Improving maritime inventory routing: application to a Brazilian petroleum case

The crude oil offloading and supply problem (COSP) is a type of operation maritime inventory routing (MIR) problem encountered by petroleum companies. In COSP, the company not only is responsible for the ship scheduling to carry the crude oil from production sites to discharge ports but also must maintain inventory levels at both ports (production and consumption) between safety operational bounds to avoid disruptions in its crude oil production and/or refining processes. We show how to improve significantly the decision-making process in a Brazilian petroleum company using a mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) model to represent COSP. Comparison tests with a current ship-scheduling method adopted in the company indicated that the use of the MILP model increased the transportation efficiency and reduced costs by 20% on average. In addition to the quantitative gains, the use of a MILP model to solve COSP has succeeded when encountering real-life events, such as variation in production or consumption rates, berth unavailability, and changes in the storage capacities at ports.     

A Bayesian Methodology for Estimating the Impacts of Improved Coastal Ocean Information on the Marine Recreational Fishing Industry

The study develops a model of recreational fish catch probabilities, based on angler fishing strategies, that is conditional on uncertain information about the coastal ocean environment. We calculate expected catch based on a hypothetical Baseline Data Set and hypothetical data from an Integrated Ocean Observation System (IOOS) to demonstrate potential benefits from IOOS. The role of Bayesian probabilities in Random Utility Models of recreational fishing is identified. The study discusses the types of information that will be required by recreational anglers in the Gulf of Mexico. Results have implications for the construction of ocean observation systems for recreational fishermen.     

Experimental and finite element analysis of fatigue strength for 300 mm2 copper power conductor

The fatigue strength of a 300 mm² stranded copper conductor was investigated experimentally and by finite element (FE) analysis. An analytical model was also developed and validated. Wires taken from the outer layer of the conductor were fatigue tested in tension–tension loading and compared with similar data for wires taken from a 95 mm² conductor. The wire cross section was deformed due to the compacting process that was applied during fabrication. When corrected for stress concentrations due to the deformation the data for the two sets of wire fell within the same scatter-band. Full scale testing was carried out in a specially designed rig with constant tensile load and reversed displacement controlled bending with a fixed curvature variation. The loading is a simulation of the loading of a power cable hanging from a floating vessel through a bellmouth. Conductors were tested in two states; dry and lubricated. A finite element model was established for the copper conductor. The model was formulated by a combination of elastic beam and beam-contact elements that included the effects of friction. The effect of local bending due to contact forces was included in the model. Two contact conditions were investigated; the point (trellis) contact between adjacent layers of wire and the inline contact within each layer and between the first layer (centre wire) and the second layer. The FE model was validated by a calibration test of a full scale conductor, and by sensitivity studies varying the size and the number of elements of the model. Fatigue analysis of the conductor was carried out, based on the S–N curve for individual wires. Taking into account the effects of friction and local bending, agreement was obtained between predicted and experimental fatigue strength of the conductor, for the FE model as well as the analytical model.     

Modelling parking choices considering user heterogeneity

We examine car driver’s behaviour when choosing a parking place; the alternatives available are free on-street parking, paid on-street parking and parking in an underground multi-storey car park. A mixed logit model, allowing for correlation between random taste parameters and estimated using stated choice data, is used to infer values of time, both when looking for a parking space and for accessing the final destination. Apart from the cost of parking, we found that vehicle age was a key variable when choosing where to park in Spain. We also found that the perception of the parking charge was fairly heterogeneous, depending both on the drivers’ income levels and whether or not they were local residents. Our results can be generalised for personalised policy making related with parking demand management.     

