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Open Access
Article
Publication date: 4 April 2023

Obinna Alo, Ahmad Arslan, Anna Yumiao Tian and Vijay Pereira

This paper is one of the first studies to examine specificities, including limits of mindfulness at work in an African organisational context, whilst dealing with the ongoing…

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Abstract

Purpose

This paper is one of the first studies to examine specificities, including limits of mindfulness at work in an African organisational context, whilst dealing with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. It specifically addresses the role of organisational and managerial support systems in restoring employee wellbeing, social connectedness and attachment to their organisations, in order to overcome the exclusion caused by the ongoing pandemic.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses a qualitative research methodology that includes interviews as the main data source. The sample comprises of 20 entrepreneurs (organisational leaders) from Ghana and Nigeria.

Findings

The authors found that COVID-19-induced worries restricted the practice of mindfulness, and this was prevalent at the peak of the pandemic, particularly due to very tough economic conditions caused by reduction in salaries, and intensified by pre-existing general economic and social insecurities, and institutional voids in Africa. This aspect further resulted in lack of engagement and lack of commitment, which affected overall team performance and restricted employees’ mindfulness at work. Hence, quietness by employees even though can be linked to mindfulness was linked to larger psychological stress that they were facing. The authors also found leaders/manager’s emotional intelligence, social skills and organisational support systems to be helpful in such circumstances. However, their effectiveness varied among the cases.

Originality/value

This paper is one of the first studies to establish a link between the COVID-19 pandemic and mindfulness limitations. Moreover, it is a pioneering study specifically highlighting the damaging impact of COVID-19-induced concerns on leader–member exchange (LMX) and team–member exchange (TMX) relationships, particularly in the African context. It further brings in a unique discussion on the mitigating mechanisms of such COVID-19-induced concerns in organisations and highlights the roles of manager’s/leader’s emotional intelligence, social skills and supportive intervention patterns. Finally, the authors offer an in-depth assessment of the effectiveness of organisational interventions and supportive relational systems in restoring social connectedness following a social exclusion caused by COVID-19-induced worries.

Details

Journal of Managerial Psychology, vol. 39 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0268-3946

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 26 December 2023

Aniket Halder, Arabdha Bhattacharya, Nirmalendu Biswas, Nirmal K. Manna and Dipak Kumar Mandal

The purpose of this study is to carry out a comprehensive analysis of magneto-hydrodynamics (MHD), nanofluidic flow dynamics and heat transfer as well as thermodynamic…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to carry out a comprehensive analysis of magneto-hydrodynamics (MHD), nanofluidic flow dynamics and heat transfer as well as thermodynamic irreversibility, within a novel butterfly-shaped cavity. Gaining a thorough understanding of these phenomena will help to facilitate the design and optimization of thermal systems with complex geometries under magnetic fields in diverse applications.

Design/methodology/approach

To achieve the objective, the finite element method is used to solve the governing equations of the problem. The effects of various controlling parameters such as butterfly-shaped triangle vertex angle (T), Rayleigh number (Ra), Hartmann number (Ha) and magnetic field inclination angle (γ ) on the hydrothermal performance are analyzed meticulously. By investigating the effects of these parameters, the authors contribute to the existing knowledge by shedding light on their influence on heat and fluid transport within butterfly-shaped cavities.

Findings

The major findings of this study reveal that the geometrical shape significantly alters fluid motion, heat transfer and irreversibility production. Maximum heat transfer, as well as entropy generation, occurs when the Rayleigh number reaches its maximum, the Hartmann number is minimized and the angle of the magnetic field is set to 30° or 150°, while the butterfly wings angle or vertex angle is kept at a maximum of 120°. The intensity of the magnetic field significantly controls the heat flow dynamics, with higher magnetic field strength causing a reduction in the flow strength as well as heat transfer. This configuration optimizes the heat transfer characteristics in the system.

Research limitations/implications

Further research can be expanded on this study by examining thermal performance under different curvature effects, orientations, boundary conditions and additional factors. This can be accomplished through numerical simulations or experimental investigations under various multiphysical scenarios.

