bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Investigation of the dynamics of electromagnetic valves by a coupled magneto‐mechanical algorithm including contact mechanics
Authors: Ertl Michael , Kaltenbacher Manfred 
Published: February 2011

PurposeThe fast and flexible development of fast switching electromagnetic valves as used in modern gasoline engine demands the availability of efficient and accurate simulation tools. The purpose of this paper is to provide an enhanced computational scheme of these actuators including all relevant physical effects of magneto‐mechanical systems and including contact mechanics.Design/methodology/approachThe finite element (FE) method is applied to efficiently solve the arising coupled system of partial differential equations describing magneto‐mechanical systems. The algorithm for contact mechanics is based on the cross‐constraint method using an energy‐ and momentum‐conserving time‐discretisation scheme. Although solving separately for the electromagnetic and mechanical system, a strong coupling is ensured within each time step by an iterative process with stopping criterion.FindingsThe numerical simulations of the full switching cycle of an electromagnetic direct injection valve, including the bouncing during the closing state, are just feasible with an enhanced and robust mechanical contact algorithm. Furthermore, the solution of the nonlinear electromagnetic and mechanical equations needs a Newton scheme with a line search scheme for the relaxation of the step size.Originality/valueThe paper provides a numerical simulation scheme based on the FE method, which includes all relevant physical effects in magneto‐mechanical systems, and which is robust even for long‐term contact periods with multitude re‐opening phases.
Evaluating ground fault current distribution on overhead transmission lines using an iterative nodal analysis
Authors: Zou Jun , Lee Jae‐bok , Li JunJie , Chang Sughun 
Published: February 2011

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to present an original iterative nodal approach to calculate the fault current distribution on overhead lines.Design/methodology/approachBy changing the mutual couplings among different conductors into the equivalent voltage sources, node voltages are updated iteratively by using conventional nodal analysis with those additional sources until the convergence is achieved.FindingsThe proposed algorithm can handle the complicated topology of a power transmission line and has no difficulties in taking all physical couplings into account. The fault current distribution calculated by this method is in good agreement with those published in the literature. Although the proposed approach is iterative, the CPU time needed is still reasonable compared to the direct solution approach. The memory requirement is low because the coefficient matrix is highly sparse for the nodal analysis of each iteration loop.Originality/valueThe proposed approach can serve as an alternative in calculating the fault current because of its efficiency and ease of implementation.
Design of magnetic thrusts using topology optimization methods
Authors: Labbé Thibaut , Dehez Bruno 
Published: February 2011

PurposeThe paper aims at optimizing magnetic thrusts in the framework of the design of high‐dynamics linear actuators. The goal is to find the optimal topology of the permanent magnets in order to maximize the velocity of the actuator.Design/methodology/approachThe optimization is performed by a topology optimization method. The design space is divided in cells in which the method have to distribute permanent magnets and determine their magnetization directions.FindingsSeveral aspects of the optimization are discussed in the paper, such as the effect of the introduction of a weight constraint on the thrust. Some issues are highlighted regarding the length of design space for the moving part and the presence of local minimizers in the optimization problem.Research limitations/implicationsHaving different magnetization directions in each cell makes the manufacturing harder. The results could thus be completed either by the design of a system able to create such permanent magnets or by the introduction of a constraint limiting the number of magnetization directions.Practical implicationsFinding the optimal topology of magnetic thrusts is motivated by the interest in avoiding the shocks related to mechanical thrusts.Originality/valueThis paper applies the topology optimization approach for the design of magnetic thrusts in order to increase the performances of high‐dynamics linear actuators.
Analytical closed‐form solution for transient analysis of boost DC‐DC converters
Authors: Tricoli Pietro 
Published: February 2011

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to suggest a new analytical methodology for transient analysis of DC‐DC power converters. The closed‐form solution obtained following this methodology is suitable both for design of passive elements of the converter and for the development of control techniques.Design/methodology/approachThe methodology is based on a mixed use of Laplace transform and z‐transform. The expressions of variables of the set of equations, characteristic of a DC‐DC converter, are first evaluated in the Laplace domain for the generic switching interval. The solutions obtained are then z‐transformed in order that they match in each contiguous time interval, to form the complete transient response.FindingsThe new solution methodology allows the analytical determination of time constants of DC‐DC converters, also in presence of large duty‐cycle variations. Moreover, it is possible to evaluate easily the influence of passive elements on converter's behaviour, without several numerical simulations.Originality/valueThe analytical solution of linear systems is well known both in transient and in steady‐state conditions. However, when there is an infinite number of poles in the Laplace transform of the input signals, such as the case of switching power converters, the inversion in a closed form of the Laplace transform of the solution can be cumbersome. The methodology presented tries to overcome this problem by using an approach based on the z‐transform. Operating in this way, a closed‐form solution can be obtained both in transient and in steady‐state conditions, for all the main topologies of switching power converters. The procedure has been explained in detail for the sample case of boost DC‐DC converters.
Alternative numerical modeling of a superconducting charge qubit as an eigenvalue problem
Authors: Canturk Mehmet , Kurt Erol , Askerzade Iman N. 
Published: February 2011

