Application of Connected Truck Data to Evaluate Spatiotemporal Impact of Rest Area Closures on Ramp Parking

Ensuring adequate access to truck parking is critical to the safe and efficient movement of freight traffic. There are strict federal guidelines for commercial truck driver rest periods. Rest areas and private truck stops are the only places for the trucks to stop legally and safely. In locations without sufficient parking areas, trucks often park on interstate ramps, which create safety risks for other interstate motorists. Historically, agencies have employed costly and time intensive manual counting methods, camera surveillance, and driver surveys to assess truck parking. Connected truck data, available in near real-time, offers an efficient alternative to practitioners to assess truck parking patterns and identify areas where there may be insufficient safe parking spaces. This paper presents a case study of interstate I-70 in east central Indiana and documents the observed spatiotemporal impacts of a rest area closure on truck parking on nearby interstate ramps. Results showed that there was a 28% increase in parking on ramps during the rest area closure. Analysis also found that ramps closest to the rest area were most impacted by the closure, seeing a rise in truck parking sessions as high as 2.7 times. Parking duration on the ramps during rest area closure also increased drastically. Although it was expected that this would result in increased parking by trucks on adjacent ramps, this before, during, after scenario provided an ideal scenario to evaluate the robustness of these techniques to assess changing parking characteristics of long-haul commercial trucks. The data analytics and visualization tools presented in this study are scalable nationwide and will aid stakeholders in informed data-driven decision making when allocating resources towards improving the nations commercial vehicle parking infrastructure.

Excessive Drowsiness among Truck Drivers in Benin in 2023: Associated Factors and Risk of Crashes Occurrence

Introduction: Over-drowsiness is a condition with serious consequences, including road accidents. The condition, however, is often ignored both by carers as well as victims themselves. The aim of the present study was to investigate the factors associated with excessive drowsiness in Cotonou, Benin 2023, along with its influence on the occurrence of crashes among truck drivers. Methods: This was a descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study, held from March 13 to April 10, 2023, focusing on large truck drivers over 18 years of age, selected by convenience from parking lots in and around the city of Cotonou. Data collected using questionnaires on socio-demographic and behavioral factors, sleeping habits and working conditions were processed using Stata 15.0 software. Excessive drowsiness was defined by a score above 10 on the Epworth scale. Associated factors were found by multiple logistic regression, at a threshold of 0.05. Results: Altogether 304 drivers, all male and aged 35.98 ± 8.42 years, were surveyed. The prevalence of excessive drowsiness was 29.2%. The associated factors identified were not practicing sport OR = 2.27, CI95% = [1.33;3.86], p = 0,002;sleep duration per working day OR = 1.82;CI95% = [1.06;3.11], p = 0,027 and average distance travelled per day OR = 3.40;CI95% = [1.53;7.56], p = 0,003. Excessive drowsiness was associated with a 1.73-fold increased risk of road accidents (CI95% [1.04;2.87];p = 0.03). Conclusion: Communicating excessive drowsiness and its associated factors to all the stakeholders in the haulage chain is essential to help prevent road accidents.

A comparative study on kinetics and dynamics of two dump truck lifting mechanisms using MATLAB simscape

In this paper,two lifting mechanism models with opposing placements,which use the same hydraulic hoist model and have the same angle of 50°,have been developed.The mechanical and hydraulic simulation models are established using MATLAB Simscape to analyze their kinetics and dynamics in the lifting and holding stages.The simulation findings are compared to the analytical calculation results in the steady state,and both methods show good agreement.In the early lifting stage,Model 1 produces greater force and discharges goods in the container faster than Model 2.Meanwhile,Model 2 reaches a higher force and ejects goods from the container cleaner than its counterpart at the end lifting stage.The established simulation models can consider the effects of dynamic loads due to inertial moments and forces generated during the system operation.It is crucial in studying,designing,and optimizing the structure of hydraulic-mechanical systems.

