bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Resource endowments, market positioning, and competition in transitional economies
Authors: Wilson Rick T. , Amine Lyn S.
Published: January 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to draw upon the resource‐based view (RBV) of the firm in order to assess the “who, when, where, and how” questions about use of resources in shaping market positioning by global and local firms in a transitional economy (TE).

Design/methodology/approach

The paper utilizes a longitudinal case‐study approach to present and discuss resource asymmetry between global and local advertising agencies operating in Hungary.

Findings

RBV proves to be valuable theory, revealing an interesting and unexpected range of sources and types of resources that are being used to advantage by local and global agencies competing in Hungary. Earlier historical asymmetries in resource endowments contributed to a notable division between global and local agencies according to market sector. Specific resources, such as reputation, access to global resources, and use of Western‐style business practices, proved beneficial to global firms after Hungarian market liberalization in 1989, while interpersonal relationships have emerged as a valuable resource, regardless of context.

Research limitations/implications

Use of a convenience cross‐sectional sampling method may contribute to some halo effects and personal bias. Additionally, results may be limited in their applicability only to the advertising industry and to Hungary as a specific TE. Future research should validate these findings in other industries and other TEs.

Practical implications

Findings from this study offer marketing managers operating in TEs fresh insights into how asymmetries in resource endowments at various points in an infant industry's life cycle act to influence choice of market positioning strategies and subsequent success of firms competing in the industry.

Originality/value

This paper provides rich detail of the advertising industry in Hungary, suggesting directions for study of advertising industries in other TEs, not only in Eastern Europe. Results from this study increase confidence in the generalizability of RBV theory by demonstrating its usefulness and flexibility when applied to an unusual context in terms of time and space.
Contextual and cultural factors underlying Americanization
Authors: Samuel Craig C. , Douglas Susan P. , Bennett Aronte
Published: January 2009

Purpose

American cultural influence is evident throughout the world to varying degrees. The purpose of this paper is to examine factors that influence the extent to which a particular country adopts elements of American culture. Factors related to information, ideas, technology, goods, and capital as well as cultural proximity are used to explain the degree of Americanization a country exhibits.

Design/methodology/approach

A conceptual framework is developed that looks at culture, Americanization and the related construct of internationalization. The extent of consumption of products related to American culture in a sample of 23 Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development countries was examined. These included the number of McDonald's per capita, amount spent on US filmed entertainment, including television, and imports from the USA.

Findings

Cultural proximity to the USA was found to be associated with a greater degree of Americanization as evidenced by more McDonald's per capita and greater consumption of filmed entertainment from the USA. A country's openness to trade, as indicated by exports, foreign direct investment, and tourism, negatively influenced consumption of filmed entertainment. A country's progressiveness was weakly related to the number of McDonald's. None of the independent variables influenced imports from the USA.

Practical implications

The role of cultural proximity in fostering the adoption of products with cultural content suggests that it may be useful, along with other factors, in identifying attractive markets. Further, while this study focused on the spread of American culture, the fundamental process underlying the spread of other cultures should be similar.

Originality/value

The paper is unique in that it attempts to look analytically at surrogates of American influence in other countries, rather than rely on anecdotal accounts. It uses measures that may have broader applicability and lays the foundation for additional inquiries.
Segmenting socially responsible mutual fund investors
Authors: Nilsson Jonas
Published: January 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to address reasons for consumer investment in socially responsible investment (SRI) profiled mutual funds. Specifically, the paper deals with the relative influence of financial return and social responsibility on the decision to invest in SRI profiled mutual funds.

Design/methodology/approach

A cluster analytic approach was used where 563 SR‐investors were classified into different segments based on their perception of importance of financial return and social responsibility. Furthermore, discriminant analysis and chi2 tests were used to profile the segments.

Findings

Three segments of SR‐investors were formed. The “primarily concerned about profit” SR‐investors value financial return over social responsibility. The “primarily concerned about social responsibility” value social responsibility over financial return. The “socially responsible and return driven” SR‐investors value both return and social responsibility when deciding to invest in SRI. The segments displayed distinct differences with regard to various profiling variables.

Research limitations/implications

As respondents were generated from one SRI provider, it is possible that the respondents are not fully representative of all SR‐investors.

Practical implications

Since there are segments of SR‐investors that invest in SRI because of different reasons, there is an opportunity for SRI providers to target and adapt communication to certain segments.

