Fitness-for-purpose assessment of cracked offshore wind turbine monopile

In this paper, the procedure for flaw acceptability assessment is examined through a case study of a semi-elliptical surface crack in an offshore monopile as it grows till it forms a through thickness crack. Using the procedure prescribed in an industrial standard (BS 7910), the fracture ratio, K_r is shown to increase monotonically with increasing crack depth. The load ratio, L_r, is initially insensitive to the crack depth. However, there is a rapid increase in L_r when the crack depth to thickness ratio exceeds 80%. L_r values obtained from detailed 3D FE limit analysis using elastic-perfectly-plastic material behaviour do not exhibit the asymptotic behaviour predicted by BS 7910 as the flaw transitions from deep crack to through-thickness crack. Furthermore, K_r predicted by BS 7910 is shown to be an over-estimation for the typical dimensions of offshore monopiles. The findings suggest that a structure with a deep flaw may be identified as unacceptable based on BS 7910 when it may still possess a non-trivial amount of structural residual life. This is a concern for monopiles where crack growth as a large flaw forms a significant part of the total life.     

The potential mitigation of CO2 emissions via modal substitution of high-speed rail for short-haul air travel from a life cycle perspective – An Australian case study

The objective of this study is to provide a strategic evaluation of the mitigation of CO₂ emissions via modal substitution of high-speed rail for short-haul air travel on the Sydney–Melbourne, Australia city-pair from a life cycle perspective. It has been demonstrated that when considering CO₂ emissions from vehicle operations, the modal shift from air to high-speed rail on this city-pair has the potential to provide a means of CO₂ mitigation. However, uncertainty exists with regard to the level of mitigation potential when considering the whole-of-life performance of the systems. Given the significant difference in the infrastructure requirements between the air mode and the high-speed rail mode, this study quantifies the life cycle CO₂ load attributable to each system and examines the effect on CO₂ mitigation potential. The study concluded that while the inclusion of the linehaul infrastructure did increase the CO₂ load associated with high-speed rail mode, it did not equate to or exceed the CO₂ load per trip as experienced by the air mode. The avoided annual life cycle CO₂ emission in the target year 2056 was 0.37 Mt representing an 18% reduction when compared to the air mode only on the city pair. In fact, the scenario comparison indicated that the substitution of high-speed rail for short-haul air travel on the city pair resulted in CO₂ emissions avoidance throughout the longitudinal period.     

Agent-based simulation framework for mixed traffic of cars,pedestrians and trams

In this paper, we report on the construction of a new framework for simulating mixed traffic consisting of cars, trams, and pedestrians that can be used to support discussions about road management, signal control, and public transit. Specifically, a layered road structure that was designed for car traffic simulations was extended to interact with an existing one-dimensional (1D) car-following model and a two-dimensional (2D) discrete choice model for pedestrians. The car model, pedestrian model, and interaction rules implemented in the proposed framework were verified through simulations involving simple road environments. The resulting simulated values were in near agreement with the empirical data. We then used the proposed framework to assess the impact of a tramway extension plan for a real city. The simulation results showed that the impact of the proposed tramway on existing car traffic would not be serious, and by extension, implied that the proposed framework could help stakeholders decide on expansion scenarios that are satisfactory to both tram users and private car owners.     

基于虚拟化云技术的路局中心地震预警监测系统方案及联动研究

通过研究铁路地震预警监测系统现状和建设趋势,从资源共享、重复性建设、地震联动触发信号系统停车、牵引供电系统断电等多角度分析存在的问题,结合实际需求,提出铁路局中心系统采用虚拟化云技术的建设思路,并提出地震预警监测系统通过路局中心系统与信号RBC、牵引供电中心接口的联动触发策略。文中论述了采用虚拟化云技术搭建的地震预警监测铁路局中心系统功能、系统构成、硬件配置,从而解决各条铁路接入路局中心增加大量服务器等所带来的资源浪费严重、重复性建设等问题,为建设项目节省投资;阐述了通过路局中心系统与信号RBC、牵引供电中心接口的联动触发方案,为安全提供保障的同时尽可能节省建设投资和维护成本,更好地为铁路安全保驾护航。     

