bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Undergraduate research training and graduate recruitment
Authors: Towl Michael , Senior Carl
Published: May 2010

Purpose

Formal opportunities for psychology undergraduates to carry out research training are starting to emerge. In spite of the fact that such training programmes would have a high authentic learning component little is known of undergraduate expectations and attitudes towards such programmes. This paper aims to focus on the issues.

Methodology/design/approach

In total, 108 undergraduate participants were surveyed in two experiments that recorded both the prospective and retrospective attitudes towards research training participation. Questionnaires and focus groups were employed and the data were triangulated together to converge on an understanding of student expectations towards authentic learning programmes.

Findings

While psychology undergraduates expect to be trained in contemporary research techniques it is the sense of community development that is the prime motivator for participation.

Originality/value

The paper places these findings within the context of increasing the employability profile of the undergraduate cohort.
Provision of second‐chance education: the Hong Kong experience
Authors: Lim David
Published: May 2010

Purpose

Many students do not benefit from mainstream education and are forced to leave it. Governments and non‐government organisations concerned with the social injustice and problems that such rejection could cause offer these students second‐chance education programmes. This paper aims to examine the effectiveness of such opportunities, using as a case‐study the Vocational Training Council (VTC) of Hong Kong, which offers programmes in vocational education and training (VET) but draws lessons for the offer of such programmes elsewhere.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses a case‐study approach but sets it within the general literature on, and discussion of, second‐chance education. It concentrates on programmes that prepare students for the younger end of the labour market.

Findings

The VTC is effective because its programmes are easily accessible and have excellent student progression rates. Its graduates from lower‐level progammes perform as well as those with better academic backgrounds from other institutions in the VTC's higher‐level programmes, and also as well in the labour market. Reasons for this success include course design and implementation that avoid much of what put the young off mainstream education, the provision of a caring environment, the removal of the stigma attached to second‐chance education and VET, and the provision of a through‐train education system.

Research limitations/implications

In assessing the effectiveness of the VTC, most attention is placed on the criteria where reliable data are available. This means that less evidence is presented on employment performance, a gap that will be filled by future research.

Practical implications

The findings enable policy makers in Hong Kong and elsewhere to improve the effectiveness of their second‐chance education.

Originality/value

The paper examines an unexplored area of education in Hong Kong, using a methodology that is applicable for similar studies elsewhere.
Negotiating, power and strategic competition: a teaching case
Authors: Ahn Mark J. , Sutherland Kathryn , Bednarek Rebecca
Published: May 2010

Purpose

This paper seeks to demonstrate the value and critical importance of negotiating skills within the wider context of “employability”. It posits that the intensity, rich context, and ambiguity of juxtaposing ancient and modern cases provides a creative, engaging format to stimulate learning about negotiating and power among parties.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is the culmination of teaching undergraduate and graduate business students, as well as continuing education courses, in the USA and New Zealand respectively. The authors developed a participatory, mixed‐mode educational simulation. Using thematic analysis of student survey responses, they summarize learning points associated with the suggested teaching case.

Findings

An analysis of post‐exercise questions suggested six key themes identified by students: value of leadership, self‐knowledge, maturity, and judgment; need for creativity, versatility, and adaptability in bridging differences; focus on settlement (rather than absolute win‐lose scenarios); managing risk due to uncertainty and unidentified incentives among participants; dire consequences of inflexibility, self‐righteousness, and unhealthy ego; and need for increasing negotiating skill proficiency is valuable and timeless.

Practical implications

The outlined teaching case is put forward as providing a creative, interesting and rich format to stimulate learning about negotiating and power among parties, as well as team dynamics.

Originality/value

The paper outlines a novel teaching tool that allows students to learn and appreciate the dynamics of negotiating in complex environments.
Building conservation philosophy for masonry repair: part 1 – “ethics”
Authors: Forster Alan M.
Published: May 2010

Purpose

The techniques available for the repair of historic masonry structures are extremely wide ranging. The advantages and disadvantages of each type of repair can be evaluated in terms of cost, time and quality as with modern projects. It is however, important to realise that when repairs to historic buildings are selected they must conform to building conservation philosophy, or an ethical and principle based evaluation. This paper (part 1 of 2) aims to establish what is meant by ethics in this context and wherever possible seeks to apply practical examples to these concepts.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper takes the form of an evaluative literature review of the ethics encapsulated within building conservation philosophy utilising them to stimulate discussion on practical repair interventions.

