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1 – 10 of over 5000
Article
Publication date: 12 April 2022

Qing-Yun Deng, Shun-Peng Zhu, Jin-Chao He, Xue-Kang Li and Andrea Carpinteri

Engineering components/structures with geometric discontinuities normally bear complex and variable loads, which lead to a multiaxial and random/variable amplitude stress/strain…

Abstract

Purpose

Engineering components/structures with geometric discontinuities normally bear complex and variable loads, which lead to a multiaxial and random/variable amplitude stress/strain state. Hence, this study aims how to effectively evaluate the multiaxial random/variable amplitude fatigue life.

Design/methodology/approach

Recent studies on critical plane method under multiaxial random/variable amplitude loading are reviewed, and the computational framework is clearly presented in this paper.

Findings

Some basic concepts and latest achievements in multiaxial random/variable amplitude fatigue analysis are introduced. This review summarizes the research status of four main aspects of multiaxial fatigue under random/variable amplitude loadings, namely multiaxial fatigue criterion, method for critical plane determination, cycle counting method and damage accumulation criterion. Particularly, the latest achievements of multiaxial random/variable amplitude fatigue using critical plane methods are classified and highlighted.

Originality/value

This review attempts to provide references for further research on multiaxial random/variable amplitude fatigue and to promote the development of multiaxial fatigue from experimental research to practical engineering application.

Details

International Journal of Structural Integrity, vol. 13 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1757-9864

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 29 October 2020

Ting Luo, Xiaolong Xue, Yongtao Tan, Yuna Wang and Yuanxin Zhang

This paper aimed to introduce a systematic body of knowledge via a scientometric review, guiding the sustainable transition from conventional construction to prefabricated…

1620

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aimed to introduce a systematic body of knowledge via a scientometric review, guiding the sustainable transition from conventional construction to prefabricated construction. The construction industry currently faces a challenge to balance sustainable development and the construction of new buildings. In this context, one of the most recent debates is prefabricated construction. As an emerging construction approach, although existing knowledge makes contributions to the implementation of prefabricated construction, there is a lack of a comprehensive and in-depth overview of the critical knowledge themes and gaps.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses the scientometric analysis to review the state-of-the-art knowledge of prefabricated construction. It retrieved data from the Web of Science core collection database. CiteSpace software was used to conduct the analysis and visualization; three analysis methods identify the knowledge hotspots, knowledge domains and knowledge topics. Finally, according to integrating the hidden connections among results, a body of knowledge for prefabricated construction application can be inferred.

Findings

The results show that 120 knowledge hotspots, five critical knowledge domains and five prominent knowledge topics are vital for promoting implementation of prefabricated construction. Based on the afore analysis, a body of knowledge for prefabricated construction that can systematically cover a broad knowledge of prefabricated construction-related research and activities are integrated and proposed in this paper.

Originality/value

Body of knowledge systematically covers a broad knowledge of prefabricated construction applications and is vital to guide researchers and practitioners to conduct related research and activities, thereby promoting the sustainable transition to prefabricated construction implementation.

Details

Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, vol. 28 no. 9
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0969-9988

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 19 January 2022

Yu Liu, Rui-Dong Chang, Jian Zuo, Feng Xiong and Na Dong

Prefabricated construction (PC) will play a vital role in the transformation and upgrading of the construction industry in the future. However, high capital cost is currently one…

Abstract

Purpose

Prefabricated construction (PC) will play a vital role in the transformation and upgrading of the construction industry in the future. However, high capital cost is currently one of the biggest obstacles to the application and promotion of PC in China. Clarifying the factors that affect the PC cost from the perspectives of stakeholders and exploring key cost control paths help to achieve effective cost management, but few studies have paid enough attention to this. Therefore, this research aims to explore the critical cost influencing factors (CIFs) and critical stakeholders of PC based on stakeholder theories and propose corresponding strategies for different stakeholders to reduce the cost of PC.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on the stakeholder theory and social network theory, literature review and two rounds of expert interviews were used to obtain the stakeholder-associated CIFs and their mutual effects, then the consistency of the data was tested. After that, social network analysis was applied to identify the critical CIFs, critical interaction and key stakeholders in PC cost control and mine the influence conduction paths between CIFs.

