M. Poursina, C.A.C. António, C.F. Castro, J. Parvizian and L.C. Sousa
A numerical method for shape optimisation in forging is presented. The goal of the optimisation is to eliminate work‐piece defects that may arise during the forging process. A…
Abstract
A numerical method for shape optimisation in forging is presented. The goal of the optimisation is to eliminate work‐piece defects that may arise during the forging process. A two‐dimensional finite element code has been developed for the simulation of the mechanical process. The material is incompressible and it follows the Norton‐Hoff law. To deal with contact constraint the velocity projection algorithm is used. The optimisation process is conducted using a genetic algorithm supported by an elitist strategy. A new genetic operator called adaptive mutation has been developed to increase the efficiency of the search. The developed scheme is used to design optimal preform shapes for several axisymmetric examples. Continuous and discrete design variables are considered. The objective function of the optimisation problem is associated with the quality of the final product. Comparing the obtained optimal results with the literature validates the proposed optimisation method.
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Chien-Feng Huang, Tsung-Nan Hsieh, Bao Rong Chang and Chih-Hsiang Chang
Stock selection has long been identified as a challenging task. This line of research is highly contingent upon reliable stock ranking for successful portfolio construction. The…
Abstract
Purpose
Stock selection has long been identified as a challenging task. This line of research is highly contingent upon reliable stock ranking for successful portfolio construction. The purpose of this paper is to employ the methods from computational intelligence (CI) to solve this problem more effectively.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors develop a risk-adjusted strategy to improve upon the previous stock selection models by two main risk measures – downside risk and variation in returns. Moreover, the authors employ the genetic algorithm for optimization of model parameters and selection for input variables simultaneously.
Findings
It is found that the proposed risk-adjusted methodology via maximum drawdown significantly outperforms the benchmark and improves the previous model in the performance of stock selection.
Research limitations/implications
Future work considers an extensive study for the risk-adjusted model using other risk measures such as Value at Risk, Block Maxima, etc. The authors also intend to use financial data from other countries, if available, in order to assess if the method is generally applicable and robust across different environments.
Practical implications
The authors expect this risk-adjusted model to advance the CI research for financial engineering and provide an promising solutions to stock selection in practice.
Originality/value
The originality of this work is that maximum drawdown is being successfully incorporated into the CI-based stock selection model in which the model's effectiveness is validated with strong statistical evidence.
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He-nan Bu, Zhu-wen Yan and Dian-Hua Zhang
The purpose of this study is to improve the global optimization ability of the Tabu search (TS) algorithm, and then improve the calculation efficiency and accuracy of rolling…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to improve the global optimization ability of the Tabu search (TS) algorithm, and then improve the calculation efficiency and accuracy of rolling schedule in tandem cold rolling.
Design/methodology/approach
A case-based reasoning–Tabu search hybrid algorithm (CBRTS) has been presented. First, the case-based reasoning technology was adopted to obtain high-quality initial solution and then the TS algorithm was used for global optimization.
Findings
The optimization effect of CBRTS is compared with that of the traditional TS algorithm, and the analysis result indicates that the CBRTS has a faster convergence rate than TS, and the optimization results are closer to the global optimal. Meanwhile, the rolling schedule calculated by CBRTS is more reasonable, which can increase the production efficiency while giving full play to the capacity of equipment.
Originality/value
A CBRTS hybrid algorithm is presented. The strong dependence of the TS algorithm on the initial solution has been solved. The rolling schedule multi-objective optimization functions are established. The proposed algorithm is applied in a 1,450-mm tandem cold rolling production line. The improved method can reduce about half the iterations compared with the traditional one.
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He-Nan Bu, Hong-Gen Zhou, Zhu-Wen Yan and Dian-Hua Zhang
In the process of cold rolled strip, there is tight coupling between flatness control and gauge control. The variation of the roll gap caused by the change of bending force will…
Abstract
Purpose
In the process of cold rolled strip, there is tight coupling between flatness control and gauge control. The variation of the roll gap caused by the change of bending force will lead to the change of rolling force. Furthermore, it can cause a deep impact on the control accuracy of strip exit thickness and exit crown. The purpose of this paper is to improve the accuracy of the bending force preset value for cold rolled strip.
Design/methodology/approach
In this paper, the bending force preset control strategy with considering of rolling force was proposed for the first time and the preset objective function of bending force was established on the basis of the two-objective optimization of bending force and rolling force. Meanwhile, the multi-objective intelligent algorithm – INSGA-II – was used to solve the objective function.
