Findings from subjective evaluations and driver ratings of vehicle dynamics: steering and handling

This paper investigates subjective assessments (SA) of vehicle handling and steering feel tests, both numerical and verbal, to understand drivers’ use of judgement scales, rating tendencies and spread. Two different test methods are compared: a short multi-vehicle first-impression test with predefined-driving vs the standard extensive single-vehicle free-driving tests, both offering very similar results but with the former saving substantial testing time. Rating repeatability is evaluated by means of a blind test. Key SA questions are identified by numerical subjective assessment autocorrelations and by generating word clouds from the most used terms in verbal assessments, with both methods leading to similar key parameters. The results exposed in this paper enable better understanding of SA, allowing improving the overall subjective testing and evaluation process, and improving the data collection and analysis process needed before identifying correlations between SA and objective metrics.     

Vertical random vibration analysis of vehicle–track coupled system using Green's function method

A vertical vehicle–track coupled dynamic model, consisting of a high-speed train on a continuously supported rail, is established in the frequency-domain. The solution is obtained efficiently by use of the Green's function method, which can determine the vibration response over a wide range of frequency without any limitations due to modal truncation. Moreover, real track irregularity spectra can be used conveniently as input. The effect of the flexibility of both track and car body on the entire vehicle–track coupled dynamic response is investigated. A multi-body model of a vehicle with either rigid or flexible car body is defined running on three kinds of track: a rigid rail, a track stiffness model and a Timoshenko beam model. The results show that neglecting the track flexibility leads to an overestimation of both the contact force and the whole vehicle vibration response. The car body flexibility affects the ride quality of the vehicle and the coupling through the track and can be significant in certain frequency ranges. Finally, the effect of railpad and ballast stiffness on the vehicle–track coupled vibration is analysed, indicating that the stiffness of the railpad has an influence on the system in a higher frequency range than the ballast.     

Investigation of the effects of sleeper-passing impacts on the high-speed train

The sleeper-passing impact has always been considered negligible in normal conditions, while the experimental data obtained from a High-speed train in a cold weather expressed significant sleeper-passing impacts on the axle box, bogie frame and car body. Therefore, in this study, a vertical coupled vehicle/track dynamic model was developed to investigate the sleeper-passing impacts and its effects on the dynamic performance of the high-speed train. In the model, the dynamic model of vehicle is established with 10 degrees of freedom. The track model is formulated with two rails supported on the discrete supports through the finite element method. The contact forces between the wheel and rail are estimated using the non-linear Hertz contact theory. The parametric studies are conducted to analyse effects of both the vehicle speeds and the discrete support stiffness on the sleeper-passing impacts. The results show that the sleeper-passing impacts become extremely significant with the increased support stiffness of track, especially when the frequencies of sleeper-passing impacts approach to the resonance frequencies of wheel/track system. The damping of primary suspension can effectively lower the magnitude of impacts in the resonance speed ranges, but has little effect on other speed ranges. Finally, a more comprehensively coupled vehicle/track dynamic model integrating with a flexible wheel set is developed to discuss the sleeper-passing-induced flexible vibration of wheel set.     

Performance comparison between pedestrian push-button and pre-timed pedestrian crossings at midblock: a Korean case study

Walking has been highlighted as an independent transportation mode as well as an access/egress mode to/from public transit to encourage the use of more sustainable transport systems. However, walking does not seem to have priority over other transportation modes, especially in areas where various modes of movement are in conflict. The pedestrian push-button system seems to be a solution to distribute the right of way. The focus of this study is on the performance issue of the pedestrian push-button. Specifically, this study deals with issues related to mid-block crossings and attempts to answer two questions: whose waiting time is longer at pre-timed and push-button crossings, pedestrians, or vehicles? and which system – pre-timed or push-button – is better in terms of total waiting time? According to our simulation analyses, if the pedestrian flow rate is less than 120, 85, and 70 ped/h for two-, three-, and four-lane roads, respectively, the push-button system is recommended.     

新型水下储油技术

针对南海百米左右水深边际油田的开发，提出了一种新型的适用于可移动生产储油平台的水下储油方式。介绍了方案的基本配置、工作流程及维温方式。通过设置不同功能的舱室和布置监测仪器，保留了油水置换低投资的主要优点，避免了环境污染。各种设备位于水面以上，维护方便。基本解决了制约工程应用的技术问题。     

The impact of car specifications,prices and incentives for battery electric vehicles in Norway: Choices of heterogeneous consumers

