Traffic load model in standard or specification for bridge design should guarantee all newly designed bridges to have sufficient security margin for future traffic. Many different methods have been used to model extreme traffic load effects on bridges for predicting characteristic value for short or long return period. In order to provide some guidance on selecting parameter estimation when applying POT to bridge traffic loading, we focus on the effect that method used to estimate the parameters of the GPD has on the accuracy of the estimated characteristic values. Through this qualitative discussion on the methods, several available methods for traffic loading are selected. Numerical simulation data, Monte Carlo simulation traffic load effects and in-field traffic load effect measurements are analyzed and presented. Literature points out that the traffic load effect is induced by loading event that involves different number of vehicles, and the distribution of the load effects from different loading events are not identically distributed, which violates the assumption of classic extreme value theory that the underlying distribution should be identically independent distributed. Methods using mixture distribution (exponential or generalized extreme value) has been proposed in the literature to model the extreme traffic load effect by loading event. However, the traffic loading may be also importance if the bridge encounter traffic induced fatigue problem, components like orthotropic steel deck is governed by traffic induced fatigue load effects. We intend to explore the influence of traffic load on the fatigue behaviour of orthotropic steel deck, especially the influence of the loading position in terms of transverse location of vehicle. Measurements of transverse location of vehicle collected from by weigh-in-motion (WIM) systems in 2010 and 2011 four French highways showed a completely different distribution model of transverse location of vehicle to that recommended in EC1. Stress spectrum analysis and fatigue damage calculation was performed on the stresses induced traffic on orthotropic steel deck of Millau cable-stayed bridge. By comparing the stresses and damages induced by different traffic patterns (through distributions of transverse location of vehicle), it was found that the histogram of stress spectrum and cumulative fatigue damage were significantly affected by the distribution of transverse location of vehicle. Therefore, numerical analysis that integrates finite element modelling and traffic data with distributions of transverse location of vehicles can help to make an accurate predetermination of which welded connections should be sampled to represent the health of the deck

Research suggests that female athletes, in particular, experience “sport-environment” pressures such as: weight, performance, and body image demands from their coaches, teammates, and judges. These influences in tandem with society’s portrayal of the thin ideal are thought to considerably increase the risk of developing disordered eating problems in this population. Although numerous studies have been conducted over the past decade on the prevalence of eating disorders and pathogenic weight control behaviors among female athletes, few have examined in detail the weight pressures that exist within the sport environment, such as whether or not (and how often) athletes are weighed by their coaches, and how athletes respond to those pressures in terms of weight management practices. In the proposed study, we will examine the weigh-in environment, weight satisfaction, weight management practices, menstrual health, and reported source of nutritional guidance. The sample includes 414 NCAA Division I female collegiate swimmers/divers and gymnasts drawn from 26 universities across the U.S. Participants anonymously completed a series of questionnaires as part of a larger study on student-athlete health and well-being. This study found that 41% of athletes were weighed, and most often by an athletic trainer in private. Despite most weigh-ins were reportedly conducted in a positive manner, the majority of the athletes who were weighed (75%) reported using at least one strategy to manage their weight prior to weigh-ins (e.g. restrict food, increase exercise). Athletes desire to lose weight, caloric intake, and menstrual cycles were not related to whether athletes were or were not weighed. The majority of athletes received qualified nutritional guidance about how to healthfully manage their weight. Overall, weighing is occurring in a more positive manner than expected; however, athletes are continuing to report using unhealthy weight management strategies at a high rate. It seems important for athletic departments to set policies regarding weighing and to continue to provide support and education to coaching and support staff regarding eating disorder identification, referral, and treatment.

