bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Intelligent methodology for sensing, modeling, and control of weld penetration in robotic welding system
Authors: Lin T. , Chen H.B. , Li W.H. , Chen S.B. 
Published: October 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to develop an efficient online monitoring system. It can improve the welding quality through the real‐time analysis of the welding image information.Design/methodology/approachIn this paper, a set‐variable precision rough set (VPRS) modeling method was improved and the prediction model of back‐side bead width dynamic response for robotic arc welding process is proposed. Back‐side width based on the vision sensor in the compound controller is used. Meantime, a compound intelligent controller is designed with the wire‐feeding rate compensation.FindingsThe dynamical information of the top‐side weld pool can be captured in real‐time. Moreover, VPRS prediction model could provide the back‐side bead width of the weld, which integrated with the fuzzy neural network controller. Therefore, more uniform weld penetration can be achieved with the variation of the assembling gap.Research limitations/implicationsThe monitor system requires that the information of the weld pool and the front gap can be extracted precisely. Moreover, the front assembling gap should be limited in a certain interval [0∼3 mm]. This puts forward high request to image processing algorithm and the assembling of the work‐piece.Practical implicationsThis monitor system is applicable to the manufacturing of the spherical head petals in rocket storage tank.Originality/valueThe paper demonstrates that the compound intelligent controller based on the VPRS prediction is possible and effective. The experiments show that the real‐time and precision requirements for monitoring and control of weld quality can be satisfied by using this online control system during welding process.
Direct step‐by‐step method for industrial robot path planning
Authors: Rubio Francisco , Valero Francisco , Sunyer Joseph , Mata Vicente 
Published: October 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to solve the path‐planning problem of industrial robots in complex environments.Design/methodology/approachA direct method (in each step, the path is been recorded) is presented in which the search of the path is made in the state space of the robotic system, and it makes use of the information generated about the characteristics of the process, introducing graph techniques for branching. The method poses an optimization problem that aims at minimizing the distance travelled by the significant points of the robot.FindingsA new approach to solve the path‐planning problem has been introduced in which the behaviour of three operational parameters (computational time, distance travelled and number of configurations generated) have been analyzed so that the user can choose the most efficient algorithm depending on which parameter he is most interested in.Research limitations/implicationsA new technique has been introduced which yields good results as the examples show.Practical implicationsThe algorithm is able to obtain the solution to the path‐planning problem for any industrial robot working in a complex environment.Originality/valueGives a new tool for solving the path‐planning problem.
The Lufthansa School of Business and the London Business School General Management Programme
Authors: Stewart‐Allen Allyson , Christ Michael 
Published: October 2009

PurposeReviews the latest management developments and training programs within the Lufthansa School of Business and the London Business School.Design/methodology/approachUnder the “Preferred Partnership Concept” the LHSB co‐operates with three internationally‐renowned business schools for major executive training programs. London Business School (LBS) is one of these three contracted partners. The main focus of the partnership is the General Management Programme (GMP), which has now been held successfully in close co‐operation between the LBS and the LHSB for the third time.FindingsThe key to the ongoing success of the GMP has been the communication within the team producing the three live events in three global locations. The program's success is a direct result of the consistency and quality of communication, of team members' desire to continuously improve the modules, project management, the briefing process for presenters (whether faculty members, Lufthansa Board members, guest speakers), and the detailed checklists and scheduling by the LBS Program Manager.Practical implicationsProvides strategic insights and practical thinking that have influenced some of the world's leading organizations.Originality/valueThe paper examines key areas in advanced management training (and development) and highlights two unique and interlinked strategic concepts.
Virtual strategy development in Alfa Laval
Authors: Malmgren Mikael E. , Caulat Ghislaine 
Published: October 2009

PurposeThis case study describes how Alfa Laval instigated and deployed virtual working to develop the response to a major strategic initiative.Design/methodology/approachThe challenge was to engage the top 30 managing directors located in countries across the globe in a six‐month project timeframe.FindingsThe solution was to engage Ashridge Business School and specifically its expertise in working virtually and in developing strategy processes.Originality/valueThe main thrust of the paper is to describe the important design parameters that ensure successful virtual strategy development as well as some of the tangible benefits this approach has compared with traditional strategy development processes.
