Lisa Choe, Selvarajah Ramesh, Xu Dai, Matthew Hoehler and Matthew Bundy
The purpose of this paper is to report the first of four planned fire experiments on the 9.1 × 6.1 m steel composite floor assembly as part of the two-story steel framed building…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to report the first of four planned fire experiments on the 9.1 × 6.1 m steel composite floor assembly as part of the two-story steel framed building constructed at the National Fire Research Laboratory.
Design/methodology/approach
The fire experiment was aimed to quantify the fire resistance and behavior of full-scale steel–concrete composite floor systems commonly built in the USA. The test floor assembly, designed and constructed for the 2-h fire resistance rating, was tested to failure under a natural gas fueled compartment fire and simultaneously applied mechanical loads.
Findings
Although the protected steel beams and girders achieved matching or superior performance compared to the prescribed limits of temperatures and displacements used in standard fire testing, the composite slab developed a central breach approximately at a half of the specified rating period. A minimum area of the shrinkage reinforcement (60 mm2/m) currently permitted in the US construction practice may be insufficient to maintain structural integrity of a full-scale composite floor system under the 2-h standard fire exposure.
Originality/value
This work was the first-of-kind fire experiment conducted in the USA to study the full system-level structural performance of a composite floor system subjected to compartment fire using natural gas as fuel to mimic a standard fire environment.
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Ali Nadjai, Naveed Alam, Marion Charlier, Olivier Vassart, Xu Dai, Jean-Marc Franssen and Johan Sjostrom
In the frame of the European RFCS TRAFIR project, three large compartment fire tests involving steel structure were conducted by Ulster University, aiming at understanding in…
Abstract
Purpose
In the frame of the European RFCS TRAFIR project, three large compartment fire tests involving steel structure were conducted by Ulster University, aiming at understanding in which conditions a travelling fire develops, as well as how it behaves and impacts the surrounding structure.
Design/methodology/approach
During the experimental programme, the path and geometry of the travelling fire was studied and temperatures, heat fluxes and spread rates were measured. Influence of the travelling fire on the structural elements was also monitored during the travelling fire tests.
Findings
This paper provides details related to the influence of travelling fires on a central structural steel column.
Originality/value
The experimental data are presented in terms of the gas temperatures recorded in the test compartment near the column, as well as the temperatures recorded in the steel column at different levels. Because of the large data, only fire test one results are discussed in this paper.
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Marion Charlier, Antoine Glorieux, Xu Dai, Naveed Alam, Stephen Welch, Johan Anderson, Olivier Vassart and Ali Nadjai
The purpose of this paper is to propose a simplified representation of the fire load in computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to represent the effect of large-scale travelling fire…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to propose a simplified representation of the fire load in computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to represent the effect of large-scale travelling fire and to highlight the relevance of such an approach whilst coupling the CFD results with finite element method (FEM) to evaluate related steel temperatures, comparing the numerical outcomes with experimental measurements.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper presents the setup of the CFD simulations (FDS software), its corresponding assumptions and the calibration via two natural fire tests whilst focusing on gas temperatures and on steel temperatures measured on a central column. For the latter, two methods are presented: one based on EN 1993-1-2 and another linking CFD and FEM (SAFIR® software).
Findings
This paper suggests that such an approach can allow for an acceptable representation of the travelling fire both in terms of fire spread and steel temperatures. The inevitable limitations inherent to the simplifications made during the CFD simulations are also discussed. Regarding steel temperatures, the two methods lead to quite similar results, but with the ones obtained via CFD–FEM coupling are closer to those measured.
Originality/value
This work has revealed that the proposed simplified representation of the fire load appears to be appropriate to evaluate the temperature of steel structural elements within reasonable limits on computational time, making it potentially desirable for practical applications. This paper also presents the first comparisons of FDS–SAFIR® coupling with experimental results, highlighting promising outcomes.
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Xujian Zhao, Hui Zhang, Chunming Yang and Bo Li
In recent years, a great number of top conferences and workshops on artificial intelligence (AI) were held in China, showing Chinese AI plays an important role in the world…
Abstract
In recent years, a great number of top conferences and workshops on artificial intelligence (AI) were held in China, showing Chinese AI plays an important role in the world. Meanwhile, Chinese government announced an ambitious scheme, “New Generation Artificial Intelligence Development Plan,” for the country to become a world leader in AI technologies by 2030. The AI research in China has covered various aspects, ranging from chips to algorithms. This chapter attempts to give an overview of the recent advances of AI research and development in China, as well as some perspectives on the future development of AI in China.
