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Article
Publication date: 23 August 2021

Xiao Fang, Yajie Zeng, Feng Xiong, Jiang Chen and Fei Cheng

Seepage of the dam is an important safety problem, which may cause internal erosion of the structure. In the field of seepage monitoring in civil engineering, the distributed…

Abstract

Purpose

Seepage of the dam is an important safety problem, which may cause internal erosion of the structure. In the field of seepage monitoring in civil engineering, the distributed optical fiber sensing technology based on the temperature tracing method has been paid more attention due to its unique advantages of high sensitivity, good stability and high resolution. The purpose of this paper is to make a review of the existing related research, so as to facilitate the later scholars to understand and further study more systematically.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, three kinds of commonly used distributed fiber temperature measurement technologies are introduced. Based on the working principle, monitoring system, theoretical analysis, experimental research and engineering application of the fiber seepage monitoring technology, the present situation of dam seepage monitoring based on distributed fiber is reviewed in detail and their advantages and disadvantages are compared.

Findings

The thermal monitoring technology of seepage measurement depends on the accuracy of optical fiber temperature measurement (including the accuracy of the system and the rationality of the discrimination method), the correct installation of optical fiber and the quantitative analysis of temperature data. The accuracy of the current monitoring system can basically meet the existing measurement requirements, but the correct installation of optical fiber and the calibration of temperature data need to be further studied for different discrimination methods, and this field has great research value.

Originality/value

At present, there are many applications and research studies of optical fiber sensing in the field of structural health monitoring, and there are also reviews of related aspects. However, there is little or no review only in the field of seepage monitoring. This paper summarizes the research and application of optical fiber sensing in the field of seepage monitoring. The possibility of the gradient method to find its new prospect with the development of monitoring systems and the improvement of temperature resolution is discussed. The idea of extending the seepage monitoring method based on distributed optical fiber thermal monitoring technology to other monitoring fields is also given in the paper.

Article
Publication date: 29 May 2023

Yanhu Han, Xiao Fang, Xinyu Zhao and Lufan Wang

The development of prefabricated buildings has become one of the primary solutions to transform the traditional construction industry around the world. Incentive policy is one of…

Abstract

Purpose

The development of prefabricated buildings has become one of the primary solutions to transform the traditional construction industry around the world. Incentive policy is one of the important driving factors for the development of prefabricated building. The policy system in the field of prefabricated buildings needs to be improved urgently. However, there is still a dearth of research on how incentive policies exert impact on the development of prefabricated buildings. This paper aims to reveal the impact mechanisms of different types of policies on the development system of prefabricated buildings.

Design/methodology/approach

This study categorizes prefabricated building policies, constructs a system dynamics model of prefabricated building policies and conducts scenario simulations to examine the impact and sensitivity of different types of policies on the development system of prefabricated buildings.

Findings

The results show that compulsory policies play a greater role in the early stage of prefabricated building development and need to be withdrawn at the right time. Preferential and encouraging policies play an incentive role in the middle and later stages of prefabricated building development. Encouraging policies predominate in the later stage of prefabricated building development. Based on the research results, policy recommendations for prefabricated building development are put forward respectively from the government, developers and consumers.

Originality/value

The research results are expected to make up for the lack of clear policies paths in existing research and provide theoretical references for the formulation and optimization of future policies.

Details

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

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 5 October 2015

Jing Liu

The purpose of this paper is to apply analysis of public discourses on Ze Xiao to explore and interpret the power relationships shaping inequality in admission to public junior…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to apply analysis of public discourses on Ze Xiao to explore and interpret the power relationships shaping inequality in admission to public junior high schools in urban China.

Design/methodology/approach

This study first introduces the rise of Ze Xiao as an educational phenomenon in China. It then elucidates power relationships in public school admission by analyzing continuities and changes in stakeholders’ interaction in public school admission. It concludes by discussing educational reform for equal public school admission in urban China. Data were collected from written and spoken texts about public school admission, including newspaper articles from the 1980s to the 2000s, policy documents and interviews with relevant stakeholders.

Findings

Findings demonstrate that multi-layered power relationships caused diverse inequalities in admission to public secondary education in urban China. These are represented by political and institutional privileges and an imbalance in education development during the social transition from a profit-driven approach in the 1990s to a balance-centered one after 2000. Arguably, there is a necessity to further promote a systematic reform to terminate the privileges and imbalance for an equal and balanced public secondary education in urban China post-2015.

Originality/value

This study attempts to make a contribution toward reconstructing the meaning of inequality in admission to public junior high schools in urban areas by revealing the power relationships among stakeholders constituted through their interactions in public education during the different stages of socio-economic development in urban China.

Details

Asian Education and Development Studies, vol. 4 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2046-3162

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 14 December 2021

Lijun Zhou and Zongqing Zhang

China's increasing income inequality might cause a series of problems, such as the slowdown of economic growth, social and economic tension, the decline of the ecological…

Abstract

Purpose

China's increasing income inequality might cause a series of problems, such as the slowdown of economic growth, social and economic tension, the decline of the ecological environment quality and the threat to citizens' health. Consequently, income inequality will inevitably affect the ecological well-being performance (EWP) level of China's provinces through the above aspects. Analyzing the impact of income inequality on EWP and its spatial spillover effects are conducive to improving the level of EWP in China. Therefore, the research purpose of this paper is to use China's provincial data from 2001 to 2017 to analyze the impact of income inequality on EWP and the spatial spillover effect based on the evaluation of the EWP value of each province.

