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    <title>Transport Research International Documentation (TRID)</title>
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    <atom:link href="https://trid.trb.org/Record/RSS?s=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" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
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    <copyright>Copyright © 2026. National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.</copyright>
    <docs>http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss</docs>
    <managingEditor>tris-trb@nas.edu (Bill McLeod)</managingEditor>
    <webMaster>tris-trb@nas.edu (Bill McLeod)</webMaster>
    <image>
      <title>Transport Research International Documentation (TRID)</title>
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      <link>https://trid.trb.org/</link>
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    <item>
      <title>An integrated human reliability and biomechanical consequence assessment framework for man-overboard incidents</title>
      <link>https://trid.trb.org/View/2737373</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Working aloft on merchant ships is one of the most dangerous maritime activities and may result in severe accidents. This study proposes a novel risk assessment framework integrating Standardized Plant Analysis Risk Human Reliability Analysis (SPAR-H), Evidential Reasoning (ER), and the Finite Element Method (FEM) to assess man-overboard (MOB) risks during accommodation ladder rigging and lifeboat maintenance operations involving work at height.The proposed methodology utilizes the SPAR-H approach to decompose operational tasks and quantify Human Error Probabilities (HEP) by assessing key Performance Shaping Factors (PSF). Complementing the reliability analysis, FEM simulations were performed using three-dimensional human models to assess the biomechanical impact severity of falls from various heights and entry angles into the water.The findings reveal that the tasks most susceptible to human error are related to failures in ensuring the integrity of accommodation ladder and its railings, also in use of personal protective equipment (PPE). Finite Element Method (FEM) results highlight that injuries resulting from water impact can be life-threatening, depending on the height and the spatial orientation of the body at the time of impact. This integrated framework offers a holistic risk analysis and in-depth implications for maritime stakeholders.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 10 Aug 2026 15:03:59 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://trid.trb.org/View/2737373</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>A partitioned coupling framework for occupant head injury assessment under water entry impact of a free-fall lifeboat</title>
      <link>https://trid.trb.org/View/2670571</link>
      <description><![CDATA[During the water entry stage, a free-fall lifeboat experiences strong impact and complex two-phase flow, which exposes occupants to injury risk. Existing assessments often rely on combined acceleration response (CAR), a global evaluation standard, for quick screening. However, occupant head injuries during lifeboat impact with the water surface can be fatal, while CAR lacks the precision needed for head-specific assessment. To address this limitation, a partitioned coupling framework for accurate occupant head injury evaluation subjected to water entry impact of a free-fall lifeboat is developed. The fluid and lifeboat motion are solved utilizing a fluid-rigid body interaction manner, in which the fluid is discretized with the finite volume method (FVM). The occupant response is then computed with the dynamic explicit finite element method (FEM) with the aid of a one-way coupling strategy, which improves computational efficiency while maintaining high accuracy. A standardized data interface links the two solvers and transfers displacement and orientation histories from the matched-node region. Occupant head injury is evaluated with the head injury criterion (HIC) using an occupant-seat-restraint finite element model that includes a Hybrid III 50th percentile dummy, a shell seat, and a four-point safety belt. The accuracy and effectiveness of the developed framework are well demonstrated, including a comparison with the 35 mph sled test data. Finally, a parametric study is conducted to examine the influence of vertical velocity, horizontal velocity, and pitch angle on the dynamic response and head injury of an occupant subjected to water entry impact, where the results are compared with those computed via CAR. The proposed framework provides reliable head acceleration histories efficiently, enabling occupant head injury assessment over a wide range of water-entry conditions.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 24 Feb 2026 15:39:13 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://trid.trb.org/View/2670571</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Experimental investigation on kinematic characteristics and slamming loads of a free-fall lifeboat model entering into water</title>
