts and nutrients at three depths are assimilated sequentially during 1 year simulation (1991). The assimilation period includes episodes of active upwelling and downwelling. All five assimilated variables are successfully constrained and represent a large improvement on the reference simulation (without assimilation). Small divergences can be related to poorly resolved physical processes in the model. The assimilation was further evaluated by comparing observed biomass partitioning with model results. Diatoms accounted for the largest biomass update and the largest improvement in terms of percentage of variance explained (R²). This is particularly significant as they represent the 46% of the yearly integrated observed biomass of the planktonic autotrophs. Nonetheless the R² value was low for all phytoplankton groups. Bacteria and nanoflagellates showed an improvement with respect to their yearly Root Mean Square (RMS), while the other functional groups worsen or remained unaffected. Chlorophyll assimilation was responsible for most of the impact on the phytoplankton biomass with small contributions from the silicate. It had minor impact on the updates of nutrients which in turn corrected the state variables related to the detrital pool. In this current setting, combined assimilation of chlorophyll and nutrients is not sufficient to produce a skillful simulation of the phytoplankton succession.     

Estimates of Southern Ocean primary production—constraints from predator carbon demand and nutrient drawdown

In view of the wide range of estimates for the total primary production for the Southern Ocean south of the Subantarctic Front—current estimates range from 1.2 to 3.5 Gtonne C year⁻¹—we have examined two indirect methods for assessing primary production. First, we have estimated the primary production needed to sustain the carbon requirements of the endotherm top predators in the ecosystem. Estimation of the carbon requirements for crabeater seals of about 7 Mtonne C year⁻¹ is extrapolated to a value for all endotherm predators of 15–30 Mtonne C year⁻¹. Current data indicate that 70–80% of the diet of this suite of predators is zooplankton (predominantly the euphausiid krill), making for highly efficient transfer from primary production to top predators. Our best estimate of Southern Ocean primary production by this method is of the order of 1.7 Gtonne C year⁻¹, or an averaged areal primary production of about 30–40 g C m⁻² year⁻¹. Our second approach is to estimate primary production from the drawdown of inorganic nutrients, based on the limited suite of studies from which an annual nutrient deficit can be calculated. Again, this indicates annual primary production of the order of 1.5 Gtonne. Although both methods have inherent uncertainties, taken together they provide a relatively robust constraint on annual primary production. For both methods to underestimate primary production by the 1–1.5 Gtonne C implied by the higher current estimates, carbon export from the Southern Ocean pelagic ecosystem would need to be much higher than is normally found in other oceans.     

采用更好的气体金属弧焊方法--采用一些简单措施使气体金属弧焊焊缝质量更好

焊工常常会问这样一个问题,"气体金属弧焊(GMAW)和熔化极惰性气体保护焊(MIG)之间有什么区别?"术语"熔化极惰性气体保护焊"主要指保护气体不会与焊接熔池里的其它元素化合.美国焊接学会(AWS)采纳"气体金属弧焊"一词,是因为目前所利用的保护气体未必是惰性的.在许多情况下,保护气体的成分会引起化学反应,促进焊接熔池里的化合,提高强度、熔深、熔化和可焊性.     

Development of a Remotely Controlled Testing Platform with Low-drag Air-ventilated Hull

This paper addresses the development and testing of a remotely controlled boat platform with an innovative air-ventilated hull. The application of air cavities on the underside of ship hulls is a promi...