Com o intuito de estudar o banco de dados da raça Pardo Suíço Corte no Brasil, foram estimados parâmetros genéticos para características de desenvolvimento ponderal e ganhos de peso pré e pós-desmama, perímetro escrotal e características de carcaça de animais dessa raça e seus cruzamentos, utilizando ultra-sonografia. As características de peso analisadas foram peso ao nascimento (PN), aos 120 dias (P120), aos 205 dias (P205), aos 365 dias (P365), aos 450 dias (P450) e peso aos 550 dias (P550), os ganho de peso analisados foram ganho de peso do nascimento aos 205 dias (GPN205), do nascimento aos 120 dias (GPN120), dos 120 aos 205 dias (GP120205), dos 205 aos 365 dias (GP205365), dos 205 aos 450 dias (GP205450), dos 205 aos 550 dias (GP205550), dos 365 aos 550 dias (GP365550), dos 365 aos 450 dias (GP365450) e ganho de peso dos 450 aos 550 dias (GP450550). Os perímetros escrotais foram analisados aos 205 dias (PE205), aos 365 dias (PE365), e aos 550 dias (PE550). Os componentes de co(variância) foram estimados utilizando-se metodologia de modelo animal completo, com o uso do programa MTDFREML. A matriz de parentesco continha 35.188 animais, sendo 18.688 com registros de produção. Para os pesos pré-desmama os coeficientes de herdabilidade aditiva direta e materna aumentaram sua magnitude do nascimento até a desmama. Nos pesos pós-desmama foi observada grande influência materna até os 550 dias de idade. Pode ser esperada boa resposta à seleção para perímetro escrotal tanto aos 205 como aos 365 dias de idade, havendo alta correlação genética entre estas características. O ganho de peso pré-desmama demonstrou grande influência materna até os 120 dias, e ambiental após esta data. Para o ganho pós-desmama foi observado importante efeito ambiental. A correlação genética entre os pesos foi maior quanto mais próximas foram as pesagens e não foi observada relação importante entre pesos e perímetro escrotal, indicando independência entre estas características. As correlações genéticas entre pesos e ganhos de peso foram maiores entre o ganho e o peso do limite superior do relativo ganho de peso. Devido ao pequeno volume de dados obtidos, estudos complementares são necessários para as características de carcaça. Este estudo possibilitará que seja melhor delineado o programa de melhoramento genético da raça Pardo Suíço Corte no Brasil. / The aim of this study was to investigate a database of the Braunvieh cattle in Brazil, to estimate genetic parameters for growth traits, preweaning and postweaning weight gains and scrotal circumference, as well as carcass traits in purebreed and crossbreed Braunvieh cattle. The growth traits analyzed were birth weight (PN), weight at 120 days (P120), 205 days (P205), 365 days (P365), 450 days (P450) and weight at 550 days (P550), Weight gains traits analyzed were, weight gain between birth and 205 days (GPN205), birth and 120 days (GPN120), 120 and 205 days (GP120205), 205 and 365 days (GP205365), 205 and 450 days (GP205450), 205 and 550 days (GP205550), 365 and 550 days (GP365550), 365 and 450 days (GP365450), 450 and 550 days (GP450550). The scrotal circumference was analyzed at 205 days (PE205), at 365 days (PE365), and at 550 days of age (PE550). The (co)variance components were estimated by full animal model, using MTDFREML program. The relationship matrix contained 35.188 animals, and 18.688 with production records. For the preweaning weights the coefficients of direct and maternal additive heritability increased your magnitude from the birth to weaning. In the postweaning weights were observed great maternal influence until the 550 days of age. Interesting response to selection can be expected to the selection for scrotal circumference realized at 205 and 365 days of age, due to high genetic correlation between these traits. The preweaning gain demonstrated great maternal influence until the 120 days, and environmental effect after this age. For postweaning gain great environmental effect was observed. Genetic correlation between the weights was larger for weights taken in shorter interval. Important relationship was not observed between weights and scrotal circumference, indicating independence between these characteristics. The genetic correlations between weights and weight gains were larger between the gain and the weight of the superior limit of the relative weight gain. Due to small amount of records for carcass traits, further studies are necessary to evaluate them. This study can contribute for the better delineated programs for genetic improvement of Braunvieh cattle in Brazil.

