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1 – 10 of 223Zhenggang Zhu and Michael Kaliske
The purpose of this paper is to present a numerical model of coupled heat, moisture transfer and their effects on the mechanical deformations of wood during the drying process.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to present a numerical model of coupled heat, moisture transfer and their effects on the mechanical deformations of wood during the drying process.
Design/methodology/approach
Coupling among heat, moisture, and mechanical deformations is solved consecutively by use of sparse solver of MATLAB. The weighted residual of the equilibrium equations of drying process of wood, based on finite element method, is investigated. The stress and plastic strain increments can be solved with Newton's method.
Findings
The numerical model is applied to a plain strain problem of a long wood board taken from the outer region of the wood log. Numerical simulation reveals the stress reversal during the drying process. The mechanical deformations and the principle stresses of a three‐dimensional wood board in consideration of the orthotropic properties are presented.
Originality/value
Plane strain and plane stress are analysed. The tangential modulus is derived. The transformation of the stress and strain tensors between the local coordinate system resulting from the cylindrical properties of wood and the global one is evaluated. Selection of element type for temperature, moisture content and displacement is discussed.
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Antti Nurmi, Petri Hallikainen and Matti Rossi
In large system development efforts organizational and managerial issues are often more challenging than technical ones. One of the key concerns of managers is the control and…
Abstract
Purpose
In large system development efforts organizational and managerial issues are often more challenging than technical ones. One of the key concerns of managers is the control and evaluation of the overall development effort. The purpose of this paper was to analyze the evaluation of system development process in a setting where there are multiple stakeholders in multiple organizations that develop a common information system (IS). The case is a consortium of universities that has developed a common student registrar system over a period of more than ten years.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors used a social process model to analyze the episodes and encounters in the system development and evaluation process. The research approach can be characterized as action case.
Findings
The authors found that in the early stages of system development the evaluation was emergent or even non‐existent. As the system was developed further and issues, such as delays and missing features, arose, there was a need for better control of the process. Thus, the evaluation process evolved through a series of critical encounters into a more proactive one.
Research limitations/implications
The authors studied only one case so broad generalizations directly from the case cannot be made. However, the results could hold true for similar settings. The authors believe that the results are interesting to both researchers and practitioners since in outsourcing relationships the consortium kind of arrangement is becoming more common.
Originality/value
The authors analyze the evolution of IS evaluation processes in a setting with multiple client and vendor organizations and reveal the complexities of system evaluation in such settings. Moreover, they introduce three new concepts: reactive, transitional and proactive evaluation processes. These concepts can help researchers and practitioners to better understand the nature of the IS evaluation processes and to possibly choose an evaluation approach that has a better “fit” with the development situation at hand.
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Kongkiti Phusavat, Narongsak Comepa, Agnieszka Sitko‐Lutek and Keng‐Boon Ooi
The aim of this paper is to raise an awareness of intangible assets among large manufacturing firms in Thailand. As a result, the research is to examine empirically the effects of…
Abstract
Purpose
The aim of this paper is to raise an awareness of intangible assets among large manufacturing firms in Thailand. As a result, the research is to examine empirically the effects of intellectual capital (IC), and its key components (e.g. human capital, structural capital, and innovation capital) on a manufacturing firm's industrial operations and performance.
Design/methodology/approach
The required data for this research are collected from leading manufacturing firms' annual reports. These firms are listed in stock exchange of Thailand 100. The value added intellectual coefficient (VAIC) is adapted to measure IC. Then, the co‐relation analysis and multi‐regression model are applied to learn more about the roles of VAIC and its impacts on a manufacturing firm's performance.
Findings
IC positively and significantly affects a manufacturing firm's performance. It impacts all four performance indicators under study, i.e. return on equity, return on assets, revenue growth, and employee productivity. In addition, based on the relatively high adjusted R2, human capital exhibits the relationships with employee productivity.
Originality/value
The findings highlight the role of IC in strengthening a manufacturing firm's long‐term competitiveness advantage. The results from the paper have helped develop policy initiatives for Department of Industrial Work in Thailand such as tax scheme and incentives for R&D spending, promotion of university partnerships for R&D, and training for more effective knowledge management practices.
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Modupeola Dada, Patricia Popoola, Ntombi Mathe, Sisa Pityana and Samson Adeosun
In this study, AlCoCrFeNi–Cu (Cu-based) and AlCoCrFeNi–Ti (Ti-based) high entropy alloys (HEAs) were fabricated using a direct blown powder technique via laser additive…
Abstract
Purpose
In this study, AlCoCrFeNi–Cu (Cu-based) and AlCoCrFeNi–Ti (Ti-based) high entropy alloys (HEAs) were fabricated using a direct blown powder technique via laser additive manufacturing on an A301 steel baseplate for aerospace applications. The purpose of this research is to investigate the electrical resistivity and oxidation behavior of the as-built copper (Cu)- and titanium (Ti)-based alloys and to understand the alloying effect, the HEAs core effects and the influence of laser parameters on the physical properties of the alloys.
