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The purpose of this paper is to study the fertility potential of the iron- and steel-making process waste granulated blast furnace slag to recover it as a beneficial product.

This slag fertilizer was mixed with organic fertilizer to enrich and dung the vegetable sets are pepper, lettuce and cucumbers.

In this study, 100 per cent granulated slag, 75 per cent granulated slag + 25 per cent fermented manure, 50 per cent granulated slag + 50 per cent fermented manure and 25 per cent granulated slag + 75 per cent fermented manure compositions were mixed with water and added to seeding pots. The growth rate of vegetable sets and also the level of contamination of heavy metals such as lead, copper, aluminum, mercury and cadmium were analyzed. The analyses results showed that contamination rates of lead, copper, aluminum, mercury and cadmium in lettuce and cucumber samples were in the range of acceptable levels for human health. Slag fertilizer enforced the set of growth rate and productivity, too.

By the recovery of the waste slag storage, transport and annihilation economical load on the industry would be eliminated, waste recovery contributes to the economical gaining and beneficial recovered products replace the need of fertility products.

To effectively control the molten steel flow and the stability of free surface in continuous casting mould, this paper aims to propose a new type electromagnetic brake technique, namely, vertical electromagnetic brake (V-EMBr). Its brake effect under special processing parameters such as submerged entry nozzle (SEN) depth and port angle is evaluated by the numerical simulation methods.

A couple three-dimensional mathematical model of fluid flow and static magnetic field was developed to investigate the behaviour of molten steel flow and steel/slag interface in the continuous casting mould, and a volume of fluid model is used to track the interfacial behaviour of molten steel and liquid slag by solving the continuity equation of the phase volume fraction.

The simulation results showed that the application of V-EMBr can significantly reduce the flow intensity in upper recirculation zone and decrease the meniscus height and the flow velocity of molten steel in the vicinity of narrow side of mould, which is beneficial to reduce the possibility of mould flux entrapment. Especially, the brake effect of V-EMBr has a little affected by the SEN depth and port angle, which is helpful for V-EMBr to better adapt the actual continuous casting process.

Compared to the conventional-level EMBr, the new proposed V-EMBr has the advantage to effectively control the molten steel flow and steel/slag interfacial fluctuation in the vicinity of narrow side of mould with a pair of magnetic fields, and its brake effect is less affected by the changes in continuous casting processing parameters.

The objective of this paper is to compare and evaluate the environmental performance of steel supply chains considering relevant environmental loss factors using Taguchi loss function (TLF) and design of experiments (DOE).

The different environmental loss factors in steel manufacturing supply chain were studied and the significant factors were identified. Their combined contributions along the significant factors were estimated using TLF and DOEs comparing environment losses at different scenarios.

The proposed methodology using TLF and DOEs was applied to three Indian steel manufacturing companies (Company A, Company B and Company C). The Company A with minimal average environmental loss score is found to be operating its supply chain with higher efficiency and has better environmental performance compared to the other two companies (B and C).

The results obtained are based on the study carried out in three Indian steel manufacturing companies. Therefore, the results cannot be generalized.

This paper will definitely show the direction for comparative environmental performance assessment of manufacturing industries in general and steel industries in specific considering environmental loss factors and environmental conditions. It determines individual performance across each environmental loss factor and their combined impact.

Although there is a need to have comparative performance analysis with respect to environmental losses among steel companies in developing countries such as India, but hardly any study has been reported in this direction. This work will definitely add the value to the supply chain literature in general and environment losses in steel manufacturing supply chain in specific.

Since the first sand‐blasting machine was patented by Tilghman in 1870 abrasive blasting has grown from a means of decorating glass through a method of removing sand from castings, into the standard method of preparation of steel work prior to painting. Abrasive blast cleaning now forms a major part of the painting contracting and building restoration industries as well as retaining its older applications in dressing castings.

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the Environmental Sustainability Enablers (ESEs) for an Indian steel manufacturing company to select the appropriate set of ESEs for implementing and enhancing environmental sustainability.

A methodology using fuzzy Decision-Making Trail and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) is proposed to analyze ESEs capturing multiple experts’ qualitative judgments on their mutual impacts. It is applied to an Indian steel manufacturing company to understand the salient features of the concept.

The relevant 18 ESEs were classified into cause and effect group and also interactions (i.e. influencing and influenced) of each ESE with other ESEs were evaluated. It was observed that the five ESEs (i.e. competitors’ environmental sustainability strategy, environmental compliance certification, government regulations and incentives, influence of external factors and air pollution controlling system) are the most prominent in the cause group.

The results obtained are specific to an Indian steel manufacturing company and it cannot be generalized for steel manufacturing sector. However, the current paper can show direction to carry out such work in other manufacturing companies.

The proposed methodology will be helpful for allocating efforts and resources to enhance the impact of ESEs for successful achievement of environmental sustainability.

No such paper has been reported in the literature with an objective to develop structural framework for Indian steel manufacturing company to improve environmental sustainability.

The purpose of this paper is the numerical assessment of concrete behaviour close to failure, via the development of robust elastoplastic models inclusive of damage effects. If mesoscale investigations are to be considered, the model must take into account the local confinement effects because of the presence of aggregate inclusions in the cement paste and, correspondingly, the possibility to account for local 3D stress states even under uniaxial compression. Additionally, to enhance the predictive capabilities of a mesoscale representation, the reconstructed geometry must accurately follow the real one.

