Sport Utility Research Articles

Safety distances of cylindrical reinforced concrete piers under vehicle explosion

Since the terrorist attacks on 11 September 2001, structural resistance to explosion has received increasing attention. As bridges are controlling factors in traffic systems, explosion-induced bridge damage will cause great economic loss and social impact, but there is a lack of anti-explosion research for bridges. The purpose of this work was to investigate the failure modes and safety distances of cylindrical reinforced concrete (RC) bridge piers on highways and urban viaducts as a result of vehicle explosion. TNT equivalents were selected to represent explosions of five different vehicles (car, sport utility vehicle/van, delivery truck, water truck and semi-trailer). The multi-Euler domain method, was adopted for structural analysis of the explosion process using the commercial software Autodyn. The results showed that RC piers have three failure modes at the base: full-section punching-shear failure and large displacement; shear failure of full-section concrete; local shear failure of concrete. The explosion energy decayed rapidly with distance. For the five vehicle explosions, the safety distances were found to be 2 m, 3 m, 4 m, 8 m and 14 m, respectively. The results of this work are meaningful for explosion-resistant design and damage assessments of existing highway cylindrical RC piers subjected to vehicle explosion.

Wake flow analysis and control on a 47° slant angle Ahmed body

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to present numerical investigations of the flow dynamic characteristics of a 47° Ahmed Body to identify wake flow control strategy leading to drag coefficient reduction, which could be tested later on sport utility vehicles.Design/methodology/approachThis study begins with a mean flow topology description owing to dynamic and spectral analysis of the aerodynamic tensor. Then, the sparse promoting dynamic modal decomposition method is discussed and compared to other modal approaches. This method is then applied on the wall and wake pressure to determine frequencies of the highest energy pressure modes and their transfers to other frequency modes. This analysis is then used to design appropriated feedback flow control strategies.FindingsThis dynamic modal decomposition highlights a reduced number of modes at low frequency which drive the flow dynamics. The authors especially notice that the pressure mode at a Strouhal number of 0.22, based on the width between feet, induces aerodynamic losses close to the rear end. Strategy of the proposed control loop enables to dampen the energy of this mode, but it has been transferred to lower frequency mode outside of the selected region of interest.Originality/valueThis analysis and methodology of feedback control shows potential drag reduction with appropriated modal energy transfer management.

Kesesuaian Taman Kota di Surakarta Berdasarkan Konsep Kota Layak Anak

<p>Surakarta City is one of a city in Indonesia which has chosen for developing as child friendly city. Child friendly city is the concepts of a city which ensure the rights of children, such as providing city park as recreative and cerative place for children. Therefore, city park in Surakarta should suitable with child friendly city concept. The research question is to know the suitability of city park in Surakarta with the concept of child friendly city. There are five components for assessing this suitability: (1) accessibility, (2) recreation utility. (3) sport utility, (4) supporting facilities and (5) vegetation. The research method uses quantitive method with deductive approach and scoring analysis technique. The result shown that all of city park in Surakarta is not suitable with the criteria above. From the research, we can conclude that is Surakarta should increase the quantity and quality of whole components of city park based on the child friendly concept. Therefore, child friendly city in city park can be implementated and have the impact to guarantee the needs of children for playing in comfortable and safe park.</p>

Size matters: How vehicle body type affects consumer preferences for electric vehicles

Electric vehicles (EVs) hold great promise for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, yet achieving their environmental benefits depends on greater market uptake. While a growing body of literature has sought to offer information on consumer stated preferences for EVs, to date no research has examined how preferences for hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and battery electric vehicles are shaped by vehicle body size or type. The automobile market is differentiated with vehicle attributes that respond to heterogeneous consumer demands. We hypothesize that each bundle of attributes as it relates to vehicle body size also shapes demand for EVs. Using a large primary dataset, we segment respondents according to their preferred next vehicle body type (economy, intermediate, full-size sedan, luxury, minivan, sport utility, and pickup). Multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) results show significant differences in the socioeconomic, demographic, and psychological profile of consumers across the seven vehicle segments. From this, discrete choice models detail how vehicle type plays a significant role in the choicemaking behaviour of potential EV consumers. While factors like age, education, and the importance of fuel economy and reduced or eliminated emissions generally play a consistent role in improving the utility of EVs, our results also reveal significant heterogeneity in choice of powertrain across vehicle segments, with luxury and pickup buyers among the most distinct. The results offer useful information for marketing, policy, and research.

