Calibration of a rule-based intelligent network simulation model

This paper is focused on calibration of an intelligent network simulation model （INS1M） with reallife transportation network to analyse the INSIM＇s feasibility in simulating commuters＇ travel choice behaviour under the influence of real-time integrated multimodal traveller information （IMTI）. A transportation network model for the central and western areas of Singapore was simulated in PARAMICS and integrated with INSIM expert system by means of an application programming interface to form the INSIM. Upon calibration, INSIM was able to realistically present complicated scenarios in which real-time IMTI was provided to commuters and the network performance measures being recorded.

Experimental and simulation studies on similitude design method for shock responses of beam-plate coupled structure

The similitude theory helps to understand the physical behaviors of large structures through scaled models. Several papers have studied the similitude of shock issues. However, the dynamic similitude for shock responses of coupled structures is rarely incorporated in open studies. In this paper, scaling laws are derived for the shock responses and spectra of coupled structures. In the presented scaling laws, the geometric distortion and energy loss are considered. The ability of the proposed scaling laws is demonstrated in the simulation and experimental cases. In both cases, the similitude prediction for the prototype's time-domain waveform and spectrum is conducted with the scaled model and scaling laws. The simulation and experimental cases indicate that the predicted shock responses and spectra agree well with those of the prototype, which verifies the proposed scaling laws for predicting shock responses.

Dynamic flight stability of a bumblebee in forward flight

The longitudinal dynamic flight stability of a bumblebee in forward flight is studied. The method of computational fluid dynamics is used to compute the aerodynamic derivatives and the techniques of eigenvalue and eigenvector analysis are employed for solving the equations of motion. The primary findings are as the following. The forward flight of the bumblebee is not dynamically stable due to the existence of one （or two） unstable or approximately neutrally stable natural modes of motion. At hovering to medium flight speed [flight speed Ue = （0-3.5）m s^-1; advance ratio J = 0-0.44], the flight is weakly unstable or approximately neutrally stable; at high speed （Ue = 4.5 m s^-1; J = 0.57）, the flight becomes strongly unstable （initial disturbance double its value in only 3.5 wingbeats）.

Numerical simulation of hydraulic force on the impeller of reversible pump turbines in generating mode

The hydraulic force on the reversible pump turbine might cause serious problems（e.g., the abnormal stops due to large vibrations of the machine）, affecting the safe operations of the pumped energy storage power plants. In the present paper, the hydraulic force on the impeller of a model reversible pump turbine is quantitatively investigated through numerical simulations. It is found that both the amplitude of the force and its dominant components strongly depend on the operating conditions（e.g., the turbine mode, the runaway mode and the turbine brake mode） and the guide vane openings. For example, the axial force parallel with the shaft is prominent in the turbine mode while the force perpendicular to the shaft is the dominant near the runaway and the turbine brake modes. The physical origins of the hydraulic force are further revealed by the analysis of the fluid states inside the impeller.

An integrated approach for dynamic traffic routing and ramp metering using sliding mode control

The problem of designing integrated traffic control strategies for highway networks with the use of route guidance, ramp metering is considered. The highway network is simulated using a first order macroscopic model called LWR model which is a mathematical traffic flow model that formulates the relationships among traffic flow characteristics in terms of density, flow, and mean speed of the traffic stream. An integrated control algorithm is designed to solve the proposed problem, based on the inverse control technique and variable structure control（super twisting sliding mode）. Three case studies have been tested in the presence of an on-ramp at each alternate route and where there is a capacity constraint in the network. In the first case study, there is no capacity constraint at either upstream or downstream of the alternate routes and the function of the proposed algorithm is only to balance the traffic flow on the alternate routes. In the second case study, there is capacity constraint at downstream of alternate routes. The proposed algorithm aims to avoid congestion on the main road and balance the traffic flow on the alternate routes. In the last case study, there is capacity constraint at upstream of alternate routes. The objective of proposed algorithm is to avoid congestion on the main road and to balance the traffic flow on the alternate routes. The obtained results show that the proposed algorithms can establish user equilibrium between two alternate routes even when the on-ramps, located at alternate routes, have different traffic demands.