Intermodal Competition: Cargo Airships versus Long-Haul Trucking for Perishable Commodities

Intermodal competition changes with changes in technology, economics, and environmental concerns. Trucks and airships are generally considered not to be competitors, but this depends on the distance of haul. The tonne-kilometer cost of trucking rises much more quickly with distance than it does the cost of a cargo airship. At some distance, the two modes are direct substitutes. The costs of the Mexico-Canada refrigerated truck supply chain are compared with the costs of a 100t-lift, electrically-powered airship. The flight characteristics of the Hindenburg Zeppelin are used as a model for a modern cargo airship. The supply chain cost of trucking tomatoes is used to test the theorical proposition. The cost difference works out to about US10￠/kg (5￠/lb) advantage for trucking Mexican tomatoes to Canada. However, this cost disadvantage of the airship could be made up by their vibrationless ride, better air circulation and one-day service versus four days by truck. This alternative form of transportation could have a positive impact on worldwide north-south distribution of food. Airships can overcome trade barriers and distance to open new markets for perishable food exports. In addition, they would reduce the carbon emissions of transport. Canada imports 160,000 refrigerated truckloads of fruits and vegetables by from the southern US and Mexico. With an average driving distance of 3,000 km, these trucks emit 606,000 MT of CO2 annually. Airships powered by hydrogen fuel cells would have zero-carbon emissions. Markets are not yet incorporating the environmental advantage of airships in any freight comparison, but inevitably this will be important.

Quantifying the Impact of In-Cab Alerts on Truck Speed Reductions in Ohio

In-cab alerts warn commercial vehicle drivers of upcoming roadway incidents, slowdowns and work zone construction activities. This paper reports on a study evaluating the driver response to in-cab alerts in Ohio. Driver response was evaluated by measuring the statistical trends of vehicle speeds after the in-cab alerts were received. Vehicle speeds pre and post in-cab alert were collected over a 47 day period in the fall of 2023 for trucks traveling on interstate roadways in Ohio. Results show that approximately 22% of drivers receiving Dangerous Slowdown alerts had reduced their speeds by at least 5 mph 30 seconds after receiving such an alert. Segmenting this analysis by speed found that of vehicles traveling at or above 70 mph at the time of alerting, 26% reduced speeds by at least 5 mph. These speed reductions suggest drivers taking actional measures after receiving alerts. Future studies will involve further analysis on the impact of the types of alerts shown, roadway characteristics and overall traffic conditions on truck speeds passing through work zones.

Research on Feature Extraction Method for Low-Speed Reciprocating Bearings Based on Segmented Short Signal Modulation Signal Bispectrum Slicing

Bearing condition monitoring and fault diagnosis (CMFD) can investigate bearing faults in the early stages, preventing the subsequent impacts of machine bearing failures effectively. CMFD for low-speed, non-continuous operation bearings, such as yaw bearings and pitch bearings in wind turbines, and rotating support bearings in space launch towers, presents more challenges compared to continuous rolling bearings. Firstly, these bearings have very slow speeds, resulting in weak collected fault signals that are heavily masked by severe noise interference. Secondly, their limited rotational angles during operation lead to a restricted number of fault signals. Lastly, the interference from deceleration and direction-changing impact signals significantly affects fault impact signals. To address these challenges, this paper proposes a method for extracting fault features in low-speed reciprocating bearings based on short signal segmentation and modulation signal bispectrum (MSB) slicing. This method initially separates short signals corresponding to individual cycles from the vibration signals based on encoder signals. Subsequently, MSB analysis is performed on each short signal to generate MSB carrier-slice spectra. The optimal carrier frequency and its corresponding modulation signal slice spectrum are determined based on the carrier-slice spectra. Finally, the MSB modulation signal slice spectra of the short signal set are averaged to obtain the overall average feature of the sliced spectra.

Seroprevalence Survey of HIV and Hepatitis B Virus and Behavioral Characteristics among Heavy Truck Drivers along Port Sudan-Khartoum Highways

The prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (AIDS) and hepatitis B virus among heavy truck drivers and their assistants has been well documented globally in correlation with their behavioral characteristics. The present study aimed to screen for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), and behavioral characteristics among heavy truck drivers in Port Sudan. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 274 heavy truck drivers and their assistants who used the highway Port Sudan-Khartoum in Port Sudan city during 2019-2021. Data on behavioral characteristics and substance use habits were collected using a structured questionnaire, and an ELISA test was used to screen for HIV and HBV infections in the study participants. The chi-square test, odds ratio, and confidence intervals were used to find the association between behavioral characteristics and seropositive HIV/HBV. Of the 274 enrolled participants, the seroprevalence rates of HIV were 2.7% and HBV was 23.7%. Ninety-four (34.3%) of them had a history of high-risk sexual behavior outside of marriage;only two (0.7%) used condoms;14.2% of participants reported alcohol use;and 1.1% reported drug use. Univariate analysis revealed that having a sex history outside of marriage with ≥1 sex partner and never using a condom with a spouse or casual partner were significant risk factors for HIV and HBV among drivers. Fortunately, we found that most of the drivers reported low alcohol and drug use. Concerning this study, the seroprevalence of HIV and HBV is highly associated with a history of having sex outside of marriage and sexual behavior among truck drivers and assistances. Additional studies are needed to further investigate other STIs and behavioral characteristics associated with factors in truck drivers/assistance in different truck stop regions in Sudan.

Real-Time Co-optimization of Gear Shifting and Engine Torque for Predictive Cruise Control of Heavy-Duty Trucks

Fuel consumption is one of the main concerns for heavy-duty trucks.Predictive cruise control(PCC)provides an intriguing opportunity to reduce fuel consumption by using the upcoming road information.In this study,a real-time implementable PCC,which simultaneously optimizes engine torque and gear shifting,is proposed for heavy-duty trucks.To minimize fuel consumption,the problem of the PCC is formulated as a nonlinear model predictive control(MPC),in which the upcoming road elevation information is used.Finding the solution of the nonlinear MPC is time consuming;thus,a real-time implementable solver is developed based on Pontryagin’s maximum principle and indirect shooting method.Dynamic programming(DP)algorithm,as a global optimization algorithm,is used as a performance benchmark for the proposed solver.Simulation,hardware-in-the-loop and real-truck experiments are conducted to verify the performance of the proposed controller.The results demonstrate that the MPC-based solution performs nearly as well as the DP-based solution,with less than 1%deviation for testing roads.Moreover,the proposed co-optimization controller is implementable in a real-truck,and the proposed MPC-based PCC algorithm achieves a fuel-saving rate of 7.9%without compromising the truck’s travel time.

A human-sensitive frequency band vibration isolator for heavy-duty truck seats

In this study,a human-sensitive frequency band vibration isolator(HFBVI)with quasi-zero stiffness(QZS)characteristics for heavy-duty truck seats is designed to improve the comfort of heavy-duty truck drivers on uneven roads.First,the analytical expressions for the force and displacement of the HFBVI are derived with the Lagrange equation and d'Alembert's principle,and are validated through the prototype restoring force testing.Second,the harmonic balance method(HBM)is used to obtain the dynamic responses under harmonic excitation,and further the influence of pre-stretching on the dynamic characteristics and transmissibility is discussed.Finally,the experimental prototype of the HFBVI is fabricated,and vibration experiments are conducted under harmonic excitation to verify the vibration isolation performance(VIP)of the proposed vibration isolator.The experimental results indicate that the HFBVI can effectively suppress the frequency band(4-8 Hz)to which the human body is sensitive to vertical vibration.In addition,under real random road spectrum excitation,the HFBVI can achieve low-frequency vibration isolation close to 2 Hz,providing new prospects for ensuring the health of heavy-duty truck drivers.

