The relationship between transportation vulnerability,school attendance,and free transportation to an afterschool program for youth

Transportation - Transportation vulnerability, defined as lack of access to transportation resulting in financial, social, or health consequences, reduces quality of life. While research has...     

Study of the Settlement Control of Deformation Joints of Tunnels Passing Closely under the Existing Station北大核心CSCD

The newly-built tunnel passing closely under the existing station will inevitably lead to settlement of the existing station, and especially deformation joints are prone to differential settlement. Based on the Suzhoujie Station of Beijing Subway Line 16 passing closely under the existing Line 10, this paper analyzes the overall settlement of the existing station and the differential settlement at deformation joints through a combination of field measurement and numerical simulation. The study results show that installing jacks significantly prevents the settlement of the existing station, after installation of jacks the settlement of the existing station is reduced by about 58%, and the jacking force of the jack shall be controlled between 180-450 t; the impact of construction on the single-deck station structure side at deformation joints is greater than that on the double-deck station structure side, the stress on the socket is gradually increased with the excavation of the lower tunnel, and reduced after installation of jacks, indicating that the jack can effectively reduce the tensile stress of the existing station and maintain the safety of the existing station; with the action of the jacking force of jacks, the settlement curve of the existing station presents a stepwise change at the jack installation points, while the upper ground surface settlement is relatively uniform. © 2022, Editorial Office of Modern Tunnelling Technology. All right reserved.     

Revisiting the relationship between traffic congestion and the economy: a longitudinal examination of U.S. metropolitan areas

Conventional transportation practices typically focus on alleviating traffic congestion affecting motorists during peak travel periods. One of the underlying assumptions is that traffic congestion, particularly during these peak periods, is harmful to a region’s economy. This paper seeks to answer a seemingly straightforward question: is the fear of the negative economic effects of traffic congestion justified, or is congestion merely a nuisance with little economic impact? This research analyzed 30 years of data for 89 US metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) to evaluate the economic impacts of traffic congestion at the regional level. Employing a two-stage, least squares panel regression model, we controlled for endogeneity using instrumental variables and assessed the association between traffic congestion and per capita gross domestic product (GDP) as well as between traffic congestion and job growth for an 11-year time period. We then investigated the relationship between traffic congestion and per capita income for those same 11 years as well as for the thirty-year time period (1982–2011) when traffic congestion data were available. Controlling for the key variables found to be significant in the existing literature, our results suggest that the potential negative impact of traffic congestion on the economy does not deserve the attention it receives. Economic productivity is not significantly negatively impacted by high levels of traffic congestion. In fact, the results suggest a positive association between traffic congestion and per capita GDP as well as between traffic congestion and job growth at the MSA level. There was a statistically insignificant effect on per capita income. There may be valid reasons to continue the fight against congestion, but the idea that congestion will stifle the economy does not appear to be one of them.

     

A comparison of users’ characteristics between station-based bikesharing system and free-floating bikesharing system: case study in Hangzhou,China

The paper takes station-based bikesharing system (SBS) with docks and dockless free-floating bikesharing system (FBS) as two targets to dig out the relationship between users and use frequency of the services for each scheme, and how the relationship varies from scheme to scheme. To achieve this, studies are carried out focusing on three questions: “who are using these two bicycle services?”; “what are the factors influencing the use frequency of both bicycle systems?”; and “which specific level of the factors influencing the use frequency of both bicycle schemes?” To collect data from users, a survey was designed containing questions for user attributes and service experience and conducted jointly on-line and on-site at four locations with mixed land use in Hangzhou, China. Analysis results show that SBS and FBS have similar user structure but different factors influence use frequency. Based on analysis results, from the user perspective, SBS’s strength is to have good quality with low cost while FBS is more flexible and free to use. Finally, recommendations for SBS are to involve more technology to expand its range to aided bikes for senior citizens and open the access for a mobile renting system, whereas for FBS, it is critical to get government cooperation and for operators to add parking area restrictions into the cellphone application, and create an on-line platform where users can find all the free-floating bike information.

