Shufeng Li, Zhang Jiaolei, Di Zhao and Le Deng
This study aims to further study the fire resistance of prefabricated concrete beam-column joints with end-plate connection. This paper aims to analyze the fire resistance of this…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to further study the fire resistance of prefabricated concrete beam-column joints with end-plate connection. This paper aims to analyze the fire resistance of this joint in prefabricated reinforced concrete frame structure (PRCS).
Design/methodology/approach
First, the accuracy of the model is verified by using the test data. Based on this, a refined finite element model of PRCS structure with two stories and two spans is established. The influence of four working conditions with different fire floors (positions) and different axial compression ratios on the deformation, failure and fire resistance of PRCS structure are analyzed.
Findings
The results show that under the four working conditions, the fire resistance of the PRCS structure under Condition 1 and Condition 2 is smaller. It shows that the beam deformation develops slowly in PRCS structure under four kinds of fire positions, and the large displacement emerges 60 min later, which is poles apart from that of prefabricated beam column members. With the increase of the fire time, the material is damaged and deteriorated, which leads to the eccentricity of the axial load, so that the column top appears large lateral displacement. Under the Conditions 1 and 3, the lateral displacement of the column gradually decreases as the axial compression ratio rises.
Originality/value
It is found that there is a distinct lack of researching on the fire resistance of prefabricated joints, and the existed research studies are limited to the fire resistance of members. Thus, it is necessary to strengthen the first floor and side column design of prefabricated frame structure.
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Shufeng Li, Di Zhao and Yating Zhou
Concrete-filled steel tube structures are widely used for their high bearing capacity, good plasticity, good fire resistance and optimal seismic performance. In order to give full…
Abstract
Purpose
Concrete-filled steel tube structures are widely used for their high bearing capacity, good plasticity, good fire resistance and optimal seismic performance. In order to give full play to the advantages of concrete-filled steel tube, this paper proposes a prefabricated concrete-filled steel tube frame joint.
Design/methodology/approach
The concrete-filled steel tube column and beam are connected by high-strength bolted end-plate, and the steel bars in the concrete beam are welded vertically with the end-plates through the enlarged pier head. In addition, the finite element software ABAQUS is used numerically to study the seismic performance of the structure.
Findings
The ductility coefficient of the joint is in 1.72–6.82, and greater than 2.26 as a whole. The equivalent viscous damping coefficient of the joint is 0.13–3.03, indicating that the structure has good energy dissipation capacity.
Originality/value
The structure is convenient for construction and overcomes the shortcomings of the previous on-site welding and on-site concrete pouring. The high-strength bolted end-plate connection can effectively transfer the load, and each component can give play to its material characteristics.
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Shufeng Li, Le Deng and Zhao Di
The purpose of this study is to put forward a high-strength bolt end-plate connection of prefabricated concrete beam-column joint and carry out the pseudo-static test.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to put forward a high-strength bolt end-plate connection of prefabricated concrete beam-column joint and carry out the pseudo-static test.
Design/methodology/approach
ABAQUS finite element software is used to study the fire resistance performance of high-strength bolt end-plate prefabricated joint. This mainly considers the influence of axial compression ratio, screw preload, end-plate thickness and steel hoop thickness.
Findings
The results show that the thickness of end-plate and steel hoop has a certain effect on the fire resistance. The change of screw preload has little effect on the fire resistance limit. Compared with the cast-in-place concrete beam-column joint, the deformation trend of column-beam end of the fabricated joint is basically the same as that of cast-in-place joint.
Originality/value
To study the mechanical performance of this kind of joint more comprehensively, the finite element software is used to study the prefabricated concrete beam-column joint with end-plates, and the effects of axial compression ratio, screw preload, end-plate thickness and steel hoop thickness on the fire resistance of joints are mainly considered.
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Taewoo Roh, Byung Il Park and Shufeng (Simon) Xiao
This study aims to explore how subsidiary capabilities collectively configure for performance. Additionally, it seeks to examine whether these configurations of capabilities can…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to explore how subsidiary capabilities collectively configure for performance. Additionally, it seeks to examine whether these configurations of capabilities can provide equifinal solutions through developing a comprehensive research framework that focuses on subsidiaries in China.
Design/methodology/approach
With a data set collected through a questionnaire from 172 Korean multinational enterprises (MNEs) in China, this study used a fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis to detect the capability conditions and configurations. These configurations represent combinations of various subsidiary capabilities linked to high performance.
Findings
This study identified several complex pathways with distinct configurations for high subsidiary performance. The findings demonstrate the importance of configurations over individual conditions. Thus, the results highlight that the effectiveness of diverse capabilities, which are widely believed to singularly contribute to the high performance of MNE subsidiaries, depends on how each combines with other capabilities. Overall, the findings provide a richer and fine-grained understanding of the role and relative importance of various forms of MNE subsidiary capabilities and how the joint effect of these subsidiaries contributes to high performance.
