Laminated composites have important applications in modern aeronautical structures due to their extraordinary mechanical and environmental behaviour. Nevertheless, aircraft composite structures are highly vulnerable to impact damage, either by low-velocity sources during maintenance or high-velocity sources during in-flight events. Even barely visible impact damage induced by low-velocity loading, substantially reduces the residual mechanical performance and the safe-service life of the composites structures. Despite the extensive research already carried out, impact damage of laminated composite structures is still not well understood and it is an area of on-going research. Numerical modelling is considered as the most efficient tool as compared to the expensive and time-consuming experimental testing. In this paper, a finite element model based on explicit dynamics formulations is adopted. Hashin criterion is applied to predict the intra-laminar damage initiation and evolution. The numerical analysis is performed using the ABAQUS ® programme. The employed modelling approach is validated using numerical results found in the literature and the presented results show an acceptable correlation to the available literature data. It is demonstrated that the presented model is able to capture force-time response as well as damage evolution map for a range of impact energies.
Limited data is available on the size of urban goods movement and its impact on numerous aspects with respect to livability such as emissions and spatial impact. The latter becomes more important in densifying cities. This makes it challenging to implement effective measures that aim to reduce the negative impact of urban good movement and to monitor their impact. Furthermore, urban goods movement is diverse and because of this a tailored approach is required to take effective measures. Minimizing the negative impact of a heavy truck in construction logistics requires a different approach than a parcel delivery van. Partly due to a lack of accurate data, this diversity is often not considered when taking measures. This study describes an approach how to use available data on urban traffic, and how to enrich these with other sources, which is used to gain insight into the decomposition (number of trips and kilometers per segment and vehicle type). The usefulness of having this insight is shown for different applications by two case studies: one to estimate the effect of a zero-emission zone in the city of Utrecht and another to estimate the logistics requirements in a car-free area development.
MULTIFILE
31-12-2024In the Netherlands, the automobile manufacturer Nissan has initiated a unique project to stimulate the uptake of electric vehicles (EV) for commercial usage. This project is called “Power to Amsterdam” and started by the end of 2014. In the project, Nissan has enabled entrepreneurs in the region of Amsterdam to drive the full electric e-NV200 for a period of 6 to 12 months. After this period, the participants can decide whether to purchase/lease the vehicle or to return it to Nissan. The e-NV200 can be used for passengers (max. 7 persons) and as van (loading space of 4,2 m3). The aim of the project is to increase the experience with EV. This is important from both a public (i.e. decrease air and noise pollution) and private perspective (increase EV sales) as well as to enhance knowledge in this field.
