Zhongcai Shao, Jian Guo and Pin Liu
The paper aims to introduce the process flow of electroless nickel (EN) plating on carbon fiber surfaces, the effect of former processing on the properties of coating and the…
Abstract
Purpose
The paper aims to introduce the process flow of electroless nickel (EN) plating on carbon fiber surfaces, the effect of former processing on the properties of coating and the dynamics of the process.
Design/methodology/approach
The coated fibers were mounted in cold-setting epoxy resin, and transverse cross-section of the coated fibers were examined under an optical microscope to ascertain the thickness, uniformity and continuity of the coating over the fiber surface. The coating morphology was studied by using a scanning electron microscope (SEM). This study also determined the activation energy and electrical properties of EN coated on carbon fibers.
Findings
Activation temperatures have a greater impact on the quality of EN. At a temperature of 80°C, the EN layer prepared was uniform and compact and fully coated the carbon fibers. The optimum components of the EN plating process is NiSO4: 28 g/L; NaH2PO2: 30 g/L; NaAc: 20 g/L; Na3C6H5O7:10 g/L; C4O6H2KNa: 2 g/L; (NH4)2SO4: 18 g/L; thiourea and lead acetate: trace; operating conditions: pH = 8.5, temperature: 70°C; time: 0.5 h). The activation energy of the EN plating on carbon fiber is 12 kJ/mol, and the electrical conductivity of nickel-plated carbon fiber in 80 mL of distilled water is 16.5 μs/cm.
Originality/value
This paper determined the optimum processing conditions and the activation energy of the EN plating on carbon fiber.
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Shuming Cai, Ngai Weng Chan, Hsiang‐te Kung and Pin‐Shuo Liu
This study examines the causes of flood disasters in Jianghan Plain, China and provides practical solutions to mitigate them. Results from this study indicate that both historical…
Abstract
This study examines the causes of flood disasters in Jianghan Plain, China and provides practical solutions to mitigate them. Results from this study indicate that both historical archives and more recent recorded data point to an increasing frequency in flood disasters since 1961. Furthermore, damage and losses from flood disasters have also increased significantly in the region. By analyzing the physical geographic factors and human activities, this study found that the main causative factors contributing to increasing flood disasters are landform/topography, climate elements, reduced drainage capacity of rivers in contrast to increased flood discharge, and human activities. Finally, the study examines various practical solutions to mitigate flood disasters in the Jianghan Plain.
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Yi-Chih Yang and Hsien-Pin Liu
This paper aims to investigate bank credit policies and uncover yacht building finance assessment factors from bank credit policies toward the yacht industry.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to investigate bank credit policies and uncover yacht building finance assessment factors from bank credit policies toward the yacht industry.
Design/methodology/approach
This study’s questionnaire attempts to identify survey respondents’ degrees of awareness through difference analysis, and then uses entropy weighting and gray relational analysis to discover priority ranking order of bank credit assessment considerations from the perspective of Taiwan’s banking sector.
Findings
The research findings show that yacht builders have to review their ship financing application methods and improve shortcomings to meet banks’ credit granting requirements.
Originality/value
Banks emphasize yacht builders’ repayment ability to protect their depositors and shareholders.
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Safeer Hussain, Jian Liu, Lei Wang and Bengt Ake Sunden
The purpose of this paper is to enhance the heat transfer and thermal performance in the trailing edge region of the vane with vortex generators (VGs).
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to enhance the heat transfer and thermal performance in the trailing edge region of the vane with vortex generators (VGs).
Design/methodology/approach
This numerical study presents the enhancement of thermal performance in the trailing part of a gas turbine blade. In the trailing part, generally, pin fins are used either in staggered or in-line arrangements to enhance the heat transfer. In this study, based on the idea from heat exchangers, pin fins are combined with VGs. A pair of VGs is embedded in the boundary layer upstream of each pin fin in the first row of the pin fin array having an in-line configuration. The effects of the VG angle relative to the streamwise direction and streamwise distance between the pin fin and VGs are investigated at various Reynolds numbers.
Findings
The results indicated that the endwall heat transfer is enhanced with the addition of VGs and the heat transfer from the surfaces of the pin fins. The level of heat transfer enhancement compared to the case without VGs is more significant at high Reynolds number. The surfaces of the VGs also show a significant amount of heat transfer. Study of the angle of the attack suggested that a high angle of attack is more appropriate for pin fin cooling enhancement whereas an intermediate gap between the VGs and pin fins shows considerable improvement of thermal performance compared to the small and large gaps. The phenomenon of heat transfer augmentation with the VGs is demonstrated by the flow field. It shows that the enhancement of heat transfer is governed by the mixing of the flow as a result of the interaction of vortices generated by the VGs and pin fins.
Originality/value
VGs are used to disturb the thermal boundary layer. It shows that heat transfer is augmented as a result of the interaction of vortices associated with VGs and pin fins.
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The paper aims to discuss the amended provisions relating to protection of minority shareholders (PMS) in the newly amended Chinese Company Law and evaluate whether it adequately…
Abstract
Purpose
The paper aims to discuss the amended provisions relating to protection of minority shareholders (PMS) in the newly amended Chinese Company Law and evaluate whether it adequately protects the interests of minority shareholders.
Design/methodology/approach
In total, 26 cases will be examined by discussing the characteristics of the relevant parties involved, specifically plaintiffs, defendants, their lawyers, judges and also the grounds of complaint. A comparison will be made between the cases decided by following the first Company Law (1994) and the cases decided in accordance with the newly amended Company Law (2006).
