bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Becoming readers: our stories
Authors: Kamhieh Celine , Al Hameli Shaikha , Al Hammadi Ayesha , Al Hammadi Nada , Nawfal Iman , Al Zaabi Athra , Khalfan Khulood 
Published: May 2011

PurposeThe paper is part of a larger qualitative study of female Emirati university students' leisure reading habits and the purpose is to investigate the factors that have affected the reading habits of six respondents as they tell how they became avid readers.Design/methodology/approachSix students, who are very keen readers, were asked to write their stories of how they became readers, starting with their earliest memories of books and reading. Using open and axial coding through constant comparative analysis, the stories were analysed to allow categories and common themes to emerge.FindingsAlthough each student's reading journey is a very personal, individual one, there are some common factors which have helped the students become the readers they are today. These include parental encouragement at an early age, particularly that of fathers, intervention by teachers who took an active interest in promoting reading, and the continuing effect of peers as they get older. Students' preference for owning the books, they read suggests the permanence of reading in their lives as they often like to reread books they have enjoyed. Unfortunately, studying at an English‐medium university has resulted in students reading fewer Arabic books than before.Originality/valueFor the first time, the voices of female Emirati freshmen in this paper challenge the myth that Arabs do not read, by showing how positive interventions by parents, educators and peers have helped shape the readers they are today. The paper serves as a reminder to educators to acknowledge the readers our students have become by accommodating and encouraging their extra‐curricular reading in both Arabic and English.
The use of mind mapping to develop writing skills in UAE schools
Authors: Al Naqbi Shamma 
Published: May 2011

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to study the effectiveness of using mind mapping as a methodology to help students to plan effectively for a writing task under an assessment situation.Design/methodology/approachThe methodology included a variety of qualitative data collection techniques such as interviews, mind map analysis, observation checklist and reflective journal.FindingsEvidence and research outcomes suggested that mind mapping did help students to plan and organize their ideas for writing tasks under exam conditions.Research limitations/implicationsA major limitation of the research was that the duration of the research was very short. The turnaround time between the introduction of mind mapping, the implementation of the author's teaching strategies and the final mock examination was just a matter of weeks. The results may be more significant if the same students were retested in six months and again in one year, and this would help the author's research to be more reliable.Originality/valueThis research has shown the effectiveness of using mind mapping as a planning tool and offers practical help for teachers who teach writing skills in upper English as a foreign language classrooms.
Emiratizing the education sector in the UAE: contextualization and challenges
Authors: Raven John 
Published: May 2011

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to discuss issues and imbalances in the workforce in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) that result from the nation's relatively recent emergence as a powerful economy in the world. A federal initiative entitled Emiratization is addressed that is intended to improve employment amongst the local Emirati population who, at present, make up a minority of the working population. The role that one federal tertiary education system, the Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT), contributes to this process is discussed with specific implications and challenges for Emiratizing the education system.Design/methodology/approachThe paper is based on secondary research concerning employment statistics and policy in the UAE and observations of HCT, specifically the BEd program within the colleges.FindingsThree main challenges facing HCT in its attempt to train Emiratis for employment in the education sector in the UAE are discussed in the paper.Practical implicationsThere are practical implications and suggestions discussed for improving the Emiratization of the teaching sector in the UAE. This sector is highlighted as a core area for the Emiratization initiative by the paper.Originality/valueThe UAE represents a unique cultural context, a blending of languages, religion, politics and ethics, with calls for rapid modernization of its government schools. This paper maps out the growing pains and so is of value to both educators and policy makers in similar settings.
Local needs, external requirements
Authors: Martin Tim , O'Brien Michael 
Published: May 2011

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to discuss the experiences of a teacher education program in the United Arab Emirates to demonstrate how a program can best balance the particular needs of a country's educational system with the requirements of international recognition, including benchmarking to international standards and undertaking formal third‐party accreditation.Design/methodology/approachThe process begins first with the self‐reflection or analysis, reviewing the program terms of curriculum, assessment, clinical practice, faculty and operational indicators, coupled with a formal review of the market and economic drivers to determine future directions for the programs' offerings. After a year‐long analysis, the program was able to look at its operations personally, through the eyes of an external agency familiar with it, and those of an external expert in the field. This triangular process parallels the process that accrediting agencies employ to determine the health or effectiveness of the program to meet its mission.FindingsAfter a process of deliberation, the program decided upon the Teacher Education Accreditation Council as the most appropriate agency to pursue accreditation with.Originality/valueMany times international institutions must sacrifice or modify their existing programs to accommodate the traditional requirements of the outside accrediting agency. However, the paper shows that by thoroughly reviewing and investigating the agencies and their criteria, an institution can determine which agency will serve its needs and provide for a meaningful and successful partnership in the quest for accreditation and recognition.
Influence of spectrum loading on fatigue resistance of AA6082 friction stir welds
Authors: Costa J.D. , Ferreira J.A.M. , Borrego L.P. 
Published: May 2011