Findings
The proposed bending force multi-objective preset model has been tested in a 1,450 mm tandem cold rolling line. The analyzed results of field data show that the deviations of strip exit thickness and exit crown are reduced effectively by using the improved model, and at the same time, more reasonable bending force preset values are obtained, which can enhance the accuracy of flatness preset control.
Originality/value
A preset model of bending force with considering flatness and gauge is proposed in this paper and the multi-objective function of bending force preset is established on the basis of the two-objective optimization of bending force and rolling force. The value lies in proposing a new decoupling method of rolling force and bending force.
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To provide a selective bibliography for researchers working with bulk material forming (specifically the forging, rolling, extrusion and drawing processes) with sources which can…
Abstract
Purpose
To provide a selective bibliography for researchers working with bulk material forming (specifically the forging, rolling, extrusion and drawing processes) with sources which can help them to be up‐to‐date.
Design/methodology/approach
A range of published (1996‐2005) works, which aims to provide theoretical as well as practical information on the material processing namely bulk material forming. Bulk deformation processes used in practice change the shape of the workpiece by plastic deformations under forces applied by tools and dies.
Findings
Provides information about each source, indicating what can be found there. Listed references contain journal papers, conference proceedings and theses/dissertations on the subject.
Research limitations/implications
It is an exhaustive list of papers (1,693 references are listed) but some papers may be omitted. The emphasis is to present papers written in English language. Sheet material forming processes are not included.
Practical implications
A very useful source of information for theoretical and practical researchers in computational material forming as well as in academia or for those who have recently obtained a position in this field.
Originality/value
There are not many bibliographies published in this field of engineering. This paper offers help to experts and individuals interested in computational analyses and simulations of material forming processes.
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Mohammad Gharipour, Ehsan Masoud, Jamal Esmaeilzadeh Vafaei and Fateme Jahani Sadatmahalle
The advancement of medical care during the late 19th century and the rising importance of public health led to the creation of a healthcare infrastructure in Iran in the early…
Abstract
Purpose
The advancement of medical care during the late 19th century and the rising importance of public health led to the creation of a healthcare infrastructure in Iran in the early decades of the 20th century. The study focuses on the formation of this infrastructure through the study of historical materials as well as the study of case studies built in the Gilan region in the north of Iran.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper begins with a review of medical, sociological and historical resources, then turns to field studies and interviews as methods to focus on the medical transformations in the Gilan region.
Findings
This study offers four key findings: First of all, most studies tend to focus more on traditional medicine in Iran than on the initiation and spread of modern medicine. Secondly, foreign physicians and missionaries played an influential role in shaping the culture of Iranian hospital care. Thirdly, the interactions with and influences coming from Iran’s northern neighbors in Gilan transformed the province into an educated, freedom-seeking society. And finally, in its early stages, hospital construction in Iran followed local architectural traditions.
Originality/value
In the case of Gilan, the core structures of urban hospitals were similar in their pavilion typology to those that had been common in Gilan for centuries.
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Zengkun Zhang, Dongru Li, Jianjun Wu, Muzamil Muhammad and Yang Li
When bending a large diameter thin-walled tube, the thickn ess of outer side wall will reduce greatly, which leads to a decrease of structural strength of the tube. To solve this…
Abstract
Purpose
When bending a large diameter thin-walled tube, the thickn ess of outer side wall will reduce greatly, which leads to a decrease of structural strength of the tube. To solve this problem, this paper investigated the deformation principles of an eccentric tube in the rotary draw bending process, trying to find a way to reduce the wall thickness difference between inner and outer diameters.
Design/methodology/approach
An finite element model is established for analyzing the deformation of an eccentric tube in rotary draw bending process. The wall thickness distribution of the formed pipe was analyzed along the axis and diameter, respectively.
Findings
It is found that there exists an optimal eccentricity between the inner and outer circle center of the tube cross-section. If the eccentricity of the tube is chosen properly, it is possible to get a bent tube with equal thickness of inner and outer side walls. In addition, it is also found the optimal eccentricity on the cross-section can be influenced by bending radius, wall thickness, diameter and bending angle. The optimal eccentricity increases greatly with the decreasing of bending radius, the increase of outer diameter and the increase of wall thickness. The influence of bending angle on the optimal eccentricity can be divided into two situations. When the bending angle is small, the optimal eccentricity increases with the increase of bending angle. When the bending angle exceeds a certain value, the pipe enters a stable forming state. The optimal eccentricity of the stable forming region does not change with the bending angle.
Originality/value
Such a research is beneficial for reducing the thickness difference between inner and outer side walls in the rotary draw bending process.
