Truck Loading Research Articles

Dynamic Supplier Selection and Its Optimal Strategy Considering Full Truck Load and Fuzzy Demand using Fuzzy Expected Value-Based Programming

This article proposes a linear integer optimization model incorporating fuzzy parameters to find the optimal solution for a dynamic supplier selection problem with uncertain demand. The uncertain demand value is represented using a fuzzy variable. A fuzzy expected value-based linear optimization solver is used to address the optimization problem, to minimize the total cost under fuzzy demand values. Several computational experiments were conducted to evaluate and analyze the model. The results show that the proposed model effectively identifies the optimal suppliers for each product. Additionally, the model determines the optimal purchase volumes for each product type from the selected suppliers, leading to the minimal total expected cost.

Two-phase matheuristic for assignment and truck loading problems

We introduce a novel two-phase matheuristic for assignment and truck loading. The scope of our approach involves scenarios with an extensive amount of items requiring assignment to a heterogeneous fleet of trucks and subsequent transportation. A distinguishing feature of our matheuristic lies in the fact that the complex underlying problem is divided into subproblems which later are merged into a global solution. The proposed matheuristic tackles the assignment problem in its first phase, followed by a complex truck loading algorithm to validate the assignment solution in the second phase. This enables the identification of optimal solutions and adaptability to diverse use cases. This approach is motivated by the ROADEF/EURO challenge 2022 and is awarded with the scientific prize of the challenge. We demonstrate superior performance on selected instances, showcasing the potential for significant cost reduction in Renault’s supply chains.

Comparison of surface layers responses under heavy truck loadings on new and rehabilitated pavement with different interface bond conditions

The integrity and functionality of road pavements are vital for ensuring safe and efficient transportation networks. However, surface layers are prone to various forms of deterioration. This study investigates the responses of two pavement structures-one newly constructed and one rehabilitated-under traffic loading, through experimental tests conducted on an accelerated pavement testing facility (APT) and numerical simulations using the Viscoroute©2.0 software. Focus is placed on surface layer behavior, with an emphasis on understanding the behavior of interfaces between the asphalt layers. The findings show that the new pavement structure exhibits good bonding and continuous strain distribution, while the reinforced pavement structure exhibits partial sliding at the interface and strain discontinuity. For the new pavement structure, the strains are well predicted using a bonded interface, while for the rehabilitated pavement structure, the strains are predicted using a thin elastic interface layer with a low elastic modulus.

Dependence of wear of friction pairs of the mechanism for loading solid household waste into a garbage truck on the characteristics of antifriction materials

The article is dedicated to the establishment a regression dependence of wear of friction units of the mechanism of loading a garbage truck on the properties of antifriction materials. By using a first-order planning of experiment with first-order interaction effects using the Box-Wilson method, an appropriate regularity of wear of friction units of the garbage truck loading mechanism on the properties of antifriction materials has been determined. It is established that, according to the Student's criterion, among the studied factors of influence, the wear of friction units of the garbage truck loading mechanism is most influenced by the pressure in the friction zone, and the least – by the Brinell hardness of the antifriction material. The response surfaces of the objective function – wear of friction units of the garbage truck loading mechanism and their two-dimensional cross-sections in the planes of the influence parameters are shown, which allow to clearly illustrate the specified dependence of this objective function on individual influence parameters. It has been established that an increase in the pressure in the friction zone and sliding speed by 60% leads to an increase in the wear of friction units of the garbage truck loading mechanism during reverse motion by 6.3...34%, depending on the properties of antifriction materials. The expediency of conducting further research to determine ways to further improve the wear resistance of friction units of the mechanism for loading solid household waste into a garbage truck has been shown.

Comprehensive survey of the truck transportation process: The impact of team driving on health and safety conditions

BackgroundGiven the limited research conducted on the role of a human co-driver in mitigating occupational health and safety risks, this study aims to investigate the impact of a co-driver on health and safety conditions in the truck transportation process. MethodsThe truck transportation process was divided into three main stages: truck loading, driving, and unloading. Using the job safety analysis (JSA) method, an analysis of the tasks within each stage was conducted, allowing for the identification of essential and safe tasks and conditions. A questionnaire, based on this information, was developed, validated, and used in this study. ResultsThe findings of this study demonstrate that a human co-driver positively impacted the drowsiness and alertness levels of truck drivers. Furthermore, improvements were observed in driving and parking performance, alongside a reduction in strenuous tasks and subsequent fatigue. The results conclusively indicate that the presence of a human co-driver significantly enhances health and safety conditions, particularly during the driving stage in comparison to the other stages of the truck transportation process.

