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1 – 10 of over 9000Jun-Hui Chai, Jun-Ping Zhong, Bo Xu, Zi-Jian Zhang, Zhengxiang Shen, Xiao-Long Zhang and Jian-Min Shen
The high-pressure accumulator has been widely used in the hydraulic system. Failure pressure prediction is crucial for the safe design and integrity assessment of the…
Abstract
Purpose
The high-pressure accumulator has been widely used in the hydraulic system. Failure pressure prediction is crucial for the safe design and integrity assessment of the accumulators. The purpose of this study is to accurately predict the burst pressure and location for the accumulator shells due to internal pressure.
Design/methodology/approach
This study concentrates the non-linear finite element simulation procedure, which allows determination of the burst pressure and crack location using extensive plastic straining criterion. Meanwhile, the full-scale hydraulic burst test and the analytical solution are conducted for comparative analysis.
Findings
A good agreement between predicted and measured the burst pressure that was obtained, and the predicted failure point coincided very well with the fracture location of the actual shell very well. Meanwhile, the burst pressure of the shells increases with wall thickness, independent of the length. It can be said that the non-linear finite element method can be employed to predict the failure behavior of a cylindrical shell with sufficient accuracy.
Originality/value
This paper can provide a designer with additional insight into how the pressurized hollow cylinder might fail, and the failure pressure has been predicted accurately with a minimum error below 1%, comparing the numerical results with experimental data.
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Xiao-Long Gan, Kexin Xie, Hanqiu Liu, Raufdeen Rameezdeen and Tao Wen
The purpose of this paper is to analyse the policy instruments used by the China's Government on prefabricated construction (PC) development, with the aim to clarify the pattern…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to analyse the policy instruments used by the China's Government on prefabricated construction (PC) development, with the aim to clarify the pattern and discover the focus of the policy instruments using the methods of bibliometric analysis and content analysis.
Design/methodology/approach
Through a thorough screening by all researchers, 25 policies were identified from 1995 to 2021 were selected and analysed. The external attribute analysis clarified the issuing year, organisation, and the format of each policy. The content analysis was adopted firstly to analyse the policy instrument. An analysis framework including environmental instruments, supply instruments and demand instruments was applied in categorising and counting of each policy instrument. The bibliometric analysis was then carried out to extract keywords of the policy instruments, construct a co-word network and complete the cluster analysis.
Findings
The results indicate that the policies lack consistency and had relatively low authority. The results of content analysis show that the policy system relies heavily on environmental and supply instruments, whilst the use of demand instruments seems to be grossly inadequate. The results of the bibliometric analysis identify the core ideas of each policy instrument category, discuss the existing problems and then put forward the corresponding countermeasures.
Research limitations/implications
This study comprehensively and systematically analysed the policy instruments on facilitating the development of PC in China which broaden the research perspectives of the PC development by introducing the methods of political science. The research findings afford helpful information for future policy adjustments and elucidate the effective delivery of policies to facilitate PC development for developing countries.
Originality/value
This study provides an in-depth understanding of policy instruments used by China's Government on PC development. By integrating the policy instrument analysis framework into the mixed methods of content analysis and bibliometric analysis, this study provides an innovative way to conduct policy instrument analysis.
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Xiao-Long Gan, Rui-Dong Chang, Craig Langston and Tao Wen
The purpose of this paper is to identify the interactions of factors impacting the widespread adoption of prefabricated building technologies and the intervention strategies to…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to identify the interactions of factors impacting the widespread adoption of prefabricated building technologies and the intervention strategies to facilitate the development of prefabrication based on fuzzy cognitive maps (FCMs).
Design/methodology/approach
Through in-depth interviews with six stakeholder groups, namely, the government, developers, designers, contractors, manufacturers and researchers, 13 critical factors were identified and used to construct stakeholder-grouped FCMs, which were further aggregated into a collective FCM. The complexity and density of the collective FCM and the centrality of factors in the FCM were examined. Subsequently, a series of “what-if” simulations of the collective FCM were conducted to analyze the effectiveness of different interventions in promoting prefabrication.
