An empirical assessment of ISM Code effectiveness on performance: the role of ISO certification

ABSTRACT

Although the introduction of the International Safety Management (ISM) Code aimed at increasing the safety standards in the maritime industry, several studies conducted so far argue for its inability to successfully fulfill its goals. The purpose of the current study is to evaluate the ISM Code effectiveness by drawing analogy from similar applications of ISO 9001 effectiveness in service companies. It also aims to determine its impact on firm performance and differentiate between ISO and non-ISO-certified shipping companies. Findings indicate that ISM Code effectiveness consists of two dimensions, namely continuous improvement and customer satisfaction focus, and the significance of its contribution on improving company performance is revealed, especially in the case of ISO-certified shipping companies. Moreover, the continuous improvement dimension was found to affect performance at a greater extent.     

海工自密实高性能混凝土研制与应用

通过优选高效减水剂、硅酸盐水泥和矿物掺合料,开展了海工自密实高性能混凝土的试验研究.研究成果应用于洋山一期工作船码头后方陆域面层工程,拌合物工作性、强度和耐久性满足工程设计和施工要求.工程现场勘查和取芯试验表明,混凝土表面未出现裂缝,具有较高的抗氯盐侵蚀性能.     

Tracks to Change or Mixed Signals? A Review of the Anglo-Saxon Literature on the Economic and Spatial Impacts of High-Speed Rail

ABSTRACT

The economic development and spatial impacts of high-speed rail (HSR) are quite varied and mixed. Studies of economic impacts of HSR fall into two categories: predictions and empirical observations. We first review studies that examine predicted HSR impacts related to job growth, real estate development, and other economic effects. These are followed by studies examining observed effects of realized projects using the same categories. Several patterns emerge. Predictive studies are largely optimistic of the rail's positive effects. On the other hand, observational studies tend to identify both benefits and shortfalls. Yet, neither of these patterns are universal and depend on a number of other factors. One consistent pattern is that gains associated with HSR appear to be stronger in first-tier cities. Nevertheless, certain small towns and second-tier cities have undergone noteworthy transformations as a result of HSR, especially where the public sector has actively pursued new investment.     

Incentives in Bus Concession Contracts: A Review of Several Experiences in Latin America

Abstract

This paper reviews the incentive structure of concession contracts in several Latin American transit reforms. It also presents a conceptual analysis of the optimal design of concession contracts. The conceptual discussion and case studies reviewed indicate that payment to operators should be linked to operational variables and that some demand risk should optimally be transferred to operators. Performance standards linked to fines and penalties are not sufficient to guarantee good quality of service, particularly in citywide reforms and where institutional capacity ― in terms of size, experience and expertise of staff ― is lacking and regulatory processes are slow, bureaucratic and cumbersome. This review may be useful for policy-makers designing transit reforms in other countries. The policy lessons of the paper are particularly relevant to cities in the developing world but they are also important for reforms in other countries.     

冲压荷载下水泥路面土基的变形及应力分析

通过建立有限元模型,采用瞬态动力学加载方法,模拟冲击压路机破裂稳固旧水泥混凝土路面的冲压效果,探讨冲压荷载作用下土基中的应力传递规律和沉降变形．结果表明：在土基顶面以下5 m深度处由冲压荷载引起的土基竖向应力和位移均接近于0,冲压荷载的影响深度不超过5 m;冲压荷载作用下路基的工作区为2．25 m深度范围内,埋深超过2．25 m的构造物理论上不受冲压荷载的影响．     

Fabrication and drilling tests of chemical vapor deposition diamond coated drills in machining carbon fiber reinforced plastics

Chemical vapor deposition (CVD) diamond coated drills are fabricated by depositing diamond films on Co-cemented tungsten carbide (WC-Co) drills. The characteristics of as-deposited diamond coatings are investigated by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and Raman spectra. To evaluate the cutting performance of diamond coated drills, comparative drilling tests are conducted using diamond coated and uncoated WC-Co drills, with carbon fiber reinforced plastics (CFRPs) as the workpiece on a high-speed computer numerical control (CNC) machine. Thrust force and tool wear are measured during the drilling process. The results show that diamond coated drill exhibits better cutting performance, compared with the uncoated drill. The value of flank wear is about 70 μm after machining 90 holes, about a half of that of theWC-Co drill with 145μm after drilling only 30 holes. The wear rate of WC-Co drill is higher than that of diamond coated drill before diamond films peeling off. The diamond coated drill achieves more predictable hole quality. The improved cutting performance of the diamond coated drill is due to the high hardness, wear resistance and low coefficient of friction.     

桥隧过渡段重载车辆冲击响应分析

考虑车辆的纵向转动与倾覆,将重载车辆通过桥隧过渡段的过程视为一定初始条件下的受迫振动.根据D'Alembert原理,建立了车辆与路面的动力耦合计算模型,并给出振动方程,利用Laplace变换,对车辆的动力响应进行分析,求得车辆各轮胎对路面最大作用力随时间的变化规律.研究了车辆载质量、货物位置、行车速度与差异沉降对汽车动力响应的影响,实测了汽车的加速度,并对计算结果进行了验证.分析结果表明:差异沉降、行车速度以及车辆载质量的增加均使车辆对路面的冲击力增大,影响程度由大到小依次为车辆载质量、差异沉降、行车速度;货物位置对车辆冲击力的影响较小.     

铁路电气化改造对军专线油库安全的影响

铁路的电气化改造在带来运输效益的同时,由于其高压、强电磁辐射的特点也给电气化铁路附近的军用油仓库带来了巨大的危险隐患。分别从军专线电气化、正线电气化、军专线长度及位置、大地导电率、钢轨对地电位差六方面分析了电气化对油库安全的影响。为做好油库电气化工程防护提供依据。     

玄武岩纤维防水混凝土抗渗性能试验研究

研究了C50玄武岩纤维防水混凝土抗渗性能,并将试验结果与同条件下聚丙烯纤维防水混凝土性能进行了比较。试验研究表明：掺入玄武岩纤维和聚丙烯纤维后防水混凝土的抗渗性均有较大幅度的提高,聚丙烯纤维混凝土的抗渗性能优于玄武岩纤维混凝土的抗渗性能。     

高速公路路面状态对交通安全的影响评价

选取路面损坏状况指数和路面抗滑性能指数作为路面状态的表征指标,速度标准差系数作为交通流表征指标间接反映交通安全状态。在考虑交通量影响的情况下,仿真模拟实际路段沿线交通流速度标准差系数的变化情况,结合已有的路面检测数据,建立高速公路路面状态对交通安全的影响评价模型,并提出了影响分级标准。基于提出的模型,开发了一套评价软件,以沪宁高速公路为应用实例进行分析。结果表明：本文所构建的关系模型可准确评价高速公路路面状态对交通安全的影响。