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Article
Publication date: 19 September 2019

Siyang Gao, Jianwei Sun and Bangcheng Zhang

The purpose of this paper is to design a kind of air bearing which is based on bionics. Compare with ordinary air bearing, the air pressure consumption is reduced and energy is…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to design a kind of air bearing which is based on bionics. Compare with ordinary air bearing, the air pressure consumption is reduced and energy is saved.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper puts forward a proposition that a bionic bearing structure is designed based on the bionics principle. First, the authors analyze the microstructure of the wings of long-eared owls and the structural mapping model is established. Second, the theoretical formula is derived through the model, and the structural parameters are optimized by sequence quadratic program (SQP). Lastly, the experimental model is made by 3D printing technology, and the experimental data are analyzed to verify the feasibility of the theory.

Findings

By comparing the experimental data, it can be seen that the air pressure of the original air bearing is reduced by 27 per cent, and the validity of the theory and design method is verified.

Originality/value

In this paper, a design method of air bearing based on bionic principle is presented, which can save the air pressure required for working of air bearing, and the structure of air bearing is expected to be applied in engineering.

Details

Industrial Lubrication and Tribology, vol. 72 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0036-8792

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 11 June 2020

Siyang Gao, Bangcheng Zhang, Jianwei Sun and Wenrui Liu

The purpose of this paper is to design a biomimetic surface structure for use in a glass transport device to enhance the suspension lift of a glass transport unit.

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to design a biomimetic surface structure for use in a glass transport device to enhance the suspension lift of a glass transport unit.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper presents a surface structure of a suspended glass transport device based on the principle of bionics. First, a mapping model is constructed based on the wing structure. Second, the optimal structural parameters are given according to genetic algorithm optimization. Finally, the experimental comparison of the test bench verified the feasibility of the theory.

Findings

Through experimental comparison, the biomimetic suspension glass transport device saves 20% of air pressure compared with the ordinary suspended glass transport device, which verifies the effectiveness of the theoretical method.

Originality/value

This paper proposes a suspended glass transport device based on the principle of bionics, which saves the air pressure required for work. It is expected to be used in suspension glass transport devices.

Peer review

The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/ILT-09-2019-0389/

Details

Industrial Lubrication and Tribology, vol. 72 no. 10
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0036-8792

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 7 June 2019

Yingchun Zhang, Nesrin Ozalp and Gongnan Xie

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the unsteady flow past through a permeable diamond-shaped cylinder and to study the effects of the aspect ratios and Darcy numbers of…

202

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the unsteady flow past through a permeable diamond-shaped cylinder and to study the effects of the aspect ratios and Darcy numbers of the cylinder.

Design/methodology/approach

The lattice Boltzmann method with D2Q9 lattice model was used to simulate the unsteady flow through permeable diamond-shaped cylinders. The present numerical method is validated against the available data.

Findings

The key findings are that increasing the permeability enhances the suppression of vortex shedding, and that the Strouhal number is directly proportion to the Darcy number, Reynolds number and the aspect ratio of the porous cylinder.

Originality/value

The present study considers unsteady laminar flow past through single permeable diamond-shaped cylinder. According to the authors’ knowledge, very few studies have been found in this field. The present findings are novel and original, which in turn can attract wide attention and citations.

Details

International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow, vol. 29 no. 9
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0961-5539

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 5 May 2023

Zhou Su, Xiangwang Kong, Tao He, Dongyu Wu, Jingjing Wu and Shaohe Zhang

Material extrusion technology is considered to be an effective way to realize the accurate and integrated manufacturing of high-performance metal diamond tools with complex…

Abstract

Purpose

Material extrusion technology is considered to be an effective way to realize the accurate and integrated manufacturing of high-performance metal diamond tools with complex structures. The present work aims to report the G4 binder that can be used to create metal composite filament loading high concentrations of large diamond particles through comparative experiments.

Design/methodology/approach

The quality of filaments was evaluated by surface topography observation and porosity measurement. And the printability of filaments was further studied by the tensile test, rheological test, shear analysis and printing test.

Findings

The results show that the G4 binder exhibits the best capacity for loading diamonds among G1–G4. The L4 filament created with G4 has no defects such as pores, cracks and patterns on the surface and section, and has the lowest porosity, which is about 1/3 of the L1. Therefore, the diamond-containing composite filament based on G4 binder exhibits the best quality. On the other hand, the results of the tensile test of L5–L8 filaments reveal that as the diamond content increases from 10% to 30%, the tensile strength of the filament decreases by 29.52%, and the retention force coefficient decreases by 15.74%. This can be attributed to the formation of inefficient bonding areas of the clustered diamond particles inside the composite filament, which also leads to a weakening of the shear strength. Despite this, the results of the printing test show that the diamond-containing composite filament based on the G4 binder has reliable printability.