Findings

It is shown that ethical considerations are of prime importance for decisions relating to masonry repairs. These repairs have varying degrees of defensibility, and will ultimately lead to good or bad conservation approaches. The paper briefly discusses the ethics, highlighting some of the issues that may be initially confusing to the practitioner.

Research limitations/implications

It must be emphasised that as with any aspect of philosophy, there is not necessarily a right or wrong answer, only higher levels of defence for the selected repairs.

Originality/value

The evaluation of building conservation philosophy and more specifically, ethical considerations for masonry repair has been little studied. The importance of this undervalued aspect of building conservation cannot be over emphasised and far from being an esoteric concept, it affects every practical repair. This paper brings together the study of the philosophical and practical, enabling practitioners to better understand the implications of building conservation philosophy on their projects.
Modern methods of construction and RSL asset management: a quantitative study
Authors: Kempton Jim
Published: May 2010

Purpose

The UK Housing Corporation announced that it expected a minimum of 25 per cent of registered social landlord (RSL) new build housing to use modern methods of construction (MMC). This resulted in higher numbers of MMC dwellings becoming the responsibility of asset management departments who then have the task of planning and executing maintenance plans for the stock. This paper seeks to determine asset managers' views on the incorporation of MMC into RSL housing portfolios and its implications for long‐term maintenance.

Design/methodology/approach

A questionnaire was developed from both the literature and a previous qualitatively based study. The questionnaire sought to solicit the opinions of asset managers on the use of MMC and long‐term maintenance

Findings

From 130 distributed survey forms a response rate of 66 per cent was achieved (n=86). The responses to the questionnaire indicate a generally negative view towards MMC and its future maintenance viability.

Practical implications

The research should be of interest to a broad range of people, including asset managers and surveyors, housing developers, and all those involved in the MMC supply chain.

Originality/value

Little work has been located on the subject of MMC and its specific impacts on RSL asset management operations. This paper fills some of the gaps.
The role of the project manager: all things to all people?
Authors: Sommerville James , Craig Nigel , Hendry Julie
Published: May 2010

Purpose

Writers over the years have sought to define the nature and roles of a project manager. The attempts at these definitions have been based on rather historic writings of what a manager should do. This paper seeks to provide an up‐to‐date understanding of the current roles of a construction project manager.

Design/methodology/approach

A literature review is used to develop a time role analysis matrix which is completed by 24 project management staff working for a multi‐national contractor located in west‐central Scotland.

Findings

What becomes clear from this research is that the definition of the actual roles is vague and poorly defined and the role basket is loose with each project shaping the final range. The research shows that the number of roles undertaken by a project manager changes with age and also the nature of the roles undertaken moves with the maturity of the project manager.

Practical implications

The historic view of what roles project managers undertake needs to be moulded in light of the findings from this research. Specifically, the rather low response to the basket of commercial roles suggests that these functional areas are being addressed elsewhere in the project team.

Originality/value

The paper provides a snapshot of practising project managers from one geographic location and wider research needs to be undertaken to ascertain the broader view.
Concrete with crushed, graded and washed recycled construction demolition waste as a coarse aggregate replacement
Authors: Richardson Alan , Allain Pierre , Veuille Maxime
Published: May 2010

Purpose

A current trend is to use waste and by‐products in concrete to replace binders and aggregates. This trend reduces the impact on the environment and the use of finite natural resources. This paper aims to investigate whether concrete which includes crushed, graded and washed recycled construction demolition waste, used as a coarse aggregate, can be manufactured to a comparable strength as concrete manufactured from virgin aggregates.

Design/methodology/approach

Laboratory testing investigated the strength development of concrete manufactured with varying degrees of coarse aggregate replacement. All of the concrete samples were tested at five, seven, 14 and 21 days and the concrete with the recycled aggregate was compared to a plain control sample manufactured with virgin aggregates. The mixes tested against the control sample were: 100 per cent gravel replacement with recycled aggregate, and the same mix with a viscosity modifying agent. A 50 per cent partial coarse aggregate replacement was used in one batch to compare against the control and the 100 per cent recycled aggregate concrete. Compressive strength was used to compare the different concrete batch performance. Density was used to indicate the degree of particle packing and void content which was measured across the range of samples to evaluate the relationship between the different concrete mixes.

Findings

The optimum concrete mix design using recycled construction waste was obtained by using a 50‐50 per cent mix of virgin gravel and recycled aggregates. Using recycled construction waste as a 100 per cent coarse aggregate replacement produces concrete with a lower compressive strength when compared to concrete made with virgin aggregates.