PurposeWelded components are often subjected to variable amplitude service loads, increasing the uncertainty of fatigue life due to material strength, notch geometries, defect content and residual stresses. In the case of friction stir welding (FSW) of aluminium alloys no data were found available concerning fatigue behaviour under variable amplitude loading. The purpose of this paper is to determine the fatigue strength of friction stir welds in AA6082‐T6 under constant and variable amplitude loading and analyse the validity of Miner's rule for these specific welding conditions.Design/methodology/approachFatigue tests were carried out in a servo‐hydraulic testing machine using a stress ratio of R=0. Typified Gassner amplitude spectra were considered, using four shape exponent values. Microhardness tests were performed to characterize the Vickers hardness profile in the vicinity of the weld area. Relatively to the base material (BM), the FSW process leads to a decrease of the static mechanical properties.FindingsDetailed examination revealed a hardness decrease in the thermo‐mechanically affected zone and the nugget zone average hardness was found to be lower than the base alloy hardness. The comparison with data collected from the literature shows that FSW specimens present higher fatigue resistance than specimens welded by metal inert gas and tungsten inert gas processes. However, they still have lower fatigue lives than the BM. Using the equivalent stress calculated by Miner's rule, a good agreement was observed between constant and variable fatigue loading results. The characteristic curve obtained for friction stir welds is higher than the International Institute of Welding (IIW) fatigue class for fusion welds with full‐penetration both‐sided butt joints.Originality/valueNo data are available concerning fatigue behaviour under variable amplitude loading for friction stir welds of aluminium alloys. Furthermore, this paper analyses the fatigue strength of friction stir welds in AA6082‐T6 under constant and variable amplitude loading in order to verify the validity of Miner's rule for this specific welding process. A comparison between characteristic fatigue curves, using IIW fatigue classes (FAT), is also performed.
Finite element analysis and comparison of laser shock peening and shot peening processes
Authors: Ivetic Goran 
Published: May 2011

PurposeThe aim of this paper is to give a simple and accurate tool for prediction and comparison of residual stresses in laser shock peened and shot peen treated materials.Design/methodology/approachThis work applies finite element code ABAQUS in order to compare the residual stress state and plastic deformation in specimens in aluminium alloy 7050‐T7451, treated with shot peening (SP) and laser shock peening (LSP) processes. Both processes are simulated using the Hugoniot elastic limit (HEL) of the material in question, and the processes are modelled using same input parameters (pressure on the surface of the specimen and the duration of contact between the material and the peening medium).FindingsBy using the same approach in both the analyses, a sound comparison of two technologies can be made, by comparing the obtained residual stress profiles. In addition, surface pressure and contact time can be varied easily in a parametric analysis, allowing the calibration of the numerical results.Research limitations/implicationsOwing to simplicity of used numerical models, different process parameters relative to SP process have not been taken in consideration directly, but through their effect on pressure on the surface of the specimen and the duration of contact between the material and the peening medium.Originality/valueApplication of HEL material model, usually applied to LSP problems, to the analysis of SP process gives promising results, in spite of simplicity of used numerical model.
Methodology for non‐destructive assessment of integrity of steam generator shell welds
Authors: Thirunavukkarasu S. , Rao B.P.C. , Sharma G.K. , Chaithanya Viswa , Babu Rao C. , Jayakumar T. , Raj Baldev , Pai Aravinda , Mitra T.K. , Jadhav Pandurang 
Published: May 2011

