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This chapter explores the possible future trading options available to the UK and what impacts these trading options will have on the UK automotive industry. The research makes use of a wide range of data to predict the degree of impact each trading alternative will have on the UK automotive industry. Using a Supply Chain Management (SCM) framework, we discuss the trading practices currently in place today in the sector, and its interactions and dependence on privileged access to the Single Market. We then examine likely impacts each potential trading alternative will have on the sector. Drawing on interviews with senior managers in the sector, the findings of the research suggest that all current available trade scenarios put up different types of trade barriers for the sector, potentially increasing costs and decreasing the UK’s attractiveness as a base for automotive manufacturing. The findings also suggest that the uncertainty around the UK’s trading future with EU is deterring investment into the sector, which will likely have consequences further into the future. We conclude by assessing a wide variety of mitigation strategies open to manufacturers, considering their viability and applicability in each potential scenario.

Bonded steel-concrete is one new type composite structure in civil engineering domain. Generally, for steel-concrete composite structures, the steel beam and the concrete are connected by means of shear connectors. This work consists in analyzing the design optimization of the steel-concrete composite beam connected by adhesives instead of metal connectors. The principal parameters, including elastic modulus of adhesive, the adhesive layer thickness, the bonding strength and the bonding area, which influence the mechanical behaviours of the bonded steel-concrete composite structures, have been investigated. Finally, an example of design optimization of a single span adhesive bonded steel-concrete composite beam is proposed.

The purpose of this study is to, first, provide an overview of the previously conducted works related to thermal analysis of space equipment, including battery packages, especially lithium (Li)-ion ones. Second, the need for a reduced thermal mathematical model (RTMM) and a procedure devising it is defined. Finally, an experimental steady-state temperature distribution test is conducted to finalize the RTMM study.

This study was carried out as part of a development project for thermal analysis of Li-ion battery packages used in a space equipment. The study presents certain stages of the design of the battery pack in parallel with battery technology development. Following a literature review, a numerical thermal analysis is conducted; then interface thermal conductance values are found out by means of the first law of thermodynamics; and the study is completed with the help of an experimental test.

The study provides key aspects for a successful battery-package thermal design for a space equipment. Additionally, the study summarizes the experimental results used in the RTMM process and the computed thermal conductance values between node couples.

Thermal analysis is important and vital in space equipment considering their harsh working conditions and environments. Hence, the study provides a RTMM for the thermal analysis of Li-ion battery packages, instead of a full finite element model, to save computational time and CPU usage. The findings are supported by experimental results. Hence, presented details can be used as guidelines for enterprises having a goal of battery package technology achievement, including design and manufacturing.

After providing a literature review of studies conducted on satellite subsystems including Li-ion batteries, this study presents a clear, complete and verified process of a RTMM for a Li-ion battery package in aero/space structures design. It presents details of building up a model and calculation methodology through an iterative procedure in which an optimization algorithm known as particle swarm optimization (PSO) was benefitted. In the RTMM, additionally, experimental temperature distributions obtained through thermal vacuum test were presented. It has been shown that the model can be used reliably in designing space equipments.

Construction is a risky industry. Therefore, organizations are seeking ways towards improving their safety performance. Among these, the integration of technology into health and safety leads to enhanced safety performance. Considering the benefits observed in using technology in safety, this study aims to explore digital technologies' use and potential benefits in construction health and safety.

An extensive bibliometrics analysis was conducted to reveal which technologies are at the forefront of others and how these technologies are used in safety operations. The study used two different databases, Web of Science (WoS) and Scopus, to scan the literature in a systemic way.

The systemic analysis of several studies showed that the digital technologies use in construction are still a niche theme and need more assessment. The study provided that sensors and wireless technology are of utmost importance in terms of construction safety. Moreover, the study revealed that artificial intelligence, machine learning, building information modeling (BIM), sensors and wireless technologies are trending technologies compared to unmanned aerial vehicles, serious games and the Internet of things. On the other hand, the study provided that the technologies are even more effective with integrated use like in the case of BIM and sensors or unmanned aerial vehicles. It was observed that the use of these technologies varies with respect to studies conducted in different countries. The study further revealed that the studies conducted on this topic are mostly published in some selected journals and international collaboration efforts in terms of researching the topic have been observed.