Este trabalho apresenta um estudo sobre o comportamento de sistemas de pesagem em movimento baseados em plataformas comumente utilizadas no Brasil. Parâmetros relevantes nesse comportamento são modelados: rugosidade aleatória da pista, dinâmica vertical do veículo e sua velocidade, desnível entre a pista e plataforma e dinâmica da plataforma. Duas classes de veículos são simuladas trafegando a diferentes velocidades e sendo pesados utilizando uma proposta de modelo de plataforma rígida e uma proposta de plataforma flexível. As forças de reação do solo e históricos de aceleração em vários GDL são registrados a fim de obter a carga estática por eixo e os erros nas estimativas do peso para o modelo de plataforma rígida. Já para o modelo de plataforma flexível, as forças de reação servem de entrada no modelo de elemento finitos de viga Euler-Bernoulli com consideração da área de contato do pneu através de um trem de cargas. Conclusões relacionadas à redução da precisão do sistema com o aumento da velocidade do veículo são confirmadas, embora importantes conclusões não tão óbvias sobre a importância da dinâmica do veículo, do nível de rugosidade da pista, da altura do degrau pista-plataforma e da dinâmica da plataforma de pesagem são ressaltadas. / This work proposes a numerical study on the behavior of weigh-in-motion systems based on load platforms useful in Brazil. Some important parameters that may control this behavior that are modeled are random road roughness, vehicle vertical dynamics, vehicle speed, load platform step’s height to the road and platform dynamics. Two vehicles types are modelled travelling at different speeds and being weighted using a rigid platform proposal and another proposal with a flexible platform. Ground reaction force and acceleration time history on several degree-of-freedom are recorded in order to obtain the static load per axis and the corresponding estimated errors for the rigid platform model. For the flexible platform model, the reaction forces serve as inputs into the Euler-Bernoulli finite element model with consideration of the contact area of the tire by train of loads. Some usual conclusions related to the reduction in the accuracy of the measuring system with increased vehicle speed are confirmed in the numerical study, although important conclusions not so obvious concerning the importance of road roughness, vehicle vertical dynamics, and vehicle speed, load platform step’s height to the road and platform dynamics are highlighted.

This research focuses on the data quality control methods for evaluating the performance of Weigh-In-Motion (WIM) systems on Oregon highways. This research identifies and develops a new methodology and algorithm to explore the accuracy of each station's weight and spacing data at a corridor level, and further implements the Statistical Process Control (SPC) method, finite mixture model, axle spacing error rating method, and data flag method in published research to examine the soundness of WIM systems. This research employs the historical WIM data to analyze sensor health and compares the evaluation results of the methods. The results suggest the new triangulation method identified most possible WIM malfunctions that other methods sensed, and this method unprecedentedly monitors the process behavior with controls of time and meteorological variables. The SPC method appeared superior in differentiating between sensor noises and sensor errors or drifts, but it drew wrong conclusions when accurate WIM data reference was absent. The axle spacing error rating method cannot check the essential weight data in special cases, but reliable loop sensor evaluation results were arrived at by employing this multiple linear regression model. The results of the data flag method and the finite mixed model results were not accurate, thus they could be used as additional tools to complement the data quality evaluation results. Overall, these data quality analysis results are the valuable sources for examining the early detection of system malfunctions, sensor drift, etc., and allow the WIM operators to correct the situation on time before large amounts of measurement are lost.