      <link>https://trid.trb.org/View/2544921</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The rapid immersion of free-fall lifeboats into water produces intense slamming forces, directly affecting the safety of onboard personnel. The study carried out a series of experimental drop tests using lifeboat models. A 4 × 4 array of pressure sensors was positioned on the lower surface of the lifeboat's bow, a gyroscope and an accelerometer were installed within the lifeboat. The research investigates the distribution law of slamming loads at the bow, and change law of attitude angle and acceleration during water entry. To explore the influence of initial slide parameters on water entry velocity and attitude, an adjustable sliding test device was designed, allowing for variations in slide angle, length, and drop height. Additionally, an image recognition system was developed to capture the motion trajectory, attitude, and velocity before water entry. A 0.78 % error margin was determined by comparing identified attitude angles with gyroscopic data, confirming the system's reliability and accuracy. The findings indicate that increasing the lifeboat's slide angle from 30° to 60° significantly reduces the peak slamming pressure, and the maximum slamming pressure coefficient Cₚ occurs at 0.24 L[subscript OA] in front of the center of gravity.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 27 May 2025 09:33:54 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://trid.trb.org/View/2544921</guid>
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    <item>
      <title>Rescue plan of unmanned life-saving vehicle in multi-obstacle waters under multi-strategy innovative ant colony optimization strategy</title>
      <link>https://trid.trb.org/View/2544899</link>
      <description><![CDATA[To improve the rescue efficiency of the jet propulsion unmanned life-saving vehicles (ULSVs), a novel rescue plan based on improved Ant Colony Optimization (ACO) for multiple ULSVs in multi-obstacle environments is proposed in this research. In the proposed approach, an unevenly initialized pheromone matrix is first employed to help the ant colony search a larger space and maintain population diversity. Secondly, considering the issues of poor search efficiency and accuracy in traditional ACO, this study introduces a position update strategy based on exponential approximation and dynamic tracking of optimal values. Meanwhile, a grid partitioning method based on local grid refinement is designed to further enhance the quality of the planned paths and ensure safety. Finally, a dynamic adaptive optimization mechanism is proposed to endow the ACO with the path planning ability in dynamic environments, enabling it to quickly adapt when the environment changes. In the experimental stage, a large number of simulation experiments and practical tests are carried out, and real-world maps and ocean current data are selected to validate the proposed strategy. The results show that the rescue system can plan paths that best meet actual needs and offer higher safety and reliability compared to other algorithms.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 27 May 2025 09:33:54 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://trid.trb.org/View/2544899</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Usage of SLIM methodology for improving the safety of lifeboat drills’ performance</title>
      <link>https://trid.trb.org/View/2528584</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Lifeboat drills are vital to maritime safety, and therefore, international regulations require their performance at prescribed intervals. The primary purpose of these drills is to ensure crew members’ familiarisation with emergency procedures and provide basic training for passengers onboard in case of the necessity to abandon ship. However, although the intention of drills is to improve safety onboard ships, numerous injuries and fatalities occurred during their performance. Therefore, there is a need to determine the most dangerous tasks during the abandon ship and lifeboat drills, the probability of human error and the factors affecting human performance during the execution of such tasks. This paper aims to determine the specific tasks and estimate human error probabilities when performing these drills using the Success Likelihood Index Method (SLIM) human reliability analysis. According to the results, corrective actions are proposed to reduce the number of these accidents and improve safety at sea.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 08 May 2025 14:22:04 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://trid.trb.org/View/2528584</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>An interval type-2 fuzzy MARCOS modelling to assess performance effectiveness of survival craft on cargo ship</title>
      <link>https://trid.trb.org/View/2519933</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Emergency evacuation in maritime transportation is a critical concern, particularly with the expanding public marine transportation sector and significant losses from maritime disasters. This study aims to improve the decision-making process for selecting appropriate survival crafts on cargo ships using an Interval Type-2 Fuzzy MARCOS (IT2F-MARCOS) model. The proposed methodology addresses the inherent uncertainties and manages subjectivities in emergency scenarios, providing a robust framework for optimizing survival craft selection. The IT2F-MARCOS methodology integrates Interval Type-2 Fuzzy Sets (IT2FSs) to manage the ambiguity in qualitative assessments. IT2FSs offer a more accurate representation of vagueness and are used in various multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) problems due to their simplicity and robustness. The MARCOS method, which defines the relationship between alternatives and ideal/negative-ideal solutions, is enhanced with IT2FSs to handle subjective evaluations effectively. The IT2F-MARCOS model involves constructing an IT2F decision-making matrix, defining ideal and anti-ideal solutions, normalizing the IT2F matrix, and calculating weighted IT2F matrices. The utility degrees of alternatives are computed and defuzzified to obtain a crisp ranking of hazards. A panel of maritime experts provided insights through linguistic evaluations, allowing for the prioritization of hazards associated with survival craft performance on cargo ships. The study demonstrates that high-risk scenarios, such as driving vehicles at excessive speeds, are the most critical hazards. The IT2F-MARCOS model effectively identifies and ranks these hazards, offering a comprehensive tool for maritime emergency management and contributing to improved safety and efficiency in maritime operations.