Award-winning papers in 2022 Free

The Webb Prize, presented for the best paper on a non-highways transport scheme, was awarded to Li et al. (2022).

In order to study the effects of a steel spring floating slab track (SSFST) on the vibration and noise of rail transit overhead box-girders, a train–track system coupling model in the frequency domain was established. Two numerical models – a finite-element model to analyse the vibration and a boundary-element model for predicting structure-borne noise – were then built. Based on a field test of one 30 m long simply supported box-girder paved with ordinary slab track (OST) in an urban rail transit system, the models were verified to be effective at predicting the vibration and noise of the box-girder. Meanwhile, both the vibration- and noise-reduction effects of SSFST were assessed in comparison with OST. After substituting SSFST for OST, the maximum reductions of the overall vibration acceleration level and overall sound pressure level of the box-girder were 34·7 dB and 25 dB, respectively. Finally, the effects of the SSFST's parameters on the noise of the box-girder were investigated. The results showed that the isolator stiffness is the primary factor that affects the noise characteristics of the box-girder, followed by the floating slab thickness. However, the floating slab length and fastener stiffness were found to have little influence on the noise radiation.

The Rees Jeffreys Award, presented for the best paper on highway engineering, was awarded to Mohamed et al. (2022).

The mega elliptical roundabout is a new idea for intersections on rural multilane highways in the form of an elongated ellipse. Basically, there are no procedures or guidelines for designing the mega elliptical roundabout in the Highway Capacity Manual, Federal Highway Administration guides or the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials‘ ‘Green Book‘. This research therefore presents the best geometric design scenarios of mega elliptical roundabout intersections at various traffic flows for all intersection entrances. The basis for selecting the best scenarios is to achieve minimum delay time, minimum emissions and minimum fuel consumption. This was studied at the intersection of a six-lane divided highway with a four-lane divided highway when the traffic enters from four approaches. Moreover, this research proposes the cases in which the mega elliptical roundabout is better than an interchange (full cloverleaf), and suggests the best time to make a decision to change from a mega elliptical roundabout to an interchange (full cloverleaf). The study was conducted by using Vissim software (version 10.00-02). In total, 1134 scenarios were analysed.