A Predictive Energy Management Strategies for Mining Dump Trucks

The plug-in hybrid vehicles(PHEV)technology can effectively address the issues of poor dynamics and higher energy consumption commonly found in traditional mining dump trucks.Meanwhile,plug-in hybrid electric trucks can achieve excellent fuel economy through efficient energy management strategies(EMS).Therefore,a series hybrid system is constructed based on a 100-ton mining dump truck in this paper.And inspired by the dynamic programming(DP)algorithm,a predictive equivalent consumption minimization strategy(P-ECMS)based on the DP optimization result is proposed.Based on the optimal control manifold and the SOC reference trajectory obtained by the DP algorithm,the P-ECMS strategy performs real-time stage parameter optimization to obtain the optimal equivalent factor(EF).Finally,applying the equivalent consumption minimization strategy(ECMS)realizes real-time control.The simulation results show that the equivalent fuel consumption of the P-ECMS strategy under the experimentally collected mining cycle conditions is 150.8 L/100 km,which is 10.9%less than that of the common CDCS strategy(169.3 L/100 km),and achieves 99.47%of the fuel saving effect of the DP strategy(150 L/100 km).

Reducing Electrical Consumption in Stationary Long-Haul Trucks

On average, long-haul trucks in the U.S. use approximately 667 million gallons of fuel each year just for idling. This idling primarily facilitates climate control operations during driver rest periods. To mitigate this, our study explored ways to diminish the electrical consumption of climate control systems in class 8 trucks through innovative load reduction technologies. We utilized the CoolCalc software, developed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), which integrates heat transfer principles with extensive weather data from across the U.S. to mimic the environmental conditions trucks face year-round. The analysis of the CoolCalc simulations was performed using MATLAB. We assessed the impact of various technologies, including white paint, advanced curtains, and Thinsulate insulation on reducing electrical demand compared to standard conditions. Our findings indicate that trucks operating in the eastern U.S. could see electrical load reductions of up to 40%, while those in the western regions could achieve reductions as high as 55%. Such significant decreases in energy consumption mean that a 10 kWh battery system could sufficiently manage the HVAC needs of these trucks throughout the year without idling. Given that many long-haul trucks are equipped with battery systems of around 800 Ah (9.6 kWh), implementing these advanced technologies could substantially curtail the necessity for idling to power air conditioning systems.

基于TruckSim矿用汽车转向工况侧倾运动特性分析

车辆发生转向时,由于离心力的作用而产生侧倾运动,空载高速转向时该部分作用将更为明显,进而影响车辆平稳运输。根据悬挂系统的特性差异,对所研究矿用汽车前后悬挂的侧倾中心和侧倾轴进行分析;基于以上分析,对转向时的侧倾运动进行分析,获取关键参数的变化模型;根据理论分析结果,基于Matlab/Simulink建立车辆转向工况表征侧倾运动的分析模型;根据悬挂特性和转向特性,分别建立分析模型,与车辆多体动力学模型联合,基于TruckSim建立整车转向特征分析模型;分析在固定转向盘稳态回转试验时,车辆的行驶轨迹;对空载高速转向工况下,车辆内外轮转角特征曲线,悬挂刚度、位移、侧倾刚度等参数变化进行分析;对比分析考虑转向侧倾与否的转角特征及偏差与理论分析之间的差异,以验证分析的可靠性。结果可知:车辆内外侧悬挂缸出现伸缩跳动,此时出现了附加转向效应叠加在车轮上;车轮需要较大的侧偏角,满足侧向力的需要;此时,整车的转向角关系不单单满足Ackerman定理,还增加了轮胎的侧偏角;未考虑转向侧倾时,转角偏差值随着转角的增加而不断增大,最大偏差达到了0.4223°,而考虑时,转角偏差的目标值为0.3618°。因此表明,所建立的分析模型具有较好的分析结果,能够更精确的反应车辆转向过程中,侧倾运动各部分参数的变化,为此类研究提供参考。

SOME CHARACTERISTICS OF LOW-SPEED STREAKS UNDER SHEARED AIR-WATER INTERFACES

The characteristics of low-speed fluid streaks occurring under sheared air-water interfaces were examined by means of hydrogen bubble visualization technique. A critical shear condition under which the streaky structure first appears was determined to be u(tau) approximate to 0.19 cm/s. The mean spanwise streak spacing increases with distance from the water surface owing to merging and bursting processes, and a linear relationship describing variation of non-dimensional spacing <(<lambda>+)over bar> versus y(+) was found essentially independent of shear stress on the interface. Values of <(<lambda>+)over bar>, however, are remarkably smaller than their counterparts in the near-wall region of turbulent boundary layers. Though low-speed streaks occur randomly in time and space, the streak spacing exhibits a lognormal probability distribution behavior. A tentative explanation concerning the formation of streaky structure is suggested, and the fact that <(<lambda>+)over bar> takes rather smaller values than that in wall turbulence is briefly discussed.