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 21 Mar 2025 09:03:37 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://trid.trb.org/View/2519933</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>On water entry/exit of free-fall lifeboats into regular waves: A computational fluid dynamics study</title>
      <link>https://trid.trb.org/View/2510528</link>
      <description><![CDATA[In emergencies or harsh sea conditions, the issue of lifeboat deployment is of critical importance for maritime rescue and occupant safety. However, the water entry behaviors of free-fall lifeboats into regular waves have not been comprehensively studied. To address this gap, this work performs a comprehensive numerical investigation on motion characteristics of water entry process of a free-fall lifeboat into regular waves, and further discusses the safety distance between two lifeboats launched simultaneously. A computational fluid dynamics (CFD)-based model that employs the finite volume method (FVM) and the overset mesh technique is presented for the lifeboat, and the wave generation model in conjunction with the volume of fluid (VOF) method is introduced for regular waves. The accuracy and effectiveness of the presented CFD model are well demonstrated via three water entry cases, i.e., a cone and a lifeboat into calm water, and a symmetric wedge into both calm water and regular waves. The authors' numerical results are found in good agreement with experimental data and other numerical outcomes. Then, a parametric study is performed to numerically investigate five key factors, i.e., vertical velocity (Z-axis), horizontal velocity (Y-axis), pitch angle, hit point of the wave, and the angle between the lifeboat travel direction and the wave propagation direction, on motion characteristics of the lifeboat entering regular waves. Two factors that influence the lateral displacement of the lifeboat during water entry/exit are identified and examined. On this basis, this work further explores and discusses the safety distance between two free-fall lifeboats launched simultaneously. The authors' presented computational framework and results can be beneficial to safety evaluation of lifeboats launched into waves.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 19 Feb 2025 17:11:57 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://trid.trb.org/View/2510528</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>A comprehensive review of water entry/exit of lifeboats and occupant safety</title>
      <link>https://trid.trb.org/View/2423925</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Lifeboats have been serving as an essential maritime life-saving equipment in the case of emergency situations. In recent decades, much effort has been devoted to investigating water entry/exit behaviors of lifeboats as well as occupant safety. However, there exist very few review papers related to such an important topic. In light of this, the purpose of the current work is to present a comprehensive literature review to fill the gap. This is achieved by firstly summarizing the existing studies concerned with water entry/exit of lifeboats from the perspective of numerical simulations and experimental investigations. To be specific, numerical approaches for fluids, structures, and fluid-lifeboat interactions, are categorized, followed by two major experimental methods for water entry/exit of lifeboats. The authors then present common evaluation criteria, numerical approaches, and experimental methods for occupant safety during water entry/exit process. Finally, the performance of numerical approaches and experimental methods for water entry/exit of lifeboats and occupant safety is discussed, and some future directions are pointed out. The present review can serve as a useful guidance for researchers who are interested in this topic.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 18 Sep 2024 17:19:26 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://trid.trb.org/View/2423925</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Numerical investigations on roll decay of a lifeboat in calm water and waves</title>
