Applying artificial neural networks for multidimensional anomaly detection based on flight data monitoring during final approaches

Flight Data Monitoring (FDM) programmes have become a key part of every major airline’s safety management system. They are primarily based on learning from unwanted deviations in flight parameters encountered during normal flight operations. Owing to its unique nature, anomaly detection of FDM presents distinct problem complexities from the majority of analytical and learning tasks. This methodology, while useful, concentrates only on a small part of the operation, leaving most of the data unprocessed, and does not allow for analysing events that had the potential to go wrong but were recovered in time by the crews. This research focused on analysing an FDM dataset of 1332 approaches between January 2018 and July 2022 at Tenerife South Airport (Spain), where there is a known phenomenon of increasing headwinds during the final approach. The flights were clustered using self-organising maps (SOM) by patterns of increasing headwinds, and the clusters were assessed in terms of clustering performance. The clusters were well differentiated. A further comparison between the results from the airline showed that 88 flights were affected by wind shifts, while 27 flights were picked up by the airline. The results demonstrate that SOMs are a meaningful tool for clustering flight data and can complement the current FDM analysis methodology. Combining both methodologies could shift FDM data analysis to look beyond exceedances into what went well, thus shifting the FDM paradigm towards a more safety-II-based method.The Aeronautical Journa

Mentoring early career researchers

The Curious Future Insight Conference is a platform that brings together scientists from around the world every 2–4 years to discuss the latest advances and innovations in science and technology with the aim of ‘uniting through science for a better tomorrow’. Over the 2-day gathering, a number of themes are covered relating to Energy, Healthy Lives, the Human Mind, Life Reimagined, Materials & Solutions, Nutrition and Vibrant Digital. In the 2024 conference, the importance of mentoring and supporting Early Career Researchers within the wider science ecosystem was a prominent feature of a panel session hosted by AAAS/Science and moderated by Dr. Rachel Bernstein of Science, deputy news editor focusing on careers and community. In this panel session that also included Dr. Senka Holzer, Medical University of Graz and Professor Ulrike Fasbender, University of Hohenheim in Germany, we explored the importance of the mentor/mentee relationship from a scientific and professional perspective, how the relationship can help individuals in navigating challenges within a science career and strategies and approaches for fostering the relationship. This chapter will address some of these main themes around mentoring relationships, bringing in our insights and personal perspectives.Science for a Better Tomorrow: Curious 2024 Insight

Pioneering microsphere-dope dyeing for sustainable cellulosic fibre colouring

The textile industry has long been criticised for its high energy consumption, significant pollution, and low efficiency, highlighting the urgent need for sustainable innovations. This study presents an advanced approach to fabric dyeing by integrating microencapsulation with dope dyeing to enhance indigo retention in cellulose fibres. Encapsulating indigo within alginate-based microspheres prevents unwanted chemical reactions and minimises environmental impact. Microscopic and SEM analyses confirm the successful incorporation of indigo within fibres, significantly reducing dye loss (0.11-0.18 %) compared to traditional methods. Eliminating the need for reducing agents and oxidants simplifies wastewater treatment, while the fibres exhibit enhanced mechanical properties and exceptional wash durability, retaining 99.76-99.95 % of their weight after 20 cycles-comparable to pure cellulose fibres. A 48-h washing test further demonstrates excellent colour fixation, with minimal indigo detected in the washing solution (0.0042-0.0053 mg/L). By significantly reducing dye loss and chemical usage, this method offers a promising solution to minimising the environmental footprint of textile dyeing, particularly in cellulosic fibre applications. These findings highlight microsphere-assisted dope dyeing as a viable, sustainable alternative to conventional techniques, aligning with global sustainability goals while maintaining high-quality fibre production.International Journal of Biological Macromolecule

Port co-opetition: revisited after 20 years

This paper revisits the concept of port co-opetition with the aim to understand how it has evolved over time since the publication 20 years ago. In so doing, the paper does also attempt to project its future research direction by synthesising the same concept applied to a wide range of academic disciplines. The first aim is of retrospective, while the second of prospective—looking for the future by looking back to the past. The study highlights that co-opetition, defined as doing both collaboration and competition at the same time, has seen noticeable changes over the past two decades by chasing the evolving nature of co-opetition within the port industry from actor-centric and activity-centric perspectives. The focus was initially on individual firms and their interactions; however, there has existed a greater emphasis on the broader activities and their processes as defined co-opetitive relationships. This shift reflects the general trend in the global economy where co-opetition has become increasingly relevant for players to successfully navigate ever more complicated market dynamics. Despite significant progress made in the field of port co-opetition, much of the existing literature remains cantered into the actor-centric view, having limitedly explored the other side of the concept. As a way to fill in this less considered perspective, this paper aims to propose a framework in which the port co-opetition per se could be more systematically analysed, leading us to gain a valuable insight into the field for the benefits of researchers and practitioners. This line of study will make us to better understand the concept in a context of port industry as a potential instrument of implementable strategies.Maritime Policy & Managemen

