Dynamics of belt systems

Mechanical Maritime and Materials Engineerin

Supporting organ for an axially moving body

A supporting body (1) for an axially moving body such as a conveyor belt, a cable or a stepless escalator, comprising a roller (3) rotatable about a shaft (2) for the support of the body and at least a first support (4) in which the shaft of the roller is mounted for carrying the roller, wherein a second support is provided, wherein the first support and the second support (5) are designed to cooperate in carrying the roller, wherein the second support is fixedly mounted and the first support can, in the moving body's direction of movement, be fixedly coupled with the second support, while in a plane perpendicular to this direction of movement, the first support is rotatable about a pivoting point located on a contact surface shared by the roller and the body to be supported by the roller.Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineerin

Methods of reliability assessment of heterogeneous redundant systems

Accepted Author ManuscriptTransport Engineering and Logistic

Bionic design methodology for wear reduction of bulk solids handling equipment

Large-scale handling of particulate solids can cause severe wear on bulk solids handling equipment surfaces. Wear reduces equipment life span and increases maintenance cost. Examples of traditional methods to reduce wear of bulk solids handling equipment include optimizing transport operations and utilizing resistant materials. To our knowledge, the so-called bionic design has not been utilized. Bionic design is the application of biological models, systems, or elements to modern engineering. Bionic design has promoted significant progress on the development of engineering products and systems. In order to use bionic design for wear reduction of bulk solids handling equipment surfaces, this paper introduces bionic design to bulk solids handling on the basis of analogies between biology and bulk solids handling. In addition, a bionic design methodology for the wear reduction of bulk solids handling equipment surfaces is formulated. Based on the bionic design methodology, two bionic models used for abrasive and erosive wear reduction of bulk solids handling equipment surfaces are proposed.Transport Engineering and Logistic

Proposition of a mathematical model for selecting possible low-cost airlines routes

This paper examines the effects that low-cost carriers (LCC’s) produce when entering new routes operated only by full-service carriers (FSC’s) and routes operated by low-cost carriers in competition with full-service carriers. A mathematical model has been developed to determine what routes should be operated by a low-cost carrier with better possibilities to subsist, as a first step towards reaching the most convenient route; additional factors must be considered after running the proposed model, such as route passenger demand and aircraft characteristics not took into account in this paper. The proposed model was set up by analyzing The United States domestic air transport market. Distance is the only variable taken into account by the model. This model analyses the relation between the real fare data ($) and the distance (miles). The model generates three lines that includes amongst them 68% of the approximately 18,000 routes by calculating a standard deviation and estimates the minimum, maximum and average fare for a low-cost carrier given the distance the model determines in which routes a low-cost carrier could be successful by comparing, route by route, different airline fares against the low-cost minimum, maximum and average fare estimated per distance.Marine & Transport TechnologyMechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineerin

Literature review of the airport business

Airports are very important for economic growth. The demand for airport capacity has been growing very fast and private companies are now also investing in airport infrastructure. Airports must however be regulated because they are natural monopolies with high market power. Airports have variables and factors that are vital for airline operations. The identification of these variables are important to allocate airports for airline operations, minimize airline operation costs and fares, and maximize airline profits. This paper presents a literature review about different type of airports as a first step to identify the main parameters required for developing a new airline business model. This model should eventually be able to determine, from a set of existing airports, the location of the airports as well as the most profitable routes for low-cost airline companies.Marine & Transport TechnologyMechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineerin

Low-cost and Full-service carrier’s effect

The fare estimation model proposed in this paper was set up by analyzing the domestic United States air transportation market 2005 year database. A division analyses into seven different studies is presented. There exists substantial fare dispersion in the airline transportation industry for the full-service carrier market whilst very little dispersion can be found for the low-cost carrier market. Both airlines business models were also divided into four different markets. Major fare dispersion has been found for the routes dominated by full-service carriers without the presence of a low-cost carrier and the presence of low-cost carriers make full-service carriers low fares. Routes dominated by low-cost carriers without the presence of full-service carriers price routes with more dispersion than the routes fighting with full-service carriers.Marine & Transport TechnologyMechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineerin

Literature review of the passenger airline business models: Full service carrier, low-cost carrier and charter airlines

The deregulation and liberalization of the air transportation industry have developed three main passenger business models: full service carriers, low-cost carriers, and charter airlines. Deregulation removed regulated fares and routes increasing competition and yields. Airlines business models main objectives are to minimize operation costs and fares, and to maximize profits based on cost leadership, differentiation and focus strategy. This paper presents a literature review about airline business model strategies as a first step to identify the main parameters required for developing a new model. This model should eventually be able to determine the location of the airport as well as the most profitable routes for low-cost airline company.Marine & Transport TechnologyMechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineerin

Low-cost carriers fare competition effect

This paper examines the effects that low-cost carriers (LCC’s) produce when entering new routes operated only by full-service carriers (FSC’s) and routes operated by low-cost carriers in competition with full-service carriers. A mathematical model has been developed to determine what routes should be operated by a low-cost carrier with better possibilities to subsist. The proposed model in this paper was set up by analyzing The United States domestic air transport market 2005 year database from airport to airport by airline competitor. Distance is the only variable taken into account by the model. This model analyses the relation between the real fare data ($) and the distance (miles) with a linear regression equation. The model generates three lines that includes amongst them 68% of the approximately 18,000 routes by calculating a standard deviation and estimates the minimum, maximum and average fare for a low-cost carrier given the distance the model determines in which routes a low-cost carrier could be successful by comparing, route by route, the real data airline fares against the low-cost minimum, maximum and average fare estimated per distance.Marine & Transport TechnologyMechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineerin