Thermodynamics, static properties and transport behaviour of fluids with competing interactions

Competing interaction fluids have become ideal model systems to study a large number of phenomena, for example, the formation of intermediate range order structures, condensed phases not seen in fluids driven by purely attractive or repulsive forces, the onset of particle aggregation under in- and out-of-equilibrium conditions, which results in the birth of reversible and irreversible aggregates or clusters whose topology and morphology depend additionally on the thermodynamic constrictions, and a particle dynamics that has a strong influence on the transport behaviour and rheological properties of the fluid. In this contribution, we study a system of particles interacting through a potential composed by a continuous succession of a short-ranged square-well, an intermediate-ranged square-shoulder and a long-ranged square-well. This potential model is chosen to systematically analyse the contribution of every component of the interaction potential on the phase behaviour, the microstructure, the morphology of the resulting aggregates and the transport phenomena of fluids described by competing interactions. Our results indicate that the inclusion of a barrier and a second well leads to new and interesting effects, which in addition result in variations of the physical properties associated to the competition among interactions.

Public Passenger Transport Logistics in the Context of Digital Transformation of Transportation Services Organisation Systems

Transport route specification models are used to analyse the need for combined passenger transportation on popular routes in a large urban agglomeration. The problem of managing the travel chains of passengers using public transport (PT) is revealed with the focus on the complexity of applying the principle of multimodality on the route network used by population due to the mismatch of the schemes of transport and users’ routes.The study of the logistics of passenger transportation with PT introduces the concept of «public transport user (PTU)» which has a variable status relative to the flows of people, pedestrians, passengers, and transport vehicles. The description of the registers of the main parameters of the routes under study serves to create their digital twins.To manage the travel chains of PTUs, identify related sections of transport routes, it is proposed to highlight within the passenger flow the currents of the same profile which include PTUs that have common transport behaviour.Models and algorithms of network proximity to transport infrastructure objects, visualisation of digital traces of PTUs and the results of comparing the used and the best route options according to the modelled parameters allow to identify behavioural profiles of PTUs, as well as regulators managing the travel chains.

A Typology of Attitudes towards the E-Bike against the Background of the Traditional Bicycle and the Car

Although it is generally accepted that innovators and early adopters have a particular influence on the uptake of electric bikes, other groups, whose reactions to innovation have not been studied, are perhaps wrongly marginalised. Such individuals, often relying on stereotypes, also need to be included in researchers’ scope of interest. Therefore, the aim of the CAWI survey was to determine the attitudes of respondents, both users and non-users of electric bikes, and on this basis to classify by k-means analysis the attitudes towards the e-bike compared to the traditional bicycle and the car. The results obtained show a large variation between the designated classes. What most of them have in common is a strong attachment to the private car, which is typical for the cycling culture of this part of Europe, but the psycho-physical characteristics of the surveyed remain the strongest differentiating factor. Therefore, in the light of the opinions collected, it seems that the group Gadget lovers 1 and 2, whose share was about one-quarter of the total number surveyed, may be the most inclined to change their transport behaviour. This means that the e-bike, as an innovation, can overcome a critical discontinuity stage on the innovation diffusion curve in the Innovation Adaptation Lifecycle (IAL).

Motivating Public Transport Use: Travel Behaviour and Integrated Ticketing for Greater Wellington

<p>Car use is engrained in our culture. Changing behaviour towards using more sustainable travel modes such as public transport is notoriously difficult, despite the increasing awareness of environmental problems caused by car use. Integrated ticketing is a policy measure more recently used in strategies towards achieving integrated and sustainable transport systems. It allows a passenger to travel with one public transport ticket throughout a region. This research uses a mixed method approach to assess how integrated ticketing may affect public transport use in Greater Wellington. The psychological constructs determining decisions to use public transport are tested using an integrated environmental behaviour model proposed by Bamberg and Möser (2007). The results support the integrated modelling approach. Intentions to use public transport are indirectly affected by awareness of environmental problems caused by car use mediated through social norms, guilt, perceived behavioural control and attitude. The intention to use public transport explains 56% of the variance in public transport behaviour. Integrated ticketing presents an opportunity to increase the ease and convenience of travel, shown to be important in the model. The majority of survey respondents perceived that they would use integrated ticketing in Greater Wellington and that it was important both on a regional and national scale. Achieving an effective integrated ticketing system in Greater Wellington will be conditional on firstly improving public transport service reliability and stakeholder communication. Integrating fares across the region and across modes will also be crucial to the success of the system.</p>

