Jiahao Zhu, Guohua Xu and Yongjie Shi
This paper aims to develop a new method of fuselage drag optimization that can obtain results faster than the conventional methods based on full computational fluid dynamics (CFD…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to develop a new method of fuselage drag optimization that can obtain results faster than the conventional methods based on full computational fluid dynamics (CFD) calculations and can be used to improve the efficiency of preliminary design.
Design/methodology/approach
An efficient method for helicopter fuselage shape optimization based on surrogate-based optimization is presented. Two numerical simulation methods are applied in different stages of optimization according to their relative advantages. The fast panel method is used to calculate the sample data to save calculation time for a large number of sample points. The initial solution is obtained by combining the Kriging surrogate model and the multi-island genetic algorithm. Then, the accuracy of the solution is determined by using the infill criteria based on CFD corrections. A parametric model of the fuselage is established by several characteristic sections and guiding curves.
Findings
It is demonstrated that this method can greatly reduce the calculation time while ensuring a high accuracy in the XH-59A helicopter example. The drag coefficient of the optimized fuselage is reduced by 13.3%. Because of the use of different calculation methods for samples, this novel method reduces the total calculation time by almost fourfold compared with full CFD calculations.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to provide a novel method of fuselage drag optimization by combining different numerical simulation methods. Some suggestions on fuselage shape optimization are given for the XH-59A example.
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Di Ma, Shubai Li, Longgui Xu, Xiuying Hu, Guohua Zhang, Chuanqi Jia and Xinchao Yuan
This paper aims to study the anodization of aluminum in a mixture solution of 1,3-propanediol solutions and 0.4 mol l−1 H3PO4 at a low temperature.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to study the anodization of aluminum in a mixture solution of 1,3-propanediol solutions and 0.4 mol l−1 H3PO4 at a low temperature.
Design/methodology/approach
The morphology and composition of the resulting anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) template was characterized by means of a scanning electron microscope in combination with an energy dispersive spectrometer.
Findings
Pore density and pore diameter both were found to be dependent on the temperature of anodization.
Originality/value
The resulting AAO templates exhibited uniform and regular pores with diameters that were significantly smaller than those found in AAO templates anodized at room temperature.
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As the complexity and uncertainty of megaprojects make it difficult for traditional management models to address the difficulties, this paper aims to design a performance…
Abstract
Purpose
As the complexity and uncertainty of megaprojects make it difficult for traditional management models to address the difficulties, this paper aims to design a performance incentive contract through IT applications, thereby promoting the formation of an information-based governance mechanism for megaprojects and facilitating the transformation and upgrading of the construction management model of megaprojects to informatisation.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper introduced IT applications into the performance assessment and used the proportion of IT applications replacing traditional manual management as a variable. It analysed different replacement ratios to obtain the optimal solution for the change of contractors behaviours and promote the optimal performance incentive for the informatisation in megaprojects.
Findings
The results show that under the condition of the optimal replacement ratio, achieving the optimal state of a mutual win-win situation is possible for the benefit of both sides. The counter-intuitive finding is that the greater the replacement ratio is not, the better, but those other constraints are also taken into account.
Originality/value
This study enriched the research of the performance configuration incentive from a practical perspective. It extended the research framework of IT incentive mechanisms in the governance of megaprojects from a management theory perspective. It clarified the role of IT applications in incentive mechanisms and the design process of optimal incentive contracts under different performance incentive states. The incentives made the contractors work harder to meet the owner's requirements, and it could improve the efficiency of megaprojects, thus better achieving megaproject objectives.
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The purpose of this study is to explore the relationship between big data and supply chain platform in China’s retail industry. With the emergence of big data resources and…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to explore the relationship between big data and supply chain platform in China’s retail industry. With the emergence of big data resources and technologies, the business pattern of new retail advocates the combination of online and offline channels. Supply chain platform plays a key role in the implementation of retail activities, which has gradually become a research hotspot in the cross field of operations management and information system.
Design/methodology/approach
Through the method of literature review and case study, this study empirically explores how big data shapes supply chain platform to support new forms of online retail by grounded theory.
Findings
The model framework is validated by reliability test and coding method to process survey materials. The results identify the overall antecedents of supply chain platform and reveal positive effects between big data and new retail. The findings help firm managers build a big data-driven supply chain to support new retail.
Originality/value
There are insufficient studies on theoretical frameworks and interaction relationships among big data, supply chain platform and new retail.
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Lu Wan, Yanqi Fang, Nannan Ban, Guo Cheng and Guohua Huang
This paper aims to explore the relationship between digital transformation, international competition and productivity progress by examining the dual margins of export, thereby…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to explore the relationship between digital transformation, international competition and productivity progress by examining the dual margins of export, thereby identifying the digital development pathway for key industrial chains within the context of regional medical and health cooperation.
Design/methodology/approach
By constructing models incorporating both the extensive margin and intensive margin, this paper delves into the reasons underlying changes in product trade value and variety within international market competition. Utilizing export data for medical products from China to Belt and Road Initiative partner countries spanning from 2007 to 2020, an industry–destination–time panel benchmark model is established to assess the impact of digital transformation on product expansion and international competition.
Findings
The findings reveal the following insights. First, digital transformation positively impacts the intensive margin of medical products, whereas it does not exert a positive influence on the extensive margin. Second, the impact mechanism test indicates that digital transformation fosters the intensive export margin by enhancing the technical efficiency of exports but exhibits an inverted U-shaped effect on technological progress. Third, digital transformation demonstrates a notable non-linear characteristic, with a substantial increase in the lifting effect once a certain threshold is surpassed.
Originality/value
While previous research has extensively explored the effects of digital transformation on export trade, this study uniquely integrates the concepts of the intensive and extensive margins of export, thereby enriching the research insights derived from existing literature. It focuses on the nonlinear effects and threshold dynamics of digital transformation, particularly in relation to total factor productivity. Additionally, the paper makes a contribution to the understanding of the Health Silk Road by incorporating the health index.
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Hao Wang, GuoHua Gao, Qixiao Xia, Han Ren, LianShi Li and Yuhang Zheng
The purpose of this paper is to present a novel stretch-retractable single section (SRSS) continuum manipulator which owns three degrees of freedom and higher motion range in…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to present a novel stretch-retractable single section (SRSS) continuum manipulator which owns three degrees of freedom and higher motion range in three-dimension workspace than regular single continuum manipulator. Moreover, the motion accuracy was analyzed based on the kinematic model. In addition, the experiments were carried out for validation of the theory.
Design/methodology/approach
A kinematics model of the SRSS continuum manipulator is presented for analysis on bending, rotating and retracting in its workspace. To discuss the motion accuracy of the SRSS continuum manipulator, the dexterity theory was introduced based on the decomposing of the Jacobian matrix. In addition, the accuracy of motion is estimated based on the inverse kinematics and dexterity theory. To verify the presented theory, the motion of free end was tracked by an electromagnetic positioning system. According to the comparison of experimental value and theoretical analysis, the free end error of SRSS continuum manipulator is less than 6.24 per cent in the region with favorable dexterity.
Findings
This paper presents a new stretch-retractable continuum manipulator that the structure was composed of several springs as the backbone. Thus, the SRSS continuum manipulator could own wide motion range depending on its retractable structure. Then, the motion accuracy character of the SRSS continuum manipulator in the different regions of its workspace was obtained both theoretically and experimentally. The results show that the high accuracy region distributes in the vicinity of the outer boundary of the workspace. The motion accuracy gradually decreases with the motion position approaching to the center of its workspace.
Research limitations/implications
The presented SRSS continuum manipulator owns three degrees of freedom. The future work would be focused on the two-section structure which will own six degrees of freedom.
Practical implications
In this study, the SRSS continuum manipulator could be extended to six degrees of freedom continuum robot with two sections that is less one section than regular six degrees of freedom with three single section continuum manipulator.
Originality/value
The value of this study is to propose a SRSS continuum manipulator which owns three degrees of freedom and could stretch and retract to expend workspace, for which the accuracy in different regions of the workspace was analyzed and validated based on the kinematics model and experiments. The results could be feasible to plan the motion space of the SRSS continuum manipulator for keeping in suitable accuracy region.
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Guohua He, Pei Liu, Xinnian Zheng, Lixun Zheng, Patricia Faison Hewlin and Li Yuan
This study aims to explore whether, how and when leaders' artificial intelligence (AI) symbolization (i.e. the demonstration of leaders' acceptance of and support for AI by…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to explore whether, how and when leaders' artificial intelligence (AI) symbolization (i.e. the demonstration of leaders' acceptance of and support for AI by engaging in AI-related behaviors and/or displaying objects that reflect their affinity for AI) affects employee job crafting behaviors.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors conducted two studies (i.e. an experiment and a multi-wave field survey) with samples from different contexts (i.e. United States and China) to test our theoretical model. The authors used ordinary least squares (OLS) and hierarchical linear modeling (HLM) to test the hypotheses.
Findings
Leaders' AI symbolization is positively related to employee change readiness and, in turn, promotes employee job crafting. Moreover, employee-attributed impression management motives moderate the positive indirect effect of leaders' AI symbolization on employee job crafting via change readiness, such that this indirect effect is stronger when employee-attributed impression management motives are low (vs high).
Practical implications
Leaders should engage in AI symbolization to promote employee job crafting and avoid behaviors that may lead employees to attribute their AI symbolization to impression management.