Originality/value

The paper investigates ways of incorporating construction demolition waste as recycled aggregate to reduce the environmental impact of the production of concrete.
Going global: examining issues and seeking collaboration for international interlending, the view from the US
Authors: Atkins David P.
Published: May 2010

Purpose

International interlibrary loan remains a persistent and sometimes vexing topic in US libraries. Technology's advance allows libraries and library users to easily identify resources from across the globe. This ease of discovery belies the difficulty of delivery. To contribute to the conversation, the ALA RUSA STARS International Interlibrary Loan Committee conducted a survey of US libraries regarding international interlibrary loan activity. The survey uncovered elements impacting ILL success and failure and identified opportunities for US academic libraries global ILL participation. Issues that concern the survey's participants included communications, copyright, customs, payment methods, shipping, and language barriers. US interlibrary loan librarians seek cooperative responses to these problems. This paper seeks to address this issue.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper discusses the current climate of international interlibrary loan from a US perspective and highlights efforts to use STARS survey results to inform international ILL programs and best practices.

Findings

To expand international interlending, STARS can build on today's extra‐OCLC resource sharing strategies and leverage survey results to focus programming and promotional efforts. At the same time, librarians must improve communications and foster international resource sharing communities which contributes to the international dialog essential for interlending success.

Originality/value

The paper presents a new initiative from the major professional association for North American librarians dedicated to resource sharing.
Now we're getting somewhere – adventures in trans Tasman interlending
Authors: Hanington Debbie , Reid David
Published: May 2010

Purpose

This paper seeks to describe a decade's worth of ISO‐ILL implementation in Australia and New Zealand. It aims to background key historical decisions and the drivers for respective implementations. The paper also aims to consider a number of key issues with interoperable systems and propose some avenues of development for the future.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodology adopted in this paper is one of description and interpretation.

Findings

Findings highlighted in this discussion emphasise the interconnectedness of operations, the need for synchronisation of data and the influence this has over transactions. While it is important to get the basics right, the ISO‐ILL protocol does take time to master. What we have seen develop is a user community understanding a common language and a growth in customer satisfaction.

Practical implications

This paper discusses a number of issues pertinent to the interoperability of systems and describes the solutions arrived at. They could act as a blueprint for others considering similar implementations.

Originality/value

The originality of this paper lies in the adoption of local solutions to resolve local problems. Underlying this are the concepts of best operating principles and better operating practices.
Federated search as a transformational technology enabling knowledge discovery: the role of WorldWideScience.org
Authors: Warnick Walter
Published: May 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe the work of the Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI) in the US Department of Energy Office of Science and OSTI's development of the powerful search engine, WorldWideScience.org. With tools such as Science.gov and WorldWideScience.org, the patron gains access to multiple, geographically dispersed deep web databases and can search all of the constituent sources with a single query.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is both historical and descriptive.

Findings

That WorldWideScience.org fills a unique niche in discovering scientific material in an information landscape that includes search engines such as Google and Google Scholar.

Originality/value

This is one of the few papers to describe in depth the important work being done by the US Office of Scientific and Technical Information in the field of search and discovery.
UK PubMed Central: becoming the information resource of choice for the UK's life sciences research community
Authors: Davey Paul
Published: May 2010

Purpose

Supported by the UK's eight principle funders of biomedical and health research, UK PubMed Central (UKPMC) is being developed in close consultation with its intended user community – the researchers. This paper seeks to outline why there is a need to develop a UK‐specific version of this well‐known and very popular free service, and what practical approaches have taken towards bringing a Beta service live for all to use and feedback on.

Design/methodology/approach

The approach to development of UKPMC has been consultative and iterative. Through surveys, focus groups and one‐to‐one user tests the aim has been to develop a service which can fit neatly into a researcher's workflow. Coordinating the programme itself has required close collaboration between organisations which are quite diverse both culturally and administratively.

Findings

Through developing UKPMC, technology has been melded together with practical delivery. The text mining functionality that the service now offers is truly innovative, and there is further potential to develop this. The recently launched Beta service (beta.ukpmc.ac.uk) will continue to be honed – particularly its text mining functionality – through ongoing user consultation and feedback. It is perceived that this flexible approach to development is essential in offering a service that is truly useful for the UK's life sciences research community and offers a compelling reason to use it as a valid and ground breaking alternative to PubMed Central (the US version).

Originality/value

The originality and value of UKPMC should be judged by the research community. All life sciences researchers are invited to try the beta site.
Interlending and document supply: a review of the recent literature: 70
Authors: McGrath Mike
Published: May 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide a review of the most recent literature concerning document supply and related matters.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is based on the reading of over 150 journals as well as monographs, reports and web sites.

