Chengpeng Zhang, Zhihua Yu, Jimin Shi, Yu Li, Wenqiang Xu, Zheyi Guo, Hongshi Zhang, Zhongyuan Zhu and Sheng Qiang
Hexahedral meshing is one of the most important steps in performing an accurate simulation using the finite element analysis (FEA). However, the current hexahedral meshing method…
Abstract
Purpose
Hexahedral meshing is one of the most important steps in performing an accurate simulation using the finite element analysis (FEA). However, the current hexahedral meshing method in the industry is a nonautomatic and inefficient method, i.e. manually decomposing the model into suitable blocks and obtaining the hexahedral mesh from these blocks by mapping or sweeping algorithms. The purpose of this paper is to propose an almost automatic decomposition algorithm based on the 3D frame field and model features to replace the traditional time-consuming and laborious manual decomposition method.
Design/methodology/approach
The proposed algorithm is based on the 3D frame field and features, where features are used to construct feature-cutting surfaces and the 3D frame field is used to construct singular-cutting surfaces. The feature-cutting surfaces constructed from concave features first reduce the complexity of the model and decompose it into some coarse blocks. Then, an improved 3D frame field algorithm is performed on these coarse blocks to extract the singular structure and construct singular-cutting surfaces to further decompose the coarse blocks. In most modeling examples, the proposed algorithm uses both types of cutting surfaces to decompose models fully automatically. In a few examples with special requirements for hexahedral meshes, the algorithm requires manual input of some user-defined cutting surfaces and constructs different singular-cutting surfaces to ensure the effectiveness of the decomposition.
Findings
Benefiting from the feature decomposition and the 3D frame field algorithm, the output blocks of the proposed algorithm have no inner singular structure and are suitable for the mapping or sweeping algorithm. The introduction of internal constraints makes 3D frame field generation more robust in this paper, and it can automatically correct some invalid 3–5 singular structures. In a few examples with special requirements, the proposed algorithm successfully generates valid blocks even though the singular structure of the model is modified by user-defined cutting surfaces.
Originality/value
The proposed algorithm takes the advantage of feature decomposition and the 3D frame field to generate suitable blocks for a mapping or sweeping algorithm, which saves a lot of simulation time and requires less experience. The user-defined cutting surfaces enable the creation of special hexahedral meshes, which was difficult with previous algorithms. An improved 3D frame field generation method is proposed to correct some invalid singular structures and improve the robustness of the previous methods.
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Zhu Fanglong, Feng Qianqian, Liu Rangtong, Li Kejing and Zhou Yu
– The purpose of this paper is to employ a fractional approach to predict the permeability of nonwoven fabrics by simulating diffusion process.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to employ a fractional approach to predict the permeability of nonwoven fabrics by simulating diffusion process.
Design/methodology/approach
The method described here follows a similar approach to anomalous diffusion process. The relationship between viscous hydraulic permeability and electrical conductivity of porous material is applied in the derivation of fractional power law of permeability.
Findings
The presented power law predicted by fractional method is validated by the results obtained from simulation of fluid flow around a 3D nonwoven porous material by using the lattice-Boltzmann approach. A relation between the fluid permeability and the fluid content (filling fraction), namely, following the power law of the form, was derived via a scaling argument. The exponent n is predominantly a function of pore-size distribution dimension and random walk dimension of the fluid.
Originality/value
The fractional scheme by simulating diffusion process presented in this paper is a new method to predict wicking fluid flow through nonwoven fabrics. The forecast approach can be applied to the prediction of the permeability of other porous materials.
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Chunlei Li, Ruimin Yang, Zhoufeng Liu, Guangshuai Gao and Qiuli Liu
Fabric defect detection plays an important role in textile quality control. The purpose of this paper is to propose a fabric defect detection algorithm using learned…
Abstract
Purpose
Fabric defect detection plays an important role in textile quality control. The purpose of this paper is to propose a fabric defect detection algorithm using learned dictionary-based visual saliency.
Design/methodology/approach
First, the test fabric image is splitted into image blocks, and the learned dictionary with normal samples and defective sample is constructed by selecting the image block local binary pattern features with highest or lowest similarity comparing with the average feature vector; second, the first L largest correlation coefficients between each test image block and the dictionary are calculated, and other correlation coefficients are set to zeros; third, the sum of the non-zeros coefficients corresponding to defective samples is used to generate saliency map; finally, an improve valley-emphasis method can efficiently segment the defect region.
Findings
Experimental results demonstrate that the generated saliency map by the proposed method can efficiently outstand defect region comparing with the state-of-the-art, and segment results can precisely localize defect region.
