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Open Access
Article
Publication date: 15 February 2024

Di Kang, Steven W. Kirkpatrick, Zhipeng Zhang, Xiang Liu and Zheyong Bian

Accurately estimating the severity of derailment is a crucial step in quantifying train derailment consequences and, thereby, mitigating its impacts. The purpose of this paper is…

Abstract

Purpose

Accurately estimating the severity of derailment is a crucial step in quantifying train derailment consequences and, thereby, mitigating its impacts. The purpose of this paper is to propose a simplified approach aimed at addressing this research gap by developing a physics-informed 1-D model. The model is used to simulate train dynamics through a time-stepping algorithm, incorporating derailment data after the point of derailment.

Design/methodology/approach

In this study, a simplified approach is adopted that applies a 1-D kinematic analysis with data obtained from various derailments. These include the length and weight of the rail cars behind the point of derailment, the train braking effects, derailment blockage forces, the grade of the track and the train rolling and aerodynamic resistance. Since train braking/blockage effects and derailment blockage forces are not always available for historical or potential train derailment, it is also necessary to fit the historical data and find optimal parameters to estimate these two variables. Using these fitted parameters, a detailed comparison can be performed between the physics-informed 1-D model and previous statistical models to predict the derailment severity.

Findings

The results show that the proposed model outperforms the Truncated Geometric model (the latest statistical model used in prior research) in estimating derailment severity. The proposed model contributes to the understanding and prevention of train derailments and hazmat release consequences, offering improved accuracy for certain scenarios and train types

Originality/value

This paper presents a simplified physics-informed 1-D model, which could help understand the derailment mechanism and, thus, is expected to estimate train derailment severity more accurately for certain scenarios and train types compared with the latest statistical model. The performance of the braking response and the 1-D model is verified by comparing known ride-down profiles with estimated ones. This validation process ensures that both the braking response and the 1-D model accurately represent the expected behavior.

Details

Smart and Resilient Transportation, vol. 6 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2632-0487

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 30 March 2012

Gang Xiang and Ying Wu

The purpose of this paper is to increase understanding of the real situation of Enterprise's Sustainable Innovation (ESI) in China.

1103

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to increase understanding of the real situation of Enterprise's Sustainable Innovation (ESI) in China.

Design/methodology/approach

First, the paper analyzes the practice of Chinese ESI in the past 30 years, and then reviews research results of the topic in China, by the authors and by other Chinese scholars. Finally, it provides the future prospects for ESI in China.

Findings

The practice of Chinese ESI started in 1978 when this country began reform, and two stages of Chinese ESI practice has been summarized. Otherwise, six major characteristics have been highlighted. China is one of the earliest countries that began to research on ESI and has achieved significant results since 1995. The paper summarizes major research findings of ESI in China, which can be divided into two categories. Especially, it stresses that one of the distinguishing achievements is research on mechanisms of ESI in China.

Research limitations/implications

The research on ESI in China is initially implemented based on Chinese practice. So, future research may explore whether the research results could be suitable for abroad, or not.

Originality/value

This original paper analyzes ESI practice and research findings in China, and may have value in helping people to understand ESI's real situation.

Article
Publication date: 19 June 2019

Willem J.L. Coetzee, Xiang Neo Liu and Crystal V. Filep

Previous research has explored a relatively narrow representation of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual and queer (LGBTQ) community. Yet modern event attendees are part of a…

Abstract

Purpose

Previous research has explored a relatively narrow representation of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual and queer (LGBTQ) community. Yet modern event attendees are part of a diverse niche group within the broader LGBTQ community. This group comprises a wide range of event attendees in search of more than sex, clubs and feather boas. This paper aims to report on empirical research conducted in Queenstown, New Zealand, during the 2016 Gay Ski Week (GSW) and explores the transformative, inclusive potential of event places, social atmospheres and experiences.

Design/methodology/approach

Ethnographic and autoethnographic research methods were used in this study for the exploration of transformative tourism experiences. Qualitative data were collected via in-depth interviews, observations and one of the author’s immersive experiences of the event. This author was able to bridge the divide between research and participant, contributing to a contextualised understanding of various participants’ subjective realities.

