Assessment of the volume of fluid method for free-surface wave flow

This study was concerned with the free-surface wave flow around a surface-piercing foil. The volume of fluid method implemented in a Navier–Stokes computational fluid dynamics code was employed. Three widely used discretization schemes for the volume of fluid method were assessed for a test case that involved general ship waves, spilling breaking waves in front of the leading edge, and bubbly free surfaces in separated regions. A single computational approach was selected for the comparison, and a grid-dependence study was carried out. The computational results were validated against existing experimental data, showing good agreement. The validation results suggest that all three discretization schemes perform well, but the best and most efficient results were obtained using the high-resolution interface capturing scheme.     

Patterns in diversity and community structure of epipelagic copepods from the Brazil–Malvinas Confluence area, south-western Atlantic

Diversity and structure of epipelagic copepod communities were investigated using 70 zooplankton samples collected from the top 50 m of the Brazil–Malvinas Confluence area between 35° and 55°S. Biogeographic patterns were investigated using multivariate analysis. Biodiversity patterns were examined using different univariate indexes. Representatives of 35 species of copepods from 23 genera and 13 families were found. Two zones were delimited based on their copepod composition, one in the subtropical waters of the Brazil current, and the other in the subantarctic waters of the Malvinas current. Both environments displayed contrasting patterns of biodiversity depending upon which element is measured (regional species richness as well as mean point species richness were significantly higher in the subtropical group of stations, whereas taxonomic distinctness was significantly higher in the subantarctic community). Based on these contrasting results, we suggest the use of both kind of indexes when defining priority areas for conservation.     

Reliability assessment of maintained ship hulls with correlated corroded elements

This paper reviews the factors that affect the corrosion rate of the ship hull girder. It is shown that corrosion rates vary as a function of the location of the element in the structure, of the ocean area and type of ballast tank and steel. However, the corrosion rate in elements that are subjected to similar conditions is highly correlated.

A time-variant formulation is proposed including the correlation between the corrosion rates in neighbouring elements in modelling the degrading effect that corrosion has on the reliability of ship hulls. The effect of corrosion is represented as a time-dependent decrease of plate thickness that affects the midship section modulus. One repair policy was considered and the example results show the effect of plate replacement when its thickness reaches 75% of the original value. The results also illustrate how the limit value of the thickness in the repair criteria influences the reliability and the decision about repair actions. This is also shown for the effect of different corrosion rates, inspection intervals, and allowable stresses.     

Optimum throughput and performance evaluation of marine terminals

The performance of marine terminals has generally been evaluated by comparing their actual throughputs with their optimum throughputs. The engineering approach that generally has been used to determine optimum throughputs may be appropriate when terminals have natural hinterlands. In a deregulated (competitive) environment in which the natural hinterlands of marine terminals have become diffused, the economic approach for determining optimum throughputs should be condiered. In such an environment, marine terminals are not only concerned with whether they can handle a given amount of cargo but also whether they can compete for such cargo.     

垂直及斜出水流场的二维及三维TR-PIV试验

本文对钝头回转体垂直及斜出水流场采用TR-(Time-Resolved)PIV技术进行测量,并对斜出水流场进行3D-Stereo PIV(三维体视 PIV)测量.文中介绍了测试技术及测量结果,揭示了出水过程中流动结构及其演变,展示了TR-PIV技术对具有瞬态历程特征的出水流场研究的适应性.     

Computer-Simulation of the Dynamical Curving Behaviour of a Railway-Bogie

This paper describes the modelling of a two axle railway-bogie with variable design configurations and its application in the investigation of the behaviour in transitional and circular curves. Several results indicate possibilities to improve the curving properties and recommend the usage of forced-steering bogies, which show better performance in narrow curves without unbearable sacrifices to high-speed-behaviour on straight track.     

Vibration reduction of H/Shaft using an electromagnetic damper with mode change

The objective of this study is to develop a damper that can reduce the amplitude of vibration in various frequency ranges. Previous H/Shaft vibration reduction methods work in a passive way. A dynamic damper reduces the amplitude of vibration at its first mode, but vibration still appears at the second mode. A mass damper or hollow shaft can shift the natural frequency to a lower or higher region. The fixed operating frequency prevents vibration from being reduced outside the operating frequency range. The proposed damper uses electromagnets as either masses or actuators to change the damper mode between dynamic damper mode and mass damper mode. The electromagnetic damper (EMD) can change its mode to respond to the vibration excitation at both low and high frequencies. The vibration reduction performance was evaluated by FRF tests in laboratory and vehicle conditions. The results were compared with those of a dynamic damper and indicate that the amplitude of vibration is reduced by 95.6 % when the EMD is implemented on an H/Shaft, whereas only 61.9 % vibration reduction is achieved by the dynamic damper.     

全球海事界的盛会——第十三届中国国际海事展览会

12月6日，作为亚洲最具权威的海事展览会，第13届中国国际海事展览会在上海新国际博览中心隆重开幕！虽然最近上海气温骤降，但两年一届的中国国际海事展览会依然吸引了来自全球海事业界的众多人士，大家齐聚上海，现场气氛火爆。[编者按]     

An examination of the determinants of day-to-day variability in individuals' urban travel behavior

Day-to-day variability in individuals' travel behavior (intrapersonal variability) has been recognized in conceptual discussions, yet the analysis and modeling of urban travel are typically based on a single day record of each individual's travel. This paper develops and examines hypotheses regarding the determinants of intrapersonal variability in urban travel behavior.Two general hypotheses are formulated to describe the effects of motivations for travel and related behavior and of travel and related constraints on intrapersonal variability in weekday urban travel behavior. Specific hypotheses concerning the effect of various sociodernographic characteristics on intrapersonal variability are derived from these general hypotheses. These specific hypotheses are tested empirically in the context of daily trip frequency using a five-day record of travel in Reading, England.The empirical results support the two general hypotheses. First, individuals who have fewer economic and role-related constraints have higher levels of intrapersonal variability in their daily trip frequency. Second, individuals who fulfil personal and household needs that do not require daily participation in out-of-home activities have higher levels of intrapersonal variability in their daily trip frequency.     

Urban travel demand: The impact of Box-Cox transformations with nonspherical residual errors

We develop an algorithm for solving regression models with Box-Cox transformations on both the dependent and independent variables, while simultaneously taking into account corrections for serial correlation of several orders and for heteroscedasticity. The latter correction is of a general form which contains as special cases most specifications of heteroscedasticity found in practice. We apply the procedure to three urban travel demand functions, two of which are currently used in their linear form by the Montreal Transit Authority, and analyze more than 100 specifications. Our results show that taking into account nonsphericalness of the residuals has a major impact on model parameter estimates, notably on those which determine the functional form of the model, and that, conversely, modifications of the functional form have strong implications for both the structure of autocorrelation and the importance of heteroscedasticity; moreover, we find interactions between autocorrelation and heteroscedasticity structures. We introduce a special measure of elasticity for variables which contain zero observations, particularly dummy variables. Moreover, we find that elasticities of demand and implicit values of time depend to a large extent on the stochastic specification of the model.