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Nowadays, engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contracts are being widely used to perform industrial and infrastructure projects because of several reasons like high speed of implementation. However, these contracts are always accompanied by high risks and uncertainties. Thus, selection of the right EPC contractor has significant importance. This paper aims to present a fuzzy multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) model for EPC contractor prequalification.

First, the EPC contractor prequalification criteria are defined by using literature review and interviewing experts. Second, the weights of criteria are determined by interviewing experts. Then, each EPC contractor is evaluated in each criterion. Finally, fuzzy weighted average (FWA) approach is employed to select the right contractor among potential EPC contractors.

The proposed model is prepared as an applicable model for clients to select the right EPC contractors among contractors who want to conduct the project.

As a lack of applicable model does exist to assign the prequalification of EPC contractors, this study is one of the first research studies which proposed a fuzzy MCDM model for evaluation of EPC contractors. To cope with the uncertainty of the prequalification problem, fuzzy logic has been used. Using fuzzy sets leads to reaching more reliable results. Also, a real case study is provided to explain the proposed model.

Water and wastewater (WW) projects are gaining attention in Iran because of shortages of water resources. However, these projects are lengthy and they are accompanied by numerous risks, such as lack of sufficient financial resources. Public–private partnerships (PPPs) are taken into account as a constructive approach to deal with the problem of insufficient government funds and they are increasingly being implemented to construct the required infrastructures in different countries. Although WW projects in PPPs can reduce the government’s debt, investors are still uncertain about this approach. Hence, this study aims to identify and evaluate the risk of all parties involved in WW-PPP projects, from the viewpoint of investor.

First, the risk factors which are involved in WW projects are identified by interviewing experts and reviewing the literature by means of fault tree analysis (FTA) tool. Second, the probability and effects of the risky factors which are related to specific event are evaluated and analyzed by hybridization of interval fuzzy Type-2 sets (IT2FS) and risk score formulation. Finally, some solutions are proposed to deal with the most challenging risks.

Six gate events, namely, risks which are related to investors such as investor’s consultant-related risks, risky conditions from engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contractors’ point of view, risk factors which public sector takes into account, public sector’s consultant-related risks which public sector’s consultant consider challenging and external factors were defined according to the literature. From FTA tool and by interviewing the experts, 94 basic events were identified. Finally, from hybridization of IT2FSs and risk score formulation, top five risks are determined as “Difficulty of injecting financial resources into the project,” “Fluctuation in inflation rate,” “Poor decision-making process” in public sector, “Difficulty of importing the equipment which are required for the project (such as pumps, grain catchers, garbage collectors, etc.) from other countries” and “Impact of risky conditions in other projects on operation of PPP project.”

In the absence of a constructive approach for risk identification and a reliable model for evaluating the identified risks in PPP projects, this research project is one of the first research studies which used FTA for identifying risks and hybridization of IT2FSs and risk score formulation for evaluating the risks.

This paper sets out to introduce a numerical method to obtain solutions of Fredholm‐Volterra type linear integral equations.

The flow of the paper uses well‐known formulations, which are referenced at the end, and tries to construct a new approach for the numerical solutions of Fredholm‐Volterra type linear equations.

The approach and obtained method exhibit consummate efficiency in the numerical approximation to the solution. This fact is illustrated by means of examples and results are provided in tabular formats.

Although the method is suitable for linear equations, it may be possible to extend the approach to nonlinear, even to singular, equations which are the future objectives.

In many areas of mathematics, mathematical physics and engineering, integral equations arise and most of these equations are only solvable in terms of numerical methods. It is believed that the method is applicable to many problems in these areas such as loads in elastic plates, contact problems of two surfaces, and similar.

The paper is original in its contents, extends the available work on numerical methods in the solution of certain problems, and will prove useful in real‐life problems.

The purpose of this paper is to present an algorithm based on operational Tau method (OTM) for solving fractional Fokker‐Planck equation (FFPE) with space‐ and time‐fractional derivatives. Fokker‐Planck equation with positive integer order is also considered.

The proposed algorithm converts the desired FFPE to a set of algebraic equations using orthogonal polynomials as basis functions. The paper states some concepts, properties and advantages of proposed algorithm and its applications for solving FFPE.

Some illustrative numerical experiments including linear and nonlinear FFPE are given and some comparisons are made between OTM and variational iteration method, Adomian decomposition method and homotpy perturbation method.

Results demonstrate some capabilities of the proposed algorithm such as the simplicity, the accuracy and the convergency. Also, this is the first presentation of this algorithm for FFPE.

This paper aims to investigate the impact of anodizing time and heat treatment on morphology, phase and corrosion resistance of formed coating. To characterize the anodic oxide layer, X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) that was equipped with energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) was hired. The corrosion behavior of oxide-coated samples was estimated by electrochemical polarization test in simulated body fluid (SBF).

Anodic oxidation method is applied to reinforce the corrosion and biological properties of biomaterials in the biomedical industry. In this paper, the alkaline NaOH (1 M) electrolyte was used for AZ31 magnesium alloy anodizing accompanied by heat treatment in the air.

It can be concluded that the best corrosion resistance belongs to the 10 min anodic oxidized sample and among the heat-treated samples the 30 min anodized sample represented the lowest corrosion rate.

