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    <title>Transport Research International Documentation (TRID)</title>
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    <copyright>Copyright © 2026. National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.</copyright>
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    <managingEditor>tris-trb@nas.edu (Bill McLeod)</managingEditor>
    <webMaster>tris-trb@nas.edu (Bill McLeod)</webMaster>
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      <title>Transport Research International Documentation (TRID)</title>
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      <title>VERY FAST TRAINS MOVING AHEAD IN WEST GERMANY</title>
      <link>https://trid.trb.org/View/282245</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Messerschmidt-Bolkow-Blohm is developing the Transrapid 06 magnetic hovertrain.  The train has completed 10,000 kilometer of tests on a test track, and has achieved a speed of 221 mph, with a target of 250 mph.  MBB says the best potential client for Transrapid is the State of Nevada, which wants to make access to Las Vegas easier for people in S California.  German Federal Railway, meanwhile, is developing the intercity Experimental (ICE), which has achieved speeds of 197 mph, close to the design maximum of 27 miles per hour (350 kph).  Some 30 kilometer of high-speed commercial track between Hanover and Wurzburg will open in 8/86.  Each 8-wheel locomotive (1 at each end of the train), generates 4,200 kilowatt for a total of 8,400 kilowatt (11,400 hp).  Passenger cars are made of aluminum. Each has about 3 metric tons of noise-and heat insulation material.  Windows are triple glazed.  The trains will be in service in 1991.  Some 1,000 kilometer of high-speed track will be in service by the mid-1990s, and 3,000 kilometer will be in service soon thereafter.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Sat, 30 Apr 1988 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://trid.trb.org/View/282245</guid>
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      <title>AUTO EMISSIONS CONTROL FACES NEW CHALLENGES</title>
      <link>https://trid.trb.org/View/210216</link>
      <description><![CDATA[To meet stricter emission control standards, 1981 models and beyond will mostly employ three-way catalyst systems for oxidizing hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide while simultaneously reducing nitrogen oxides.  Meanwhile, the use of noble metals (rhodium, platinum) as catalysts must be reduced because of limited supply or increased price. Improvements have been made in catalytic converter efficiency by increasing the surface area per unit volume of catalyst support, both monolithic and pelleted.  The monolithic support is typified by the cylindrical honeycomb of an extruded ceramic made by Corning Glass Works; this type is used by Ford.  More cells and thinner walls in these substrates increase conversion efficiency by several percent and lessen the time required to reach a catalyst-active temperature.  General Motors has found that reducing the diameter and lowering the density of pellets in its substrates have improved conversion efficiency and have also increased resistance to poisoning by lead and phosphorus.  GM has also found that it can reduce platinum and increase palladium in its converters while still improving performance.  Palladium is a good oxidation catalyst, is plentiful, and is cheaper.  Although it is relatively more susceptible to poisoning, it is resistant to thermal sintering and has a low "light-off" temperature. The low-density substrate also improves the performance of the rhodium-reducing catalyst in three-way systems.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Sun, 30 Dec 1984 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://trid.trb.org/View/210216</guid>
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      <title>HAZARDOUS CHEMICALS: PROGRAM AIMS AT CUTTING TRUCK SPILLS</title>
      <link>https://trid.trb.org/View/209416</link>
      <description><![CDATA[A national effort will begin November 1 to reduce the number of incidents involving hazardous chemical spills from trucks.  The Chemical Manufacturers Association, American Trucking Associations, and the National Tank Truck Carriers have set up a motor carrier safety survey that will encourage truck companies to keep up safety standards and keep chemical companies informed of the records of the carriers.  This national program will augment existing Department of Transportation regulations on transport of chemicals.  It is estimated that about 180 million shipments of hazardous chemicals are made each year, almost all without incident.  In 1983, DOT received reports of only 4829 spills of hazardous chemicals, and about 80% or more of these were not serious.  DOT regulations require that any spill of more than 5 gal be reported.  The key element of the program is a detailed, six-page survey that will be filled out by the motor carriers, or, if desired, by an independent third party.  It asks for information on company safety policies, driver qualifications and training, the company's emergency response practices, and regular inspection and maintenance program.  Shippers also can conduct an independent survey, or audit, of the carrier, a copy of which will be provided to the motor carrier. Carriers will be asked to complete the survey at least every two years, to keep the information current.  Copies of the survey can be used by the carrier or shipper.  (Author)]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 30 Nov 1984 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://trid.trb.org/View/209416</guid>
