Dynamic Axle Loads as a Main Source of Railway Track Degradation

During train operation, geometrical irregularities develop in soil-supported ballasted railway tracks as a function of born tonnage. This form of degradation is combatted by periodic maintenance in the form of tamping by specially equipped trains in order to guarantee predefined levels of structural performance. The growth of irregular...

The influence of the road layout on the Network Fundamental Diagram (poster)

It is analyzed what the effect is of the exact network structure on the shape of the Network Fundamental Diagram (NFD). In order to do so, a tool is developed which can create random networks for which the aggregated properties are the same. Using this tool, different urban networks with the same properties are designed. They show different NFDs...

Efficiency enhancement calculations of state-of-the-art solar cells by luminescent layers with spectral shifting, quantum cutting, and quantum tripling function

Solar cells of which the efficiency is not limited by the Shockley-Queisser limit can be obtained by integrating a luminescent spectral conversion layer into the cell structure. We have calculated the maximum efficiency of state-of-the-art c-Si, pc-Si, a-Si, CdTe, GaAs, CIS, CIGS, CGS, GaSb, and Ge solar cells with and without an integrated...

Exploring sustainable practices with trigger-products: A case of staying warm at home

Heating of dwellings forms a significant portion of societies energy use and is increasing. One way of approaching the problem from a sustainable design point of view is to offer thermal comfort in a more energy efficient way. However, the idea of offering comfort to passive receptors (i.e. people) has been argued to be problematic for energy...

Investigation of higher spanwise Helmholtz resonance modes in slender covered cavities

Cavity aeroacoustic noise is relevant for aerospace and automotive industries and widely investigated since the 1950s. Most investigations so far consider cavities where opening length and width are of similar scale. The present investigation focuses on a less investigated setup, namely cavities that resemble the door gaps of automobiles. These...

Standhouden in Delft

Technology is still masculine, and so is the Technical University at Delft. Frequently the question is asked: who were the first woman teacher and woman student? More interesting, however, is the question how women participated in this domain throughout history and how they managed to survive. This article presents a - for lack of sources rather...

De doorlating van glas in het ultrviolet