Experimental evidence of the “Faster is Slower” effect in the evacuation of ants

The faster is slower effect is a self-organized phenomena first described for pedestrian dynamics. Although it has been obtained in computer simulations, it has not been observed in real systems yet. To achieve this goal, we carried out experiments with ants, which are self-propelled biological agents. The ants were placed inside a bidimensional chamber with a narrow exit, and a paper imbibed with repellent was placed in the opposite wall of the chamber. Using different concentrations of citronella, which produced different degrees of repellency, the ants were forced to egress from the chamber and the evacuation time was measured. A minimum evacuation time is observed for intermediate concentrations of citronella, compatible with the faster is slower effect. However, this effect was not generated by the occurrence of blocking clusters right before the exit as the ants did not display a selfish evacuation behavior.     

Safety climate differences among job positions in a nuclear decommissioning and demolition industry: Employees’ self-reported safety attitudes and perceptions

This study examined group differences in safety climate among job positions in a nuclear decommissioning and demolition industry in the United States. Safety climate surveys were conducted at 10 locations. Survey responses totaled 1587 out of an available population of 3296 workers for an overall response rate of 48.1%. Significant differences (p < 0.05) in mean safety climate scores, factor scores, and item scores among job positions were observed. Most notably, foremen’s self-reported safety attitudes and perceptions indicate a lower safety climate and suggest the need to target safety improvements at this key organizational level.     

Gender aspects of work-related injuries in a Swedish municipality

The purpose of this study was to investigate gender aspects of work-related injuries in a Swedish municipality (population 41,000). All unintentional injuries treated at in- and out-patient facilities were recorded during a period of 1 year. The work-related injuries were mapped out in more detail with the help of standardized and structured surveys via telephone interviews and hospital records. The rate of work-related injuries among the gainfully employed was 33 per 1000. Males were observed to suffer more work-related injuries than females (46 compared to 12 per 1000 gainfully employed persons), and there were gender differences with regard to work-related injuries and injury event patterns. Young men showed the highest rate of injuries. Injuries caused during machine operation were the most common for both males and females, amounting to almost one quarter of all injuries. Injuries caused by falls were most common amongst females in the age groups 15–24 (25%) and 45–64 (28%). More attention should be given to gender aspects of work-related injuries and their prevention.     

燃烧、爆炸过程复杂性行为的非线性动力学(Ⅰ)

从非线性动力学观点,总结了燃烧和爆炸系统的多种复杂现象。指出了其非线性现象之间的对应关系。提出了从非线性即从“系统”、“全局或大范围”、“演化”及“统一”地观点认识燃烧和爆炸现象的观点。     

燃烧、爆炸过程复杂性行为的非线性动力学—突变燃烧学、突变爆炸学(Ⅱ)(上)

针对燃烧,爆炸学中存在的大量非连续性现象,提出了突变燃烧学和突变爆炸学的概念,指出了突变燃烧学和突变爆炸学的基本任务和主要研究内容。提出了单颗碳粒着火和熄火现象的突变机理。     

Effectiveness of a cooling jacket with reference to physiological responses in iron foundry workers

Personal cooling garments (PCGs) have gained increased attention in recent years due to heat stress and strain in the working environment. The present study was conducted in hot environments of an iron foundry to evaluate the efficacy of a battery-operated PCG. Twenty-four workers were exposed to climatic conditions of 35.89?±?1.25?°C, 35% relative humidity during 90-min work with PCG and habitual clothing (HC). Mean weighted skin temperature was significantly lower by 4.84?±?1.05?°C compared with HC 0.38?±?1.02?°C (p?p?相似文献   

Unionists/researchers writing a book in co-operation: Importance in training/research dynamics

This text describes two different experiences of co-operation between unionists and researchers that resulted in writing of a book. We emphasize their similarities and differences and discuss the importance of these experiences in the dynamics of research and training in Ergonomics.     

Performance of Firefighters’ Protective Clothing After Heat Exposure

Heat and mechanical protection properties of 6 fabric combinations commonly used in firefighters’ protective clothing were assessed before and after different heat treatment. It was shown that after heat exposure, the values obtained were generally lower than in the original state. The mechanical properties of the materials were more affected by heat than by heat protective properties. In 2 cases, degradation started before a visible change in the material could be observed, which might be potentially dangerous for the end user who will not realize the alteration of the material.     

