Characteristics of truck traffic in Singapore

This paper presents the results of a project conducted to study the characteristics of truck traffic in Singapore. Detailed traffic surveys recording counts of vehicles by axle-configuration were performed at 219 sites over a period of nearly two years. The surveys covered 5 different road classes, namely expressways, arterials, collectors, industrial roads and local roads. It was found that the time distribution of truck travel were not the same among the five road classes. The peaking characteristics of truck traffic were less pronounced compared to passenger car traffic. The peak hour truck volume varied from 67.0% to 9.7% of the daily truck traffic as compared to 13.8% for passenger car traffic. The lane distribution pattern of truck traffic was studied in detail by road class, and was found to be a function of total directional traffic volume, total directional truck volume and the number of traffic lanes. Composition analysis was also carried out to study the lane use characteristics of single- and multiple-unit trucks.     

A pre-appraisal model for rail transit in developing cities

A major research study funded by the UK Overseas Development Administration (ODA) and designed to establish the necessary considerations for viability of mass rapid transit railways in developing cities was recently completed. The analytical core of the study was a pre-appraisal model, which combines an innovative strategic land use/transport model utilizing relationships from developing cities and an economic evaluation model. This model — MRTAP — has now been developed into a user-friendly package which the ODA intend should be made widely available in the developing world. The paper describes the basis of this model.     

Spatial variation of roadside C2–C6 hydrocarbon concentrations during low wind speeds: Validation of CALINE4 and COPERT III modelling

The CALINE4 model is widely used to predict the effect of vehicle emissions on ambient concentrations close to roadways. It requires an evaluation of the rate at which different air pollutants are emitted by vehicles, taking into account things such as vehicle flow, velocity, type and age. For Europe the databases of the COmputer Program to calculate Emissions from Road Transport (COPERT) are combined with local vehicle details to obtain site-specific emission factors for dispersion modelling. The ability of CALINE4 to predict the spatial variation of hydrocarbon concentrations downwind of a motorway is assessed, as is the accuracy of COPERT III composite emission factors for several hydrocarbon compounds. The concentrations of seven traffic-associated compounds is found at three locations downwind and upwind of a motorway. Modelled and measured background-corrected downwind concentrations are compared on three bases: daily peak hour concentrations, mean concentrations, and a set of model evaluation parameters.     

Spatial variation of roadside C2–C6 hydrocarbon concentrations during low wind speeds: A note

This Note describes an investigation of spatial variations in the ambient concentrations of hydrocarbons in the vicinity of a suburban motorway during five consecutive weekday morning peak periods of unusually warm and calm conditions. Background-corrected downwind concentrations representing the influence of the motorway source were found to be strongly dependant on wind speed and direction. The ambient ethene-to-acetylene concentration ratio was greatest close to the roadside and the effect of wind speed on the ratio had different average profiles for main wind directions due to different rates of dispersal. Higher values were obtained using background-corrected concentrations.     

「台湾桃园国际机场联外捷运系统建设计划」地下工程的设计与施工

介绍「台湾桃园国际机场联外捷运系统建设计划」中机场区段地下工程的设计成果,并探讨施工时将面临的主要工程问题如,潜盾隧道穿越营运中的机场滑行道下方需考虑对其进行保护、隧道遭遇既有地锚的处理方式,及明挖覆盖隧道或车站于卵砾石层进行开挖,临时挡土措施及潜盾隧道的掘进作业,需考虑卵砾石大粒径与高硬度的特性等等设计考虑.现有数据显示,透过适当的机具改良、辅助工法的应用及良好的施工管理,即使是在高地下水压的卵砾石层,施作地下连续壁及以潜盾机施作隧道并无太大困难,且施工引致的地表沉陷及施工精度亦可获得良好的控制.     

Effect of wheel-slip prevention based on sliding mode control theory for railway vehicles

It is important to consider the robustness when designing brake control systems, because of the model's uncertainties that result from the nonlinear characteristics of wheel-to-rail adhesion forces and brake material friction coefficients. This paper presents the experimental results from the new wheel-slip prevention control using nonlinear robust control theory. The authors performed experiments for the proposed wheel-slip prevention control to compare it with the conventional control laws. The experimental results proved the comparative effectiveness of the proposed control and showed high brake performance under nonlinear characteristics of brake dynamics.     