Design/methodology/approach
The as-received AlCoCrFeNiCu and AlCoCrFeNiTi powders were used to fabricate HEA clads on an A301 steel baseplate preheated at 400°C using a 3 kW Rofin Sinar dY044 continuous-wave laser-deposition system fitted with a KUKA robotic arm. The deposits were sectioned using an electric cutting machine and prepared by standard metallographic methods to investigate the electrical and oxidation properties of the alloys.
Findings
The results showed that the laser power had the most influence on the physical properties of the alloys. The Ti-based alloy had better resistivity than the Cu-based alloy, whereas the Cu-based alloy had better oxidation residence than the Ti-based alloy which attributed to the compositional alloying effect (Cu, aluminum and nickel) and the orderliness of the lattice, which is significantly associated with the electron transportation; consequently, the more distorted the lattice, the easier the transportation of electrons and the better the properties of the HEAs.
Originality/value
It is evident from the studies that the composition of HEAs and the laser processing parameters are two significant factors that influence the physical properties of laser deposited HEAs for aerospace applications.
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Adelaide Nespoli, Nicola Bennato, Elena Villa and Francesca Passaretti
This paper aims to investigate the microstructural anisotropy of Ti-6Al-4V samples fabricated by selective laser melting.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to investigate the microstructural anisotropy of Ti-6Al-4V samples fabricated by selective laser melting.
Design/methodology/approach
Specimens are fabricated through a Renishaw AM400 selective laser melting machine. Three microstructures (as-built, 850°C annealed and 1,050°C annealed) and two building orientations, parallel (PA) and perpendicular (PE) to the building platform, are considered. Starting from in-depth microscopic observations and comprehensive electron backscattered diffraction imaging, the study addresses non-conventional techniques such as internal friction and electrical resistivity measurements to assess the anisotropy of the fabricated parts.
Findings
Microscope observations highlight a fine texture with columnar grains parallel to the building direction in the as-built and 850°C annealed samples. Besides, coarse grains characterized the 1,050°C annealed specimens. Internal friction measurements pointed out the presence of internal stress while storage modulus analyses appear sensitive to texture. Electrical resistivity is resulted to be dependent on grain orientation.
Originality/value
The work uses some novel characterization techniques to study the anisotropy and internal stresses of Ti-6Al-4V samples processed by selective laser melting. Mechanical spectroscopy results suitable in this kind of study, as it mimics the operating conditions of the material.
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Abrar Malik, Mir Irfan Ul Haq, Ankush Raina and Kapil Gupta
Environmental degradation has emerged as one of the major limitations of industrial revolution and has led to an increased focus towards developing sustainable strategies and…
Abstract
Purpose
Environmental degradation has emerged as one of the major limitations of industrial revolution and has led to an increased focus towards developing sustainable strategies and techniques. This paper aims to highlight the sustainability aspects of three-dimensional (3D) printing technology that helps towards a better implementation of Industry 4.0. It also aims to provide a brief picture of relationships between 3D printing, Industry 4.0 and sustainability. The major goal is to facilitate the researchers, scholars, engineers and recommend further research, development and innovations in the field.
Design/methodology/approach
The various enabling factors for implementation of Industry 4.0 are discussed in detail. Some barriers to incorporation of 3D Printing, its applications areas and global market scenario are also discussed. A through literature review has been done to study the detailed relationships between 3D printing, Industry 4.0 and sustainability.
Findings
The technological benefits of 3D printing are many such as weight savings, waste minimization and energy savings. Further, the production of new 3D printable materials with improved features helps in reducing the wastage of material during the process. 3D printing if used at a large scale would help industries to implement the concept of Industry 4.0.
Originality/value
This paper focuses on discussing technological revolution under Industry 4.0 and incorporates 3D printing-type technologies that largely change the product manufacturing scenario. The interrelationships between 3D printing, Industry 4.0 and sustainability have been discussed.
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Centralised workplace and decentralised facilities management organisations combine several interacting functions. The purpose of this paper is to examine the workplace service…
Abstract
Centralised workplace and decentralised facilities management organisations combine several interacting functions. The purpose of this paper is to examine the workplace service environment from a ‘network organisation’ perspective comprising workplace knowledge‐holder roles that have both formal and informal connections. This paper proposes that the core business customers, in‐house and outsourced service providers, and the contract managers have a similar need to interact and learn from each other and presents a framework for ‘network service organisations’ to describe their changing collaborative roles. First, the customer interfaces of workplace networks are identified. Secondly, a theoretical framework for a network service organisation is presented, followed by a section on creating centres of excellence for workplace knowledge. Thirdly, a generic governance model for network collaboration is introduced. The aim of the paper is to increase knowledge about understanding and managing network relations in the new workplace environment. The paper ends with a discussion on limitations to formal cooperation and the need for further research on informal relationships within these networks.
