Pool evaporation: Experimental tests at medium-scale with gasoline

Pool evaporation is a major source of flammable vapour clouds. Predicting the evaporation rate of a liquid hydrocarbon pool is therefore a key issue of dispersion modelling for safety concerns. This paper presents small- and medium-scale experiments of pool evaporation carried out with liquid hydrocarbons (pentane, heptane), hydrocarbon “gasoline-like” mixtures and gasoline. Liquid mass loss was measured and the evaporation rate deduced with its evolution in time. Other observations are highlighted, regarding the evolution of liquid temperatures, mixture compositions, and scale effects like the influence of pool length on surface evaporation rate. Comparisons with well-known correlations are then shown. The authors finally suggest a new semi-empirical correlation with a set of parameters fitted on the performed experiments.     

The need to improve information on road user type in National Vital Statistics System mortality data

Objectives: Both the National Vital Statistics System (NVSS) and the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) can be used to examine motor vehicle crash (MVC) deaths. These 2 data systems operate independently, using different methods to collect and code information about the type of vehicle (e.g., car, truck, bus) and road user (e.g., occupant, motorcyclist, pedestrian) involved in an MVC. A substantial proportion of MVC deaths in NVSS are coded as “unspecified” road user, which reduces the utility of the NVSS data for describing burden and identifying prevention measures. This study aimed to describe characteristics of unspecified road user deaths in NVSS to further our understanding of how these groups may be similar to occupant road user deaths.

Methods: Using data from 1999 to 2015, we compared NVSS and FARS MVC death counts by road user type, overall and by age group, gender, and year. In addition, we examined factors associated with the categorization of an MVC death as unspecified road user such as state of residence of decedent, type of medical death investigation system, and place of death.

Results: The number of MVC occupant deaths in NVSS was smaller than that in FARS in each year and the number of unspecified road user deaths in NVSS was greater than that in FARS. The sum of the number of occupant and unspecified road user deaths in NVSS, however, was approximately equal to the number of FARS occupant deaths. Age group and gender distributions were roughly equivalent for NVSS and FARS occupants and NVSS unspecified road users. Within NVSS, the number of MVC deaths listed as unspecified road user varied across states and over time. Other categories of road users (motorcyclists, pedal cyclists, and pedestrians) were consistent when comparing NVSS and FARS.

Conclusions: Our findings suggest that the unspecified road user MVC deaths in NVSS look similar to those of MVC occupants according to selected characteristics. Additional study is needed to identify documentation and reporting challenges in individual states and over time and to identify opportunities for improvement in the coding of road user type in NVSS.     

Factors associated with driving under the influence of alcohol

Objective: This study examined the risk factors of driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI) among drivers of specific vehicle categories (DSC). On the basis of this research, the variables related to DUI and involvement in traffic crashes were defined. The analysis was conducted for car drivers, bicyclists, motorcyclists, bus drivers, and truck drivers.

Method: The research sample included drivers involved in traffic crashes on the territory of Serbia in 2016 (60,666). Two types of analyses were conducted in this study. Logistic regression established the correlation between DUI and DSC and the The Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (Multi-criteria decision making) method was applied to consider the scoring and explore the potential for the prevalence of DUI on the basis of 2 data sets (DUI and non DUI).

Results: The study results showed that driver error and male drivers were the 2 most significant risk factors for DUI, with the highest scores and potential for prevalence. The nonuse of restraint systems, driver experience, and driver age are the factors with a significant prediction of involvement in an accident and an insignificant prediction of DUI.

Conclusions: Following the development of the logistic prediction models for DUI drivers, testing of the model was conducted for 3 control driver groups: Car, motorcycle, and bicycle. The prediction model with a probability greater than 50% showed that 77% of car drivers were under the influence of alcohol. Similarly, the prediction percentage for motorcyclists and bicyclists amounted to 71 and 67%, respectively. The recommendation of the study is that drivers whose DUI probability is above 50% should be potentially suspected of DUI. The results of this study can help to understand the problem of DUI among specific driver categories and detect DUI drivers, with the aim of creating successful traffic safety policy.     

The effect of extending graduated driver licensing to older novice drivers in Indiana

Introduction: Graduated driver licensing (GDL) systems have been shown to reduce rates of crashes, injuries, and deaths of young novice drivers. However, approximately one in three new drivers in the United States obtain their first driver’s license at age 18 or older, and thus are exempt from most or all provisions of GDL in most states. Method: In July 2015, the state of Indiana updated its GDL program, extending its restrictions on driving at night and on carrying passengers during the first 6 months of independent driving, previously only applicable to new drivers younger than 18, to all newly-licensed drivers younger than 21 years of age. The current study examined monthly rates of crashes per licensed driver under the affected conditions (driving at night and driving with passengers) among Indiana drivers first licensed at ages 18, 19, and 20 under the updated GDL system compared with drivers licensed at the same ages under the previous GDL system. We used Poisson regression to estimate the association between the GDL system and crash rates, while attempting to control for other factors that might have also influenced crash rates. We used linear regression to estimate the association between the GDL system and the proportion of all crashes that occurred under conditions restricted by the GDL program. Results: Results showed, contrary to expectations, that rates of crashes during restricted nighttime hours and with passengers were higher among drivers licensed under the updated GDL system. This mirrored a statewide increase in crash rates among drivers of all ages over the study period and likely reflected increased overall driving exposure. The proportions of all crashes that were at night or with passengers did not change. Practical Applications: More research is needed to understand how older novice drivers respond when GDL systems originally designed for younger novice drivers are applied to them.     