Effects of translational and rotational accelerations on traumatic brain injury in a sport utility vehicle-to-pedestrian crash

Effects of translational and rotational accelerations on traumatic brain injury in a sport utility vehicle-to-pedestrian crash

Effects of translational and rotational accelerations on traumatic brain injury in a sport utility vehicle-to-pedestrian crash

A series of full-scale vehicle-to-pedestrian impact simulations were performed using a vehicle finite element (FE) model and a pedestrian FE model at 25 and 40 km/h. The pedestrian model collided laterally against the centre front (wrap-around) or front right corner (fender vault) of the vehicle considering a pedestrian's pre-impact transverse speed of 0.0-4.0 m/s. Analysis using selected injury assessment parameters revealed that both translational and rotational accelerations applied to the head were significantly related to the intracranial tissue deformation in the simulated impact cases; the cumulative strain damage measure (CSDM) (an injury metric representing a 'volume fraction' of the brain elements exceeding the tolerance level) resulted in 5.7% for primary and 39.4% for secondary head strikes on average (N = 12), implying that traumatic brain injury (TBI) can be closely associated with a combination of linear and rotational loadings exerted over the head during an eventual contact with the ground.

¿Es compatible el deporte en edad escolar con otros roles sociales? Un estudio a través de la Teoría de la Autodeterminación (It is compatible the sport in scholar age with other social roles? A study through Self-Determination Theory)

El objetivo principal de este estudio fue examinar la relación entre la percepción de conflicto o utilidad del deporte respecto a otros papeles sociales y el nivel de autodeterminación en jóvenes deportistas, indagando sobre las diferencias que existen entre estas variables en función del género. Para ello, se utilizó una muestra de 1897 jugadores de diferentes disciplinas deportivas, 1378 de género masculino y 519 de género femenino. Los participantes rellenaron un cuestionario para medir el nivel de autodeterminación y otro para valorar el conflicto entre roles sociales. Los resultados mostraron que la utilidad del deporte se relacionaba positiva y significativamente con la motivación autoderminada mientras que el conflicto entre roles se relacionaba de esta misma forma con la desmotivación. Asimismo, los chicos mostraron puntuaciones elevadas en todos los tipos de motivación que abarca la teoría de la autodeterminación, siendo los que mayor incompatibilidad percibían entre el deporte y otros papeles sociales propios de su etapa de crecimiento. Como conclusión se destaca la necesidad de crear motivos de práctica intrínsecos en ambos géneros para favorecer el compromiso con la actividad deportiva y evitar el abandono que se puede producir por las exigencias de otros contextos que rodean al joven deportista. Palabra clave: conflicto entre roles, autodeterminación, práctica deportiva, edad escolar, género.Abstract: TThe main aim of this study was to examine the relationship between perception of conflict or utility of the sport regarding other social roles and self-determination level in young athletes, focusing on differences among these variables with respect to sex. Hence, we used a sample size of 1897 players from different sport modalities, 1378 male and 519 female. Participants filled a questionnaire to assess self-determination level and other to measure conflict between social roles. Results showed that utility of sport was positive and significantly associated with self-determined motivation, whereas conflict between roles was related with amotivation. Moreover, male athletes showed higher scores in all types of motivation that refer Self-Determination Theory, being the group that perceived the greater incompatibility between sport and other social roles according to their growth age. As a conclusion, we emphasize the necessity to promote intrinsic motives of practice in both sex to increase commitment with the sport activity, and avoid sport dropout that might be happened because of the demands of other contexts that surround young athletes.Key words: Conflict between roles, self-determination, sport practice, scholar age, genre.

What about sport? A public health perspective on leisure-time physical activity

In an effort to determine how sport could be better positioned on the public health agenda, three community physical activity programs aimed at combating obesity were examined to determine the benefits residents seek through their participation. Using a case study approach and critical framework, assumptions and presumed knowledge of these public health programs were drawn out through site visits and interviews. A total of 42 interviews with community leaders, program organizers, and residents in each community were conducted. The results reveal that new approaches need to be considered for promoting greater levels of participation in U.S. community sport and other leisure-time physical activity programs. Instead of the commonly emphasized benefits of physical health or appearance, the results demonstrate that hedonic rewards and opportunities for social interaction are two overlooked, yet primary benefits sought by participants. This research suggests that concerted efforts to focus on the hedonic feelings and social aspects can potentially lead to increased sport participation and holistic health. Such an approach may help better address vital public health policy issues while demonstrating the distinctiveness and utility of sport.