Partnership for organizational transformation: collectively co‐creating a new VVAA 2.0 culture
Authors: Wierdsma André , van Hemsbergen Herman 
Published: October 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to describe how VVAA's decision to work with the Nyenrode Business University (EMDC) to develop and change the culture of its organization and improve the business proposition they offered to their members.Design/methodology/approachThe paper details the consequences for VVAA decision to strengthen the existing management and key professionals. By offering the top 80 key people (managers and professionals) a developmental program which would raise the awareness of their own competences and the need for more cross boundary cooperation.FindingsThe paper reports that an organizational transformation program can only be successful if it is part of a set of interventions to really change the company. Consistency in behavior at the top is crucial because everybody watches the behavior of top management and becomes extremely aware of discrepancies and inconsistencies.Practical implicationsProvides strategic insights and practical thinking that have influenced the organizational transformation of VVAA culture.Originality/valueThe paper provides a structured approach to the process of building effective learning interventions based on a clear understanding of the need to change.
Interview with Norm Smallwood
Authors: by Ruth Young Interview 
Published: October 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to present and an interview with Norm Smallwood, co‐founder of The RBL Group, an advisory firm to the world's top HR leaders.Design/methodology/approachThis briefing is prepared by an independent interviewer.FindingsNorm Smallwood current work concentrates on increasing business value by building organization, strategic HR and leadership capabilities that measurably impact market value.Originality/valueThe interview provides insights into how organizations should implement their strategic vision.
The natural neighbour radial point interpolation method: dynamic applications
Authors: Dinis L.M.J.S. , Natal Jorge R.M. , Belinha J. 
Published: October 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to extend the natural neighbour radial point interpolation method (NNRPIM) to the dynamic analysis (free vibrations and forced vibrations) of two‐dimensional, three‐dimensional and bending plate problems.Design/methodology/approachThe NNRPIM shape‐function construction is briefly presented, as are the dynamic equations and the mode superposition method is used in the forced vibration analysis. Several benchmark examples of two‐dimensional and plate bending problems are solved and compared with the three‐dimensional NNRPIM formulation. The obtained results are compared with the available exact solutions and the finite element method (FEM) solutions.FindingsThe developed NNRPIM approach is a good alternative to the FEM for the solution of dynamic problems, once the obtained results with the EFGM shows a high similarity with the obtained FEM results and for the majority of the studied examples the NNRPIM results are more close to the exact solution results.Research limitations/implicationsComparing the FEM and the NNRPIM, the computational cost of the NNRPIM is higher.Originality/valueThe paper demonstrates extension of the NNRPIM to the dynamic analysis of two‐dimensional, three‐dimensional and bending plate problems. The elimination of the shear‐locking phenomenon in the NNRPIM plate bending formulation. The various solved examples prove a high convergence rate and accuracy of the NNRPIM.
Comparing displacement ventilation and mixing ventilation as HVAC strategies through CFD
Authors: Serra Nuno , Semiao Viriato 
Published: October 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to compare two different ventilation strategies, displacement and mixing, in heat, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) systems with recourse to computational fluid dynamics (CFD).Design/methodology/approachThe flow and the heat and mass transfer are numerically predicted inside an air‐conditioned room with a desk and an occupant for the cooling and heating periods in moderate climate regions, like Mediterranean countries. Focus is placed on energy efficiency, thermal comfort and internal air quality (IAQ), evaluated from the simulations of the three‐dimensional, turbulent, non‐isothermal and buoyant flow of moist air.FindingsFor the cooling period, displacement exhibits higher energy and ventilation efficiencies promoting simultaneously better comfort for the occupant. For the heating period, mixing performs better due to the short‐circuit phenomenon occurring with the displacement flow. Overall, mixing behaves better for air‐conditioning of typical office rooms in Mediterranean‐climate countries, where heating and cooling climatization modes have to be alternated according to the season.Research limitations/implicationsRoom, desk and occupant are designed as parallelepipeds. No experimental work is performed but models used are previously validated by other authors against experimental data.Practical implicationsThe results indicate a short‐circuit flow phenomenon that must be avoided when designing HVAC systems.Originality/valueUse of grilles layout typical for the cooling period to study the air‐conditioning of a typical office room during the heating period, incorporating in the model a transport equation for the moisture. IAQ is simulated together with the flow, the heat and the comfort conditions: velocities, temperature, predicted mean vote (PMV), predicted percentage of dissatisfied (PPD), draught rating (DR), PPD due to air quality (PDQ) and air moisture content are calculated simultaneously.
A heuristic solution to the university timetabling problem
Authors: Adewumi Aderemi O. , Sawyerr Babatunde A. , Montaz Ali M. 