Findings

The paper finds that document supply (both returnables and non‐returnables) continues to grow in the USA albeit more modestly than in the past; however globally decline continues although again more modestly. The tension caused by the Big Deals and Serial backfiles consuming more and more of reduced library budgets will increase as the cuts bite. Statistical analysis of serial usage continues with interesting results showing that 50 per cent of journals in many libraries only account for a few percentage points of demand

Originality/value

The paper is a useful source of information for librarians and others interested in document supply and related matters.
Integrated optical and electronic interconnect PCB manufacturing research
Authors: Selviah David R. , Walker Andy C. , Hutt David A. , Wang Kai , McCarthy Aongus , Anibal Fernández F. , Papakonstantinou Ioannis , Baghsiahi Hadi , Suyal Himanshu , Taghizadeh Mohammad , Conway Paul , Chappell John , Zakariyah Shefiu S. , Milward Dave , Pitwon Richard , Hopkins Ken , Muggeridge Malcolm , Rygate Jeremy , Calver Jonathan , Kandulski Witold , Deshazer David J. , Hueston Karen , Ives David J. , Ferguson Robert , Harris Subrena , Hinde Gary , Cole Martin , White Henry , Suyal Navin , ur Rehman Habib , Bryson Chris
Published: May 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the research in a project aimed at developing manufacturing techniques for integrated optical and electronic interconnect printed circuit boards (OPCB) including the motivation for this research, the progress, the achievements and the interactions between the partners.

Design/methodology/approach

Several polymer waveguide fabrication methods were developed including direct laser write, laser ablation and inkjet printing. Polymer formulations were developed to suit the fabrication methods. Computer‐aided design (CAD) tools were developed and waveguide layout design rules were established. The CAD tools were used to lay out a complex backplane interconnect pattern to meet practical demanding specifications for use in a system demonstrator.

Findings

Novel polymer formulations for polyacrylate enable faster writing times for laser direct write fabrication. Control of the fabrication parameters enables inkjet printing of polysiloxane waveguides. Several different laser systems can be used to form waveguide structures by ablation. Establishment of waveguide layout design rules from experimental measurements and modelling enables successful first time layout of complex interconnection patterns.

Research limitations/implications

The complexity and length of the waveguides in a complex backplane interconnect, beyond that achieved in this paper, is limited by the bend loss and by the propagation loss partially caused by waveguide sidewall roughness, so further research in these areas would be beneficial to give a wider range of applicability.

Originality/value

The paper gives an overview of advances in polymer formulation, fabrication methods and CAD tools, for manufacturing of complex hybrid‐integrated OPCBs.
New lifecycle monitoring system for electronic manufacturing with embedded wireless components
Authors: Bindel Axel , Conway Paul , Justham Laura , West Andrew
Published: May 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present an update of and the latest results from work on a project aimed at monitoring electronic products during the whole life cycle with embedded wireless components.

Design/methodology/approach

Business processes of the electronic manufacturing supply chain were analysed. A business case and the system opportunities for life cycle monitoring, based on embedded wireless components system were developed. Radio frequency identification (RFID) assembly technology was adapted for the integration of components into a multi‐layer printed circuit board (PCB).

Findings

By storing product‐related information into electronic products, tracing of components, monitoring of processes, operations and costs, environmentally optimised recycling can be enhanced.

Research limitations/implications

The research undertaken so far relates to the embedding of RFID tags into PCBs. Wireless components with more processing power will be used in the next project phase.

Originality/value

The paper details how wireless components can be embedded into multi‐layer PCBs and how a business case for a life cycle monitoring system can be established.
Printing technology for ubiquitous electronics
Authors: Sheats Jayna R. , Biesty David , Noel Julien , Taylor Gary N.
Published: May 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the economics of various printing processes proposed for small‐scale electronic products such as radio frequency identification tags, smart cards, and wireless sensors, and to present a new transfer printing method.

Design/methodology/approach

The costs of several types of microstructuring techniques were calculated from commercial product data, along with a detailed spreadsheet simulation of inkjet printing for microelectronics. A new material for transfer printing was developed, along with suitable tooling for placing small and thin dice on flexible substrates.

Findings

The cost analysis of inkjet printing suggests that it may not be substantially less expensive than conventional silicon technology for this purpose, while achieving inferior performance. Offset printing is cheaper but further from practicality. The new transfer printing process successfully prints very small silicon dice at high speed, and appears to meet the market needs with respect to cost, product performance and flexibility in readily producing different designs.