Practical implications

The geometric configurations explored in this research have practical applications in various engineering fields, including heat exchangers, crystallization processes, microelectronic devices, energy storage systems, mixing processes, food processing, air-conditioning, filtration and more.

Originality/value

This study brings value by exploring a novel geometric configuration comprising the nanofluidic flow, and MHD effect, providing insights and potential innovations in the field of thermal fluid dynamics. The findings contribute a lot toward maximizing thermal performance in diverse fields of applications. The comparison of different hydrothermal behavior and thermodynamic entropy production under the varying geometric configuration adds novelty to this study.

Details

International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow, vol. 34 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0961-5539

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 19 January 2024

Sobhan Pandit, Milan K. Mondal, Dipankar Sanyal, Nirmal K. Manna, Nirmalendu Biswas and Dipak Kumar Mandal

This study aims to undertake a comprehensive examination of heat transfer by convection in porous systems with top and bottom walls insulated and differently heated vertical walls…

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to undertake a comprehensive examination of heat transfer by convection in porous systems with top and bottom walls insulated and differently heated vertical walls under a magnetic field. For a specific nanofluid, the study aims to bring out the effects of different segmental heating arrangements.

Design/methodology/approach

An existing in-house code based on the finite volume method has provided the numerical solution of the coupled nondimensional transport equations. Following a validation study, different explorations include the variations of Darcy–Rayleigh number (Ram = 10–104), Darcy number (Da = 10–5–10–1) segmented arrangements of heaters of identical total length, porosity index (ε = 0.1–1) and aspect ratio of the cavity (AR = 0.25–2) under Hartmann number (Ha = 10–70) and volume fraction of φ = 0.1% for the nanoparticles. In the analysis, there are major roles of the streamlines, isotherms and heatlines on the vertical mid-plane of the cavity and the profiles of the flow velocity and temperature on the central line of the section.

Findings

The finding of a monotonic rise in the heat transfer rate with an increase in Ram from 10 to 104 has prompted a further comparison of the rate at Ram equal to 104 with the total length of the heaters kept constant in all the cases. With respect to uniform heating of one entire wall, the study reveals a significant advantage of 246% rate enhancement from two equal heater segments placed centrally on opposite walls. This rate has emerged higher by 82% and 249%, respectively, with both the segments placed at the top and one at the bottom and one at the top. An increase in the number of centrally arranged heaters on each wall from one to five has yielded 286% rate enhancement. Changes in the ratio of the cavity height-to-length from 1.0 to 0.2 and 2 cause the rate to decrease by 50% and increase by 21%, respectively.

Research limitations/implications

Further research with additional parameters, geometries and configurations will consolidate the understanding. Experimental validation can complement the numerical simulations presented in this study.

Originality/value

This research contributes to the field by integrating segmented heating, magnetic fields and hybrid nanofluid in a porous flow domain, addressing existing research gaps. The findings provide valuable insights for enhancing thermal performance, and controlling heat transfer locally, and have implications for medical treatments, thermal management systems and related fields. The research opens up new possibilities for precise thermal management and offers directions for future investigations.

Details

International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow, vol. 34 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0961-5539

Keywords

Open Access
Article
Publication date: 3 May 2023

Lars Stehn and Alexander Jimenez

The purpose of this paper is to understand if and how industrialized house building (IHB) could support productivity developments for housebuilding on project and industry levels…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to understand if and how industrialized house building (IHB) could support productivity developments for housebuilding on project and industry levels. The take is that fragmentation of construction is one explanation for the lack of productivity growth, and that IHB could be an integrating method of overcoming horizontal and vertical fragmentation.

Design/methodology/approach

Singe-factor productivity measures are calculated based on data reported by IHB companies and compared to official produced and published research data. The survey covers the years 2013–2020 for IHB companies building multi-storey houses in timber. Generalization is sought through descriptive statistics by contrasting the data samples to the used means to control vertical and horizontal fragmentation formulated as three theoretical propositions.

