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1 – 10 of 252Douglas Ramalho Queiroz Pacheco
This study aims to propose and numerically assess different ways of discretising a very weak formulation of the Poisson problem.
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to propose and numerically assess different ways of discretising a very weak formulation of the Poisson problem.
Design/methodology/approach
We use integration by parts twice to shift smoothness requirements to the test functions, thereby allowing low-regularity data and solutions.
Findings
Various conforming discretisations are presented and tested, with numerical results indicating good accuracy and stability in different types of problems.
Originality/value
This is one of the first articles to propose and test concrete discretisations for very weak variational formulations in primal form. The numerical results, which include a problem based on real MRI data, indicate the potential of very weak finite element methods for tackling problems with low regularity.
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Ziming Zhou, Fengnian Zhao and David Hung
Higher energy conversion efficiency of internal combustion engine can be achieved with optimal control of unsteady in-cylinder flow fields inside a direct-injection (DI) engine…
Abstract
Purpose
Higher energy conversion efficiency of internal combustion engine can be achieved with optimal control of unsteady in-cylinder flow fields inside a direct-injection (DI) engine. However, it remains a daunting task to predict the nonlinear and transient in-cylinder flow motion because they are highly complex which change both in space and time. Recently, machine learning methods have demonstrated great promises to infer relatively simple temporal flow field development. This paper aims to feature a physics-guided machine learning approach to realize high accuracy and generalization prediction for complex swirl-induced flow field motions.
Design/methodology/approach
To achieve high-fidelity time-series prediction of unsteady engine flow fields, this work features an automated machine learning framework with the following objectives: (1) The spatiotemporal physical constraint of the flow field structure is transferred to machine learning structure. (2) The ML inputs and targets are efficiently designed that ensure high model convergence with limited sets of experiments. (3) The prediction results are optimized by ensemble learning mechanism within the automated machine learning framework.
Findings
The proposed data-driven framework is proven effective in different time periods and different extent of unsteadiness of the flow dynamics, and the predicted flow fields are highly similar to the target field under various complex flow patterns. Among the described framework designs, the utilization of spatial flow field structure is the featured improvement to the time-series flow field prediction process.
Originality/value
The proposed flow field prediction framework could be generalized to different crank angle periods, cycles and swirl ratio conditions, which could greatly promote real-time flow control and reduce experiments on in-cylinder flow field measurement and diagnostics.
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Guido Migliaccio and Andrea De Palma
This study illustrates the economic and financial dynamics of the sector, analysing the evolution of the main ratios of profitability and financial structure of 1,559 Italian real…
Abstract
Purpose
This study illustrates the economic and financial dynamics of the sector, analysing the evolution of the main ratios of profitability and financial structure of 1,559 Italian real estate companies divided into the three macro-regions: North, Centre and South, in the period 2011–2020. In this way, it is also possible to verify the responsiveness to the 2020 pandemic crisis.
Design/methodology/approach
The analysis uses descriptive statistics tools and the ANOVA method of analysis of variance, supplemented by the Tukey–Kramer test, to identify significant differences between the three Italian macro-regions.
Findings
The study shows the increase in profitability after the 2008 crisis, despite its reverberation in the years 2012–2013. The financial structure of companies improved almost everywhere. The pandemic had modest effects on performance.
Research limitations/implications
In the future, other indices should be considered to gain a more comprehensive view. This is a quantitative study based on financial statements data that neglects other important economic and social factors.
Practical implications
Public policies could use this study for better interventions to support the sector. In addition, internal management can compare their company's performance with the industry average to identify possible improvements.
Social implications
The research analyses an economic field that employs a large number of people, especially when considering the construction and real estate services covered by this analysis.
Originality/value
The study contributes to the literature by providing a quantitative analysis of industry dynamics, with comparative information that can be deduced from financial statements over the years.
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Yiwei Zhang, Daochun Li, Zi Kan, Zhuoer Yao and Jinwu Xiang
This paper aims to propose a novel control scheme and offer a control parameter optimizer to achieve better automatic carrier landing. Carrier landing is a challenging work…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to propose a novel control scheme and offer a control parameter optimizer to achieve better automatic carrier landing. Carrier landing is a challenging work because of the severe sea conditions, high demand for accuracy and non-linearity and maneuvering coupling of the aircraft. Consequently, the automatic carrier landing system raises the need for a control scheme that combines high robustness, rapidity and accuracy. In addition, to exploit the capability of the proposed control scheme and alleviate the difficulty of manual parameter tuning, a control parameter optimizer is constructed.
