Zhengyi Han, George Chen, Junzheng Cao, Zhiyuan He, Haitian Wang, Wenpeng Li and Chao Tang
The pulsed electro-acoustic (PEA) method is widely applied for space charge measurement in solid dielectrics. The signals, however, can be seriously distorted during transmission…
Abstract
Purpose
The pulsed electro-acoustic (PEA) method is widely applied for space charge measurement in solid dielectrics. The signals, however, can be seriously distorted during transmission, especially in non-planar specimens. The aim of this work is to find an efficient algorithm to correctly recover the space charge profile for different types of specimens.
Design/methodology/approach
The distortion can be associated with both geometry and material (attenuation and dispersion). Hence the recovery algorithm consists of two parts respectively. The influences of geometries, causing the divergences of electric force and acoustic waveform, can be corrected by sets of factors. The attenuation and dispersion of the material can be suppressed based on the transfer function matrix in frequency domain, which could be obtained from calibration.
Findings
A general algorithm applicable to three kinds of specimens (single-layer, multi-layer and coaxial-geometry dielectrics) has been proposed. Compared with the other two algorithms in literature, the present one offers the most accurate solution while taking relatively shorter time. In addition, this algorithm is applied on signals measured from a planar LDPE sample and the results show that the new algorithm is fairly effective with excellent stability in a real system.
Originality/value
As one of the most accurate algorithms, the present one is theoretically one third quicker than the others. This algorithm would be helpful in applications calling for large calculations, i.e. 3-D imaging of space charge distribution in XLPE cable.
Zhengyi Chen, Keyu Chen and Jack C.P. Cheng
As an emerging visualization technology, virtual reality (VR) falls into the dilemma of having great potential but a low adoption degree in the architectural, engineering and…
Abstract
Purpose
As an emerging visualization technology, virtual reality (VR) falls into the dilemma of having great potential but a low adoption degree in the architectural, engineering and construction (AEC) industry. However, few studies paid attention to studying barriers affecting VR’s adoption and their inner mechanisms. This makes AEC users hard to catch the key points for VR’s implementations. This study aims to get a clear structure of these barriers and provide insights for the improvement.
Design/methodology/approach
First, 12 major VR-AEC adoption barriers were identified by a systematic literature review and expert interviews (EI). Second, EI and similarity aggregation method were conducted to achieve reliable barrier relationships. Third, interpretive structural modeling was used to establish a multi-level model for barriers. Finally, ten crucial barriers were targeted with a comprehensive strategy framework.
Findings
The findings help AEC stakeholders get a thorough understanding of the VR-AEC adoption barriers. Besides, the inner mechanism among barriers is revealed and analyzed, followed by a systematic strategy framework. It is anticipated that users could conduct more effective VR-AEC promotions in the future.
Originality/value
This paper is the first to propose a comprehensive literature review on the VR-AEC adoption barriers. In addition, this paper is novel in building a hierarchy model that explores barriers’ inner mechanism, where structural strategies are proposed.
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This paper studies the determinants for the desirability of the public-private partnership (PPP) mode in infrastructure development.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper studies the determinants for the desirability of the public-private partnership (PPP) mode in infrastructure development.
Design/methodology/approach
The author manually collects data on over 12,000 PPP projects in China, and regard the successful transition and abnormal termination as signals for the mode’s desirability and undesirability, respectively. Then, guided by relevant theories in the literature, the author investigates the impact of various project characteristics on the projects’ successful transition and abnormal termination.
Findings
First, execution-stage projects in industries where government support is indispensable, or where quality improvement is more important than cost reduction, face higher likelihood of abnormal termination. But such negative effects are mitigated if state-owned enterprises (SOEs) participate in the social party. Second, the structure of social party matters. The participation by private firms in the social party increases the termination likelihood, while the decentralization of the social party decreases it. Third, pre-execution projects with government payment or subsidies are more likely to enter into the execution stage.
Practical implications
Regulations on participation by SOEs in PPPs, such as policy [2023 No. 115] announced by State Council, should take industrial heterogeneity into consideration.
Originality/value
Using a large sample, the author empirically tests the seminal PPP-related theories in the literature. The author also uncovers some unique stylized facts about PPPs in China, especially the impact of SOE participation in the social party on PPP survival.