Findings

The paper reports on and discusses empirical findings, which are organised under the meta-themes of place and social atmosphere, attendee experiences, acceptance and inclusivity.

Research limitations/implications

From these themes emerge a broader understanding of how LGBTQ tourism events can contribute to transformative, inclusive experiences.

Originality/value

This paper explores the need for event managers to revisit and adapt to the demographic, motivational and behavioural characteristics of the modern gay event attendee. In particular, this paper discovers the motivations of Asian gay attendees as a marginalised community within a traditional LGBTQ event in a traditional heterosexual destination.

Details

Tourism Review, vol. 74 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1660-5373

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 29 May 2023

Xingwei Li, Jingru Li, Jinrong He, Yicheng Huang, Xiang Liu, Jiachi Dai and Qiong Shen

The surging market demand for green construction materials has brought opportunities for construction materials enterprises' greenwashing behavior (GWB). This study aims to…

Abstract

Purpose

The surging market demand for green construction materials has brought opportunities for construction materials enterprises' greenwashing behavior (GWB). This study aims to establish the causal relationship among the influencing factors of GWB and reveal the key influencing factors from the perspective of Chinese construction materials enterprises under multi-agent interactions.

Design/methodology/approach

This study is based on stakeholder theory, resource-based theory and the green development behavior and performance of industrial enterprises (GDBP-IE). First, with the literature analysis, an index framework of the influencing factors of enterprises' GWB was constructed from five dimensions (including 15 factors): environmental regulation, public scrutiny, market environment, corporate resources and corporate green development (GD) performance. Second, the interactive relationship among influencing factors was obtained by a questionnaire survey. Finally, the data are processed and analyzed with the grey-DEMATEL (Decision-making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory) method.

Findings

Among the factors, corporate information transparency has the greatest impact on the other factors, and consumer green preferences are most influenced by others. The most critical and important factor is the corporate social performance factor. In China, corporate social performance, corporate information transparency, corporate size and media supervision are the key factors influencing the GWB of construction materials enterprises.

Originality/value

This study provides a new perspective on the literature related to GWB by considering multi-agent interactions and extends the evidence from the construction materials industry for research on the drivers or influencing factors of enterprises' bad environmental behavior. Furthermore, it adds insights from China for further research on the governance strategies of GWB in other countries.

Details

Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0969-9988

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 12 May 2020

Safeer Ullah Khan, Xiang-dong Liu, Cheng Liu, Ikram Ullah Khan and Zahid Hameed

This paper investigates the effects of different uncertainties on Internet stock trading (IST) adoption intentions of individual investors in China and aims to determine the…

Abstract

Purpose

This paper investigates the effects of different uncertainties on Internet stock trading (IST) adoption intentions of individual investors in China and aims to determine the interaction effects of trust and perceived benefits in the relationship between uncertainty dimensions and IST adoption intentions.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a structured questionnaire, a survey of 353 experienced stock traders was conducted in China. The proposed uncertainty-trust-perceived benefits framework was examined through structural equation modelling using Smart PLS 3.0.

Findings

The study found significant negative effects of perceived technology uncertainty, perceived regulatory uncertainty and perceived information asymmetry on the IST adoption intentions of individual investors. Perceived service intangibility was found to have only insignificant effects on IST adoption intentions. In terms of interaction results, trust significantly moderates the relationship between IST adoption intentions and, respectively, perceived technology uncertainty and perceived information asymmetry. Similarly, perceived benefits significantly moderate the relationship between intentions to adopt IST and both perceived technology uncertainty and perceived regulatory uncertainty.

Practical implications

The regulators for IST development in China could utilise the results of this study as guidelines for strategies to increase the use of IST among existing and potential investors.

Originality/value

Using social cognitive theory, this research investigates the effects of various uncertainties on IST adoption intentions of individual investors in China; these effects have not been explored by previous literature. Furthermore, few studies other than this one have investigated the interaction effects of factors which counteract the negative effect of other factors.