Design/methodology/approach
A novel reference model is constructed by considering the desired state and the actual state as constrained generalized relative motion, which works as a virtual terminal spring-damper system. An improved particle swarm optimization algorithm with dynamic boundary adjustment and Pareto set analysis is introduced to optimize the control parameters.
Findings
The control parameter optimizer makes it efficient and effective to obtain well-tuned control parameters. Furthermore, the proposed control scheme with the optimized parameters can achieve safe carrier landings under various severe sea conditions.
Originality/value
The proposed control scheme shows stronger robustness, accuracy and rapidity than sliding-mode control and Proportion-integration-differentiation (PID). Also, the small number and efficiency of control parameters make this paper realize the first simultaneous optimization of all control parameters in the field of flight control.
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Yu Huang, Xiaofen Ji, Lina Zhai and Francisca Margarita Ocran
Breast cancer has become the largest cancer in the world today. Health problems for women with breast cancer need to be addressed urgently. This study aims to select the best…
Abstract
Purpose
Breast cancer has become the largest cancer in the world today. Health problems for women with breast cancer need to be addressed urgently. This study aims to select the best method for preparing temperature-sensitive sports underwear, and to verify the feasibility of using K-type thermocouple threads in underwear fabrics.
Design/methodology/approach
In the experiments, two samples were designed for temperature-sensitive performance tests and the effects produced by different outer layer structures were investigated. In the second step, K-type thermocouple wires were integrated into sports underwear. The comfort and feasibility of the temperature-sensitive underwear were investigated.
Findings
It was finally verified to obtain the best comfort and temperature-sensing performance of K-type thermocouple filaments integrated into sports underwear with plain stitching.
Originality/value
The underwear has a certain prospect for the application of smart apparel based on breast cancer health monitoring, which is of some significance for monitoring smart apparel.
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Yahao Wang, Zhen Li, Yanghong Li and Erbao Dong
In response to the challenge of reduced efficiency or failure of robot motion planning algorithms when faced with end-effector constraints, this study aims to propose a new…
Abstract
Purpose
In response to the challenge of reduced efficiency or failure of robot motion planning algorithms when faced with end-effector constraints, this study aims to propose a new constraint method to improve the performance of the sampling-based planner.
Design/methodology/approach
In this work, a constraint method (TC method) based on the idea of cross-sampling is proposed. This method uses the tangent space in the workspace to approximate the constrained manifold pattern and projects the entire sampling process into the workspace for constraint correction. This method avoids the need for extensive computational work involving multiple iterations of the Jacobi inverse matrix in the configuration space and retains the sampling properties of the sampling-based algorithm.
Findings
Simulation results demonstrate that the performance of the planner when using the TC method under the end-effector constraint surpasses that of other methods. Physical experiments further confirm that the TC-Planner does not cause excessive constraint errors that might lead to task failure. Moreover, field tests conducted on robots underscore the effectiveness of the TC-Planner, and its excellent performance, thereby advancing the autonomy of robots in power-line connection tasks.
Originality/value
This paper proposes a new constraint method combined with the rapid-exploring random trees algorithm to generate collision-free trajectories that satisfy the constraints for a high-dimensional robotic system under end-effector constraints. In a series of simulation and experimental tests, the planner using the TC method under end-effector constraints efficiently performs. Tests on a power distribution live-line operation robot also show that the TC method can greatly aid the robot in completing operation tasks with end-effector constraints. This helps robots to perform tasks with complex end-effector constraints such as grinding and welding more efficiently and autonomously.
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Azzh Saad Alshehry, Humaira Yasmin, Rasool Shah, Amjid Ali and Imran Khan
The purpose of this study is to solve two unique but difficult partial differential equations: the foam drainage equation and the nonlinear time-fractional fisher’s equation…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to solve two unique but difficult partial differential equations: the foam drainage equation and the nonlinear time-fractional fisher’s equation. Through our methods, we aim to provide accurate solutions and gain a deeper understanding of the intricate behaviors exhibited by these systems.
Design/methodology/approach
In this study, we use a dual technique that combines the Aboodh residual power series method and the Aboodh transform iteration method, both of which are combined with the Caputo operator.
Findings
We develop exact and efficient solutions by merging these unique methodologies. Our results, presented through illustrative figures and data, demonstrate the efficacy and versatility of the Aboodh methods in tackling such complex mathematical models.
Originality/value
Owing to their fractional derivatives and nonlinear behavior, these equations are crucial in modeling complex processes and confront analytical complications in various scientific and engineering contexts.