Originality/value

For both academia and the SRI industry this study provides useful knowledge on how private SR‐investors handle the issue of financial return and social responsibility when investing in SRI. This understanding of the differing motivations of the SR‐investor also holds practical importance for developing appropriate marketing strategies within the SRI industry.
Empirical analysis of internet banking adoption in Poland
Authors: Polasik Michal , Piotr Wisniewski Tomasz
Published: January 2009

Purpose

This paper seeks to identify empirically the factors underlying the decision to adopt online banking in Poland.

Design/methodology/approach

The sample used in this study is based on 3,519 interactive questionnaires completed by Polish internet users. The dichotomous decision of whether to adopt internet banking services was linked, via Binomial Logistic Regression, to numerous explanatory variables.

Findings

Generally, the behaviour of Polish internet users and that of consumers in more developed countries exhibit similar traits. One of the dominant relationships that has been observed in our study is the link between the decision to open an online account and the perceived level of security of internet transactions. Experience with the medium of internet and certain demographic variables also proved to be robust predictors of the adoption status. Moreover, this inquiry documents that advertising appears to be efficacious and that online banking interacts with consumption of other products offered by banks. These findings imply that financial institutions can encourage customers to use this cost‐effective distribution channel through carefully‐planned actions.

Practical implications

The results presented in this paper can be of assistance to banks that either operate in Poland or intend to design a pan‐European strategy. Useful insights are also provided with regard to market segmentation, security and strategies fostering the acceptance of online banking.

Originality/value

The analysis is based on a large sample and broadens our understanding of the attitudes towards innovative financial products by considering factors rarely discussed in prior literature.
The role of consumer innovativeness and perceived risk in online banking usage
Authors: Aldás‐Manzano Joaquín , Lassala‐Navarré Carlos , Ruiz‐Mafé Carla , Sanz‐Blas Silvia
Published: January 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyse how consumer innovativeness can be used as a variable to positively influence internet banking adoption both directly and reducing consumer perceived risk.

Design/methodology/approach

The impact of innovativeness and risk on internet banking adoption has been tested through structural equation modelling techniques. The sample consists of 511 Spanish internet banking services users accessed through an internet survey. Risk has been measured as a formative construct.

Findings

Results reveals consumer innovativeness as a key construct to improve e‐banking adoption both directly and by its effective role in reducing consumer risk perception of using internet channel in the financial services context.

Practical implications

Practical guidelines are provided to bank managers on how to use consumer innovativeness level as a segmentation variable to increase the use of internet banking among actual customers who are non users or light users of the electronic channel.

Originality/value

There is a lack of studies which connect consumer innovativeness and perceived risk in the electronic commerce context and specially on e‐banking research. Formative configuration of risk is quite an innovative approach to measure this construct.
Evaluation of pure tin plated copper alloy substrates for tin whiskers
Authors: Mathew Sony , Osterman Michael , Pecht Michael , Dunlevey Frank
Published: January 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present the results from work on a project aimed at evaluating six different copper alloy substrates coated with pure tin for tin whisker growth. The influence of intermetallic growth between the copper alloy substrate and the tin‐plating on the growth of tin whiskers has been investigated.

Design/methodology/approach

The experiment consisted of six substrates of different alloys of copper, plated with bright tin including copper beryllium, cartridge brass, phosphor bronze, Cu‐Ni‐Si “7025” and Cu‐Ni‐Sn “spinodal”. The samples were mechanically stressed and then subjected to temperature humidity storage conditions for 1,000 h. These samples were then evaluated for tin whisker growth and intermetallic layer thickness.

Findings

Of the six samples five showed tin whisker growth. For these samples the intermetallic layer thickness has little effect on tin whisker growth. Sample with Cu‐Ni‐Sn “spinodal” alloy substrate showed very low whisker density and comparatively lower maximum whisker length than the other tested substrate material.

Research limitations/implications

More samples per condition should be evaluated to bolster the conclusions. For the sample without tin whisker growth, holes on the surface of the plating were observed. The holes in the plating provide an opportunity for stress relaxation after the plating process. Since stress in the plating layer is low, tin whiskers are not formed on the sample surface.

Originality/value

The paper details the tin whisker growth on six tin plated copper substrate samples. The intermetallic layer thickness for each copper alloy substrate is calculated. The relationship between the intermetallic layer thickness and tin whisker growth for the six substrates are discussed.
Intrinsically conductive polymer for PWB direct metallization: process reliability by process management
Authors: Rasmussen Jean
Published: January 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe in detail the direct metallization of printed wiring boards using ENVISION® HDI for the selective formation of intrinsic conductive polymer.

