Analysis of opposing left-turn conflicts based on traffic conflict technology

The relationship between the opposing left-turn conflict and the traffic participants was analyzed in this study. Based on the traffic conflict technology, the image data were collected in a real traffic situation. The relationship was investigated under two different conditions. The number of opposing left-turn conflicts was positively correlated with the number of left-turn vehicles while the ratio of left-turn vehicles to opposing vehicles was less than 1, and showed a positive correlation with the number of opposing-through vehicles when the ratio of left-turn vehicles to opposing vehicles was more than 1. In other words, the opposing left-turn risk was positively correlated with the number of the minor traffic participants, which had a negative effect on the whole traffic system operation.     

DEVELOPMENT OF LIGNIN EPOXIDE-A POTENTIAL MATRIX OF RESIN MATRIX COMPOSITE

To develop new kinds of matrix resin of composite and utilize lignosul fonate in large scale and high value, a kind of lignosulfonate was modified into epoxide in this paper. Two kinds of phenolized lignosulfonic acid and two kinds of lignin epoxides were prepared. The lignin epoxides and a kind of bisphenol—A epomy resin were mixed respectively with a kind of liquid anhydride (MNA) to be measured by DSC technology. Both of these two kinds of epoxides can be cured by MNA, and curing exotherm of the liquid one is more than that of the solid one. Samples of the phenolized lignosulfonic acid and the epoxides were all analyzed by IR spectroscopy to find relations between them. It is suggested that the phenolation decide the type and the yield of the lignin epoxides.     

Effects of flashing green on driver’s stop/go decision at signalized intersection

The primary objective of this work is to explore how drivers react to flashing green at signalized intersections. Through video taping and data procession based on photogrammetry, the operating speeds of vehicles before and after the moment when flashing green started was compared using paired-samples T-test. The critical distances between go and stop decisions was defined through cumulative percentage curve. The boundary of dilemma zone was determined by comparing stop distance and travel distance.Amber-running violation was analyzed on the basis of the travel time to the stop line. And finally, a logistic model for stop and go decisions was constructed. The results shows that the stopping ratios of the first vehicles of west-bound and east-bound approaches are 41.3% and 39.8%, respectively; the amber-light running violation ratios of two approaches are 31.6% and 25.4%, respectively;the operating speed growth ratios of first vehicles selecting to cross intersection after the moment when flashing green started are26.7% and 17.7%, respectively; and the critical distances are 48 m and 46 m, respectively, which are close to 44 m, the boundary of dilemma zone. The developed decision models demonstrate that the probability of go decision is higher when the distance from the stop line is shorter or operating speed is higher. This indicates that flashing green is an effective way to enhance intersection safety,but it should work together with a strict enforcement. In addition, traffic signs near critical distance and reasonable speed limitation are also beneficial to the safety of intersections.     

Interfacial Interaction of Aggregate-Cement Paste in Concrete

The chemical and physical interactions in the interfacial transition zone(ITZ) between three different types of coarse aggregates(limestone, granite and basalt) and cement paste were investigated. The results show that all the aggregates are chemically active. Significant amounts of Ca2+, K+, and Na+ are absorbed by all the aggregates from the cement solution, granite and basalt also absorb significant amounts of OH― and release significant amounts of Si4+ into cement solution. The XRD, EDXA and pore structure results of the ITZ also show that more clinkers participate in the cement hydration in the ITZ of granite and basalt, and more hydrates are generated, hence resulting in a denser ITZ structure with a lower content of macropores. Although the limestone has the least activity, the connection between it and cement paste is tight, due to its rough surface and higher water absorption. Whereas the granite with smooth surface and lower water absorption has a loose connection with cement paste, many pores and cracks are visible, which is very detrimental to the concrete durability.     

