A simulation tool for bicycle sharing systems in multimodal networks

This paper presents a methodology for modelling an urban transport system, integrating public bicycles in a multi-modal network. A bike cost function that reproduces the effect of slopes on cycling speeds is proposed. Also, the effect of traffic levels on the attractiveness of cycling routes is taken into account. The model applies the modal split and network assignment phases in a multimodal network with different classes of users. It has been verified over a test network and then validated by applying it to a real case in the city of Santander in Spain. The results obtained make this model a useful decision-making tool to encourage the use of the public bicycle from a sustainable development point of view.     

微观仿真在城市停车设施规划中的应用

为研究停车场规划和可达性对城市路网的影响,在世界范围内的三个不同城市应用微观仿真模型模拟停车设施规划。描述了三个城市采用的不同研究方法及得到的研究结果。三项研究都试图找到由驾驶人寻找停车位而造成的城市交通拥堵的解决方法。同时,在测试设计方案时,都使用了S-Paramics微观仿真模型。     

Driver models in automobile dynamics application

Understanding the driver of an automobile has been attractive to researchers from many different disciplines for more than half a century. On the basis of their acquirements, models of the (human) driver have been developed to better understand, analyse and improve the combined couple of driver and automobile. Due to distinctive demands on the models in accordance with different kinds of applications, a variety of driver models is available. An overview of driver models is given with respect to their application and different methodical modelling approaches. The emphasis is put on the interest of engineers, who generally focus on the automobile (like design and optimization of vehicle components and the overall vehicle dynamics behaviour) by applying their approved (mathematical) methods. Nonetheless, a brief look beyond is added to better complete the view on the involved task of driving and driver modelling for automobile dynamics application.     

高比转速跨声离心/斜流压气机流动特点分析

  目的  压气机是燃气轮机的核心部件之一,它直接决定了燃气轮机性能的优劣。斜流压气机是介于轴流压气机和离心压气机之间的一种形式,兼具离心压气机高压比和轴流压气机流通能力强的优点。  方法  采用一套通用于轴流、离心和斜流压气机的S2流面气动设计和任意中弧线叶片造型的程序,对某斜流+轴流组合式多级压气机进行气动设计,研究确定压气机的流道形式、环量分布,并对其进行叶片造型。在设计时,结合商用数值模拟软件对该组合式压气机进行流场数值分析。  结果  结果表明,该斜流轴流组合式压气机的各项参数均满足设计指标,压气机两级总压比和绝热效率分别达到4.3和88%。  结论  \t\t 该斜流轴流组合式的压气机设计有如下难度：一是斜流级静子进口处马赫数较高,在斜流静子中控制气流流动的难度较大;二是为控制气流在斜流静子中的分离,斜流级静子弯度较小,导致轴流级处于较大的负攻角状态,斜流与轴流的级间匹配难度较大。     

Machine learning applications in activity-travel behaviour research: a review

ABSTRACT

This paper reviews the activity-travel behaviour literature that employs Machine Learning (ML) techniques for empirical analysis and modelling. Machine Learning algorithms, which attempt to build intelligence utilizing the availability of large amounts of data, have emerged as powerful tools in the fields of pattern recognition and big data analysis. These techniques have been applied in activity-travel behaviour studies since the early ’90s when Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) were employed to model mode choice decisions. AMOS, an activity-based modelling system developed in the mid-’90s, has ANN at its core to model and predict individual responses to travel demand management measures. In the dawn of 2000, ALBATROSS, a comprehensive activity-based travel demand modelling system, was proposed by Arentze and Timmermans using Decision Trees. Since then researchers have been exploring ML techniques like Support Vector Machines (SVM), Decision Trees (DT), Neural Networks (NN), Bayes Classifiers, and more recently, Ensemble Learners to model and predict activity-travel behaviour. A large number of publications over the years and an upward trend in the number of published articles over time indicate that Machine Learning is a promising tool for activity-travel behaviour analysis and prediction. This article, first of its kind in the literature, reviews these studies and explores the trends in activity-travel behaviour research that apply ML techniques. The review finds that mode choice decisions have received wide attention in the literature on ML applications. It was observed that most of the studies identify the lack of interpretability as a serious shortcoming in ML techniques. However, very few studies have attempted to improve the interpretability of the models. Further, some studies report the importance of feature engineering in ML-based studies, but very few studies adopt feature engineering before model development. Spatiotemporal transferability of models is another issue that has received minimal attention in the literature. In the end, the paper discusses possible directions for future research in the area of activity-travel behaviour modelling using ML techniques.     