Investigation on the protection ability of two commonly packaging methods to apples during express transportation

Packaging plays a vital role in the post-harvest sales process of apples. This study conducted express transportation tests to evaluate the protective effectiveness of two commonly used packaging methods for apples. Key parameters assessed included real-time changes in temperature, humidity, vibration load, and CO₂ levels inside the packaging boxes during transit, as well as the storage quality of apples after transportation. Results showed significant variations in load distribution within corrugated partition-based cardboard boxes (CP combination packaging). Conversely, foam holder-based cardboard boxes (FP combination packaging) exhibited CO₂ accumulation. Furthermore, mechanical damage was predominantly localized to the fruit belly. Compared to CP combination packaging box, FP combination packaging box provided more stable shock resistance at lower vibration forces (< 10 N) across transit routes, likely due to its EPS foam design, which restricted fruit movement and absorbed external vibrations. Post-storage analysis showed that damaged apples experienced a 0.16 % increase in mass loss, a 0.83 % rise in soluble solids content (SSC), and a 0.19 MPa reduction in firmness compared to undamaged controls. These findings provide valuable insights into optimizing packaging design to minimize transport-induced damage and enhance apple preservation.This work was supported by an International Cooperation Key Plan of Shaanxi Province (2022KWZ-12) and a High-End Foreign Expert Recruitment Program (G2022172006L).Food Packaging and Shelf Lif

Synergistic aerodynamic force assessment through an extended exergy approach

Sanders, Drewan S. - Associate SupervisorDrag decomposition using energy and exergy-based methods has shown large utility for aerodynamic performance assessment through their flow-field decompositions into different physical mechanisms. A particularly significant advantage of these methods is their ability to identify recoverable energy, which describes the available energy imparted to the flow by the aircraft as it traverses through the fluid. This type of assessment is not possible with traditional momentum analysis. Thus, energy/exergy analysis uniquely evaluates the potential benefits of wake energy utilisation for thrust production through novel architectures such as boundary layer ingestion. The velocity decomposition approach has introduced notable improvements to this analysis framework. This allows for a phenomenological drag decomposition into reversible and irreversible components by splitting the velocity field into its isentropic and non-isentropic contributions within the flow. From this, the reversible drag originating from the bulk flow can be obtained through the isentropic field, whilst the non-isentropic field provides the irreversible dissipative drag arising from the boundary layer and wake zones. The work conducted in this thesis aims to improve the velocity decomposition approach by combining it with partial pressure field analysis, enabling the decomposition of pressure into Euler and dissipative parts, previously not achievable with velocity decomposition alone. Assessment in this manner improves the evaluation of recoverable energy by identifying the additional pressure work potential within the dissipative field. Additionally, the unification extends energy/exergy-based analysis principles to the near- field, providing a unique decomposition capable of evaluating the local accumulation of viscous drag through dissipative pressure and skin friction, whilst the induced drag is assessed from the non-dissipative pressure.PhD in Aerospac

Development and validation of a transient gas turbine simulation tool for shaft-failure modelling

New civil engines must demonstrate, either by testing or analysis, that a shaft failure event will not result in hazardous engine effects. Without an accurate method of predicting levels of turbine overspeed, disk design tends to be pessimistic which leads to a weight penalty. This paper presents an alternative approach based on a highly integrated, multi-disciplinary, dynamic whole-engine simulation tool capable of predicting a gas turbine engine’s behaviour following the failure of a shaft. It describes the methodology and validation of a 1D through-flow compressor model capable of post-stall simulation, coupled with a transient combustor model and a quasi-steady turbine solver for overspeed modelling. The individual components are integrated aerodynamically and mechanically to produce a transient whole-engine model which is resolved at timesteps ranging from 1 to 100 μs. Control and aerodynamic effects impacting turbine overspeed predictions include changes in handling bleeds, fuel supply, turbine capacity reduction due to overspeed, frictional torque and variable geometry malschedule. The modelling of a gas turbine engine’s response following a surge event is required for overspeed modelling which is achieved using compressor characteristics defined from normal operation to reverse flow. The whole engine simulation tool is validated against a 3-spool experimental gas turbine engine which experienced a shaft failure event on a test stand. The simulation model correctly predicted the turbine’s terminal speed within a 4% error margin and blowdown rate following a surge event until recovery.Rolls-Royce plcASME Turbo Expo 2025: Turbomachinery Technical Conference and Expositio