Design/methodology/approach

At first, this study utilizes the super efficiency slacks-based measure model (Super-SBM model) to calculate the EWP values of 30 provinces in China, which can evaluate and rank the effective decision units in the SBM model and make up for the defect that the effective decision units cannot be distinguished. Then this study applies the spatial Durbin model and Tobit regression model (SDM-Tobit model) to explore the impact of income inequality and other influencing factors on EWP and the spatial spillover effects in adjacent areas.

Findings

Firstly, the average EWP in China fluctuated slightly and showed a downward trend from 2001 to 2017. In addition, the EWP values of the provinces in the western region are usually weaker than those in the eastern and central regions. Moreover, income inequality is negatively correlated with EWP, and the EWP has a spatial spillover effect, which means the EWP level in a region is affected by EWP values in the adjacent regions. Furthermore, the industrial structure and urbanization level are both negatively related to EWP, while technology level, investment openness, trade openness and education level are positively related to EWP.

Originality/value

Compared with the existing research, the possible contribution of this research is that it takes income inequality as one of the important influencing factors of EWP and adopts the SDM-Tobit model to analyze the impact mechanism of income inequality on EWP from the perspective of time and space, providing new ideas for improving the EWP of various provinces in China.

Article
Publication date: 6 November 2023

Shanglong Fang, Wei Xiao, Kewen Chen and Xuding Song

Resin-based friction materials are the most widely used key materials in industry for braking and transmission. However, the friction coefficient of resin-based friction materials…

Abstract

Purpose

Resin-based friction materials are the most widely used key materials in industry for braking and transmission. However, the friction coefficient of resin-based friction materials significantly decreases at temperatures above 300°C, which reduces their friction performance.

Design/methodology/approach

This study combines elevated-temperature mechanical experiments with friction and wear experiments to explain the thermal degradation resistance performance and temperature recovery performance of resin-based friction materials. It also investigates the influence of friction material strength and worn morphology on the friction coefficient of materials at elevated temperature.

Findings

The experimental results show that the increase in friction coefficient of friction materials below 300°C is mainly due to the increase in worn morphology characterization parameters, and the thermal degradation phenomenon above 300°C is mainly due to the decrease of shear strength of friction film. Basalt fiber can significantly improve the thermal degradation resistance of friction materials. The friction coefficient of basalt fiber-reinforced specimens after thermal degradation reaches 0.421–0.443, which is 19–25% higher than the original. The thermal decay rate is 9.03–11.0%, which is 7.9–9.87% lower than the original. Moreover, the friction coefficient has good cooling recovery performance.

Originality/value

Revealed the thermal degradation mechanism of resin-based friction materials, verified that basalt fibers can improve the thermal degradation resistance of friction materials and provided reference for the development of new friction materials.

Details

Industrial Lubrication and Tribology, vol. 75 no. 10
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0036-8792

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 21 March 2022

Quan Xiao, Mikko Siponen, Xing Zhang, Fucai Lu, Si-hua Chen and Mingsong Mao

The purpose of this study is to explore the antecedents of consumers’ online review intention in e-commerce platforms from a unique perspective of consumer commitment and platform…

1838

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to explore the antecedents of consumers’ online review intention in e-commerce platforms from a unique perspective of consumer commitment and platform design. Meanwhile, for the dual-platform strategy, i.e. providing both the web and mobile platforms simultaneously, which is widely adopted in the industry but lacks theoretical concerns, this study aims to examine the differences that platform design influences consumer commitment, consequently contributing to online review intention, between the web and mobile contexts.

Design/methodology/approach

A cross-sectional online survey is employed, and a structural equation model-based approach is utilized to analyze the data collected from both the website-preferred consumers (N = 167) and the mobile app-preferred consumers (N = 247).

Findings

The results indicate that instrumental support design factors and socio-emotional support factors positively influence consumer commitment, which further affect online review intention positively. Furthermore, design factors in different use contexts generate different impacts, and consumer commitment generates a greater effect on online review intention in the mobile than in the web context. Empathy is found to be an important motivator of consumer commitment in both contexts.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, as one of the first attempts to capture the differences in the relationship between platform design on consumer commitment and online review intention in different use contexts within the dual-platform e-commerce, this study provides insights for e-commerce platform managers and designers to promote consumer commitment and online review engagement by prioritizing the platform design.

Article
Publication date: 15 August 2019

Mehdi Dehghan, Mostafa Abbaszadeh, Amirreza Khodadadian and Clemens Heitzinger

The current paper aims to develop a reduced order discontinuous Galerkin method for solving the generalized Swift–Hohenberg equation with application in biological science and…

Abstract

Purpose

The current paper aims to develop a reduced order discontinuous Galerkin method for solving the generalized Swift–Hohenberg equation with application in biological science and mechanical engineering. The generalized Swift–Hohenberg equation is a fourth-order PDE; thus, this paper uses the local discontinuous Galerkin (LDG) method for it.

