Finite element analysis of overlay incorporating stress absorbing membrane interlayers against reflective cracking

A wheel tracking test was modelled to gain better understanding of the deflection and stress-strain distribution in an overlaid cracked pavements with and without membrane interlayer （SAMI）. For this purpose, commercial finite element software Abaqus 6.7-1 was used. Two different models were considered, one incorporating stress absorbing membrane interlayers （SAMIs） and the other without SAMI. In the study, full bond condition was assumed for the boundaries between the layers, and a linear elastic model was used for the analysis. The results show that introduction of SAMI caused greater deflection of the pavement. It is found that although with SAMIs, low stiffness is required, a very low stiffness may yield undesirable results. The results show that the introduction of SAMIs results in high strain concentration around the crack region, whilst the strain in the overlay is smaller than the values predicted in the models without SAMIs.     

Analysis of travel activity determinants using robust statistics

This study investigates travel behavior determinants based on a multiday travel survey conducted in the region of Ghent, Belgium. Due to the limited data reliability of the data sample and the influence of outliers exerted on classical principal component analysis, robust principal component analysis (ROBPCA) is employed in order to reveal the explanatory variables responsible for most of the variability. Interpretation of the results is eased by utilizing ROSPCA. The application of ROSPCA reveals six distinct principal components where each is determined by a few variables. Among others, our results suggest a key role of variable categories such as journey purpose-related impedance and journey inherent constraints. Surprisingly, the variables associated with journey timing turn out to be less important. Finally, our findings reveal the critical role of outliers in travel behavior analysis. This suggests that a systematic understanding of how outliers contribute to observed mobility behavior patterns, as derived from travel surveys, is needed. In this regard, the proposed methods serve for processing raw data typically used in activity-based modelling.     

An exploratory analysis of joint-activity participation characteristics using the American time use survey

This paper presents a detailed exploratory analysis of joint activity participation characteristics using the American Time Use Survey (ATUS). As a very large nationwide survey that explicitly elicited information on both household and non-household companions for each activity episode, the ATUS is ideally suited for this analysis. Several intuitive and interesting results are obtained. Joint episodes are found to be of longer durations, significantly likely to take place at the residence of other people, and often confined to certain time periods of the weekday. In addition, important differences in these characteristics are also observed based on activity purpose, companion type, and the day of the week. These findings are intended to provide the basis for the justification of detailed collection of joint activity–travel participation information in household activity–travel surveys, and also as a stimulant for further empirical analysis and modeling of joint activity participation behavior.

Experimental studies on low pressure semi-direct fuel injection in a two stroke spark ignition engine

In this work a two-stroke scooter engine was modified to work with semi-direct injection of gasoline at a pressure of 8 bar from an injector in the cylinder barrel pointed toward the cylinder head. The influence of injection timing, injection pressure, spark plug location and air-fuel ratio, on performance, emissions and combustion characteristics has been investigated. In addition, a comparison has been made with manifold injection of gasoline on the same engine at a given speed and various outputs. A significant reduction in HC emissions and fuel consumption with no adverse effects on NOx emissions and combustion stability was observed. A small drop in power and increase in CO emission were observed disadvantages of the new injection system. Injection timing was found to be the most important factor and a balance between reduction in shortcircuited fuel by late injection, and time for mixture preparation by advancing the injection, was found to be essential.     

Reliability-based sensitivity analysis of vehicle components with non-normal distribution parameters

Techniques from the perturbation method, fourth moment method, reliability-based design theory, and sensitivity analysis approach are employed to present a practical and efficient method for testing the reliability sensitivity of vehicle components with non-normal distribution parameters. With the condition that the first four moments of original random variables are known, the reliability sensitivity theory and cases are researched using the presented numerical method. The variation regularities of reliability sensitivity are obtained and the effects of design parameters on reliability of the vehicle components are studied. The sophisticated formulation provided in this paper is easily amenable to computational procedures. The respective program can be used to obtain the reliability sensitivity of vehicle components with non-normal distribution parameters accurately and quickly. The results obtained are perfect and the solutions compared very well with those from Monte Carlo simulation. The method presents a theoretic basis for the reliability design of the vehicle components.     

Model-based control system design in a urea-SCR aftertreatment system based on NH3 sensor feedback

This paper presents preliminary control system simulation results in a urea-selective catalytic reduction (SCR) aftertreatment system based on NH₃ sensor feedback. A four-state control-oriented lumped parameter model is used to analyze the controllability and observability properties of the urea-SCR plant. A model-based estimator is designed via simulation and a control system is developed with design based on a sliding mode control framework. The control system based on NH₃ sensor feedback is analyzed via simulation by comparing it to a control system developed based on NO_x sensor feedback. Simulation results show that the NH₃ sensor-based strategy performs very similarly in comparison to a NO_x sensor-based strategy. The control system performance metrics for NO_x index, urea index, urea usage, and NH₃ slip suggest that the NO_x sensor can be a potential alternative to a NO_x sensor for urea-SCR control applications.     

Performance of air conditioners with a gas-liquid separation condenser and one-tank laminated evaporator

In this study, a parallel flow condenser and laminated evaporator for an automotive air-conditioning system were modified to improve performance. Gas-liquid separation type condensers, in which the condenser and receiver drier are integrated, and one-tank laminated type evaporators were developed, and their performances were investigated experimentally using HFC-134a. Heat transfer characteristics in the condenser are examined by means of air temperature, air velocity entering the condenser and inlet pressure of the refrigerant; heat transfer characteristics in the evaporator are examined by means of air temperature, relative humidity, flow rate of air, outlet pressure of refrigerant and superheat. Pressure drops for both evaporator and condenser are also measured, and correlations for pressure drop are derived for the condenser and evaporator, respectively. Air velocity and mass flow rate of the refrigerant have a significant effect on the overall heat transfer coefficient, and flow pass is not significantly influenced by the cooling capacity of the condenser. The overall heat transfer coefficient of the evaporator increases as air flow rate, air temperature and relative humidity increases.     

美国桥梁技术近期发展概况

美国是公认的世界上交通运输网最广泛的国家.随着74 674 km国道系统的建成,并伴随着人们对于旅游和货物运输要求的持续增长,交通便利性已经成为了一种权利.全国统计在册的600 000座桥梁的平均桥龄为45年,这就为推进及推广应用桥梁技术的研究提供了巨大的机会,通过这些技术,可使公路基础设施更新中的桥梁更耐久、更经济,可采用更快速的施工技术及修建更可靠、更便于维护的结构.介绍美国桥梁技术近期发展概况.     

Application of large eddy simulation in the performance study of wave blocker

The configuration and aerodynamic performance of the inlet system are important aspects in the process of installing a gas turbine on a naval vessel. Under the requirements, large eddy simulation （LES） is used to simulate the three-dimensional fluid flow in the wave blocker of a marine inlet filter. The Smagorinsky-Lilly sub-grid model was used to model motions of small-scale structures. During numerical simulation, the SIMPLE algorithm was applied. The central-differencing spatial discretization scheme and the second order accuracy finite difference for the temporal discretization were used. Simulation gives satisfactory distribution of the vorticity fields and turbulent kinetic energy. Compared with the k-ε turbulent model, the results of LES are better for the distribution of parameters. The results of experimental study in a small-scale wind tunnel indicate that numerical calculation has higher accuracy. Therefore, the methods used are worthy of reference and introduction for the design of an inlet system.