Km H To Mph

China railway ministry vows to fix high-speed woes

SHANGHAI (AP) — China's railways ministry has promised to fix problems with power outages and other malfunctions that have plagued the showcase new high-speed line between Beijing and Shanghai since it opened last month.

Railways Ministry spokesman Wang Yongping apologized Thursday in an "online chat" posted on the ministry's website, acknowledging that the 1,318-kilometer (820-mile) line which began commercial operations June 30 has experienced several dozen power outages in the past week.

He appealed for public understanding, saying that summer thunderstorms and winds have caused some of the problems.

The Beijing-Shanghai line was opened to great fanfare on June 30, the eve of the 90th anniversary of the founding of the ruling Communist Party. Its problems are awkward given the trophy project's purpose of demonstrating China's prowess in advanced technology.

The top operational speed for the line's trains is 300 kilometers per hour (186 mph). The speed was cut from the originally planned 350 kph (217 mph) after questions were raised about safety.

On Wednesday, a high-speed train headed to Beijing broke down due to a failure of its transformers, dropping the speed to 160 kph (100 mph) and passengers had to change trains because of concern the slow speed would disrupt the entire line's operations, Wang explained.

"These malfunctions did not cause any major safety risks, but they have truly affected the railway's operation," he said.

The railway will do its best to overcome the problems and operate the trains more smoothly, Wang said.

Despite the troubles, the railway carried an average of 165,000 passengers daily from July 1 to 13, with a peak of 197,000 people, he said.

Official plans call for China's bullet train network to expand to 8,000 miles (13,000 kilometers) of track this year and 10,000 miles (16,000 kilometers) by 2020.

In this June 27, 2011 photo, crew members check a China Railway High-Speed (CRH) train at the Beijing South Station after a test run on the Beijing-Shanghai high-speed railway in Beijing. China's railways ministry has promised to fix problems with power outages and other malfunctions that have plagued the showcase new high-speed line between Beijing and Shanghai since it opened last month. (AP Photo/Alexander F.

2011 Brabus 800 E V12 Cabrio out-blacks AMG's Black Series ...

Brabus 800 E V12 Cabriolet was equipped with a stainless-steel high-performance exhaust system with 4 tailpipes which was specifically developed for the E-Class Cabriolet. The car has an output of 800hp and 1,420 Nm (1,047 lb-ft) of torque that’s limited electronically to 1,100 Nm (811 lb-ft). With these details, this vehicle can speed-up from 0 to 60mph in only 3.7 sec.

Brabus 800 E V12 Cabriolet receives to a velocity of 200 kph (124 mph) after 9.9 sec and it hits 300 kph (186 mph) after 23.9 sec. About on the final-drive ratio, it could attain a optimum velocity of 370 kph (231 mph). Between the big styling modifications are a new front apron with LED daytime running lights, a wider body kit (include new front sport fenders and unique carbon-fiber rear fender flares) which accommodate the 19″ wheels which are included with high-performance tires from Continental, Pirelli or Yakohama. The suspension and brakes also got upgrades.

In building this supercar the BRABUS engineers drew upon the know-how gained from building numerous E V12 sedans and coupes. Precision work was required to implant the BRABUS 800 V12 Biturbo engine and a reinforced five-speed automatic transmission in the engine bay of the E-Class Cabriolet.

The most powerful engine in the BRABUS lineup is based on the three-valve V12 engine of the current Mercedes S 600 model. The company’s engine-building shop reengineers this engine in all aspects. A special crankshaft with longer stroke and larger pistons in conjunction with increased cylinder bore bumps displacement from standard 5.5 to 6.3 liters (336 to 384 cu. in.). Further modifications to the engine’s inner workings include cylinder heads optimized for mixture flow and sports camshafts.

The engine peripherals are reworked just as extensively: Two special exhaust manifolds with integrated larger turbochargers ensure a more efficient turbocharging process. The BRABUS biturbo system is rounded out with four water-to-air intercoolers which also make a crucial contribution to the exceptional power yield. The stainless-steel high-performance exhaust system with four tailpipes was created specifically for the E-Class Cabriolet. The intake side was also completely redesigned: Under the custom-built hood with integrated carbon-fiber ram-air hood scoop is a completely newly developed intake manifold.

Experimenting with Physics

Structural materials technology, an NDT conference, February 20-23, 1996, San Diego, California

Application of full-scale accelerated pavement testing / John B. Metcalf

Passing sight distance criteria

1000 wonders of nature