F. Belblidia, S.M.B. Afonso, E. Hinton and G.C.R. Antonino
Topology optimization and conventional structural sizing optimization procedures are used together to obtain optimum designs for plate structures. A three‐layer, Mindlin‐Reissner…
Abstract
Topology optimization and conventional structural sizing optimization procedures are used together to obtain optimum designs for plate structures. A three‐layer, Mindlin‐Reissner plate model is first used with topology optimization to determine optimal stiffening zones. The central layer represents the unstiffened plate and the symmetrically located upper and lower layers are potential stiffening zones. A stiffening volume is specified and the objective is to minimize the strain energy. From these stiffening zones, a set of centre lines of equivalent stiffening Timoshenko beam elements is selected. A sizing optimization procedure is then used to optimize the stiffener dimensions. The objective of the design in the final sizing optimization stage is to minimise the strain energy keeping the total stiffened plate volume constant. The efficiency and accuracy of the proposed strategy is illustrated through several applications.
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S.M.B. Afonso, J. Sienz and F. Belblidia
Shells are widely used structural systems in engineering practice. These structures have been used in the civil, automobile and aerospace industries. Many shells are designed…
Abstract
Purpose
Shells are widely used structural systems in engineering practice. These structures have been used in the civil, automobile and aerospace industries. Many shells are designed using the finite element analysis through the conventional and costly trial and error scheme. As a more efficient alternative, optimization procedures can be used to design economic and safe structures.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper presents developments, integration and applications of reliable and efficient computational tools for the structural optimization of variable thickness plates and free‐form shells. Topology, sizing and shape optimization procedures are considered here. They are applied first as isolated subjects. Then these tools are combined to form a robust and reliable fully integrated design optimization tool to obtain optimum designs. The unique feature is the application of a flexible integrally stiffened plate and shell formulation to the design of stiffened plates and shells.
Findings
This work showed the use of different optimization strategies to obtain an optimal design for plates and shells. Both topology optimization (TO) and structural shape optimization procedures were considered. These two optimization applications, as separate procedures produce new designs with a great improvement when compared to the initial designs. However, the combination of stiffening TO and sizing optimization using integrally stiffened shells appears as a more attractive tool to be used. This was illustrated with several examples.
Originality/value
This work represents a novel approach to the design of optimally stiffened shells and overcomes the drawbacks of both topology optimization and structural shape optimization procedures when applied individually. Furthermore, the unique use of integrally stiffened shell elements for optimization, unlike conventional shell‐stiffening optimization techniques, provided a general and extremely flexible tool.
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Antonino Galati, Pietro Moavero and Maria Crescimanno
The purpose of this paper is to investigate consumers’ willingness to accept irradiated food and the major factors related both to socio-demographic characteristics and to the…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate consumers’ willingness to accept irradiated food and the major factors related both to socio-demographic characteristics and to the perceived risk of consumers about the assumption of foods treated with novel technologies and irradiation, in particular, affecting their behavior. Consumers’ need for information has been investigated.
Design/methodology/approach
An online survey, involving 392 consumers living in Italy, was carried out to respond to the aim of the study. A Probit model was performed in order to identify major factors affecting the probability to accept food treated with ionizing radiation.
Findings
Findings show that the acceptability of irradiated foods is mainly affected by the consumers’ perceived risk to health consequent to their consumption. Equally influent are the socio-economic characteristics such as age, monthly income and geographical area in which consumers live.
Research limitations/implications
This study provides some interesting suggestions both for policy makers and managers, primarily related to the need to start an effective promotion campaign aimed to familiarize the consumers about the principles, aims and benefits of irradiation technology.
Originality/value
Very few empirical studies have been carried out in order to evaluate the acceptability of foods products treated with ionizing radiation in Italy, where exist a growing problem related to the food loss and waste, and the need for information among consumers about the irradiated foods.
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Serena Sofia, Federico Guglielmo Maetzke, Maria Crescimanno, Alessandro Coticchio, Donato Salvatore La Mela Veca and Antonino Galati
This article aims to compare the LiDAR handheld mobile laser scanner (HMLS) scans with traditional survey methods, as the tree gauge and the hypsometer, to study the efficiency of…
Abstract
Purpose
This article aims to compare the LiDAR handheld mobile laser scanner (HMLS) scans with traditional survey methods, as the tree gauge and the hypsometer, to study the efficiency of the new technology in relation to the accuracy of structural forest attributes estimation useful to support a sustainable forest management.
