Establishing speed–flow–density relationships for exclusive motorcycle lanes

Abstract

The motorcycle is a popular mode of transport in Malaysia and developing Asian countries, but its significant representation in the traffic mix results in high rates of motorcycle accidents. As a result, the Malaysian Government decided to segregate motorcycle traffic along its new federal roads as an engineering approach to reduce accidents. However, traffic engineers needed to know the maximum traffic a motorcycle lane could accommodate. Despite substantial literature related to speed–flow–density relationships and capacities of various transport facilities, there is a knowledge gap regarding motorcycle lanes. This paper establishes motorcycle speed–flow–density relationships and capacities of exclusive motorcycle lanes in Malaysia. Observations of motorcycle flows and speeds were conducted along existing and experimental motorcycle lanes. Motorcycle speed–density data were aggregated and plotted for two types of observable motorcycle riding behaviour patterns that were influenced by the widths of a motorcycle lane: the headway pattern (lane width ≤ 1.7 m) and the space pattern (lane width > 1.7 m). For both riding patterns, regression analysis of motorcycle speed–density data best fits the logarithmic model and consequently the motorcycle flow–density and speed–flow models are derived. Motorcycle lane capacities for headway and space riding patterns are estimated as 3300 mc/hr/lane and 2200 mc/hr/m, respectively.     

Evaluating transport infrastructure decisions under uncertainty

This study uses a hybrid approach, combining cost–benefit analysis (CBA), multiple criteria decision analysis, and Dempster–Shafer Theory, to evaluate transport infrastructure decisions. This approach not only retains the advantages of CBA, but it also facilitates the incorporation of incomplete information into the evaluation process. A particular advantage of this hybrid approach is that it can synthesize evaluation results into an easily understood unit, namely utility. A case study of Taiwan's Tamsui-Taipei Riverside Highway Project is used to illustrate the evaluation method. The evaluation results show that, whereas government officials and city council members support the highway project, academic researchers oppose it. Overall, the decision group tends to positively approve this transport infrastructure investment. These results also reflect the actual situation in Taiwan as stakeholders grapple with the issues arising from the proposed Tamsui-Taipei Riverside Highway Project.     

Data Review of Transportation Infrastructure Public–Private Partnership: A Meta-Analysis

The limited understanding of public–private partnerships (P3s) for transportation infrastructure finance has been generally attributed to a lack of data. The more fundamental question of how P3 data are utilized in the literature is more relevant and critical, but remains unclear. This study investigates this question by examining the linkages between research objectives and data characteristics through a meta-analysis of infrastructure P3 studies using multinomial regressions. It analyzes 95 empirical studies that adopt actual data, selected from a P3 research database that includes over 345 studies and are classified into five categories including performance, contract, risk, value for money, and institutional factors. Results show that the case studies are less frequently utilized to understand P3s' institutional issues compared to those that focus on P3s' performance or VFM. Survey data are more frequently used to study P3 contracts rather than issues related to P3 project risk. We highlight the need for policy-makers to require continuing disclosure of P3 performance for validating the effectiveness of the procurement model and to improve the practice.     

Optimisation of driver actions in RWD race car including tyre thermodynamics

ABSTRACT

The paper presents an innovative method for a lap time minimisation by using genetic algorithms for a multi objective optimisation of a race driver–vehicle model. The decision variables consist of 16 parameters responsible for actions of a professional driver (e.g. time traces for brake, accelerator and steering wheel) on a race track part with RH corner. Purpose-built, high fidelity, multibody vehicle model (called ‘miMa’) is described by 30 generalised coordinates and 440 parameters, crucial in motorsport. Focus is put on modelling of the tyre tread thermodynamics and its influence on race vehicle dynamics. Numerical example considers a Rear Wheel Drive BMW E36 prepared for track day events. In order to improve the section lap time (by 5%) and corner exit velocity (by 4%) a few different driving strategies are found depending on thermal conditions of semi-slick tyres. The process of the race driver adaptation to initially cold or hot tyres is explained.     

Establishment and verification of three-dimensional dynamic model for heavy-haul train–track coupled system

For the long heavy-haul train, the basic principles of the inter-vehicle interaction and train–track dynamic interaction are analysed firstly. Based on the theories of train longitudinal dynamics and vehicle–track coupled dynamics, a three-dimensional (3-D) dynamic model of the heavy-haul train–track coupled system is established through a modularised method. Specifically, this model includes the subsystems such as the train control, the vehicle, the wheel–rail relation and the line geometries. And for the calculation of the wheel–rail interaction force under the driving or braking conditions, the large creep phenomenon that may occur within the wheel–rail contact patch is considered. For the coupler and draft gear system, the coupler forces in three directions and the coupler lateral tilt angles in curves are calculated. Then, according to the characteristics of the long heavy-haul train, an efficient solving method is developed to improve the computational efficiency for such a large system. Some basic principles which should be followed in order to meet the requirement of calculation accuracy are determined. Finally, the 3-D train–track coupled model is verified by comparing the calculated results with the running test results. It is indicated that the proposed dynamic model could simulate the dynamic performance of the heavy-haul train well.     