Lower back pain and its association with whole-body vibration and manual materials handling among commercial drivers in Sabah

A cross-sectional study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of lower back pain (LBP) and its association with whole-body vibration (WBV) and manual materials handling (MMH). We studied 110 commercial vehicle drivers using a self-administered questionnaire and the VI-400Pro human vibration monitor. Prevalence of LBP was 66.4%. The percentage of drivers who had frequent manual handling of heavy loads was 45.5% and those who handled heavy loads in awkward postures accounted for 86.4%. Daily vibration A(8) averaged on the z axis was 0.25 (0.06) m·s^?2 and at vector sum was 0.29 (0.07) m·s^?2. Daily vibration exposures on the z axis, frequent manual handling of heavy loads and awkward posture during MMH were significantly associated with LBP. Drivers who are exposed to WBV and frequently handle heavy loads manually and with awkward postures probably have more LBP than drivers who are exposed to only one of these risk factors.     

配置SCR的柴油货车道路运行NOx排放分析

为了研究重型柴油货车在不同道路运行工况下的NO_x排放特性,以一辆配置选择催化还原(Selective CatalyticReduction,SCR)净化系统的国V排放标准的重型柴油货车为研究对象,开展实际道路运行车载排放测试,通过车载排放测试系统实时采集车辆行驶速度、NO_x排放体积分数与排气温度等数据,分析车速、排气温度、路况等对NO_x排放的影响。结果表明,车速低于40 km/h,NO_x排放随车速增大稍有增加; 40～70 km/h,随车速增大NO_x排放降低;高于70 km/h,随车速增大NO_x排放显著降低。车速与排气温度呈线性正相关,排气温度高于150℃,SCR才能显示出对NO_x的净化效果。市区工况车速低,排温低于150℃,SCR不能有效工作;市郊、高速工况下排温高于150℃,SCR催化效率提高,车速增大,排温升高,NO_x排放降低,因此NO_x排放市郊工况低于市区工况,高速工况低于市郊工况。配置SCR的重型柴油货车NO_x高排放区主要集中在中低车速、加速区间内。     

车用汽油铅损害及其对策研究

针对车用汽油的抗爆性能要求,探讨四乙基铅（Ｐｂ（Ｃ２Ｈ５）４）抗爆添加剂的作用机理,并着重分析研究了由此而引起的发动机铅排放对人类造成的损害及给大气环境等带来的污染。还探讨了车用汽油铅损害的对策及其最新进展     

柴油车尾气微粒的燃烧性能

采用热解质量分析方法（TGA）对机动车柴油发动机尾气微粒（PM）的燃烧性能进行了研究。分别在空气和氮气条件下对柴油微粒的失重情况进行了测试。实验表明，柴油微粒的起始失重温度Tb为200℃左右，起始氧化温度Tox为410-450℃，最大失重温度Tmax为650℃-700℃，其可挥发组分（VOC）含量为48%-55%，增加氧气浓度仅在调温时对微粒燃烧有利。     

美国军用标准航天器试验基线与量级调整研究

对美国航天器试验的军用标准的发展进行了调研,系统地整理了MIL-STD-1540标准到SMC-S-016A标准的发展脉络,针对系统级、组件级试验基线的修订进行了整理、分析。以热试验为典型研究对象,整理了不同标准对于系统级、组件级热试验在试验温度范围、循环数、剪裁方法上的修改,对比了试验基线、试验量级的变迁,结合美国航天器型号与验证理念的发展,分析了其修订的依据,为我国相应标准的制定、修订提供了参考。     

北京市机动车排放遥感监测分析

机动车排放遥感监测反映实际道路行驶中的排放状况,对全面分析排放水平有很强的统计意义。北京市机动车排放遥感监测的CO、HC和NOx的平均浓度分别为1.94%、388×10-6和700×10-6。北京市机动车排放的CO、HC和NOx中50%分别来自于15.90%、13.98%、11.13%的高排放车,但某车辆对于一种污染物出现高排放并不意味着它对其他污染物也是高排放。根据遥感监测得到北京市轻型汽油车基于油耗的CO、HC和NOx平均尾气管排放因子分别为200.1g/L、11.05 g/L和6.68 g/L。