Design/methodology/approach

The process technology offers several advantages over the most commonly used electroless copper process: including higher through‐put; no deposition on metallic surfaces eliminating needs for post‐treatment in a micro‐etch, few process steps; significant reductions in water consumption and waste water, which does not contain hazardeous components such as metal, chelators and formaldehyde.

Findings

ENVISION HDI consists of only three process modules (conditioner, initiator and catalyst), each controlled by standard analytical technologies. In addition the quality out‐put of each module is monitored using a second set of standardized procedures, ensuring total process management, hence documenting complete process reliability.

Originality/value

This paper describes in detail quality control approaches for each process segment to provide a high level of performance and quality assurance for the process as a whole.
A compact ultra‐wideband bandpass filter with ultra‐fine conductor trace based on liquid crystal polymer substrates
Authors: Zhang Xia , Liu Johan , Kärnfelt Camilla , Ma Shiwei , Wang Xu , Meng Linqin , Zirath Herbert
Published: January 2009

Purpose

Liquid Crystal Polymer (LCP) materials are considered to be promising substrates for wireless applications because of their excellent properties. The purpose of this paper is to describe now a novel and compact microstrip ultra‐wideband bandpass filter (UWB BPF) with ultra‐fine conductor traces working over 22 to 29 GHz is fabricated on LCP substrates.

Design/methodology/approach

Using standard processing technology, such as photolithography, plasma pretreatment, sputter deposition and wet etching, a microstrip UWB BPF is fabricated on LCP substrates. In order to obtain better adhesion between LCP substrate and copper, the oxygen plasma pretreatment of the LCP substrate surface and a thin titanium adhesion layer are introduced before a copper layer is sputter‐deposited onto the substrate.

Findings

The measured and the simulated results agree well. The measured insertion loss is about 8 dB in the passband of the bandpass filter, which is a little high compared to the simulated result (∼5 dB). The out of band performance at both the high frequency and low frequency is very good, almost higher than 35 dB.

Originality/value

This paper presents the realization of (UWB BPF) working over 22 to 29 GHz based on an LCP substrate, which demonstrates the feasibility of the application of the LCP substrate in RF wireless systems and also gives some useful information for later research.
Design and performance of metal conductors for stretchable electronic circuits
Authors: Gonzalez Mario , Axisa Fabrice , Bossuyt Frederick , Hsu Yung‐Yu , Vandevelde Bart , Vanfleteren Jan
Published: January 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present an update on the progress of the design and reliability of stretchable interconnections for electronic circuits.

Design/methodology/approach

Finite element modelling (FEM) is used to analyse the physical behaviour of stretchable interconnects under different loading conditions. The fatigue life of a copper interconnect embedded into a silicone matrix has been evaluated using the Coffin‐Manson relation and FEM.

Findings

The mechanical properties of the substrate and the design of the metal interconnection play an important role on the fatigue lifetime of circuit. In the case of copper embedded into a PDMS Sylgard 186, more than 2,500 tensile cycles have been observed for a periodic deformation of 10 per cent.

Research limitations/implications

Reliability results are limited and need further work to create a more accurate empirical model to estimate the lifetime of stretchable interconnections.

Originality/value

The combined use of FEM and experimental analysis enable a more reliable design of the stretchable metal interconnections. The proposed horseshoe design offers the benefit of reduced permanent damage during elongation.
Replacement of vias with polymer thick film pastes (PTF) for use on flexible substrates
Authors: Detert Markus , Zeise Michael , Wolter Klaus‐Jürgen
Published: January 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to give an overview of the benefits and challenges of different technologies for via replacement in the realization of flexible substrates with more than one layer.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper details the use of traditional technology for via formation and discusses the placement of jumpers (0 Ω resistors) and polymer thick film printing as alternative methods.

Findings

The paper covers a selection of possible techniques for replacement of vias. The results demonstrate the capability of polymer thick film pastes on flexible substrates. Depending on the requirements of the application and the operating environment, use of other substrate materials opens up a large variety of possible solutions.

Originality/value

The paper details the different techniques for via replacement and gives information about the different technological approaches.
Efficiency, ownership and financial structure in European banking
Authors: Girardone Claudia , Nankervis John C. , Velentza Ekaterini‐Fotini
Published: January 2009

Purpose

This paper aims to compare the cost efficiencies across bank‐and market‐based EU countries for the different groups of commercial, savings and co‐operative banks; and between listed and non‐listed banking institutions. In addition, it attempts to determine any potential implications for bank efficiency originating from differences in financial structure.

Design/methodology/approach

Efficiency scores are estimated using the Battese and Coelli's time‐varying stochastic frontier approach. The classification of bank‐ and market‐based financial systems is based on the World Bank's Financial Structure Database.