Research limitations/implications

The cost analysis depends on assumptions which are not all well known, and which change with time. The new method has not yet been run in a high‐volume production mode. Such experience will be necessary to fully confirm its value.

Originality/value

This analysis identifies cost factors which have not been generally appreciated in public discussions of printed electronics. The transfer printing process offers a unique way to make cost‐effective use of silicon integrated circuits which are much smaller than any that appear in products today, and may have ramifications beyond the original target of tags and sensors.
Discontinuous Galerkin time‐domain solution of Maxwell's equations on locally refined grids with fictitious domains
Authors: Bouquet A. , Dedeban C. , Piperno S.
Published: May 2010

Purpose

The use of the prominent finite difference time‐domain (FDTD) method for the time‐domain solution of electromagnetic wave propagation past devices with small geometrical details can require very fine grids and can lead to unmanageable computational time and storage. The purpose of this paper is to extend the analysis of a discontinuous Galerkin time‐domain (DGTD) method (able to handle possibly non‐conforming locally refined grids, based on portions of Cartesian grids) and investigate the use of perfectly matched layer regions and the coupling with a fictitious domain approach. The use of a DGTD method with a locally refined, non‐conforming mesh can help focusing on these small details. In this paper, the adaptation to the DGTD method of the fictitious domain approach initially developed for the FDTD is considered, in order to avoid the use of a volume mesh fitting the geometry near the details.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on a DGTD method, a fictitious domain approach is developed to deal with complex and small geometrical details.

Findings

The fictitious domain approach is a very interesting complement to the FDTD method, since it makes it possible to handle complex geometries. However, the fictitious domain approach requires small volume elements, thus making the use of the FDTD on wide, regular, fine grids often unmanageable. The DGTD method has the ability to handle easily locally refined grids and the paper shows it can be coupled to a fictitious domain approach.

Research limitations/implications

Although the stability and dispersion analysis of the DGTD method is complete, the theoretical analysis of the fictitious domain approach in the DGTD context is not. It is a subject of further investigation (which could provide important insights for potential improvements).

Originality/value

This is believed to be the first time a DGTD method is coupled with a fictitious domain approach.
Averaged modelling of multilevel converters
Authors: Ammous Kaiçar , Haouas Elyes , Abid Slim
Published: May 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop a simulation tool which permits reducing the cost of long time‐range simulation of complex converters and running at high frequency.

Design/methodology/approach

A different method is used to represent a simplified converter but the adopted technique uses the average representation of the cell converter.

Findings

The paper shows that the use of averaged representation of the pulse width modulation switch in multilevel converters is staying applied. The main advantage of the proposed averaged model is its simplified representation when only electrical behaviour is considered.

Research limitations/implications

The analytical algorithm of the averaged model can be introduced in different simulator as it has a description language, enabling study of theCompatibilité Electromagnétiqueand electrothermal phenomena.

Originality/value

This paper presents an averaged model of the multilevel converter which can be implemented in any simulator as it has a description language.
Electromagnetic analysis of an AC electric arc furnace including the modeling of an AC arc
Authors: Kiyoumarsi Arash , Nazari Abolfazl , Ataei Mohammad , Khademhosseini Beheshti Hamid , Hooshmand Rahmat‐Allah
Published: May 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present a 3D finite element model of the electromagnetic fields in an AC three‐phase electric arc furnace (EAF). The model includes the electrodes, arcs, and molten bath.

Design/methodology/approach

The electromagnetic field in terms of time in AC arc is also modeled, utilizing a 3D finite element method (3D FEM). The arc is supposed to be an electro‐thermal unit with electrical power as input and thermal power as output. The average Joule power, calculated during the transient electromagnetic analysis of the AC arc furnace, can be used as a thermal source for the thermal analysis of the inner part of furnace. Then, by attention to different mechanisms of heat transfer in the furnace (convection and radiation from arc to bath, radiation from arc to the inner part of furnace and radiation from the bath to the sidewall and roof panel of the furnace), the temperature distribution in different parts of the furnace is calculated. The thermal model consists of the roof and sidewall panels, electrodes, bath, refractory, and arc. The thermal problem is solved in the steady state for the furnace without slag and with different depths of slag.

Findings

Current density, voltage and magnetic field intensity in the arcs, molten bath and electrodes are predicted as a result of applying the three‐phase AC voltages to the EAF. The temperature distribution in different parts of the furnace is also evaluated as a result of the electromagnetic field analysis.

