Amin Alvanchi, Farshid Baniassadi, Mahdi Shahsavari and Hamed Kashani
Motivated by the high cost of material movements in road construction projects, past studies have used analytical methods to optimize materials logistics plans. A key shortcoming…
Abstract
Purpose
Motivated by the high cost of material movements in road construction projects, past studies have used analytical methods to optimize materials logistics plans. A key shortcoming of these methods is their inability to capture the uncertain, dynamic and complex characteristics of the road construction material logistics. Failure to incorporate these characteristics can lead to sub-optimal results. The purpose of this study is to propose the use of discrete event simulation (DES) to address the existing shortfall.
Design/methodology/approach
Despite the powerful capabilities of DES models in capturing the operational complexities of construction projects, they have not been previously utilized to optimize the material logistics of road construction projects. The proposed DES-based method in this research captures the operational details of material logistics and uses a heuristic approach to overcome the combinatorial problem of numerous choices. The method was applied to a 63.5 km real-world road construction project case to demonstrate its capabilities.
Findings
Six different material types from 28 material sources were used in the case. Approximately 1.5% of the material logistics costs were saved by following the proposed method and choosing appropriate material sources.
Originality/value
This research contributes to the body of knowledge by leveraging the capabilities of DES and presenting a novel method for improving the materials logistics plan of road construction projects. The proposed method provides practitioners with the basis for capturing the key operational details that were overlooked in the past. The proposed method can be adopted in road construction projects to reduce the overall material procurement cost.
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Hamid Alizadeh and Hamed Nazarpour Kashani
The purpose of this study is to explore the impact of perceived experience with ChatGPT on online consumers' information searching behavior. The study also examines the moderating…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to explore the impact of perceived experience with ChatGPT on online consumers' information searching behavior. The study also examines the moderating effects of those relationships.
Design/methodology/approach
Primary data were collected through an online survey. In total, 370 eligible responses were received. This study applied partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) for data analysis.
Findings
The findings demonstrate that both perceived personalization and perceived relevance have a direct impact on online consumers' information searching behaviors. Additionally, the results also indicate that perceived accuracy and perceived convenience lead to positive online consumers' information searching behavior. Moreover, age and gender and education level play moderating mechanisms in this relationship.
Practical implications
Overall, the conclusions of this study provide valuable insights into the potential of ChatGPT to improve online consumers behavior. However, there are still many unanswered questions about the impact of ChatGPT on consumers' experience. Future research is needed to explore these questions and to further our understanding of the potential of ChatGPT to revolutionize online information searching and digital marketing.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this paper is the first of its kind to highlight the impact of perceived experience with ChatGPT on online consumers' information searching behavior of its extensive use in scientific research and academic work. The importance of this study lies in the fact that it presents the behaviors concerns and future fears of people in academia as they cope with and deal with the inevitable reality of artificial intelligence (AI) language models such as ChatGPT.
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The purpose of this paper is to consider the dynamic characteristics identification of local structural nonlinearities.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to consider the dynamic characteristics identification of local structural nonlinearities.
Design/methodology/approach
Proposed identification method is based on minimum error linear frequency response function (MELF). Two different techniques are developed to extract nonlinear element's dynamic behavior from MELF. The first method, in which no pre‐assumed model is considered for the nonlinearity mechanism behavior, is called “direct identification method.” The second method is “model based identification method.”
Findings
Cubic stiffness dynamic characteristics are identified using the proposed techniques as a case study.
Originality/value
The paper shows that the proposed identification technique is simple and free of any sophisticated measurement hardwares and constraints, which is required by most of the methods proposed so far.
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Baabak Ashuri, Jian Lu and Hamed Kashani
This paper aims to present a financial valuation framework based on the real options theory to evaluate investments in toll road projects delivered under the two‐phase development…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to present a financial valuation framework based on the real options theory to evaluate investments in toll road projects delivered under the two‐phase development plan.
Design/methodology/approach
The approach is based on applying the real options theory to evaluate investments in toll road projects. In particular, the risk‐neutral valuation method is used for pricing flexibility embedded in the two‐phase development plan. Risk‐neutral binomial lattice is used to model traffic uncertainty and to find the optimal time for the toll road expansion. Probabilistic life cycle cost and revenue analysis is conducted to characterize the investor's financial risk profile and determine the flexibility value of the expansion option.