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      <title>LASER IR (INFRARED) SYSTEM ACCURATELY ANALYZES AUTO EXHAUST GASES</title>
      <link>https://trid.trb.org/View/194849</link>
      <description><![CDATA[A laser IR (infrared) system has been developed at the General Motors Res. Labs. which can make rapid measurements of all species of interest in the exhaust gas stream (ammonia, hydrocarbons, and the oxides of carbon, sulfur, and nitrogen).  This system has been realized through the advent of high-resolution, tunable IR laser diodes.  The lifetime of the lead-salt IR laser diodes was extended by the following modifications: plating the "p-side" of the diode with thin layers of gold and indium; and sandwiching another thin layer of platinum between the gold and the indium to prevent indium diffusion.  The GM lab now produces lead-salt IR lasers that remain stable for more than a year. To date, sulfuric acid vapor, methane, and carbon monoxide (CO) have been studied with the IR spectrometer equipped with the improved lasers.  Controlling factors in sulfate emissions are found to be the fuel sulfur content and the catalyst temperature.  Exhaust methane levels are higher (90 to 150 ppm) at idle or during deceleration and much lower (about 10 ppm) during acceleration at high speed. Excursions into lean and rich air/fuel conditions occur even when an engine is set for stoichiometric operation, and CO levels and conversion vary widely during these swings.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Sat, 30 Jul 1983 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://trid.trb.org/View/194849</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>NICKEL RECOVERY AIDS BATTERY DEVELOPMENT</title>
      <link>https://trid.trb.org/View/173718</link>
      <description><![CDATA[A process for making nickel-oxide batteries from reclaimed nickel from dead batteries has been developed and will be a boost toward commercialization of the battery.  General Motors (GM) is developing the zinc/nickel-oxide battery for the small commuter-type electric car that the company expects to produce in a few years.  GM is working to get an energy density rating of 32 watt-hours per pound (conventional lead-acid batteries are rated at about 12 watt-hours per pound).  The recovery process handles both the contaminated nickel hydroxide (positive electrodes) and the nickel in the matrix.  The process reclaimed more than 96% of the nickel from pilot production batteries that were discharged repeatedly until they were no longer useful. Details of the recovery process are briefly outlined.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 29 Jan 1982 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://trid.trb.org/View/173718</guid>
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      <title>CHEMICAL TRANSPORT--COPING WITH DISASTERS</title>
      <link>https://trid.trb.org/View/161088</link>
      <description><![CDATA[This article describes some of the services available to communities both in planning for chemical disasters and in handling them when they occur.  The oldest and most widely known is CHEMTREC, the Chemical Manufacturers' Association's Chemical Transportation Emergency Center, which offers a 24-hour, information hot-line that can provide data on the hazardous properties of about 18,000 chemicals and chemical classes for fire fighters and other on-the-scene emergency personnel. It will also locate and notify the chemical shipper who can provide expert assistance over the telephone or on the scene.  The US Coast Guard's National Response Center has information on only 980 chemicals.  However, these include those most common in accidents; and the information is more detailed.  The Center's computer system can predict such things as how far and how fast the chemicals can be expected to move and how hazardous they will be to people and the environment at each step in their migration.  Notifying the Center is required by law in the case of spillage of certain specified hazardous chemicals.  A federal representative is dispatched to the scene to coordinate clean-up efforts and call up federal funds and resources if other resources are inadequate.  The Coast Guard also makes its hazards assessment computer program available for community emergency response planning. The program can be used to simulate the finds of incidents that might occur in a community so ways can be developed to handle them.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 12 Jun 1981 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://trid.trb.org/View/161088</guid>
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      <title>ORGANIC BATTERY USES POLYACETYLENE ELECTRODES</title>
      <link>https://trid.trb.org/View/166825</link>
      <description><![CDATA[A lightweight, rechargeable organic storage battery that uses thin, stretchable film of polyacetylene instead of metal ions or free metal has been developed at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. Polyacetylene, normally a semiconductor, becomes, in effect, a metallic conductor when doped electrochemically.  Thus, an electrochemical cell can be created by immersing two small pieces of polyacetylene film in a suitable electrolyte and connecting each film to one terminal of a dc power source.  When immersed in a solution of tetrabutylammonium perchlorate in propylene carbonate, the polyacetylene strip serving as anode is oxidized and becomes doped with perchlorate anion; while the cathode strip is reduced and becomes doped with tetrabutylammonium cation.  Because it is so lightweight and provides so much power e.g., 3.7 volts and 20 milliamps per sq cm of film), this type of battery is considered ideal for electric vehicles.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 12 Jun 1981 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://trid.trb.org/View/166825</guid>