Findings
The results show that three factors including market demand, cost, and policies and regulations have been mentioned by all stakeholder groups. However, these factors were ranked differently by stakeholder groups, implying that different stakeholder groups perceive the barriers to prefabricated building technologies differently. FCM simulations show that strengthening policies and regulations yield the strongest overall effect stimulating prefabrication, alleviating the organizational and environmental barriers more than the technological barriers, while improving the knowledge and expertise alleviate the technological barriers more. These measures need to be accompanied by other approaches, such as reducing cost and improving quality.
Research limitations/implications
It is a tough task to promote prefabrication as it is affected by numerous barriers with complex interactions, which have been overlooked by previous studies. This study clearly shows which strategy could tackle which barriers to prefabrication through the FCM simulations. This provides valuable references for the enterprises’ decision making and the governments’ policy making to facilitate the diffusion of prefabricated building technologies.
Originality/value
Few studies aim to analyze the interactions among the barriers to prefabrication, while this study specifically investigates this issue by illustrating the complex interactions using FCMs. Few studies also aim to identify the intervention strategies promoting prefabrication based on a quantitative approach, while this study employs FCM simulations to directly simulate the effectiveness of different strategies to facilitate prefabrication in a quantitative manner.
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Jill Bamforth, Charles Jebarajakirthy and Gus Geursen
The money management behavior of undergraduates determines their smooth transition into adulthood. Economic, social and psychological factors also affect undergraduates’ money…
Abstract
Purpose
The money management behavior of undergraduates determines their smooth transition into adulthood. Economic, social and psychological factors also affect undergraduates’ money management behavior. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to investigate how undergraduates manage and respond to economic, social and psychological factors affecting their money management behavior, and to examine whether this response changes as they make progress in their degree.
Design/methodology/approach
Adopting a qualitative exploratory approach, this study examined Australian undergraduates as they face many challenges to their money management behavior. The data were collected using six focus group discussions, held in three Australian universities, in which 47 undergraduates participated.
Findings
The findings have shown that their approach to manage spending, income, saving, peer relationships and stress changes as they make progress in their degree. However, they shared similar approaches to investment, followed parental money management advice and used technology for cost reduction, irrespective of the progress in their degree.
Research limitations/implications
This study was conducted with the data collected from a relatively small sample of respondents and was limited only to undergraduates. Moreover, this study was conducted in Australia, indicating that some of the results might be specific to the Australian context.
Practical implications
The findings of this study can be utilized by governments, financial institutions, educational institutions and parents who are interested in inculcating prudent money management behavior in undergraduates.
Originality/value
This study extends the scope of the literature beyond financial literacy, and has shown how undergraduates respond to economic, social and psychological aspects relating to money management behavior and how these responses vary as they make progress in their degree. This study has applied a qualitative exploratory approach, in contrast to quantitative methods which have generally been applied for studies relating to undergraduates’ money management behavior.
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Tania Morris, Lamine Kamano and Stéphanie Maillet
This article describes financial professionals' perceptions of their clients' financial behaviors and the explanatory factors underlying these behaviors.
Abstract
Purpose
This article describes financial professionals' perceptions of their clients' financial behaviors and the explanatory factors underlying these behaviors.
Design/methodology/approach
In this qualitative research, the authors seek to understand financial professionals' experiences in relation to how their clients manage their own finances. The authors conduct and analyze 26 semi-structured interviews with financial professionals from several industries within the financial sector in Canada.
Findings
The professionals in this study noted that despite their clients' financial knowledge, several other factors can explain these individuals' financial behaviors. They include psychological factors (such as financial bias, the need for instant gratification, and the lack of awareness regarding the long-term effects of certain types of financial behaviors), financial habits (such as lifestyle, financial planning and lack of discipline) and the financial system's flexibility with respect to debt financing and repayment. These perceptions are categorized according to whether they are related to debt financing or repayment, savings or investments.