Ying Yu, Xin Wang, Ray Y. Zhong and G.Q. Huang
The purpose of this paper is to present the state-of-the-art E-commerce logistics in supply chain management by investigating worldwide implementations and corresponding models…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to present the state-of-the-art E-commerce logistics in supply chain management by investigating worldwide implementations and corresponding models together with supporting techniques via furniture industry.
Design/methodology/approach
Typical E-commerce logistics companies from North America, Europe, and Asia Pacific are comprehensively investigated so as to get the lessons and insights from these practices.
Findings
Future technologies like Internet of Things, Big Data Analytics, and Cloud Computing would be possibly adopted to enhance the E-commerce logistics in terms of system level, operational level, and decision-making level that may be real time and intelligent in the next decade.
Research limitations/implications
This paper takes the furniture industry for example to illustrate the E-commerce logistics and supply chain management (LSCM). Other industries like electronic appliance industry are not considered.
Practical implications
Opportunities and future perspectives are summarized from practical implementations so that interested parties like E-commerce and logistics companies are able to get some guidance when they are contemplating the business.
Social implications
E-commerce is booming with the development of new business models and will be continuously boosted in the near future. With large number of enterprises carrying out E-commerce, logistics has been largely influenced.
Originality/value
Insights and lessons from this paper are significant for academia and practitioners for considering E-commerce LSCM.
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Ao Li, Dingli Zhang, Zhenyu Sun, Jun Huang and Fei Dong
The microseismic monitoring technique has great advantages on identifying the location, extent and the mechanism of damage process occurring in rock mass. This study aims to…
Abstract
Purpose
The microseismic monitoring technique has great advantages on identifying the location, extent and the mechanism of damage process occurring in rock mass. This study aims to analyze distribution characteristics and the evolution law of excavation damage zone of surrounding rock based on microseismic monitoring data.
Design/methodology/approach
In situ test using microseismic monitoring technique is carried out in the large-span transition tunnel of Badaling Great Wall Station of Beijing-Zhangjiakou high-speed railway. An intelligent microseismic monitoring system is built with symmetry monitoring point layout both on the mountain surface and inside the tunnel to achieve three-dimensional and all-round monitoring results.
Findings
Microseismic events can be divided into high density area, medium density area and low density area according to the density distribution of microseismic events. The positions where the cumulative distribution frequencies of microseismic events are 60 and 80% are identified as the boundaries between high and medium density areas and between medium and low density areas, respectively. The high density area of microseismic events is regarded as the high excavation damage zone of surrounding rock, which is affected by the grade of surrounding rock and the span of tunnel. The prediction formulas for the depth of high excavation damage zone of surrounding rock at different tunnel positions are given considering these two parameters. The scale of the average moment magnitude parameters of microseismic events is adopted to describe the damage degree of surrounding rock. The strong positive correlation and multistage characteristics between the depth of excavation damage zone and deformation of surrounding rock are revealed. Based on the depth of high excavation damage zone of surrounding rock, the prestressed anchor cable (rod) is designed, and the safety of anchor cable (rod) design parameters is verified by the deformation results of surrounding rock.
Originality/value
The research provides a new method to predict the surrounding rock damage zone of large-span tunnel and also provides a reference basis for design parameters of prestressed anchor cable (rod).
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Ray Zhong, Xun Xu and Lihui Wang
The purpose of this paper is to review the food supply chain management (FSCM) in terms of systems and implementations so that observations and lessons from this research could be…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to review the food supply chain management (FSCM) in terms of systems and implementations so that observations and lessons from this research could be useful for academia and industrial practitioners in the future.
Design/methodology/approach
A systematical and hierarchical framework is proposed in this paper to review the literature. Categorizations and classifications are identified to organize this paper.
Findings
This paper reviews total 192 articles related to the data-driven systems for FSCM. Currently, there is a dramatic increase of research papers related to this topic. Looking at the general interests on FSCM, research on this topic can be expected to increase in the future.
Research limitations/implications
This paper only selected limited number of papers which are published in leading journals or with high citations. For simplicity without generality, key findings and observations are significant from this research.