      <link>https://trid.trb.org/View/2385521</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Lifeboat serves an important water rescue equipment. Capable of self-righting and being stable in free roll decay is crucial for a safe and efficient rescue for a lifeboat. To better understand the roll decay of lifeboat in complex environments, this work performs systematic numerical investigations on roll motion of a lifeboat in both calm water and periodic wave conditions. Investigations of lifeboat in calm water show that it is capable of self-righting with the initial heel angle equal or less than 120°. Although the initial heel angle not affects the final stable status, it has remarkable influence on the self-righting process. Lifeboat with a large initial heel angle subjects to more violent roll motion in the early stage, and thus has weaker stability. Analysis also shows that the nonlinear component of the roll damping coefficient becomes the major part of the total damping coefficient with an increasing initial heel angle. On the other hand, in waves conditions, lifeboat undergoes periodic roll motion in beam waves, and the periodic rolling motion is primarily associated with wave frequency. When the wave frequency approaches the natural frequency of the lifeboat, the rolling motion increases drastically. The present work helps to better understand the self-righting process of a lifeboat in complex environments and also to provide guidance in design and safe operation of a lifeboat.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 10 Jun 2024 17:09:02 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://trid.trb.org/View/2385521</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Multi-fidelity Kriging extrapolation together with CFD for the design of the cross-section of a falling lifeboat</title>
      <link>https://trid.trb.org/View/2335369</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Surrogate modelling techniques such as Kriging are a popular means for cheaply emulating the response of expensive Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations. These surrogate models are often used for exploring a parameterised design space and identifying optimal designs. Multi-fidelity Kriging extends the methodology to incorporate data of variable accuracy and costs to create a more effective surrogate. This work recognises that the grid convergence property of CFD solvers is currently an unused source of information and presents a novel method that, by leveraging the data structure implied by grid convergence, could further improve the performance of the surrogate model and the corresponding optimisation process. Grid convergence states that the simulation solution converges to the true simulation solution as the numerical grid is refined. The proposed method is tested with realistic multi-fidelity data acquired with CFD simulations. The performance of the surrogate model is comparable to an existing method, and likely more robust. More research is needed to explore the full potential of the proposed method. Code has been made available online at https://github.com/robertwenink/MFK-Extrapolation .]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 12 Feb 2024 10:31:12 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://trid.trb.org/View/2335369</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Use of Simulations to Predict Lifeboat Survivability in Extreme Waves and the Effectiveness of Coxswain Performed Actions</title>
      <link>https://trid.trb.org/View/2310050</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Simulations were used to investigate the performance of lifeboats in high sea states using a virtual wave tank. Numerical simulations were performed in regular and irregular waves to study launch performance in extreme weather conditions. Limitations in launch equipment and the role of the timing of coxswains’ actions were investigated. The study indicated that the lifeboat may not be able to successfully launch when significant wave heights are above 8 m and the lifeboat is launched near the trough of a wave. High initial setback and continuous wave forces result in the vessel being unable to clear away from the launch platform. As wave heights increase, the amount of setback and time to exit the launch area increases. Over 35% of launches resulted in the lifeboat being unable to clear from the launch area when significant wave heights were 10 m or above. The study also identified that delay in completion of actions performed by the coxswain, such as releasing the lifeboat hooks and applying throttle, can increase setback and time to exit the launch area.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 22 Dec 2023 08:46:58 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://trid.trb.org/View/2310050</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Investigating Abandonment Errors in Cruise/Passenger Ships: Researching the Reasons Leading to Life-Losses During an Evacuation</title>
      <link>https://trid.trb.org/View/2310048</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Over the course of time and under the auspices of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), safety at sea has significantly increased. Numerous regulations have been adopted in an effort to increase safety standards onboard ships and reduce the probability of accidents. Unfortunately, abandonment procedures still remain at large inefficient. A very indicative example is provided by the evacuation of Costa Concordia, which lasted more than 6 hours, although the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) dictates this type of operation should not exceed 30 minutes. This research effort aims to provide a clear understanding to the causes behind the inefficiencies and flaws existing in the current evacuation procedures. By deploying a qualitative method, causes behind the accidents and how these can affect the abandonment process will be explored; contributions of the human element and how the psychological/behavioral attributes of people can affect the outcome of an evacuation will be included. Finally, the design of passenger/cruise ships will be discussed in an attempt to identify possible areas of improvement.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 22 Dec 2023 08:46:58 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://trid.trb.org/View/2310048</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Estimation of human error probabilities in marine safety services: The case of lifeboat and davits inspection</title>
