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Article
Publication date: 30 April 2020

Haijing Sun, Weihai Xue, Jiaxin Xu, Guoliang Chen and Jie Sun

The purpose of this work is to provide theoretical guidance and experimental analysis for optimized cathodic protection (CP) design of low alloy steel in deep water environments.

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this work is to provide theoretical guidance and experimental analysis for optimized cathodic protection (CP) design of low alloy steel in deep water environments.

Design/methodology/approach

In the present study, the CP criteria of 10Ni5CrMoV low alloy steel were investigated in a simulated deep water environment (350 m) regarding the theoretical protection potential and measured protection potential. The influences of hydrostatic pressure (HP) and temperature were also discussed in detail. The theoretical protection potential was analyzed with the Nernst equation, and the measured minimum protection potential was derived by extrapolating the Tafel portion of anodic polarization curves.

Findings

The results indicate that the minimum protection potential of low alloy steel shifts to a positive value in a deep-ocean environment. This can be attributed to the combined effects of HP and the temperature. Moreover, the temperature has a stronger influence compared with HP. The results suggest that the CP potential criteria used in shallow water are still applicable in the deep ocean, which is further confirmed through the SEM and x-ray diffraction analysis of the corrosion products resulted from the potentiostatic cathodic polarization experiments at −0.85 VCSE.

Originality/value

In recent decades, successful applications of CP for long-term corrosion protection of the steel components applied at a subsea level have enabled the offshore industry to develop reliable and optimized CP systems for shallow water. However, differences in the seawater environment at greater depths have raised concerns regarding the applicability of the existing CP design for deeper water environments. Hence, this research focuses on the CP criteria of low alloy steel in simulated deep water environment concerning the theoretical protection potential and measured protection potential. The influences of HP and temperature were also discussed.

Details

Anti-Corrosion Methods and Materials, vol. 67 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0003-5599

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 22 June 2010

Tao Zhang, Yi Zhu and Jingyan Song

The purpose of this paper is to focus on the local minima issue encountered in motion planning by the artificial potential field (APF) method, investigate the currently existing…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to focus on the local minima issue encountered in motion planning by the artificial potential field (APF) method, investigate the currently existing approaches and analyze four types of previous methods. Based on the conclusions of analysis, this paper presents an improved wall‐following approach for real‐time application in mobile robots.

Design/methodology/approach

In the proposed method, new switching conditions among various behaviors are reasonably designed in order to guarantee the reliability and the generality of the method. In addition, path memory is incorporated in this method to enhance the robot's cognition capability to the environment. Therefore, the new method greatly weakens the blindness of decision making of robot and it is very helpful to select appropriate behaviors facing to the changeable situation. Comparing with the previous methods which are normally considering specific obstacles, the effectiveness of this proposed method for the environment with convex polygon‐shaped obstacles has been theoretically proved. The simulation and experimental results further demonstrate that the proposed method is adaptable for the environment with convex polygon‐shaped obstacles or non‐convex polygon‐shaped obstacles. It has more widely generality and adaptiveness than other existed methods in complicated unknown environment.

Findings

The proposed method can effectively realize real time motion planning with high reliability and generality. The cognition capability of mobile robot to the environment can be improved in order to adapt to the changeable situation. The proposed method can be suitable to more complex unknown environment. It is more applicable for actual environment comparing with other traditional APF methods.

Originality/value

This paper has widely investigated the currently existed approaches and analyzes deeply on four types of traditional APF methods adopted for real time motion planning in unknown environment with simulation works. Based on the conclusions of analysis, this paper presents an improved wall‐following approach. The proposed method can realize real time motion planning considering more complex environment with high reliability and generality. The simulation and experimental results further demonstrate that the proposed method is adaptable for the environment with convex polygon‐shaped obstacles or non‐convex polygon‐shaped obstacles. It has more widely generality and adaptiveness than other existed methods in complicated unknown environment.

Details

Industrial Robot: An International Journal, vol. 37 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0143-991X

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 31 August 2010

Susan L. Greener

“I can't do online learning”. This is a surprisingly common response from professional postgraduate students who have a narrow view of what online learning might comprise. Images…

2540

Abstract

Purpose

“I can't do online learning”. This is a surprisingly common response from professional postgraduate students who have a narrow view of what online learning might comprise. Images of screen‐gazing at mega‐bytes of text or childish multi‐choice quizzes on CD‐ROMs have encouraged strange reactionary responses from many otherwise engaged learners. This paper aims to address these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper reports a qualitative study which, among other things, aimed to explore the views of higher education (HE) teachers experienced in the use of virtual learning environments (VLEs) about the variation and value of specific learning styles and approaches in relation to effective learning in those online environments. University teachers speak readily about learning style preferences, cognitive strategies and andragogical principles (based on Knowles) of self‐directed or self‐managed learning, but often in terms which suggest that VLEs favour certain individual styles.