Practical implications
Some ideas from this paper could be expanded into other possible domains so that involved parties are able to be inspired for enriching the FSCM. Future implementations are useful for practitioners to conduct IT-based solutions for FSCM.
Social implications
As the increasing of digital devices in FSCM, large number of data will be used for decision-makings. Data-driven systems for FSCM will be the future for a more sustainable food supply chain.
Originality/value
This is the first attempt to provide a comprehensive review on FSCM from the view of data-driven IT systems.
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Maria Drakaki and Panagiotis Tzionas
Information distortion results in demand variance amplification in upstream supply chain members, known as the bullwhip effect, and inventory inaccuracy in the inventory records…
Abstract
Purpose
Information distortion results in demand variance amplification in upstream supply chain members, known as the bullwhip effect, and inventory inaccuracy in the inventory records. As inventory inaccuracy contributes to the bullwhip effect, the purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of inventory inaccuracy on the bullwhip effect in radio-frequency identification (RFID)-enabled supply chains and, in this context, to evaluate supply chain performance because of the RFID technology.
Design/methodology/approach
A simulation modeling method based on hierarchical timed colored petri nets is presented to model inventory management in multi-stage serial supply chains subject to inventory inaccuracy for various traditional and information sharing configurations in the presence and absence of RFID. Validation of the method is done by comparing results obtained for the bullwhip effect with published literature results.
Findings
The bullwhip effect is increased in RFID-enabled multi-stage serial supply chains subject to inventory inaccuracy. The information sharing supply chain is more sensitive to the impact of inventory inaccuracy.
Research limitations/implications
Information sharing involves collaboration in market demand and inventory inaccuracy, whereas RFID is implemented by all echelons. To obtain the full benefits of RFID adoption and collaboration, different collaboration strategies should be investigated.
Originality/value
Colored petri nets simulation modeling of the inventory management process is a novel approach to study supply chain dynamics. In the context of inventory errors, information on RFID impact on the dynamic behavior of multi-stage serial supply chains is provided.
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Mancheng Xu, Guanghu Jin, Qingwen Dai, Wei Huang and Xiaolei Wang
This paper aims to prevent oil starvation and improve the service life of the rolling bearings.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to prevent oil starvation and improve the service life of the rolling bearings.
Design/methodology/approach
A thrust ball bearing with magnetic circuit structure is proposed for ferrofluid lubrication. With the aid of magnetic field, ferrofluid can be maintained in the contact area of rolling bodies to delay lubricant loss. Experiments are performed to ensure the validity of the designed bearing.
Findings
Compared with conventional lubricant, service life of the ferrofluid lubricated bearing can be prolonged under magnetic field. In addition, with a proper magnetic field distribution, lubricant starvation may be limited under the conditions of present experiments.
Originality/value
This work provides a method to control the starved lubrication of rolling bearings with restricted lubricant supply.
Peer review
The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/ILT-04-2020-0132/
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Jing Dai, Ruoqi Geng, Dong Xu, Wuyue Shangguan and Jinan Shao
Drawing upon socio-technical system theory, this study intends to investigate the effects of the congruence and incongruence between artificial intelligence (AI) and explorative…
Abstract
Purpose
Drawing upon socio-technical system theory, this study intends to investigate the effects of the congruence and incongruence between artificial intelligence (AI) and explorative learning on supply chain resilience as well as the moderating role of organizational inertia.
Design/methodology/approach
Using survey data collected from 170 Chinese manufacturing firms, we performed polynomial regression and response surface analyses to test our hypotheses.
Findings
We find that the congruence between AI and explorative learning enhances firms’ supply chain resilience, while the incongruence between these two factors impairs their supply chain resilience. In addition, compared with low–low congruence, high–high congruence between AI and explorative learning improves supply chain resilience to a greater extent. Moreover, organizational inertia attenuates the positive influence of the congruence between AI and explorative learning on supply chain resilience, while it aggravates the negative influence of the incongruence between these two factors on supply chain resilience.
Originality/value
Our study expands the literature on supply chain resilience by demonstrating that the congruence between a firm’s AI (i.e. technical aspect) and explorative learning (i.e. social aspect) boosts its supply chain resilience. More importantly, our study sheds new light on the role of organizational inertia in moderating the congruent effect of AI and explorative learning, thereby extending the boundary condition for socio-technical system theory in the supply chain resilience literature.