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      <title>FLEET USE OFFERS NICHE FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLES</title>
      <link>https://trid.trb.org/View/44851</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Lucas Industries, A U.K.-based automotive and electrical equipment conglomerate, has developed an elect vehicle for urban commercial applications.  The vehicle is a taxi weighing 2250 kb. 40% of which is the weight of a replaceable pack of 36 6-volt lead-acid batteries.  Top speed is about 60 km/hr and range is about 160 km.  Another firm, the Copper Development Association, has commissioned the development of an electric "town car", considered to be more applicable than the electric taxi in the U.S.  The subcompact town car weighs 1330 kb and has a pack of 18 6-volt lead-acid batteries.  It carries two passengers with reasonable space and comfort.  Top speed is about 100 km/hr and range is about 120 km.  In spite of these developments, however, an ERDA study has found that electric vehicles are not the ultimate remedy for energy and environmental problems.  They appear to render useful service only where petroleum conservation is the important factor.  Air quality would be little affected, and travel costs would be higher.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 05 Jun 1981 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://trid.trb.org/View/44851</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>INSTITUTE MARKS JOINT EFFORT ON AUTO EMISSIONS</title>
      <link>https://trid.trb.org/View/165780</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The automotive industry and the Federal Government have joined forces to form the independent Health Effects Institute which seeks to end the longstanding dispute between government and industry over auto exhaust emission standards.  The Institute will consist of two scientific boards.  The Health Research Board will determine what research is needed and oversee its implementation.  The Health Review Board will review the results of the research EPA will contribute $1 million of the Institute's initial $3.5 million budget, with the rest coming from the major auto companies and philanthropic foundations.  It is hoped that this independent group will take the scientific testing needed to ascertain health effects of motor vehicles out of the adversarial context and supply both EPA and the industry with the best common base that independent scientific investigation can provide for determining the appropriate regulatory consequences.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 15 Apr 1981 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://trid.trb.org/View/165780</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>LASER IR SYSTEM ACCURATELY ANALYZES AUTO EXHAUST GASES</title>
      <link>https://trid.trb.org/View/159831</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Scientists at General Motors Research Laboratories have built a laser IR system that can make fast and accurate measurements of all the "species of interest" in the exhaust stream--i.e., ammonia, hydrocarbons, and the oxides of carbon, sulfur, and nitrogen.  The advent of high-resolution, tunable IR laser diodes solved all the problems of conventional IR spectrometry--in principle. The high-intensity beam allowed evaluation in a fraction of a second. Exact frequencies could be chosen to determine presence and quantity of a selected gas, with no interferences.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 15 Apr 1981 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://trid.trb.org/View/159831</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>SULFUR CONCRETE OFFERS CORROSION RESISTANCE</title>
      <link>https://trid.trb.org/View/160485</link>
      <description><![CDATA[A mixture of sulfur, plasticizer, and mineral aggregates that holds up under several corrosive conditions has been developed as a result of the US Bureau of Mines sulfur utilization program.  A sulphur concrete tank used to store an extremely corrosive acidic leaching solution showed no signs of damage after 16 months.  Sulfur concrete test slabs exposed to high concentrations of sulfuric acid for two years showed no signs of corrosion while slabs of portland cement concrete had virtually disintegrated.  Because it resists attack by chloride ions and absorbs very little moisture (0.05 percent or less), the mix is highly resistent to salt water, thus lending itself to marine applications. Several saving tests in progress suggest it may provide a high-quality paving surface without the use of petroleum-based asphalt.  Sulphex, a plasticized sulfur compound being texted by Southwest Research Institute, can be formulated to resemble either flexible asphalt or rigid concrete pavements.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 15 Apr 1981 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://trid.trb.org/View/160485</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>NEW POLYCARBONATE MAY REPLACE AUTOGLASS</title>