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Yang Liu, Jialing Wang, Huayang Cai, Yawei Shao, Zhengyi Xu, Yanqiu Wang and Junyi Wang
Epoxy zinc-rich coatings are widely used in harsh environments because of the long-lasting cathodic protection of steel surfaces. The purpose of this paper is to use flake zinc…
Abstract
Purpose
Epoxy zinc-rich coatings are widely used in harsh environments because of the long-lasting cathodic protection of steel surfaces. The purpose of this paper is to use flake zinc powder instead of the commonly used spherical zinc powder to reduce the zinc powder content.
Design/methodology/approach
In this paper, the authors have prepared an anticorrosive zinc-rich coating using a flake zinc powder instead of the conventional spherical zinc powder. The optimal dispersion of scaly zinc powder in zinc-rich coatings has been explored by looking at the surface and cross-sectional morphology and studying the cathodic protection time of the coating.
Findings
The final epoxy zinc-rich coating with 35 Wt.% flake zinc powder content was prepared using sand-milling dispersions. It has a similar cathodic protection time and salt spray resistance as the 60 Wt.% spherical zinc-rich coating, with a higher low-frequency impedance modulus value.
Originality/value
This study uses flake zinc powder instead of the traditional spherical zinc powder. This reduces the amount of zinc powder in the coating and improves the corrosion resistance of the coating.
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Yang Liu, Qian Zhang, Jialing Wang, Yawei Shao, Zhengyi Xu, Yanqiu Wang and Junyi Wang
The purpose of this paper is to enhance the compatibility of titanium dioxide in epoxy resins and thus the corrosion resistance of the coatings.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to enhance the compatibility of titanium dioxide in epoxy resins and thus the corrosion resistance of the coatings.
Design/methodology/approach
In this work, TiO2 was modified by the mechanochemistry method where mechanical energy was combined with thermal energy to complete the modification. The stability of modified TiO2 in epoxy was analyzed by sedimentation experiment. The modified TiO2-epoxy coating was prepared, and the corrosion resistance of the coating was analyzed by open circuit potential, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and neutral salt spray test.
Findings
High-temperature mechanical modification can improve the compatibility of TiO2 in epoxy resin. At the same time, the modified TiO2-epoxy coating showed better corrosion resistance. Compared to the unmodified TiO2-epoxy coating, the coating improved the dry adhesion force by 61.7% and the adhesion drop by 33.3%. After 2,300 h of immersion in 3.5 Wt.% NaCl solution, the coating resistance of the modified TiO2 coating was enhanced by nearly two orders of magnitude compared to the unmodified coating.
Originality/value
The authors have grafted epoxy molecules onto TiO2 surfaces using a high-temperature mechanical force modification method. The compatibility of TiO2 with epoxy resin is enhanced, resulting in improved adhesion of the coating to the substrate and corrosion resistance of the coating.
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Keyu Chen, Beiyu You, Yanbo Zhang and Zhengyi Chen
Prefabricated building has been widely applied in the construction industry all over the world, which can significantly reduce labor consumption and improve construction…
Abstract
Purpose
Prefabricated building has been widely applied in the construction industry all over the world, which can significantly reduce labor consumption and improve construction efficiency compared with conventional approaches. During the construction of prefabricated buildings, the overall efficiency largely depends on the lifting sequence and path of each prefabricated component. To improve the efficiency and safety of the lifting process, this study proposes a framework for automatically optimizing the lifting path of prefabricated building components using building information modeling (BIM), improved 3D-A* and a physic-informed genetic algorithm (GA).
Design/methodology/approach
Firstly, the industry foundation class (IFC) schema for prefabricated buildings is established to enrich the semantic information of BIM. After extracting corresponding component attributes from BIM, the models of typical prefabricated components and their slings are simplified. Further, the slings and elements’ rotations are considered to build a safety bounding box. Secondly, an efficient 3D-A* is proposed for element path planning by integrating both safety factors and variable step size. Finally, an efficient GA is designed to obtain the optimal lifting sequence that satisfies physical constraints.
Findings
The proposed optimization framework is validated in a physics engine with a pilot project, which enables better understanding. The results show that the framework can intuitively and automatically generate the optimal lifting path for each type of prefabricated building component. Compared with traditional algorithms, the improved path planning algorithm significantly reduces the number of nodes computed by 91.48%, resulting in a notable decrease in search time by 75.68%.
