Search results

Effects of major factors, such as alloy composition, crystal structure and grain size, on mechanical properties of TiZr based alloys are investigated and summarized in this work. The microhardness of TC4 alloy obviously increases 15.3% and 17.6% after 30 wt.% and 47 wt.% Zr additions, respectively. Nanoindentation results show that the average nanoindentation hardness of α phase in annealed 30 Zr is approximately 18% higher than that of retained β phase. Tensile test results show that variation in strength of basketweave microstructural 30 Zr alloy with original β grain size from 100 to 203 μm is less than 2%.

The Zr-40Ti-4.5Al-4.2V (ZT40) alloy is one of new developed Zirconium alloys with high mechanical properties and great potential for application. The investigation about effects of plastic deformation on microstructure and mechanical properties can promote practical applications of the new high performance ZrTi based alloys. The microstructural evolution and mechanical properties of the ZT40 alloy suffered hot rolling with thickness reduction from 30% to 60% at 775 °C are investigated in this work. Results show that the phase constitution changes from (α + β) to (β + fcc) while the original specimen underwent hot rolling and subsequent water quenching. The β phase in hot rolled specimen adopts preferred orientation form (200) and (211) planes to only (200) plane while the rolling reduction increases from 30% to 60%. Furthermore, no obvious preferred orientation can be detected in specimen with reductions of 60%. Micrographs analysis shows that the dynamic recrystallization occurs in hot rolled specimens. Volume fraction of the DRX grains is approximately 8% in 30% reduction specimen and increases with the increasing of rolling reduction. Nearly full recrystallization is observed in the specimen with reductions of 60%. Hardness test shows that the HV of hot rolled specimen decreases from 384 HV to 329 HV as the increasing of reduction from 30% to 60%. The mechanisms of microstructural evolution and variation of hardness are also discussed. The finding should contribute to understand microstructural evolution, to adjust mechanical properties and to promote practical applications of Zirconium alloys.

This paper aims to examine the internal logical relationship between two intergenerational inheritance ways of passing property rights and residual control rights (RCR) and to construct a conceptual model comprising transfer elements, paths and timing of succession in this process.

Driven by the cases of Haixin, Tianyijiao and Changhe Group, this paper applies research methods of copying and expanding analysis logic, progressive deduction, content analysis and comparative research based on the perspective of HeXie theory to explore the deep interrelation of transfer elements, paths and timing during family business succession.

The findings present that the content of intergenerational inheritance of a family firm is the inheritance of property rights and RCR. First, the inheritance of property rights is a static inheritance of time-point delivery, whereas the inheritance of RCR is a dynamic inheritance process for a period of time. Second, the inheritance of property rights and RCR are not independent; only a “HeXie” succession of both rights can realize a successful inheritance of family firms.

This paper constructs the paths and timing model of intergenerational inheritance of property rights and RCR in family firms. This paper integrates the current literature studies on the family inheritance of property rights and RCR and explains their internal mechanisms. This paper also provides a theoretical foundation and empirical evidence for family business transitions in the business world.

In order to reduce logistics transportation costs and respond to low-carbon economy, the purpose of this paper is to study the more practical and common simultaneous pickup and delivery vehicle routing problem, which considers the carbon tax policy. A low-carbon simultaneous pickup and delivery vehicle routing problem model is constructed with the minimum total costs as the objective function.

This study develops a mathematical optimization model with the minimum total costs, including the carbon emissions costs as the objective function. An adaptive genetic hill-climbing algorithm is designed to solve the model.

First, the effectiveness of the algorithm is verified by numerical experiments. Second, the research results prove that carbon tax mechanism can effectively reduce carbon emissions within effective carbon tax interval. Finally, the research results also show that, under the carbon tax mechanism, the effect of vehicle speed on total costs will become more obvious with the increase of carbon tax.

This paper only considers the weight of the cargo, but it does not consider the volume of the cargo.

Few studies focus on environmental issues in the simultaneous pickup and delivery problem. Thus, this paper constructs a green path optimization model, combining the carbon tax mechanism for the problem. This paper further analyzes the impact of carbon tax value on total costs and carbon emission; at the same time, the effect of vehicle speed on total cost is also analyzed.

