Research On Lock Capacity At Inland Waterway Locks

According to the literature review, lock capacity was studied integrated from the point of view of transportation engineering with plenty of field data collected on some inland waterway locks in this dissertation. The problems about which are concerned by the object (vessels) and subject (lock) of the inland waterway lock service system were discussed based on the quality of service concept of transport infrastructures. The main contents and results include the following aspects.It was studied about traffic characteristics of inland vessels (flow). The relationship was established between the area and tonnage of inland vessels. The characteristics and index of the large and normative vessels were discussed. Two non-equilibrium flow coefficients were introduced to reflect the randomicity of the inland vessels flow in space and time, respectively. Based on the probability and statistics, the vessel arrival distribution was studied and its parameters estimation was discussed. And a Gl/G/1 queue was used to analyze lock delays of normal operating busy locks.A method was developed for the calculation of lock capacity. It was confirmed that the processing time for a one-lift lockage is independent of the number of the continuous multi-lift lock. A continuous function was established for the calculation of the average lockage tonnage with the relationship between the area and tonnage of inland vessels. And new formulas were discussed for the calculation of total lockage vessel tonnage and freight in a year. In comparison with those in Code for Master Design of Shiplocks (JTJ305-2001), they can reflect the effect of the large and normative vessels on lock capacity continuously and the both aspects of quantity and quality of lock capacity.Level of service of inland waterway locks (LOSL) was studied integrated including its definition, evaluating criterion, index, calculation approach and application. LOSL is the percentile of lock capacity afforded and the measurement of the service quality by making reference to the level of service of highway. It can be measured with a coefficient and averaged lock delay as well as both aspects of quantity and quality of lock capacity. And the coefficient and delays can be translated each other. The value of evaluating index of LOSL was determined based on the field data. Finally, it can be applied to calculate the delayed vessels' loss for waterway improvement projects.