Critical safe distance design to improve driving safety based on vehicle-to-vehicle communications

A critical safe distance （CSD） model in V2V （vehicle-to-vehicle） communication systems was proposed to primarily enhance driving safety by disseminating warning notifications to vehicles when they approach calculated CSD. By elaborately analyzing the vehicular movement features especially when braking, our CSD definition was introduced and its configuration method was given through dividing radio range into different communication zones. Based on our definition, the needed message propagation delay was also derived which could be used to control the beacon frequency or duration. Next, the detailed CSD expressions were proposed in different mobility scenarios by fully considering the relative movement status between the front and rear vehicles. Numerical results show that our proposed model could provide reasonable CSD under different movement scenarios which eliminates the unnecessary reserved inter-vehicle distance and guarantee the safety at the same time, The compared time-headway model always shows a smaller CSD due to focusing on traffic efficiency whereas the traditional braking model generally outputs a larger CSD because it assumes that the following car drives with a constant speed and did not discuss the scenario when the leading car suddenly stops. Different from these two models, our proposed model could well balances the requirements between driving safety and traffic throughput efficiency by generating a CSD in between the values of the two models in most cases.     

Analyzing influence of bicycles on traffic flow using microscopic simulation approach

Mixed traffic consisting of cars and bicycles is a typical pattern of urban traffic in China.To study the impact of bicycles on traffic performance,a microscopic simulating model based on the principle of cautious driving and collision free was proposed.The interaction between cars and bicycles were described by lateral friction and overlapping driving.The dynamical features of speed and time-headway were investigated by numerical simulations.The results show that bicycles have a significant impact on travel speed and time-headway.The effect of bicycles can cause different results in the free flow phase and congestion phase respectively.The results also indicate the necessity to mitigate the interaction between motorized vehicles and non-motorized vehicles.     

Impacts of variable message signs on traffic congestion

The variable message signs (VMS) have been widely used in guiding and managing the dynamic traffic with development of intelligent transportation technologies. It is known that cell transmission model (CTM) can well reproduce such traffic dynamics as shock waves and jams. This paper presents a new method to estimate the route travel times by using the CTM in conjunction with a logit-based route choice rule. The impacts of VMS on a two-route scenario with recurrent and non-recurrent traffic congestion are numerically investigated by analyzing the changes of route flow and travel time. Simulation results show that in networks with suitable long links, the VMS can positively influence travelers' decision making so as to improve the system performance. For non-recurrent congestion, the value space of the route choice parameter that affects the flow distribution between two routes is narrower in the case of high traffic demand than that in the low demand case.     

Cycle-by-Cycle Queue Length Estimation for Signalized Intersections Using Multi-Source Data

In order to estimate vehicular queue length at signalized intersections accurately and overcome the shortcomings and restrictions of existing studies especially those based on shockwave theory,a new methodology is presented for estimating vehicular queue length using data from both point detectors and probe vehicles. The methodology applies the shockwave theory to model queue evolution over time and space. Using probe vehicle locations and times as well as point detector measured traffic states,analytical formulations for calculating the maximum and minimum( residual) queue length are developed. The proposed methodology is verified using ground truth data collected from numerical experiments conducted in Shanghai,China. It is found that the methodology has a mean absolute percentage error of 17. 09%,which is reasonably effective in estimating the queue length at traffic signalized intersections. Limitations of the proposed models and algorithms are also discussed in the paper.     

Similar material simulation of time series system for induced caving of roof in continuous mining under backfill

With the help of similar material simulation test,time series system for induced caving of roof in continuous mining under complex backfill in ore body No.92 of Tongkeng Tin Mine was studied. According to the similarity theory,a two-dimensional similar simulation test-bed was constructed. The stress and displacement that change along with the advance of mining were acquired and analyzed automatically by data system. The processes of continuous mining of ore-block in 5 intervals and artificial induced caving of roof were simulated. The results of the test show that ore body remained as safety roof in thickness of 15 m guarantees the safe advance of stoping work face. Caving of safety roof puts in practice at the first two mining intervals when the third interval of continuous mining is finished,and one interval as the safety distance should be kept all the time between stopping and caving. While mining in the last interval,pre-slotting should be implemented first of all,and the roof of the last two mining intervals is caved simultaneously. Only this kind of time series system can be an efficient and safe way for induced caving of roof in continuous mining.     