Research on the intelligent fatigue detection of metal components in vehicles

With the acceleration of transportation speed, heavy loading of trucks has higher requirements for the quality of wheel axles, and the detection of wheel axles on trucks has become a key focus in corrective maintenance. The automotive industry requires timely detection of vehicle components. Nondestructive testing (NDT) technology provides a method of detecting and analyzing physical quantities on the internal surface of an object without causing damage. It can determine the presence of defects or abnormal conditions. The application of nondestructive testing (NDT) is essential in the automotive industry to guarantee the safety and dependability of vehicles. This article provides an overview of the principles and applications of phased array ultrasound imaging and eddy current testing, focusing on intelligent monitoring solutions for axles. This article proposes an enhanced intelligent monitoring approach that utilizes existing detection methodologies to provide vehicle owners with real-time feedback regarding the fatigue strength of individual automotive parts. This approach aims to prompt the replacement of auto parts when the fatigue trend approaches predetermined warning thresholds.

Regional Truck Travel Characteristics Analysis and Freight Volume Estimation: Support for the Sustainable Development of Freight

In the field of freight transport, the goal of sustainable development requires us to improve the efficiency of freight transport while reducing its negative impact on the environment, such as reducing carbon emissions and noise pollution. There is no doubt that changes in freight characteristics and volumes are compatible with the objectives of sustainable development. Thus, mining the travel distribution and freight volume of trucks has an important supporting role in the freight transport industry. In terms of truck travel, most of the traditional approaches are based on the subjective definition of parameters from the trajectory data to obtain trips for certain vehicle types. As for freight volume, it is mostly estimated through manual surveys, which are heavy and inaccurate. In this study, a data-driven approach is adopted to obtain trips from the trajectory data of heavy trucks. Combined with the traffic percentage of different vehicle types collected by highway traffic survey stations, the trips of heavy trucks are extended to all trucks. The inter-city and intra-city freight volumes are estimated based on the average truck loads collected at the motorway entrance. The results show a higher proportion of intra-city trips by trucks in port cities and a higher proportion of inter-city trips by trucks in inland cities. Truck loading and unloading times are focused in the early morning or at night, and freight demand in Shandong Province is more concentrated in the south. These results would provide strong support for optimizing freight structures, improving transportation efficiency, and reducing transportation costs.

Evaluasi Rasio Kapasitas Plat Lantai Jembatan Pangwa Berdasarkan Mutu Beton Aktual

This article reviewed the effect of decreasing quality of concrete in the vehicle deck on Pangwa bridge located in Trienggadeng, Pidie Jaya district, Aceh Province. The bridge deck was planned to use concrete with a quality of 30 MPa, however in practice, it was estimated that only 18.8 MPa was achieved. Based on the actual concrete quality, this article reported a reanalysis of the bending and shear capacity ratio. Structural analysis was carried out using SAP2000 software referring to engineering design data. The stages include modeling the bridge as a space frame steel construction with a deck using reinforced concrete material, loads calculation, internal force analysis, and checking the structural capacity. Load calculations and load combinations refer to the standard Loading for Bridges (SNI 1725: 2016). The bridge deck was analyzed as a one way slabs using D16-150 reinforcement with steel grade fy = 320 MPa. The loads taken into structure analysis include: self weight, additional dead load, truck load, and wind load. Based on the loads on the bridge, it is estimated that the possible forces arising from certain conditions are calculated based on the ultimate load combination of Strength-I, Strength-II, Strength-III, Strength-IV and Strength-V according to the provisions of SNI 1725-2016. Based on the results of the structural analysis recapitulated from the value of the load combination, the maximum and minimum moments were 388.68 kN.m and -391.22 kN.m while the maximum shear force were 169.60 kN. The planned bending capacity was 396.303 kN.m (design) and was achieved at 365.568 kN.m (actual) or 7.75% less than the ultimate moment. The pons shear force arising on the bridge deck was Vu = 169.6 kN with pons shear capacity, ØVn = 874.895 kN in the design data and was achieved by 703.811 kN (actual). Based on the results of these calculations, it can be concluded that Pangwa bridge still meets the level of safety for the use as a vehicle traffic lane.