Practical implications
This study suggests that MNE managers should comprehensively understand how subsidiary capabilities are configured to produce subsidiary performance outcomes. This specifically illustrates the importance of understanding the mutually conflicting yet collectively exhaustive results of multi-selective solutions and aims to align with China’s industrial and regional heterogeneity.
Originality/value
By examining the role of MNE subsidiary capability configurations, which may collectively influence the subsidiary’s performance, this study contributes to the literature. It elucidates how MNE subsidiaries may achieve superior performance by developing and possessing various capabilities tailored to the local context.
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Mingjie Fang, Feng Liu, Shufeng (Simon) Xiao and Kwangtae Park
This study conceptualizes the digital transformation (DT) strategy in a supply chain context, identifies its drivers from intra- and inter-organizational perspectives and examines…
Abstract
Purpose
This study conceptualizes the digital transformation (DT) strategy in a supply chain context, identifies its drivers from intra- and inter-organizational perspectives and examines the effect of the DT strategy on the strategic agility and financial performance of Chinese manufacturing firms.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors constructed a theoretical model by synthesizing the diffusion of innovation and organizational information processing theory (OIPT) and provided a set of hypotheses. The authors empirically tested the arguments using partial least squares structural equation modeling using data from a sample of 200 manufacturing firms in China.
Findings
The findings indicate that while supply chain connectivity positively affects DT adoption and DT routinization, data analytics capability and organizational learning positively influence DT adoption but not DT routinization. The mediation analysis also shows that DT strategy has significant direct effects on financial performance and a stronger indirect influence on financial performance via improved strategic agility.
Research limitations/implications
This study responds to repeated calls for a new understanding of supply chain DT strategy. In addition, the study offers important contributions to the literature by identifying the potential discord between the existing DT strategy and the supply chain context and proposes a new framework that provides essential theoretical underpinnings.
Originality/value
This study enriches the literature by conceptualizing and validating the dimensions, driving factors and performance implications of DT strategy in strategic supply chain management.
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Feng Liu, Qizheng Wang, Zhihua Zhang, Mingjie Fang and Shufeng (Simon) Xiao
For decades, financing constraints have been a major obstacle to corporate performance. Volumes have been written about the probable factors that can help firms alleviate such…
Abstract
Purpose
For decades, financing constraints have been a major obstacle to corporate performance. Volumes have been written about the probable factors that can help firms alleviate such financial constraints. Nonetheless, empirical evidence concerning the various perspectives on how inventory control may influence financing constraints has been surprisingly scant. Using the resource- and region-based view as theoretical lenses, this study seeks to estimate the relationship between lean inventory, regional financial technology (fintech) and financing constraints.
Design/methodology/approach
Utilizing a large-scale sample of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in China's manufacturing sector, the authors empirically test their hypotheses by using hierarchical linear regression models with multiple high-dimensional fixed effects.
Findings
Results indicate that firms with higher levels of inventory leanness and those located in more fintech-developed regions are less likely to encounter financing constraints. Furthermore, inventory leanness and regional fintech ecosystem development interact with each other to mitigate financing constraints. Moreover, inventory leanness significantly decreases firms' financing constraints when the regional fintech ecosystem is highly developed.
Originality/value
The present research contributes to the literature on the interface of supply chain management and financial management. It also provides managerial implications for policymakers and SME stakeholders.
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Shufeng Cong, Lee Chin and Abdul Rahim Abdul Samad
The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between tourism development and urban housing prices in Chinese cities. Specifically, the study aimed to explore…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between tourism development and urban housing prices in Chinese cities. Specifically, the study aimed to explore whether there is a relationship between the two variables in tourist and non-tourist cities and whether there is a non-linear relationship between them.
Design/methodology/approach
In this study, the entropy method was used to construct the China City Tourism Development Index, which provides a more comprehensive measure of the level of tourism development in different cities. In total, 45 major cities in China were studied using the panel data approach for the period of 2011 to 2019.
Findings
The empirical analysis conducted for this study found that tourism development affects urban house prices, and that there is an inverted U-shaped relationship. However, this varies across cities, with house prices in tourist cities tending to be more influenced by tourism development than non-tourist cities. Also, foreign direct investment, population size, fixed asset investment and disposable income per capita were found to have an impact on house prices in both tourism and non-tourism cities.
Originality/value
There are significant differences in tourism development and urban house prices in different cities in China. This study considers these differences when examining the impact of tourism on house prices in 45 major cities in China by dividing the sample cities into tourist and non-tourist cities.