Originality/value
In this study, a prefabricated component path planning framework based on the improved A* algorithm and GA is proposed for the first time. In addition, this study proposes a safety-bounding box that considers the effects of torsion and slinging of components during lifting. The semantic information of IFC for component lifting is enriched by taking into account lifting data such as binding positions, lifting methods, lifting angles and lifting offsets.
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Jingfeng Li, Jiguang Wang and Wenbin Fan
China has long been dedicated to introducing the Western management ideas to the local enterprise practice. But the situation has changed since the financial crisis, and the China…
Abstract
Purpose
China has long been dedicated to introducing the Western management ideas to the local enterprise practice. But the situation has changed since the financial crisis, and the China model has become a hot word with its fast recovery from crisis. Moreover, Chinese traditional culture has become increasingly popular. Yin and yang are the most familiar Chinese philosophical terms to Western minds, and also the core concept of Chinese Taoist philosophy. The purpose of this paper is to analyze how the yin yang or lao‐tzu influences a firm's core competence and performance, and to demonstrate that the Taoist‐oriented Chinese culture remains meaningful and in many situations powerful in enterprise practice.
Design/methodology/approach
A case study is carried out from Town Star Ltd, established in 2001, and located in Linfen city, Shanxi province, China, a city which topped the list of the world's most polluted cities. It is an integrated joint‐stock company, specializing in coal coking chemical industry, gardening, logistics and technology development. Based on the humanized management doctrine, the company has formed the 5S management model which boosts its rapid and sustainable development. It coped well in major junctures such as industry restructuring and transferring, financial crisis, etc. Five key dimensions of the yin and yang, which were applied to the leader's daily behaviors and management style, are: Wu‐wei (inaction), Wu (emptiness), hardness with softness, moderation and He‐xie (harmony). First, this paper built a dynamic company growth model based on this philosophy which enhanced the core competitiveness effectively by emotional management innovation and personalized HRM, among which its pivotal regulator of variables is just yin yang conversion degree. Then an approach is provided to validate the model with empirical data collected from the years 2001‐2010 (2001‐2005, 2006‐2008, 2009‐2010) of Town Star Ltd.
Findings
It is demonstrated that yin yang ideology embedded in the company growth model organically is an important means to increase marginal benefit. In practice, the firm with yin yang philosophical ideology would shape a management paradigm which combined rules and human nature appropriately to a family‐oriented business atmosphere. Based on the above philosophical wisdom, Town Star Ltd has harvested good economic and social benefits, strong core competence through the elaborately constructed unique management model and harmonious humanity environment.
Originality/value
This paper opens an avenue for indigenous firms, as a framework for guiding management research and practice in coping with the post‐crisis era. In addition, it is expected to attract more attention from scholars, entrepreneurs both in China and in the rest of the world, to contribute to knowledge creation in Chinese management studies.
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Xiaomeng Zhang, Sang Xiong, Feng Gao, Jinyuan Du and Qin-Jian Du
WO3 particles were prepared by the sol-gel method. Tetraethyl silicate (TEOS) was used to obtain a SiO2-coated WO3 nanoparticle. Quantum chemical parameters of oleic acid…
Abstract
Purpose
WO3 particles were prepared by the sol-gel method. Tetraethyl silicate (TEOS) was used to obtain a SiO2-coated WO3 nanoparticle. Quantum chemical parameters of oleic acid, triethanolamine, glycerol and methyl pentane as dispersants were theoretically calculated. Tribological properties of SiO2/WO3 nanocomposite lubricant were carried out on an MRS-10A four-ball friction and wear tester.
Design/methodology/approach
The purpose of this study is to investigate the preparation and tribological properties of SiO2/WO3 nanocomposite lubricant.
Findings
The obtained SiO2-coated WO3 nanoparticle (nano-SiO2/WO3) with a particle size of about 70 nm. The calculated adsorption energy of triethanolamine on the surface of the steel ball is 554.6 eV, and triethanolamine is selected as the dispersant. The dispersion effect of SiO2/WO3 nanocomposite lubricant is good, which shows that triethanolamine oleate plays a good dispersion role in the preparation of lubricant, which is consistent with the calculation results of the adsorption capacity of dispersant. As a good auxiliary lubricant, SiO2 can improve the tribological properties and wear resistance of WO3.