Published: October 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to consider the problem of university lecture timetabling. Timetabling deals with the problem of placing certain resources into a limited number of time slots, subject to given constraints, in order to satisfy a set of stated objectives to the highest possible extent. It is a well‐known and established NP‐hard problem. University timetabling is a major administrative activity especially in the third world universities. Solving the problem requires dynamic heuristics with predictable performance especially as the number of courses increases without corresponding increase in needed resources.Design/methodology/approachA genetic algorithm metaheuristic is designed to handle a real‐life case study. Given the present structure of the case study, a modular approach to the design of the timetable schedules is adopted. The approach considers timetable in a bottom‐up fashion at the various levels of department, faculty or entire university. Simulation study is conducted using the open source Java IDE, Eclipse® 3.0 in a window XP/vista environment running on a processor of 1.12 GHz.FindingsUsing the data sub‐set from the case study, simulation experiments are conducted based on the proposed method and obtained promising results.Research limitations/implicationsGiven the modular approach, the timetable system can easily be adapted to other various levels in the institution.Originality/valueWith reference to the case study, this is believed to be the first application of metaheuristics to a timetabling problem. The sensitivity analysis of the algorithm parameters is very valuable in guiding actual application development for the problem.
Numerical simulation of cutterhead and soil interaction in slurry shield tunneling
Authors: Shen Jianqi , Jin Xianlong , Li Yun , Wang Jiyun 
Published: October 2009

PurposeThis paper aims to provide a 3D finite element (FE) model for dynamic simulation of cutterhead and soil interaction in slurry shield tunneling.Design/methodology/approachDynamic numerical simulation of excavation process is realized by combined use of submodeling method and arbitrary Lagrangian Eulerian (ALE) approach. The model size reduction, soil mesh refinement and stress state initialization are fulfilled by submodeling. The large soil deformations, failures and flows are handled by ALE approach. Computation time is reduced by parallel domain decomposition with recursive coordinate bisection method. Validation of the proposed approach is achieved by comparing the numerical results with monitored data from the model test for Yangtze River tunneling project.FindingsThe proposed approach proves to be an effective technique to simulate the cutterhead and soil interaction dynamically in tunnel excavation. Comparative study on the effect of mesh density indicates the requirement of relative mesh refinement. Exploration of the parallel computing performance points out the best decomposed domain for the simulation. Parametric study on the effect of rotary speed and investigation on soil properties presents the significant factors for torque.Practical implicationsThe proposed numerical model can help in the development process of reduced‐scale model test, as well as design and selection of slurry shield machines.Originality/valueThe originality comes from the need to evaluate the excavation performance of slurry shield machine in tunneling project. This contribution provides a 3D numerical approach, which takes into account the stress state in soil and dynamic contact effects between soil and cutterhead. In this work, large deformation in soil is handled. Besides, soil failures and flows are captured.
Pressure pulsation prediction by 3D turbulent unsteady flow simulation through whole flow passage of Kaplan turbine
Authors: Liu Shuhong , Mai Jianqiang , Shao Jie , Wu Yulin 
Published: October 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to predict pressure pulsation in Kaplan hydraulic turbines.Design/methodology/approachState of the art numerical simulation techniques are employed to simulate three‐dimensional flows in the whole flow passage of a Kaplan turbine so that pressure pulsations can be computed in both time domain and frequency domain. Numerical results are verified by experiments carried out on the most advanced experimental platform in China.FindingsIt is found that the proposed numerical model is a viable tool for prediction of pressure pulsations. The simulation shows that the model turbine and prototype turbine have the same pressure pulsation frequencies and rotating frequencies and the same transmission patterns under similar operation conditions. However, there is no similarity for the amplitude of the pressure pulsation between the model turbine and the prototype turbine. Therefore pressure pulsations in a prototype turbine cannot be obtained by scaling the experimental results of the model turbine using a similarity relationship.Practical implicationsThe findings will be very valuable for the design of hydraulic turbines and large‐scale hydraulic power stations.Originality/valueThe proposed numerical method provides a viable tool for hydraulic turbine and power station designers to predict the pressure pulsations in prototype turbines. It is a useful tool to help improve the performance of hydraulic turbines. The findings made in the numerical simulation have been verified by experiments, which is also a valuable reference for hydraulic turbine designers.
Accuracy, reliability and validity of finite element analysis in metal forming: a user's perspective
Authors: Tekkaya A.E. , Martins P.A.F. 