Originality/value
By using a qualitative methodology that relies on the perceptions of financial professionals, this study aims to better understand the financial behaviors of individuals and households, and these behaviors' underlying factors. This study's findings could be useful to various stakeholders interested, in one way or another, in financial literacy, such as organizations aiming to strengthen and promote financial literacy, educators, researchers, regulatory bodies of financial institutions and financial advisers.
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Rameshkumar Subramanian, T.P. Arjun and K.A. Ashique Ali
Personal financial management is gaining momentum in modern society, as it plays a vital role in shaping the financial behaviour of people looking forward to adequate financial…
Abstract
Personal financial management is gaining momentum in modern society, as it plays a vital role in shaping the financial behaviour of people looking forward to adequate financial well-being. Hence, people in general and the weaker sections of society in particular are expected to show desirable financial behaviour for achieving individual as well as societal well-being. The present study investigates the impact of socio-economic characteristics on the financial behaviour of migrant workers who have migrated to the state of Tamil Nadu. The primary data were collected using the interview schedule from 200 migrant workers selected using the snowball sampling technique. The results show that migrant workers have mediocre financial behaviour. Furthermore, it is also found that migrant workers’ financial behaviour is not influenced by their socio-economic characteristics, such as gender, age, marital status, family type, and family income. However, the level of education has a significant positive role in shaping the financial behaviour of the migrant workers. The study outlines the need for specially engineered financial education for migrant workers.
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Jill Bamforth, Charles Jebarajakirthy and Gus Geursen
The money management behaviour of undergraduates is a noteworthy study for many stakeholders, as these students are more likely to carry forward this behaviour into later life…
Abstract
Purpose
The money management behaviour of undergraduates is a noteworthy study for many stakeholders, as these students are more likely to carry forward this behaviour into later life. The literature on student money management behaviour heavily focuses on financial literacy. However, economic, social and psychological factors also affect undergraduates’ money management behaviour. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to empirically investigate how undergraduates respond to and account for these factors in their money management behaviour.
Design/methodology/approach
This study was carried out in Australia. This study adopted a qualitative exploratory approach. The data were collected using six focus group discussions (FGDs) held in one Australian university, in which 40 undergraduates participated.
Findings
The key themes identified from the thematic analysis include undergraduates’ understanding of money management and managing economic, social and psychological aspects relating to undergraduates’ money management behaviour. Several subthemes were identified under each theme, which specifically showed how undergraduates manage and respond to each of these factors relating to their money management behaviour.
Research limitations/implications
This study was conducted with the data collected from a relatively small sample of respondents and was limited only to undergraduates. Moreover, this study was conducted in Australia, indicating that some of the results might be specific to the Australian context.
Practical implications
The authors have suggested promoting multiple payment methods and internet usage to undergraduates, and providing them with stress management programmes will help them maintain prudent money management behaviour.
Originality/value
The extant literature on undergraduates’ money management behaviour tends to focus on financial literacy. This study extends the scope of the literature beyond financial literacy and has shown how undergraduates respond to economic, social and psychological aspects relating to money management behaviour. This study has applied a qualitative exploratory approach, in contrast to quantitative methods which have generally been applied for studies relating to undergraduates’ money management behaviour.
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Lifeng Wang, Jiwei Bi, Long Liu and Ziwang Xiao
This paper presents the experimental and numerical results of the bending properties of low-height prestressed T-beams. The purpose is to study the bearing capacity, failure state…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper presents the experimental and numerical results of the bending properties of low-height prestressed T-beams. The purpose is to study the bearing capacity, failure state and strain distribution of low-height prestressed T-beams.
Design/methodology/approach
First, two 13 m-long full-size test beams were fabricated with different positions of prestressed steel bundles in the span. The load–deflection curves and failure patterns of each test beam were obtained through static load tests. Secondly, the test data were used to validate the finite element model developed to simulate the flexural behavior of low-height prestressed T-beams. Finally, the influence of different parameters (the number of prestressed steel bundles, initial prestress and concrete strength grade) on the flexural performance of the test beams is studied by using a finite element model.