An ontological model to support communications of situation-aware vehicles

In an Intelligent Transport System (ITS) environment, the communication component is of great importance to support interactions between vehicles and roadside infrastructure. Previous studies have focused on the physical capability and capacity of the communication technologies, but the equally important development of suitable and efficient semantic content for transmission received notably less attention. Ontology is one promising approach for context modelling in ubiquitous computing environments, and in the transport domain it can be used both for context modelling and semantic contents for vehicular communications. This paper explores the development of an ontological model implementing relative geo-semantic information messages to support vehicle-to-vehicle communications. The proposed ontology model contains classes, objects, their properties/relations as well as some functions and query templates to represent and update the information of dynamic vehicles, inter-vehicle interactions and behaviour. This model was developed through a scenario enabling the evaluation of traffic conflict resolution approaches, by implementing a set of decision-making processes for intelligent vehicles. Given the scope of the proposed ontology modelling, it shows how vehicular communications can be used to update each vehicle’s context model. This work can be easily extended for more complex interactions among vehicles and the infrastructure.     

Centrifuge modelling of a combined pile-type anchor subjected to general inclined loading

One of the main challenges associated with anchoring offshore platforms is the logistic needed to install them in deep water. The growing need for high capacity anchors has prompted the development of new systems where the feasibility of transporting them out to sea is a crucial consideration. With respect to torpedo piles used by Petrobras in Brazil, new platforms installed in deep water required robust anchoring systems, and a cluster of small torpedoes was considered instead of one large torpedo. However, torpedo pile installation is hindered by deep water streams, which can deviate their trajectory during the fall. This is of great concern for the design of torpedo pile clusters because the distance between the piles cannot be controlled during installation. The present study aims to determine the variation in the load capacity of a cluster or array of single piles as a function of the distance between the piles and the load direction after installation on the seabed. To that end, a series of centrifuge tests were carried out on pile clusters installed in loose sand, varying the distance between the piles and the loading direction. The results show considerable interactions between the adjacent piles depending on the load direction and pile spacing. The optimal spacing for maximum cluster efficiency was determined, and comparisons were made with values from the literature for capped pile clusters.     

Design,modelling, and analysis of a large floating dock for spar floating wind turbine installation

Installation of floating wind turbines at the offshore site is a challenging task. A significant part of the time efficiency and costs are related to the installation methods which are sensitive to weather conditions. This study investigates a large floating dock concept, which can be used to shield a floating wind turbine during installation of tower, nacelle, and rotor onto a spar foundation. In this paper, the concept is described in detail, and a design optimisation is carried out using simple design constraints. Hydrodynamic analysis and dynamic response analysis of the coupled system of the optimum dock and spar are conducted. Two spars of different sizes are considered, and the motion responses of the spars with and without the dock in irregular waves are compared. Through analysis of the motion spectra and response statistics, dynamic characteristics of the coupled system is revealed. The present design of the dock reduces the platform-pitch responses of the spars and potentially facilitates blade mating, but may deteriorate the heave velocity of the spars in swell conditions. Finally, future design aspects of the floating dock are discussed.     

Experimental and numerical study of localized pitting effect on compressive behavior of tubular members

Locally pitted tubular members are usually considered as stub columns to assess the ultimate strength. However, it is not suitable for those with relatively larger slenderness ratios as their failure behavior is more complex and closely related to corrosion features of localized pitting. This paper presents compressive column tests on locally pitted tubular members of a moderate slenderness ratio. Corrosion pits were artificially introduced on local surface of the members, forming corrosion patches with various corrosion features. A numerical modelling method was proposed to reproduce the test specimens. Localized pitting damage was proven to cause substantial declines in the load deformation capacity and ultimate strength, and have a significant effect on the failure mode. The failure of a pitted member is mostly initiated by local buckling after yielding occurs in the corrosion patch, concurrent with pitting closure, and even shear cracking of member wall due to the perforated pits. Moreover, shape change of the corrosion patch most likely results in the failure mode to alter from column buckling to local buckling or interactive buckling. The shape ratio of the corrosion patch is one of the critical factor to influence the ultimate strength of locally pitted members. The proposed modelling method is applicable for extensive stochastic simulations so as to develop an empirical formula and to clarify the probabilistic characteristics of ultimate strength.     

Repeatability of ice-tank tests with broken ice

This study investigates the repeatability of ice-tank tests with broken ice. Ice-tank test campaigns normally do not perform multiple repetitions of tests with the same initial conditions. Therefore, the repeatability of ice-tank tests with broken ice is not well understood. Data from two test campaigns are analysed. The first test campaign studied the interaction between a 4-legged structure with a vertical waterline and several broken and intact level ice conditions. In the second test campaign, a ship hull geometry was tested. We analyse selected test cases from each test campaign. The ice-tank tests are reproduced using a 3-D discrete element method (DEM) model. Each analysed test case is simulated 20 times. The only difference between each simulation is the initial position of the ice floes. The numerical simulation results show that changes in the initial floe positions can cause large changes in the statistical properties of the ice load. Often, a single random interaction event can be identified that is responsible for the change in the results. Such interaction events can cause additional floe accumulation ahead of the structure, thereby influencing the load statistics for a large portion of the interaction length. The observed events occur both in the numerical simulations and in the physical ice-tank tests. This result indicates that ice-tank tests with broken ice have a poor repeatability; a change in an uncontrolled condition, such as the exact initial floe positions, can lead to a large variation in the experimental results.