      <link>https://trid.trb.org/View/146260</link>
      <description><![CDATA[It is claimed that a major obstacle to the use of polycarbonate sheet for automotive glazing applications has been overcome with the development of Margard, a new silicone-coated polycarbonate which is nearly as abrasion resistant as glass.  The key to the silicone-coating process is a primer which makes possible the bonding of the silicone to the substrate.  The new material is already finding uses in other transportation equipment.  A major maker of off-highway equipment has replaced wire-reinforced safety glass with Margard.  Amtrak has specified the silicone-coated material for the side windows of 1800 new passenger cars.   The Milwaukee transit system, in addition to specifying Margard for new buses, eventually will use it to replace first-generation plastic glazing in older buses.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 31 Mar 1981 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://trid.trb.org/View/146260</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>PHOTOACOUSTICS MONITORS AUTO SOOT EMISSIONS</title>
      <link>https://trid.trb.org/View/146261</link>
      <description><![CDATA[A photoacoustic technique is proving to be helpful  for measuring soot emissions in auto engine exhausts.  It has been found that the use of the technique could be broadened to include monitoring the effect of minor engine adjustments while the engine is operating.  The fast response time makes it possible to analyze mass emissions as a function of the mode of engine operation.  The technique could be used to measure particulates continuously over a driving cycle, and the results are immediately available.  Dynamometer tests were performed on Mercedes diesel and a gasoline-powered Cougar Proco according to a federal test procedure, and exhausts were monitored with the photoacoustic device. Integration of the results over a 8.5-minute test indicates that Mercedes produced about 48 times more soot than did the Cougar.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 31 Mar 1980 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://trid.trb.org/View/146261</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>NEW GM BATTERY MAKES ELECTRIC CAR PRACTICAL</title>
      <link>https://trid.trb.org/View/146259</link>
      <description><![CDATA[A breakthrough in zinc-nickel oxide battery technology has been announced.  The current zinc-nickel oxide cells have a rating of 27 watt-hours per pound, and GM wants to push that up to 32.  Recharging the batteries takes eight hours.  The vehicle will be a specially designed, specific-purpose vehicle which could be a small urban or commuter car or a delivery van.  It is estimated that, based on today's general prices, it would take 1.5 cents worth of electricity to run a small electic vehicle a mile.  Howver, amortizing the batteries would add to the cost of operation of the electric vehicles.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 31 Mar 1980 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://trid.trb.org/View/146259</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>SULFUR-ASPHALT BLEND POISED FOR PAVING USE</title>
      <link>https://trid.trb.org/View/146449</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Under the auspices of the Illinois Department of Transportation, eight miles of Illinois Route 49 have just been resurfaced and widened with about 20,000 tons of sulfur-asphalt at a cost of $1.3 million.  The project used a sulfur-asphalt technology invented by Frank E.  Pronk and developed and licensed by the Sulphur Development Institute of Canada (SUDIC), Calgary, Alta.  Rather than using the standard asphalt binder, the Pronk process replaces up to 40% of the asphalt with molten sulfur.  The resulting emulsion, stabilized with an additive, is mixed with regular aggregate (sand, stone, crushed rock) to form the paving material.  Several benefits accrue: Asphalt derived from increasingly scarcer and more costly petroleum is replaced with lower-priced and more abundant sulfur; lower quality--thus more economical--aggregates can be used; thinner pavements are made possible because sulfur asphalts are stronger and more durable than conventional pavement; fuel costs for producing the sulfur-asphalt mix are reduced; Gulf Oil Canada Ltd., another firm developing sulfur-asphalt technology, uses a somewhat different emulsion process that involves the use of specially designed blender, but the end product is essentially the same as Pronk's; this technology is one of two basic approaches to sulfur-containing asphalts.  The second approach, developed by Shell Canada Ltd., uses the conventional asphalt binder but replaces high-quality aggregate with a mixture of sulfur and sand; in addition to the Illinois paving project, two other Pronk sulfur-asphalt placements were made this year in Minnesota and Wasington.  The $300,000 Washington program included construction of a doughnut-shaped test track that is being used to assess the long-term durability of sulfur-asphalt; thus far, Gulf Oil Canada has laid 15 test roads in the U.S., Canada, and the Netherlands, and will begin building its first in Saudi Arabia next month.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 30 Jan 1980 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://trid.trb.org/View/146449</guid>
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