Findings
The findings indicate that the amended Company Law has removed certain drawbacks in PMS present in the first Company Law (1994) but the New Company Law can protect interests of minority shareholders only to a certain extent. Further amendments are still needed.
Originality/value
This is one of the first studies to actually examine the implementation of PMS‐related provisions in the newly amended Company Law.
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Ansheng Zhang, Mingyu Zhang, Jing Wang, Jianjun Zhang, Zhaohua Shang, Yi Liu and Longjie Dai
The purpose of this paper is to study the influence of surface precision on the lubrication state of the roller chain under adequate and rare oil supply conditions, respectively.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to study the influence of surface precision on the lubrication state of the roller chain under adequate and rare oil supply conditions, respectively.
Design/methodology/approach
The straightness error and roughness error of the pin generatrices were measured and the influence of surface precision on the lubrication behavior under steady state and reciprocating motion was studied through optical interference experiments.
Findings
The lubrication state is strongly influenced by the surface precision of the roller surface both under adequate oil supply and rare oil supply conditions.
Originality/value
In industrial applications, the machining errors of parts cannot be completely eliminated. Studying the influence of the surface precision on the lubrication behavior of pin–bush pairs can provide the experimental basis for the optimal design of the bush roller chains.
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Chicheng Liu, Libin Song, Ken Chen and Jing Xu
This paper aims to present an image-based visual servoing algorithm for a multiple pin-in-hole assembly. This paper also aims to avoid the matching and tracking of image features…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to present an image-based visual servoing algorithm for a multiple pin-in-hole assembly. This paper also aims to avoid the matching and tracking of image features and the remaining robust against image defects.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors derive a novel model in the set space and design three image errors to control the 3 degrees of freedom (DOF) of a single-lug workpiece in the alignment task. Analytic computations of the interaction matrix that link the time variations of the image errors to the single-lug workpiece motions are performed. The authors introduce two approximate hypotheses so that the interaction matrix has a decoupled form, and an auto-adaptive algorithm is designed to estimate the interaction matrix.
Findings
Image-based visual servoing in the set space avoids the matching and tracking of image features, and these methods are not sensitive to image effects. The control law using the auto-adaptive algorithm is more efficient than that using a static interaction matrix. Simulations and real-world experiments are performed to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm.
Originality/value
This paper proposes a new visual servoing method to achieve pin-in-hole assembly tasks. The main advantage of this new approach is that it does not require tracking or matching of the image features, and its supplementary advantage is that it is not sensitive to image defects.
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Mingyu Zhang, Jing Wang, Peiran Yang, Yi Liu, Zhaohua Shang and Longjie Dai
This study aims to investigate the influence of geometry of bush-pin pair from a perspective of optimal lubrication through a thermal elastohydrodynamic lubrication model for…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to investigate the influence of geometry of bush-pin pair from a perspective of optimal lubrication through a thermal elastohydrodynamic lubrication model for finite line contact.
Design/methodology/approach
A constitutive equation: Ree-Eyring fluid is used in the calculations. The real chain sizes, i.e. equivalent radius of curvature, bush length, length of the rounded corner area and rounded corner radius, are jointed investigated. Moreover, the effects of the length of the rounded corner area and the radius of rounded corner are investigated.
Findings
It is found that the current standard of the chain might not consider the importance of lubrication, and the lubrication state can be improved effectively by choosing an optimal radius of rounded corner and the length of the corner area.
Originality/value
By optimally selecting sizes, the occurrence of high pressure, high temperature rise and near zero film thickness at the ends of bush, especially under heavier load, can be effectively avoided.
Peer review
The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/ILT-01-2020-0031/
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Wei Chen, Yucheng Ma, Xingyu Liu, Enguang Xu, Wenlong Yang, Junhong Jia, Rui Lou, Chaolong Zhu, Chenjing Wu and Ziqiang Zhao
The purpose of this paper is to improve the mechanical and tribological properties of Si3N4 ceramics and to make the application of Si3N4 ceramics as tribological materials more…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to improve the mechanical and tribological properties of Si3N4 ceramics and to make the application of Si3N4 ceramics as tribological materials more extensive.
Design/methodology/approach
Si3N4-based composite ceramics (SN-2L) containing nitrogen-doped graphene quantum dots (N-GQDs) were prepared by hot press sintering process through adding 2 Wt.% nanolignin as precursor to the Si3N4 matrix, and the dry friction and wear behaviors of Si3N4-based composite against TC4 disc were performed at the different loads by using pin-on-disc tester.
Findings
The friction coefficients and wear rates of SN-2L composite against TC4 were significantly lower than those of the single-phase Si3N4 against TC4 at the load range from 15 to 45 N. At higher load of 45 N, SN-2L/TC4 pair presented the lowest friction coefficient of 0.25, and the wear rates of the pins and discs were as low as 1.76 × 10−6 and 2.59 × 10−4mm3/N·m. The low friction and wear behavior could be attributed to the detachment of N-GQDs from the ceramic matrix to the worn surface at the load of 30 N or higher, and then an effective lubricating film containing N-GQDs, SiO2, TiO2 and Al2SiO5 formed in the worn surface. While, at the same test condition, the friction coefficient of the single-phase Si3N4 against TC4 was at a range from 0.45 to 0.58. The spalling and cracking morphology formed on the worn surface of single-phase Si3N4, and the wear mechanism was mainly dominated by adhesive and abrasive wear.
Originality/value
Overall, a high-performance green ceramic composite was prepared, and the composite had a good potential for application in engineering tribology fields (such as aerospace bearings).
Peer review
The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/ILT-05-2024-0161/