Mechanical characterization of a 3D large strain zero Poisson’s ratio helical metamaterial

Supplementary information The online version contains supplementary material available at: https://doi.org/10.1038/s43246-025-00832-0.Mechanical metamaterials with zero Poisson’s ratio (ZPR) offer unique advantages in applications requiring dimensional stability under large deformations. Here we present a three-dimensional, large strain ZPR metamaterial composed of shape-optimized helical ligaments arranged in a hierarchical lattice. The design reduces stress concentrations at the joints and supports substantial elastic deformation in tension, compression and shear, while maintaining orthotropic, decoupled stress-strain behaviour. Finite element analyses assess homogenized properties, buckling behaviour, and vibrational modes through the analysis of the phononic band gaps, showing low normalized Young’s modulus and strain-invariant Poisson’s ratios. We further examine the influence of ligament cross-sectional diameter and the effect of different base materials on stiffness and strain range. Experimental tests on 3D-printed specimens confirm the predicted ZPR behavior and deformation capacity. The metamaterial’s elastic isotropy, fatigue resistance, and tailorable stiffness make it suitable for multifunctional applications including adaptive actuators, morphing structures, and energy-absorbing systems.Communications Material

Dataset " Protective performance of building cladding against fragmentation impact"

The dataset supports a journal article investigating the fragment penetration performance of low carbon construction materials subject to improvised explosive devices. The dataset contains the experimental data collected during gas gun testing and results discussed in the article.British Arm

Investigation of procurement risk management strategies in the post-contract award phase.

Yates, Nicky - Associate SupervisorThis research empirically investigated how procurement risk management (PRM) strategies are used to manage risks in the post-contract award phase. Through three sequential papers, this study adopted multiple methods to gain insights into the procurement risks, risk management strategies, and risk management tools and techniques used in the post-contract award phase in manufacturing sector. Paper 1 is a literature review of the risk management strategies used in the three procurement phases: pre-contract, selection and contracting, and post-contract award. The author conducted an SLR of 100 peer-reviewed articles published between 2000 and 2025. The key findings of this study are twofold. First, it synthesized four main themes: procurement risks, procurement risk management tools and techniques, procurement risk mitigation strategies, and factors that influence the selection of risk mitigation strategies across the three procurement phases. Second, the findings highlighted that procurement risk management tools and techniques in the post-contract award phase have been neglected in the literature compared to the pre-contract, and selection and contracting phases. Paper 2, an empirical study, adopted a qualitative approach to gain insights into procurement risk management in the post-contract award phase. The author interviewed Procurement professionals (23) from 7 manufacturing industries in the United Kingdom (UK) and highlighted three key findings based on the interview insights. First, the results identified five risk categories: supplier performance, contract design, supplier relationship, ethical, and disruption risks. Second, procurement professionals combined technological tools, such as data analytics and machine learning, with human engagement techniques, including site visits and review meetings, to identify and assess risks and plan mitigation strategies. Third, a combination of preventive and reactive PRM strategies were implemented in the post-contract award phase. Paper 3, an empirical study, examined how sociological mechanisms affect procurement risks and procurement risk management performance during the post-contract award phase. A quantitative survey was conducted among 313 procurement professionals from the US automotive manufacturing industry. This study has four key findings. First, combining trust with information sharing, commitment, and flexibility mitigates the negative effects of switching costs on procurement risk management performance than using trust alone. Second, combining trust with information sharing, commitment, and flexibility mitigates the negative effects of switching costs and negotiation costs on procurement risk management performance than using trust alone. Third, sociological constructs are insufficient as PRM mechanisms to mitigate the negative impact of environmental uncertainties on procurement risk management performance. Fourth, sociological constructs are insufficient as PRM mechanisms to mitigate the negative influence of supplier opportunistic behaviours on procurement risk management performance. Overall, this thesis makes several key contributions and extends the literature in the following ways. This SLR study contributes to the existing literature by aligning the fragmented strands of risk management literature and systematically synthesizing the procurement risks, the tools and techniques for identifying, assessing, and mitigating risks, and the risk mitigation strategies in each procurement phase. Second, it provides a new, empirically based procurement risk management model that integrates procurement risk identification, assessment, and mitigation strategies into the post-contract award phase. Third, it provides new empirical evidence that combining trust with information sharing, commitment, and flexibility mitigates the negative effects of switching costs and negotiation costs on procurement risk management performance more effectively than using trust alone. Fourth, it provides new empirical evidence that combining trust with information sharing, commitment, and flexibility mitigates the negative effects of switching costs and negotiation costs on procurement risk management performance than using trust alone.PhD in Leadership and Managemen