I shall be discussing the problem that faces all large organizations which employ research scientists in the fields of applied research and technology, i.e. fields in which…
Abstract
I shall be discussing the problem that faces all large organizations which employ research scientists in the fields of applied research and technology, i.e. fields in which results having commercial value are produced. This problem is not met, or not met to the same extent, in laboratories engaged in fundamental research, such as university laboratories. Here, although new knowledge often leads ultimately to commercial applications, it is usually not of immediate commercial value, and so the results can be published freely, and staff engaged on such work would be indignant at any proposal to restrict their right to publish results freely. Research in university laboratories sponsored by firms or commercial organizations, however, presents the same problems as these which we are discussing.
Gulraiz Ahmed, Mathieu Sellier, Yeaw Chu Lee, Mark Jermy and Michael Taylor
– The purpose of this paper is to investigate numerically the effect of rheology on the leveling of thin fluid films on horizontal solid substrates.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate numerically the effect of rheology on the leveling of thin fluid films on horizontal solid substrates.
Design/methodology/approach
A mathematical model based on the lubrication approximation which defines non-Newtonian rheology using a Power-law model is presented. The rheology is described by two parameters: the consistency factor and the flow behavior index. The resulting highly non-linear coupled set of equations is discretized using Finite-Difference and the resulting algebraic system is solved via an efficient Multigrid algorithm.
Findings
Importantly, the non-dimensionalization process leads to a pair of Partial Differential Equations which depends on one parameter only, the flow behavior index. The authors show that the consistency factor only affects the time scale of the leveling process, hence stretching or contracting the time line. Results for the leveling of sinusoidal perturbations of the fluid film highlights important differences between the leveling of shear-thinning and shear-thickening fluids. In a normalized time frame, the onset of leveling occurs earlier for the shear-thinning fluid than for the shear-thickening one. However, the dimensionless leveling rate is higher for the shear-thickening fluid than the shear-thinning one. This results in a “threshold thickness” which delimits two regimes: the shear-thinning fluid levels to a thickness above this threshold faster than the shear-thickening fluid but the opposite is true for a film thickness below this threshold. An important aspect of this study is the verification of the numerical implementation using the Method of Manufactured Solutions (MMS), a first in the context of thin film studies. The paper also highlights differences between the leveling of two-dimensional and three-dimensional thickness perturbations.
Originality/value
The study of the leveling of disturbances at the free surface of a liquid film using a Power-law rheological model does not appear to have been covered in the literature. Also, the paper uses the MMS to test the validity of the implementation. This appears to be the first time it has been used in the context of the lubrication approximation. Finally, unlike most prior studies, the work does away with the planar assumption.
Details
Keywords
The choice of a classification scheme is never entirely objective. One's past acquaintance with one or more of the major schemes, while training as a librarian, and/or in a work…
Abstract
The choice of a classification scheme is never entirely objective. One's past acquaintance with one or more of the major schemes, while training as a librarian, and/or in a work situation must have some influence on one's final decision. Before embarking on classing a library collection one should consider the relative merits of the various major schemes in relation to your user's requirements.
Jane McKenzie and Sharon Varney
This paper aims to consider middle managers’ influence on organizational learning by exploring how they cope with demands and tensions in their role and whether their practice…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to consider middle managers’ influence on organizational learning by exploring how they cope with demands and tensions in their role and whether their practice affects available team energy.
Design/methodology/approach
In total, 43 managers from three large organizations involved in major change assessed their group’s energy using a tested and validated instrument, the OEQ12©. This generated six distinct categories of team energy, from highly productive to corrosive. Thirty-four of these managers, spread across the six categories, completed a Twenty Statements Test and a follow-up interview to explore their cognitive, affective and behavioural responses to coping with resource constraints and tensions in their role.
Findings
The research provides preliminary insights into what distinguishes a middle manager persona co-ordinating teams with highly productive energy from those managing groups with less available energy to engage with knowledge and learning. It considers why these distinctions may affect collective sensitivities in the organizational learning process.
Research limitations/implications
Informants were not equally distributed across the six team energy categories; therefore, some middle manager personas are more indicative than others.
