Factors influencing support for local transportation sales tax measures

Sales tax measures passed at the local level and dedicated to transportation projects have become increasingly popular in the United States. While revenues from fuel taxes stagnate, growth of local transportation sales taxes (LTSTs), most approved in local elections, has led to a gradual shift of the financial base for transportation projects away from user fees and toward broader-based taxes. In this study, the relationship between voter support and the social, political, and geographic characteristics of the voters is explored. Using precinct-level voting data and census demographic data for three local transportation sales tax elections in Sonoma County, in the San Francisco Metropolitan area of California, regression models were constructed to analyze this relationship. In addition, the relationship between the outcomes of the three measures was explored to better understand which transportation projects might have garnered more support for the successful measure. It was found that the closer voters lived to the transportation projects to be funded, the greater their support. Higher incomes were also positively related to support, controlling for other variables. Political leanings were found to affect support, with the direction of the effect dependent upon the project list in each measure’s expenditure plan. Finally, it appears that the latest measure, which passed successfully, benefited greatly from its multi-modal expenditure plan.     

Structural safety assessment of a pontoon-type VLFS considering damage to the breakwater

 A structural safety assessment of a pontoon-type very large floating structure (VLFS) surrounded by a gravity-type breakwater was carried out for extreme wave conditions by considering the damage to the breakwater. Bending and shear collapses are considered to be a failure mode of the floating structure, while overturning damages the breakwater. The probability of the breakwater overturning, and the transmitted wave height before and after damage to the breakwater, are evaluated using design formulae for port and harbor facilities in Japan. The ultimate bending and shear strengths of the floating structure are calculated by the idealized structural unit method (ISUM) and FEM, respectively. The calculated failure probability for the floating structure is compared with the specified target safety level. It was found that the floating structure under consideration is most likely to fail by bending in transverse waves, and that the corresponding failure probability satisfies the target level. Received: September 12, 2002 / Accepted: October 4, 2002 Acknowledgment. The authors are grateful to Dr. Shigeo Ohmatsu, National Maritime Research Institute, Japan, for allowing us to use the program of hydroelastic response analysis. Address correspondence to: M. Fujikubo (e-mail: fujikubo@naoe.hiroshima-u.ac.jp) Updated from the Japanese original, which won the 2002 SNAJ prize (J Soc Arthit Jpn 2002;190:337–345)     

Using a random displacement model to simulate turbulent particle motion in a baroclinic frontal zone: A new implementation scheme and model performance tests

Numerical artifacts can limit accurate simulation of turbulent particle motion when Lagrangian particle-tracking models are implemented in hydrodynamic models with stratified conditions like fronts. Yet, modeling of individual particle motion in frontal regions is critical for understanding sediment dynamics as well as the transport and retention of planktonic organisms. The objective of this research was to develop a numerical technique to accurately simulate turbulent particle motions in a particle-tracking model embedded within a hydrodynamic model of a frontal zone. A new interpolation scheme, the ‘water column profile’ scheme, was developed and used to implement a random displacement model for turbulent particle motions. A new interpolation scheme was necessary because linear interpolation schemes caused artificial aggregation of particles where abrupt changes in vertical diffusivity occurred. The new ‘water column profile’ scheme was used to fit a continuous function (a tension spline) to a smoothed profile of vertical diffusivities at the x–y particle location. The new implementation scheme was checked for artifacts and compared with a standard random walk model using (1) Well Mixed Condition tests, and (2) dye-release experiments. The Well Mixed Condition tests confirmed that the use of the ‘water column profile’ interpolation scheme for implementing the random displacement model significantly reduced numerical artifacts. In dye-release experiments, high concentrations of Eulerian tracer and Lagrangian particles were released at the same location up-estuary of the salt front and tracked for 4 days. After small differences in initial dispersal rates, tracer and particle distributions remained highly correlated (r = 0.84 to 0.99) when a random displacement model was implemented in the particle-tracking model. In contrast, correlation coefficients were substantially lower (r = 0.07 to 0.58) when a random walk model was implemented. In general, model performance tests indicated that the ‘water column interpolation’ scheme was an effective technique for implementing a random displacement model within a hydrodynamic model, and both could be used to accurately simulate diffusion in a highly baroclinic frontal region. The new implementation scheme has the potential to be a useful tool for investigating the influence of hydrodynamic variability on the transport of sediment particles and planktonic organisms in frontal zones.     

高速铁路综合调度系统体系结构的研究

利用计算机最新发展技术,结合高速铁路运输特点,从系统的角度提出基于三层C S体系结构的高速铁路综合调度系统结构模型和体系结构,采用消息中间件技术,构成高速铁路综合调度系统的关键业务平台,实现系统各主要业务的集成,充分利用既有信息系统的成功经验及软件复用技术,构成一个完整、统一、标准的高速铁路综合调度系统。依据本研究结果所设计的高速铁路综合调度系统仿真试验系统已经建成。     

平面假设条件下基于运动方程的飞机航迹仿真

在大地平面假设条件下，建立运动方程和仿真模型，利用MATLAB对运动方程的解算进行讨论，完成对飞机六自由度和飞机实时坐标的求解。其求解过程和结果对飞机飞行航迹的实时仿真具有较高的参考价值。     

Fundamental formulation for frictional contact with graded materials

In the paper, we develop the fundamental solutions for a graded half-plane subjected to concentrated forces acting perpendicularly and parallel to the surface. In the solutions, Young's modulus is assumed to vary in the form of E(y) = E0e(ay) and Poisson's ratio is assumed to be constant. On the basis of the fundamental solutions, the singular integral equations are formulated for the unknown traction distributions with Green's function method. From the fundamental integral equations, a series of integral equations for special cases may be deduced corresponding to practical contact situations. The validity of the fundamental solutions and the integral equations is demonstrated with the degenerate solutions and two typical numerical examples.     

临界区奥氏体化过程的研究

以铁素体+珠光体为原始组织,研究了20号钢、16Mn钢和11CuP0.5Si2.0Mn钢在临界区加热时奥氏体的形成。测定了临界加热奥氏体转变的动力学曲线,并用电子探针分析了合金元素的分配。     

用OO技术建立接触网参数数据库的输入模型

本文主要介绍向对象的系统分析原理与方法以及进行系统信息模型设计的思想，并用这种新方法对接触网参数数据库输入过程进行了分析和建模。     

结构模糊可靠性分析

结构破坏准则实际上是带有模糊性的，要合理判断结构强度必须依靠模糊概率方法。本文采用基于模糊判决的限界搜索法，给出了计算结构模糊可靠性清晰解的方法。以受集中力的两端刚固梁和船首底板砰击强度为例进行了数值计算，并讨论了容差变化对模糊可靠度指标的影响。     

SDMIS管理信息系统的研究

SDMIS是一个热处理车间计划和调度微机管理信息系统。该系统运用运筹学模型和数据库技术,对MIS及计划和调度模型作了一些理论上和实践上的探索和尝试。由于以热处理车间为模型,系统是针对热处理车间的特点进行分析和设计的。通过SDMIS系统用户可以随时了解生产情况,掌握生产进度。在引进优先效和优先级的基础上,本文还建立了优先数计划编制模型和三级优先随机调度模型,用调度模型进行的日调度,能在全面分析生产情况和短线情况的基础上,分清轻重缓急,进行科学有效的调度。