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Open Access
Article
Publication date: 22 November 2023

En-Ze Rui, Guang-Zhi Zeng, Yi-Qing Ni, Zheng-Wei Chen and Shuo Hao

Current methods for flow field reconstruction mainly rely on data-driven algorithms which require an immense amount of experimental or field-measured data. Physics-informed neural…

Abstract

Purpose

Current methods for flow field reconstruction mainly rely on data-driven algorithms which require an immense amount of experimental or field-measured data. Physics-informed neural network (PINN), which was proposed to encode physical laws into neural networks, is a less data-demanding approach for flow field reconstruction. However, when the fluid physics is complex, it is tricky to obtain accurate solutions under the PINN framework. This study aims to propose a physics-based data-driven approach for time-averaged flow field reconstruction which can overcome the hurdles of the above methods.

Design/methodology/approach

A multifidelity strategy leveraging PINN and a nonlinear information fusion (NIF) algorithm is proposed. Plentiful low-fidelity data are generated from the predictions of a PINN which is constructed purely using Reynold-averaged Navier–Stokes equations, while sparse high-fidelity data are obtained by field or experimental measurements. The NIF algorithm is performed to elicit a multifidelity model, which blends the nonlinear cross-correlation information between low- and high-fidelity data.

Findings

Two experimental cases are used to verify the capability and efficacy of the proposed strategy through comparison with other widely used strategies. It is revealed that the missing flow information within the whole computational domain can be favorably recovered by the proposed multifidelity strategy with use of sparse measurement/experimental data. The elicited multifidelity model inherits the underlying physics inherent in low-fidelity PINN predictions and rectifies the low-fidelity predictions over the whole computational domain. The proposed strategy is much superior to other contrastive strategies in terms of the accuracy of reconstruction.

Originality/value

In this study, a physics-informed data-driven strategy for time-averaged flow field reconstruction is proposed which extends the applicability of the PINN framework. In addition, embedding physical laws when training the multifidelity model leads to less data demand for model development compared to purely data-driven methods for flow field reconstruction.

Details

International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow, vol. 34 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0961-5539

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 20 February 2023

Zheng-Wei Chen, Guang-Zhi Zeng, Syeda Anam Hashmi, Tang-Hong Liu, Lei Zhou, Jie Zhang and Hassan Hemida

This paper aims to investigate the variations in the flow fields induced by transition regions in the windbreak structures between the flat ground and the cutting along a railway…

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the variations in the flow fields induced by transition regions in the windbreak structures between the flat ground and the cutting along a railway and to propose mitigation measures to improve the windproof ability of the windbreak.

Design/methodology/approach

The improved delayed detached eddy simulation method was used to simulate the impact of the windbreak transition on flow structures of the high-speed railway under different wind angles, and also the accuracy of the numerical results was validated with those of the wind tunnel test.

Findings

The results showed that the original windbreak transition region resulted in a dimensionless peak wind velocity of 0.62 and 0.82 for railway line-1 at wind angles of 90° and 75°, respectively, and the corresponding values were 0.81 and 0.97 for railway line-2. The flow structure analysis revealed the reason for the mismatched height in the transition region, and the right-angle structures of the windbreaks resulted in ineffective protection and sudden changes in the wind speed and direction. Two mitigation measures – oblique structure (OS) and circular curve structure (CCS) transition walls – were developed to reduce the peak wind speed. The OS provided superior protection. The peak value of dimensionless wind velocity was all less than 0.2 for OS and CCS.

Originality/value

The flow field deterioration mechanism induced by the inappropriate form of a windbreak transition at different wind angles was examined, and effective mitigation and improvement measures were proposed and compared with the original transition.

Details

International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow, vol. 33 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0961-5539

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 28 March 2023

Guang-Zhi Zeng, Zhi-Wei Li, Sha Huang and Zheng-Wei Chen

Based on the aerodynamic loads and dynamic performances of trains, this study aims to investigate the effect of crosswinds and raindrops on intercity trains operating on viaducts…

Abstract

Purpose

Based on the aerodynamic loads and dynamic performances of trains, this study aims to investigate the effect of crosswinds and raindrops on intercity trains operating on viaducts to ensure the safe operation of intercity railways in metropolitan areas.