Findings

According to the results, IHB in timber is on average more productive than conventional housebuilding at the company level, project level, in absolute and in growth terms over the eight-year period. On the company level, the labour productivity was on average 10% higher for IHB compared to general construction and positioned between general construction and general manufacturing. On the project level, IHB displayed an average cost productivity growth of 19% for an employed prefabrication degree of about 45%.

Originality/value

Empirical evidence is presented quantifying so far perceived advantages of IHB. By providing analysis of actual cost and project data derived from IHB companies, the article quantifies previous research that IHB is not only about prefabrication. The observed positive productivity growth in relation to the employed prefabrication degree indicates that off-site production is not a sufficient mean for reaching high productivity and productivity growth. Instead, the capabilities to integrate the operative logic of conventional housebuilding together with logic of IHB platform development and use is a probable explanation of the observed positive productivity growth.

Details

Construction Innovation , vol. 24 no. 7
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1471-4175

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 4 December 2023

Chandan Kumawat, Bhupendra Kumar Sharma, Taseer Muhammad and Liaqat Ali

The purpose of this study is to determine the impact of two-phase power law nanofluid on a curved arterial blood flow under the presence of ovelapped stenosis. Over the past…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to determine the impact of two-phase power law nanofluid on a curved arterial blood flow under the presence of ovelapped stenosis. Over the past couple of decades, the percentage of deaths associated with blood vessel diseases has risen sharply to nearly one third of all fatalities. For vascular disease to be stopped in its tracks, it is essential to understand the vascular geometry and blood flow within the artery. In recent scenarios, because of higher thermal properties and the ability to move across stenosis and tumor cells, nanoparticles are becoming a more common and effective approach in treating cardiovascular diseases and cancer cells.

Design/methodology/approach

The present mathematical study investigates the blood flow behavior in the overlapped stenosed curved artery with cylinder shape catheter. The induced magnetic field and entropy generation for blood flow in the presence of a heat source, magnetic field and nanoparticle (Fe3O4) have been analyzed numerically. Blood is considered in artery as two-phases: core and plasma region. Power-law fluid has been considered for core region fluid, whereas Newtonian fluid is considered in the plasma region. Strongly implicit Stone’s method has been considered to solve the system of nonlinear partial differential equations (PDE’s) with 10–6 tolerance error.

Findings

The influence of various parameters has been discussed graphically. This study concludes that arterial curvature increases the probability of atherosclerosis deposition, while using an external heating source flow temperature and entropy production. In addition, if the thermal treatment procedure is carried out inside a magnetic field, it will aid in controlling blood flow velocity.

Originality/value

The findings of this computational analysis hold great significance for clinical researchers and biologists, as they offer the ability to anticipate the occurrence of endothelial cell injury and plaque accumulation in curved arteries with specific wall shear stress patterns. Consequently, these insights may contribute to the potential alleviation of the severity of these illnesses. Furthermore, the application of nanoparticles and external heat sources in the discipline of blood circulation has potential in the medically healing of illness conditions such as stenosis, cancer cells and muscular discomfort through the usage of beneficial effects.

Details

International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow, vol. 34 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0961-5539

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 2 February 2024

Deepika Parmar, S.V.S.S.N.V.G. Krishna Murthy, B.V. Rathish Kumar and Sumant Kumar

This study aims to analyze the impact of fractional derivatives on heat transfer and entropy generation during transient free convection inside various complex porous enclosures…

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to analyze the impact of fractional derivatives on heat transfer and entropy generation during transient free convection inside various complex porous enclosures, such as triangle, L-shape and square-containing wavy surfaces. These porous enclosures are saturated with Cu-water nanofluid and subjected to the influence of a uniform magnetic field.

Design/methodology/approach

In the present study, Darcy’s model is used for the momentum transport equation in the porous matrix. Additionally, the Caputo time fractional derivative is introduced in the energy equation to assess the heat transfer phenomenon. Furthermore, the total entropy generation has been computed by combining the entropy generation due to fluid friction (Sff), heat transfer (Sht) and magnetic field (Smf). The complete mathematical model is further simulated using the penalty finite element method, and the Caputo time derivative term is approximated using the L1 scheme. The study is conducted for various ranges of the Rayleigh number (102Ra104), Hartmann number (0Ha20) and fractional order parameter (0<α<1) with respect to time.