Findings

The results reveal that the cognition and attitude of developer and relevant standards and codes are the most critical CIFs while the government, developer and contractor are crucial to the cost control of PC. The findings further suggest that measures should be taken to reduce the transaction costs of the developer, and the contractor ought to efficiently apply information technology. Moreover, the collaborative work between designer and manufacturer can avoid unnecessary cost consumption.

Originality/value

This research combines stakeholder management and cost management in PC for the first time and explores the effective cost control paths. The research results can contribute to clarifying the key points of cost management for different stakeholders and improving the cost performance of PC projects.

Details

Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, vol. 30 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0969-9988

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 6 February 2023

Hong Zhang, Lu-Kai Song, Guang-Chen Bai and Xue-Qin Li

The purpose of this study is to improve the computational efficiency and accuracy of fatigue reliability analysis.

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to improve the computational efficiency and accuracy of fatigue reliability analysis.

Design/methodology/approach

By absorbing the advantages of Markov chain and active Kriging model into the hierarchical collaborative strategy, an enhanced active Kriging-based hierarchical collaborative model (DCEAK) is proposed.

Findings

The analysis results show that the proposed DCEAK method holds high accuracy and efficiency in dealing with fatigue reliability analysis with high nonlinearity and small failure probability.

Research limitations/implications

The effectiveness of the presented method in more complex reliability analysis problems (i.e. noisy problems, high-dimensional issues etc.) should be further validated.

Practical implications

The current efforts can provide a feasible way to analyze the reliability performance and identify the sensitive variables in aeroengine mechanisms.

Originality/value

To improve the computational efficiency and accuracy of fatigue reliability analysis, an enhanced active DCEAK is proposed and the corresponding fatigue reliability framework is established for the first time.

Details

International Journal of Structural Integrity, vol. 14 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1757-9864

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 20 May 2021

Xiangyuan Meng, Xue Li, Wenyan Xiao and Jie Li

The authors provide firm-level evidence that external financing affects international trade in a way different from internal financing.

Abstract

Purpose

The authors provide firm-level evidence that external financing affects international trade in a way different from internal financing.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors separate new entrants from incumbent exporters and investigate the roles of external and internal financing in export market participation and export quantity.

Findings

The authors find that external financing is of particular importance, as well as internal financing, in helping a firm become a new exporter. By contrast, external financing, unlike internal financing, is not significantly important for an incumbent exporter to stay in the international market. Regarding export quantity, a firm's internal financing is positively associated with more export quantity, whereas external financing is not.

Originality/value

The authors’ findings are consistent with the existence of significant fixed cost for entering the export market and external financing is particularly needed to cover such cost. Meanwhile, the financial need for maintaining the export status is much less and can be satisfied via internal financing.

Details

International Journal of Emerging Markets, vol. 18 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1746-8809

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 July 2021

Gang Li, Yongqiang Chen, Jian Zhou, Xuan Zheng and Xue Li

Periodic inspection and maintenance are essential for effective pavement preservation. Cracks not only affect the appearance of the road and reduce the levelness, but also shorten…

Abstract

Purpose

Periodic inspection and maintenance are essential for effective pavement preservation. Cracks not only affect the appearance of the road and reduce the levelness, but also shorten the life of road. However, traditional road crack detection methods based on manual investigations and image processing are costly, inefficiency and unreliable. The research aims to replace the traditional road crack detection method and further improve the detection effect.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, a crack detection method based on matrix network fusing corner-based detection and segmentation network is proposed to effectively identify cracks. The method combines ResNet 152 with matrix network as the backbone network to achieve feature reuse of the crack. The crack region is identified by corners, and segmentation network is constructed to extract the crack. Finally, parameters such as the length and width of the cracks were calculated from the geometric characteristics of the cracks and the relative errors with the actual values were 4.23 and 6.98% respectively.