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Mohaddese Omidi, Behzad Zohrevandi and Enayatollah Homaie Rad
As a human right, people need to arrive early at the hospitals when they are injured in traffic accidents. Both the mean and equality of the time of arriving at the hospital are…
Abstract
Purpose
As a human right, people need to arrive early at the hospitals when they are injured in traffic accidents. Both the mean and equality of the time of arriving at the hospital are important. This study aimed to investigate inequality in arrival time of emergent traffic accident patients to the hospital in 2018–2019 in a city in the North of Iran.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors extracted the data from the Guilan province trauma system databank in Poursina Hospital in Rasht in 2018 and 2019. The Gini coefficient was used to calculate inequality, and a regression model was estimated for determining the reason for inequality in time to receive hospital services.
Findings
The study showed that patients’ arrival time from the time of the accident to the time of arrival to the hospital was 64.48 ± 47.63 min (minimum of 9 min and maximum 462 min). Gini coefficient was 0.31 (p <0.001), which does not show high inequality. Regression results showed that the transfer time of patients by car was 40 min longer (p-value <0.001) than ambulances (p = 0.036). In children, the transfer time was 42 min less (p = 0.003). Other variables did not explain the inequality (p > 0.05).
Originality/value
According to the time of arrival of patients and Gini index, in Rasht, inequality in providing services is not in a bad condition. This indicates that the emergency department does not systematically transport people to the hospital late.
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Naema Khodadadi-Hassankiadeh, Leila Kouchakinezhad-Eramsadati, Maryam Tavakkoli, Shahrokh Yousefzadeh-Chabok, Ali Davoudi Kiakalayeh and Enayatollah Homaie Rad
Studying the relationship between crime and traffic accidents in different geographical regions is very critical since varying relationships have been reported to exist in diverse…
Abstract
Purpose
Studying the relationship between crime and traffic accidents in different geographical regions is very critical since varying relationships have been reported to exist in diverse areas. The purpose of this paper is to determine the relationship between crime with injuries and deaths due to road traffic accidents in Iran.
Design/methodology/approach
In this study, macro-level panel data between 2007 and 2013 were used. The number of folders due to crimes in each province was used as explanatory variables to show the amount of crime in each province. The number of fatal and injury death was used as outcome variables. The models were estimated using fixed effect panel regression estimator.
Findings
The results of this study showed that the number of records in courts (Cr) had a significant positive relationship with fatal accidents (coefficient=0.006). In the injury accidents model, Cr coefficient was 0.008 and significant. In addition, GINI had positive relationship with fatal accidents (coefficient: 1.396), while it had no significant relationship with injury accidents.
Originality/value
A positive association was found between crime and mortalities and morbidities due to traffic accidents. Traffic accidents and crimes are derived from a similar nature. So traffic accidents could be categorized as crime and it is important to increase more prohibitions to decrease traffic accidents. Prevention programs should focus on population groups with high social distinction and criminals, especially traffic offenses.
Kassahun Bulti, Amanti Baru Olani and Adamu Amanu A
Patient satisfaction is strongly linked to health outcomes, as satisfied patients are more likely to adhere to treatment regimens and less likely to miss follow-up appointments…
Abstract
Purpose
Patient satisfaction is strongly linked to health outcomes, as satisfied patients are more likely to adhere to treatment regimens and less likely to miss follow-up appointments. Healthcare service quality and patient satisfaction in developing countries, such as Ethiopia, are critical policy and research agendas. Thus, this study aims to assess inpatients’ satisfaction with healthcare services in a public hospital in Ethiopia.
Design/methodology/approach
A cross-sectional study design was employed, and 192 respondents were selected using a systematic sampling technique. An interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect data. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were utilized to analyze the data.
Findings
The inpatient satisfaction rate was found to be 51%. The highest satisfaction of respondents was found in physician services (96.88%), and the lowest was found in access to water (18.75%). Factors determining inpatients’ satisfaction were diverse. The inpatients reported inadequate medical supplies, water problems, poor sanitation and infrastructure as critical challenges. The main implication of this study is the need to improve physical facilities, medical supplies and sanitation and to strengthen the monitoring and evaluation of work performance.
Originality/value
This paper investigated inpatients’ satisfaction with healthcare services at a public hospital. This study’s findings can inform policy decisions and targeted interventions for enhancing quality healthcare provision in public healthcare facilities in Ethiopia. Ensuring quality healthcare service provision may have a significant impact on the health and well-being of people as well as the overall socio-economic development of the nation.