Flicker Test as a Load Measurement During the Combined Effect of Heat and Noise

This study was a joint physiological and psychological experiment undertaken to determine changes in physiological and psychological human functions under the combined influence of heat, noise, and physical activity. Seven experimental situations were simulated in a climatic chamber with different configurations of three independent variables: heat (40 °C), noise (98 dB), and physical effort (30% of maximum volume of oxygen uptake—V0₂ max). Five psychological variables (critical flicker fusion—CFF, hand tremor, reaction time, subjective climate evaluation, and subjective evaluation of the given condition load) and two physiological variables (heart rate and rectal temperature) were monitored. Results indicate that CFF changed (increased) significantly when more than one experimental variable was applied. These changes coincided with significant changes in both subjective climate evaluation and subjective evaluation of a given condition load. There were no significant changes in psychomotor functions (hand tremor and reaction time). None of the observed physiological parameters were above the critical value. The results suggest that CFF can be treated as a psychophysical load indicator.     

转锥式生物质热解装置中热载体输送技术的研究

如何将高温热载体连续、稳定、高效地输送到反应器中，保证生物质颗粒充分的热解，以提高生物燃油的转化率，是转锥式生物质热解装置设计中的一个研究重点。本文提出了自行设计的高温热载体的两种主要输送装置，链式输送装置和气力输送装置，分析了各自装置的研究方案特点，最后对存在问题进行了探讨。     

Dynamics of explosion venting in a compartment with methane-air mixtures

A series of experiments on explosion venting of methane-air mixtures are performed to scrutinize the pressure evolution as well as the flame dynamics and morphology at various vent conditions. Specifically, a premixed flame is ignited at the center of a polycarbonate cylindrical compartment, with three various vent areas considered (with negligible vent relief pressure). As expected, the highest maximum pressure is observed in the case of the smallest vent area. For all three cases, the pressure evolution experiences two major peaks, associated with the instants (i) when the maximum flame front surface area in the chamber is reached and (ii) when an external explosion occurs due to venting of unburned gases, respectively. For the fuel-rich mixtures, a flashback is observed subsequent to the external explosion, constituting the key outcome of the present work. The flame tip velocities show two general trends, namely, exponential acceleration towards the vent, while a flame propagates towards the blocked side of the compartment with no acceleration, which is important to know in the fire/explosion safety applications.     

救生舱高温环境的传热研究

为提高救生舱热防护能力,延长救援时间,在空载状态下救生舱热载荷研究的基础上,提出救援状态下救生舱外部传热热负荷的量化方法。已知救援状态下救生舱内、外温度随时间变化曲线,拟合温度函数。依据温度变化特点划分区间,积分求取各区间上温度平均值,计算温差,由传热方程计算救援状态下救生舱的热载荷。以某型号救生舱载人综合防护试验为例,根据模拟灾变环境的温度变化特点,运用该方法计算最高温度与常态温度下外部高温空气向舱体及其内部空间传热的热载荷,得到救生舱的总热负荷,外部传热最大传热功率及救生舱热载荷负荷范围。     

高温下环状五肽构象的分子模拟

运用能量优化和随机动力学模拟了高温下环状五肽的构象,通过能量优化产生粗结构,实现了对此粗结构的随机动力学模拟。结果表明,对本文的研究对象,该模拟方法是高效合理的,该方法提供了一种生物分子结构和功能研究的新思路,模拟结果对从分子水平上揭示高温环境下生物分子的空间结构提供了理论依据,并可应用于生物分子结构和功能的研究中。     

Central auditory damage induced by solvent exposure.

Different studies have demonstrated that solvents may induce auditory damage. It has been suggested that part of this damage may be localised in central auditory pathways. The present study aimed to investigate possible auditory processing disorders related to solvent exposure. Thirty solvent-exposed workers and 30 gender-, age- and educational level-matched control subjects were selected to participate in the study. To select participants, a questionnaire, otoscopy, pure-tone audiometry and tympanometry were carried out. Filtered speech (FS), random gap detection (RGD) and hearing-in-noise tests (HINT) were conducted in the selected participants. Both groups of workers presented as a mean normal hearing thresholds. However, significant differences between groups were observed for RGD, FS and HINT. It is concluded that a possible auditory processing disorder may be related to solvent exposure.     