Testing System for Low Power Laser Beam Divergence Angle of Visible - Near Infrared Optoelectronic Sights Based on Virtual Instrument

According to current situation of testing beam divergence angle of low power laser indicator, this paper is designed to develop a testing system for beam divergence angle of low power laser indicator based on virtual instrument. A sport utility is used in this system - data acquisition card for the displacement data acquisition and motion control and a video card for images acquisition. The use of labview graphical programming language to develop host computer program including Man-machine Interface and functional code, realizes Data acquisition, process, display, storage and motion control; ensures the system accurate and efficient.

Identification and validation of a logistic regression model for predicting serious injuries associated with motor vehicle crashes

A multivariate logistic regression model, based upon National Automotive Sampling System Crashworthiness Data System (NASS-CDS) data for calendar years 1999–2008, was developed to predict the probability that a crash-involved vehicle will contain one or more occupants with serious or incapacitating injuries. These vehicles were defined as containing at least one occupant coded with an Injury Severity Score (ISS) of greater than or equal to 15, in planar, non-rollover crash events involving Model Year 2000 and newer cars, light trucks, and vans. The target injury outcome measure was developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)-led National Expert Panel on Field Triage in their recent revision of the Field Triage Decision Scheme ( American College of Surgeons, 2006). The parameters to be used for crash injury prediction were subsequently specified by the National Expert Panel. Model input parameters included: crash direction (front, left, right, and rear), change in velocity (delta-V), multiple vs. single impacts, belt use, presence of at least one older occupant (≥55 years old), presence of at least one female in the vehicle, and vehicle type (car, pickup truck, van, and sport utility). The model was developed using predictor variables that may be readily available, post-crash, from OnStar ®-like telematics systems. Model sensitivity and specificity were 40% and 98%, respectively, using a probability cutpoint of 0.20. The area under the receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve for the final model was 0.84. Delta-V (mph), seat belt use and crash direction were the most important predictors of serious injury. Due to the complexity of factors associated with rollover-related injuries, a separate screening algorithm is needed to model injuries associated with this crash mode.

The Utility of Sport and Returns to Ownership

Previous research demonstrates conclusively that owning thoroughbred racehorses tends to be a losing financial proposition. Owners pay a premium to enter the game of racing. Recent evidence has concluded that this premium is approximately constant across thoroughbred prices. This article generalizes recent work by allowing multiple determinants of the premium rather than one. It concludes that although the premium is approximately constant for relatively low-priced horses, it increases with the cost of the animal, at least for the most expensive ones. Evidently, a sizable number of owners are willing to pay increasing prices for talent in the quest to own a champion. To the extent this preference for champions generalizes to other sports, it has important implications for public policy and social welfare.

The Utility of Sport and Returns to Ownership

Previous research has demonstrated that owning thoroughbred racehorses tends to be a losing financial proposition. Racehorses tend to offer rates of return that are below those of financial assets of similar risk - owners pay a premium to enter the game of racing. Recent research has concluded that this premium is approximately constant across thoroughbred prices. We extend this research by modeling multiple determinants of the premium. We conclude that although the premium is approximately constant for relatively low-priced horses, it increases with the cost of the animal, at least for the most expensive ones. Evidently, a sizable number of owners are willing to pay an increasing premium for talent in the quest to own a champion. To the extent that this preference for champions generalizes to other sports, then public policy and social welfare implications must be reexamined.

Reply: “The Utility of Sport and Returns to Ownership: Evidence from the Thoroughbred Market”

Reply: “The Utility of Sport and Returns to Ownership: Evidence from the Thoroughbred Market”

“The Utility of Sport and Returns to Ownership: Evidence From the Thoroughbred Market”

“The Utility of Sport and Returns to Ownership: Evidence From the Thoroughbred Market”

The Utility of Sport and Returns to Ownership

The rate of return to investment in thoroughbred racehorses is widely believed to be negative on average. In a world of fully informed market participants, this implies that ownership of a racehorse is motivated in part by nonfinancial attributes, perhaps a taste for sport. This article presents simple models of the utility derived from sporting competition. The models differ in their implications for the rate of return to racehorse ownership and its variation with the level of talent. Evidence from thoroughbred auctions and racing earnings are used to test between the models.