Originality/value

Therefore, the G4 binder is considered to solve the most critical first challenge in the development of diamond-containing filament.

Details

Rapid Prototyping Journal, vol. 29 no. 7
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1355-2546

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 8 August 2008

Y.Q. Zu, Y.Y. Yan, W.P. Shi and L.Q. Ren

The main objective of this work is to develop a boundary treatment in lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) for curved and moving boundaries and using this treatment to study numerically…

1540

Abstract

Purpose

The main objective of this work is to develop a boundary treatment in lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) for curved and moving boundaries and using this treatment to study numerically the flow around a rotating isothermal circular cylinder with/without heat transfer.

Design/methodology/approach

A multi‐distribution function thermal LBM model is used to simulate the flow and heat transfer around a rotating circular cylinder. To deal with the calculations on the surface of cylinder, a novel boundary treatment is developed.

Findings

The results of simulation for flow and heat transfer around a rotating cylinder including the evolution with time of velocity field, and the lift and drag coefficients are compared with those of previous theoretical, experimental and numerical studies. Excellent agreements show that present LBM including boundary treatment can achieve accurate results of flow and heat transfer. In addition, the effects of the peripheral‐to‐translating‐speed ratio, Reynolds number and Prandtl number on evolution of velocity and temperature fields around the cylinder are tested.

Practical implications

There is a large class of industrial processes which involve the motion of fluid passing rotating isothermal circular cylinders with/without heat transfer. Operations ranging from paper and textile making machines to glass and plastics processes are a few examples.

Originality/value

A strategy for LBM to treat curved and moving boundary with the second‐order accuracy for both velocity and temperature fields is presented. This kind of boundary treatment is very easy to implement and costs less in computational time.

Details

International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow, vol. 18 no. 6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0961-5539

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 16 April 2024

Jinwei Zhao, Shuolei Feng, Xiaodong Cao and Haopei Zheng

This paper aims to concentrate on recent innovations in flexible wearable sensor technology tailored for monitoring vital signals within the contexts of wearable sensors and…

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to concentrate on recent innovations in flexible wearable sensor technology tailored for monitoring vital signals within the contexts of wearable sensors and systems developed specifically for monitoring health and fitness metrics.

Design/methodology/approach

In recent decades, wearable sensors for monitoring vital signals in sports and health have advanced greatly. Vital signals include electrocardiogram, electroencephalogram, electromyography, inertial data, body motions, cardiac rate and bodily fluids like blood and sweating, making them a good choice for sensing devices.

Findings

This report reviewed reputable journal articles on wearable sensors for vital signal monitoring, focusing on multimode and integrated multi-dimensional capabilities like structure, accuracy and nature of the devices, which may offer a more versatile and comprehensive solution.

Originality/value

The paper provides essential information on the present obstacles and challenges in this domain and provide a glimpse into the future directions of wearable sensors for the detection of these crucial signals. Importantly, it is evident that the integration of modern fabricating techniques, stretchable electronic devices, the Internet of Things and the application of artificial intelligence algorithms has significantly improved the capacity to efficiently monitor and leverage these signals for human health monitoring, including disease prediction.

Details

Sensor Review, vol. 44 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0260-2288

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 3 May 2024

Qian Long Kweh, Irene Wei Kiong Ting, Chunya Ren and Jawad Asif

This study investigates how the initiatives and controversies related to environmental, social and governance (ESG) explain firm efficiency.

Abstract

Purpose

This study investigates how the initiatives and controversies related to environmental, social and governance (ESG) explain firm efficiency.

Design/methodology/approach

Firstly, this study applies data envelopment analysis with the epsilon-based measure to estimate the firm efficiency of 80 companies in the Chinese energy sector in 2022. This approach accounts for the diversity and relative importance of inputs and outputs from a multidimensional perspective. Secondly, this study regresses the variables of ESG initiatives and controversies on the estimated firm efficiency scores through a generalised additive model, which can capture nonlinear patterns.

Findings

This study finds that a) the samples have i) about 49% room for improvement in efficiently optimising their resources and business outcomes and ii) the highest scores in governance initiatives, followed by social initiative. b) 69% of them have controversy scores that are greater than the average value. c) A cluster analysis indicates that companies with higher social initiatives have higher firm efficiency than their counterparts. d) ESG initiatives and controversies are nonlinearly related to firm efficiency.

Research limitations/implications

The findings have practical implications for policy makers and managers who prioritise ESG, particularly regarding (i) the need to examine firm performance from a multidimensional perspective, that is, to measure multiple inputs and outputs simultaneously, (ii) the nonlinearity of the nexus between ESG and efficiency in graphical forms, and (iii) the need to balance ESG initiatives and address ESG controversies.