PurposeDevelopment of non‐destructive methodology for detection of arc strike, spatter and fusion type of welding defects which may form on steam generator (SG) tubes that are in close proximity to the circumferential shell welds. Such defects, especially fusion‐type defects, are detrimental to the structural integrity of the SG. This paper aims to focus on this problem.Design/methodology/approachThis paper presents a new methodology for non‐destructive detection of arc strike, spatter and fusion type of welding defects. This methodology uses remote field eddy current (RFEC) ultrasonic non‐destructive techniques and K‐means clustering.FindingsDistinctly different RFEC signals have been observed for the three types of defects and this information has been effectively utilized for automated identification of weld fusion which produces two back‐wall echoes in ultrasonic A‐scan signals. The methodology can readily distinguish fusion‐type defect from arc strike and spatter type of defects.Originality/valueThe methodology is unique as there is no standard guideline for non‐destructive evaluation of peripheral tubes after shell welding to detect arc strike, spatter and fusion type of welding defects.
Aeroelastic analysis of remotely controlled research vehicles with numerous control surfaces
Authors: Goraj Zdobyslaw , Chajec Wojciech 
Published: May 2011

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to find an influence of the reduced stiffness of actuators, located on the most outer parts of ailerons, flaperons, rudders, elevators and elevons on the excitation of flutter. This phenomenon is especially important for unmanned aerial vehicles because they continuously use all these control surfaces for trimming and stabilisation and on the other hand, the numerous statistics show that failure of elements of flight control systems are still the most probable reasons of aircraft critical failure.Design/methodology/approachFlutter calculations were performed by use of the classical modal approach. The normal vibrations of the free aircraft were measured in the ground vibration test (GVT). Test results were used either for verification of the FEM model of the structure – in this case for flutter calculation the MSC.Nastran software was used, or directly for flutter calculation. Based on the flutter analysis, the control surfaces critical for flutter were determined.FindingsThese so‐called critical control surfaces –, i.e. surfaces responsible for flutter excitation at first – are localized on outer parts of wing and empennage. It was found that the critical surfaces should have been mass balanced or should be irreversible. In the second case, i.e. when the control surfaces are irreversible, the actuators and drivers should have been of a high reliability, because disconnection of these elements could involve flutter.Research limitations/implicationsThis approach within the computational analysis is limited to linear case, otherwise NASTRAN software cannot be used for flutter analysis. GVTs could be performed successfully independently if the structure has linear or non‐linear properties.Practical implicationsIt was found that before any flight the stiffness in the flight control system of all control surfaces must carefully be checked and kept above the critical stiffness value. Safety level strongly depends on the reliability of actuators used on such unmanned aerial vehicles. The simulation of disconnection (as a result of damage) of selected control surfaces is possible even if the GVT were provided on undamaged vehicle. To do it, the rotational mode of so‐called “free control surface” should be prepared (as an artificial resonant mode) for all deflected control surfaces; next all the resonant modes should be orthogonalized, relative to this artificial control surfaces mode.Originality/valueThis paper was based on two big European and national projects, and all presented results are original and were never published before. Some selected graphs were shown during the EASN Workshop, Paris, September 2010 at the presentation entitled: “Aeroelastic analysis of remotely controlled research vehicles with numerous control surfaces”.
Surface layer properties and fatigue behavior in Al 7075‐T73 and Ti‐6Al‐4V
Authors: Wagner Lothar , Mhaede Mansour , Wollmann Manfred , Altenberger Igor , Sano Yuji 
Published: May 2011

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the influence of mechanical surface treatments on the surface layer properties and the fatigue performance of the aircraft alloys Al 7075‐T73 and Ti‐6Al‐4VDesign/methodology/approachLaser peening without coating (LPwC), shot peening (SP), ultrasonic shot peening (USP) and ball burnishing (BB) were applied and the resulting changes in surface roughness and residual stress‐depth profiles were evaluated. Fatigue performance of both alloys was tested in rotating beam loading (R=−1) on hourglass‐shaped specimens and the results were compared with the electrolytically polished (EP) reference conditions.FindingsAll studied mechanical surface treatments led to pronounced increases in fully reversed fatigue lives and fatigue strengths in both Al 7075‐T73 and Ti‐6Al‐4V.Originality/valueTo the authors' knowledge, this is the first paper that compares fatigue performance of a wide variety of mechanically surface treated conditions in two aircraft alloys.
Predicting the fatigue life of pristine and pre‐corroded friction stir welded joints
Authors: Ghidini T. , Dalle Donne C. , Alfaro Mercado U. 
Published: May 2011

