Yong Bai, Seong Hoon Kim and William R. Burkett
The potential threats of extreme events to highway bridges have received increased attention from government agencies, the engineering and construction communities, and the…
Abstract
Purpose
The potential threats of extreme events to highway bridges have received increased attention from government agencies, the engineering and construction communities, and the traveling public. These events include terrorist attacks as well as human‐induced and natural hazards such as earthquakes, explosions, fires, floods, and hurricanes. To respond to the potential threats on highway bridges, a research project was conducted to identify rapid bridge replacement processes, techniques, and needs for improvements.
Design/methodology/approach
To achieve the research objectives, a detailed case study of previous bridge replacement following an extreme event was conducted. The case study was performed using a three‐step approach. First, the research team reviewed the literature related to the case. Second, the research team interviewed the people who were involved with the case via the telephone. Third, the research team conducted a written survey to gain knowledge about the previously unanswered questions and additional information related to the case.
Findings
After studying the case, lessons learned were identified first. Then, the research team determined the processes that were used in the rapid bridge replacements and the needed improvements so that the research community could investigate new technologies to advance current practices.
Originality/value
The lessons learned could be of benefit to government agencies who are responsible for development of the enhanced emergency response plans for highway bridges, and engineering and construction communities who are responsible for design and reconstruction of the damaged bridges. The development of new technologies, if successful, will ultimately enhance the capability of rapid bridge replacement after extreme events.
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Yong-Hua Li, Yang Cao, Yong-Xin Wu, Xiao-Ning Bai and Jia-Wei Mao
This paper aims to establish the relationship between crosswind speed and pantograph-catenary lateral deviation, as well as quantify the influence of crosswind speed and rod size…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to establish the relationship between crosswind speed and pantograph-catenary lateral deviation, as well as quantify the influence of crosswind speed and rod size uncertainty on pantograph-catenary contact reliability.
Design/methodology/approach
The closed vector method is used to establish the pantograph-catenary kinematics formula. A new prediction model is proposed by using the bird swarm algorithm to optimize the grey model. The lateral deviation of the pantograph and catenary is predicted via the new model. Then the relationship between the effective length of the rod and operating mileage is inferred by combining the effective length theory with the Gamma process, as well as the pantograph-catenary contact reliability model is established according to reliability theory.
Findings
The results obtained show the impacts of uncertainty design parameters of pantograph rods on pantograph-catenary contact reliability index, and the results at crosswind speed of 0 ms−1 and 5 ms−1 are 5.0630 and 4.1442, respectively. The reliability decreases with the increasing crosswind speed, and can be greater than the reliability calculated for rod size degradation due to long-term use.
Originality/value
Most preceding works on pantograph-catenary contact reliability were based on principles of dynamics, without considering the pantograph-catenary relative motion. This research reveals the law of pantograph-catenary relative motion for uncertainty design parameters and crosswind, and quantifies the reliability from the angle of kinematics.
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Yu-Ting L.V., Yong Li, De-Xing Yang, Zhenhua Bai, Jinlong Li and Rui Wang
Continuous annealing (CA) units usually lack a physical shapemeter; consequently, real-time display and closed-loop control of the strip shape are impossible to achieve.
Abstract
Purpose
Continuous annealing (CA) units usually lack a physical shapemeter; consequently, real-time display and closed-loop control of the strip shape are impossible to achieve.
Design/methodology/approach
A shape model for the CA process is established in this study. Specifically, a virtual shapemeter and closed-loop control system based on the advanced parameter acquisition system and information transmission of CA units are developed in C++ programming language. This system realises real-time dynamic shape display, closed-loop control and shape prediction by collecting raw data of steel coils and parameters during CA.
Findings
Field test results show that the shape predicted by the virtual shapemeter coincides with the measured shape by over 90 per cent, which fully meets the precision requirement of industrial applications.
Originality/value
Moreover, shape quality is effectively improved without increasing hardware investments.
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Chun-Jian Su, Yong Li, De-Xing Yang, Zhen-Hua Bai, Rui Wang, Yu-Ting Lv and Jian-Gao Duan
The purpose of this study is to solve the key problem of the residual stress of strip in buckling and deviation during the continuous annealing process (CAP).
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to solve the key problem of the residual stress of strip in buckling and deviation during the continuous annealing process (CAP).
Design/methodology/approach
Considering the one-to-one correspondence between deformation and residual stress, the strip was divided into multiple elements. To obtain the total deformation of each element, the influence model of some factors on the deformation of steel strip element was established. Then, according to the constitutive equation of residual stress and deformation, and the deformation coordination relation between strip elements, a set of calculation model, which is suitable for residual stress of strip during CAP was established, the model precision was verified by finite element method simulation, and the influences on residual stress of strip were also analyzed.
Findings
The weighted calculation of comparison between analytical results and simulation shows that the accuracy of the analytical method is within 10 per cent, which fully meets the requirements.
