Impermeability tests had been carried out to compare the moisture resistance of two wood finish paints available on the Cameroonian market. Two types of paints had been used…
Abstract
Impermeability tests had been carried out to compare the moisture resistance of two wood finish paints available on the Cameroonian market. Two types of paints had been used namely, an oil‐based paint and an emulsion paint, both manufactured in Cameroon by SMALTO Company. It appeared that the oil‐based paint gave better protection to wood in wet environments, areas with strong pluviometry (where the quantity of humidity in the air is very high). The emulsion paint was found to be suitable for use for interior decorative purpose. It was suggested that a glycerophthalic lacquer could be used for wood finishing in areas subjected to the emissions of water vapour or requiring frequent washing (bathroom, kitchen, WC, etc.). In addition, the number of coating layers should be increased to enhance the moisture resistance of such paint films.
Details
Keywords
Namita Jain, Asha Thomas, Vikas Gupta, Mario Ossorio and Daniele Porcheddu
The research aims to measure the effectiveness of collaborative learning exchanges transpired through digital tools and technologies (DT&Ts) employed by the mentor universities…
Abstract
Purpose
The research aims to measure the effectiveness of collaborative learning exchanges transpired through digital tools and technologies (DT&Ts) employed by the mentor universities during the COVID-19 pandemic by conducting an empirical study on undergraduate students in Indian higher educational institutions (HEIs) under the mentorship program based on the corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative. The pandemic scenario, its impact on the mentor university's social responsibility and the way DT&Ts can assist are investigated in this article.
Design/methodology/approach
The interactions with experts and students were conducted to explore the DT&Ts for learning exchanges. Next, structural equation modeling (SEM) was performed to validate the model and perform regression analysis. The quantitative data collection was made through questionnaires during the second deadly wave of COVID-19 that hit India.
Findings
The independent variables (IVs) such as the IT infrastructure support (IT_IS), virtual collaborative tools (VCTs) and future-oriented technologies (FOTs) have a significant impact on the CSR learning outcomes (CSR_LOs) of undergraduate students under the mentorship program. However, IV research instruments for innovation could not make a significant effect.
Research limitations/implications
The IVs IT_IS, VCTs and FOTs influence the CSR_LOs, while RII does not have an influential impact.
Practical implications
As the online learning environment is expected to stay at least in a blended form, adequate CSR funding in infrastructure is necessitated to harness the full potential of this important resource, technology. The results of this empirical investigation affirm that IT_IS, VOTs and FOTs significantly impact CSR_LOs during the crisis. The study findings would encourage the mendtor universities and their stakeholders, including the mentee universities, to evolve and create an ecosystem for effective management of these resources to attain positive outcomes. The study findings can guide the mentor universities in managing uncertainties like pandemics and effectively using the earlier-mentioned critical resources for social responsibility. This research also allows the development of future applications adnd models in mentor-mentee universities for social responsibility, post-pandemic transformation and resilience.
Social implications
The DT&Ts came to the immediate rescue during the pandemic and positively affected collaborative CSR_LOs by the mentor universities, but they have not evolved to a level where offline learning can be replaced entirely. Hence, it can be inferred that a hybrid model is preferable. The study also improves the understanding of how DT&Ts are being harnessed to aid collaborative learning in fulfilling the mentors' CSR in fatal emergencies. The purpose is to equip the education system through mentorship so that universities can sustain, innovate and grow even in trying times. Also, it discusses the dynamics of various DT&Ts for creating a sustainable learning environment and utilizing them to make the teaching prolific and influential.
Originality/value
There is a scarcity of literature regarding the learning outcomes realized through CSR initiatives and collaboration between mentor-mentee institutions. There is a need to understand how these knowledge exchanges continued despite the physical restrictions during the pandemic. In this direction, this study helps to understand how the DT&Ts played a critical role in continuing learning and keeping abreast in a knowledge society from the perspective of resource-based view (RBV) in these precarious situations.
Details
Keywords
Josué Costa-Baptista, Edith Roland Fotsing, Jacky Mardjono, Daniel Therriault and Annie Ross
The purpose of this paper is the design and experimental investigation of compact hybrid sound-absorbing materials presenting low-frequency and broadband sound absorption.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is the design and experimental investigation of compact hybrid sound-absorbing materials presenting low-frequency and broadband sound absorption.
