Association of Carbon Emissions and Circular Curve in Northwestern China

Yaping Dong, Jinliang Xu, Menghui Li, Xingli Jia and Chao Sun
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Yaping Dong: School of Highway, Chang’an University, Xi’an 710064, China
Jinliang Xu: School of Highway, Chang’an University, Xi’an 710064, China
Menghui Li: School of Highway, Chang’an University, Xi’an 710064, China
Xingli Jia: School of Highway, Chang’an University, Xi’an 710064, China
Chao Sun: School of Automotive and Traffic Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China

Sustainability, 2019, vol. 11, issue 4, 1-15

Abstract: Carbon emissions, produced by automobile fuel consumption, are termed as the key reason leading to global warming. The highway circular curve constitutes a major factor impacting vehicle carbon emissions. It is deemed quite essential to investigate the association existing between circular curve and carbon emissions. On the basis of the IPCC carbon emission conversion methodology, the current research work put forward a carbon emission conversion methodology suitable for China’s diesel status. There are 99 groups’ test data of diesel trucks during the trip, which were attained on 23 circular curves in northwestern China. The test road type was key arterial roads having a design speed greater than or equal to 60 km/h, besides having no roundabouts and crossings. Carbon emission data were generated with the use of carbon emission conversion methodologies and fuel consumption data from field tests. As the results suggested, carbon emissions decline with the increase in the radius of circular curve. A carbon emission quantitative model was established with the radius and length of circular curve, coupled with the initial velocity as the key impacting factors. In comparison with carbon emissions under circular curve section and flat section scenarios, the minimum curve radius impacting carbon emissions is 500 m. This research work provided herein a tool for the quantification of carbon emissions and a reference for a low-carbon highway design.

Keywords: low carbon highway; circular curve; carbon emissions; prediction model; minimum radius (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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