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Mohamad Saraee, Seyed Vahid Moosavi and Shabnam Rezapour
This paper aims to present a practical application of Self Organizing Map (SOM) and decision tree algorithms to model a multi‐response machining process and to provide a set of…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to present a practical application of Self Organizing Map (SOM) and decision tree algorithms to model a multi‐response machining process and to provide a set of control rules for this process.
Design/methodology/approach
SOM is a powerful artificial neural network approach used for analyzing and visualizing high‐dimensional data. Wire electrical discharge machining (WEDM) process is a complex and expensive machining process, in which there are a lot of factors having effects on the outputs of the process. In this work, after collecting a dataset based on a series of designed experiments, the paper applied SOM to this dataset in order to analyse the underlying relations between input and output variables as well as interactions between input variables. The results are compared with the results obtained from decision tree algorithm.
Findings
Based on the analysis of the results obtained, the paper extracted interrelationships between variables as well as a set of control rules for prediction of the process outputs. The results of the new experiments based on these rules, clearly demonstrate that the paper's predictions are valid, interesting and useful.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first time SOM and decision tree has been applied to the WEDM process successfully.
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Omar Alejandro Valdés-Saucedo, Liliana Judith Vázquez-Rodríguez, Brenda López-Zárate, Lorena Garza-Tovar, Nora Aleyda García-Gómez, Alfredo Artigas, Alberto Monsalve, Javier H. Humberto Ramírez-Ramírez, Francisco Aurelio Pérez-González, Rafael Colás and Nelson Federico Garza-Montes-de-Oca
This paper aims to analyse the surface evolution of pure recycled titanium subjected to isothermal and cyclic oxidation conditions using dry air as oxidant gas. It is important to…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to analyse the surface evolution of pure recycled titanium subjected to isothermal and cyclic oxidation conditions using dry air as oxidant gas. It is important to mention that the cyclic oxidation behaviour of pure titanium is a process that has been barely studied.
Design/methodology/approach
An isothermal and cyclic oxidation reactor was built for these purposes. This installation allows the oxidation of material under the action of any atmosphere and for temperatures up to 1,200°C. For this study, the oxidation behaviour of the material was studied at 850°C and 950°C.
Findings
Oxide growth under isothermal oxidation conditions in air follows a parabolic behaviour with an activation energy of 118 kJ/mol, and the oxide phase formed on the surface of the metal was rutile. The cyclic oxidation of the material indicates that oxide is spalled from the surface following linear behaviours; this phenomenon is controlled by the thermal stresses experienced by the samples during heating and cooling cycles.
Originality/value
The material is obtained from the production of electrolytic copper, and during its reprocessing practices at high temperature, it was thought that it could experience some abnormal oxidation. In addition, given that pure titanium is currently used for biomedical application, some surface degree can be given by means of oxidation and subsequent spallation process situation that is found during the cyclic oxidation experiments, which could be a low-cost method to engineer a surface for these purposes.
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Intangible capital (IC) is an important factor for economic growth and firm performance. The role IC has played has become even more crucial in recent decades, possibly…
Abstract
Purpose
Intangible capital (IC) is an important factor for economic growth and firm performance. The role IC has played has become even more crucial in recent decades, possibly influencing debt capacity and default risk assessment. This paper studies how entrepreneurial and employee-based IC affects financial leverage.
Design/methodology/approach
Employer–employee unbalanced panel data provided by Statistics Finland that refer to Finnish small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are used. Intangibles are measured with an expenditure-based method. Employee-based IC and entrepreneurial knowledge are used to explain debt financing in SMEs.
Findings
The findings imply that IC-intensive firms have less debt capacity due to weak pledgeability and asymmetric information between borrower and lender. Entrepreneurs with managerial or financial knowledge increase the firm's debt capacity compared to other entrepreneurs, especially in knowledge-intensive services (KIS). One explanation is that the entrepreneurs are more competent in negotiating with lenders as the entrepreneurs possess better financial skills. Entrepreneurs with technical knowledge decrease the firm's debt capacity in all industries.
Originality/value
While some earlier research focused on the IC–financial leverage relationship, hardly any study has looked at entrepreneurial IC. This paper provides new insights by including entrepreneurial IC alongside employee-based IC.
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