A Framework for Developing Driving Cycles with On‐Road Driving Data

Abstract

This paper attempts to propose a framework on driving cycle development based on a thorough review of 101 transient driving cycles. A comparison of the driving cycles highlighted that Asian driving is the slowest but most aggressive while European driving is the fastest and smoothest. Further review of the cycle development methodologies identified three major elements for developing a driving cycle; test route selection, data collection and cycle construction methods. A framework was eventually proposed based on these findings and recommendations from this review. First, traffic activity patterns and quantitative statistics should be considered in determining the test routes. Speed data can be collected by using chase car method, on‐board measurement techniques or their hybrid. As for the construction of driving cycle, the matching approach has been more commonly used. It is recommended that the tendency of zero change in acceleration, which has been commonly ignored in the literature, and the application of succession probability at second‐by‐second level should be further explored. A fifth mode, creeping, is also recommended for modal analysis for characterizing urban congested driving conditions.     

Social Impacts of Transport: Literature Review and the State of the Practice of Transport Appraisal in the Netherlands and the United Kingdom

Abstract

Transport appraisals in European countries increasingly address three dimensions of sustainability—economic, ecological and social. However, social impacts of transport have been underexposed in (ex‐ante) transport project appraisal, at least in the Netherlands. Firstly, this article presents a theoretical framework describing the relationships between determinants of social impacts of transport; it also provides a definition and categorization of those impacts. Secondly, the article reviews the state of the practice of national transport project appraisal in the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. The article shows that social impacts of transport investments can take on many forms and their levels of importance may vary widely, in project appraisal. The UK transport appraisal guidance includes a spectrum of social impacts through quantitative and qualitative assessments that is broader than the Dutch appraisal guidance. However, it does not cover the full range as identified in the literature. This holds, in particular, for the temporary impacts of transport investments, health impacts, social cohesion, the distribution and accumulation of impacts across population groups and social justice. All in all, it can be concluded that there is a long way to go before social impacts of transport projects are completely included in appraisals, in a way that allows us to compare them to economic and ecological effects.     

Starting sliding mode variable structure that coordinates the control and real-time optimization of dry dual clutch transmissions

This paper researches the coordination of control between an engine and clutch at the system level to adequately reflect a driver’s intention and improve the starting performance of a vehicle equipped with a dry dual clutch transmission (DCT). Four-degree-of-freedom (DOF) starting dynamic equations are established for a dry DCT with a single intermediate shaft, and a two-DOF model of the sliding friction process and a single-DOF in-gear model of stable operation are obtained after simplifying these equations. Taking advantage of predictive control and a genetic algorithm, target tracing curves of the engine’s speed and the vehicle’s velocity are optimally specified online, and the starting sliding mode variable structure (SMVS) coordinating control strategy is designed to track these curves. The starting performance of a prototype car equipped with a dry DCT is simulated under different starting cases on the MATLAB/Simulink software platform. The simulation results show that the designed SMVS coordinating controller not only embodies driver intention and effectively improves the dry DCT car’s starting performance but is also highly robust when subjected to variations in the vehicle parameters.     

Fuel consumption parameters for realizing and verifying fuel consumption prospect algorithm of vehicle driving route information system

Emissions of CO₂, as the main component of greenhouse gases, and high fuel consumption rates are worldwide problems. To solve them, most car manufacturers have concentrated on developing various techniques to improve the efficiencies of engines and transmissions and ECO-ROUTEs to meet environmental regulations. In this study, an algorithm for determining routes that cause the least fuel consumption was developed. The core of this algorithm is a specific EEC (energy efficiency constant) map containing logic that is able to predict fuel consumption. The accuracy of the algorithm was confirmed by vehicle tests for various driving patterns. Parameters affecting vehicle fuel economy were studied and verified. Improvement in the accuracy of this algorithm was confirmed by applying these parameters to ECO-ROUTE logic.