Consequence Analysis and Safety Assessment of an Ethylene Oxide Unit in a Petrochemical Complex

Abstract Aim: This study focuses on the consequence analysis and safety assessment of an ethylene oxide (EO) unit in a petrochemical complex. This study evaluates the potential consequences of process accidents in the tankage, tank truck loading, and cylinder filling areas of an EO unit. Methods: The analysis was conducted using DNV’s PHAST software (2023), which models and quantifies the consequences of chemical releases by considering various factors such as material characteristics, storage tanks, weather conditions, and the number of people at risk. This study considers scenarios such as fire, flammable and toxic gas dispersion, and vapor cloud explosion. Results: The results provide insights into the safety measures and precautions required in different areas of the petrochemical complex. The analysis of hazard zones allows for the prioritization of protective measures and ongoing monitoring of operational hazards. Conclusion: This study provides a comprehensive assessment of the consequences and risks associated with the use of the EO unit in a petrochemical complex.

The Effect of Knife Wear and Sharpening Mode on Chipper Productivity and Delays

The production of wood chips can be achieved using different types of wood chippers whose productivity can be influenced by many factors including proper knife management. Research was conducted to determine the productivity of the new Diamant chipper in chipping air-dried tops stacked at a roadside landing and to compare the efficiency of dry sharpening and wet sharpening in restoring chipper productivity, the time required by dry sharpening with that of knife replacement, and the cost of dry sharpening to knife change in real-life conditions. To clearly define the influence of knife management, a model of the effect of knife wear on chipper productivity was produced. Analysis of variance was used to check the significance of any differences in chipping and total time consumption per cycle. Multiple regression was used to express the relationship between chipping time consumption per cycle and the cumulated mass processed by a set of knives—the latter taken as an indicator of knife wear. The study lasted 10 full workdays, included a total of 136 truckloads or 3560 t of fresh wood chips (or green tons = gt), and resulted in the average productivity of 59.0 gt per productive chipping hour (excluding all delays) or 39.4 gt per machine scheduled hour (including all delays). Delays represented 37% of total worksite time. Knife management (dry sharpening or change) accounted for 30% of the total delay time due to raw material contamination. Dry sharpening took 30% less time than a full knife change. As wear accumulated and knives lost their edge, the chipping time per cycle increased from 25 in the first cycle (full truck load) to 38 min in the third cycle. The presented study offers robust productivity figures, together with a reliable estimate of the productivity losses caused by knife wear, and could help improve knife management in order to increase chipper productivity as well as reduce unnecessary delays.

Full-scale experimental investigation of prestressed concrete bridge girders strengthened with aluminium channels

The bridge network in South Carolina encompasses more than 9,000 structures, many of which were originally constructed to accommodate H10 (89 kN) or H15 (134 kN) truck loads and thus require strengthening to carry current loading standard (HL-93). The South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) has recognized that prestressed concrete channel bridge girders, a specific type of bridge superstructure, often face challenges in achieving adequate load ratings, based on flexural strength. Hence, it is imperative to explore strengthening methods for these girders. Aluminium alloys possess desirable properties that make them attractive as external reinforcement materials. While previous studies have investigated the use of aluminium alloys on small-scale reinforced concrete members, there is a lack of investigation on their use on full-scale prestressed concrete bridge girders. To address this gap, this study investigates the feasibility of utilizing aluminium alloy channels as an external reinforcement material on full-scale prestressed concrete channel bridge girders. The main goal of this paper is to propose a strengthening method for prestressed concrete channel girders that is cost effective and easily implemented in the field to reduce the number of load-posted bridges in the state of South Carolina. Nine girders from recently decommissioned bridges in South Carolina were tested under flexural loading conditions to failure. The test program consisted of six unstrengthened girders, one strengthened with bonded aluminium channels (SE), one strengthened with bonded and bolted aluminium channels (SEB), and one strengthened with bolted aluminium channels (SB). Before testing, a visual inspection of the girders was conducted to identify any existing deterioration, and each girder was given a condition rating based on the Specifications for the National Bridge Inventory (SNBI). Theflexuralicate that externally anchored aluminium alloy channels with bolts was the most effective strengthening method in terms of practicality and increase in the flexural strength. Moreover, the results also revealed that the measured flexural strength of the girders varied based on the extent of the observed girder deterioration.

Stability Analysis of Open-Pit Bench Slope under Repeated Heavy Vehicle Loading Based on Stress-Corrosion Model

In the present study, we address an important and increasingly relevant topic in mining safety and efficiency, namely the stability of open-pit bench slopes subjected to daily heavy truck cyclic loading. Specifically, we focus on the stability of Zhahanur open-pit slope (Inner Mongolia region, China) and investigate the potential role of daily heavy truck cyclic loading in bench slope instability. To this end, we incorporate a stress corrosion model into the particle flow code to develop a time-dependent deformation model of the rock. With the established model, we quantitatively analyse the effect of heavy truck cyclic loading on the bench slope stability. Our results support the hypothesis that daily heavy truck loading can cause gradual downward deformation of a rock mass, leading to slope instability. To validate our numerical modelling results, we compare and analyse them with in situ monitoring data. Our study demonstrates the significant impact of daily heavy vehicles on bench slope stability in open-pit mines and provides a practical tool for assessing the long-term stability of open-pit bench slopes and optimising mining operations.