Originality/value
In this paper, a novel fabric defect detection scheme is proposed via learned dictionary-based visual saliency.
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Ping Zhu, Chuanjie Zhang, Shuying Sui and Huaifang Wang
Alginate fiber with a breaking tenacity of up to 2.32 cN/dtex is prepared by spinning a sodium alginate solution in a coagulating solution of CaCl2 aqueous solution followed by…
Abstract
Alginate fiber with a breaking tenacity of up to 2.32 cN/dtex is prepared by spinning a sodium alginate solution in a coagulating solution of CaCl2 aqueous solution followed by multi-roller drawing. Preparation parameters such as sodium alginate concentration, coagulant concentration and coagulation temperature, which affect the fiber tenacity, are investigated with an orthogonal test design, and the best spinning process is found with a coagulating 5% sodium alginate solution in 4% CaCl2 at 40°C. The morphology, degree of crystallinity, thermal stability and the combustion performance of this alginate fiber are investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), infrared (IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Thermo gravimetric Analysis (TGA) and Cone Calorimeter. Using the centrifugal dewatering method, the absorption capacity of this alginate fiber is determined, and has a capacity of 13.01 grams of man-made blood per gram. The test results show that fibers have an irregular cross-section without a thicker cortex and uniform longitudinal surface with grooves. The combustion property results demonstrate that the fiber has a self-flameretarding property.
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Gang Li, Zhihuang Zhao, Lan Li, Yuanbo Li, Mengjiao Zhu and Yongxin Jiao
This study investigates the influence of artificial intelligence (AI) stimuli on customer stickiness (CS), the mediation effects of social presence (SP) and the moderating impacts…
Abstract
Purpose
This study investigates the influence of artificial intelligence (AI) stimuli on customer stickiness (CS), the mediation effects of social presence (SP) and the moderating impacts of customer traits in this influencing process.
Design/methodology/approach
Drawing on the arousal theory and social response theory, a conceptual model was established and tested by a data set of 268 customers in the catering industry.
Findings
The results indicate that AI stimuli, such as perceived personalization and perceived interactivity, positively affect CS. SP partially mediates the influence of AI stimuli on CS. Customer traits such as customers' need for interaction (NFI) and novelty seeking (NS) actively moderate the mediating effects of SP.
Originality/value
This study advances the interactive marketing literature from three aspects. Firstly, instead of focusing on the functional aspects of AI stimuli, it extends our understanding of AI-enabled interactive marketing by examining the effects of social and emotional aspects of AI stimuli on customer response. Secondly, it extends our understanding of social response by illuminating the mediating effects of SP between AI stimuli and CS. Finally, it provides new insights and empirical evidence for the research focus on customer traits in AI-enabled interactive marketing.
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Da Huo, Rihui Ouyang, Aidi Tang, Wenjia Gu and Zhongyuan Liu
This paper delves into cross-border E-business, unraveling its intricate dynamics and forecasting its future trajectory.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper delves into cross-border E-business, unraveling its intricate dynamics and forecasting its future trajectory.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper projects the prospective market size of cross-border E-business in China for the year 2023 using the GM (1,1) gray forecasting model. Furthermore, to enhance the analysis, the paper attempts to simulate and forecast the size of China’s cross-border E-business sector using the GM (1,3) gray model. This extended model considers not only the historical trends of cross-border E-business but also the growth patterns of GDP and the digital economy.
Findings
The forecast indicates a market size of 18,760 to 18,934 billion RMB in 2023, aligning with the consistent growth observed in previous years. This suggests a sustained positive trajectory for cross-border E-business.
Originality/value
Cross-border e-commerce critically shapes China’s global integration and traditional industry development. The research in this paper provides insights beyond statistical trends, contributing to a nuanced understanding of the pivotal role played by cross-border e-commerce in shaping China’s economic future.
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Ruiju Yang, Wei Zhu, Dora Marinova and Jiuchang Wei
A bad safety accident at a manufacturing company usually results in casualties and economic losses. The company affected by such an accident must deal with pressure from multiple…
Abstract
Purpose
A bad safety accident at a manufacturing company usually results in casualties and economic losses. The company affected by such an accident must deal with pressure from multiple stakeholder groups. Employees, in particular, play a key role in pushing the affected company to develop strategies to improve occupational safety and health. The purpose of this paper is to seek answers to two questions: does a safety accident affect employee behavior in terms of giving up prospects to develop a career at the affected company? If yes, could innovation initiatives adopted by the company help moderate the negative consequences from a safety accident?
Design/methodology/approach
By investigating 120 safety accidents reported by publicly listed Chinese manufacturing companies between 2009 and 2016, the authors conduct an empirical study using regression-based statistical hypotheses testing to describe the companies’ responses and prospects for their employees.