Findings
The test results show that when the distance of the prestressed steel beam from the bottom height of the test beam increases from 40 to 120 mm, the cracking load of the test beam decreases from 550.00 to 450.00 kN, reducing by 18.18%, and the ultimate load decreases from 1338.15 to 1227.66 kN, reducing by 8.26%, therefore, the increase of the height of the prestressed steel beam reduces the bearing capacity of the test beam. The numerical simulation results show that when the number of steel bundles increases from 2 to 9, the cracking load increases by 183.60%, the yield load increases by 117.71% and the ultimate load increases by 132.95%. Therefore, the increase in the number of prestressed steel bundles can increase the cracking load, yield load and ultimate load of the test beam. When the initial prestress is from 695 to 1,395 MPa, the cracking load increases by 69.20%, the yield load of the bottom reinforcement increases by 31.61% and the ultimate load increases by 3.97%. Therefore, increasing the initial prestress can increase the cracking load and yield load of the test beam, but it has little effect on the ultimate load. The strength grade of concrete increases from C30 to C80, the cracking load is about 455.00 kN, the yield load is about 850.00 kN and the ultimate load is increased by 4.90%. Therefore, the improvement in concrete strength grade has little influence on the bearing capacity of the test beam.
Originality/value
Based on the experimental study, the bearing capacity of low-height prestressed T-beams with different prestressed steel beam heights is calculated by finite element simulation, and the influence of different parameters on the bearing capacity is discussed. This method not only ensures the accuracy of bearing capacity assessment, but also does not require a large number of samples and has a certain economy. The study of prestressed low-height T-beams is of great significance for understanding the principle and application of prestressed technology. Research on the mechanical behavior and performance of low-height prestressed T beams can provide a scientific basis and technical support for the design and construction of prestressed concrete structures. In addition, the study of prestressed low-height T-beams can also provide a reference for the optimization design and construction of other structural types.
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This chapter presents a rationale for the International Study of Principal Preparation, provides an overview of the study, offers descriptions of the assumptions that should…
Abstract
This chapter presents a rationale for the International Study of Principal Preparation, provides an overview of the study, offers descriptions of the assumptions that should underpin the pre-appointment experiences of school principals, and describes the context of the principalship. The chapter will close with commentary intended to assist and guide designers and providers of principal preparation programming.A central point of this chapter is that it is unlikely that a template for principal preparation can be designed for application in all settings. Indeed, attempts to create such a template are likely to result in culturally and educationally inappropriate approaches to leadership development and to ineffective principals. Instead, leadership development is best approached through a thoughtful and reflective awareness of a set of assumptions about leadership in cross-cultural settings and of the contextual variables impacting school leaders.
Xingwang Li, Jingwei Zhang, Zhigang Li, Feng Gao and Cheng Yu
This study aims to let researchers sort out the past, look to the future and boost further management research.
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to let researchers sort out the past, look to the future and boost further management research.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper takes the exploration of the application of AR in the field of management research as the starting point. Through the combing and induction of AR literature to accurately grasp the essential characteristics of AR, this paper analyzes the application prospects and possible difficulties of AR in the field of management research in China, puts forward specific suggestions and explores the specific path of the transformation of management academic research to practice from the perspective of research methods.
Findings
In research methods, empirical research and case studies have become the mainstream research methods, but there is a passive research limitation of “study what happens.” Action research is different from the standpoint of empirical research that is independent of the research object. It no longer simply treats managers as the “object of information acquisition,” but as the subject of participating in the research. Management should be oriented towards the transformation of practice, and action research (AR) that can organically integrate researchers and practitioners is just a “bridge” to break the gap between academia and business circles to establish a cooperative relationship.
Originality/value
This paper takes the exploration of the application of AR in the field of management research as the starting point. Through the combing and induction of AR literature to accurately grasp the essential characteristics of AR, this paper analyzes the application prospects and possible difficulties of AR in the field of management research in China, puts forward specific suggestions and explores the specific path of the transformation of management academic research to practice from the perspective of research methods.
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