Research limitations/implications

This paper considers an ideal condition for the AC arc. Non‐linearity of the arc during the melting, which leads to power quality disturbances, is not considered. In most prior researches on the electrical arc furnace, a non‐linear circuit model is usually used for calculation of power quality phenomena distributions. In this paper, the FEM is used instead of non‐linear circuits, and calculated voltage and current densities in the linear arc model. The FEM results directly depend on the physical properties considered for the arc.

Originality/value

Steady‐state arc shapes, based on the Bowman model, are used to calculate and evaluate the geometry of the arc in a real and practical three‐phase AC arc furnace. A new approach to modeling AC arcs is developed, assuming that the instantaneous geometry of the AC arc at any time is constant and is similar to the geometry of a DC arc with the root mean square value of the current waveform of the AC arc. A time‐stepping 3D FEM is utilized to calculate the electromagnetic field in the AC arc as a function of time.
Determination of electromagnetic torque with on‐line computation of the optimal radius of the integration contour
Authors: Stępień Sławomir
Published: May 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to calculate the electromagnetic torque at a radius of an integration contour for which an optimal value is determined.

Design/methodology/approach

To analyze electrical machine dynamics, the electromagnetic torque should be precisely determined. This paper presents a method for calculating the torque, where the radius of the integration contour is variable and estimated from the field distribution.

Findings

The electromagnetic torque of the three‐phase AC motor model proposed in TEAM Problem No. 30 is estimated using the proposed method. The obtained results are compared to solutions obtained analytically.

Originality/value

This paper examines the application of the presented method to determine the electromagnetic torque in three‐phase AC motors.
Design optimization of three‐phase energy efficient induction motor using adaptive bacterial foraging algorithm
Authors: Sakthivel V.P. , Bhuvaneswari R. , Subramanian S.
Published: May 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present the application of an adaptive bacterial foraging (BF) algorithm for the design optimization of an energy efficient induction motor.

Design/methodology/approach

The induction motor design problem is formulated as a mixed integer nonlinear optimization problem. A set of nine independent variables is selected, and to make the machine feasible and practically acceptable, six constraints are imposed on the design. Two different objective functions are considered, namely, the annual active material cost, and the sum of the annual active material cost, annual cost of the active power loss of the motor and annual energy cost required to supply such power loss. A new adaptive BF algorithm is used for solving the optimization problem. A generic penalty function method, which does not require any penalty coefficient, is employed for constraint handling.

Findings

The adaptive BF algorithm is validated for two sample motors and benchmarked with the genetic algorithm, particle swarm optimization, simple BF algorithm, and conventional design methods. The results show that the proposed algorithm outperforms the other methods in both the solution quality and convergence rate. The annual cost of the induction motor is remarkably reduced when designed on the basis of minimizing its annual total cost, instead of minimizing its material cost only.

Originality/value

To the best of the knowledge, none of the existing work has applied the BF algorithms for electrical machine design problems. Therefore, the solution to this problem constitutes the main contribution of the paper. According to the huge number of induction motors operating all over the world, the BF techniques used in their design, on minimum annual cost basis, will lead to a tremendous saving in global energy consumption.
Reduced‐order macromodeling of parameterized frequency responses
Authors: Condon Marissa
Published: May 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to propose a methodology for forming compact reduced‐order macromodels of interconnect systems to enable real‐time design exploration and efficient manufacturing tolerance assessment.

Design/methodology/approach

A multi‐parameter moment‐matching‐based technique and a multivariate orthonormal macromodelling technique are combined to form an effective and efficient reduced‐order model that approximates the frequency‐domain behaviour of an interconnect system based on several design variables.

Findings

Results will confirm the efficacy of the approach and its superiority to application of the moment‐matching‐based method alone.

Research limitations/implications

With the ever growing complexity of high‐frequency systems in the electronic industry, formation of compact macromodels is crucial for fast and efficient design and analysis.

Originality/value

Combination of the individual techniques is novel and increases the efficiency of the ultimate macromodel.
An improved algorithm of finding steady‐state solutions for AC machines
Authors: Sobczyk Tadeusz
Published: May 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to reduce issues arising when computing steady‐state solutions for AC machine models using the harmonic balance method.

Design/methodology/approach

Generally, currents at steady‐states of AC machines are described by periodic or quasi‐periodic time functions, which Fourier spectra are determined by an infinite set of algebraic equations obtained from a harmonic balance method. To solve them, after reducing to finite dimensions, an iterative algorithm is developed in this paper. It bases on the LU decomposition of an infinite matrix representing the inductance matrix of an AC machine. Since that decomposition is done separately, due to a band type form of this matrix, the equation set determining the Fourier spectra of currents is solved recurrently.