Findings

The findings from a detailed grounded analysis of interview data from ten enthusiasts for online learning suggest a potential plasticity of online learning environments which can accommodate any style or strategy. There was a sense in the transcripts of a different kind of learning space, which could mould itself to these differences in a way which could not be achieved in a traditional classroom. Some authors, including Palloff and Pratt, identify the importance of differing learning styles and approaches to learning in HE and tackle the issue of how to accommodate such differences online.

Research limitations/implications

This research suggested that the plasticity of the online learning environment compensated for such variety of style, without the need for engineering learning activities online to cater for specific styles. Online, the time flexibility and potential for learner control can support multiple styles and strategies, provided the teacher has designed the environment to allow this, and of course that the relevant technologies are available to the teacher.

Practical implications

So, rather than the environment dictating design, within the limits of available technologies, the teacher's approach to design may dictate the degree to which the plastic potential of the online environment is available to the learner.

Originality/value

The concept of plasticity is borrowed from other scientific disciplines. Applying this to the virtual learning space opens up the pedagogical perspective.

Details

Campus-Wide Information Systems, vol. 27 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1065-0741

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 August 2022

Toshit Jain, Jinesh Kumar Jain, Rajeev Agrawal and Shubha Johri

Environmental impact and changes are becoming essential in textile and yarn industries, where reliable measurement of parameters related to processing harmful substances needs to…

Abstract

Purpose

Environmental impact and changes are becoming essential in textile and yarn industries, where reliable measurement of parameters related to processing harmful substances needs to be examined. Such findings can be cumulated using smart assessment like life cycle analysis. The ecological impact category, supply chain, and climate-changing factors were considered for the necessary assessment.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper applies the Life Cycle Assessment technique in the textile and yarn industry to estimate critical environmental potentials. The critical input for the fabric and yarn industry was put in the GaBi software model to estimate various environmental potentials.

Findings

Global warming potential, electricity, and raw cotton consumption in the fabric and yarn industry were critical concerns where attention should be focused on minimizing environmental potentials from cradle to gate assessment.

Research limitations/implications

This qualitative study is made via the industry case-wise inputs and outputs, which can vary with demographic conditions. Some machine and human constraints have not been implemented in modelling life cycle model for smart simulation. Smart simulation helps in linking different parameters and simulates their combined effects on the product life cycle.

Practical implications

This modelling approach will help access pollution constituents in different supply chain production processes and optimize them simultaneously.

Originality/value

The raw data used in this analysis are collected from an Indian small scale textile industry. In the textile fabrication industry, earlier assessments were carried out in cotton generation, impact of PET, cradle to grave assessment of textile products and garment processing only. In this research the smart model is drawn to consider each input parameter of yarn and textile fabric to determine the criticality of each input in this assessment. This article mainly talks about life cycle and circular supply assessment applied to first time for both cotton to yarn processing and yarn to fabric industry for necessary estimation of environment potentials.

Details

Management of Environmental Quality: An International Journal, vol. 34 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1477-7835

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 12 September 2016

Miikka Palvalin and Maiju Vuolle

The purpose of this paper is to introduce and evaluate methods for analysing the impacts of work environment changes. New working practices and work environments present the…

2828

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to introduce and evaluate methods for analysing the impacts of work environment changes. New working practices and work environments present the potential to improve both the productivity and the wellbeing of knowledge workers, and more widely, the performance of organisations and the wider society. The flexibility offered by information and communication technology has influenced changes in the physical environment where activity-based offices are becoming the standard. Research offers some evidence on the impacts of work environment changes, but studies examining methods that could be useful in capturing the overall impacts and how to measure them are lacking.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper concludes research of the last five years and includes data from several organisations. The paper presents and empirically demonstrates the application of three complementary ways to analyse the impacts of knowledge work redesigns. The methods include: interview framework for modelling the potential of new ways of working (NWoW); questionnaire tool for measuring the subjective knowledge work performance in the NWoW context; and multidimensional performance measurement for measuring the performance impacts at the organisational level.

Findings

This paper presents a framework for identifying the productivity potential and measuring the impacts of work environment changes. The paper introduces the empirical examples of three different methods for analysing the impacts of NWoW and discusses the usefulness and challenges of the methods. The results also support the idea of a measurement process and confirm that it suits NWoW context.

Practical implications

The three methods explored in this study can be used in organisations for planning and measuring work environment changes. The paper presents a comprehensive approach to work environment which could help managers to identify and improve the critical points of knowledge work.

Originality/value

Changes in the work environment are huge for knowledge workers, but it is still unclear whether their effects on performance are negative or positive. The value of this paper is that it applies traditional measurement methods to NWoW contexts, and analyses how these could be used in research and management.