Future penetration and impacts of electric vehicles on transport energy consumption and CO_2 emissions in different Chinese tiered cities

This study focuses on the penetration of electric vehicles(EVs) within the private passenger vehicle market in selected Chinese cities categorized into different tiers. It presents an analysis of factors driving the market diffusion of EVs and the reasons for varying results across the investigated cities and provides estimates of related EV impacts on local energy consumption and CO_2 emissions. A nested multinomial model incorporating technological attributes of vehicles, energy prices, charging conditions,and incentive policies was developed for conducting a scenario analyses covering six cities. The results indicated that in a stagnation scenario in which policy support was absent, the market share of electric vehicles would be less than 7% in all six cities under investigation by 2030. In medium growth and rapid growth scenarios, the market share of EVs across the six cities was projected to be within the ranges of 29%–68% and 49%–80%, respectively. The impacts of EVs on gasoline demand depended not just on their cumulative sales but also on the share of electrified vehicle distance, and the CO_2 emission reduction effect was influenced by local EV stocks and the mix of local electricity sources. Battery costs, charging conditions, and energy prices were primary driving factors. Charging conditions and energy prices were key reasons for differences in the penetration curves among cities. These driving factors were further affected by differences in local income levels, housing and parking conditions, and availability of land resources. Subsidies were found to be effective in the short term, whereas in the medium term,tax breaks could serve as the main monetary incentive. In the long term, national policy should focus on technology-related RD, whereas local policies should focus on the operational phase and be tailored to specific local situations.     

Electromagnetic anti-fouling technology for prevention of scale

An electromagnetic anti-fouling technology（EAFT） was developed further. The operating principle of the EAFT was presented using fundamental physics laws. To validate the effect of EAFT and identify the mechanism, a circulating flow setup was built. A series of fouling tests were carried out with and without EAFT, measuring fouling thermal resistance as function of time, making scanning electron microscope images and analyzing the particles size distribution in solution by dynamics light scattering technology. The main results were as follows： 1） All the precipitated crystals in solution were calcite and there were little differences between with EAFT and without EAFT in the experimental range. 2） The number of precipitate nucleation in solution was small and the particle growth was slow without EAFT. In opposition to the case untreated, a rapid particle growth was observed and the number of nucleation was expected to be large, due to the fact that the EAFT effectively increases the ions and crystals collision frequency and effectiveness by utilizing the induced electric field. It is indicated that the particle growth is promoted mainly by coagulation process but not nucleation growth. 3） The EAFT could prolong the delay time of fouling greatly, and after the delay time, the thermal resistance quickly increased. Therefore, in order to mitigate scale significantly, the floccules in solution should be deposited beforehand in a low-lying area of the exchangers and let off in time.     

Traffic jam in signalized road network简

Traffic jam in large signalized road network presents a complex nature.In order to reveal the jam characteristics,two indexes,SVS（speed of virtual signal） and VOS（velocity of spillover）,were proposed respectively.SVS described the propagation of queue within a link while VOS reflected the spillover velocity of vehicle queue.Based on the two indexes,network jam simulation was carried out on a regular signalized road network.The simulation results show that：1） The propagation of traffic congestion on a signalized road network can be classified into two stages：virtual split driven stage and flow rate driven stage.The former stage is characterized by decreasing virtual split while the latter only depends on flow rate; 2） The jam propagation rate and direction are dependent on traffic demand distribution and other network parameters.The direction with higher demand gets more chance to be jammed.Our findings can serve as the basis of the prevention of the formation and propagation of network traffic jam.     

Micromechanical characteristics of the asphalt mixture in bending condition

The characteristics of asphalt mixtures are associated with the key features of the mixed material when it is not damaged.Two-dimensional(2D) microstructure images of asphalt mixture bending beam specimen were captured by a CCD camera.After image processing,such as noise elimination,boundary identification,image binarization and vectorization,the images were imported into finite element(FE) software in order to set up the micromechanical finite element(FE) model.The simulation results show that the displacement contours spectrum is not a smooth curve since the mixed material is heterogeneous.Also,the largest strain value exists at the bottom of the specimen between two coarse aggregates,and it is the point where the fracture starts.The stress values of aggregates are larger than those of the asphalt matrix.Different from the strain of asphalt matrix,the strain of aggregates is close to zero because the aggregates have higher capability to resist self-deformation.The difference in deformation between aggregate and asphalt matrix can lead to an interface crack as a final result.All these results can be improved by three-point bending test of asphalt mixture beam.     