The work provides a procedure that combines a 3D digital image technique with finite element (FE) modelling thus maintaining the original 3D morphology of the composite.

The potentialities of the proposed approach are discussed, giving new insights to a FE modelling (FEM)-based approach applied together with a computer-aided design. Coupled mechanisms of mechanical mismatch and confinement, characterizing the combined cement matrix-aggregates effect, are captured and highlighted via the numerical tests.

The novelty of this research work lies in the proposal of a digitally based methodology for a precise concrete reconstruction together with the adoption of an upgraded elastic–plastic damage model for the cement paste.

This study aims to explore the experience of eight international companies, focusing on their strategies in sustainable innovations in China.

This investigation is accomplished using a case study methodology. The research is based on the companies' secondary data and 47 semi-structured face-to-face interviews carried out in Chinese (Mandarin) between September 2010 and March 2012. Access to the selected companies was supported by WWF China.

The findings of this study are summarised in a theoretical framework suggesting four different levels of multinational corporations' (MNCs') sustainability-driven innovations in China.

The paper is based on the research population of MNCs being WWF Climate Savers partners in China. The research sample has no Chinese-only companies.

From the academic perspective this research is a qualitative analysis of the best practices in sustainable innovation of MNCs in China and an attempt to map them to a theoretical framework. From a policy-making perspective, this paper is a report on existing practices and positive experience in responsible industry leadership. For practitioners this study shows how to create profitable growth in harmony with environmental sustainability and good corporate citizenship.

This paper aims to deal with the synergistic effect of steel slag-molybdenum disulfide particles on fade-recovery performances of non-asbestos organic friction material.

The brake friction materials were developed by using steel slag and molybdenum disulfide particles as individual and combination in the formulation. The brake friction materials were developed in the form of standard brake pads as per the industrial practice. The physical, mechanical and thermal properties of the developed brake pads were tested as per the industrial standards. The tribological properties were analyzed using the Chase test as per IS2742-Part-4. Worn surface analysis was done using a scanning electron microscope.

The experimental results indicate that the brake pads filled with a combination of steel slag and molybdenum disulfide showed stable friction and less wear rate due to the synergetic nature of abrasive and lubricant.

This paper explains the influence of steel slag and molybdenum disulfide particles as individual and combined in brake pads formulation to enhance the tribological performance by producing stabilized friction with undulations.

The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/ILT-06-2020-0216/

This study aims to investigate the compressive strength of concretes incorporating Linz-Donawitz slag (LD slag) as partial replacement for natural fine and coarse aggregates and compare them with traditional concrete.

The natural fine and coarse aggregates were replaced by weight simultaneously up to 100% with LD slag aggregates at an incremental increase of 20%. Concrete of grades M20, M25, M30, M35 and M40 were cast, cured and tested with standard cube specimens to study the density and compressive strength of reference and LD slag aggregate concretes (LDSACs). The concrete specimens were exposed to elevated temperatures, i.e. 100 to 900 °C at an equal interval of 100 °C and tested to study the variation in density and residual compressive strength.

The results from the experiments reveal that the LDSAC yields a higher density than that of the reference concrete and also undergo less density variation when exposed to elevated temperatures. In addition, the residual compressive strength of LDSAC specimens was significantly higher than that of the reference concrete.

LD slag is believed to be stronger and more durable than locally available limestone aggregates or blast furnace slag. Moreover, it is necessary to study its strength and other properties to determine whether it can be successfully used as an aggregate in concrete universally.

Use of LD slag as aggregates in concrete will convert LD slag into a value added product and as an alternative to the existing natural aggregates which will help in maintaining ecological balance and save valuable lands.

The economically weaker section of the society may now use LDSAC as waste utilization will bring down the overall cost and hence it will benefit people on large scale.

Use of LD slag as aggregate in concrete can help find an alternative to the existing natural aggregates which will save the ecosystem and at the same time help in reducing the industrial waste on a large scale.

The objective of the research work is to predict the volume of fluid drained from a cylindrical vessel without entrapping air through the drainpipe, and hence predict the location of the free surface of the liquid in the vessel.

A two‐dimensional axi‐symmetric numerical simulation has been made using a finite volume method that employs unstructured grids with cell‐wise local refinement and an interface capturing scheme to predict the shape of the free surface of water in a cylindrical vessel, thus simulating the entrapment of air in the drainpipe connected to the vessel.

A drain cover was placed on top of the drainpipe to delay the entry of air into the drainpipe. It was found that an increase in the diameter of the drain cover increases the amount of liquid to be drained out before the air could enter into the drainpipe. It was found that air enters the drainpipe at a particular height of the liquid in the vessel. However, when an initial rotational velocity was imparted to the liquid, the height of liquid when air enters the drainpipe depends on the initial bath height. As the initial bath height increases, air enters the drainpipe at a progressively higher bath height. But surprisingly when the drain cover is put in place the initial bath height, again, has no effect on the height of the liquid (in the vessel).

The outcome of the present research work has direct implications for steel making. If the drainpipe can be connected to the ladle the way it has been discussed in this paper then more steel can be drained before stopping the drainage in order to avoid air or slag entrapment.

The idea of putting a drain cover, using a larger diameter drainpipe and making the drainpipe connection to the vessel different so as to delay the appearance of air at the drainpipe is a new finding and the idea can be used by steel makers.