Originality/value
Nanocomposite lubricants have been the focus of research in recent years, which could greatly reduce energy consumption. And the SiO2/WO3 exhibited excellent lubrication performance as a lubricant additive. The lubrication mechanism of SiO2/WO3 nanocomposite lubricant is the synergistic lubrication mechanism of friction film lubrication and antifriction bearing. This study could provide a certain reference for the practical application of nanocomposite lubricants.
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John M.T. Balmer and Weifeng Chen
This paper aims to examine the attractiveness of the Tong Ren Tang (TRT) as a Chinese corporate heritage tourism brand and consider the significance of TRT for Chinese national…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to examine the attractiveness of the Tong Ren Tang (TRT) as a Chinese corporate heritage tourism brand and consider the significance of TRT for Chinese national identity. The study considers the saliency of Balmer’s augmented role identity notion vis-à-vis corporate heritage institutions/corporate brands. Insights are made from and for corporate heritage, heritage tourism and national identity literature.
Design/methodology/approach
A conceptual model comprising five hypotheses was developed and this informed a survey-based questionnaire administered to domestic tourists/customers visiting Tong Ren Tang’s flagship shop in Beijing.
Findings
The attractiveness to domestic Chinese tourists/customers of the TRT corporate heritage tourism brand was found to be attributable to its multiple role identities: national, corporate, temporal, familial and imperial. As such, this study lends credence to Balmer’s augmented role identity notion. Chinese domestic tourists/customers – as members of an ethnic Chinese community – in visiting TRT not only consume an extant corporate heritage by tangible and intangible means but can also be seen to express, and reaffirm, their sense of Chinese national identity.
Practical implications
For TRT’s managers, there should be an appreciation that the attractiveness of TRT as a corporate heritage tourism brand rests not only on what it sells but also in what it symbolises in national and cultural terms. This finding is applicable to the managers of many other corporate heritage/corporate heritage tourism brands.
Social implications
Adopting a primordial perspective, the TRT pharmacy was found to be of singular significance to China’s national identity. Traditional Chinese Medicine, Confucian and Daoist religious/philosophical and China’s erstwhile Imperial polity are significant and enduring precepts of Chinese national identity. As such the TRT flagship shop/brand is of singular importance, as China has eviscerated much of its cultural heritage – particularly in relation to its corporate heritage brands.
Originality/value
This is the first empirical study to focus on corporate heritage tourism brands and one of the first studies to examine a Chinese corporate heritage/corporate heritage tourism brand. Also significant in focussing on the TRT corporate heritage brand. Established in 1669, TRT’s history spans five centuries: a corporate provenance which is exceptional within the People’s Republic of China. The study links the corporate brand notion with the nascent corporate heritage brand domain and the established area of heritage tourism.
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The purpose of this paper is to study the evolution of Chinese industrial relations after the market reform of 1978, while basing its arguments and conclusion on analysis of the…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to study the evolution of Chinese industrial relations after the market reform of 1978, while basing its arguments and conclusion on analysis of the interactions of key actors in the labour arena in China. The significant phenomena in the evolution of industrial relations are the coming of transnational capital and the emergence of self‐organising protests by migrant workers.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper uses a case study approach.
Findings
The Labour Contract Law and the local political economy experience strong effects from TNCs and other business players. Meanwhile, globalisation has introduced the civil society movement to China, which has given rise to an increasing number of NGOs working for labour rights. Tight financial and technical connections between grassroots NGOs and international donor organisations make it possible for bottom‐up labour activities to counteract the unilateral influence of the state and market over the Chinese workforce. Since the ACFTU, the official trade union umbrella, has many institutional constraints to undertake a thorough transition towards labour in the near future, workers' representation is diversified.
Originality/value
One implication for further theoretical studies is that tripartism cannot fully disclose the reality of Chinese labour, and that labour representation derives from both unions and self‐organisation of workers, such as NGOs, which opens more room for the entrenchment of the grassroots labour movement to sustain the balance of power among the state, ACFTU, firms, international market forces and individual workers in the long term.