Static and dynamic responses of buried steel pipe under truck load: An experimental study

The behavior of a buried pipe under static and dynamic loading conditions has been investigated through full-scale field tests. A plain steel pipe with a diameter of 762 mm was gauged at the outer surface of two pipe sections. A dump truck was employed for the static and dynamic loading tests. Under static loading, the measured pipe strains increase with increasing axle load and decreasing cover depth. The measured strains under dynamic loading show three peaks, which correspond to the times at which the front, middle, and rear axles, respectively, reach the pipe centerline. The offset loading pattern produces greater strains than the non-offset one while keeping the axle load constant under both static and dynamic loads. It is discovered that the pipe strains caused by each truck axle vary with truck speed. Since the load transfer is influenced by a number of factors, including the truck load, road roughness, truck speed, and others, a moving truck load does not always result in higher pipe strains as compared to a static load. The complexity of dynamic pipe responses can be explained in part by a single-degree-of-freedom (SDOF) model.

Impact of Environmental Conditions on Predicting Condition Rating of Concrete Bridge Decks

Highway agencies prioritize maintaining bridge infrastructure through bridge management systems amid budget constraints. The premature deterioration of reinforced concrete (RC) bridge decks caused by more frequent and increasingly heavy truck load spectra coupled with aggressive environmental conditions has become a critical concern. Despite the prevalence of conventional models and the emerging popularity of machine learning (ML) models in bridge deterioration predictions, they fall short in feature selection and handling of climate conditions, leading to suboptimal accuracy. To address these gaps, this study presents a data-driven framework utilizing ML-based techniques to predict the condition rating of RC bridge decks with a focus on identifying the influencing factors that affect the deck condition. The framework employs the XGBoost algorithm for model development, encompassing comprehensive datasets that include structural, geographical, and climate variables from across the U.S. Furthermore, the Shapley additive explanations approach is applied to identify the explanatory variables with the most impact. Age emerged as the most crucial factor, followed by freeze-thaw cycles and truck traffic, as indicated by the average daily truck traffic. Rainfall also plays a substantial role in deck deterioration. Based on feature importance and monotonicity, this study recommends a series of bridge classifications for transportation agencies to incorporate into their deterioration models. Overall, this research enhances understanding of the primary causes of bridge deck deterioration, enabling more informed decisions about funding allocation and bolstering bridge performance against environmental challenges.

Dynamic serviceability and safety reliability analysis of aging PC girder bridges with non-prestressed reinforcement considering concrete shrinkage, creep and stochastic vehicle load flows

Prestressed concrete (PC) bridges’ service performance displays time-dependency due to several factors including concrete shrinkage, creep, resistance degradation, and stochastic vehicle load flows. These non-stationary vehicle load flows, combined with concrete shrinkage, creep, and resistance degradation, result in sequential alterations of internal forces and deformations in simply supported PC girder bridges, ultimately influencing their dynamic reliability. This study proposes a robust methodology that considers the impact of traffic loading, shrinkage, and creep to analyze the dynamic reliability of simply supported PC girder bridges through the development of a load probability model. A stochastic model for truck loads is generated using motion measurement data, which can be used to calculate bridge internal forces and subsequent quantitative analysis of structural deformation due to shrinkage and creep. Subsequently, the formula for the first exceedance probability under resistance degradation is presented and validated through Monte Carlo simulation. Reliability analysis is conducted for both serviceability and load carrying capacity limit states to assess the impact of shrinkage, creep, and increased mean vehicle load on structural reliability. The proposed method offers the theoretical foundation and practical guidance for assessing the structural health status of in-service bridges, thereby providing valuable insights into their long-term performance and maintenance requirements.

A Model of an Extending Front Loader

Front loaders used in agriculture are characterized by a compact structure, which limits the scope of their application. The loading possibilities are expanded by designing front loaders equipped with telescopic arms. This design increases the loader’s working area, making it easier to load trucks. It is necessary to work on the arm extension drive and perform strength analyses on the new structures. This article presents a FEM numerical analysis of the structure of an extending front loader and an assessment of the state of stress and the value of displacements under the influence of load. This study discusses the advantages and disadvantages of front loaders compared to telehandlers and the legal requirements and standards for the design of front loaders in Europe. This work presents the concept of loader arm movement and assesses the effectiveness of using hydraulic motors coupled with a screw gear. The obtained results prove that the newly designed extending front loader system is safe and stable.

