Disposal and Recycle Economic Assessment for Aircraft and Engine End of Life Solution Evaluation

The present study proposes an economic indicator to support the evaluation of aircraft End of Life (EoL) strategies in view of the increasing demand with regards to aircraft decommissioning. This indicator can be used to evaluate the economic performance and to facilitate the trade-off studies among different strategies. First, Disposal and Recycle (D&R) scenarios related to stakeholders are investigated to identify the core concepts for the economic evaluation. Next, we extracted the aircraft D&R process from various real-life practices. In order to obtain the economic measure for the engineering process, a method of estimating the D&R cost and values are developed by integrating product, process and cost properties. This analysis is demonstrated on an averaged data set and two EoL aircraft cases. In addition, sensitivity analysis is performed to evaluate the impact of the D&R cost, residual value, and salvage value. Results show that the disassembly and dismantling of an aircraft engine possesses relatively more economic gains than that for the aircraft. The main factors influencing the proposed D&R economic indicator are the salvage value and D&R cost for economically efficient D&R cases. In addition, delaying the disposal and recycle process for EoL aircraft can lead to economically unfavorable solutions. The economic indicator combined with the evaluation methods is widely applicable for evaluations of engineering products EoL solutions, and implies a significant contribution of this research to decision making for such complex systems in terms sustainable policy

The nexus of corporate social responsibility (CSR), affective commitment and organisational citizenship behaviour in academia A model of trust

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to advance knowledge on the implications of perceived corporate social responsibility (CSR) on employee levels of commitment and citizenship behaviour (OCB) by investigating a trust-based mediational process in the context of academia. Design/methodology/approach: The research data are collected from a sample of 736 academics through a questionnaire based survey administered in different Pakistani universities. The nature of trust-based mechanism underlying the relationships between CSR, affective commitment and OCB is determined through structural equation modelling of the research data. Findings: The findings suggest that the perceived CSR is an important predictor of academics attitudes and behaviour in universities. Whilst the findings implicate the mediating role of trust in the process by which perceived CSR influences academics commitment, trust does not appear to mediate the perceived CSRs relationship with OCB. Research limitations/implications: This study utilises single-sourced and cross-sectional data, which may have resulted in common method bias. Practical implications: By furnishing evidence of the beneficial effects of perceived CSR on academics levels of trust, commitment and citizenship behaviour, this study provides a business case for universities involvement in CSR. The findings are particularly useful to academic administrators and managers who are interested in nurturing positive attitudes and behaviours amongst academic staff. Originality/value: There is a paucity of research on CSR in the academic work settings of developing countries. This is the first study to examine the trust-based microfoundation of CSR in the context of academia in Pakistan

Importance of fibre sizing on the seawater durability of carbon fibre laminates

The strong influence of the fibre sizing agent on the water absorption properties of carbon fibre laminates is demonstrated. A comparative experimental study is performed into the water absorption kinetics and maximum amount of absorbed water for laminates with sizing agent on the carbon fibres which are chemically compatible or incompatible with the polymer matrix. The water absorption rate is higher (by ~3 times), the time to saturation is much shorter (by ~ 6 times), and the water content at saturation is greater (by ~1.5 times) for the laminate with the incompatible fibre sizing agent. This laminate has relatively weaker fibre-matrix interfacial strength and contains a fine fibre-matrix interfacial cracks which aid the absorption and diffusion of water. The effect of the fibre sizing on the reduction to the strength properties of the laminates caused by the absorption of water is also investigated

Addressing the design-implementation gap of sustainable business models by prototyping: A tool for planning and executing small-scale pilots

Next to the redesign of industrial products and processes, sustainable business model innovation is a strategic approach to integrate environmental and social concerns into the objectives and operations of organizations. One of the major challenges of this approach is that many promising business model ideas fail to reach the market, which is needed to achieve impact. In the literature, the issue is referred to as a design-implementation gap. This paper explores how that critical gap may be bridged. In doing so, we contribute to sustainable business model innovation theory and practice. We contribute to theory by connecting sustainable business model innovation with business experimentation and strategic design, two innovation approaches that leverage prototyping as a way to iteratively implement business ideas early on. Using a design science research methodology, we combine theoretical insights from these three literatures into a tool for setting up small-scale pilots of sustainable business models. We apply, evaluate, and improve our tool through a rigorous process by working with nine startups and one multinational company. As a result, we provide normative theory in terms of the sustainable business model innovation process, explaining that piloting a prototype forces organizations to simultaneously consider the desirability (i.e., what users want), feasibility (i.e., what is technically achievable), viability (i.e., what is financially possible), and sustainability (i.e., what is economically, socially and environmentally acceptable) of a new business model. Doing so early on is functional to bridge the design-implementation gap of sustainable business models. We contribute to practice with the tool itself, which organizations can use to translate sustainable business model ideas defined on paper into small-scale pilots as a first implementation step. We encourage future research building on the limitations of this exploratory study by working with a larg

GustaCine: Towards Designing a Gustatory Cinematic Experience

In this pictorial, we describe the design and making of GustaCine, an engaging crossmodal cinematic experience that allows the viewer to experience and savor cinematic moments through the gustatory pleasures of the different flavored popcorn. Our aim behind creating GustaCine is to explore possibilities in designing food experiences that 'move' in parallel with the moving picture. We articulate our making process enumerating the challenges in creating a gustatory experience and undertaken strategies to resolve them. Ultimately, we aim to inspire and guide future research on gustatory cinematic experiences