基于社交网络的民航旅客偏好建模

从社会网络的视角，提出了一种旅客个体偏好与关系偏好相结合的建模方法．首先，从旅客的历史出行记录中，构建基于共同出行关系的旅客社会网络；然后，构建旅客个体偏好模型和旅客关系偏好模型；最后，基于旅客偏好模型给旅客推荐座位．在民航领域的一个真实的数据集上进行了实验，证明本文提出的偏好模型能够有机地将旅客个体偏好与关系偏好结合起来，较好地描述旅客对航班座位的偏好．     

南宁市交通管理和控制系统优化方案分析工具的建立

交通仿真是采用计算机数字模型来反映复杂的交通现象,对交通运动随时间和空间的变化进行跟踪描述和分析。不同精度的交通仿真模型有不同的优缺点,要客观的评估城市的交通管理和控制系统优化措施,应将不同精度的模型配合,作为分析工具。本次研究采用中宏观的SATURN作为主导模型,对南宁市的宏观的交通进行整体分析,以及对不同交通改善方案进行评估。选用TSIS、SYNCHRO交通仿真软件作为辅助的交通分析工具,对局部地区的交通及信号配时作较为具体的分析,以利于本研究针对各种建议方案进行客观性的整合分析与应用。     

高桥墩桩基础的优化设计及因素分析

在高桥墩桩基屈曲能量法分析的基础上,提出兼顾结构稳定、强度和经济性的优化模型,并应用优化算法中非线性序列二次规划法,进行优化设计探讨,同时给出优化设计算法流程图,编制了相应的优化计算程序;为了解桥墩高度、轴向荷载、地基比例系数和混凝土弹性模量对于高桥墩桩基屈曲的影响,结合优化设计模型进行了因素分析,探讨了参数变量对目标函数最优值的影响规律和程度,比较结果说明,在进行高桥墩桩基的屈曲受力分析时,高桥墩的大变形影响不容忽视;而一般在工程设计中,可考虑将桩周土体和混凝土弹性模量的增强作用作为设计的安全储备。     

大城市客运交通结构优化模型研究

城市客运交通结构是关系城市交通系统发展方向的核心问题。从城市交通可持续发展角度出发建立了大城市客运交通结构优化的线性规划模型,其中决策变量为城市客运交通系统中各种交通方式的周转量。该模型的目标为最大化城市客运交通效率,该交通效率不是简单的各种交通方式客运周转量的函数,而是由各种交通方式的客运周转量和各种交通方式对城市客运交通效率贡献率共同决定。同时考虑客运交通结构优化过程中应满足的出行需求总量约束、可达性约束、占地约束、能耗约束、环境容量约束和各种交通方式发展规模约束等。该模型在实际应用中取得了良好的效果。     

Multi-objective optimization of quarter-car models with a passive or semi-active suspension system

A systematic methodology is applied in an effort to select optimum values for the suspension damping and stiffness parameters of two degrees of freedom quarter-car models, subjected to road excitation. First, models involving passive suspension dampers with constant or dual rate characteristics are considered. In addition, models with semi-active suspensions are also examined. Moreover, special emphasis is put in modeling possible temporary separations of the wheel from the ground. For all these models, appropriate methodologies are employed for capturing the motions of the vehicle resulting from passing with a constant horizontal speed over roads involving an isolated or a distributed geometric irregularity. The optimization process is based on three suitable performance criteria, related to ride comfort, suspension travel and road holding of the vehicle and yielding the most important suspension stiffness and damping parameters. As these criteria are conflicting, a suitable multi-objective optimization methodology is set up and applied. As a result, a series of diagrams with typical numerical results are presented and compared in both the corresponding objective spaces (in the form of classical Pareto fronts) and parameter spaces.     

Biodynamic responses of seated pregnant subjects exposed to vertical vibrations in driving conditions

A pregnant woman's body is a very sophisticated dynamic system that is sensitive to whole-body vibrations in a sitting posture. While much effort has been devoted to vibration effects on non-pregnant seated persons, little research has been devoted to the biodynamic responses of seated pregnant women exposed to vertical vibrations, especially in driving conditions. In this study a thorough survey of lumped-parameter models for non-pregnant seated persons is implemented. According to the literature the mathematical models adequate for representing the increase in mass due to pregnancy are proposed and evaluated systematically. On the basis of an analytical study and experimental validation, the six-degree-of-freedom model modified from the non-linear model proposed by Muksian and Nash is recommended. In addition, the recommended pregnant model is further integrated with two-dimensional half-car and three-dimensional full-car models to assess the responses of pregnant drivers or passengers exposed to vertical vibrations due to road unevenness. It is believed that the study presented in this report provides a profound understanding of biodynamic responses of seated pregnant women and that it may offer vehicle engineers a good reference in the design of vehicle suspension systems.