In this study, to the best of the authors’ knowledge for the first time, this paper describes the effect of anodizing process time on NaOH (1 M) electrolyte at 3 V on corrosion behavior of magnesium AZ31 alloy with an alternate method to change the phase composition of the formed oxide layer. The morphology and composition of the obtained anodic oxide layer were investigated under the results of SEM, EDS and XRD. The corrosion behavior of the oxide coatings layer fabricated on the magnesium-based substrate was studied by the potentiodynamic polarization test in the SBF solution.

This paper aims to investigate the natural convection fluid flow and heat transfer in a finned/multi-pipe cavity.

The cavity is filled with the CuO-water nanofluid. The Koo–Kleinstreuer–Li model is used to estimate the dynamic viscosity and consider Brownian motion. On the other hand, the effect of the shapes of nanoparticles on the thermal conductivity and related heat transfer rate is presented.

In the present investigation, the governing parameters are Rayleigh number, CuO nanoparticle concentration in pure water and the thermal arrangements of internal active fins and solid bodies. Impacts of these parameters on the nanofluid flow, heat transfer rate, total/local entropy generation and heatlines are presented. It is concluded that adding nanoparticles to the pure fluid has a significant positive influence on the heat transfer performance. In addition, the average Nusselt number and total entropy generation have direct a relationship with the Rayleigh number. The thermal arrangement of the internal bodies and fins is a good controlling tool to determine the desired magnitude of heat transfer rate.

The originality of this paper is to use the lattice Boltzmann method in simulating the nanofluid flow and heat transfer within a cavity included with internal active bodies and fins.

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the three-dimensional natural convection and entropy generation in a cuboid enclosure filled with two immiscible fluids of nanofluid and air.

One surface of the enclosure is jagged and another one is smooth. The finite volume approach is applied for computation. There are two partially side heaters. Furthermore, the Navier–Stokes equations and entropy generation formulation are solved in the 3D form.

The effects of different governing parameters, such as the jagged surface (JR=0, 0.02, 0.04, 0.08, 0.12 and 0.16), Rayleigh number (10³⩽Ra⩽10⁶) and solid volume fraction of nanofluid (φ=1, 1.5, 2 vol%), on the fluid flow, temperature field, Nusselt number, volumetric entropy generation and Bejan number are presented, comprehensively. The results indicate that the average Nusselt number increases with the increase in the Rayleigh number and solid volume fraction of nanofluid. Moreover, the flow structure is significantly affected by the jagged surface.

The originality of this work is to analyze the natural-convection fluid flow and heat transfer under the influence of jagged surfaces of electrodes in high-current lead–acid batteries.

The lattice Boltzmann method is used to simulate the nanofluid flow and heat transfer inside a finned multi-pipe heat exchanger.

The heat exchanger is filled with CuO-water nanofluid. The Koo–Kleinstreuer–Li (KKL) model is used to estimate the dynamic viscosity and considering the Brownian motion in the simulation. On the other hand, the influence of nanoparticles’ shapes on the heat transfer rate is considered, and the best efficient shape is selected to be used in the investigation.

The Rayleigh number, nanoparticle concentration and the thermal arrangements of internal active fins and bodies are the governing parameters. In addition, the impacts of these two parameters on the nanofluid flow, heat transfer rate, local and total entropy generation and heatline visualization are analyzed, comprehensively.

The originality of this work is using of lattice Boltzmann method for simulation of nanofluid flow and heat transfer during natural convection in a heat exchanger. Furthermore, influence of the shape of nanoparticles on the thermo-physical properties of nanofluid is analyzed using Koo–Kleinstreuer–Li correlation.

The nanofluid flow and heat transfer within a heat exchanger, with different thermal arrangements of internal active bodies, are investigated.

For the numerical simulations, the lattice Boltzmann method is utilized. The KKL model is used to predict the dynamic viscosity of CuO-water nanofluid. Furthermore, the Brownian method is taken account using this model. The influence of shapes of nanoparticles on the heat transfer performance is considered.

The results show that the platelet nanoparticles render higher average Nusselt number showing better heat transfer performance. In order to perform comprehensive analysis, the heatline visualization, local and total entropy generation, local and average Nusselt variation are employed.

The originality of this work is carrying out a comprehensive investigation of nanofluid flow and heat transfer during natural convection using lattice Boltzmann method and employing second law analysis and heatline visualization.

A comprehensive study on the fluid flow and heat transfer in a nanofluid channel is carried out. The configuration of the channel is as like as quarter channel. The channel is filled with CuO–water nanofluid.

The Koo–Kleinstreuer–Li model is used to estimate the dynamic viscosity and consider the Brownian motion. On the other hand, the influence of nanoparticles’ shapes on the heat transfer rate is considered in the simulations. The channel is included with the injection pipes which are modeled as active bodies with constant temperature in the 2D simulations.

The Rayleigh number, nanoparticle concentration and the thermal arrangements of internal pipes are the governing parameters. The hydrothermal aspects of natural convection are investigation using different approaches such as average Nusselt number, total entropy generation, Bejan number, streamlines, temperature fields, local heat transfer irreversibility, local fluid friction irreversibility and heatlines.

The originality of this work is investigation of fluid flow, heat transfer, entropy generation and heatline visualization within a nanofluid-filled channel using a finite volume method.