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Mohammad Dehghan Afifi, Bahram Jalili, Amirmohammad Mirzaei, Payam Jalili and Davood Ganji
This study aims to analyze the two-dimensional ferrofluid flow in porous media. The effects of changes in parameters such as permeability parameter, buoyancy parameter, Reynolds…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to analyze the two-dimensional ferrofluid flow in porous media. The effects of changes in parameters such as permeability parameter, buoyancy parameter, Reynolds and Prandtl numbers, radiation parameter, velocity slip parameter, energy dissipation parameter and viscosity parameter on the velocity and temperature profile are displayed numerically and graphically.
Design/methodology/approach
By using simplification, nonlinear differential equations are converted into ordinary nonlinear equations. Modeling is done in the Cartesian coordinate system. The finite element method (FEM) and the Akbari-Ganji method (AGM) are used to solve the present problem. The finite element model determines each parameter’s effect on the fluid’s velocity and temperature.
Findings
The results show that if the viscosity parameter increases, the temperature of the fluid increases, but the velocity of the fluid decreases. As can be seen in the figures, by increasing the permeability parameter, a reduction in velocity and an enhancement in fluid temperature are observed. When the Reynolds number increases, an increase in fluid velocity and temperature is observed. If the speed slip parameter increases, the speed decreases, and as the energy dissipation parameter increases, the temperature also increases.
Originality/value
When considering factors like thermal conductivity and variable viscosity in this context, they can significantly impact velocity slippage conditions. The primary objective of the present study is to assess the influence of thermal conductivity parameters and variable viscosity within a porous medium on ferrofluid behavior. This particular flow configuration is chosen due to the essential role of ferrofluids and their extensive use in engineering, industry and medicine.
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Corey Fuller and Robin C. Sickles
Homelessness has many causes and also is stigmatized in the United States, leading to much misunderstanding of its causes and what policy solutions may ameliorate the problem. The…
Abstract
Homelessness has many causes and also is stigmatized in the United States, leading to much misunderstanding of its causes and what policy solutions may ameliorate the problem. The problem is of course getting worse and impacting many communities far removed from the West Coast cities the authors examine in this study. This analysis examines the socioeconomic variables influencing homelessness on the West Coast in recent years. The authors utilize a panel fixed effects model that explicitly includes measures of healthcare access and availability to account for the additional health risks faced by individuals who lack shelter. The authors estimate a spatial error model (SEM) in order to better understand the impacts that systemic shocks, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, have on a variety of factors that directly influence productivity and other measures of welfare such as income inequality, housing supply, healthcare investment, and homelessness.
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Hamed Khadivar, Miles Murphy and Thomas Walker
This study investigates the impact of financial health and corporate governance on aviation safety, aiming to fill a critical gap in existing research. The purpose of this study…
Abstract
Purpose
This study investigates the impact of financial health and corporate governance on aviation safety, aiming to fill a critical gap in existing research. The purpose of this study is to identify how these factors influence the safety records of airlines and provide insights for regulators, airlines and stakeholders to enhance aviation safety.
Design/methodology/approach
Using a comprehensive international sample spanning 1950–2009 and later, this empirical analysis draws on diverse databases. The authors examine 372 airlines across 70 countries from 1990 to 2016. The research uses statistical models to analyze the relationship between financial indicators, corporate governance quality and aviation safety, addressing limitations of prior single-country studies.
Findings
The findings reveal a significant inverse relationship between financial health and accident propensity, with profitable airlines exhibiting lower accident rates. Additionally, airlines with higher corporate governance quality, characterized by qualified directors and stable leadership, experience fewer accidents. The study identifies key factors such as pilot errors, mechanical failures and adverse weather, contributing to approximately 75% of accidents, emphasizing the importance of organizational control.
Practical implications
This research has crucial implications for aviation safety policies and practices. Regulators and international organizations, such as International Civil Aviation Organization and International Air Transport Association, should allocate resources to supervise financially vulnerable airlines and those with lower governance quality. Governments might consider incentivizing safety practices through tax deductibility for relevant expenses. Shareholders are encouraged to prioritize qualified, younger and less busy directors, recognizing their impact on safety performance.
Originality/value
This study contributes to existing literature by addressing methodological biases and offering a comprehensive international perspective. The identification of a link between financial health, corporate governance and accident rates in the aviation industry provides valuable insights. The research informs policymakers, regulators and industry stakeholders on effective strategies to improve safety by considering financial and governance factors under their control.
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