Design/methodology/approach

An approach coupled with the Euler multiphase model as well as the standard k-ɛ turbulence model is used to investigate the coupled flow feature surrounding trains and viaducts, including airflow and raindrops, and the numerical results are validated with those of the wind tunnel test. Additionally, the train’s dynamic response and the operating safety region in different crosswind speeds and rainfall is investigated based on train’s aerodynamic loads and the train wheel–rail dynamics simulation.

Findings

The aerodynamic loads of trains at varying running speeds exhibit an increasing trend as the increase of wind speed and rainfall intensity. The motion of raindrop particles demonstrates a significant similarity with the airflow in wind and rain environments, as a result of the dominance of airflow and the supplementary impacts of droplets. As the train’s operating speed ranged between 120 and 200 km/h and within a rainfall range of 20–100 mm/h, the safe operating region of trains decreased by 0.56%–7.03%, compared with the no-rain condition (0 mm/h).

Originality/value

The impact of crosswind speeds and rainfall on the train’s aerodynamic safety is studied, including the flow feature of crosswind and different particle-sized raindrops around the train and viaduct, aerodynamic loads coefficients suffered by the intercity train as well as the operating safety region of intercity trains on the viaduct.

Details

International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow, vol. 33 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0961-5539

Keywords

Open Access
Article
Publication date: 5 September 2016

Lu Chen, Wei Zheng, Baiyin Yang and Shuaijiao Bai

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the forces driving organizational innovation, particularly CEO transformational leadership as it affects external and internal social…

18338

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the forces driving organizational innovation, particularly CEO transformational leadership as it affects external and internal social capital in top management teams.

Design/methodology/approach

Survey questionnaires were administered to 90 Chinese top management teams. Structural equation modeling was used to test the hypothesized relationships.

Findings

Both internal and external social capital mediated the relationship between transformational leadership and organizational innovation.

Practical implications

Organizations should strengthen internal and external capital of top management teams to reap maximal innovation outcomes from transformational leadership.

Originality/value

The findings contribute to the transformational leadership, social capital, and innovation literature first by showing how leadership influences innovation through largely neglected mechanisms – internal and external social capital. Second, a social capital focus challenges the tacit assumption that transformational leadership has only internal influences by showing that it potentially spills over to the external domain.

Details

Leadership & Organization Development Journal, vol. 37 no. 7
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0143-7739

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 3 August 2023

Simin An, Bo Li, Minxue Wang and Wei Zheng

This paper explores the effectiveness of using blockchain technology to solve financial constraints faced by small- and medium-sized suppliers in a capital-constrained supply…

Abstract

Purpose

This paper explores the effectiveness of using blockchain technology to solve financial constraints faced by small- and medium-sized suppliers in a capital-constrained supply chain.

Design/methodology/approach

To characterize the impact of blockchain on credit period and enterprise credit level, the study formulates a newsvendor model to analyze a supply chain in which a financially constrained supplier sells products to a financially sound manufacturer, subject to uncertain demand. The study investigates three repayment methods: the benchmark case without blockchain and two blockchain-enabled cases with the hybrid repayment mode and single repayment mode (SRM), respectively. The study derives and compares the equilibria under each repayment method to characterize their impact.

Findings

When the bank interest rate is low and the carbon cap is also low, choosing to implement blockchain technology leads to higher profitability for the manufacturer than not utilizing it. Within the framework of blockchain technology, when comparing the two repayment models, the manufacturer exhibits a preference for SRM. Furthermore, under specific conditions of the bank interest rate, blockchain technology can effectively facilitate consensus among supply chain members in terms of channel selection.

Practical implications

The results derived in this paper provide novel managerial implications to the capital-constrained members in terms of pricing decisions and order quantity under demand uncertainty considering blockchain technology, which transfers the creditor's rights to the bank and shortens the collection time. In addition, blockchain technology enables efficient and intelligent collaborative development of supply chains, which can reduce carbon emissions during the transportation of goods.

