Commuting and wellbeing: a critical overview of the literature with implications for policy and future research

ABSTRACT

This review provides a critical overview of what has been learnt about commuting’s impact on subjective wellbeing (SWB). It is structured around a conceptual model which assumes commuting can affect SWB over three time horizons: (i) during the journey; (ii) immediately after the journey; and (iii) over the longer term. Our assessment of the evidence shows that mood is lower during the commute than other daily activities and stress can be induced by congestion, crowding and unpredictability. People who walk or cycle to work are generally more satisfied with their commute than those who travel by car and especially those who use public transport. Satisfaction decreases with duration of commute, regardless of mode used, and increases when travelling with company. After the journey, evidence shows that the commute experience “spills over” into how people feel and perform at work and home. However, a consistent link between commuting and life satisfaction overall has not been established. The evidence suggests that commuters are generally successful in trading off the drawbacks of longer and more arduous commute journeys against the benefits they bring in relation to overall life satisfaction, but further research is required to understand the decision making involved. The evidence review points to six areas that warrant policy action and research: (i) enhancing the commute experience; (ii) increasing commute satisfaction; (iii) reducing the impacts of long duration commutes; (iv) meeting commuter preferences; (v) recognising flexibility and constraints in commuting routines and (vi) accounting for SWB impacts of commuting in policy making and appraisal.     

Assessment of fatigue strength of steel butt-welded joints in as-welded condition – Alternative approaches for curve fitting and mean stress effect analysis

Experimental fatigue data for butt-welded joints in as-welded condition and under constant amplitude tensile loading (secondary bending included) were analyzed using the nominal stress system and the notch stress system. Two approaches were used; a standard fitting procedure and minimization of the sum of squared perpendicular distances from a line with a fixed and free slope. In all cases, the latter method gave better agreement between the experimental and predicted fatigue life and fatigue strength. The analyses showed both with all broken specimen data included and with reduced data that the FAT225 curve, as recommended by IIW, might be too optimistic for the notch stress approach in the case of butt-welded joints in as-welded condition. It was also found that use of the local stress ratio instead of the applied stress ratio might explain many issues concerning current observations and apparent inconsistencies in reported literature.     

小直径盾构施工中管片纵向应力监测研究

为了探索小直径盾构法隧道在施工过程中管片纵向应力的变化规律,对北京槐房再生水厂污水隧道管片纵向应力进行了现场监测:将第976环、第1 054环管片分别设为第1和第2监测断面,2监测断面各预埋5个纵向应力计,各监测断面从本监测断面管片安装后即开始监测,当盾构掘进至第1 129环时停止监测。研究表明:1)在管片离开盾尾50环后,其纵向应力波动值小于管片拼装期间应力值的5%。2)在盾构掘进期间,管片距离盾构越远,其纵向压应力值越小。3)在管片拼装期间,管片距离盾构越远,其纵向压应力经历了先增大后减小的过程。4)管片距离盾构108环后,该管片纵向压应力趋近于0.2~0.3 MPa。5)随着盾构推进,管片纵向应力经历了4个阶段的变化过程,即周期性剧烈波动阶段—动态稳定阶段—逐渐衰减阶段—趋于稳定阶段。     

极高地应力软岩隧道超前导洞应力释放及多层支护变形控制技术

为了解决极高地应力软岩隧道大变形控制难题,以兰渝铁路木寨岭隧道岭脊核心段施工为例,通过现场试验和数据分析,得到如下主要结论:1)提出了"先放后抗,抗放结合,锚固加强"的变形控制理念;2)得出了该隧道岭脊核心段"超前导洞应力释放+圆形4层支护结构+径向注浆+长锚杆+长锚索"综合变形控制方案;3)超前导洞应力释放效果明显,正洞累计变形减小幅度约为34%;4)得到了圆形多层支护结构变形规律;5)累计变形均控制在设计预留变形量内,保证了该隧道岭脊核心段大变形控制效果。     

约束对隧道二次衬砌早期温度应力分布的影响

为了解决隧道工程渗水问题,基于某隧道工程,采用MIDAS-GEN对其二次衬砌早期模筑混凝土进行非稳定温度应力场以及周围约束进行研究。研究结果表明:约束可以改变隧道的早期拉应力场的分布,具有外围约束的隧道二次衬砌的拉应力为隧道厚度中间最大,无约束隧道的拉应力为外部最大,约束可以减小隧道外部区域的拉应力,使得远离约束区域的拉应力变大,而无约束隧道的拉应力分布与之相反。根据温度应力分布特点,建议在设计方面适当增大二次衬砌中间与外侧的配筋,在施工方面减小初期支护与二次砌衬之间约束等。     

柴油机气门导管断裂影响因素分析及改进

针对某柴油机气门导管在整机台架试验过程中发生的横断和纵裂失效故障,对气门导管的材料性能、结构应力、微动磨损、热变形、装配工艺等影响因素进行了分析。分析结果表明:材料力学性能差和装配过盈量较大造成的应力集中和微动磨损是气门导管横断的主要原因;液氮人工压装的装配工艺是造成气门导管纵裂的主要原因。据此提出新方案气门导管,并通过了整机台架试验验证。     

现代大学生公寓电气设计浅析

文章采用文献资料、归纳与综合、专家访谈等研究方法,对现代大学生公寓电气设计进行了系统研究,主要内容包括配电系统、负荷系统、防雷接地、消防系统和智能化五个方面,旨为大学生公寓的电气设计提供有益资讯．     

高速公路中收费和清分的动态解决方案

在高速公路收费和清分过程中,由于新增的高速公路和收费站点特别是环型路段的增加使得原有的静态算法已经不适宜于现实情况。本文提出了高速公路中基于最短路径和环型路段的动态收费和清分解决方案,并给出了详细的基于环型路段的动态算法。环型路段问题解决后,可以判知车辆实际行车路线,从而大幅提高收费及清分的准确性和效率。     

Effects of rosiglitazone on rabbit atherosclerosis

We sought to validate magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) for documenting the effects of rosiglitazone on rabbit atherosclerosis and the possible mechanism by treatment on the lesions.24 New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into normal group, control group and treatment group.After 4 weeks, all rabbits underwent MRI.After examination, the number of circulating endothelial progenitor cells(EPCs) and level of lipid, glucose, nitric oxide(NO) and superoxide anion(O-2·) were measured.MRI demonstrated the regression of atherosclerotic lesions by rosiglitazone which has good correlation with histopathology.Treatment not only increased the level of EPCs and NO, but also raised the ability of inhibition of O2-·.MRI is a promising noninvasive technology to detect the effects of therapeutic interventions.Rosiglitazone slows the progression of atherosclerosis that may in part attribute to its improvement of mobilization of EPCs and the reduced oxidative stress.     

Flow Stress Model of Stainless Steel OCr13Ni5Mo at Elevated Temperature

For a more accurate forming calculation and numerical simulation of hydraulic turbine blade,experimental studies on the flow stress of stainless steel OCr13Ni5Mo were carried out upon Gleeble-1500 thermal simulator under different deformation conditions.The results then were analyzed and the effects of all influencing factors were summarized consequently.New mathematic models were conceived.Utilizing the software Matlab,regression coefficients were calculated by the least square method.The model has an eminent capability of curve-fitting performance with impact structure whose correlation coefficient is up to 0.908 0 and the cosine coefficient is 0.995 8.All mathematic models and process parameters can be used in engineering calculations or computer simulations.