Design/methodology/approach
A case study was carried out in a high forest located in Tuscany (Italy), by considering 5 forest types, in 20 different survey plots. A comparative analysis between two survey methods will be shown in order to verify the potential limits and the viability of the LiDAR HMLS in the forest field.
Findings
This research demonstrates that LiDAR HMLS technology allows to obtain a large amount of valuable data on forest structural parameters in a short span of time with a high level of accuracy and with obvious impact in terms of organisational efficiency.
Practical implications
Findings could be useful for forest owners highlighting the importance of investing in science and technology to improve the overall efficiency of forest resources management.
Originality/value
This article adds to the current knowledge on the precision forestry topic by providing insight on the feasibility and effectiveness of using precision technologies for monitoring forest ecosystems and dynamics. In particular, this study fills the gap in the literature linked to the need to have practical examples of the use of innovative technologies in forestry.
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Discusses the 27 papers in ISEF 1999 Proceedings on the subject of electromagnetisms. States the groups of papers cover such subjects within the discipline as: induction machines;…
Abstract
Discusses the 27 papers in ISEF 1999 Proceedings on the subject of electromagnetisms. States the groups of papers cover such subjects within the discipline as: induction machines; reluctance motors; PM motors; transformers and reactors; and special problems and applications. Debates all of these in great detail and itemizes each with greater in‐depth discussion of the various technical applications and areas. Concludes that the recommendations made should be adhered to.
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Nakul Parameswar, Sanjay Dhir, Tran Tien Khoa, Antonino Galati and Zafar U. Ahmed
While the number of global alliance terminations in the business world has grown steadily during the past few decades, the scholarly literature on strategic alliance (SA…
Abstract
Purpose
While the number of global alliance terminations in the business world has grown steadily during the past few decades, the scholarly literature on strategic alliance (SA) termination remains limited. This research paper aims to perform a bibliometric analysis of the literature on alliance termination and propose a model for future research agenda that links the termination phase to the pre-alliance termination phase and post alliance termination phase.
Design/methodology/approach
A search query on global alliance termination identified a total of 69 research papers from the Scopus database, and a bibliometric analysis was performed using the bibliometrix R-package and VOSviewer. The analysis further used the TCCM framework to review the set of papers.
Findings
This research analysis reveals that, compared to the pre-formation, formation, and process stages of alliances, limited research has been undertaken on global alliance termination. The bibliometric analysis and TCCM framework provide a complete view of the extant literature on global alliance termination from different dimensions and act as the which as the foundation for a developing the research agenda that links pre-alliance termination phase and post-alliance termination phase to that of alliance termination phase.
Research limitations/implications
The proposed research agenda is unique as it integrates multiple phases in the alliance lifecycle with global alliance termination phase and develops a distinct view for future research that emphasizes on the post-alliance termination phase.
Practical implications
The bibliometric analysis provides a precise snapshot of the state of the literature on global alliance termination. The research agenda developed provides a direction for further academic research that links alliance termination not only to pre-alliance termination phase but also to the post-alliance termination phase that is nascently explored in the literature.
Originality/value
This study is among the few to review and synthesize the literature on global alliance termination. It, therefore, functions as a catalyst to draw global scholars' attention. Further, it provides global researchers with direction by proposing a global research agenda.
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Antonino Galati, Antonio Tulone, Demetris Vrontis, Alkis Thrassou and Maria Crescimanno
This paper aims to assess the willingness of individuals living in coastal communities affected by climate change to financially support mitigation policies towards the…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to assess the willingness of individuals living in coastal communities affected by climate change to financially support mitigation policies towards the preservation of marine ecosystems and fish resources and to identify the key drivers of their behaviour.
Design/methodology/approach
A survey was carried out involving 994 people living in three main Italian coastal communities. To investigate the main factors affecting Italian coastal communities’ willingness to pay (WTP) to support climate change mitigation measures to protect the marine ecosystem and fishery resources, a Tobit regression model was implemented.
Findings
The results show that these communities are likely to pay to safeguard fish resources and the marine ecosystem, owing to their social and economic importance for these communities. In particular, this study’s findings highlight that the individuals’ attitudes towards climate change, social pressures and their perception of the phenomenon play a significant role on their intention to support mitigation policies. Moreover, the findings demonstrate that the communities most threatened by the negative effects of climate change are more willing to contribute financially to protect fish resources and the marine ecosystem.