Originality/value

Few studies incorporate blockchain technology into supply chain finance, and this paper considers the credit period and capital's time value for a capital-constrained supplier facing the adoption of blockchain technology within a stochastic demand environment.

Details

Industrial Management & Data Systems, vol. 123 no. 10
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0263-5577

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 9 October 2009

Wei (Amy) Tian‐Foreman

The purpose of this paper is to investigate employee turnover in a leading Chinese retail organisation, where high turnover rates are recognised as being a major issue for human…

10481

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate employee turnover in a leading Chinese retail organisation, where high turnover rates are recognised as being a major issue for human resource strategy. The study seeks to focus on the job satisfaction‐turnover relationship, examining how this is moderated by occupation.

Design/methodology/approach

A literature review on employee job satisfaction and employee turnover provides the basis for the research model and hypotheses. A self‐completion questionnaire survey, involving 164 respondents (95.4 per cent response rate) from a leading Chinese retail organisation was used to gather data and test existing theory in a Chinese context.

Findings

The results provided strong support for the hypothesised negative relationship between employee turnover intention and job satisfaction. Occupation is also significantly associated with job satisfaction, turnover intention and the job satisfaction‐turnover relationship: non‐management/frontline employees expressed higher levels of intention to leave their job than management/office employees.

Research limitations/implications

The sample was limited to one retail organisation in China. It may not be appropriate to generalise the findings across other populations or settings. However, the sample can be viewed as a representative case typical of many other organisations in the same industry.

Practical implications

The results provide insight into the impact of employee job satisfaction on turnover intention in the particular Chinese retail setting which could benefit managers and policy makers in the focus organisation as well as other organisations operating in the same sector in general.

Originality/value

The paper studies problems that characterise the Chinese retail sector.

Details

Chinese Management Studies, vol. 3 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1750-614X

Keywords

Book part
Publication date: 24 August 2023

Jean Wang and Lars Schweizer

This study investigates the way in which acquisition-related human factors affect knowledge transfer in the context of Chinese cross-border M&A for strategic assets. The authors…

Abstract

This study investigates the way in which acquisition-related human factors affect knowledge transfer in the context of Chinese cross-border M&A for strategic assets. The authors find that the process of knowledge transfer is reciprocal for revenue and cost synergies, including explicit and tacit knowledge. The establishment of joint ventures (JV) in China after the takeover boosts product-oriented knowledge transfer from overseas-acquired firms in mature markets to Chinese acquirers. The promotion of overseas synergies stimulates complementary knowledge transfer flow, which is reversely transferred from Chinese acquirers to overseas-acquired subsidiaries such as low-saving sourcing and new market applications. This study identifies three acquisition-related human factors that impact overseas knowledge senders for knowledge transfer. These human factors are implemented by Chinese strategic investors as new shareholders during the loosen integration phase. The first facilitator is all-round communication programs with top management involvement, aiming to build up constructive communication channels to boost knowledge transfer. The second facilitator is competence-based trust, which stimulates cooperation and application based on similar professional competence between Chinese acquirers and their overseas-acquired subsidiaries. The impeder is a high turnover of key skilled workers at Chinese acquirers to undermine the effectiveness of knowledge transfer.

Book part
Publication date: 24 November 2016

Duane Windsor

The research question is how home country corruption and nationalism may affect operations of BRIC multinational enterprises. BRIC composition permits a comparison of two…

Abstract

Purpose

The research question is how home country corruption and nationalism may affect operations of BRIC multinational enterprises. BRIC composition permits a comparison of two authoritarian regimes and two constitutional democracies. Each BRIC features a different combination of corruption and nationalism. The chapter adds South Africa information for two limited reasons. First, from 2010 South Africa is a member of the BRIC summit process. South Africa is an important entry point to Africa, for BRIC multinationals and particularly for China. Second, concerning corruption and nationalism South Africa is analytically useful as a control context that helps illustrate but does not appear to change highly exploratory BRIC findings.

Methodology/approach

The chapter draws on limited literature and information concerning corruption and nationalism in BRICs to suggest tentative possibilities. Transparency International provides bribe payers index estimates for 28 large economies, with important multinational enterprises, and corruption perceptions index estimates including those 28 countries. These estimates include the four BRICs and South Africa. The available sources suggest some suggested findings about varying impacts of home country corruption and nationalism on operations of BRIC multinationals.