In the past, transportation related economic analysis has considered agency related costs only. However, transportation managers are moving towards more holistic economic analysis including road user and environmental costs and benefits. In particular, transportation air pollution is causing increasing harm to health and the environment. Transport managers are now considering related emissions in transport economical analyses, and have established strategies to help meet Kyoto Protocol targets, which specified a fifteen percent reduction in Canada's emissions related to 1990 levels within 2008-2012.<p>The objectives of this research are to model heavy vehicle emissions using a emissions computer model which is able to assess various transport applications, and help improve holistic economic transport modeling. Two case studies were evaluated with the model developed.<p>Firstly, the environmental benefits of deploying weigh-in-motion systems at weigh stations to pre-sort heavy vehicles and reduce delays were assessed. The second case study evaluates alternative truck sizes and road upgrades within short heavy oilfield haul in Western Canada. <p>The model developed herein employed a deterministic framework from a sensitivity analysis across independent variables, which identified the most sensitive variables to primary field state conditions. The variables found to be significant included idling time for the weigh-in-motion case study, road stiffness and road grades for the short heavy haul oilfield case study.<p>According to this research, employing WIM at weigh stations would reduce annual Canadian transportation CO₂ emissions by nearly 228 kilo tonnes, or 1.04 percent of the Canadian Kyoto Protocol targets. Regarding direct fuel savings, WIM would save from 90 to 190 million litres of fuel annually, or between $59 and $190 million of direct operating costs.<p>Regarding the short heavy oil haul case study, increasing allowable heavy vehicle sizes while upgrading roads could decrease the annual emissions, the fuel consumption, and their associated costs by an average of 68 percent. Therefore, this could reduce each rural Saskatchewan municipality's annual CO₂ emissions from 13 to 26.7-kilo tonnes, which translates to 0.06 and 0.12 percent of the Canadian Kyoto Protocol targets or between $544,000 and $ 1.1 million annually. <p>Based on these results, the model demonstrates its functionality, and was successfully applied to two typical transportation field state applications. The model generated emissions savings results that appear to be realistic, in terms of potential Kyoto targets, as well as users cost reductions and fuel savings.

In the past, transportation related economic analysis has considered agency related costs only. However, transportation managers are moving towards more holistic economic analysis including road user and environmental costs and benefits. In particular, transportation air pollution is causing increasing harm to health and the environment. Transport managers are now considering related emissions in transport economical analyses, and have established strategies to help meet Kyoto Protocol targets, which specified a fifteen percent reduction in Canada's emissions related to 1990 levels within 2008-2012.<p>The objectives of this research are to model heavy vehicle emissions using a emissions computer model which is able to assess various transport applications, and help improve holistic economic transport modeling. Two case studies were evaluated with the model developed.<p>Firstly, the environmental benefits of deploying weigh-in-motion systems at weigh stations to pre-sort heavy vehicles and reduce delays were assessed. The second case study evaluates alternative truck sizes and road upgrades within short heavy oilfield haul in Western Canada. <p>The model developed herein employed a deterministic framework from a sensitivity analysis across independent variables, which identified the most sensitive variables to primary field state conditions. The variables found to be significant included idling time for the weigh-in-motion case study, road stiffness and road grades for the short heavy haul oilfield case study.<p>According to this research, employing WIM at weigh stations would reduce annual Canadian transportation CO₂ emissions by nearly 228 kilo tonnes, or 1.04 percent of the Canadian Kyoto Protocol targets. Regarding direct fuel savings, WIM would save from 90 to 190 million litres of fuel annually, or between $59 and $190 million of direct operating costs.<p>Regarding the short heavy oil haul case study, increasing allowable heavy vehicle sizes while upgrading roads could decrease the annual emissions, the fuel consumption, and their associated costs by an average of 68 percent. Therefore, this could reduce each rural Saskatchewan municipality's annual CO₂ emissions from 13 to 26.7-kilo tonnes, which translates to 0.06 and 0.12 percent of the Canadian Kyoto Protocol targets or between $544,000 and $ 1.1 million annually. <p>Based on these results, the model demonstrates its functionality, and was successfully applied to two typical transportation field state applications. The model generated emissions savings results that appear to be realistic, in terms of potential Kyoto targets, as well as users cost reductions and fuel savings.