The purpose of this paper is to bring into the public domain converging ways of thinking about reality and human systems, exploring parallels between the theory of Physical Vacuum and the concept of Qi in Medical Qigong science.

The approach adopted in this paper includes: review of the relevant literature; dialogues between the first two authors over an eight-month period; review of the findings and discussion of interpretations by all.

There is evidence for the existence of an ideal information field. This field is a real space-time torsion structure. Qi is a torsion field. It spreads with superluminal velocity and connects the whole Universe. Any entity is in a constant dynamic connection with everything else in the Universe.

This paper offers limited discussion of the wider area of scientific discoveries.

The findings may impact future interdisciplinary research, health/well-being practices and public policy.

There is no known to us publication interpreting the parallels between the theory of the Physical Vacuum and the concept of Qi.

The purpose of this paper is to ascertain how total productive maintenance (TPM) has been implemented in large and medium size UK manufacturing companies, focusing on why such a programme was introduced, the activities involved, and the effectiveness and difficulties encountered during the process.

The aspects listed were based on a review of the literature. A case study approach was favoured to collect the necessary data. Companies were contacted, four of which responded favourably, and a protocol was developed to enable interviews to be carried out at each.

“Culture” was highlighted as the main obstacle to successfully implementing TPM; others were lack of awareness about the advantages of the programme, low employee skills and high cost. Two benefits gained by the four companies were a significant improvement in the availability and performance of the equipment within the plant and improved communication between employees. Additional benefits were financial improvement, reduced energy cost and increased employee morale and job satisfaction.

The number of companies that were willing to take part in the study was poor, thereby making it difficult to generalise the conclusions.

The results should help large and medium size organisations to better understand the TPM discipline, to facilitate its adoption and prioritise its practice. They also highlight the effectiveness and obstacles that can be encountered during the process.

The paper highlights the strong potential of TPM implementation programmes in affecting organisational performance improvements. The study also offers a beneficial source of information to organisations, which are still lagging far behind when it comes to TPM practices.

Prediction problems raised in uncertain environments require different solution approaches such as grey prediction models, which consider uncertainty in information and also enable the use of small data sets. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the comparative performances of grey prediction models (GM) and Markov chain integrated grey models in a demand prediction problem.

The modeling process of grey models is initially described, and then an integrated model called the Grey-Markov model is presented for the convenience of applications. The analyses are conducted on a monthly demand prediction problem to demonstrate the modeling accuracies of the GM (1,1), GM (2,1), GM (1,1)-Markov, and GM (2,1)-Markov models.

Numerical results reveal that the Grey-Markov model based on GM (2,1) achieves better prediction performance than the other models.

It is thought that the methodology and the findings of the study will be a significant reference for both academics and executives who struggle with similar demand prediction problems in their fields of interest.

The novelty of this study comes from the fact that the GM (2,1)-Markov model has been first used for demand prediction. Furthermore, the GM (2,1)-Markov model represents a relatively new approach, and this is the second paper that addresses the GM (2,1)-Markov model in any area.

The purpose of this paper is to identify the factors that define the management practices of a center of electrical and electronic waste and of reuse of equipment aiming to contribute to the sustainable development. It is known that the effort to achieve the green IT, including recycling and sustainable disposability of equipment does not follow the same pace as industry production.

The paper draws on the existing sustainable development, on the computer equipment and its composition and in the disposal of electronic waste as literature of orientation. The center for disposal and reuse of the information technology waste from a Brazilian university was approached by the methodology of qualitative case study.

The research revealed some findings related to the concepts of integrated waste management, product life cycle assessment, stakeholder involvement and inventory and information system of electrical and electronic equipment.

The research involved the analysis of documents and the website of the center and the technician responsible for the center was interviewed. The results can contribute as a benchmark for other universities and organizations who intend to create or implement a center for collection and recycling of computer equipment.

The paper shows the importance of communication and relationship between the center and the units of the university and with the stakeholders related to the waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) management.

The study has its focus on a more comprehensive WEEE approach that shows insights that can be used or adapted to any university or even companies.