Findings
The results show that the magnitude of the accident and the accident being caused by an employee error positively affect the turnover of employees. Furthermore, technical innovation initiatives, such as spending on R&D, by the accident-affected companies increase the positive effect of the accident magnitude on employee turnover. On the contrary, management innovation initiatives, such as corporate social responsibility activities, weaken the impact of the accident magnitude and employee error on employee turnover.
Originality/value
This study contributes to knowledge development by adding a crisis perspective in human resource management research. It helps to better understand the impact of safety accidents on employee behavior and the response taken by companies through innovation initiatives.
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Chunlei Shao, Aixia He, Zhongyuan Zhang and Jianfeng Zhou
The purpose of this paper is to study the transition process from the crystalline particles appearing before the pump inlet to the stable operation of the pump.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to study the transition process from the crystalline particles appearing before the pump inlet to the stable operation of the pump.
Design/methodology/approach
Firstly, a modeling test method was put forward for the high-temperature molten salt pump. Then, according to a modeling test scheme, the experiment of the solid–liquid two-phase flow was carried out by using a model pump similar to the prototype pump. Meanwhile, the numerical method to simulate the transition process of a molten salt pump was studied, and the correctness of the numerical model was verified by the experimental results. Finally, the transition process of the molten salt pump was studied by the verified numerical model in detail.
Findings
In the simulation of the transition process, it is more accurate to judge the end of the transition process based on the unchanged particle volume fraction (PVF) at the pump outlet than on the periodic fluctuation of the outlet pressure. The outlet pressure is closely related to the PVF in the pump. The variation of the outlet pressure is slightly prior to that of the PVF at the pump outlet and mainly affected by the PVF in the impeller and volute. After 0.63 s, the PVF at each monitoring point changes periodically, and the time-averaged value does not change with time.
Practical implications
This study is of great significance to further improve the design method of molten salt pump and predict the abrasion characteristic of the pump due to interactions with solid particles.
Originality/value
A numerical method is established to simulate the transition process of a molten salt pump, and a method is proposed to verify the numerical model of two-phase flow by modeling test.
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HongYan Liu, Addie Bahi and Frank K. Ko
Wolverine hairs with superior heat transfer properties have been used as fur ruffs for extreme cold-weather clothing. In order to understand the exclusive mechanism of wolverine…
Abstract
Purpose
Wolverine hairs with superior heat transfer properties have been used as fur ruffs for extreme cold-weather clothing. In order to understand the exclusive mechanism of wolverine surviving in the cold areas of circumpolar, the purpose of this paper is to establish a one-dimensional fractional heat transfer equation to reveal the hidden mechanism for the hairs, and also calculate the fractal dimension of the wolverine hair using the box counting method to verify the proposed theory. The observed results (from the proposed model) found to be in good agreement with the box counting method. This model can explain the phenomenon which offers the theoretical foundation for the design of extreme cold weather clothing.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors calculated the fractal dimension of the wolverine hair using the box counting method to verify the proposed theory. The observed results (from the proposed model) found to be in good agreement with the box counting method.
Findings
The box counting method proves that the theoretical model is applicable.
Originality/value
The authors propose the first heat transfer model for the wolverine hair.
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Keywords
Kai Yang, Mingli Jiao, Sifan Wang, Yuanyuan Yu, Quan Diao and Jian Cao
The purpose of this paper is to investigate thermoregulation properties of different composite phase change materials (PCMs), which could be used in the high temperature…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate thermoregulation properties of different composite phase change materials (PCMs), which could be used in the high temperature environmental conditions to protect human body against the extra heat flow.
Design/methodology/approach
Three kinds of composite PCM samples were prepared using the selected pure PCMs, including n-hexadecane, n-octadecane and n-eicosane. The DSC experiment was performed to get the samples’ phase change temperature range and enthalpy. The simulated high temperature experiments were performed using human arms in three different high temperature conditions (40°C, 45°C, 50°C), and the skin temperature variation curves varying with time were obtained. Then a comprehensive index TGP was introduced from the curves and calculated to evaluate the thermoregulation properties of different composite PCM samples comprehensively.
Findings
Results show that the composite PCM samples could provide much help to the high temperature human body. It could decrease the skin temperature quickly in a short time and it will not cause the over-cooling phenomenon. Comparing with other two composite PCM samples, the thermoregulation properties of the n-hexadecane and n-eicosane composite PCM is the best.
Originality/value
Using the n-hexadecane and n-eicosane composite PCM may provide people with better protection against the high temperature conditions, which is significative for the manufacture of functional thermoregulating textiles, garments or equipments.