Motivating Public Transport Use: Travel Behaviour and Integrated Ticketing for Greater Wellington

<p>Car use is engrained in our culture. Changing behaviour towards using more sustainable travel modes such as public transport is notoriously difficult, despite the increasing awareness of environmental problems caused by car use. Integrated ticketing is a policy measure more recently used in strategies towards achieving integrated and sustainable transport systems. It allows a passenger to travel with one public transport ticket throughout a region. This research uses a mixed method approach to assess how integrated ticketing may affect public transport use in Greater Wellington. The psychological constructs determining decisions to use public transport are tested using an integrated environmental behaviour model proposed by Bamberg and Möser (2007). The results support the integrated modelling approach. Intentions to use public transport are indirectly affected by awareness of environmental problems caused by car use mediated through social norms, guilt, perceived behavioural control and attitude. The intention to use public transport explains 56% of the variance in public transport behaviour. Integrated ticketing presents an opportunity to increase the ease and convenience of travel, shown to be important in the model. The majority of survey respondents perceived that they would use integrated ticketing in Greater Wellington and that it was important both on a regional and national scale. Achieving an effective integrated ticketing system in Greater Wellington will be conditional on firstly improving public transport service reliability and stakeholder communication. Integrating fares across the region and across modes will also be crucial to the success of the system.</p>

Chloride Transport Behaviour and Service Performance of Cracked Concrete Linings in Coastal Subway Tunnels

The concrete lining in subway tunnels often undergoes cracking damage in coastal cities. The combination of cracked tunnel lining structures and high concentrations of corrosive ions in the groundwater (e.g., chlorine) can accelerate concrete erosion, reduce the mechanical performance of the lining structures and shorten the tunnel service life. This paper investigates the chloride ion concentration in the groundwater of several subway tunnels in the coastal city of Qingdao, China. Indoor experiments and numerical simulations are conducted to investigate the chloride ion transport behaviour and service performance of cracked concrete linings. The results are applied to predict the service life of lining structures. The crack depth in concrete linings is found to have the most significant effect on the transport rate of chloride ions, followed by the crack width. The numerical simulations are carried out using COMSOL software to study the chloride transport behaviour in cracked specimens and predict the service lifetimes of lining structures of different thicknesses, and the results correspond well with the experimental data. The durability of a concrete lining can be enhanced by increasing the thickness of the protective concrete layer. Additional measures are proposed for treating cracked concrete linings to resist chloride ion attack in subway tunnels.

Existence of Partially Degenerate Electrical Transport in Intermetallic Cu2SnSe3 Thermoelectric System Sintered at Different Temperatures

A detailed investigation on the temperature dependent electrical properties of Cu2SnSe3 system, synthesized via conventional solid-state reaction at different sintering temperatures are presented in this communication. All the samples exhibit degenerate semiconducting nature at low temperatures. The existence of small polarons and hence electron–phonon interactions are confirmed at temperatures below 400 K. A transition was observed from degenerate to non-degenerate semiconducting behaviour at high temperatures (T > 400 K). The study confirms the unusual transition in electrical resistivity as well as thermopower at high temperatures in all the compounds, demonstrating the existence of minority carrier excitation along with temperature-triggered ionisation of the defects. The transport behaviour is further supported by an upward movement of Fermi level away from the valence band. Highest weighted mobility of 8.2 cm2 V−1 s−1 at 673 K was obtained for the sample sintered at 1073 K. A considerable decrease in electrical resistivity with increase in temperature (T > 400 K) has driven the power factor to increase exponentially, thereby achieving highest value of 188 µV/mK2 (at 673 K) for the sample sintered at 673 K. Graphic abstract