Findings

To improve the accuracy of crack detection, the model was optimized with the Adam algorithm and mixed with two publicly available datasets for model training and testing and compared with various methods. The results show that the detection performance of our method is better than many excellent algorithms, and the anti-interference ability is strong.

Originality/value

This paper proposed a new type of road crack detection method. The detection effect is better than a variety of detection algorithms and has strong anti-interference ability, which can completely replace traditional crack detection methods and meet engineering needs.

Details

Engineering Computations, vol. 39 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0264-4401

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 6 July 2022

Xin Xia and Pengcheng Xiang

Managers of megaprojects face social risk management challenges throughout the various design, construction, and operation stages, owing to the various conflicts of interest among…

Abstract

Purpose

Managers of megaprojects face social risk management challenges throughout the various design, construction, and operation stages, owing to the various conflicts of interest among stakeholders, public skepticism, and opposition. However, most existing studies have not focused on the dynamic analysis of integrating social risks in these stages. This study developed a dynamic analysis approach to explore the dynamics of critical social risk factors and related stakeholders of megaprojects and built the managerial maps for various stakeholders.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on the social analysis network (SNA), a dynamic network analysis approach for understanding the dynamics of social risk and related stakeholders has been developed by literature and case analysis. The approach comprises the following steps: (1) generating social risk–stakeholder networks in different stages; (2) analysis of the critical stakeholders and social risk factors; (3) dynamic analysis of social risk factors; and (4) developing social risk management maps for various stakeholders. To verify the feasibility and effectiveness of the approach, 40 megaprojects from China were analyzed.

Findings

According to the results, the local government is a critical stakeholder during all stages, inadequate information promotion (IIP) and imperfect communication and coordination mechanism (ICCM) are key social risk sources throughout the megaproject life cycle. Furthermore, the management maps for government organizations, project implementation groups, and external stakeholders were constructed.

Originality/value

This research has three contributions. First, a dynamic analysis approach of stakeholder-associated social risks in megaprojects is developed, which enriches the social risk management theory of megaprojects and provides inspiration for future research focus. Second, the social risk–stakeholder networks and critical social risks in different stages are confirmed to provide a more valid and accurate picture of social risk management in megaprojects. Third, the social risk managerial maps for different stakeholders built in this research will be beneficial for governments, project implementation groups, and external stakeholders to optimize management strategies.

Details

Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, vol. 30 no. 10
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0969-9988

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 21 December 2021

Xue-Qin Li, Lu-Kai Song and Guang-Chen Bai

To provide valuable information for scholars to grasp the current situations, hotspots and future development trends of reliability analysis area.

Abstract

Purpose

To provide valuable information for scholars to grasp the current situations, hotspots and future development trends of reliability analysis area.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, recent researches on efficient reliability analysis and applications in complex engineering structures like aeroengine rotor systems are reviewd.

Findings

The recent reliability analysis advances of engineering application in aeroengine rotor system are highlighted, it is worth pointing out that the surrogate model methods hold great efficiency and accuracy advantages in the complex reliability analysis of aeroengine rotor system, since its strong computing power can effectively reduce the analysis time consumption and accelerate the development procedures of aeroengine. Moreover, considering the multi-objective, multi-disciplinary, high-dimensionality and time-varying problems are the common problems in various complex engineering fields, the surrogate model methods and its developed methods also have broad application prospects in the future.

Originality/value

For the strong demand for efficient reliability design technique, this review paper may help to highlights the benefits of reliability analysis methods not only in academia but also in practical engineering application like aeroengine rotor system.