Findings
The flexible, two‐phase development plan can improve the investor's financial risk profile in the toll road project through limiting the downside risk of overinvestment (i.e. decreasing the probability of investment loss) and increasing the expected investment value in a highway project.
Social implications
Private and public sectors can benefit from this valuation framework and use tax dollars and users' fees effectively through avoiding overinvestment in toll road projects.
Originality/value
The framework consists of several integrated features, which distinguish it from existing investment valuation models. The risk‐neutral valuation method for pricing flexibility embedded in the two‐phase development plan is applied. This real options framework is capable of characterizing traffic boundary, at which it is optimal for the investor to expand the toll road. Further, this framework provides the likelihood distribution of when the investor may expand the toll road.
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Abdelkader Guillal and Noureddine Abdelbaki
The aim of this study is to assess the opportunity for the development of hydrocarbon transportation using high-strength steel (HSS) in pipeline construction in terms of cost…
Abstract
Purpose
The aim of this study is to assess the opportunity for the development of hydrocarbon transportation using high-strength steel (HSS) in pipeline construction in terms of cost savings and reliability.
Design/methodology/approach
Several optimizations of pipeline design and operations were performed to estimate the total life-cycle cost variation associated with different grades of high-strength steel. The generalized reduced gradient (GRG) method was used in an Excel table to determine optimal total life cycle each pipeline. Variables used in this optimization with respect to each steel grade were as follows: pipeline external diameter, wall thickness, number of compression stations and installed power in each compression station. The reliability of a pipeline with optimal cost was assessed to highlight the impact of steel grade on pipeline reliability.
Findings
The study showed that the cost reduction is strongly dependent on the adopted gas pipeline configuration. The number of compression stations and external diameter are the main factors influencing the pipeline total life cycle cost, while the steel price seems to have a minor effect, the reduction of the gas pipeline total life cycle does not exceed 5% even with a 50% difference in pipe steel prices between X70 and X100 steels. On the other side, for the same external diameter, X100 steel presents better pipeline reliability against carbonic corrosion compared to X70 steel.
Practical implications
The main contribution of this study is to provide a decision-support tool to help pipeline constructors enhance the profitability of natural gas transmission pipelines. The optimization method used is simple to use for design engineers during a feasibility study.
Originality/value
The present study presents one step to fill the gap concerning the question of balancing the trade-off between cost savings and structural reliability in high-strength steel pipelines during the early stages of feasibility studies. The optimal design and operations parameters ensuring cost savings on total life cycle costs are identified via an optimization method. The impact of selected optimal parameters on the long-term pipeline service life was estimated via a structural reliability analysis.
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Mingrun Wang, Nazlina Shaari, Sazrinee Zainal Abidin and Yan He
This study aims to identify the superior service strategies for elderly people in the context of sustainable production and consumption, thereby providing the principles for…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to identify the superior service strategies for elderly people in the context of sustainable production and consumption, thereby providing the principles for optimizing the service system of elderly fall-protection clothing.
Design/methodology/approach
This study adopted a new service design methodology that integrates a Kansei Engineering methodology and a customer life cycle. The Kansei Engineering methodology can use psychological methods to grasp customer feelings (or needs) and then transfer the collected data to the design domain by using multivariate statistical analyses. The customer life cycle can simulate all the service activities required by a new service system systematically and logically. In terms of the hypothetical scenarios provided by the customer life cycle, the Kansei Engineering methodology can collect service design elements more effectively and logically, thereby making the Kansei Engineering methodology more adaptable to the requirements of service design and sustainable design.
Findings
The research findings are the service strategies required for a new service system of elderly fall-protection clothing, as well as a new service design methodology that integrates a Kansei Engineering methodology and a customer life cycle.
Research limitations/implications
Designing a service system involves more than just figuring out what service strategies consumers desire; it includes examining how the business integrates resources to help those strategies be implemented. This study’s limitation is that it only looks at service strategy development; more research will probably conclude the study on how businesses integrate resources to support service strategy implementation.
Practical implications
Elderly fall-protection clothing companies can refer to the service strategies and new knowledge outlined in this study to optimize their service systems.
