Easing or tightening control strategies: determination of COVID-19 parameters for an agent-based model

Some agent-based models have been developed to estimate the spread progression of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and to evaluate strategies aimed to control the outbreak of the infectious disease. Nonetheless, COVID-19 parameter estimation methods are limited to observational epidemiologic studies which are essentially aggregated models. We propose a mathematical structure to determine parameters of agent-based models accounting for the mutual effects of parameters. We then use the agent-based model to assess the extent to which different control strategies can intervene the transmission of COVID-19. Easing social distancing restrictions, opening businesses, speed of enforcing control strategies, quarantining family members of isolated cases on the disease progression and encouraging the use of facemask are the strategies assessed in this study. We estimate the social distancing compliance level in Sydney greater metropolitan area and then elaborate the consequences of moderating the compliance level in the disease suppression. We also show that social distancing and facemask usage are complementary and discuss their interactive effects in detail.

     

盾构隧道整体道床剥离病害规律研究北大核心CSCD

盾构隧道整体道床的剥离病害已严重影响地铁的安全运营。为研究整体道床剥离病害的规律,文章以国内某运营地铁线路为工程背景,建立整体道床-管片-注浆层数值模型进行分析研究。结果表明:列车轮组作用在道床一侧靠近伸缩缝位置时会引起较大的道床剥离变形,是最不利位置;列车荷载在振动作用下引起的剥离量远大于静载作用时的,且两者间存在函数关系;伸缩缝位置是最易发生剥离的区域,剥离首先发生在伸缩缝两侧边缘,随列车动载作用时间增加,剥离区域扩展至伸缩缝1.5 m范围内;注浆层刚度与接触面黏结强度均是影响剥离量的重要因素,提升注浆层刚度和道床-管片接触面的黏结强度可有效减少剥离量。     

Analysis on Ground Surface Deformation and Influence of Construction Parameters Caused by Two Different Shield Machines in Double-tube Tunnelling北大核心CSCD

Based on a shield-driven running tunnel project of Hangzhou Metro Line 2, this paper carries out field measuring of the ground surface deformation caused by two different shield machines in double-tube tunnelling in soft soil areas, obtains the laws of the surface deformation caused by shield-driven double-tube tunnelling and verifies the applicability of the modified Peck formula to double-tube tunnelling. The results show that in soft soil areas the impacts on ground surface deformation caused by different shield construction parameters in the previously and subsequently excavated tunnels are different, while the surface deformation changes sharply before and after the shield machine passing through the cutting face, and a rebound phenomenon occurs when the shield tail passes through the cutting face due to the influence of the grouting; The cutterhead torque of the shield machine in soft soil areas can be composed of five calculation factors, and the calculation results are in good agreement with the measured values. The larger the opening rate of the shield cutterhead is, the larger the average torque value will be, the higher the percentage of large ground loss rate will be, and the larger the maximum ground surface settlement will be; The ratio of cutterhead torque T to mucking volume per ring Q is used as the control parameter for analyzing the ground surface settlement, and a certain positive correlation between the ratio and the surface settlement value is determined, the smaller the cutterhead opening rate is, the more accurate the fitting results will be. © 2022, Editorial Office of Modern Tunnelling Technology. All right reserved.     

Wheel-rail contact models for vehicle system dynamics including multi-point contact

Advanced modelling of rail vehicle dynamics requires realistic solutions of contact problems for wheels and rails that are able to describe contact singularities, encountered for wheels and rails. The basic singularities demonstrate themselves as double and multiple contact patches. The solutions of the contact problems have to be known practically in each step of the numerical integration of the differential equations of the model. The existing fast, approximate methods of solution to achieve this goal have been outlined. One way to do this is to replace a multi-point contact by a set of ellipses. The other methods are based on so-called virtual penetration. They allow calculating the non-elliptical, multiple contact patches and creep forces online, during integration of the model. This allows nearly real-time simulations. The methods are valid and applicable for so-called quasi-Hertzian cases, when the contact conditions do not deviate much from the assumptions of the Hertz theory. It is believed that it is worthwhile to use them in other cases too.     

Changes in perceived travel cost and time for the work trip during a period of increasing gasoline costs

This study was designed to examine the relationship between actual and perceived values of cost and time for the work trip and to examine how perceptions have changed over a period of dramatically increased travel costs. Variations in the relationship between perceived and actual values were examined as a function of situational and attitudinal variables. Two telephone surveys were conducted one year apart (Fall 1978 and Fall 1979). On the next working day following a survey, a research assistant recreated the respondent's work trip, recorded time values and used distance measures, car type information and parking costs to compute travel cost. The first survey revealed that most auto users were unable to articulate dollars-and-cents driving costs for the work trip, but auto users in the second survey were able to provide fairly accurate cost estimates. Dramatic changes in fuel prices between surveys is probably the main reason for the change in driving cost awareness. Auto users were also asked to rate relative costs of driving a car compared to using the bus for the work trip. These ratings showed that auto users tended to underestimate driving costs relative to bus costs, but this tendency decreased from the first to the second time period. Commuters in all modal groups at both time periods tended to overestimate travel times. Perception of travel time varied as a function of mode, perceived comfort (for car users), and perceived convenience and number of transfers (for bus users).To whom correspondence should be addressed.     

沥青混合料级配曲线研究进展

级配曲线是由富勒模型中最大粒径和形状系数两个参数来确定的,富勒模型能够很好地拟合使用性能良好的级配.级配曲线图是由形状系数和最大粒径组成的直角坐标系,它可以表示出级配范围、砂石比和相关的性能参数.该文分析了Superpave沥青混合料力学和水稳性能的试验结果,提出了根据级配曲线推荐的集料设计出满足路面各项性能的自由设计理念.     

New lead-acid battery management system based on generator regulation

A novel regulation system for a vehicle generator and lead-acid battery is proposed in this paper. By integrating the regulation method, the output voltage of the generator is determined and controlled by the algorithm to save electrical energy and protect the lead-acid battery. The regulation algorithm is implemented in Matlab/Simulink, and the logic function of the system is verified using the dSPACE/AutoBox workbench. The experimental results show that the new algorithm improves the performance of the fuel economy of the vehicle and the battery state-of-health compared to the traditional control method.     

A Comparison of Various Computer Simulation Models for Predicting the Directional Responses of Articulated Vehicles

This paper presents the results of a comparative study of the predictions, made using computer simulation models of different levels of complexity, of the directional responses of commercial articulated vehicles in steady-state and lane-change maneuvers. The differences in the predictions obtained using various models are examined and are compared with available experimental data. The objective of this study is to compare the capabilities and limitations of various simulation models for predicting the directional behavior of articulated vehicles.