     

Handling Capabilities of Vehicles in Emergencies Using Coordinated AFS and ARMC Systems

In this paper, an advanced control technique that can be implemented in hard emergency situations of vehicles is introduced. This technique suggests integration between Active Front Steering (AFS) and Active Roll Moment Control (ARMC) systems in order to enhance the vehicle controllability. For this purpose, the AFS system applies a robust sliding mode controller (SMC) that is designed to influence the steering input of the driver by adding a correction steering angle for maintaining the vehicle yaw rate under control all the time. The AFS system is then called active-correction steering control. The ARMC system is designed to differentiate the front and rear axles' vertical suspension forces in order to alter the vehicle yaw rate and to eliminate the vehicle roll motion as well. Moreover, the operation of the SMC is based on tracking the behavior of a nonlinear 2-wheel model of 2-DOF used as a reference model. The 2-wheel model incorporates real tire characteristics, which can be inferred by the use of trained neural networks. The results clearly demonstrate the enhanced characteristics of the proposed control technique. The SMC with the assistance of the ARMC provides less correction of the steering angle and accordingly reduces the possibility of occurrence of the saturation phenomenon that is likely to take place in the operation of the SMC systems.     

Age and cross-cultural comparison of drivers’ cognitive workload and performance in simulated urban driving

Driving demands significant psychomotor attention and requires even more when drivers are engaged in secondary tasks that increase cognitive workload and divert attention. It is well established that age influences driving risk. Less is known about how culture impacts changes in attention. We conducted parallel driving simulations in the US and Korea to measure the extent to which age and culture influence dual-task performance. There were 135 participants divided into two groups: a younger group aged 20∼29, and an older group aged 60∼69. Whereas some differences by culture appeared in absolute control measures, the younger participants showed similar mean velocity and compensatory patterns associated with increased cognitive load in the urban setting; however, the results from the older samples were less similar.     

Emissions simulation in a 7000 kg-grade diesel hybrid electric vehicle

Hybrids combine a combustion engine with an electric motor and battery. The two technologies can be combined to reduce fuel consumption and exhaust emissions. This paper presents the concept of hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) applied to truck or van vehicles with diesel engines. The simulation results from the advanced vehicle simulator (ADVISOR) demonstrate that the required power may be properly shared between the internal combustion engine and electric motor. The simulation can also be used to prove that the technique is useful for improvements in driving performance; additionally, the technique is suitable for hybrid electric vehicles, allowing for good fuel economy and low emissions performance.     

Performance evaluation of slim low-risk-deployment dual-type passenger airbag system with dispersed inflation pressure

Motor vehicle passenger airbags have been proven to be effective for reducing the possibility of passenger injury during a crash. However, the inflation of the airbag sometimes causes serious injury when a passenger is positioned close to the airbag. The United States Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 208 requires the use of a low-riskdeployment (LRD) passenger airbag system. This paper proposes a newly developed airbag system comprising two slim airbags mounted on the instrument panel. A series of tests were conducted using the FMVSS 208 test procedures to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed system. It was found that the system not only satisfied the injury criteria of FMVSS 208, but was also effective for protecting passengers of all sizes.     

Circuit racing,track texture,temperature and rubber friction

ABSTRACT

Some general observations relating to tyre shear forces and road surfaces are followed by more specific considerations from circuit racing. The discussion then focuses on the mechanics of rubber friction. The classical experiments of Grosch are outlined and the interpretations that can be put on them are discussed. The interpretations involve rubber viscoelasticity, so that the vibration properties of rubber need to be considered. Adhesion and deformation mechanisms for energy dissipation at the interface between rubber and road and in the rubber itself are highlighted. The enquiry is concentrated on energy loss by deformation or hysteresis subsequently. Persson's deformation theory is outlined and the material properties necessary to apply the theory to Grosch's experiments are discussed. Predictions of the friction coefficient relating to one particular rubber compound and a rough surface are made using the theory and these are compared with the appropriate results from Grosch. Predictions from Persson's theory of the influence of nominal contact pressure on the friction coefficient are also examined. The extent of the agreement between theory and experiment is discussed. It is concluded that there is value in the theory but that it is far from complete. There is considerable scope for further research on the mechanics of rubber friction.     

Beyond “Peak Car”: A reflection on the evolution of public sentiment about the role of cars in cities

In this volume, Jones has made a persuasive case for considering recently observed reductions in car use (and sometimes car ownership) in a number of major northern cities as part of an evolutionary process, rather than the consequence of transient conditions such as the economic downturn of 2008 and its relatively slow recovery. In an era bringing new service models for mobility and communications that have important implications for safety, security, the environment and well-being, he points to the role of public attitudes and sentiments that may underlie changing policy priorities and an associated culture change with respect to transport in cities and the reclamation of street space. This paper briefly explores the role of public sentiments and reflects on the apparent emergence of a popular subculture that favors living, if possible, without owning or using cars, in contrast to older subcultures embracing more extreme sentiments that are either Car-centered or emphatically anti-car.