Originality/value

This study integrates statistical approaches in examining and ensuring sustainable growth and efficiency within the Chinese energy sector and beyond.

Details

Kybernetes, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0368-492X

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 4 April 2024

Dong Li, Yu Zhou, Zhan-Wei Cao, Xin Chen and Jia-Peng Dai

This paper aims to establish a lattice Boltzmann (LB) method for solid-liquid phase transition (SLPT) from the pore scale to the representative elementary volume (REV) scale. By…

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to establish a lattice Boltzmann (LB) method for solid-liquid phase transition (SLPT) from the pore scale to the representative elementary volume (REV) scale. By applying this method, detailed information about heat transfer and phase change processes within the pores can be obtained, while also enabling the calculation of larger-scale SLPT problems, such as shell-and-tube phase change heat storage systems.

Design/methodology/approach

Three-dimensional (3D) pore-scale enthalpy-based LB model is developed. The computational input parameters at the REV scale are derived from calculations at the pore scale, ensuring consistency between the two scales. The approaches to reconstruct the 3D porous structure and determine the REV of metal foam were discussed. The implementation of conjugate heat transfer between the solid matrix and the solid−liquid phase change material (SLPCM) for the proposed model is developed. A simple REV-scale LB model under the local thermal nonequilibrium condition is presented. The method of bridging the gap between the pore-scale and REV-scale enthalpy-based LB models by the REV is given.

Findings

This coupled method facilitates detailed simulations of flow, heat transfer and phase change within pores. The approach holds promise for multiscale calculations in latent heat storage devices with porous structures. The SLPT of the heat sinks for electronic device thermal control was simulated as a case, demonstrating the efficiency of the present models in designing and optimizing SLPT devices.

Originality/value

A coupled pore-scale and REV-scale LB method as a numerical tool for investigating phase change in porous materials was developed. This innovative approach allows for the capture of details within pores while addressing computations over a large domain. The LB method for simulating SLPT from the pore scale to the REV scale was given. The proposed method addresses the conjugate heat transfer between the SLPCM and the solid matrix in the enthalpy-based LB model.

Details

International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0961-5539

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 25 September 2018

Long Zheng, Yihang Gao, Yinghui Zhong, Guolong Lu, Zhenning Liu and Luquan Ren

The purpose of this study is to elucidate the size effect (groove width, unit length and area density) of the hexagonal texture on tribological properties under lubrication.

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to elucidate the size effect (groove width, unit length and area density) of the hexagonal texture on tribological properties under lubrication.

Design/methodology/approach

The tribological properties of nine hexagonal textures with different hexagon lengths and groove widths have been investigated under mixed lubrication to elucidate the size effect.

Findings

Overall, the friction coefficient decreases as the groove width increases within the examined range, whereas the hexagon length shows an optimal value around 3 mm. In particular, one hexagonal texture (3 × 3 mm) exhibits lower friction coefficients and less wear losses than the others. Interestingly, two hexagonal textures of similar area density (1 × 1 mm and 3 × 3 mm) yield the worst and best tribological performances, respectively, which can be explained by the simulated distribution of equivalent stress.

Originality/value

The tribological properties of nine hexagonal textures are examined under lubrication. The 3 × 3 texture exhibits lower friction coefficient and wear loss than the others. Two textures of similar area density yield the worst and best tribological performances. The results agree with the simulated distribution of equivalent stress.

Details

Industrial Lubrication and Tribology, vol. 70 no. 9
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0036-8792

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 15 October 2020

Hangduo Gao, Zhao Yin, Jun Liu, Quansheng Zang and Gao Lin

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the liquid sloshing behaviors in two-dimensional tanks with various porous baffles under the external excitation.

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the liquid sloshing behaviors in two-dimensional tanks with various porous baffles under the external excitation.

Design/methodology/approach

Adopting the finite element method (FEM) and control variable method to study the impacts of the height, length, number, location, shape, porous-effect parameter of the porous baffle, the external load frequency and the shape of the tank on the liquid sloshing response.

Findings

The amplitude of the free surface can be reduced effectively when the baffle opening is appropriate. The anti-sway ability of the system increases in pace with the baffle’s height growing. Under the same conditions, the shapes of the baffles have an important effect on improving the anti-sway ability of the system.

Originality/value

As there exist the differences of the velocity potential between each side of the porous baffle, which means that there are two different velocity potentials at a point on the porous baffle, the conventional finite element modeling technologies are not suitable to be applied here. To deal with this problem, the points on the porous baffle are regarded as two nodes with the same coordinate to model and calculate.

Details

Engineering Computations, vol. 38 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0264-4401

Keywords

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