Findings

On the whole the results reject the agency theory hypothesis that managers of privately‐owned banks are more cost efficient than those of mutual banking institutions because of capital market devices as it is found that mutual banks operating in EU‐15 countries are significantly more cost efficient than commercial banks. Furthermore, results are mixed concerning the financial structure hypothesis that in developed financial systems bank efficiency should not be statistically different across bank‐vs market‐based economies.

Research limitations/implications

The analysis suggests that differences in cost efficiency across bank types can often be explained by the prevailing financial system in each economy.

Practical implications

The evidence illustrates the national diversity of corporate governance systems in Europe and can be important to policy makers who are concerned with the full integration of the European financial system.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, there are no previous similar empirical works for the EU banking sector. Such a study has important policy implications especially due to the fact that the EU banking sector is experiencing profound structural changes and a full integration has not yet been achieved.
Measuring and explaining the impact of vertical product differentiation on banking efficiency
Authors: Lozano‐Vivas Ana
Published: January 2009

Purpose

The paper attempts to analyze vertical product differentiation as a strategy pursued by European banks seeking greater market power and higher reputation for quality, and to examine whether this entails losses in banking efficiency.

Design/methodology/approach

First, the empirical analysis seeks to demonstrate whether borrowers at banks in Europe are willing to pay a premium to operate with banks that attempt to increase their reputation for quality in the market, i.e. whether banks use quality to vertically differentiate and so soften competition. To test such hypothesis requires us to define an empirical model with variables that describe certain characteristics of banking quality as explanatory variables of the loan interest to the market interest rate margin. This model is estimated by two stage least squares. Second, the paper seeks to test whether the market power derived from vertical product differentiation (quality reputation) prevents banks from operating efficiently. To test this hypothesis first we estimated cost efficiency taking into account bank risk preferences and then we define an empirical model that relates the results on efficiency with the margin of interest loan rate over the market interest rate.

Findings

The results show that less competition, deriving from a bank's ability to differentiate its services from those of its rivals through quality, is positive because it helps to provide a more stable banking system. Moreover, the banking market power generated by investing in quality does not prevent banks from operating efficiently from a production point of view.

Research limitations/implications

The findings are consistent with the view that European banks soften competition by being more stable, and this does not prevent cost efficiency. So it seems that the regulatory authorities should improve their solvency measures since borrowers’ preferences are to maintain relationships with non‐fragile banks, and on the other hand banks’ risk preferences seem to be to look for sound borrowers.

Practical implications

Frontier cost efficiency scores that account for bank's risk preference are able to be related with customer preferences based on the model of the industrial organization (10) based on vertical product differentiation in banking.

Originality/value

This is the first paper that relates vertical product differentiation with the results obtained from the literature on x‐efficiency. It is also the first paper that studies the impact of banking market power jointly with cost efficiency in social efficiency when market power comes as result of investing in reputation for banking quality.
Determinants of bank efficiency: evidence from a semi‐parametric methodology
Authors: Delis Manthos D. , Papanikolaou Nikolaos I.
Published: January 2009

Purpose

This paper aims to analyze bank efficiency into a number of bank‐specific, industry‐specific and macroeconomic determinants.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors follow a semi‐parametric two‐stage methodology, where productive efficiency is derived via a non‐parametric technique in the first stage and then the scores obtained are linked to a series of determinants of bank efficiency, using a double bootstrapping procedure.

Findings

Overall, it is found that the banking sectors of almost all the sample countries show a gradual improvement in their efficiency levels. The model used shows that a number of determinants like bank size, industry concentration and the investment environment have a positive impact on bank efficiency, which is not the case when standard Tobit models are employed.

Research limitations/implications

The findings have important implications for the relevance of well‐known hypotheses that refer to the performance of the banking sectors, like the structure‐conduct‐performance and the efficient structure hypotheses. These implications are not necessarily verified when past conventional econometric methodologies are used.

Practical implications

The paper offers new insights to policy makers, bank managers and practitioners on the relevance of a number of driving factors of bank efficiency that might help them to improve the performance of the banking system and enhance the quality of services provided.

Originality/value

This is the first paper in the bank efficiency literature that employs a semi‐parametric two‐stage model, which relaxes several deficiencies of previous two‐stage empirical approaches thus, offering a solution to the many problematic features of standard censored regressions.
Profit efficiency under a directional technology distance function approach
Authors: Koutsomanoli‐Filippaki Anastasia , Margaritis Dimitris , Staikouras Christos
Published: January 2009

Purpose

The aim of this study is to investigate profit efficiency in the banking industries of 11 Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries for the period 1998‐2005.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors employ a directional technology distance function approach to measure profit efficiency and decompose it into its technical and allocative components. They use these efficiency measures to investigate potential differences in banking performance across countries and across banks of different size and with different ownership status.