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Shufeng Tang, Zhijie Chai, Xin Wang, Hong Chang and Xiaodong Guo
In view of the unknown environmental parameters and uncertain interference during gripping by the manipulator, it is difficult to obtain an effective gripping force with the…
Abstract
Purpose
In view of the unknown environmental parameters and uncertain interference during gripping by the manipulator, it is difficult to obtain an effective gripping force with the traditional impedance control method. To avoid this dilemma, the purpose of this study is to propose an adaptive control strategy based on an adaptive neural network and a PID search optimization algorithm for unknown environments.
Design/methodology/approach
The method is based on a variable impedance model, and a new impedance model is established using a radial basis function (RBF) neural network to estimate unknown parameters of the impedance model. The approximation errors of the adaptive neural network and the uncertain disturbance are effectively suppressed by designing the adaptive rate. In the meantime, auxiliary variables are constructed for Lyapunov stability analysis and adaptive controller design, and PSA is used to ensure the stability of the adaptive impedance control system. Based on the Lyapunov stability criterion, the adaptive im-pedance control system is proved to have progressive tracking convergence property.
Findings
Through comparative simulations and experiments, the superiority of the proposed adaptive control strategy in position and force tracking has been verified. For objects with low flexibility and light-weight (such as a coke, a banana and a nectarine), this control method demonstrates errors of less than 10%.
Originality/value
This paper uses RBF neural networks to estimate unknown parameters of the impedance model in real-time, enhancing system adaptability. Neural network weights are updated online to suppress errors and disturbances. Auxiliary variables are designed for Lyapunov stability analysis. The PSA algorithm is used to adjust controller parameters in real-time. Additionally, comparative simulations and experi-ments are designed to analyze and validate the performance of controller.
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Zhongju Liao, Chao Huang, Yubing Yu, Shufeng (Simon) Xiao, Justin Zuopeng Zhang, Abhishek Behl, Vijay Pereira and Alessio Ishizaka
This study aims to investigate the causal relationships within an experimental culture of improvisation capability and firm performance, following the logic of…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to investigate the causal relationships within an experimental culture of improvisation capability and firm performance, following the logic of “culture-capability-performance” and building on informal institution theory and dynamic capability theory.
Design/methodology/approach
Data was mainly collected via on-site questionnaires from firm managers, and 196 valid questionnaires were analyzed using structural equation modeling to test the relationship among experimental culture, improvisation capability and firms’ performance.
Findings
Trust and support had a positive impact on firm spontaneity, while the effect of action promotion and error tolerance was not significant. Action promotion, trust and support demonstrate substantial positive effects on the creativity of a firm. Both dimensions of improvisation capability positively and significantly influence a firm’s performance.
Research limitations/implications
The research respondents were firm managers. Cross-sectional data were used to analyze the model, which may cause common method variance. The research context was limited to China, and the generalizability of the results needs to be considered.
Practical implications
Firms can cultivate a culture of trust and support to enhance their spontaneity and improvisation capability. They can encourage cross-departmental communication, empower employees with autonomy in decision-making, provide appropriate resource support for employees’ decisions and use praise and reward incentives to spur further innovation achievements.
Originality/value
This study addresses the gaps in a firm’s improvisation capability within a Chinese market context by theoretically and empirically examining the role of experimental culture and assessing the relationship among each of the dimensions of improvisation capability in relation to firm performance identified in this study.
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Lilei Wang, Yumei Dang, Shufeng (Simon) Xiao and Xing'an Xu
By adopting learning theory and a guanxi perspective, this study aims to investigate the effects of interpersonal guanxi (interpersonal networks or connections) and relationship…
Abstract
Purpose
By adopting learning theory and a guanxi perspective, this study aims to investigate the effects of interpersonal guanxi (interpersonal networks or connections) and relationship learning on companies’ business performance when operating in a large emerging market.
Design/methodology/approach
Using a sample of 294 sales managers and salespeople in the Chinese hotel sector, the authors empirically test the authors' arguments through a structural equation modeling (SEM) approach.
Findings
The authors' findings indicate that strong interpersonal guanxi tends to generate more positive business performance. Furthermore, the authors find that relationship learning plays a mediating role in the association between interpersonal guanxi and hotel companies’ business performance in a Chinese context. Finally, the authors empirically explore the moderating effect of inter-firm dependence on the contribution of interpersonal guanxi to relationship learning. Findings demonstrate that this effect varies significantly based on inter-firm dependence, with interpersonal guanxi exhibiting a greater positive impact if such dependence is high.
Originality/value
This study enriches our understanding of interpersonal guanxi and of how companies can enhance the companies' business performance in an emerging market context.