Green walking networks for climate change adaptation

Climate change (CC) potentially affects people travel behaviour, due to extreme weather conditions. This is particularly true for pedestrians, that are more exposed to weather conditions. Introducing the effect of this change in transport modelling allows to analyse and plan walking networks taking into consideration the climatic variable. The aim of this work is to develop a tool that can support planning and design of walking networks, by assessing the effects of actions oriented to increase resilience with respect to extreme weather conditions (CC adaptation).An integrated approach is used, thus combining transport and land-use planning concepts with elements of outdoor thermal comfort and network accessibility. Walking networks are analysed through centrality indexes, including thermal comfort aspects into a general cost function of links and weighted nodes. The method has been applied to the walking network inside the Campus of the University of Catania (Italy), which includes different functions and where pedestrian paths are barely used by people. Results confirm that this tool is sensitive to the variables representing weather conditions and it can measure the influence of CC adaptation measures (e.g. vegetation) on walking attitude and on the performance of the walking network.     

一种基于动态分析的突变和异常波动预警方法

针对模拟量的突变和异常波动预警,给出一种基于动态分析的、可以应用于各种模拟量的统一预警方法,该方法已被应用于CSM-TH型集中监测程序和智能分析系统中,在多条线700余站现场运行的7年中,收到良好效果,得到用户认可。     

Multi-criteria optimization of traffic signals: Mobility,safety, and environment

Two-dimensional multi-objective optimizations have been used for decades for the problems in traffic engineering although only few times so far in the optimization of signal timings. While the other engineering and science disciplines have utilized visualization of 3-dimensional Pareto fronts in the optimization studies, we have not seen many of those concepts applied to traffic signal optimization problems. To bridge the gap in the existing knowledge this study presents a methodology where 3-dimensional Pareto Fronts of signal timings, which are expressed through mobility, (surrogate) safety, and environmental factors, are optimized by use of an evolutionary algorithm. The study uses a segment of 5 signalized intersections in West Valley City, Utah, to test signal timings which provide a balance between mobility, safety and environment. In addition, a set of previous developed signal timing scenarios, including some of the Connected Vehicle technologies such as GLOSA, were conducted to evaluate the quality of the 3-dimensional Pareto front solutions. The results show success of 3-dimensinal Pareto fronts moving towards optimality. The resulting signal timing plans do not show large differences between themselves but all improve on the signal timings from the field, significantly. The commonly used optimization of standard single-objective functions shows robust solutions. The new set of Connected Vehicle technologies also shows promising benefits, especially in the area of reducing inter-vehicular friction. The resulting timing plans from two optimization sets (constrained and unconstrained) show that environmental and safe signal timings coincide but somewhat contradict mobility. Further research is needed to apply similar concepts on a variety of networks and traffic conditions before generalizing findings.     

车务可视化信息系统设计与实现

车务可视化信息系统通过三维模型及虚拟漫游的展现形式,将铁路运行及运营的动态信息进行集成和柔性展示,实现旅客服务信息及运输管理相关数据的整合,通过可视化的展现方式既方便旅客及管理人员,又充分展示铁路信息化建设的成果。     

SS4B电力机车转向架可视化标准作业系统研究

SS_4B型电力机车转向架结构复杂,检修工序繁琐,对作业人员的检修技能培训要求高,针对目前培训方式存在的问题,提出建立转向架可视化标准作业系统,综合利用多媒体技术、数字化建模技术以及虚拟现实技术,构建集三维动画和人机交互功能于一体,信息集中化、培训作业标准化、培训时空自由化、周期短且考核针对性强的可视化培训系统,实现对SS_4B型电力机车转向架系统的内部结构、检修流程及其动态拆装过程的逼真模拟,提升实操培训效率和沉浸式体验,提高检修人员技能水平。     

轨道复合不平顺对无缝线路横向变形的影响分析

轨道复合不平顺会对行车的安全及稳定性产生较大影响,也是影响无缝线路横向变形的一个重要因素。为研究轨道复合不平顺对无缝线路的具体影响,通过构建三维轨道框架非线性有限元模型,采用轨道框架单点(或多点)位置发生横向及竖向位移来模拟复合不平顺状态,通过计算获取节点位移变化规律,进而分析轨道复合不平顺对无缝线路横向变形的影响作用。研究结果表明,轨道的复合不平顺会对无缝线路的横向变形产生显著的影响;当线路出现三角坑等类似病害时,其节点位移变化更为显著,在无缝线路的日常养护维修中应尤为注意。