PurposeFriction stir welding (FSW) is simple, clean and cost effective joining technology which allows high‐quality joining of materials that have been traditionally troublesome to weld conventionally without distortion, cracks or voids such as high‐strength aluminium alloys. Since FSW has been identified as “key technology” for primary aerospace structures, the recent FAR regulations for damage tolerance and fatigue evaluations of aircraft structures require fatigue life predictions for this specific joint type also in the presence of corrosion. The purpose of this paper is to give an overview of the prediction of small coupon fatigue lives of thin section friction stir welded butt and T‐joints.Design/methodology/approachParticularly, as a special application, widespread fracture mechanics software will be used to predict the fatigue life of FSW joints and to obtain SN curves. The engineering approach will start from an easy definition of the damage affecting the fatigue life of any of the previously mentioned cases (inclusions, tool markings, corrosion pits) and will move through affordable fracture mechanics solutions. Particularly, a first step in predicting the fatigue life of complex friction stir welded structures will be taken by combining the FEM code with the fracture mechanics software in the prediction of the FSW T‐joints.FindingsThe calculations are in very good agreement with the experimental results once the following basic assumptions are done: the welded material is treated as base material; particle inclusions and welding imperfections are treated as initial flaws while predicting the life of polished and un‐polished (including the T‐joints) FSW material, respectively, and the entire fatigue life was comprised of crack propagation; pitting and inter‐granular corrosion are treated as a single corrosion damage source and the model surface crack comprehends this damage; and the several corrosion‐damaged areas of the specimen surface are simulated with a single semi elliptical surface crack having the dimensions of the deepest and the widest corrosion damage area.Originality/valueA simple engineering approach which is based on a relatively solid background and which is checked against fatigue test data for various FSW test specimens was developed: it may provide a practical and reliable basis for the analysis of fatigue tests of integral structures in the presence of corrosion attack, by using widespread fracture mechanics principles.
Evaluation of structural integrity and mechanical behavior of advanced FRP composites
Authors: Sethi S. , Ray B.C. 
Published: May 2011

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to analyze microstructural integrity at the interface and consequent implicating effect on mechanical behavior of fiber‐reinforced polymer composites.Design/methodology/approachIn the light of Fourier transform infrared spectroscope (FTIR imaging) and temperature‐modulated differential scanning calorimeter, a sorption mechanism was established. Thermal spike and thermal shock treatment was carried out at 150 and 80°C, respectively. This suggested that fiber/matrix adhesion rests on the structure and properties of both the fiber and matrix in the region near the interface during the hygrothermal treatment.FindingsThe carbon surface was found to selectively absorb the tertiary amine catalyst and to modify the chemical state of the cured resin apparently through the effects of absorbed water. The higher values of glass transition temperature (Tg) resulted in longer immersion time and higher exposure temperature. Together, these techniques provide a comprehensive picture of chemical and physical changes at the interphase region. Thermal spike of hybrid composite at 150°C temperature might possibly improve the adhesion level at the interface. Whereas, in case of thermal shock treatment at 80°C the fall in inter‐laminar shear strength value at higher number of cycles. This degradation of the interface region has been monitored by scanning electron microscope analysis.Originality/valueThe reported data are based on experimental investigation.
Building humanitarian supply chain relationships: lessons from leading practitioners
Authors: McLachlin Ron , Larson Paul D. 
Published: May 2011

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to advance thought and practice on supply chain relationship building, in the context of humanitarian logistics, drawing on lessons from leading practitioners.Design/methodology/approachThe presentations were treated like data, enabling grounded research concerning practitioners. The presentations were recorded, transcribed, vetted, and imported into qualitative software (NVivo8) to facilitate further analysis, which led to testable propositions.FindingsThree themes emerged, centered around relationship benefits, challenges, and advice on relationship building. Advice from the practitioners led to 11 propositions.Research limitations/implicationsWhile the presentations were treated as interview data, there was no opportunity to probe statements made by the speakers. Also, speakers were the sole representatives for their organizations. Finally, the findings cannot be generalized beyond the types of situations and organizations represented at the conference.Practical implicationsThe propositions represent advice from experienced humanitarian practitioners on building supply chain relationships.Social implicationsSupply chains are economic entities. They are also social entities. Humanitarian supply chains involve people working together to help other people in need.Originality/valueThere are few published articles on supply chain relationship building, and only several pieces on humanitarian partnerships or relationships. This paper contributes to the literature in a novel way, by drawing on expert speakers at a humanitarian conference.