Findings

The results indicate that the highest proportion of profit inefficiency in the CEE region is attributed to allocative inefficiency, recognizing that considerable variation and different patterns in inefficiency levels across banking systems can be observed. Small and domestic private banks appear to be the most efficient. A negative relationship between efficiency and bank size, the capitalization ratio and market concentration, and a positive relationship with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development index of banking reform are also found.

Research limitations/implications

Bank performance relative to best practice is measured across the CEE region. While it is found that on average technical inefficiency is relatively small and about one quarter of the banks lie on the technological frontier, the size of technical inefficiencies is likely to be exacerbated if the sample were to include Western European banks.

Practical implications

The effects of banking reforms are evident by recent positive trends in profit and allocative efficiencies estimated for CEE banking sectors. These trends suggest that policy makers should intensify efforts to further improve the financial services regulatory and supervisory framework while freeing any remaining explicit or implicit barriers to bank competition.

Originality/value

The study departs from the traditional literature of efficiency. It uses a directional distance function approach to model multi input – multi output banking technology and to investigate profit efficiency in CEE countries.
The impact of foreign direct investment on total factor productivity growth
Authors: Tanna Sailesh
Published: January 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine the association between inward foreign direct investment (FDI) and bank level productivity changes.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper uses an international sample of 566 publicly quoted commercial banks operating in 75 countries, covering the period 2000‐2004. The empirical analysis is conducted in two stages. First, a non‐parametric Malmquist analysis is employed to decompose total factor productivity (TFP) change of banks into pure efficiency, scale efficiency and technological change. Then, panel regressions are performed to identify the productivity impact of FDI while controlling for relevant bank‐specific and country‐specific characteristics.

Findings

The results indicate that inward FDI has a negative short‐term level effect but a positive long‐term rate effect on TFP change, which is consistent with the evidence from the Malmquist analysis suggesting that banks experience episodes of technical regress and progress.

Originality/value

The paper explores for the first time the link between FDI and bank level total factor productivity, hypothesising that aggregate FDI inflows yield productivity changes in the banking sector as part of the overall environmental effect on the economy, and providing supportive cross‐country evidence.
Development of accuracy‐enhanced time‐domain schemes for bi‐isotropic media and chiral metamaterials
Authors: Bouzianas George , Kantartzis Nikolaos V. , Tsiboukis Theodoros D.
Published: January 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to conduct the accurate analysis and systematic characterisation of realistic generalised bi‐isotropic and lossy chiral metamaterial 3D applications at microwave frequencies.

Design/methodology/approach

An accuracy‐adjustable time‐domain methodology is developed. The technique uses a convex combination of optimal stencils along with an advanced wavefield decomposition to precisely model the highly dispersive, double negative nature of chirality and constitutive parameters. Furthermore, open‐region radiation or scattering problems are terminated through a pertinently modified perfectly matched layer (PML) of variable depth.

Findings

The paper reveals that the proposed algorithm is versatile in the generation of adaptive stencils that attain a very natural way of manipulating continuity conditions at material interfaces. Thus, when periodic structures with split‐ring resonators are to be modelled, the resulting schemes attain optimal precision and minimised dispersion errors. Numerical validation proves these merits via diverse demanding structures of curved shape and multiple layers.

Originality/value

The new technique introduces a family of piecewise polynomials and spatial discretization criteria which lead to additional degrees of freedom for the discrete vectors of the application. In this manner, grid dual is intrinsically embedded in the physical profile of the problem, without resorting to the simplified conventions of other approaches. Moreover, singularity points or demanding geometric discontinuities are properly manipulated, even via coarse lattice resolutions. Thus, the overall accuracy is significantly improved and the computational requirements remain in very logical and affordable levels.
On the shielding effectiveness of enclosures for transient near‐field sources
Authors: Möller Christian , Klinkenbusch Ludger
Published: January 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to introduce and investigate a useful and practicable definition of the shielding effectiveness (SE) of enclosures for transient near‐field sources.

Design/methodology/approach

The transient SE is defined as the ratio of electromagnetic energies absorbed by an unshielded and by a shielded vanishingly small load. That ratio can be found analytically by means of a suitable spherical‐multipole approach. The SE can be reduced to easily measurable values of frequency‐domain electric and magnetic fields.