Findings

It has been observed that the fractional order parameter α governs the characteristics of entropy generation and heat transfer within the selected range of parameters. The Bejan number associated with heat transfer (Beht), fluid friction (Beff) and magnetic field (Bemf) further demonstrate the dominance of flow irreversibilities. It becomes evident that the initial evolution state of streamlines, isotherms and local entropy varies according to the choice of α. Additionally, increasing Ra values from 102 to 104 shows that the heat transfer rate increases by 123.8% for a square wavy enclosure, 7.4% for a triangle enclosure and 69.6% for an L-shape enclosure. Moreover, an increase in the value of Ha leads to a reduction in heat transfer rates and entropy generation. In this case, Bemf1 shows the dominance of the magnetic field irreversibility in the total entropy generation.

Practical implications

Recently, fractional-order models have been widely used to express numerous physical phenomena, such as anomalous diffusion and dispersion in complex viscoelastic porous media. These models offer a more accurate representation of physical reality that classical models fail to capture; this is why they find a broad range of applications in science and engineering.

Originality/value

The fractional derivative model is used to illustrate the flow pattern, heat transfer and entropy-generating characteristics under the influence of a magnetic field. Furthermore, to the best of the author’s knowledge, a fractional-derivative-based mathematical model for the entropy generation phenomenon in complex porous enclosures has not been previously developed or studied.

Details

International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow, vol. 34 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0961-5539

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 14 December 2023

Swapnil Narayan Rajmane and Shaligram Tiwari

This study aims to perform three-dimensional numerical computations for blood flow through a double stenosed carotid artery. Pulsatile flow with Womersley number (Wo) of 4.65 and…

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to perform three-dimensional numerical computations for blood flow through a double stenosed carotid artery. Pulsatile flow with Womersley number (Wo) of 4.65 and Reynolds number (Re) of 425, based on the diameter of normal artery and average velocity of inlet pulse, was considered.

Design/methodology/approach

Finite volume method based ANSYS Fluent 20.1 was used for solving the governing equations of three-dimensional, laminar, incompressible and non-Newtonian blood flow. A high-quality grid with sufficient refinement was generated using ICEM CFD 20.1. The time-averaged flow field was captured to investigate the effect of severity and eccentricity on the lumen flow characteristics.

Findings

The results show that an increase in interspacing between blockages brings shear layer instability within the region between two blockages. The velocity profile and wall shear stress distribution are found to be majorly influenced by eccentricity. On the other hand, their peak magnitude is found to be primarily influenced by severity. Results have also demonstrated that the presence of eccentricity in stenosis would assist in flow development.

Originality/value

Variation in severity and interspacing was considered with a provision of eccentricity equal to 10% of diameter. Eccentricity refers to the offset between the centreline of stenosis and the centreline of normal artery. For the two blockages, severity values of 40% and 60% based on diameter reduction were permuted, giving rise to four combinations. For each combination, three values of interspacing in the multiples of normal artery diameter (D), viz. 4D, 6D and 8D were considered.

Details

International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow, vol. 34 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0961-5539

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 19 June 2023

Sunil Kumar Jauhar, B. Ripon Chakma, Sachin S. Kamble and Amine Belhadi

As e-commerce has expanded rapidly, online shopping platforms have become widespread in India and throughout the world. Product return, which has a negative effect on the…

Abstract

Purpose

As e-commerce has expanded rapidly, online shopping platforms have become widespread in India and throughout the world. Product return, which has a negative effect on the E-Commerce Industry's economic and ecological sustainability, is one of the E-Commerce Industry's greatest challenges in light of the substantial increase in online transactions. The authors have analyzed the purchasing patterns of the customers to better comprehend their product purchase and return patterns.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors utilized digital transformation techniques-based recency, frequency and monetary models to better understand and segment potential customers in order to address personalized strategies to increase sales, and the authors performed seller clustering using k-means and hierarchical clustering to determine why some sellers have the most sales and what products they offer that entice customers to purchase.