Solving conformal contacts using multi-Hertzian techniques

Recently, publications aiming at wheel–rail contact surveys let readers think that multi-Hertzian methods present severe drawbacks with respect to ‘virtual penetration’ methods. These surveys criticise multi-Hertzian solutions mainly because presenting ‘larger contacts overlaps’ and ‘frequent secondary contacts near the border of the first contact’, both obvious geometric possibilities of which the practical occurrence and eventual inconvenience would remain purely theoretical unless established over definite methods demonstrating poor practical results. Recent surveys all quote Piotrowski–Chollet 2005 survey of wheel–rail contact models that attempted to illustrate defective multi-Hertzian techniques by concentrating on the method initiated by Sauvage in the 1990s and further developed by Pascal. The 2005 paper not only gives no evidence of practical inconveniences of Sauvage’s method but also confuses static geometric contact overlaps with the dynamical overlapping of forces. In reality it mixes Sauvage method up with a quite different technique. Thus a clarification is now necessary by reminding what the proper Sauvage technique really is and by showing some of its practical successful applications. The present paper, focusing on determination of normal contact forces in conformal situations, intends to explain clearly the advantages of the unequivocal localisation of secondary ellipses in that multi-Hertzian method which has been developed in INRETS VOCO codes in the 1990s and successfully used by SNCF and ALSTOM in the INRETS-SNCF code, VOCODYM, and later in Pascal’s online calculation of railway elastic contacts code. It proved its effectiveness for studying freight wagons derailments as well as rail wear and head-check, unrounded wheels wear, high-speed lines’ deformations or TGV comfort. While simulating American ACELA trainsets’ behaviour on the US North-East Corridor tracks, prior to actual tests, as part of the commercial contract. It has been also a major tool for bringing back together French and American Safety Standards.     

An approximate method for the surge response of the tension leg platform

The solution for the Duffing equation in anonlinear vibration problem is studied in this paper. Clearly,in the case of the perturb parameter being a larger value, thetraditional perturbation method is no longer valid but theHomotopy Perturbation Method （HPM） is applicable usually.HPM is used to solve the weak and strong nonlineardifferential equations for finding the perturbed frequency ofthe response. The obtained frequencies via HPM and theapproximate method have good accordance for weak andstrong nonlinear differential equations. Additionally, thecalculated responses by use of the approximate method arecompared with the responses obtained from the Numericalmethod in the time history of the response and phase plane.The results represent ~ood accordance between them.     

《基础会计》课程中会计事项对会计等式的影响

在《基础会计》课程的教学中,六大会计要素及会计等式是众多学生普遍反应的难点之一,学生难以理解的地方主要在于企业的会计事项对会计等式的影响。一般教材中认为影响会计等式的会计事项类型只有九项,这与企业实际发生的会计事项有所不同。本文主要就六大会计要素的变动对会计等式的影响作详细的分析,以解决这一难点问题。     

Impacts of impression changes on freeway driver intention to adopt electronic toll collection service

This paper proposes conceptual frameworks incorporating technology acceptance model, theory of planned behavior and three additional constructs – impression changes, attitude of government, and risk to investigate the factors affecting freeway driver intention to adopt electronic toll collection service for both users and nonusers of electronic toll collection. The proposed frameworks are unique because of the incorporation of media and word-of-mouth effects to represent the impression changes, respectively. The respondents were specifically asked about their impressions of electronic toll collection related policies and strategies spread through media and word-of-mouth before and after electronic toll collection operation. Estimated results obtained from structural equations modeling validate that impression changes in both media and word-of-mouth exhibit significant direct or indirect effects on freeway driver intention to adopt electronic toll collection service. Corresponding strategies to enhance electronic toll collection adoption rate are then proposed accordingly.     

测定后张预应力摩阻损失的新方法

从后张预应力摩阻损失计算的基本原理出发,给出一种可有效测定摩擦系数肌局部偏差影响系数k和锚固端摩阻损失率的新方法。该方法以实测预应力筋伸长量和千斤顶张拉力为已知条件,通过非线性方程组的数值计算求解,得到待求的参数。该方法不需要使用应力传感器,不改变预应力筋的受力状态,仅用施工现场常用量具和设备就能进行测试,测试过程简单易行,对后张预应力体系的施工与检测有重要参考价值。