Hazard analysis on LPG fireball of road tanker BLEVE based on CFD simulation

In order to research the hydrocarbon fireball characteristic of LPG tanker Boiled Liquid Evaporate Vapor Explosion (BLEVE) under different conditions, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations of the hydrocarbon fireballs from the LPG tanker BLEVE accidents were carried out. Several new different factors, such as the mass of fuel, inlet velocity and airflow velocity, were considered to analyze the influence on the evolution of the characteristics of the fireball and the development of the LPG tanker BLEVE accidents. Results indicate that the fireball with a greater mass of fuel radiates more heat but slower. The large longitudinal diameter of the fireball and high radiation heat flux are observed in case of a faster inlet velocity used for the same mass. The airflow was found to shorten the initial phase of the fireball effectively. Some suggestions were proposed to prevent the LPG BLEVE accidents. Analysis performed show that various parameters like fireball diameter, radiative heat flux and lifting speed of fireball can be predicted well using FDS code.     

Determination of Heat Loss from the Feet and Insulation of the Footwear

This study compared the methods of determining footwear insulation on human participants and a thermal foot model. Another purpose was to find the minimal number of measurement points on the human foot that is needed for insulation calculation. A bare foot was tested at 3 ambient temperatures on 6 participants. Three types of footwear were tested on 2 participants. The mean insulation for a bare foot obtained on the participant and model were similar. The insulation of warm footwear measured by the 2 methods was also similar. For thin footwear the insulation values from the participants were higher than those from the thermal model. The differences could be related to undefined physiological factors. Two points on the foot can be enough to measure the insulation of footwear on human participants (r = .98). However, due to the big individual differences of humans, and good repeatability and simplicity of thermal foot method, the latter should be preferred for testing.     

How car and steel workers in different countries see their work

This study is concerned with how car and steel workers in different countries see their work and what features of their work they feel important. The material is drawn from two international projects, namely the car and steel industry studies, both coordinated by the Vienna Centre. The former study was carried out in 15 countries, comprising in all 126 production units from 38 plants and 3214 interviews of workers. The latter study was carried out in 10 countries, in 24 plants and 47 production units, 1576 workers were interviewed. Clear differences were found between countries in how critically the workers were oriented to the burdens and challenges of their work. This was interpreted to reflect country-specific work assessment standards. However, differences should be seen as differences in emphasis rather than as manifestations of work cultures, which substantially differ from each other. The order of importance among work characteristics was roughly the same from country to country: matters related to physical and economic security were widely considered the most important aspects of work.     

考虑双向群组运动特征的场域模型研究

行人动力学的研究能为火灾等紧急情况下的疏散研究提供理论支撑。现有研究多以独立行人为研究对象,群组作为行人流的重要组成部分,有必要进行研究分析。以场域模型为基础,在前人提出群组场的基础上进行拓展,并引入预测场模拟群组行人避让行为,构建了考虑双向群组运动特征的拓展场域模型,对双向群组运动特征进行研究。在双向流通道中进行模拟发现:随着预测场敏感性参数增大避让行为意识增强,时间损失增加,与反向行人的正面冲突减少;拓展模型能使群组维持较近距离的同时减少群组成员之间的冲突;该模型能模拟密度越大速度越小的典型现象。     

火灾情况下竖井中性面多区域模型

建立了竖井侧向连续开缝和竖井侧向连续开缝及上部开口两种情况下竖井中性面位置的多区域模型,并根据火灾情况下竖井内温度的分布规律对多区域模型进行了简化。根据竖井内温度竖向分布,将竖井划分为多个区域,在Klote模型的基础上推导出竖井中性面高度。通过CFD数值模拟,将Klote模型、双区域模型及多区域模型与模拟结果进行对比,结果可知多区域模型误差最小。     

Mutual effects between dynamic leakage behavior and the pressure/temperature in a LNG tank with external heat fluxes

The objective of this work is to investigate and model the mutual effects between the dynamic pressure/temperature in the LNG tank and the leakage behavior with external heat fluxes. The results suggest that the pressure and temperature in tank during leakage change with the comparison results between the heat flux consumed in liquid boil-off and the external heat flux supplied. At the liquid leakage stage, when the external heat flux is not very high, the pressure in tank tends to increase significantly, even results in tank explosion. It increases more and more heavily with higher and higher external heat fluxes. At the vapor leakage stage, large amount of vapor spray out, which results in a high generation rate of vapor by the liquid boil-off. The pressure in tank normally decreases to be low, which is unfavorable for the LNG tank explosion. Therefore, at this vapor leakage stage, blocking the leakage hole as soon as possible is not always a right choice for fire fighters. Finally, it is suggested that reducing the heat flux into the tank, either at the liquid leakage stage or in vapor one, is key to the tank safety.