Design/methodology/approach
The hybrid materials combine microchannels and helical tubes. Microchannels provide broadband sound absorption in the middle frequency range. Helical tubes provide low-frequency absorption. Optimal configurations of microchannels are used and analytical equations are developed to guide the design of the helical tubes. Nine hybrid materials with 30 mm thickness are produced via additive manufacturing. They are combinations of one-, two- and four-layer microchannels and helical tubes with 110, 151 and 250 mm length. The sound absorption coefficient of the hybrid materials is measured using an impedance tube.
Findings
The type of microchannels (i.e. one, two or four layers), the number of rotations and the number of tubes are key parameters affecting the acoustic performance. For instance, in the 500 Hz octave band (α500), sound absorption of a 30 mm thick hybrid material can reach 0.52 which is 5.7 times higher than the α500 of a typical periodic porous material with the same thickness. Moreover, the broadband sound absorption for mid-frequencies is reasonably high with and α1000 > 0.7. The ratio of first absorption peak wavelength to structure thickness λ/T can reach 17, which is characteristic of deep-subwavelength behaviour.
Originality/value
The concept and experimental validation of a compact hybrid material combining a periodic porous structure such as microchannels and long helical tubes are original. The ability to increase low-frequency sound absorption at constant depth is an asset for applications where volume and weight are constraints.
Details
Keywords
Pawan Kumar, Ercan Özen and Serap Vurur
Purpose: The main aim of this study is to explore the emergence and significance of blockchain technology in the financial system. This analysis examines the early stages of the…
Abstract
Purpose: The main aim of this study is to explore the emergence and significance of blockchain technology in the financial system. This analysis examines the early stages of the adoption of blockchain technology.
Need of the study: To ascertain the viability of blockchain systems as a viable, fair, and traceable way of storing transaction records in Indian banking and financial services organisations.
Methodology: By virtue, this study is exploratory, following access to related studies on the implementation and applications of blockchain technology in the financial sector.
Findings: This study explores blockchain technology, its adoption, types, usefulness, benefits, challenges, and security concern in the banking sector.
Implications: This study will contribute to future research on applications of blockchain technology in the financial sector. It will help the researcher understand this technology’s importance and complications in the financial system.
Details
Keywords
Rong Wang, Yongxiong Chen, Xiuqian Peng, Nan Cong, Delei Fang, Xiubing Liang and Jianzhong Shang
Three-dimensional (3D) printing provides more possibilities for composite manufacturing. Composites can no longer just be layered or disorderly mixed as before. This paper aims to…
Abstract
Purpose
Three-dimensional (3D) printing provides more possibilities for composite manufacturing. Composites can no longer just be layered or disorderly mixed as before. This paper aims to introduce a new algorithm for dual-material 3D printing design.
Design/methodology/approach
A novel topology design method: solid isotropic material with penalization (SIMP) for hybrid lattice structure is introduced in this paper. This algorithm extends the traditional SIMP topology optimization, transforming the original 0–1 optimization into A–B optimization. It can be used to optimize the spatial distribution of bi-material composite structures.
Findings
A novel hybrid structure with high damping and strength efficiency is studied as an example in this work. By using the topology method, a hybrid Kagome structure is designed. The 3D Kagome truss with face sheet was manufactured by selective laser melting technology, and the thermosetting polyurethane was chosen as filling material. The introduced SIMP method for hybrid lattice structures can be considered an effective way to improve lattice structures’ stiffness and vibration characteristics.
Originality/value
The fabricated hybrid lattice has good stiffness and damping characteristics and can be applied to aerospace components.
Details
Keywords
Nengchao Lyu, Yugang Wang, Chaozhong Wu, Lingfeng Peng and Alieu Freddie Thomas
An individual’s driving style significantly affects overall traffic safety. However, driving style is difficult to identify due to temporal and spatial differences and scene…
Abstract
Purpose
An individual’s driving style significantly affects overall traffic safety. However, driving style is difficult to identify due to temporal and spatial differences and scene heterogeneity of driving behavior data. As such, the study of real-time driving-style identification methods is of great significance for formulating personalized driving strategies, improving traffic safety and reducing fuel consumption. This study aims to establish a driving style recognition framework based on longitudinal driving operation conditions (DOCs) using a machine learning model and natural driving data collected by a vehicle equipped with an advanced driving assistance system (ADAS).
Design/methodology/approach
Specifically, a driving style recognition framework based on longitudinal DOCs was established. To train the model, a real-world driving experiment was conducted. First, the driving styles of 44 drivers were preliminarily identified through natural driving data and video data; drivers were categorized through a subjective evaluation as conservative, moderate or aggressive. Then, based on the ADAS driving data, a criterion for extracting longitudinal DOCs was developed. Third, taking the ADAS data from 47 Kms of the two test expressways as the research object, six DOCs were calibrated and the characteristic data sets of the different DOCs were extracted and constructed. Finally, four machine learning classification (MLC) models were used to classify and predict driving style based on the natural driving data.