Details

Journal of Corporate Real Estate, vol. 18 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1463-001X

Keywords

Abstract

Details

Market Research Methods in the Sports Industry
Type: Book
ISBN: 978-1-78754-191-7

Open Access
Article
Publication date: 8 July 2019

Markus F. Peschl

While many approaches in the field of unlearning aim at describing, understanding or explaining the “what” and/or “how” of unlearning, this paper aims to focus on the “where-to”…

2185

Abstract

Purpose

While many approaches in the field of unlearning aim at describing, understanding or explaining the “what” and/or “how” of unlearning, this paper aims to focus on the “where-to” and the goal of unlearning. In many cases, unlearning starts off with a specific result or goal in mind. This paper suggests that such an approach has to be challenged in the context of a highly complex and uncertain world and to introduce a mode of unlearning following a strategy of future-oriented open-endedness.

Design/methodology/approach

This conceptual paper draws on (both theoretical/philosophical and empirical) interdisciplinary evidence from a wide variety of fields, such as organization studies, organizational (un)learning, systems theory, cognitive science and innovation studies.

Findings

It turns out that open-endedness in unlearning processes plays a central role, especially if we are confronted with high levels of uncertainty and complexity. In such an environment, following a strategy of co-becoming with an unfolding environment and with an emergent goal seems to be more promising than aiming at a preconceived (un-)learning goal.

Originality/value

The unlearning literature provides various approaches to what unlearning is and how it can be executed. However, understanding the actual goals and outcomes of unlearning and how these goals are identified and determined is a rather under-researched field. In many cases, they are preconceived in advance finding their realization in new forms of knowledge, assumptions, belief systems, values or routines. This paper challenges this strategy and addresses the gap of how it is possible to unlearn toward an uncertain future. This has an impact on the process of unlearning itself; it has to be reframed and understood as an open-ended strategy for identifying emerging future potentials, purposes and goals in a process of co-becoming with an unfolding future.

Abstract

Details

Multi-Channel Marketing, Branding and Retail Design
Type: Book
ISBN: 978-1-78635-455-6

Article
Publication date: 28 September 2018

Anthony Higham, Catherine Barlow, Erik Bichard and Adam Richards

The paper aims to assess the strengths and weaknesses of sustainable return on investment (SuROI) to determine it suitability as a means through which social value can be…

2665

Abstract

Purpose

The paper aims to assess the strengths and weaknesses of sustainable return on investment (SuROI) to determine it suitability as a means through which social value can be predicted in line with public procurement directives and the Social Value Act, whilst at the same time as fitting the developer’s business model and CSR commitments.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a multi-case design, findings from a comprehensive evaluation of three major housing-led mixed-use regeneration developments are presented. The three case study locations were selected on the basis of the developer’s strong commitment to place-making and social sustainability. Together with a strong strategic desire to reposition their organisation away from the traditional business as usual profit-led model.

Findings

Whilst the social return on investment methodology is applicable to the charity sector, its use in the built environment is highly questionable. When applying the model to the mixed-use housing projects, the authors identified a number of technical limitations to the model, inter alia a lack of suitable proxies and especially proxies relating to the built environment for the valuation of identified outcomes; the use of monetisation as a evaluating measure which did not support some of the more abstract or softer benefits identified; problems collecting, identifying and evaluating data to inform the model given the complexity and scale of the project; and significant time and expense associated with the valuation and finally the inability to benchmark the report on completion. These findings have implications for the social housing providers and local authorities looking to use SuROI to evaluate potential built environment projects.

Originality/value

The paper offers unique insights into the viability of using existing social value measurement methodologies. The paper identifies the significant limitations associated with the SuROI methodology.

Details

Journal of Facilities Management, vol. 16 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1472-5967

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 15 December 2023

Naz Bilgic and Genell Wells Ebbini

There is a growing interest in applying the principles of biophilic design to hotel lobbies to enhance positive user experiences. However, there is little empirical research in…

Abstract

Purpose

There is a growing interest in applying the principles of biophilic design to hotel lobbies to enhance positive user experiences. However, there is little empirical research in this area, particularly for abstract or indirect biophilic approaches. The current study analyzed the biophilic strategy of “organized complexity” (which entails structured hierarchical patterns) in a hotel lobby in relation to attention restoration outcomes.

Design/methodology/approach

A virtual reality approach was used to create three lobby designs, differing only in their degree of organized complexity. A between-subjects study was conducted with 91 participants, evaluating reactions to the lobby designs in terms of perceived attention restoration, perceived environmental complexity and environmental preferences.

Findings

A strong positive relationship was found between participants' perception of environmental complexity and feelings of restoration. However, no statistically significant correlation was found between restoration and the objective measures of organized complexity. This suggests that individual preferences or baseline responses may play a crucial role in the benefits associated with this aspect of biophilic design.

Originality/value

The findings suggest a novel possibility – that responses to organized complexity may not be universal but may instead depend on an individual’s background and personal preferences. While the study found that perceived complexity was associated with restoration, the objective features of the environment that incited these perceptions were different for different participants. This indicates that more research is needed into potentially relevant personal factors.

Details

Archnet-IJAR: International Journal of Architectural Research, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2631-6862

Keywords

1 – 10 of over 203000