Findings

Suitable factors are introduced which depend on the frequency and on the distance between the dipole source and the measurement point inside the shield. The proposed definition has been analytically evaluated and validated for the case of a cylindrical shield.

Originality/value

The paper extends a recently proposed definition of the transient SE for plane‐wave incidence to the case of a dipole near‐field source.
Current displacement in plane rectangular conductor
Authors: Ole Fichte Lars , Clemens Markus
Published: January 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide an analytical solution to the plane eddy current problem inside conductive bars with rectangular cross‐section.

Design/methodology/approach

Eddy currents inside conductive materials have been investigated for a very long time, using measurements and mathematical modelling. This paper provides an analytical solution to the plane eddy current problem inside conductive bars with rectangular cross‐section.

Findings

The paper's approach solves the given plane eddy current problem with the boundary integral equation method. The Helmholtz' equation for vector potential inside the rectangle is solved by separation. The solution is inserted into the remaining boundary integral equation for the exterior vector potential in the domain surrounding the conductor yielding a system of linear equations. Results match existing solutions.

Originality/value

The method discussed provides a new way to solve the EC problem and is slightly faster than the available commercial codes; yet, it is limited to rectangular bars of cross‐section.
Nonlinear eddy current analysis by line integral equations utilizing integral formulas of electromagnetic fields
Authors: Ishibashi Kazuhisa
Published: January 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to supply a numerical analysis tool to solve eddy currents induced in nonlinear materials such as steel by boundary element method (BEM), and then apply it to design and analysis of power devices.

Design/methodology/approach

Utilizing integral formulas derived on the basis of rapid attenuation of the electromagnetic fields, the paper formulates eddy currents in steel. In the formulation, nonlinear terms are regarded as virtual sources, which are improved iteratively with the electromagnetic fields on the surface. The periodic electromagnetic fields are expanded in Fourier series and each harmonic is analyzed by BEM. The surface and internal electromagnetic fields are obtained numerically one after the other until convergence by the Newton‐Raphson method.

Findings

It is confirmed that this approach gives accurate solutions with meshes much larger than the skin depth and therefore is adequate to apply to a large‐scale application.

Research limitations/implications

The eddy current is formulated by utilizing the impedance boundary condition in order to meet a large‐scale application, and so solutions near the edge are poor. In the case of better solutions being required, some modifications are necessary.

Originality/value

To lessen computer memory consumption, the parallel component of the currents to the steel surface is analyzed as a 2D problem and the normal component is obtained from the parallel component. One 2D equation for one analyzing region is discretized by dividing the region into layers adaptively and then solved. Next, another is solved sequentially. This method gives a compatible numerical analysis tool with finite element method.
Reduction of eddy current loss in magnetoplated wire
Authors: Mizuno Tsutomu , Enoki Shigemi , Suzuki Takayuki , Asahina Takashi , Noda Masahiro , Shinagawa Hiroki
Published: January 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to reduce eddy current loss in a wire that is affected by an alternating field passing through it. This allows the efficiency of transformers to be upgraded and the quality factor in coils to be increased.

Design/methodology/approach

The use of a magnetoplated wire (MPW) is proposed to reduce eddy current loss in a wire. An MPW is a copper wire (COW) whose circumference is plated with a magnetic thin film. In additional, the theoretical equation for eddy current loss in an MPW is derived for ease of analysis.

Findings

The eddy current loss in an MPW is calculated as a function of the relative permeability and resistivity of its magnetic thin film to reduce the resistance due to the proximity effect of a coil. The eddy current loss in an MPW whose magnetic thin film has a relative permeability of 500 and a resistivity of 0.12 μΩm can be reduced to 4 percent that of COW at a frequency of 1 MHz.

Originality/value

The use of MPW can be expected to upgrade the efficiency of transformers and to increase the quality factor in coils.
Eddy current brake with two pole pairs
Authors: Baum Eckhard , Eberhardt Stefan
Published: January 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to derive a force‐velocity characteristic for an eddy current brake with minor computational effort.

Design/methodology/approach

The speed range is split into two domains. While in the low‐speed domain it is possible to achieve a closed form expression for the force‐velocity characteristic in the high‐speed region approximations have to be introduced.

Findings

The derived relation for the force‐velocity characteristic has been compared with measurement results. The comparison shows that the approach yields good results for not too large air gaps.

Originality/value

A combination of analytical and approximative methods has been used for the determination of the force‐velocity characteristic of an eddy current brake with two pole pairs.
3D movement simulation technique in FVM method application to eddy current non destructive testing
Authors: Cheriet Ahmed , Feliachi Mouloud , Mohamed Mimoune Souri
Published: January 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to propose modelling 3D eddy current non destructive testing (EC NDT) problems by the finite volume method (FVM). Furthermore, the movement of the probe coil is taken into account.