Originality/value
The different residual stress of steel strip can be displayed quickly and intuitively in the synchronous process segment according to this model, which is of great importance to the prevention of strip buckling and deviation.
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Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the ozone risk introduced by the mixing air-supply mode, displacement air-supply mode and personalized air-supply mode, respectively, in commercial aircraft cabins.
Design/methodology/approach
In this study, a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model of aircraft cabin has been built to study the distribution of ozone mass fraction and the ozone surface deposition rate on passenger’s face and clothes under the three different air-supply modes, respectively. The distribution of ozone mass fraction has been obtained by calculating the mass concentration of ozone in different location. The ozone surface deposition rate on passenger’s face and clothes has been calculated according to the mechanism of the reactions between ozone and squalene, which is the primary reactant in human sebum.
Findings
By comparing the three air-supply modes, it was considered that the mixing air-supply mode made lower ozone concentration and ozone surface deposition risk in most area, but this was because of the thin air distribution in cabin. The displacement air-supply mode made an uneven distribution of ozone concentration and increased absorbing ozone risk in the breathing zone. The personalized air-supply mode was proper for avoiding ozone harm and making a comfortable air environment. The air supply from the inlet on seat back could not increase the ozone surface deposition risk on passenger’s face.
Originality/value
This paper provides the qualitative and quantitative analysis for ozone risk to the passengers under the different air-supply modes. Findings can provide some suggestions for the designers to optimize the air-supply mode of air distribution system for reducing passengers’ discomfort caused by high-altitude ozone introduction, such as breathing in too much ozone.
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Peter Adjei-Bamfo, Bernard Bempong, Jane Osei and Simonov Kusi-Sarpong
The purpose of this paper is to propose a new typological environmentally sustainable human resources management evaluation framework to aid green candidate selection process for…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to propose a new typological environmentally sustainable human resources management evaluation framework to aid green candidate selection process for environmental management in developing economy local government agencies.
Design/methodology/approach
Presenting the narrative of developing economies local government context, this paper conducts an extensive review of relevant literature on green human resources management (GHRM) and green recruitment and selection.
Findings
Drawing on Siyambalapitiya et al. (2018) and the resource-based theory (RBT), the paper proposes and discusses an evaluation framework for guiding organizations’ green candidate selection process. The framework comprises of seven stages which begins with “training recruiters on green candidate assessment” to “making selection decision and inducting selected candidate” on organization’s environmental management policies and practices, and its green values.
Research limitations/implications
Application of the proposed framework has implications for enhancing organizations’ efficiency, reducing cost, eliminating environment waste, as well as fostering green culture among employees. This paper also extends the strand of RBT by explaining how organizations could assess and select job applicants with significant intangible capability such as environmental management skills, knowledge and values to foster its competitive urge and sustainability.
Originality/value
This paper makes two main contribution to the GHRM literature. First, the paper proposes a new typological environmentally sustainable human resources management evaluation framework. Secondly, the paper focuses the framework on developing economies and local government organizations context, something that is currently non-existent.
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Zhihui Men, Chaoqun Hu, Yong-Hua Li and Xiaoning Bai
This paper proposes an intelligent fault diagnosis method, which aims to obtain the outstanding fault diagnosis results of the gearbox.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper proposes an intelligent fault diagnosis method, which aims to obtain the outstanding fault diagnosis results of the gearbox.
Design/methodology/approach
An intelligent fault diagnosis method based on energy entropy-weighted complementary ensemble empirical mode decomposition (EWCEEMD) and support vector machine (SVM) optimized by whale optimization algorithm (WOA) is proposed. The raw signal is first denoised by the wavelet noise reduction method. Then, complementary ensemble empirical mode decomposition (CEEMD) is used to generate several intrinsic mode functions (IMFs). Next, energy entropy is used as an indicator to measure the sensibility of the IMF and converted into a weight coefficient by function. After that, IMFs are linearly weighted to form the reconstruction signal, and several features are extracted from the new signal. Finally, the support vector machine optimized by the whale optimization algorithm (WOA-SVM) model is used for gearbox fault classification using feature vectors.
Findings
The fault features extracted by this method have a better clustering effect and clear boundaries under each fault mode than the unimproved method. At the same time, the accuracy of fault diagnosis is greatly improved.
Originality/value
In most studies of fault diagnosis, the sensitivity of IMF has not been appreciated. In this paper, energy entropy is chosen to quantify sensitivity. In addition, high classification accuracy can be achieved by applying WOA-SVM as the final classification model, improving the efficiency of fault diagnosis as well.
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Yong-Hua Li, Chi Zhang, Hao Yin, Yang Cao and Xiaoning Bai
This paper proposes an improved fatigue life analysis method for optimal design of electric multiple units (EMU) gear, which aims at defects of traditional Miner fatigue…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper proposes an improved fatigue life analysis method for optimal design of electric multiple units (EMU) gear, which aims at defects of traditional Miner fatigue cumulative damage theory.