Findings

An algorithm for the LU decomposition of an infinite matrix representing the inductance matrix of an AC machine and an iterative algorithm for determining AC machine steady‐state currents in a recursive manner.

Research limitations/implications

The approach is limited to solving of so‐called “circuital” models of AC voltage supplied machines. The approach breaks the large dimension barrier when solving steady‐state equations for AC machines.

Practical implications

Reducing computer requirements in terms of computer memory, workload and computing time to determine a steady‐state solution for AC machines.

Originality/value

A separation of the LU decomposition of an infinite matrix representing the inductance matrix in AC machine steady‐state model from the solution method.
Voltage distribution along a long ceramic insulator string in a high‐voltage tower window
Authors: Zhang Bo , He Jinliang , Zeng Rong , Liang Xidong
Published: May 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to introduce an efficient model for analysis of the voltage distribution along the long ceramic insulator strings in a high‐voltage tower window, especially when the structure and parameters of the ceramic insulator are unknown. The effect of the grading ring on the voltage distribution is also investigated.

Design/methodology/approach

A circuit model composed of capacitors is used to analyze the voltage distribution along the ceramic insulator strings in a transmission tower window. The capacitances of the disk insulators, line conductors, and tower are obtained by using the finite element method, charge simulation method, boundary element method, and measurement according to their characteristics.

Findings

The model is very efficient. The voltage distribution along insulator strings can be optimized by adjusting the parameters of the grading ring. The maximum amount of voltage applied to a single insulator disk can be reduced effectively by increasing either the diameter of the grading ring or the distance from the upper surface of the grading ring to the high‐voltage end of the insulator string.

Originality/value

The model is very efficient for analysis of the voltage distribution along the long ceramic insulator strings, especially when the structure and parameters of the ceramic insulator are unknown.
Simulation accuracy of the built‐in PSCAD and an owner‐defined synchronous machine model
Authors: Abdulahovic Tarik , Teleke Sercan , Thiringer Torbjorn , Svensson Jan
Published: May 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the influence of time steps, integration methods, and saturation modeling on the accuracy of the synchronous machine model. This model is compared with the PSCAD built‐in synchronous machine model in order to compare the accuracy of one of the most used synchronous machine models in a commercially available software versus a well‐documented and widely accepted state‐space synchronous machine model.

Design/methodology/approach

In the paper, a synchronous condenser with the saturation phenomenon is modeled using state‐space equations in the rotating dq‐reference frame and is implemented both in Matlab/Simulink and PSCAD. Integration methods of up to the fifth order are implemented for increased accuracy. The saturation modeling includes modeling of the saturation in both d‐ and q‐axis. A steady‐state and dynamic performance comparison towards the built‐in PSCAD synchronous machine model is performed. The saturation modeling does not include the saturation of the leakage fluxes.

Findings

When the forward Euler method is used, in order to obtain less than 5 percent error, the time step should not exceed 5 μs. The third‐order Runge‐Kutta method is the preferred choice and it provides desired accuracy when the time step is equal or smaller than 1,000 μs. The built‐in PSCAD model satisfies the error criteria for time steps smaller than 300 μs. A small discrepancy of 2 percent is found during the steady‐state test.

Originality/value

The paper presents the performance of the higher order integration methods in an EMTP‐type software environment where the trapezoidal integration method is most often used. It provides a good guide for building an owner‐defined model. A comparison of a dynamic performance between the publicly documented state‐space and a synchronous machine models commonly used for power system transient studies is presented.
Speeding up the simulation of the semiconductor device under microwave interference
Authors: Chen Xi , Du Zhengwei , Gong Ke
Published: May 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study the impact of high‐power microwave interferences on electronic devices needs the simulation of semiconductor components. Although the semiconductor equations can be solved numerically by Newton method, the conventional Newton method exhibits significant speed degradation when the power of interference is high enough to cause device burnout. Therefore, this paper aims at speeding up the simulation of the semiconductor components under high‐power microwave interferences.

Design/methodology/approach

Some approximations in conventional Newton method works efficiently only when the electric field in the simulated semiconductor is relatively low. This is the reason of the formerly mentioned speed degradation problem. The proposed method speeds up the simulation by modifying these approximations to acquire enough precision in these high‐power situations.

Findings

The modified Newton method proposed in this paper shows an acceleration of 100‐150 percent compared to conventional method for typical applications. Moreover, the simulation speed becomes nearly independent of the power of the microwave interferences, which means the speed degradation phenomenon of the conventional method has almost been eliminated.