Design/methodology/approach

The nonconforming mesh technique is used to handle the displacement of the probe coil. Thus, the whole problem is divided into two parts; moving part (probe coil) and fixed part (specimen with crack), and then each part meshes independently. A computer code is built under Matlab program to generate 3D nonconforming mesh, to calculate magnetic and electric potentials and to evaluate the impedance change of the coil due to the presence of the crack.

Findings

The JSAEM No. 6 problem is used to test the proposed method. The calculated values of the impedance change of the probe coil due to the presence of crack, shows the efficiency of the developed software. A small difference is obtained between calculated values and measured values.

Originality/value

The paper introduces the FVM in solving EC NDT problems where the probe displacement is taken into account.
Magnetic field analysis under complex approximation taking account of two‐dimensional magnetic properties
Authors: Todaka Takashi , Nakanoue Kenji , Enokizono Masato
Published: January 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to reduce computation time of magnetic characteristic analysis considering 2D vector magnetic properties.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper proposes a complex E&S modelling with assumption that both flux density and field strength waveforms are sinusoidal. The computation time of the complex E&S modeling becomes 1/10 in comparison with one of the conventional E&S modeling. This modeling is applicable up to 1.4 T of the local magnetic flux density condition in the case of non‐oriented magnetic materials.

Findings

In the results of the magnetic field analyses of a linear‐induction motor model core by means of the finite element method taking account of the complex E&S modeling, the distributions of the flux density and the field strength were able to be approximately analyzed and their phase differences in space were represented. The results of the magnetic characteristic analysis of the linear‐induction motor showed that the teeth‐end shape had large influences on the thrust and cogging.

Practical implications

This technique helps to know approximately local vector magnetic properties in core materials. This modeling is very useful for magnetic core design taking account of the simplified 2D vector magnetic properties.

Originality/value

The method presented in this paper enables expression of the simplified 2D vector magnetic properties in magnetic field analyses. The computation time can be considerably reduced in comparison with the conventional method.
Numerical modelling of electrostatic force microscopes considering charge and dielectric constant
Authors: Binit Bala Uzzal , Greiff Michael , Preisner Thomas , Mathis Wolfgang
Published: January 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present a hybrid numerical simulation approach for the calculation of potential and electric field distribution considering charge and dielectric constant.

Design/methodology/approach

Each numerical method has its own advantages and disadvantages. The idea is to overcome the disadvantages of the corresponding numerical method by coupling with other numerical methods. An augmented finite element method (FEM), linear FEM and boundary element method are used with an efficient coupling.

Findings

The simulation model of microstructured devices is not so simple. During the simulation various types of problems will occur. It is found that by using several numerical methods these problems can be overcome and the calculation can be performed efficiently.

Research limitations/implications

The present approach can be applied in 2D cases. But, in 3D cases the calculation of augmented FEM in a spherical coordinate becomes quite elaborate.

Practical implications

The proposed hybrid numerical simulation approach can be applied for the simulation of the electrostatic force microscope (EFM) which is a very high‐resolution measuring tool in nanotechnology. This approach can be applied also to other micro‐electro‐mechanical systems.

Originality/value

Since the scanning process of the EFM is dynamic, it requires the updating of the FEM mesh in each calculation time step. In the present paper, the mesh updating is achieved by an arbitrary Lagrangian‐Eulerian (ALE) method. The proposed numerical approach can be applied for the simulation of the EFM including this remeshing algorithm ALE.
Numerical computation of magnetic fields applied to magnetic force microscopy
Authors: Preisner Thomas , Greiff Michael , Binit Bala Uzzal , Mathis Wolfgang
Published: January 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to introduce a method which allows the calculation of the interactions of tip and sample of a magnetic force microscope as a first step to increase the accuracy of this technique.

Design/methodology/approach

The emerging magnetic interactions between the cantilever tip and an arbitrary magnetized sample can be evaluated by the use of several numerical methods. For modelling this magnetically and mechanically coupled multiscale problem the finite element method is implemented.

Findings

The evaluated magnetic fields interact in such a manner that a constructive overlap at the tip apex occurs. This leads to attractive forces acting on the cantilever.

Research limitations/implications

In order to include the magneto‐mechanical coupling, the implementation of a detailed force calculation is necessary. Furthermore, a hysteresis model is not yet considered.