Este trabalho apresenta um estudo sobre o comportamento de sistemas de pesagem em movimento baseados em plataformas comumente utilizadas no Brasil. Parâmetros relevantes nesse comportamento são modelados: rugosidade aleatória da pista, dinâmica vertical do veículo e sua velocidade, desnível entre a pista e plataforma e dinâmica da plataforma. Duas classes de veículos são simuladas trafegando a diferentes velocidades e sendo pesados utilizando uma proposta de modelo de plataforma rígida e uma proposta de plataforma flexível. As forças de reação do solo e históricos de aceleração em vários GDL são registrados a fim de obter a carga estática por eixo e os erros nas estimativas do peso para o modelo de plataforma rígida. Já para o modelo de plataforma flexível, as forças de reação servem de entrada no modelo de elemento finitos de viga Euler-Bernoulli com consideração da área de contato do pneu através de um trem de cargas. Conclusões relacionadas à redução da precisão do sistema com o aumento da velocidade do veículo são confirmadas, embora importantes conclusões não tão óbvias sobre a importância da dinâmica do veículo, do nível de rugosidade da pista, da altura do degrau pista-plataforma e da dinâmica da plataforma de pesagem são ressaltadas. / This work proposes a numerical study on the behavior of weigh-in-motion systems based on load platforms useful in Brazil. Some important parameters that may control this behavior that are modeled are random road roughness, vehicle vertical dynamics, vehicle speed, load platform step’s height to the road and platform dynamics. Two vehicles types are modelled travelling at different speeds and being weighted using a rigid platform proposal and another proposal with a flexible platform. Ground reaction force and acceleration time history on several degree-of-freedom are recorded in order to obtain the static load per axis and the corresponding estimated errors for the rigid platform model. For the flexible platform model, the reaction forces serve as inputs into the Euler-Bernoulli finite element model with consideration of the contact area of the tire by train of loads. Some usual conclusions related to the reduction in the accuracy of the measuring system with increased vehicle speed are confirmed in the numerical study, although important conclusions not so obvious concerning the importance of road roughness, vehicle vertical dynamics, and vehicle speed, load platform step’s height to the road and platform dynamics are highlighted.

Este trabalho apresenta um estudo sobre o comportamento de sistemas de pesagem em movimento baseados em plataformas comumente utilizadas no Brasil. Parâmetros relevantes nesse comportamento são modelados: rugosidade aleatória da pista, dinâmica vertical do veículo e sua velocidade, desnível entre a pista e plataforma e dinâmica da plataforma. Duas classes de veículos são simuladas trafegando a diferentes velocidades e sendo pesados utilizando uma proposta de modelo de plataforma rígida e uma proposta de plataforma flexível. As forças de reação do solo e históricos de aceleração em vários GDL são registrados a fim de obter a carga estática por eixo e os erros nas estimativas do peso para o modelo de plataforma rígida. Já para o modelo de plataforma flexível, as forças de reação servem de entrada no modelo de elemento finitos de viga Euler-Bernoulli com consideração da área de contato do pneu através de um trem de cargas. Conclusões relacionadas à redução da precisão do sistema com o aumento da velocidade do veículo são confirmadas, embora importantes conclusões não tão óbvias sobre a importância da dinâmica do veículo, do nível de rugosidade da pista, da altura do degrau pista-plataforma e da dinâmica da plataforma de pesagem são ressaltadas. / This work proposes a numerical study on the behavior of weigh-in-motion systems based on load platforms useful in Brazil. Some important parameters that may control this behavior that are modeled are random road roughness, vehicle vertical dynamics, vehicle speed, load platform step’s height to the road and platform dynamics. Two vehicles types are modelled travelling at different speeds and being weighted using a rigid platform proposal and another proposal with a flexible platform. Ground reaction force and acceleration time history on several degree-of-freedom are recorded in order to obtain the static load per axis and the corresponding estimated errors for the rigid platform model. For the flexible platform model, the reaction forces serve as inputs into the Euler-Bernoulli finite element model with consideration of the contact area of the tire by train of loads. Some usual conclusions related to the reduction in the accuracy of the measuring system with increased vehicle speed are confirmed in the numerical study, although important conclusions not so obvious concerning the importance of road roughness, vehicle vertical dynamics, and vehicle speed, load platform step’s height to the road and platform dynamics are highlighted.