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to employ an alternative numerical approach to analyze the characteristics of superconducting charge qubit based on a single Cooper pair box (SCB), also to study the influence of the bias current.Design/methodology/approachThe paper starts with the circuit model of a charge qubit system based on Josephson junction using Hamiltonian formalism. Corresponding Schrodinger eigenvalue problem with periodic boundary condition is converted to the Mathieu type eigenvalue problem. By applying finite difference technique, energy spectrum of charge qubit is obtained and the solutions in the lowest band are obtained in the form of Bloch waves whose superposition provides a wave packet to investigate the effect of bias current to the Coulomb blockade.FindingsThe paper identifies a periodic tridiagonal Hermitian matrix form of the eigenvalue problem that is believed to be a special eigenvalue problem. The paper emphasizes that Schrodinger formalism is very useful to model superconducting qubits systems. The investigations indicate that the bias current strongly influences the Coulomb blockade and expectation value of supercurrent (as well as number of Cooper pairs) are affected by gate voltage and energy scale.Research limitations/implicationsIn the present study, Schrodinger eigenvalue problem is time independent, therefore, current‐voltage characteristics of the charge qubit system could not be considered. The solution technique applied here can also be used to apply other type of Josephson junction based qubits and circuits.Practical implicationsThe paper includes theoretical findings for the development of superconducting qubit that can be valuable for experimentalist. The result obtained in this study is useful for the comparison of experimental study with the expectation value of number of Cooper pairs as function of gate voltage. Working parameters of a SCB can be determined from the findings.Originality/valueThis paper fulfils the contribution of the numerical study of Schrodinger equation for the investigation of superconducting qubits under the influence of bias current.
A stochastic perspective of RL electrical circuit using different noise terms
Authors: Farnoosh Rahman , Nabati Parisa , Rezaeyan Ramazan , Ebrahimi Morteza 
Published: February 2011

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to analyze the effect of the white, colored and mixture noise perturbations as Gaussian process on the parameters of the RL electrical circuit including potential source and resistance.Design/methodology/approachBy adding different noise terms in the voltage and resistance parameters of an RL electrical circuit, the deterministic model is replaced by a stochastic differential equation (SDE).FindingsOwing to the application of multiple Ito's formula the analytical solutions of resulted SDEs have been obtained. Furthermore, based on a numerical method involving Euler‐Maruyama scheme, the solution of the problem at the point of interest as a continuous time stochastic process has been obtained. Also shown is that the confidence interval for mean of solutions with colored and mixture noises is better than white noise.Practical implicationsNumerical tests via Matlab programming are performed in order to show the efficiency and accuracy of the present work. Numerical experiments show that an excellent estimation on the solution can be obtained within a couple of minutes time at Pentium IV‐2.4 GHz PC.Originality/valueIt is believed that the stochastic model of an RL circuit with colored and mixture noises in potential source has not been studied before. Furthermore, according to latest information from the research works, two stochastic parameters in voltage and resistance of RL circuit including colored and mixture noise processes have been investigated for the first time in this paper.
The role of social capital and knowledge transfer in selling center performance
Authors: Yang Jing , Brashear Alejandro Thomas G. , Boles James S. 
Published: February 2011

PurposeThis paper aims to understand how organizational and interpersonal relationships influence selling centers, and how to form an effective selling center to establish cooperation among the functional departments to satisfy customer needs.Design/methodology/approachThe selling center and social capital literatures are reviewed. A social network perspective is employed to explore the internal and external relationships of corporate selling centers.FindingsBuilding upon social capital literature and team literature, the authors propose that selling center performance is influenced by its internal and external social capital. Social capital influences selling center performance through facilitating knowledge transfer and absorption within and across the selling center.Practical implicationsThe findings help sales managers diagnose the problems of the social networks among their selling center members, to improve their selling center performance in the future.Originality/valueThe paper investigates the relationships among social capital, knowledge transfer and absorption and team performance in the selling center context. By considering both intra‐firm relationships and inter‐firm relationships, this study provides a relatively complete picture of selling center performance and adds knowledge to the field.
The role of wholesale brands for buyer loyalty: a transaction cost perspective
Authors: Kenning Peter , Grzeskowiak Stephan , Brock Christian , Ahlert Martin 
Published: February 2011