      <link>https://trid.trb.org/View/2218923</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Shipboard Operation Human Reliability Analysis (SOHRA) method is recognized as a practical tool to predict human error probability (HEP) of operators engaging marine operations. Identifying the generic task types (GTTs) and marine specific error producing conditions (m-EPCs), the tool successfully derives HEP value distribution of critical operations in maritime environment. However, the real-time applications of SOHRA to prioritize and implement the suitable recovery actions have still open for development due to the limited time and expertise at pre-operation stage. This paper adapts SOHRA into lifeboat and davits inspection process as a critical marine safety service. Considering the tasks conducted by marine safety service engineers in routine and remote support modes, the GTTs and m-EPCs are assigned to estimate HEP values. In this context, a remote assistance system, is alternatively extended to involve standardization, camera tracking, and advisory support to enhance human reliability through inspection stages. The findings spotlight the deviation in HEP between routine (8.26E + 00) and remote support (4.04E-01) modes. A set of recovery actions (i.e. instructional materials) to remedy the HEP values in routine mode are suggested while it is not required at the remote mode assistance. The application illustrates that remote supporting to the marine service might reasonably reduce service engineers’ error rates. Consequently, the study is expected to enhance SOHRA applications in inspection period, particularly added value to marine service engineers in duty. The further studies on the proposed remote assistance concept as new generation solution will contribute to the service quality of marine safety companies.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 28 Aug 2023 09:19:10 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://trid.trb.org/View/2218923</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Comprehensive analysis of lifeboat accidents using the Fuzzy Delphi method</title>
      <link>https://trid.trb.org/View/2166791</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Accidents that result in personnel injury or death occur in lifeboats, which are some of the most reliable means of abandoning a ship during drills, routine maintenance, and tests. Comprehensive research on lifeboat accidents is non-existent in literature. This article aims to prioritize the factors responsible for lifeboat accidents and to provide comprehensive recommendations for managers, policymakers, and seafarers. For this purpose, the Fuzzy Delphi method was used in the study. Twelve lifeboat accidents reported by flag states were examined, and detailed accident analyses were made by 12 field experts. As a result of the study, human errors, equipment unsuitability, lack of knowledge, and language problems of the personnel were determined as the most important factors in the causes of lifeboat accidents.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 23 May 2023 10:09:10 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://trid.trb.org/View/2166791</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>3D motion model for the freefall lifeboat during its launching from a moving ship</title>
      <link>https://trid.trb.org/View/2151222</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Studying a lifeboat’s launch motion mechanism is essential for safe marine evacuation. Motion modeling and simulation offer an effective approach for analyzing the motion characteristics of lifeboat launches under different environmental conditions. However, existing models of the complete launch process for a freefall lifeboat (FFLB) do not capture the latitudinal motion of both the FFLB and its parent body, resulting in models with reduced accuracy and general applicability. To address this issue, the authors propose a 3D motion model for FFLB launch from a moving ship using Kane’s method. The launch process is divided into the sliding phase and the water entry phase. To account for the impact of ship motion on the lifeboat during the sliding phase, the authors utilize the mathematical model of Manoeuvring Modelling Group (MMG) to simulate the ship’s motion in waves. Contact forces between the FFLB and the skid are calculated using the node-to-segment method based on elasticity and friction theory. During the water entry phase, hydrodynamic forces are calculated using the strip method, and the slamming force is captured by employing the asymmetric water entry of a finite wedge. Flow separation from the lifeboat’s body is calculated by introducing a fictitious body surface. The authors' experiments verify the accuracy of the model, with acceleration curves matching well, and a 20% maximum relative error of acceleration extremes during the water entry phase. The simulation results indicate that ship latitudinal motion leads to a similar motion of the FFLB. The ship’s longitudinal motion affects the maximum acceleration of the FFLB and may cause it to setback after water entry. Additionally, the occupants experience less impact when the FFLB enters the water near the wave crest.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 21 Apr 2023 09:49:28 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://trid.trb.org/View/2151222</guid>
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