Assessment of the volume of fluid method for free-surface wave flow

This study was concerned with the free-surface wave flow around a surface-piercing foil. The volume of fluid method implemented in a Navier–Stokes computational fluid dynamics code was employed. Three widely used discretization schemes for the volume of fluid method were assessed for a test case that involved general ship waves, spilling breaking waves in front of the leading edge, and bubbly free surfaces in separated regions. A single computational approach was selected for the comparison, and a grid-dependence study was carried out. The computational results were validated against existing experimental data, showing good agreement. The validation results suggest that all three discretization schemes perform well, but the best and most efficient results were obtained using the high-resolution interface capturing scheme.     

Gender differences in travel behaviour and willingness to adopt sustainable behaviour

This paper presents pioneering research on gender differences in travel behaviour in southeastern Europe. The study analyses the socio-economic and main travel characteristics (particularly parking) of men and women. Additionally, it examines the influence of parking demand management measures on their behaviour, in terms of the willingness of men and women to reduce car use and to adopt more sustainable behaviour. The results reveal significant differences between genders in most of the characteristics examined. Moreover, it is shown that women are less car dependent and more sensitive to parking pricing and, therefore, more willing to replace a car journey with public transport. These findings suggest that gender should be an essential parameter when user behaviour is examined and modelled. Furthermore, the results indicate that gender differences must be considered when transport policy is created to affect the behaviour of men and women equally. The achievement of social equality is one of the primary objectives of sustainable development.     

Development of interregional cooperation in the field of urban and suburban transport under the auspices of the UN

The article considers specific features, the importance and the problems of urban and suburban transport with reference to international economic, scientific and technological cooperation. It also describes methods and means for utilizing the opportunities for cooperation within the framework of the UN Regional Economic Commissions with a more active involvement of CODATU and UNCHS (Habitat) and the Habitat Executive Bureau in Moscow. The article identifies and classifies the main tasks of the development of urban public transport in cities with varying degree of motorization as well as identifies the priorities of international cooperation within the UN.     

Super-low-frequency laser instrument for measuring hydrosphere pressure variations

The operating principle and specifications of a laser meter for measuring hydrosphere pressure variations are described in this article. The meter was designed to measure the hydrosphere pressure variations to a depth of 500 m within the frequency range of 0–1000 Hz at the level of background oscillations. Some results obtained using the apparatus under consideration when recording sea oscillations and waves of natural and artificial origin are presented.     

An advanced theory of thin-walled girders with application to ship vibrations

The paper presents an outline of the advanced theory of thin-walled girders. The improvement includes shear influence on torsion as an extension of shear influence on bending. The analogy between bending and torsion is recognized and pointed out throughout the paper. Complete differential equations of coupled flexural and torsional vibrations for a prismatic girder are derived. In addition, the 8 d.o.f. beam finite element, utilizing the energy approach, is constituted with stiffness and mass matrices, and load vectors. The paper describes determining of geometrical properties of multi-cell open cross-sections by employing the strip element method. Numerical procedures for vibration analyses are outlined. Furthermore, dry natural vibrations of a VLCS (Very Large Container Ship) are analysed by 1D FEM model as a prerogative for hydroelastic analyses of these relatively flexible vessels. Influence of transverse bulkheads is taken into account by increasing torsional stiffness of the ship hull proportionally to their deformation energies. Validation of 1D FEM model is checked by correlation analysis with the vibration response of the fine 3D FEM model.