Practical implications
This research suggests areas where middle manager development could potentially improve organizational learning.
Originality/value
This study offers early empirical evidence that middle managers’ orientation to their role is entangled with the process of energizing their teams in organizational learning during change.
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Xintian Liu, Que Wu, Shengchao Su and Yansong Wang
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…
Abstract
Purpose
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.
Design/methodology/approach
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.
Findings
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.
Originality/value
This review provides a reference for further study of material properties.
Details
Keywords
Alina Delgado and Frank De Troyer
The purpose of this paper is to describe the principles of a conceptual model to help developers and housing users achieve their expectations regarding quality, affordability and…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to describe the principles of a conceptual model to help developers and housing users achieve their expectations regarding quality, affordability and reasonable profits. Based on the identification of housing user’s preferences extracted from the survey, data are incorporated into model simulations considering budget restrictions for developers as well as for housing users.
Design/methodology/approach
The models’ development was based on fieldwork in Guayaquil, Ecuador, using a method that includes housing users’ preferences. Developed through a “methodological pluralism”, this study identifies people-oriented variables and assumptions. Thus, a more integrated approach is proposed, crossing and covering the fields of different disciplines.
Findings
The study concludes with findings regarding the identification of the most preferred attributes of housing users and the proposal of an alternative method to incorporate quality into model simulations for estimating housing market prices. Through optimizations, it is found that the optimal number of housing units per housing types in urban projects, which translates into more reasonable profits for the developers and the provision of better and more affordable houses for the users.
Research limitations/implications
A more complete assessment of the principles described in this paper will require a larger timeframe and location of application.
Practical implications
The identification of the most preferred attributes of housing users and the inclusion in a conceptual simulation model would help private and public developers to provide better and more affordable houses for users as well as to attain reasonable profits. Further, housing national policy could also be influenced by model’s results.
Social implications
The consideration of housing user’s preferences will entail an improvement of quality of life for social housing projects.
Originality/value
The study’s main original and novel contribution is the development of an approach for the inclusion of housing preferences into model simulations by using quality points and housing demand curves.
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Jai Manik, Amaresh Dalal and Ganesh Natarajan
The purpose of this paper is to numerically investigate the effect of various parameters such as density ratio, surface wettabilities and Weber number on the droplet dripping and…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to numerically investigate the effect of various parameters such as density ratio, surface wettabilities and Weber number on the droplet dripping and detachment process.
Design/methodology/approach
By using algebraic volume of fluid method, the governing equations are solved using a collocated finite volume approach in two-dimensions.
Findings
The results indicate that, for small densities of droplet, it adheres to the surface except when the surface is hydrophobic, while an increase in Weber number or presence of an additional droplet in the vicinity led to detachment.
Originality/value
The paper explores various characteristics of a droplet when two competing forces, namely, gravity and surface tension, act simultaneously. The detachment is observed for a given initial droplet size, as it becomes denser in an uniform gravitational field. The effect of droplet affinity for two droplets is also presented using the simulations.
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Christo Coetzee and Dewald Van Niekerk
The purpose of the paper is to provide a robust and simple methodology for disaster risk management officials to assess the total disaster risk posed by dolomite in urban areas of…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of the paper is to provide a robust and simple methodology for disaster risk management officials to assess the total disaster risk posed by dolomite in urban areas of South Africa.
Design/methodology/approach
In order to develop the methodology the basic principles of disaster risk assessment, incapsulated in the notation R=H×V, was applied to provide a vehicle to quantify hazard and vulnerability aspects related to dolomite risk. Specifically existing knowledge on inherent dolomite risk classes (hazard component) was aligned to issues of vulnerability (in this case ageing water infrastructure) to attain a total dolomite disaster risk score for a specific area.
Findings
The results from the practical application of the method indicated that the proposed dolomite risk assessment methodology is not only robust but easy to comprehend and to apply. The simplicity of the method also allows for easy integration into existing urban planning and integrated development planning process.
Originality/value
The creation of the method not only provides a much-needed tool for assessing the total disaster risk posed by dolomite in urban areas but also adds value to the entire urban and community development process.