Findings

China and Russia are authoritarian regimes in transition from central planning-oriented communist regimes. They are global military powers, expanding influence in their respective regions. Brazil, India, and South Africa are constitutional democracies. India, a nuclear-armed military power, seeks a regional leadership role in South Asia. Brazil and South Africa are key countries economically in their regions. BRIC multinationals are positioned between home country and host country conditions. Chinese and Russian multinationals may reflect a stronger nationalistic tendency due to home country regimes and ownership structure.

Originality/value

The chapter is an original but highly exploratory inquiry into impacts of corruption and nationalism on BRIC multinationals. Extant BRIC literature tends to understudy effects of home country corruption and nationalism on managerial mindset and incentives in either commercial or state-owned enterprises.

Details

The Challenge of Bric Multinationals
Type: Book
ISBN: 978-1-78635-350-4

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 15 August 2023

Chunping Zhou, Zheng Wei, Huajin Lei, Fangyun Ma and Wei Li

Surrogate models are extensively used to substitute real models which are expensive to evaluate in the time-dependent reliability analysis. Normally, different surrogate models…

Abstract

Purpose

Surrogate models are extensively used to substitute real models which are expensive to evaluate in the time-dependent reliability analysis. Normally, different surrogate models have different scopes of application. However, information is often insufficient for analysts to select the most appropriate surrogate model for a specific application. Thus, the result precited by individual surrogate model tends to be suboptimal or even inaccurate. Ensemble model can effectively deal with the above concern. This work aims to study the application of ensemble model for reliability analysis of time-independent problems.

Design/methodology/approach

In this work, a method of reliability analysis for time-dependent problems based on ensemble learning of surrogate models is developed. The ensemble of surrogate models includes Kriging, radial basis function, and support vector machine. The prediction is approximated by the weighted average model. The ensemble learning of surrogate models is updated by finding and adding the sample points with large prediction errors throughout the entire procedure.

Findings

The effectiveness of the proposed method is verified by several examples. The results show that the ensemble of surrogate models can effectively propagate the uncertainty of time-varying problems, and evaluate the reliability with high prediction accuracy and computational efficiency.

Originality/value

This work proposes an adaptive learning framework for the uncertainty propagation of time-dependent problems based on the ensemble of surrogate models. Compared with individual surrogate models, the ensemble model not only saves the effort of selecting an appropriate surrogate model especially when the knowledge of unknown problem is lacking, but also improves the prediction accuracy and computational efficiency.

Details

Multidiscipline Modeling in Materials and Structures, vol. 19 no. 6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1573-6105

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 30 January 2024

Li Zhou, Zifan Su, Lei Lei and Zheng Wei

This paper examines the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on low-carbon consumption of dairy products through informational interventions. The empirical findings seek to enlighten…

36

Abstract

Purpose

This paper examines the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on low-carbon consumption of dairy products through informational interventions. The empirical findings seek to enlighten developing countries' efforts in coping with climate change and potential dietary transitions.

Design/methodology/approach

A randomized controlled trial was designed to examine the effects of purpose-differentiated information interventions on individual dairy consumption. The experiment recruited and randomly assigned 1,002 college students into four groups to receive (or not) environmental or/and health information interventions.

Findings

The empirical analysis finds that health and combined information interventions have a positive impact on dairy consumption, while environmental information interventions' effect on dairy consumption is insignificant. In the context of the pandemic, health information interventions positively affected participants' perceptions and preferences for dairy products by delivering knowledge about their role in boosting immunity. However, environmental information interventions failed to do the same things as their insignificant effects on both perception and preference.

Originality/value

Macro-external shocks, such as public health events, may offset the impact of universal information interventions promoting pro-environmental behaviors. For a smooth dietary transition to achieve long-term environmental sustainability, diverse stakeholders must be included in more individualized interventions to guide daily consumption, especially in developing countries with large populations.

Details

China Agricultural Economic Review, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1756-137X

Keywords

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