Design/methodology/approach

At first, the spatial direction has been discretized by the LDG technique, as this process results in a nonlinear system of equations based on the time variable. Thus, to achieve more accurate outcomes, this paper uses an exponential time differencing scheme for solving the obtained system of ordinary differential equations. Finally, to decrease the used CPU time, this study combines the proper orthogonal decomposition approach with the LDG method and obtains a reduced order LDG method. The circular and rectangular computational domains have been selected to solve the generalized Swift–Hohenberg equation. Furthermore, the energy stability for the semi-discrete LDG scheme has been discussed.

Findings

The results show that the new numerical procedure has not only suitable and acceptable accuracy but also less computational cost compared to the local DG without the proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) approach.

Originality/value

The local DG technique is an efficient numerical procedure for solving models in the fluid flow. The current paper combines the POD approach and the local LDG technique to solve the generalized Swift–Hohenberg equation with application in the fluid mechanics. In the new technique, the computational cost and the used CPU time of the local DG have been reduced.

Details

International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow, vol. 29 no. 8
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0961-5539

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 14 November 2023

Mostafa Abbaszadeh, AliReza Bagheri Salec and Shurooq Kamel Abd Al-Khafaji

The space fractional PDEs (SFPDEs) play an important role in the fractional calculus field. Proposing a high-order, stable and flexible numerical procedure for solving SFPDEs is…

Abstract

Purpose

The space fractional PDEs (SFPDEs) play an important role in the fractional calculus field. Proposing a high-order, stable and flexible numerical procedure for solving SFPDEs is the main aim of most researchers. This paper devotes to developing a novel spectral algorithm to solve the FitzHugh–Nagumo models with space fractional derivatives.

Design/methodology/approach

The fractional derivative is defined based upon the Riesz derivative. First, a second-order finite difference formulation is used to approximate the time derivative. Then, the Jacobi spectral collocation method is employed to discrete the spatial variables. On the other hand, authors assume that the approximate solution is a linear combination of special polynomials which are obtained from the Jacobi polynomials, and also there exists Riesz fractional derivative based on the Jacobi polynomials. Also, a reduced order plan, such as proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) method, has been utilized.

Findings

A fast high-order numerical method to decrease the elapsed CPU time has been constructed for solving systems of space fractional PDEs.

Originality/value

The spectral collocation method is combined with the POD idea to solve the system of space-fractional PDEs. The numerical results are acceptable and efficient for the main mathematical model.

Details

Engineering Computations, vol. 40 no. 9/10
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0264-4401

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 19 June 2009

Xiao Fang Du, Stephen C.H. Leung, Jin Long Zhang and K.K. Lai

This paper seeks to apply a framework of collaborative planning, forecasting and replenishment (CPFR) to develop a procurement model for agricultural products.

4369

Abstract

Purpose

This paper seeks to apply a framework of collaborative planning, forecasting and replenishment (CPFR) to develop a procurement model for agricultural products.

Design/methodology/approach

Considering the biological nature, seasonality and perishable characteristics of agricultural raw materials and products, the paper revises the CPFR reference model. Then, the paper constructs a n‐tier CPFR procurement model by extending a two‐echelon supply chain to a multi‐echelon supply chain and incorporating upstream suppliers in the supply chain. Moreover, the concept of collaborative transportation management (CTM) is integrated into the n‐tier CPFR procurement model. Finally, a case study is analysed and the efficacy of the proposed model is also validated.

Findings

The finding suggests that CPFR approach is applied in the procurement of agricultural products. The case results show that the service level is increased and inventory variance is reduced. The proposed model can thus improve the accuracy of forecasting and reduce inventory losses.

Originality/value

The paper offers a useful insight into procurement of agricultural products. The proposed model is a useful development for the agricultural industry in implementing CPFR in the future.

Details

Supply Chain Management: An International Journal, vol. 14 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1359-8546

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 6 July 2010

Susan Xue

New (post‐1949) Chinese local gazetteers are one of the major primary resources for contemporary China Studies in the field of history, social sciences, humanities and sciences…

Abstract

Purpose

New (post‐1949) Chinese local gazetteers are one of the major primary resources for contemporary China Studies in the field of history, social sciences, humanities and sciences. Major research libraries in North America have collected them; however, the research value of this series of publications has not yet fully explored. This paper aims at examining how new local gazetteers have been compiled, the scope of their content and research value, and how scholars have used them.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper explores the scope and importance of the new Chinese local gazetteers collection through reviewing relevant regulations, policies and guidelines regarding compilation of the new local gazetteers, and randomly examining over 30 provincial, city and county gazetteers.

Findings

The paper provides a detailed account of publishing history of this collection; rich and unique research information available; and approaches to collection development, including utilizing digitized gazetteers by Chinese governments.

Originality/value

The paper explores the development of new Chinese local gazetteers in a more systematic way and adds to the current literature on the unique research value this collection has to offer.

Details

Collection Building, vol. 29 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0160-4953

Keywords

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