Findings
The results showed that six longitudinal DOCs were calibrated according to the proposed calibration criterion. Cautious drivers undertook the largest proportion of the free cruise condition (FCC), while aggressive drivers primarily undertook the FCC, following steady condition and relative approximation condition. Compared with cautious and moderate drivers, aggressive drivers adopted a smaller time headway (THW) and distance headway (DHW). THW, time-to-collision (TTC) and DHW showed highly significant differences in driving style identification, while longitudinal acceleration (LA) showed no significant difference in driving style identification. Speed and TTC showed no significant difference between moderate and aggressive drivers. In consideration of the cross-validation results and model prediction results, the overall hierarchical prediction performance ranking of the four studied machine learning models under the current sample data set was extreme gradient boosting > multi-layer perceptron > logistic regression > support vector machine.
Originality/value
The contribution of this research is to propose a criterion and solution for using longitudinal driving behavior data to label longitudinal DOCs and rapidly identify driving styles based on those DOCs and MLC models. This study provides a reference for real-time online driving style identification in vehicles equipped with onboard data acquisition equipment, such as ADAS.
Details
Keywords
Lisa Kate Price-Howard and Heather Lewis
The purpose of this study was to analyze the effectiveness of simulation learning techniques within both face-to-face and online courses. The specific objective for this study was…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study was to analyze the effectiveness of simulation learning techniques within both face-to-face and online courses. The specific objective for this study was to answer two questions: (1) What are the specific benefits the simulation learning component adds to the course(s)? (2) How do students perceive the usefulness of the simulation learning component to their prepared readiness to enter the industry?
Design/methodology/approach
An open-ended survey was administered at the end of the course to conduct a content analysis of student perspectives of the incorporation of cloud-based, educational simulation learning into educational courses. A discussion of the students' perspective of the SIM labs benefits, ease of use and perceived usefulness of this trending learning component has been reviewed, along with the comparison of the online and face-to-face viewpoints.
Findings
Some of the identified successes were the ability to collaborate between online and face-to-face classes. Another was the ability to incorporate the application and decision-making components of the textbook into their virtual position of the simulation (SIM) learning lab from an owner's/general manager's perspective. Finally, the SIM labs provided the instructor with a measurable tool to have students compete in a healthy environment.
Originality/value
Valuable insights were gained into the student's perspective and helped in needed adjustments to better utilize this type of active learning. By studying a specific simulation learning component of this type of electronic learning (e-learning,) valuable contextual explanations to support the other types of active learning techniques mentioned above can be gained.
Details
Keywords
Saliq Shamim Shah, Daljeet Singh, Jaswinder Singh Saini and Naveen Garg
This paper aims to study the design and characterization of a 3D printed tetrakaidecahedron cell-based acoustic metamaterial. At present, the mitigation of low-frequency noise…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to study the design and characterization of a 3D printed tetrakaidecahedron cell-based acoustic metamaterial. At present, the mitigation of low-frequency noise involves the utilization of spatially demanding materials for the absorption of sound. These materials lack the ability for targeted frequency control adjustments. Hence, there is a requirement for an approach that can effectively manage low-frequency noise using lightweight and durable materials.
Design/methodology/approach
The CAD model was created in SolidWorks and was manufactured using the Digital Light Processing (DLP) 3D printing technique. Experimental study and numerical simulations examined the metamaterial’s acoustic absorption. An impedance tube with two microphones was used to determine the absorption coefficient of the metamaterial. The simulations were run in a thermoviscous module.
Findings
The testing of acoustic samples highlighted the effects of geometric parameters on acoustic performance. Increment of the strut length by 0.4 mm led to a shift in response to a lower frequency by 500 Hz. Peak absorption rose from 0.461 to 0.690 as the strut diameter was increased from 0.6 to 1.0 mm. Increasing the number of cells from 8 to 20 increased the absorption coefficient and lowered the response frequency.
Originality/value
DLP 3D printing technique was used to successfully manufacture tetrakaidecahedron-based acoustic metamaterial samples. A novel study on the effects of geometric parameters of tetrakaidecahedron cell-based acoustic metamaterial on the acoustic absorption coefficient was conducted, which seemed to be missing in the literature.