Published: October 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to provide industrial, education and academic users of computer programs a basic overview of finite elements in metal forming that will enable them to recognize the pitfalls of the existing formulations, identify the possible sources of errors and understand the routes for validating their numerical results.Design/methodology/approachThe methodology draws from the fundamentals of the finite elements, plasticity and material science to aspects of computer implementation, modelling, accuracy, reliability and validation. The approach is illustrated and enriched with selected examples obtained from research and industrial metal forming applications.FindingsThe presentation is a step towards diminishing the gap being formed between developers of the finite element computer programs and the users having the know‐how on the metal forming technology. It is shown that there are easy and efficient ways of refreshing and upgrading the knowledge and skills of the users without resorting to complicated theoretical and numerical topics that go beyond their knowledge and most often are lectured out of metal forming context.Originality/valueThe overall content of the paper is enhancement of previous work in the field of sheet and bulk metal forming, and from experience in lecturing these topics to students in graduate and post‐graduate courses and to specialists of metal forming from industry.
Boundary element analysis of mixed‐mode stress intensity factors in an anisotropic cuboid with an inclined surface crack
Authors: Chen Chia‐Hau , Pan Ernian , Tseng Han‐Chou , Yu Pao‐Shan 
Published: October 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to present special nine‐node quadrilateral elements to discretize the un‐cracked boundary and the inclined surface crack in a transversely isotropic cuboid under a uniform vertical traction along its top and bottom surfaces by a three‐dimensional (3D) boundary element method (BEM) formulation. The mixed‐mode stress intensity factors (SIFs), KI, KII and KIII, are calculated.Design/methodology/approachA 3D dual‐BEM or single‐domain BEM is employed to solve the fracture problems in a linear anisotropic elastic cuboid. The transversely isotropic plane has an arbitrary orientation, and the crack surface is along an inclined plane. The mixed 3D SIFs are evaluated by using the asymptotical relation between the SIFs and the relative crack opening displacements.FindingsNumerical results show clearly the influence of the material and crack orientations on the mixed‐mode SIFs. For comparison, the mode‐I SIF when a horizontal rectangular crack is embedded entirely within the cuboid is calculated also. It is observed that the SIF values along the crack front are larger when the crack is closer to the surface of the cuboid than those when the crack is far away from the surface.Research limitations/implicationsThe FORTRAN program developed is limited to regular surface cracks which can be discretized by the quadrilateral shape function; it is not very efficient and suitable for irregular crack shapes.Practical implicationsThe evaluation of the 3D mixed‐mode SIFs in the transversely isotropic material may have direct practical applications. The SIFs have been used in engineering design to obtain the safety factor of the elastic structures.Originality/valueThis is the first time that the special nine‐node quadrilateral shape function has been applied to the boundary containing the crack mouth. The numerical method developed can be applied to the SIF calculation in a finite transversely isotropic cuboid within an inclined surface crack. The computational approach and the results of SIFs are of great value for the modeling and design of anisotropic elastic structures.
Affect and cognition as predictors of behavioral intentions towards services
Authors: Smith Anne , Reynolds Nina 
Published: October 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine alternative approaches to measuring service evaluation across cultures. This paper aims to assess: differences between cognitive and affective measures and their ability to predict behavioral intentions and the impact of service features on these measures.Design/methodology/approachA self‐completion survey of African (East/West), Chinese, and English higher education students includes service quality, satisfaction, affect (emotions/feelings), and behavioral intentions scales relating to retail banking.FindingsFor all groups, overall quality, satisfaction, and positive affect predict behavioral intentions. Negative affect is significant for English consumers. Differences across cultures are identified in the determinants of service evaluation, for example, assurance and responsiveness, but these are antecedents of affect and not of overall service quality or satisfaction.Research limitations/implicationsThe sample is drawn from cultural groups (based on Hofstede's individualism continuum) of higher education students in the UK. The implications for generalizability of findings to wider populations and the need to recognize the considerable diversity within the cultural sample groupings is emphasized.Practical implicationsService providers should include measures of affect in surveys which aim to assess the role of service features in overall evaluation and behavioral intentions towards the service. This will provide valuable data for managerial decision making and resource allocation. Cultural comparisons derived from cognitive‐based Western measures may fail to identify elements of service quality which impact on behavioral intentions.Originality/valueNo other studies have directly compared a range of alternative service‐related measures as predictors of behavioral intentions across cultures, or included African consumers who are rarely represented in service evaluation studies.