Com o intuito de estudar o banco de dados da raça Pardo Suíço Corte no Brasil, foram estimados parâmetros genéticos para características de desenvolvimento ponderal e ganhos de peso pré e pós-desmama, perímetro escrotal e características de carcaça de animais dessa raça e seus cruzamentos, utilizando ultra-sonografia. As características de peso analisadas foram peso ao nascimento (PN), aos 120 dias (P120), aos 205 dias (P205), aos 365 dias (P365), aos 450 dias (P450) e peso aos 550 dias (P550), os ganho de peso analisados foram ganho de peso do nascimento aos 205 dias (GPN205), do nascimento aos 120 dias (GPN120), dos 120 aos 205 dias (GP120205), dos 205 aos 365 dias (GP205365), dos 205 aos 450 dias (GP205450), dos 205 aos 550 dias (GP205550), dos 365 aos 550 dias (GP365550), dos 365 aos 450 dias (GP365450) e ganho de peso dos 450 aos 550 dias (GP450550). Os perímetros escrotais foram analisados aos 205 dias (PE205), aos 365 dias (PE365), e aos 550 dias (PE550). Os componentes de co(variância) foram estimados utilizando-se metodologia de modelo animal completo, com o uso do programa MTDFREML. A matriz de parentesco continha 35.188 animais, sendo 18.688 com registros de produção. Para os pesos pré-desmama os coeficientes de herdabilidade aditiva direta e materna aumentaram sua magnitude do nascimento até a desmama. Nos pesos pós-desmama foi observada grande influência materna até os 550 dias de idade. Pode ser esperada boa resposta à seleção para perímetro escrotal tanto aos 205 como aos 365 dias de idade, havendo alta correlação genética entre estas características. O ganho de peso pré-desmama demonstrou grande influência materna até os 120 dias, e ambiental após esta data. Para o ganho pós-desmama foi observado importante efeito ambiental. A correlação genética entre os pesos foi maior quanto mais próximas foram as pesagens e não foi observada relação importante entre pesos e perímetro escrotal, indicando independência entre estas características. As correlações genéticas entre pesos e ganhos de peso foram maiores entre o ganho e o peso do limite superior do relativo ganho de peso. Devido ao pequeno volume de dados obtidos, estudos complementares são necessários para as características de carcaça. Este estudo possibilitará que seja melhor delineado o programa de melhoramento genético da raça Pardo Suíço Corte no Brasil. / The aim of this study was to investigate a database of the Braunvieh cattle in Brazil, to estimate genetic parameters for growth traits, preweaning and postweaning weight gains and scrotal circumference, as well as carcass traits in purebreed and crossbreed Braunvieh cattle. The growth traits analyzed were birth weight (PN), weight at 120 days (P120), 205 days (P205), 365 days (P365), 450 days (P450) and weight at 550 days (P550), Weight gains traits analyzed were, weight gain between birth and 205 days (GPN205), birth and 120 days (GPN120), 120 and 205 days (GP120205), 205 and 365 days (GP205365), 205 and 450 days (GP205450), 205 and 550 days (GP205550), 365 and 550 days (GP365550), 365 and 450 days (GP365450), 450 and 550 days (GP450550). The scrotal circumference was analyzed at 205 days (PE205), at 365 days (PE365), and at 550 days of age (PE550). The (co)variance components were estimated by full animal model, using MTDFREML program. The relationship matrix contained 35.188 animals, and 18.688 with production records. For the preweaning weights the coefficients of direct and maternal additive heritability increased your magnitude from the birth to weaning. In the postweaning weights were observed great maternal influence until the 550 days of age. Interesting response to selection can be expected to the selection for scrotal circumference realized at 205 and 365 days of age, due to high genetic correlation between these traits. The preweaning gain demonstrated great maternal influence until the 120 days, and environmental effect after this age. For postweaning gain great environmental effect was observed. Genetic correlation between the weights was larger for weights taken in shorter interval. Important relationship was not observed between weights and scrotal circumference, indicating independence between these characteristics. The genetic correlations between weights and weight gains were larger between the gain and the weight of the superior limit of the relative weight gain. Due to small amount of records for carcass traits, further studies are necessary to evaluate them. This study can contribute for the better delineated programs for genetic improvement of Braunvieh cattle in Brazil.