Details

Information Technology & People, vol. 34 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0959-3845

Keywords

Open Access
Article
Publication date: 4 August 2021

Zhipeng Zhang, Xiang Liu and Hao Hu

At the US passenger stations, train operations approaching terminating tracks rely on the engineer’s compliant behavior to safely stop before the end of the tracks. Noncompliance…

1391

Abstract

Purpose

At the US passenger stations, train operations approaching terminating tracks rely on the engineer’s compliant behavior to safely stop before the end of the tracks. Noncompliance actions from the disengaged or inattentive engineers would result in hazards to train passengers, train crewmembers and bystanders at passenger stations. Over the past decade, a series of end-of-track collisions occurred at passenger stations with substantial property damage and casualties. This study’s developed systemic model and discussions present policymakers, railway practitioners and academic researchers with a flexible approach for qualitatively assessing railroad safety.

Design/methodology/approach

To achieve a system-based, micro-level analysis of end-of-track accidents and eventually promote the safety level of passenger stations, the systems-theoretic accident modeling and processes (STAMP), as a practical systematic accident model widely used in the complex systems, is developed in view of environmental factors, human errors, organizational factors and mechanical failures in this complex socio-technical system.

Findings

The developed STAMP accident model and analytical results qualitatively provide an explicit understanding of the system hazards, constraints and hierarchical control structure of train operations on terminating tracks in the US passenger stations. Furthermore, the safety recommendations and practical options related to obstructive sleep apnea screening, positive train control-based collision avoidance mechanisms, robust system safety program plans and bumping posts are proposed and evaluated using the STAMP approach.

Originality/value

The findings from STAMP-based analysis can serve as valid references for policymakers, government accident investigators, railway practitioners and academic researchers. Ultimately, they can contribute to establishing effective emergent measures for train operations at passenger stations and promote the level of safety necessary to protect the public. The STAMP approach could be adapted to analyze various other rail safety systems that aim to ultimately improve the safety level of railroad systems.

Details

Smart and Resilient Transportation, vol. 3 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2632-0487

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 19 December 2022

Xiang Liu and G.P. Cai

This paper studies the nonlinear dynamics of membrane structure considering wrinkling effect. The coupling between wrinkles and vibration is investigated elaborately, and new…

Abstract

Purpose

This paper studies the nonlinear dynamics of membrane structure considering wrinkling effect. The coupling between wrinkles and vibration is investigated elaborately, and new insight on the dynamics of wrinkled membrane is unveiled.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on the stability theory of plates and shells, the wrinkling model of the membrane structure is established. Considering the effects of wrinkling and nonlinearity, the dynamic response is calculated with NewMark method.

Findings

Wrinkling will impact the dynamics of the membrane structure significantly for asymmetrical tension loading cases, dynamic response of the wrinkled membrane structure can be classified into three categories: when the vibration is small, the dynamics of the wrinkled membrane structure will behave linearly, and the wrinkles will only affect the dynamic properties as initial conditions; when the vibration is relatively large, the wrinkles will interact with the vibration during the dynamic process, and the dynamics of the structure shows very complex features; when the vibration is large enough, the dynamics will be dominated by the geometric nonlinearity of large-amplitude vibration.

Originality/value

In the previous works on dynamics of wrinkled membrane structure, only the vibration modes have been studied, which means all those investigations are confined with linear vibration; little research has been conducted on the nonlinear dynamics of wrinkled membrane structure. In view of this, this paper presents an investigation of dynamic properties of membrane structure considering the wrinkling and geometric nonlinear effects. This research work presents some novel discoveries on the nonlinear dynamics of wrinkled membrane.

Details

Engineering Computations, vol. 40 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0264-4401

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 8 November 2022

Junlong Peng and Xiang-Jun Liu

This research is aimed to mainly be applicable to expediting engineering projects, uses the method of inverse optimization and the double-layer nested genetic algorithm combined…

Abstract

Purpose

This research is aimed to mainly be applicable to expediting engineering projects, uses the method of inverse optimization and the double-layer nested genetic algorithm combined with nonlinear programming algorithm, study how to schedule the number of labor in each process at the minimum cost to achieve an extremely short construction period goal.

Design/methodology/approach

The method of inverse optimization is mainly used in this study. In the first phase, establish a positive optimization model, according to the existing labor constraints, aiming at the shortest construction period. In the second phase, under the condition that the expected shortest construction period is known, on the basis of the positive optimization model, the inverse optimization method is used to establish the inverse optimization model aiming at the minimum change of the number of workers, and finally the optimal labor allocation scheme that meets the conditions is obtained. Finally, use algorithm to solve and prove with a case.