Originality/value
By introducing the concept of leaders' AI symbolization, this study breaks new ground by illustrating how leaders' AI symbolization positively influences employees' change readiness, as well as job crafting in the workplace. Further, integrating AI as a novel and timely context for evaluating job crafting contributes to the literature where empirical research is relatively scant, particularly regarding the factors that prompt employees to engage in job crafting.
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In recent years, the frequency of emergencies, such as natural disasters and public health crises, has markedly increased globally. These occurrences have introduced new…
Abstract
Purpose
In recent years, the frequency of emergencies, such as natural disasters and public health crises, has markedly increased globally. These occurrences have introduced new challenges to national public security systems and emergency management capabilities. Post-disaster humanitarian logistic operations involve the collection of emergency relief resources to mitigate the impact of disasters in affected areas. Effective coordination among governments, enterprises and charities is essential to enhance the efficiency of these operations. This study employs evolutionary game theory to explore the strategic interactions and behavioral patterns among these key stakeholders during the collection of emergency materials.
Design/methodology/approach
A tripartite evolutionary game model involving governments, enterprises and charities is developed. Subsequently, to validate the theoretical findings, a scale-free network is constructed for the purpose of numerical simulations. As this network evolves, both the edges between nodes and the strategy choices of the nodes also change. Numerical simulations are conducted using the network to examine the sensitivity of factors influencing strategic choices among game stakeholders.
Findings
According to the model simulation results, penalties significantly influence government regulation strength, while enterprise philanthropic behavior is mainly affected by penalties, profit transfer benefits and trust loss. For charities, strategic choices are primarily driven by penalties, tax subsidies, illegal operation benefits and charitable costs. The findings provide a theoretical basis for governments, enterprises and charities to select the sensible strategy.
Originality/value
Our study establishes a dynamic network of edges and nodes evolving over time to analyze the strategic evolutionary paths of governments, enterprises and charities from a micro perspective. The results assist governments, enterprises and charities in making more strategic decisions.
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GuoHua Gao, Han Ren, QiXiao Xia, Hao Wang and LianShi Li
The purpose of this paper is to present a stretched backboneless continuum manipulator, which aims to provide sufficient inner room for potential transportation of objects or…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to present a stretched backboneless continuum manipulator, which aims to provide sufficient inner room for potential transportation of objects or fixture of necessary devices, and to reduce the number of motors for reduction of the weight of the system.
Design/methodology/approach
A mathematical model of the presented manipulator is established in this paper. To verify the presented theory, the position of the free end was recorded by a high-resolution digital camera in experiment. According to the comparison of experimental values and theoretical values, the error is less than 2.5 per cent. It shows that the mathematical model and theoretical analysis are reasonable; the presented continuum manipulator can reach to desired postures and positions.
Findings
This paper presents a new stretched backboneless continuum manipulator supported and driven by cannula tendons. The cannula tendons are composed of rubber tubes and glass fibers. The upper section and the lower section of the presented manipulator are driven by same motors. For steering the manipulator, switched driving strategy is developed based on the presented kinematics model. The presented manipulator possesses six degrees of freedom (DOFs) and has good performance in dealing with complex working environment. The experiment verifies the presented driving strategy.
Research limitations/implications
The presented backboneless continuum manipulator has only two sections and is supported by cannula tendons. Extending this structure to further more sections is a challenge and is left for future research.
Originality/value
The value of this study is to propose a stretched backboneless continuum manipulator, which can provide inner room as large as possible for potential usage and halve the number of motors, for which a switched driving strategy is put forward. As a result, the weight and complexity of the manipulator are decreased. The presented manipulator is able to move in potential complex environments and approach its objects in different postures in virtue of its high flexibility and its six DOFs.
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Guohua He, Ran An and Patricia Faison Hewlin
This paper aims to explore the psychological mechanism in the relationship between paternalistic leadership (PL) and employee well-being (EWB) in cross-cultural nonprofit…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to explore the psychological mechanism in the relationship between paternalistic leadership (PL) and employee well-being (EWB) in cross-cultural nonprofit organizations. It also aims to further promote the integration of research on PL and self-concept by examining the relationship between PL and collective self-concept (CSC).
Design/methodology/approach
Data were collected on 72 supervisors and 233 expatriate Chinese teachers from 42 Confucius Institutes and 15 Confucius classrooms in Canada and the USA.
Findings
PL has a significant effect on EWB. Benevolent and moral leadership are positively related to CSC, while authoritarian leadership is negatively related to CSC. CSC mediates the relationship between PL and EWB. Furthermore, employees’ cross-cultural adaptability positively moderates the relationship between CSC and EWB; the indirect effect between PL and EWB via CSC is stronger for employees with stronger cross-cultural adaptability.
Originality/value
This is the first study that has examined the psychological mechanism under which PL affects EWB in cross-cultural nonprofit organizations. It contributes to the integration of research on PL and CSC by examining its relationship for the first time. It provides important implications for improving the well-being of expatriate employees in cross-cultural organizations.