PurposeMarketing channels are changing dramatically as the world economy becomes networked. Buyers who are likely to only have limited insight into a wholesaler's sourcing decisions may be uncertain about product and/or service quality. This paper aims to show that a credible quality signal provided by the wholesaler, the wholesale brand, can effectively reduce buyer uncertainty.Design/methodology/approachUsing structural equation modelling methodology in the context of 569 buyers across 52 locations of a home improvement wholesaler the authors investigate the key mediating role of transaction costs for the effect of wholesale brand knowledge on buyer loyalty.FindingsThe results suggest that wholesaler brand knowledge effectively reduces ex‐post transaction costs incurred by the buyer. These lower quality control costs and price verification efforts increase buyer loyalty. Interestingly, however, the data show that this bonding effect of the wholesale brand may not affect buyer search costs.Research limitations/implicationsThe research on the role of supplier brands for supply network management is an early effort. Clearly more research is needed to fully explore the role of wholesale brand knowledge for wholesaler selection.Practical implicationsThe findings are important to marketing channel managers because they provide a viable alternative to ever‐increasing relationship marketing costs. They suggest that a close wholesaler‐retailer relationship may not be necessary to realize the benefits of a trusting exchange environment. In fact, they show that high wholesale brand knowledge may act as a substitute and reduce uncertainty effectively.Originality/valueThis paper is the first to introduce a transaction cost perspective on the relationship between wholesale brand knowledge and wholesale loyalty. It demonstrates how wholesale brand knowledge can reduce uncertainty in the wholesaler‐retailer dyad and substitute for more costly relationship building efforts.
Assessing competitive advantage of emerging markets in knowledge intensive business services
Authors: Javalgi Rajshekhar (Raj) G. , Gross Andrew C. , Benoy Joseph W. , Granot Elad 
Published: February 2011

PurposeThe dramatic growth and international scope of knowledge‐intensive business services (KIBS) are evident in emerging markets such as China and India. Nations, like firms, seek to capitalize on their available resources and capabilities (e.g. people, technology, skills) in order to build and maintain core competencies in certain industry sectors. This paper has the following objectives: to discuss the classification of KIBS, to marshal conceptual and statistical evidence on KIBS in major emerging markets, to compare and contrast selected major emerging markets in regard to their KIBS activities, and to discuss policy implications.Design/methodology/approachIn this conceptual paper, extant literature is reviewed and discussed pertaining to the KIBS sectors. Several existing data sources are used to assess the comparative performance of major emerging markets in the KIBS sectors.FindingsThe emphasis is on finding comparative longitudinal statistics that are useful for comparison and contrast among major emerging markets. The analysis indicates that while the major emerging markets are building competitive advantage by focusing on knowledge‐intensive business services, their progress differs sharply. For example, China shows the lead, followed by India, Brazil, Russia, Mexico, Turkey, and Indonesia. Smaller nations lag behind these in most indicators. It is evident that leading major emerging nations have not reached parity with highly industrialized countries.Research limitations/implicationsThe results show ranking and contribution of various major nations in the global knowledge economy, but additional time series and analysis are needed to assess comparative rankings. However, the classification and the indicators illustrated here offer a panoramic, comparative picture over the past decade. Using international business theories, research can develop statistical models to explain foreign market entry strategies of knowledge‐intensive service firms.Practical implicationsThe paper is of value to managers considering entry and/or expansion into major emerging markets in various sub‐sectors of knowledge‐intensive sectors. The specific industry and function pursued by a firm need to be identified and matched up with host nation characteristics (e.g. more software design and pharmaceutical research in India v. more manufacturing design and R&D facility in China). The paper also provides guidelines to policy makers to sustain their country's competitive advantage in the KIBS sectors.Originality/valueThe paper looks at knowledge‐intensive business services in major emerging markets. It offers both conceptual contributions and statistical evidence that key nations differ in their activities in regard to such high‐level and complex service offerings.
Managing industrial service offerings in global business markets
Authors: Kowalkowski Christian , Kindström Daniel , Brehmer Per‐Olof 
Published: February 2011