A modeling strategy for the simulation of box sections with layered shell elements

This paper presents a numerical strategy to model box sections from bridge girders using horizontal layered shell finite elements. The basic idea is to avoid the construction of more computational expensive meshes based on the use of folded shell and brick finite elements. The numerical strategy imposes the deactivation of those layers related to empty spaces within the bridge cross-section. The performance of this technique is explored by means of two demanding practical applications related to bridge structures with constant and variable deck thicknesses. The first application deals with the static truck load test of the Caynarachi Bridge, located in Peru, and for which measured field data exists, while the second application is related to the construction stage analysis of a box bridge structure including time effects due to concrete creep, shrinkage and steel relaxation. The results demonstrate that the studied technique acceptably correlates with the measured field data,expressed in terms of vertical displacements,with correlation coefficients exceeding 0.94.Additionally, the outcomes align well with the results of other numerical techniques, allowing applicants to use this simplified modeling approach in daily design office.

Correction of Plane Strain Analyses for Corrugated Metal Culverts Subjected to Patch Loads

Today, culverts are often analyzed and designed using plane strain finite element analyses in which a transverse slice of the structure is simulated and assumed equal to any other slice. Although this works well for soil loads, in reality live loads are discrete pressure loads from tires, and the out-of-plane effects can be significant, especially when cover depths are relatively low. While current design specifications define minimum cover that precludes significant localized pressure effects on culverts, many culverts are currently in service that were constructed under very shallow cover depths. In this study, analyses of corrugated metal culverts under truck load were carried out using two-dimensional (2D) (plane strain) and three-dimensional (3D) finite element analyses to assess the difference between structural responses predicted by these two approaches. Thirty-six culvert models with different shapes, spans, and cover depths were created using both 2D and 3D meshes. A significant difference was found between the results of these two analysis methods. Specifically, the thrust from the 3D models under shallow cover can be as much as three times the thrust results from the 2D model, which is unconservative from a safety standpoint. An innovative explanation was provided to explicate the differences. Finally, to address the issue, a reduction ratio method was developed to correct the 2D results to match the corresponding 3D results so that the relatively simple plane strain approach can be used.

Optimization of cycle time for loading and hauling trucks in open-pit mining

Purpose. The purpose of the paper is to provide open-pit mining operations with practical strategies and insights to optimize truck loading and hauling cycles, ultimately leading to enhanced productivity and economic advantages. Methods. The objectives are to minimize loading time, optimize the haul road network, enhance truck performance, and optimize dumping and return time. By diligently implementing these methods and achieving these objectives, open-pit mining operations can significantly reduce the truck cycle times, resulting in increased productivity, lower costs and improved profitability. Findings. In this case, the total loading time of the excavator and shovel is determined to be 3.98 and 2.92 minutes, respectively, while the hauling time for total loading of the open-pit floor depends mainly on the average distance and speed of 239 m and 10.1 km/hour, which results in 1.53 minutes. Originality. As a result, the total cycle time for open-pit mining is 19.765 minutes, resulting from the total loading time, hauling time for total loading, total dumping time, and total return time for empty transport of 4.265, 8.46, 0.86 and 6.18 minutes, respectively. Practical implications. By combining theoretical analysis with practical insights and site-specific considerations, the paper aims to provide a comprehensive and applicable framework for optimizing truck cycle time in open-pit mining, resulting in improved efficiency and profitability of mining operations.

Stress Analysis of Semi-covered Excavation Foundation Pit in Metro Stations based on Incremental Method

The station foundation pit of Ningbo Metro Line 2 is taken as engineering background, the support structure form of the semi covered excavation foundation pit is introduced. The standard section of the foundation pit is considered as a plane strain problem, a force calculation and analysis model for the half cover system structure is established based on the incremental method, concentrated load of a waste truck is applied within 5.0 m cover plate range outside the middle column and an impact coefficient of 0.4 is considered, overload with value of 20kPa is applied to the rest parts of the cover plate and 5.0 m outside the diaphragm wall. The excavation of the foundation pit is divided into 5 stages, the surface overload, structural self weight, soil pressure and elastic resistance increment, and support axial force are applied respectively, and the bending moment increment of the connecting wall and cover plate system at each excavation stage are calculated. The bearing capacities of the diaphragm wall and cover plate reinforcement are respectively calculated based on the rectangular bending normal section components, and they both meet the strength requirements.