Research limitations/implications
A limitation is related to the adopted methodology. In particular individuals’ intention to adopt pro-environmental behaviours does not always translate into real WTP through additional taxes.
Originality/value
The value of the research stems from its unique collective cross-communal comparison of attitudes and intentions, its parallel identification of behavioural drivers at the individual level and its prescriptive conclusions of both scholarly and practical worth.
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Giovanna Mariani, Ada Carlesi and Alfredo Antonino Scarfò
The purpose of this paper is to discuss academic spinoffs (ASO) as an expression of the value creation of university technology transfer (TT) investments. More recently, scholars…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to discuss academic spinoffs (ASO) as an expression of the value creation of university technology transfer (TT) investments. More recently, scholars have emphasised intellectual capital’s (IC) importance, also for universities in obtaining competitive advantages and by creating value. Such spinoffs are key to regional development, as a primary aspect of universities’ IC.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors tested the aim through a sample of the University of Pisa’s spinoffs. The authors measured the value the university’s third mission investment generates on the area by means of entrepreneurship through two different approaches. First, the authors defined a multiplier of the TT investment (university TT multiplier) and then explored the IC components’ contributions to the ASOs’ enterprise value (EV).
Findings
The results show that the University of Pisa’s TT investments positively impact the local community through the spinoff system, both in economic terms and in IC. In the long term, these investments can enrich scientific humus and entrepreneurial mindsets.
Research limitations/implications
This is an exploratory study of the University of Pisa’s impacts on the local economy. The results are limited to the context of Pisa and to the TT policy. Another limitation is the subjectivity of the EV estimation.
Practical implications
The results can have some practical implications. The large portfolio of university stakeholders (policymakers, families, students, companies, financiers, etc.) ask for information, especially on long-term results: in a simple way, the multiplier is able to communicate important feedbacks to support their decision-making process.
Social implications
With the multiplier, the authors give a tool to measure the social enrichment.
Originality/value
In the study, the authors propose a new tool to measure the impact of the investment in TT on the local community.
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Introduces the fourth and final chapter of the ISEF 1999 Proceedings by stating electric and magnetic fields are influenced, in a reciprocal way, by thermal and mechanical fields…
Abstract
Introduces the fourth and final chapter of the ISEF 1999 Proceedings by stating electric and magnetic fields are influenced, in a reciprocal way, by thermal and mechanical fields. Looks at the coupling of fields in a device or a system as a prescribed effect. Points out that there are 12 contributions included ‐ covering magnetic levitation or induction heating, superconducting devices and possible effects to the human body due to electric impressed fields.
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Marcella Giacomarra, Maria Crescimanno, Georgia Sakka and Antonino Galati
The purpose of this paper is to explore how a food and beverage packaging company manages internal and external stakeholders to achieve sustainable innovation outcomes, as well as…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to explore how a food and beverage packaging company manages internal and external stakeholders to achieve sustainable innovation outcomes, as well as to contribute to the spread of sustainability paths along the supply chain, on which it operates.
Design/methodology/approach
A case study approach was chosen and applied multiple methods of semi-structured interviews and a documentation review.
Findings
Results reveal a structured stakeholder relationship management, according to which the packaging company acts through a stakeholder engagement process to both acquire and share new knowledge to address stakeholder pressure. Co-creation models result in a winning strategy to exploit knowledge, above all in a supply chain context, where actors should act as a part of a strictly interlinked system, involving external stakeholders (also suppliers) and internal stakeholders in joint eco-innovation projects. The case study shows the potential strategic role of a packaging company in affecting relevant actors of the supply chain through the promotion of a sustainability culture.
Research limitations/implications
The first limitation is linked to the chosen case study approach, which does not allow for results to be generalized. Future works could arrange panel data analysis to investigate in depth the behavior of several packaging companies regarding stakeholder relationship management.
Practical implications
Managerial implications mainly underline that, to fully address market stakeholder pressure, managers should recognize the relevance of acquiring and sharing new knowledge from external sources, without underestimating the need to integrate it with internal stakeholders (employees) for its exploitation.
Originality/value
The present work is original for the food and beverage industry, with specific attention on the packaging sector, which, until today, has been widely investigated regarding food and waste loss reduction strategies, but less often from the perspective of stakeholder relationship management in addressing sustainability.