Practical implications

Magnetic force microscopy is a very sensitive technique. For instance, ideally the end of the tip consists of only one atom, but this is not realizable. Measurement errors cannot be avoided. This approach is the first step in developing an opportunity to soften them.

Originality/value

One opportunity to verify real‐time magnetic force microscope measurements is the comparison with theoretical considerations and calculations of the occurring magnetic distribution by using this technique. For this reason this paper deals with a new micromagnetic model to simulate the interactions between tip and sample of a scanning process of a magnetic force microscope.
Stationary multi‐species models of the electric corona discharge in oxygen
Authors: Zhang Jiacheng , Adamiak Kazimierz
Published: January 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present a novel numerical algorithm, which can be used to simulate the stationary electric corona discharge in oxygen including some number of ionic species and ionic reactions.

Design/methodology/approach

Differential equations governing distribution of the electric field and space charge density for all ionic species have been solved using different numerical techniques: finite element method, method of characteristics (MoC) and donor‐cell method (DCM). Triangular discretization with linear interpolation of solution has been used.

Findings

Thickness of the ionisation layer in oxygen under normal conditions is in the order of a few hundred micrometers. Most electrons are attached to the neutral oxygen molecules forming negative ions in the drift zone. The current density on the ground plate basically follows the Warburg curve, but the DCM predicts a smooth current density distribution, while in the MoC the current density abruptly drops to zero at some radial distance.

Originality/value

This is the first attempt to solve this problem in the 2D point‐plane configuration. The results can lead to better understanding of all processes occurring in the corona discharge and provide information about density and distribution of different ionic species and current densities.
Modelling of Seebeck effect in electron beam deep welding of dissimilar metals
Authors: Ziolkowski Marek , Brauer Hartmut
Published: January 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present a 3D model of deep welding of dissimilar metals and to show how to model the electron beam deflection due to thermoelectric fields caused by temperature gradients in some dissimilar metals (Seebeck effect).

Design/methodology/approach

A 3D thermoelectric and heat conduction model is used to estimate the deflection of the electron beam used during welding of dissimilar metals. A weak coupling between analysed fields is assembled. Additionally, the influence of the deflection on the calculated fields was not taken into account. The problem is solved using a finite element method.

Findings

It is possible to model Seebeck effect in a relative simple way using the finite element approach.

Originality/value

The paper presents a detailed description of modelling procedure of a complex coupled field problem.
Multilevel, one‐phase inverter with unequal voltage distribution
Authors: Hołub Marcin , Kalisiak Stanisław , Ruchała Krzysztof
Published: January 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to introduce a unique multilevel, one‐phase inverter (in the multiplied full‐bridge configuration, cascaded‐type) with unequal voltage distribution among the voltage levels.

Design/methodology/approach

Numerical and experimental results are discussed and the topology thereafter evaluated.

Findings

Unequal voltage distribution among voltage stages of the converter leads to increase of the output voltage resolution while simplifying the converter construction and minimizing the power switch losses. Simplorer numerical analyses as well as test stand measurements were led in order to verify properties of the system. Using the voltage distribution in the proportion of 6/2/1 leads to improved utilisation of power switches used in the means of voltage, current and switching frequency. FFT analysis was implemented in order to explore the frequency domain properties of the control apparatus.

Practical implications

The results allow improvement of power switch utilisation and output voltage resolution of cascaded, three‐stage multilevel converter topologies and voltage output filter optimisation for multilevel power electronic converters.

Originality/value

A new concept of voltage distribution is provided and described, a dedicated DSP‐based control system was developed as well as a small‐scale converter prototype, test stand measurement results are provided.
Modeling and parametrization of DC motor winding inductances
Authors: Benecke Jens , Dickmann Stefan
Published: January 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to compare several methods to calculate solenoid inductances regarding their applicability to model the inductance of DC motor armature windings. Special attention is given to the influence of wiring insulation and current distribution and the axial length of the solenoid.

Design/methodology/approach

Expressions for the self‐ and mutual‐inductance of current filament and wire combinations are derived from basic inductance formulas. Combining these expressions allows expressing the inductance of arbitrary shaped solenoids (e.g. polygons).

Findings

Accurately describing self‐ and mutual‐inductances is a very complex topic. However, in the case of motor armature windings, several simplifications can be applied to lower the calculation cost significantly. Plus, differences in inductances between regular polygonial solenoids and similar circular shapes were found to be rather small. Thus, many windings' inductances can well be approximated by using expressions for circular solenoids.

Originality/value

A new way to calculate the inductance of arbitrary polygonial shapes is presented, and an example is given for hexagonal shapes.