Originality/value

This paper proposes a modified Newton method to speed up the simulation of the semiconductor components under high‐power microwave interferences.
Prediction of local instabilities in open‐loop induction motor drives
Authors: Vasić Veran V. , Marčetić Darko P. , Vukosavić Slobodan N. , Oros Đura V.
Published: May 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to propose an analytical method for prediction of self‐sustained oscillations that might happen during low‐cost induction motor drive application. This forecast is needed to avoid unwanted oscillations that can be encountered for in fan, compressor and pump drives utilizing open‐loop frequency‐controlled three‐phase induction motor drives.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper presents the model of the induction motor drive system that includes inverter switches dead‐time and allows discontinuous current of front‐end rectifier. Stability analysis of proposed model was performed by tracing the eigenvalues of the overall system matrix.

Findings

Discontinuous rectifier current at light loads and the dead‐time of the inverter switches are the main sources of undesired low‐frequency self‐sustained speed oscillations in open‐loop controlled induction motor drives. The evaluated risk prediction is a function of drive and motor parameters and load level.

Originality/value

The proposed induction motor drive system model highlights the direct connection between the self‐sustained speed oscillations and the system parameters like inverter dead time, dc capacitor values, motor parameters and motor load level. Good accuracy of instability prediction is verified by dynamic simulation and by extensive experimentation.
An holistic approach to understanding the changing nature of organisational structure
Authors: Doherty Neil F. , Champion Donna , Wang Leitao
Published: May 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to report on an exploratory study to revisit and critically reappraise the impact of IT upon organisational structure, by exploring how the deployment of ERP, when accompanied by a specific strategic orientation, impacted upon the host organisation's structural design.

Design/methodology/approach

The study was initially enacted through a postal questionnaire survey of IT managers within a sample of China's largest manufacturing organisations. Follow‐up interviews were then conducted with senior managers, who had first‐hand experience of working on ERP implementations, to help to more fully understand the impact of ERP upon organisational structure.

Findings

The study found that the implementation of ERP technology and the strategic orientation of the host organisation are both likely to modify the structural design of Chinese manufacturing organisations. Moreover, it has been found that the success of an ERP deployment is a stronger predictor of organisational form than the scale of the deployment. The results of the study would also suggest that ERP is more likely to affect structural changes, when deployed in the presence of a complementary “prospector” corporate strategy.

Practical implications

The study provides clear new evidence that ERP is likely to have a significant impact upon organisational structure, but, because of the complexity of the technology and the uniqueness of every organisational context, the authors offer no simple prescriptions or panaceas as to how it should be managed. However, managers should be aware that an ERP implementation will almost certainly affect organisational structure, and then take steps to ensure that such changes are carefully and proactively managed.

Originality/value

There is already a rich and established literature with regard to the impact of IT upon organisational structure. However, it could be argued that by focussing upon ERP, by explicitly modelling the effect of strategy and by taking a holistic view of organisational structure, the paper is able to offer a far more subtle view of the complexities of the relationship between IT and organisational structure than prior studies.
Translation in XBRL standardization
Authors: Troshani Indrit , Lymer Andy
Published: May 2010

Purpose

Extensible business reporting language (XBRL) presents new opportunities for integrating the flow of financial information within communities of diverse organizations, thereby significantly enhancing the business information supply chain and addressing existing efficiency, accuracy and transparency problems. Vital to its success, XBRL standardization is proving to be challenging. This paper aims to investigate the phenomena that occur when heterogeneous actors interact in attempts to standardize XBRL.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing upon actor‐network theory (ANT) the authors “follow the actors” participating in the standardization of XBRL in Australia. Supporting qualitative empirical evidence was collected via interviews and reviews of XBRL artifacts and relevant technical documentation.

Findings

The authors confirm the critical role of focal actors in standardizing XBRL in networks of heterogeneous actors. In addition to clear and indispensable value propositions and solid political and financial support, focal actors must also undertake effective problematization which can determine the manner in which interessement unfolds in their network. It is found that separation or even lack of alignment between technical standardization efforts and social and strategic orientation can be detrimental to translation effectiveness and network stability, and therefore, adversely affect standardization outcomes.

Originality/value

By presenting unsuccessful and potentially successful focal actors side by side, the paper contributes to the current body of knowledge by enhancing current understanding of their role in achieving effective translations in XBRL standardization networks. It also provides the most analytical review to date of actor interaction in XBRL standardization in the literature.