PurposeDespite the increased focus on industrial services in manufacturing companies, little research to date has focused on understanding the roles of local and central organizations in global service management. In order to address this research gap, the paper aims to investigate how industrial service offerings are developed and managed in multinational manufacturing companies.Design/methodology/approachA qualitative case study with respondents from two internationally leading manufacturers was conducted. Eight industrial service offerings with different characteristics serve as units of analysis.FindingsA broad portfolio of industrial service offerings implies having a very wide range of skill sets, including both global efficiency and local responsiveness. With specialized and extensive offerings, it becomes more important to have a high level of central‐local and product‐service integration and to internalize service provision. Furthermore, with global customers, the central service organization needs to assume a more prominent role, initiating both an organizational exploitation of current service capabilities and the exploration of new ones.Research limitations/implicationsThe main focus was on service offerings performed by high‐volume manufacturing companies operating primarily in developed markets.Originality/valuePrevious studies of industrial service management in manufacturing companies have not explicitly considered the roles of central and local organizations. Thus, the authors were able to complement the existing theory. The paper promotes a deeper understanding of the complexity of managing service offerings on a global basis.
A model of product‐to‐service brand extension success factors in B2B buying contexts
Authors: Brown Brian , Sichtmann Christina , Musante Michael 
Published: February 2011

PurposeBusiness‐to‐business (B2B) manufacturing firms increasingly integrate services into their product portfolios under the same brand umbrella. This article aims to develop a conceptual model of the drivers of success for such B2B product‐to‐service brand extensions.Design/methodology/approachThe research considers the drivers of product‐to‐service brand extensions success from an organizational buying behavior, branding, and service‐dominant logic (SDL) perspective.FindingsIn their product‐to‐service brand extensions, B2B firms are more likely to attain success if they have well‐regarded brand reputations, relevant service competencies, and strong buyer‐seller relationships. In addition, shared innovativeness, an ability to enhance utility and/or create transaction efficiencies, and effective marketing support are proposed to positively affect brand extension success.Research limitations/implicationsFuture studies need to test the proposed model.Practical implicationsThe propositions encourage managers to develop product‐to‐service brand extensions according to their ability to add customer value and reduce risk rather than on the basis of the perceived fit between the service extension and the existing brand name.Originality/valueRelatively few existing studies consider brand extension success, and virtually none of them address product‐to‐service brand extension success in a B2B context.
Value for money and the rule of law: the (new) performance audit in Sweden
Authors: Grönlund Anders , Svärdsten Fredrik , Öhman Peter 
Published: February 2011

PurposeThis paper aims to develop a classification scheme of different types of value for money (VFM) audits with different degrees of compliance audit, and to classify the performance audits carried out by the Swedish National Audit Office (SNAO) during its first six years as an independent state audit organization reporting to parliament.Design/methodology/approachThe empirical data were gathered from all of the 150 audit reports published by the SNAO from its establishment in 2003 to the end of 2008. Seminars were arranged to discuss the classifications for validation.FindingsThe focus on traditional VFM audits (the “Three Es”) is unusual. Most audits carried out by the SNAO combine different types of extended VFM audits with compliance audit. On the one hand, they audit how the government and/or central agencies fulfil their mandates (from good to bad). On the other, they audit how the government and/or central agencies adhere to legislation, rules and policies (right or wrong). In some cases, the SNAO equates compliance audit with performance audit.Practical implicationsThe authors have verbalised and visualised performance audit activities of interest not only to state auditors, but also to external stakeholders. One practical implication is that the Swedish national audit committee has conducted an evaluation of the SNAO that is partly based on the national report of this study, and has proposed a stronger focus on the Three Es.Originality/valueThe study addresses a new approach in terms of a classification scheme for performance audits, consisting of eight types of VFM audits and three degrees of compliance audit, and creating 24 possible combinations.
Challenges, issues and change: what's the future for UK policing in the twenty‐first century?
Authors: Barton Lisa C. , Barton Harry 
Published: February 2011

PurposeThis paper aims to review calls on the UK police service to respond to the dual challenge of increasing governmental/public demands for improvements in police efficiency and effectiveness in the likely context of decreasing real time increases in financial resources. Specifically it aims to highlight the reform of police organizational structures, a greater focus on performance management and people development initiatives as areas that have the potential to bring about significant benefits for future UK policing.Design/methodology/approachUsing the results of Government‐sponsored research and other secondary data the approach is to explore the potential for implementation of new approaches to policing.FindingsThere would appear to be a consensus between the Government and the police service of the need for reform. The mechanics of successful implementation, however, face institutional, cultural and financial obstacles.Research limitations/implicationsThe complexity of policing and its interaction with government and the public requires significant analysis. The success of future initiatives can only be judged through analysis following implementation.Practical implicationsThe paper identifies that there may be tangible areas of policing activity that could benefit from the implementation of new techniques such as the “lean” principles of management as a means of focusing on more cost effective ways of utilising future police resources.Originality/valueThis paper draws together and contextualises specific areas of police practice that could benefit from new ways of working and posits improvements in efficiency for the future.