Electric vehicles (EVs), specifically Battery EVs (BEVs), can offer significant energy and emission savings over internal combustion engine vehicles. Norway has a long history of research and government incentives for BEVs. The BEV market in Norway allows us to fully examine consumers’ BEV choices influenced by car specifications, prices and government incentives (public bus lanes access, toll waiver and charging stations). The Random-Coefficient Discrete Choice Model (referred to as the BLP model) is applied to understand the choices of heterogeneous personal consumers and business buyers. Our study is instantiated on the entire EV sales data in Norway from 2011 to 2013, as well as a set of demographics at the municipality level. The results suggest significant positive effects of BEV technology improvement, space, toll waiver and charging station density on EV demand for both personal consumers and business buyers. However, the effects on business buyers may be generally less pronounced than on personal consumers. Interestingly, bus lanes access demonstrates a negative impact for personal consumers, possibly due to consumers’ concern regarding bus lane congestion. In addition, preferences on the BEV price can vary statistically among consumers with different income levels. Compared to the BEV technology development, demographical features and municipal incentives may have generally less impacts on market shares within the BEV market.     

Virtual 3D city model as a priori information source for vehicle localization system

This paper aims at demonstrating the usefulness of integrating virtual 3D models in vehicle localization systems. Usually, vehicle localization algorithms are based on multi-sensor data fusion. Global Navigation Satellite Systems GNSS, as Global Positioning System GPS, are used to provide measurements of the geographic location. Nevertheless, GNSS solutions suffer from signal attenuation and masking, multipath phenomena and lack of visibility, especially in urban areas. That leads to degradation or even a total loss of the positioning information and then unsatisfactory performances. Dead-reckoning and inertial sensors are then often added to back up GPS in case of inaccurate or unavailable measurements or if high frequency location estimation is required. However, the dead-reckoning localization may drift in the long term due to error accumulation. To back up GPS and compensate the drift of the dead reckoning sensors based localization, two approaches integrating a virtual 3D model are proposed in registered with respect to the scene perceived by an on-board sensor. From the real/virtual scenes matching, the transformation (rotation and translation) between the real sensor and the virtual sensor (whose position and orientation are known) can be computed. These two approaches lead to determine the pose of the real sensor embedded on the vehicle. In the first approach, the considered perception sensor is a camera and in the second approach, it is a laser scanner. The first approach is based on image matching between the virtual image extracted from the 3D city model and the real image acquired by the camera. The two major parts are: 1. Detection and matching of feature points in real and virtual images (three features points are compared: Harris corner detector, SIFT and SURF). 2. Pose computation using POSIT algorithm. The second approach is based on the on–board horizontal laser scanner that provides a set of distances between it and the environment. This set of distances is matched with depth information (virtual laser scan data), provided by the virtual 3D city model. The pose estimation provided by these two approaches can be integrated in data fusion formalism. In this paper the result of the first approach is integrated in IMM UKF data fusion formalism. Experimental results obtained using real data illustrate the feasibility and the performances of the proposed approaches.     

机械法联络通道施工自动导向及监测技术

机械法施工作为当今联络通道施工的发展方向,一方面因测量通道空间狭小和测站不规则位移等原因,其施工导向测量手段仍然停留在人工测量阶段,降低了机械法的施工效率;另一方面为掘进面附近受力管片的位移监测也多为人工方法,难以满足监测时效性的需求。为了同步解决机械法联络通道施工导向测量和监测的问题,开发了一套机械法联络通道自动导向系统。该系统基于高精度光纤陀螺的指北原理,采用光纤陀螺与双轴倾斜仪和目标棱镜组合构成导向靶,通过巧妙布设的基准棱镜和监测棱镜,在自动导向的同时也能够实现管片位移监测。     

铁道车辆轴箱弹簧断裂故障对动力学性能的影响

车辆运行过程中,当轴箱弹簧突发断裂故障,会造成动力学状态和性能突变,一系悬挂刚度突然减小,暂时失去承载能力,会威胁车辆行车安全。结合整车的动力学仿真,建立了轴箱弹簧断裂过程的力学模型,对整个断裂过程进行仿真,模拟了轴箱弹簧突然断裂工况下车辆动力学性能变化,分析了轴箱弹簧断裂条件下车辆直线行车安全性以及曲线通过安全性。计算分析结果表明:轴箱弹簧突然断裂导致一系悬挂刚度剧变,引起轮轨垂向力先减小后增大,轮重减载率、脱轨系数等参数增大直至超限,但对轮轨横向力影响不大。     

现代有轨电车信标定位系统比较

分析了现代有轨电车信号控制系统中的绝对定位特点,分析了射频识别技术在不同应用频率波段的特点。对几种常用信标定位系统的车载阅读器和轨旁信标进行了详细比较。由于现代有轨电车存在安装空间小、维护性要求高、成本要求严格等方面的限制,Balogh信标系统在现代有轨电车绝对定位应用中具有更大的优势。