POD analysis of the instability mode of a low-speed streak in a laminar boundary layer

The instability of one single low-speed streak in a zero-pressure-gradient laminar boundary layer is investigated experimentally via both hydrogen bubble visualization and planar particle image velocimetry(PIV) measurement. A single low-speed streak is generated and destabilized by the wake of an interference wire positioned normal to the wall and in the upstream. The downstream development of the streak includes secondary instability and self-reproduction process, which leads to the generation of two additional streaks appearing on either side of the primary one. A proper orthogonal decomposition(POD) analysis of PIV measured velocity field is used to identify the components of the streak instability in the POD mode space: for a sinuous/varicose type of POD mode, its basis functions present anti-symmetric/symmetric distributions about the streak centerline in the streamwise component, and the symmetry condition reverses in the spanwise component. It is further shown that sinuous mode dominates the turbulent kinematic energy(TKE) through the whole streak evolution process, the TKE content first increases along the streamwise direction to a saturation value and then decays slowly. In contrast, varicose mode exhibits a sustained growth of the TKE content,suggesting an increasing competition of varicose instability against sinuous instability.

Experimental investigation on vibration characteristics of the medium-low-speed maglev vehicle-turnout coupled system

The steel turnout is one of the key components in the medium–low-speed maglev line system.However,the vehicle under active control is prone to vehicle–turnout coupled vibration,and thus,it is necessary to identify the vibration characteristics of this coupled system through field tests.To this end,dynamic performance tests were conducted on a vehicle–turnout coupled system in a medium–low-speed maglev test line.Firstly,the dynamic response data of the coupled system under various operating conditions were obtained.Then,the natural vibration characteristics of the turnout were analysed using the free attenuation method and the finite element method,indicating a good agreement between the simulation results and the measured results;the acceleration response characteristics of the coupled system were analysed in detail,and the ride quality of the vehicle was assessed by Sperling index.Finally,the frequency distribution characteristics of the coupled system were discussed.All these test results could provide references for model validation and optimized design of medium–low-speed maglev transport systems.

Numerical study on evolution of subharmonic varicose low-speed streaks in turbulent channel flow

The evolution of two spanwise-aligned low-speed streaks in a wall turbulent flow, triggered by the instability of the subharmonic varicose （SV） mode, is studied by a direct numerical simulation （DNS） method in a small spatial-periodic channel. The results show that the SV low-speed streaks are self-sustained at the early stage, and then transform into subharmonic sinuous （SS） low-speed streaks. Initially, the streamwise vortex sheets are formed by shearing, and then evolve into zigzag vortex sheets due to the mutual induction. As the intensification of the SV low-speed streaks becomes prominent, the tilted streamwise vortex tubes and the V-like streamwise vortex tubes can be formed simultaneously by increasing ＋~. When the SV low-speed streaks break down, new zigzag streamwise vortices will be generated, thus giving birth to the next sustaining cycle of the SV low-speed streaks. When the second breakdown happens, new secondary V-like streamwise vortices instead of zigzag streamwise vortices will be generated. Because of the sweep motion of the fluid induced by the secondary V-like streamwise vortices, each decayed low-speed streak can be divided into two parts, and each part combines with the part of another streak, finally leading to the formation of SS low-speed streaks.