Details

International Journal of Structural Integrity, vol. 13 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1757-9864

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 16 July 2019

Yi Liu, Xue Li and Maggie Chuoyan Dong

The purpose of this study is to investigate how does key accounts managers’ (KAMs’) customer orientation affect customers’ repurchase intention and how do tie strength and…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate how does key accounts managers’ (KAMs’) customer orientation affect customers’ repurchase intention and how do tie strength and structural holes in KAMs’ client networks moderate these linkages.

Design/methodology/approach

Paired data of 208 dyadic relationships between KAMs and customers in several Chinese industries are subjected to multiple linear regression analyses.

Findings

KAMs’ functional customer orientation can directly increase customers’ repurchase intention, whereas relational customer orientation cannot do that. With strong ties in client networks, KAMs’ relational customer orientation could promote customers’ repurchase intention, whereas when there are many structural holes in a client network, relational customer orientation would constrain customers’ repurchase intention. In addition, structural holes can enhance the effectiveness of functional customer orientation in facilitating customers’ repurchase intention, but tie strength has no impact on this.

Originality/value

This study pays attention to the emerging topic of KAMs’ customer orientation and introduces KAMs’ client networks as a new contextual factor. The findings not only address the outcomes of KAM’s customer orientation but also indicate the vital role client networks play in determining the effectiveness of KAMs’ customer orientation.

Details

Journal of Business & Industrial Marketing, vol. 34 no. 7
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0885-8624

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 5 December 2018

Lin Liu, Hongyu Su, Xue Li, Yanan Wang, Qiang Zhang and Jianhua Qian

This paper aims to evaluate the inhibitive effect and adsorption behavior of the 2-amino-5-thiol-1,3,4-thiadiazole vanillin (A) on copper in 3 per cent NaCl solution.

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to evaluate the inhibitive effect and adsorption behavior of the 2-amino-5-thiol-1,3,4-thiadiazole vanillin (A) on copper in 3 per cent NaCl solution.

Design/methodology/approach

A thiazole Schiff bases were synthesized, named, 2-amino-5-thiol-1,3,4-thiadiazole vanillin (A), which was fabricated respectively on copper surface by the molecular self-assembled. Evaluation was carried out by electrochemical measurement and surface analysis techniques. Measurement of static friction coefficient scanning electron microscopy and Contact angle analysis were applied, and it is finally confirmed the existence of the adsorbed film. The inhibitive mechanism of A was evaluated by means of quantitative calculation and molecular dynamics simulation.

Findings

The electrochemical measurement indicated that the self-assembled molecular film can effectively inhibit the corrosion of copper sheet, when the concentration was 15 mmol⋅L−1 and the assembly time was 6 h, the corrosion inhibition effect was the best, reaching as high as 97.5 per cent. Scanning electron microscopy results showed that the Schiff base compound forms a protective film on the surface of the copper, which effectively blocks the transfer of corrosion particles to the metal substrate, thereby inhibiting the occurrence of corrosion. Adsorption behavior of A followed the Langmuir’s adsorption isotherm and attributed to mixed-type adsorption. The results of Quantitative calculation and molecular dynamics simulation showed that A was adsorbed on Cu (111) surface in parallel.

Research limitations/implications

In this study, the corrosion inhibition properties of Schiff base film were investigated by combining theory with experiment. Theoretical calculation is helpful to guide the synthesis of efficient and environmentally friendly corrosion inhibitors.

Practical implications

The damage caused by metal corrosion is great. The self-assembled Schiff base membrane synthesized in this paper is simple and compact, and the corrosion inhibition efficiency of copper in 3 per cent NaCl solution is 97.5 per cent.

Social implications

Inhibition of metal corrosion can better save energy and reduce economic losses.

Originality/value

The synthesized Schiff base was prepared on the copper surface by the molecular self-assembled. The Schiff base membrane has a good corrosion inhibition effect on copper in 3 per cent NaCl solution, and the corrosion inhibition efficiency is up to 97.5 per cent.

Details

Anti-Corrosion Methods and Materials, vol. 66 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0003-5599

Keywords

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