Findings

The case study shows that this method can effectively achieve the extremely short duration goal of the engineering project at the minimum cost, and provide the basis for the decision-making of the engineering project.

Originality/value

The contribution of this paper to the existing knowledge is to carry out a preliminary study on the relatively blank field of the current engineering project with a very short construction period, and provide a path for the vast number of engineering projects with strict requirements on the construction period to achieve a very short construction period, and apply the inverse optimization method to the engineering field. Furthermore, a double-nested genetic algorithm and nonlinear programming algorithm are designed. It can effectively solve various optimization problems.

Details

Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, vol. 31 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0969-9988

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 8 September 2022

Xingwei Li, Xiang Liu, Yicheng Huang, Jingru Li, Jinrong He and Jiachi Dai

The green innovation behavior of construction enterprises is the key to reducing the construction industry's carbon emissions and realizing the green transformation of the…

Abstract

Purpose

The green innovation behavior of construction enterprises is the key to reducing the construction industry's carbon emissions and realizing the green transformation of the construction industry. The purpose of this study is to reveal the evolutionary mechanism of green innovation behavior in construction enterprises.

Design/methodology/approach

This study is based on resource-based theory, Porter's hypothesis and signaling theory. First, a measurement model of the green innovation behavior of construction enterprises was constructed from three aspects: environmental regulation, enterprise resources and public opinion through hierarchical analysis. Then, the state values of the measurement model of green innovation behavior of construction enterprises were calculated through the time series data from 2011–2018. Finally, the Markov chain model was used to predict the evolutionary trend of green innovation behavior of construction enterprises, and the accuracy of the prediction effect of the Markov chain model was verified using the time series data of 2019.

Findings

The Markov chain model of green innovation behavior of construction enterprises constructed in this study has high accuracy. This model finds that the transition of the growth state of green innovation behavior in China's construction industry is fluid and predicts the evolution trend of the innovation behavior of construction enterprises. In the future, the green innovation behavior of construction enterprises has a probability of 70.17% to be in a continuous growth state and 40.27% to be in a rapid growth state.

Originality/value

Based on the Markov chain model of green innovation behavior of construction enterprises, this study finds that the transition of the growth state of green innovation behavior of construction enterprises in China has the characteristics of liquidity. In addition, it reveals the development process of the green innovation behavior of construction enterprises from 2011–2018 and predicts the evolution trend of the green innovation behavior of construction enterprises.

Details

Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, vol. 31 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0969-9988

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 5 June 2019

Xiang Liu, Fei Guo, Yun Zhang, Junjie Liang, Dequn Li and Huamin Zhou

The purpose of this paper is to develop a coupled approach to solve the pressure–velocity-coupled problem efficiently in the three-dimensional injection molding simulation.

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop a coupled approach to solve the pressure–velocity-coupled problem efficiently in the three-dimensional injection molding simulation.

Design/methodology/approach

A fully coupled pressure–velocity algorithm is developed to solve the coupled problem, by treating the pressure gradient term implicitly. And, the Schur complement preconditioned FGMRES is applied to decompose the resulting coupled pressure–velocity equation into pressure and velocity subsystems. Then, BoomerAMG is adopted to solve the pressure subsystem, and block Jacobi preconditioned FGMRES is applied to the velocity subsystem.

Findings

According to the several experiments, the fully coupled pressure–velocity algorithm was demonstrated to have faster convergence than the traditional SIMPLE algorithm, and the calculating time was reduced by up to 70 per cent. And, the Schur complement preconditioned FGMRES worked more efficiently than block Gauss–Seidel preconditioned FGMRES, block-selective AMG and AMG with block ILU(0) smoother and could take at least 47.4 per cent less time. The proposed solver had good scalability for different-size problems, including various cases with different numbers of elements. It also kept good speedup and efficiency in parallel performance.

Originality/value

A coupled solver has been proposed to effectively solve the coupled problem in the three-dimensional injection molding simulation, which is more robust and efficient than existing methods.

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