Originality/value
The research results of this study fulfilled the research gap in the service design of elderly fall-protection clothing. Furthermore, this study developed a new design framework for Kansei Engineering methodology, enriching a new Kansei Engineering methodology for service design.
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Sihem Kherraf, Emna Zouaoui and Mohamed Salah Medjram
The purpose of this study was to investigate the inhibitive action of some green leaves on Monel 400 alloy in acidic media.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study was to investigate the inhibitive action of some green leaves on Monel 400 alloy in acidic media.
Design/methodology/approach
Green leaves of Mespilus japonica, Ricinus communis L and Vitis vinifera were immersed in methanol solutions, separately, and filtrated after 48 h of immersion; the obtained filtrates were examined as corrosion inhibitors of Monel 400 alloy in hydrochloric acid solution (1.0M HCl). The performance of these inhibitors was evaluated using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and potentiodynamic polarization. The effect of temperature on corrosion behavior of Monel 400 was also studied.
Findings
The results obtained showed that all tested inhibitors performed as good corrosion inhibitors. The inhibition process is attributed to the adsorption of the inhibitors on Monel surface. The adsorption behavior was found to follow Langmiur isotherm. The inhibition efficiencies of extracts increased with increasing the concentration of each inhibitor and deceased with increasing the temperature.
Practical implication These inhibitors could have application in industries where hydrochloric solutions were used to remove the surface impurities of Monel 400.
Originality/value
This paper helps to find new corrosion inhibitors that are safe and eco-friendly.
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J. Norberto Pires, Amin S. Azar, Filipe Nogueira, Carlos Ye Zhu, Ricardo Branco and Trayana Tankova
Additive manufacturing (AM) is a rapidly evolving manufacturing process, which refers to a set of technologies that add materials layer-by-layer to create functional components…
Abstract
Purpose
Additive manufacturing (AM) is a rapidly evolving manufacturing process, which refers to a set of technologies that add materials layer-by-layer to create functional components. AM technologies have received an enormous attention from both academia and industry, and they are being successfully used in various applications, such as rapid prototyping, tooling, direct manufacturing and repair, among others. AM does not necessarily imply building parts, as it also refers to innovation in materials, system and part designs, novel combination of properties and interplay between systems and materials. The most exciting features of AM are related to the development of radically new systems and materials that can be used in advanced products with the aim of reducing costs, manufacturing difficulties, weight, waste and energy consumption. It is essential to develop an advanced production system that assists the user through the process, from the computer-aided design model to functional components. The challenges faced in the research and development and operational phase of producing those parts include requiring the capacity to simulate and observe the building process and, more importantly, being able to introduce the production changes in a real-time fashion. This paper aims to review the role of robotics in various AM technologies to underline its importance, followed by an introduction of a novel and intelligent system for directed energy deposition (DED) technology.
Design/methodology/approach
AM presents intrinsic advantages when compared to the conventional processes. Nevertheless, its industrial integration remains as a challenge due to equipment and process complexities. DED technologies are among the most sophisticated concepts that have the potential of transforming the current material processing practices.
Findings
The objective of this paper is identifying the fundamental features of an intelligent DED platform, capable of handling the science and operational aspects of the advanced AM applications. Consequently, we introduce and discuss a novel robotic AM system, designed for processing metals and alloys such as aluminium alloys, high-strength steels, stainless steels, titanium alloys, magnesium alloys, nickel-based superalloys and other metallic alloys for various applications. A few demonstrators are presented and briefly discussed, to present the usefulness of the introduced system and underlying concept. The main design objective of the presented intelligent robotic AM system is to implement a design-and-produce strategy. This means that the system should allow the user to focus on the knowledge-based tasks, e.g. the tasks of designing the part, material selection, simulating the deposition process and anticipating the metallurgical properties of the final part, as the rest would be handled automatically.
Research limitations/implications
This paper reviews a few AM technologies, where robotics is a central part of the process, such as vat photopolymerization, material jetting, binder jetting, material extrusion, powder bed fusion, DED and sheet lamination. This paper aims to influence the development of robot-based AM systems for industrial applications such as part production, automotive, medical, aerospace and defence sectors.
Originality/value
The presented intelligent system is an original development that is designed and built by the co-authors J. Norberto Pires, Amin S. Azar and Trayana Tankova.