Bayesian Analysis of Simple Random Densities

A tractable nonparametric prior over densities is introduced which is closed under sampling and exhibits proper posterior asymptotics.Comment: 19 pages; 6 figure

Predictive analysis of microarray data

Microarray gene expression data are analyzed by means of a Bayesian nonparametric model, with emphasis on prediction of future observables, yielding a method for selection of differentially expressed genes and a classifier

Analysis of the functional quality of pavements from texture measurements

The surface texture of a pavement, including uneveness, is largely determinant of drivers’safety and comfort. It is undoubtedly a major cause of road traffic accidents all over the world. Statistics show that one million killed and 50 million injured are reported every year by Competent Authorities. The effect of traffic noise has also become a critical public issue. On the road networking the surface characteristics of pavements also contributed to nearly 80-90% of roadway traffic noise. Not only engines or exhaust systems generate noise. The impact of tire-surface at speeds above 50 km/h also needs to be added to prime offenders. Functional requirements such as roadway safety, environmental quality, driving comfort and operating costs in the road network are assessed by indicators whose limits are continuously adjusted. The roadway texture is again a main intervenient. This paper aims at describing the texture indicators that can be used for the assessment of the texture of a pavement from a network point of view, based on profiles acquired at high speeds, including megatexture. First an overview of the concepts related to texture and the effects of texture, including unevenness, on safety, driving comfort, ride quality and environmental quality is given. Then, a case study related to a highly trafficked road in the north of Portugal is presented. This study is the second phase of a broader study that started with the analysis of the structural capacity of that road. In this second phase, a high speed profilometer was used to measure the pavement profile with a sampling rate which is considered to be adequate for the analysis of longitudinal profile, macrotexture and unevenness. Indicators such as the mean profile depth, the IRI and the rutting depth and the corresponding effects were addressed

Definição e características de superfícies de baixo ruído

As superfícies de pavimentos de baixo ruído são atualmente a medida de redução do ruído preferida pela maioria dos decisores por ser uma medida relativamente barata e por estarem na génese do ruído rodoviário. No entanto, para se averiguar se uma determinada superfície pode ser classificada de “baixo ruído” é fundamental a adoção de um sistema de classificação. Os principais objetivos deste trabalho são apresentar o problema da classificação de pavimentos, discutir a seleção de um limite ou de uma superfície de referência para apoiar a seleção de superfícies com desempenho acústico melhorado e identificar as características que conduzem a níveis de ruído de contato pneu-pavimento mais baixos, abordando-se particularmente a contribuição da macro e da megatextura.FEDE

Contribution of portuguese pavement surfaces to traffic noise

This paper aims at assessing the relative effect of Portuguese pavement surfaces on traffic noise. It presents the main results obtained with two distinct experiments, originally intended for other purposes, which address a significant number of thin layers and porous layers. These experiments included nine road surfaces: three of them were gap graded, three contained rubberized asphalt, one had porous asphalt and two had dense asphalt. On these road sections the tyre-road noise generated by two-axle heavy trucks and three-axle heavy trucks and several light vehicles at three levels of speed were measured by means of pass-by tests. Surface texture tests were also performed. The results focused on noise level variation versus speed and estimated noise level for each speed level versus type of surface. The best performances were achieved by gap graded mixtures with and without rubberized binder and small grain sizes. The fair behaviour shown by the porous asphalt indicates that the surface texture determined by the grain size seems to influence the noise level more than porosity

Análise da qualidade funcional e do impacto ambiental de uma estrada urbana

Este artigo tem por objectivos descrever os principais indicadores da qualidade funcional e da qualidade ambiental utilizados correntemente a nível da rede e apresentar um caso de estudo de uma estrada integrada em meio urbano reabilitada recentemente. Esta estrada contempla três camadas de desgaste diferentes, duas das quais com textura optimizada, com o objectivo de se estudar o seu efeito no ruído de contacto pneu/pavimento. Para a observação dos parâmetros técnicos de qualidade funcional (irregularidade, textura e resistência à derrapagem) foi utilizado um veículo do tipo multifunções e para a medição do ruído foram efectuadas medições junto à berma com a passagem de veículos a diversas velocidades. Com base nesses parâmetros, por um lado, prevê-se que a curto prazo seja necessário desenvolver-se actividades de conservação da qualidade funcional do pavimento. Por outro lado, verificou-se que as camadas de desgaste optimizadas reduzem consideravelmente o impacto do ruído de tráfego no ambiente

Contribution of alternative road surfaces to noise abatement

The increase of noise due to traffic particularly in urban areas has led road administrations to look for low noise surfaces in order to reduce noise impact and to improve environmental quality. This paper aims at assessing the effect of alternative road surfaces on noise abatement. It presents the main results obtained with two distinct experiments, originally intended for other purposes, which address a significant number of non conventional road surfaces. These experiments included nine road surfaces: three of them were gap graded, three contained rubberized asphalt, one had porous asphalt and two had dense asphalt. On these road sections the tyre-road noise generated by two-axle heavy trucks and three-axle heavy trucks and several light vehicles at three levels of speed were measured by means of pass-by tests. Surface texture tests were also performed. The results focused on: i) noise level variation versus speed; ii) estimated noise level for each speed level versus type of surface; iii) the variation of estimated noise level with regards to a reference surface. The best performances were achieved by gap graded mixtures with and without rubberized binder and small grain sizes. The fair behaviour shown by the porous asphalt indicates that the surface texture determined by the grain size seems to influence the noise level more than porosity. Further research on tyre-surface noise should include wide ranges of testing speeds for heavy vehicles, tests with the surface wet, tests that can provide texture spectrum and sound absorption tests

Technical-economical evaluation of pavement recycling alternatives

Pavement recycling is becoming an increasingly important alternative worldwide for maintenance of highways, once sustainability and environmental issues have continued to receive more attention. The reference point is that of considering the use of road materials in a closed cycle, in which a natural material, previously used in road construction, should not be rejected in the following life-cycle. The objective of this paper is that of analysing flexible pavement recycling alternatives techniques, including reclaimed material from flexible pavements recycled with emulsion, cement and reused in a hot-mix. Based on the results obtained from field and laboratory tests (stiffness modulus, resistance to fatigue and permanent deformation), carried out using different materials, a set of numerical simulations were made for the design of pavement structures where those mixtures would be used, according to their characteristics and traffic specifications. The results of pavement design were obtained using the linear elastic theory in the BISAR program. With the results obtained from the pavement design, the cost savings of using recycled materials in the different pavement structures were quantified and compared to a standard option, where new natural aggregates and binders would be used. In this analysis, the consideration of the reduction in the disposal of reclaimed pavement materials was also addressed. The results of this research will support the production of specifications, thus facilitating a more accurate reuse of natural resources, assisting in the protection of the environment, as well as in a more effective use of financial resources available for the activity of pavement maintenance and rehabilitation

Um novo método de dimensionamento de reforços de pavimentos flexíveis considerando a reflexão de fendas

No presente trabalho é proposto um método de dimensionamento de reforços de pavimentos flexíveis, considerando como critérios de ruína o aparecimento de fendas à superfície da camada de desgaste, resultantes da reflexão do fendilhamento existente nas camadas betuminosas do pavimento existente, bem como o fendilhamento por fadiga. O método proposto baseia-se no dimensionamento estrutural corrente, acrescido duma verificação do critério de reflexão de fendas, tendo como base resultados laboratoriais de avaliação da reflexão de fendas em misturas betuminosas, realizados em deslocamento controlado e associados ao conceito de actividade das fendas após reforço