A mathematical model of gas flow during coal outburst initiation

A proposed concept of outburst initiation examines the release of a large amount of gas from coal seams resulted from disintegrating thermodynamically unstable coal organic matter(COM). A coal microstructure is assumed to getting unstable due to shear component appearance triggered by mining operations and tectonic activities considered as the primary factor while COM disintegration under the impact of weak electric fields can be defined as a secondary one. The energy of elastic deformations stored in the coal microstructure activates chemical reactions to tilt the energy balance in a ‘‘coal–gas" system.Based on this concept a mathematical model of a gas flow in the coal where porosity and permeability are changed due to chemical reactions has been developed. Using this model we calculated gas pressure changes in the pores initiated by gas release near the working face till satisfying force and energy criteria of outburst. The simulation results demonstrated forming overpressure zone in the area of intensive gas release with enhanced porosity and permeability. The calculated outburst parameters are well combined with those evaluated by field measurements.     

Analysis on column-bracing forces considering random initial imperfections

A large number of column-bracing systems were modeled and analyzed by second-order analysis using finite element program ANSYS,in which the random combination of the initial imperfections between columns and horizontal braces was well considered by Monte Carlo Method.According to the analysis results,four kinds of instability modes of column-bracing systems were found,the probability density function of the mid-height horizontal bracing forces was established based on probability statistics,and the design bracing forces were also obtained.The results indicated that the above design bracing forces are smaller than that proposed by the "Code for design of steel structures"(GB50017-2003) when the top axial compressions on the braced columns are equal,and much smaller than the latter when the top axial compressions on the braced columns are unequal.The results also indicated that the random combination of the initial imperfections between columns and horizontal braces leads to the randomness of the mid-height horizontal bracing forces in compression or in tension,so that the design bracing forces can be reduced.     

Microscopic evidence of destroying the order of magnetic sequence in CuO2 chain by Zn, Ni, Co Doping in Sr14Cu24O41 compound

The Zn2＋, Ni2＋ and Co3＋ doped Sr14Cu24041 compounds were synthesized by standard solid state method. X-ray diffraction results show that the changes in lattice parameters are very small. Selected area electron diffraction patterns （EDPs） show that the diffraction spots corresponding to the CuO2 chain substructure are extended to streaks along a＊ and b＊ directions for all the samples, while the diffraction spots produced merely by the Cu203 ladder substructure are still very sharp. This means that the periodicities of chains in a＊ and b＊ directions are partially destroyed upon doping ofZn, Ni and Co due to that the initial phase of each chain becomes a random variable. The temperature dependence of magnetic properties was measured for every sample. And the number of dimers in CuO2 chain per formula unit （f.u.） and dimer coupling constant are obtained by fitting the temperature dependence of the magnetic susceptibility. It is found that the degree of initial phase disorder is related to the order degree of magnetic sequence in CuO2 chain. For the un-doped sample, the decoupling of dimers is weak, the magnetic sequence is slightly destroyed, and the streaks in EDP are also very weak, which implies the degree of initial phase disorder in CuO2 chain is very low. When Zn2~ and Ni2＋ ions are doped, the number of dimers per f.u. decreases, and the intensity of diffraction streaks increases in comparison with the corresponding spots. Furthermore, when the high spin magnetic ions Co3＋ are doped, the number of holes in Sr14Cu24041 decreases, the magnetic sequence is destroyed very seriously, and the spots in EDP are extended to streaks almost completely. The phenomenon that the diffraction spots ofCuO2 chain extend to streaks in EDP appears as evidence that the magnetic sequence in the CuO2 chain is destroyed by doping of Zn, Ni, Co.     

Zn^2＋ Release Performance in Simulated Uterine Solution and Surface Characteristics of ZnO/LDPE Nanocomposites

Zinc oxide/low-density polyethylene （LDPE） nanocomposites were prepared for intrauterine devices. The change of Zn^2＋ release rates of nanocomposites （ doped with various mass fractions of zinc oxide nanoparticles between 5wt% and 65 wt% ） for 264 days in a simulated uterine solution were investigated. The resuits show that initial burst phases are followed by near zero-order release phases. SEM technique was employed to observe the surface morphology of the 45wt% ZnO/ LDPE composite. Elements and phases on the surface of the nanocomposite after incubation were also analyzed by EDX and XRD respectively. The experimental results show that incrustation formation does not occur after incubation.     

Microstructure and properties of Mg-12Gd-3Y-0.5Zr alloys processed by ECAP and extrusion

Equal channel angular pressing (ECAP) processing and conventional extrusion (Ex) were applied to the Mg-12Gd-3Y-0.5Zr (wt%) magnesium alloy in order to evaluate the potential improvement in the mechanical properties. The ECAP experiment was conducted at 380 ℃ in a die having an included angle of 90° between two channels by the Bc route with the billet rotated by 90° about its longitudinal axis. Subsequently, some billets were processed by conventional extrusion at 300 ℃. The microstructures were examined by X-ray diffraction (XRD), optical microscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The experimental results indicate that the grain size is refined effectively, but the basal planes are highly inclined (about 40o) from the extrusion axis introduced by ECAP, which impairs the grain boundary strengthening effect. The conventional extrusion, following the ECAP, can modify the grains in hard orientation. Based on grain boundary strengthening due to ECAP and texture strengthening due to Ex, the strength is improved effectively. The enhanced activity of the non-basal slips, due to the refined grains and the reduction in c/a ratio, is responsible for good ductility and high strain hardening rate in samples obtained by the two-step process.     

Bicycle capacity of borrowed-priority merge at unsignalized intersections in China

To investigate bicyclists’ behavior at unsignalized intersections with mixed traffic flow,a bicycle capacity model of borrowed-priority merge was developed by the addition-conflict-flow procedure.Based on the actual traffic situation,the concept of borrowed priority,in which the major-road bicycles borrow the priority of major-road cars to enter the intersections when consecutive headway for major-steam cars is lower than the critical gap for minor-road cars,was addressed.Bicycle capacity at a typical unsignalized intersection is derived by the addition-conflict-flow procedure.The proposes model was validated by the empirical investigation.Numerical results show that bicycle capacity at an intersection is the function of major-road and minor-road car streams.Bicycle capacity increases with increasing major-road cars but decreases with increasing minor-road cars.     

Moment tensor analysis of transversely isotropic shale based on the discrete element method

In this study,the moment tensor of transversely isotropic shale was analyzed using a discrete element method-acoustic emission model(DEM-AE model).Firstly,the failure modes of the shale obtained from the acoustic emission(AE) events and physical experiments were compared.Secondly,the relationships between AE events and seismic magnitudes,and AE events and the resulting cracks were analyzed.Finally,a moment tensor T-k chart describing the seismic source was introduced to demonstrate the differences in the transversely isotropic shale.The results showed that,for different anisotropy angles,a linear logarithmic relationship existed between the cumulative AE events and the seismic magnitude in the concentration area of the AE events.A normal distribution was observed for the number of AE events as the seismic magnitude changed from small to large.The moment tensor T-k chart indicated that the number and proportion of linear tension cracks in the shale were highest.When θ = 30°,the peak seismic magnitude was at a minimum.The average seismic magnitude in the concentration area of the AE events was also relatively small.Points close to the U=-1/3V line and the number of cracks included in a single AE event were at a minimum,and the corresponding peak stress also reached its lowest level.In contrast,when θ=90°,all related parameters were contrary to the above θ = 30° case.The DEM-AE model and the moment tensor T-k chart are suitable for analyzing the distribution of shale cracks appearing during the loading process.This study can provide constructive references for future research on the fracturing treatment of shale.