Effects of Tank Shape on the Roll Dynamic Response of a Partly Filled Tank Vehicle

The directional response and roll stability characteristics of a partly filled tractor-semitrailer vehicle, equipped with various cross-section tanks, are investigated as functions of fill volume and steer inputs. The tank-vehicle combination is analytically modeled upon integrating a quasi-static roll plane model of a partly filled tank of generic cross-section with a three-dimensional directional dynamic model of a five-axle tractor-semitrailer vehicle, assuming constant forward speed. The vehicle model is analyzed for different cross-sections of partly filled tanks, including circular, modified-oval and two optimal cross-sections. The directional response characteristics of the vehicle are evaluated to study the influence of partial-fill condition, steering maneuver, and vehicle speed on the roll dynamic performance of the tank cross-section and the vehicle. A comparison of the response characteristics, in terms of variations in cargo c.g. shift and roll mass moment of inertia, roll angle, lateral acceleration and yaw rate of the trailer sprung mass, revealed that the optimal tank geometry yields considerably less variations in the cargo c.g. coordinates and can thus significantly enhance the directional response and roll stability characteristics of partly-filled tank vehicles.     

Critical success conditions of collaborative methods: a comparative evaluation of transport planning projects

This paper explores critical success conditions of collaborative planning projects in the area of urban transport, evaluating the impact of new collaborative methods, instruments and processes on project performance. Hypothesis building is based on a comparative, empirical research design, rather than on deductive theory construction. Potential critical success conditions are derived from literature. Based on five urban transport planning projects in Gothenburg (Sweden), London (United Kingdom), Milwaukee (United States), Tokyo (Japan) and Mexico City (Mexico), a rough set analysis of the five cases reveals validated success conditions, which can be used for formulating hypotheses for further research or for policy and process improvement. The results suggest that a dedicated management of the multi-actor network, a high diversity of actors, as well as an extensive use of knowledge integration methods in combination with a high network density are critical success conditions of these planning processes. Surprisingly, the extensive use of unilateral methods also showed to be an important success condition. The traditional role of the planner will have to be complemented with the expertise of network and methodology management. The authors conclude that rough set analysis can be a valuable addition to narrative, single-case analysis of collaborative urban transport planning processes.     

荷兰铁路最新研究成果

荷兰铁路最新研究集中在开发用户友好工具以利用标准的列车检测数据对车站晚点列车进行实验分析、建立不同线路列车到发晚点时间分布的随机模型。根据位于荷兰车站Hague HS的轨道电路对近10000次列车运行自动检测可以证明，TNV－Prepare软件工具可以很好地记录列车占用和释放时间以及列车速度。若一条线路上晚点时间很短（1分钟以下）或晚点时间长（5分钟以上）的次数不是太大，发车晚点分布在很多情况下符合一种指数分布。用一种新的工具对大铁路网的时刻表以及在中转车站的相互连接的线路之间的晚点的扩散进行了分析，将列车描述成一个基于Max-Plus线性系统的间断事件系统（DES）。它有助于确定网络中的关键环路，交叉线路时刻表的剩余间隙以及网络中的晚点扩散。另一个铁路研究领域是线路基础设施养护维修与更新改造的寿命周期成本估算的决策支持系统，该系统经证明对不同线路上部结构设计的寿命周期成本的估算非常有效，对轨道和道岔养护维修与更新改造计划规则的修改也十分有效。     

Co-operative control for regenerative braking and friction braking to increase energy recovery without wheel lock

This paper presents a regenerative braking co-operative control algorithm to increase energy recovery without wheel lock. Considering the magnitude of the braking force available between the tire and road surface, the control algorithm was designed for the regenerative braking force at the front wheel and friction braking force at the rear wheel to be increased following the friction coefficient line. The performance of the proposed regenerative braking co-operative control algorithm was evaluated by the hardware in the loop simulation (HILS) with an electronic wedge brake on its front wheels and an electronic mechanical brake on its rear wheels. The HILS results showed that a proper braking force on the front and rear wheels on a low μ road prevented the lock of the front wheels that was connected to the motor, and maintained the regenerative braking and increased energy recovery.     

An adaptive model for highway travel time prediction

Traffic congestion caused by either insufficient road capacity or unexpected events has been a major problem in urban transportation networks. To disseminate accurate traveler information and reduce congestion impact, it is desirable to develop an adaptive model to predict travel time. The proposed model is practically implementable to capture dynamic traffic patterns under various conditions, which integrates the features of exponential smoothing and the Kalman filter by utilizing both real‐time and historic data. The model is simple in formulation while robust in performance in terms of accuracy and stability. With a constraint or nonconstraint smoothing factor, the proposed model is tested with both real world and simulated data and demonstrated itself a sound model that outperforms others (e.g., Kalman filter and simple exponential smoothing) specifically under recurring and nonrecurring congestion. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

用于海船精确驾驶的控制率动力修正研究(英文)

The objective of this work is the analytical synthesis problem for marine vehicles autopilots design.Despite numerous known methods for a solution,the mentioned problem is very complicated due to the presence of an extensive population of certain dynamical conditions,requirements and restrictions,which must be satisfied by the appropriate choice of a steering control law.The aim of this paper is to simplify the procedure of the synthesis,providing accurate steering with desirable dynamics of the control system.The approach proposed here is based on the usage of a special unified multipurpose control law structure that allows decoupling a synthesis into simpler particular optimization problems.In particular,this structure includes a dynamical corrector to support the desirable features for the vehicle’s motion under the action of sea wave disturbances.As a result,a specialized new method for the corrector design is proposed to provide an accurate steering or a trade-off between accurate steering and economical steering of the ship.This method guaranties a certain flexibility of the control law with respect to an actual environment of the sailing;its corresponding turning can be realized in real time onboard.     

Towards a theoretical model for behavioural adaptations to changes in the road transport system

A preliminary theoretical model is developed for the mechanism of behavioural adaptations to changes in the road transport system, which describes the process of behavioural change, explains the nature of adaptation phenomenon, and predicts its effects on road safety programmes. It can be used as a basis to organize the body of adaptation research and to explain empirical results.     

The MEPLAN models of Bilbao,Leeds and Dortmund

A trio of closely related land‐use/transport interaction models was developed using Marcial Echenique & Partners’ software package MEPLAN. The models were for the cities of Bilbao, (Spain), Dortmund (West Germany) and Leeds (England). All were calibrated using data drawn from earlier studies. The three models were used to predict the effects (relative to a base case) of a common programme of land‐use and transport policies or scenarios. This paper explains briefly the theoretical basis of the MEPLAN package as applied to urban models such as these three; describes the types of policies that have been assessed; and presents some of the key results.     

Path planning and collision avoidance for autonomous surface vehicles I: a review

Journal of Marine Science and Technology - Autonomous surface vehicles are gaining increasing attention worldwide due to the potential benefits of improving safety and efficiency. This has raised...