Numerical simulation on evolution of subharmonic low-speed streaks in minimal channel turbulent flow

The evolution of low-speed streaks in the turbulent boundary layer of the minimum channel flow unit at a low Reynolds number is simulated by the direct numer- ical simulation （DNS） based on the standard Fourier-Chebyshev spectral method. The subharmonic sinuous （SS） mode for two spanwise-aligned low-speed streaks is excited by imposing the initial perturbations. The possibilities and the physical realities of the turbulent sustaining in the minimal channel unit are examined. Based on such a flow field environment, the evolution of the low-speed streaks during a cycle of turbulent sus- taining, including lift-up, oscillation, and breakdown, is investigated. The development of streamwise vortices and the dynamics of vortex structures are examined. The results show that the vortices generated from the same streak are staggered along the streamwise direction, while the vortices induced by different streaks tilt toward the normal direction due to the mutual induction effect. It is the spatial variations of the streamwise vortices that cause the lift-up of the streaks. By resolving the transport dynamics of enstrophy, the strength of the vortices is found to continuously grow in the logarithmic layer through the vortex stretching mechanism during the evolution of streaks. The enhancement of the vortices contributes to the spanwise oscillation and the following breakdown of the low-speed streaks.

Optimizing the Exhaust System of Marine Diesel Engines to Improve Low-speed Performances and Cylinder Working Conditions

Proper design of exhaust systems in marine high-power turbocharged diesel engines can contribute to improve the low-speed performance of these engines and make the working conditions of the cylinders more uniform.Here a high-power marine 16-cylinder V-type turbocharged diesel engine is simulated using the GT-Power software.The results reveal the differences induced by different exhaust system structures,such as an 8-cylinder-inpipe exhaust system with single/double superchargers and a 4-cylinder-in-pipe exhaust system with a single supercharger.After a comparative analysis,the 8-cylinder type with double superchargers is determined to be the optimal solution,and the structure of the exhaust system is further optimized.The simulations show that the optimized maximum exhaust temperature difference among cylinders is reduced by 66%.Finally,the simulation results and the optimized performance of the designed exhaust system are verified through experiments.

Dynamics of low-speed streak evolution and interaction in laminar boundary layer

The present paper presents an experimental effort on the regeneration process of two low-speed laminar streaks in a zero-pressure-gradient laminar boundary layer. Two vertical thin wires separated by a spanwise distance of 30 mm are used to introduce disturbances of two rolls of transitional Karmain vortex street to the downstream boundary layer. Both hydrogen bubble visualization and particle image velocimetry （PIV） measurement show that two lowspeed streaks are induced through leading-edge receptivity process. As these streaks develop in the downstream, two additional low-speed streaks begin to appear outboard of the flank of the original two, together with complex dynamics of streak splitting and merging. A flow pattern of four streaks aligned along the spanwise direction occurs finally in the far downstream. It is found that besides the mechanisms of streak breakdown, the streak interaction is also an important factor characterizing the instability of low speed streaks and their regeneration process.

High-frequency characterization of high-speed modulators and photodetectors in a link with low-speed photonic sampling

We propose a low-speed photonic sampling for independent high-frequency characterization of a Mach–Zehnder modulator(MZM)and a photodetector(PD)in an optical link.A low-speed mode-locked laser diode(MLLD)provides an ultrawideband optical stimulus with scalable frequency range,working as the photonic sampling source of the link.The uneven spectrum lines of the MLLD are firstly characterized with symmetric modulation within the interesting frequency range.Then,the electro-optic modulated signals are down-converted to the first Nyquist frequency range,yielding the self-referenced extraction of modulation depth and half-wave voltage of the MZM without correcting the responsivity fluctuation of the PD in the link.Finally,the frequency responsivity of the PD is self-referenced measured under null modulation of the MZM.As frequency responses of the MZM and the PD can be independently obtained,our method allows self-referenced high-frequency measurement for a high-speed optical link.In the proof-of-concept experiment,a 96.9 MS/s MLLD is used for measuring a MZM and a PD within the frequency range up to 50 GHz.The consistency between our method and the conventional method verifies that the ultra-wideband and self-referenced high-frequency characterization of high-speed MZMs and PDs.