This study provides an extensive analysis of WoS and Scopus databases and an in-depth review of the use of digital technologies in construction safety. The review consists of the most recent studies showing the benefits of using such technologies and showing the usage on a systemic level from which both scientists and practitioners can benefit to devise new strategies in technology usage.

The properties of materials under impact load are introduced in terms of metal, nonmetallic materials and composite materials. And the application of impact load research in biological fields is also mentioned. The current hot research topics and achievements in this field are summarized. In addition, some problems in theoretical modeling and testing of the mechanical properties of materials are discussed.

The situation of materials under impact load is of great significance to show the mechanical performance. The performance of various materials under impact load is different, and there are many research methods. It is affected by some kinds of factors, such as the temperature, the gap and the speed of load.

The research on mechanical properties of materials under impact load has the characteristics as fellow. It is difficult to build the theoretical model, verify by experiment and analyze the data accumulation.

This review provides a reference for further study of material properties.

Adopting a followership perspective and drawing upon the literature on perceived support, we provide new theoretical insights into when and why supervisors engage in unethical behavior with the intention of benefiting a “favorite” follower, referred to as unethical favoritism behavior (UFB).

We conducted two studies: an experiment and a multi-rater field study. Data were collected and analyzed using AMOS and the Macro process for SPSS.

We found that a follower’s standing among his or her peers in terms of citizenship behaviors toward their supervisor (i.e. relative organizational citizenship behaviors toward supervisor or ROCBS) has a positive effect on the supervisor’s perception of the follower’s support. The results further reveal that the choice of the supervisor on whether to reciprocate or not the perceived support (triggered by ROCBS) with UFB depends on the supervisor’s competence uncertainty (i.e. the degree of supervisor uncertainty regarding his/her work competencies).

Our findings broaden the way the supervisor–follower relationship has traditionally been investigated in the organizational behavior literature by showing that under certain circumstances, followers’ good behaviors might become an antecedent to supervisors’ unethical acts.

Defining building information modelling (BIM) standards for the infrastructure domain is a central issue to the successful implementation of BIM in civil engineering domains. To this end, this paper aims to present a requirements and process analysis for the ports and waterways domain to address the lack of BIM standards development, using the information delivery manual (IDM) approach and the ethos of openBIM standards.

This research uses the IDM approach. This involves the definition of use cases, process maps, exchange scenarios and subsequent exchange requirements. All these developments were sourced and validated by a series of international industry consultations.

The paper identifies 30 domain relevant use cases collated from existing sources and new cases. An overview and detailed ports and waterways process map (defining actors, activities and data exchanges). The process maps highlighted 38 exchange scenarios between various activities. Various exchange requirements were defined and are discussed in the context of the required information exchange model and the extensions required to fulfil the needs of the domain. The analysis provides the core information for the next steps of development for a substantial extension to the Industry Foundation Classes and the supporting data dictionary standards.

Because of the international scope of the research, the outcomes can be applied by any stakeholders in the domain of ports and waterways. Therefore, some variation is expected at a national and organizational level. This research has the potential to accelerate the adoption of openBIM standards within the ports and waterways domain leading to increases in efficiency, collaborative working.

This paper reviews the requirements of an identified gap in the provision of openBIM standards relevant and applicable to the domain of ports and waterways.

While uncertainty during emergency response operations necessitates adaptive performance, emergency response organizations, such as the fire service, tend to constrain adaptive behaviors due to their highly formalized bureaucratic structures. Structural theories suggest that leaders can empower employees to bypass these constraints.

Using survey data from four US fire departments, this research tests whether mid-level supervisors can empower firefighters by increasing their ability to improvise during complex emergency response operations, and whether this enhances department adaptive performance. Moderated mediation is also performed to assess whether senior leaders must also be effective, empowering leaders in order to achieve heightened levels of empowerment and subsequent adaptive performance, as many senior leaders in the fire service are criticized for being overly bureaucratic, risk averse, and resistant to change.

The findings support compensatory effects and show how immediate supervisors are key to overcoming senior leader deficiencies and producing adaptive performance during conditions of high uncertainty and complexity.

The lack of response organizations’ success during complex incidents is often attributed to senior leaders who are risk averse, overly bureaucratic, and resistant to change (Wankhade and Patnaik, 2020). This study is the first to show how empowering leadership can help overcome these constraints to enhance adaptive performance under complex conditions in the fire service.