Findings

The authors discovered, through the application of digital transformation models to customer segmentation, that over 61.15% of consumers are likely to purchase, loyal customers and utilize firm service, whereas approximately 35% of customers have either stopped purchasing or have relatively low spending. To retain these consumer segments, special consideration and an enticing offer are required. As the authors dug deeper into the seller clustering, we discovered that the maximum number of clusters is six, while certain clusters indicate that prompt delivery of the goods plays a crucial role in customer feedback and high sales volume.

Originality/value

This is one of the rare study that develops a seller segmentation strategy by utilizing digital transformation-based methods in order to achieve seller group division.

Details

Journal of Enterprise Information Management, vol. 37 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1741-0398

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 19 February 2024

Muhammad Sohail and Syed Tehseen Abbas

This study aims to analyze the Prandtl fluid flow in the presence of better mass diffusion and heat conduction models. By taking into account a linearly bidirectional stretchable…

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to analyze the Prandtl fluid flow in the presence of better mass diffusion and heat conduction models. By taking into account a linearly bidirectional stretchable sheet, flow is produced. Heat generation effect, thermal radiation, variable thermal conductivity, variable diffusion coefficient and Cattaneo–Christov double diffusion models are used to evaluate thermal and concentration diffusions.

Design/methodology/approach

The governing partial differential equations (PDEs) have been made simpler using a boundary layer method. Strong nonlinear ordinary differential equations (ODEs) relate to appropriate non-dimensional similarity variables. The optimal homotopy analysis technique is used to develop solution.

Findings

Graphs analyze the impact of many relevant factors on temperature and concentration. The physical parameters, such as mass and heat transfer rates at the wall and surface drag coefficients, are also displayed and explained.

Originality/value

The reported work discusses the contribution of generalized flux models to note their impact on heat and mass transport.

Details

Multidiscipline Modeling in Materials and Structures, vol. 20 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1573-6105

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 23 January 2024

Md Motiur Rahaman, Nirmalendu Biswas, Apurba Kumar Santra and Nirmal K. Manna

This study aims to delve into the coupled mixed convective heat transport process within a grooved channel cavity using CuO-water nanofluid and an inclined magnetic field. The…

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to delve into the coupled mixed convective heat transport process within a grooved channel cavity using CuO-water nanofluid and an inclined magnetic field. The cavity undergoes isothermal heating from the bottom, with variations in the positions of heated walls across the grooved channel. The aim is to assess the impact of heater positions on thermal performance and identify the most effective configuration.

Design/methodology/approach

Numerical solutions to the evolved transport equations are obtained using a finite volume method-based indigenous solver. The dimensionless parameters of Reynolds number (1 ≤ Re ≤ 500), Richardson number (0.1 ≤ Ri ≤ 100), Hartmann number (0 ≤ Ha ≤ 70) and magnetic field inclination angle (0° ≤ γ ≤ 180°) are considered. The solved variables generate both local and global variables after discretization using the semi-implicit method for pressure linked equations algorithm on nonuniform grids.

Findings

The study reveals that optimal heat transfer occurs when the heater is positioned at the right corner of the grooved cavity. Heat transfer augmentation ranges from 0.5% to 168.53% for Re = 50 to 300 compared to the bottom-heated case. The magnetic field’s orientation significantly influences the average heat transfer, initially rising and then declining with increasing inclination angle. Overall, this analysis underscores the effectiveness of heater positions in achieving superior thermal performance in a grooved channel cavity.

Research limitations/implications

This concept can be extended to explore enhanced thermal performance under various thermal boundary conditions, considering wall curvature effects, different geometry orientations and the presence of porous structures, either numerically or experimentally.

Practical implications

The findings are applicable across diverse fields, including biomedical systems, heat exchanging devices, electronic cooling systems, food processing, drying processes, crystallization, mixing processes and beyond.

Originality/value

This work provides a novel exploration of CuO-water nanofluid flow in mixed convection within a grooved channel cavity under the influence of an inclined magnetic field. The influence of different heater positions on thermomagnetic convection in such a cavity has not been extensively investigated before, contributing to the originality and value of this research.

Details

International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow, vol. 34 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0961-5539

Keywords

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