Design/methodology/approach
A fatigue life analysis method by modifying S–N curve and considering material difference is presented, which improves the fatigue life of EMU gear based on shape modification optimization. A corrected method for stress amplitude, average stress and S–N curve is proposed, which considers low stress cycle, material difference and other factors. The fatigue life prediction of EMU gear is carried out by corrected S–N curve and transient dynamic analysis. Moreover, the gear modification technology combined with intelligent optimization method is adopted to investigate the approach of fatigue life analysis and improvement.
Findings
The results show that it is more corresponded to engineering practice by using the improved fatigue life analysis method than the traditional method. The function of stress and modification amount established by response surface method meets the requirement of precision. The fatigue life of EMU gear based on the intelligent algorithm for seeking the optimal modification amount is significantly improved compared with that before the modification.
Originality/value
The traditional fatigue life analysis method does not consider the influence of working condition and material. The life prediction results by using the method proposed in this paper are more accurate and ensure the safety of the people in the EMU. At the same time, the combination of intelligent algorithm and gear modification can improve the fatigue life of gear on the basis of accurate prediction, which is of great significance to the portability of EMU maintenance.
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This study investigates to what extent strategic flexibility of international strategic alliances (ISAs) affects export performance of emerging market small and medium-sized…
Abstract
Purpose
This study investigates to what extent strategic flexibility of international strategic alliances (ISAs) affects export performance of emerging market small and medium-sized enterprises (ESMEs) via international marketing capability in crises. It also examines whether these ESMEs’ adoption of digital technology strengthens the impact of strategic flexibility of ISAs on international marketing capability.
Design/methodology/approach
Based on the international alliance and dynamic capability perspectives on strategic flexibility, the authors develop a conceptual model and empirically examine the mediation and moderation effects between strategic flexibility of ISAs, international marketing capability, export performance and adoption of digital technology. The authors collected survey data from 129 ESMEs located in Pakistan between May 2021 and August 2021 and tested the conceptual model with hierarchical-moderated regression analysis.
Findings
The findings suggest that strategic flexibility of ISAs positively impacts on export performance of ESMEs in crises. Moreover, the authors found that international marketing significantly mediates the relationship between strategic flexibility of ISAs and export performance of ESMEs. Also, the adoption of digital technologies significantly moderates the relationship between strategic flexibility of ISAs positively and international marketing capability.
Originality/value
The authors take strategic flexibility of ISAs in the context of the emerging market and how ESMEs enhance export performance in a time of crisis, which extends the prior ESMEs’ international marketing strategy and crisis management literature. In particular, the authors show that strategic flexibility of ISAs is a vital dynamic capability to enhance export performance of ESMEs via international marketing capability and adoption of digital technologies.
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Xiaomi An, Shaotong Xu, Yong Mu, Wei Wang, Xian Yang Bai, Andy Dawson and Hongqi Han
The purpose of this paper is to propose meta‐synthetic ideas and knowledge asset management approaches to build a comprehensive strategic framework for Beijing City in China.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to propose meta‐synthetic ideas and knowledge asset management approaches to build a comprehensive strategic framework for Beijing City in China.
Design/methodology/approach
Methods include a review of relevant literature in both English and Chinese, case studies of different types of support frameworks in the UK, the USA, Singapore and Hong Kong, formulation of a meta‐synthetic support framework for Beijing City, and justification of its application to policy development by various studies. Three stages of meta‐synthetic support frameworks are proposed.
Findings
The suggested meta‐synthetic support frameworks are highly appropriate for the optimisation of, and innovation in, management and services systems of government information resources. The proposed knowledge asset management approaches offer significant practical value in improving the competence and capabilities of service‐oriented government, providing a set of solutions to identified, urgent problems, including a joint administration system for creating value, a release and distribution management system for sharing and protecting value, and a licensing and authorisation management system for adding value.
Research limitations/implications
This paper focuses on the formulation of a theoretical support framework for the reuse of government information resources and the justification of its effectiveness to guide policy development at strategic level. Case studies of its application at operational level are ongoing and will be discussed in future papers.
Practical implications
The suggested meta‐synthetic support frameworks support the efficiency, effectiveness and economy of intelligent traffic administration, good governance of value‐added services based on government information resources, and intellectual activity around city travel and traffic. The study has wide implications for the improvement of service‐oriented government performance, public satisfaction and the image of government.
Originality/value
The paper presents the adaptation of meta‐synthetic ideas and knowledge asset management approaches to collaboration, optimisation, innovation and compliance management issues in the reuse of government information resources. The advantages of different types of support systems and frameworks are integrated as a coherent whole for a strategic framework of legal, regulatory and standards support to China and Beijing.