Control of quantum emitter-plasmon strong coupling and energy transport with external electrostatic fields

We investigate a system comprised of a constellation quantum emitters interacting with a localized surface plasmon mode of a metal nanoparticle subject to an externally applied electrostatic field. Due to the strong interactions among the electric field and the plasmonic setup, we show that system enters collective strong coupling regime generating polariton states when the intensity of the applied electrostatic field is increased. This in turn enhances the exciton energy transport rates between two emitters in the system when a single emitter is incoherently pumped. We further analyze how the placement of quantum emitter dipole moment orientation affects the observed collective strong coupling and how the electrostatic field can be used to put our setup to either weak or strong coupling regimes via the interacting electrostatic field

Set-membership based hybrid Kalman filter for nonlinear state estimation under systematic uncertainty

This paper presents a new set-membership based hybrid Kalman filter (SM-HKF) by combining the Kalman filtering (KF) framework with the set-membership concept for nonlinear state estimation under systematic uncertainty consisted of both stochastic error and unknown but bounded (UBB) error. Upon the linearization of the nonlinear system model via a Taylor series expansion, this method introduces a new UBB error term by combining the linearization error with systematic UBB error through the Minkowski sum. Subsequently, an optimal Kalman gain is derived to minimize the mean squared error of the state estimate in the KF framework by taking both stochastic and UBB errors into account. The proposed SM-HKF handles the systematic UBB error, stochastic error as well as the linearization error simultaneously, thus overcoming the limitations of the extended Kalman filter (EKF). The effectiveness and superiority of the proposed SM-HKF have been verified through simulations and comparison analysis with EKF. It is shown that the SM-HKF outperforms EKF for nonlinear state estimation with systematic UBB error and stochastic error

How do open space characteristics influence open space use? A study of Melbourne's Southbank Promenade

With the importance of open spaces to urban quality of life being increasingly recognized, knowledge about which spatial characteristics influence open space use, how, and why is of growing interest to open space researchers, designers and managers. Through an observational survey of Southbank Promenade in Melbourne, Australia, the research examines how various specific design characteristics of open spaces correspond to their actual uses. The findings show that different levels and kinds of uses are associated with the different space features of three distinct sections of Southbank Promenade, under varying time and weather conditions

Monitoring aboveground forest biomass dynamics over three decades using Landsat time-series and single-date inventory data

Understanding forest biomass dynamics is crucial for carbon and environmental monitoring, especially in the context of climate change. In this study, we propose a robust approach for monitoring aboveground forest biomass (AGB) dynamics by combining Landsat time-series with single-date inventory data. We developed a Random Forest (RF) based kNN model to produce annual maps of AGB from 1988 to 2017 over 7.2 million ha of forests in Victoria, Australia. The model was internally evaluated using a bootstrapping technique. Predictions of AGB and its change were then independently evaluated using multi-temporal Lidar data (2008 and 2016). To understand how natural and anthropogenic processes impact forest AGB, we analysed trends in relation to the history of disturbance and recovery. Specifically, change metrics (e.g., AGB loss and gain, Years to Recovery Y2R) were calculated at the pixel level to characterise the patterns of AGB change resulting from forest dynamics. The imputation model achieved a RMSE value of 132.9 Mg ha(-1) (RMSE% = 46.3%) and R-2 value of 0.56. Independent assessments of prediction maps in 2008 and 2016 using Lidar-based AGB data achieved relatively high accuracies, with a RMSE of 108.6 Mg ha(-1) and 135.9 Mg ha(-1) for 2008 and 2016, respectively. Annual validations of AGB maps using un-changed, homogenous Lidar plots suggest that our model is transferable through time (RMSE ranging from 109.65 Mg ha(-1) to 112.27 Mg ha(-1) and RMSE% ranging from 25.38% to 25.99%). In addition, changes in AGB values associated with forest disturbance and recovery (decrease and increase, respectively) were captured by predicted maps. AGB change metrics indicate that AGB loss and Y2R varied across bioregions and were highly dependent on levels of disturbance severity (i.e., a greater loss and longer recovery time were associated with a higher severity disturbance). On average, high severity fire burnt from 200 Mg ha(-1) to 550 Mg ha(-1) of AGB and required up to 15 y

Potential of power generation from chicken waste-based biodiesel, economic and environmental analysis: Bangladeshs perspective

This study outlined the potential of biodiesel production from chicken fat waste and electricity generation from biodiesel on the scenario of remote region, Kuakata, located at southeastern Bangladesh based on the cost comparison between diesel and biodiesel-based power generation by HOMER software. The main objective of this case study was to address an integrated simulation-based research outcome to manage chicken skin waste (fat) for biodiesel, generate electricity from the biodiesel and present the potential of greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction from environment by product implementation. Approximate electric load profile of Kuakata and comprehensive emission modeling for this region has been performed by fuel-switching model and RETScreen Expert software. The simulation outcomes presented that 492,695 L/year biodiesel can be produced from chicken skin waste in Kuakata and converted into 883 MWh electricity per annum. The operating cost was 188,062 $/year, and cost of energy production was 0.214$/kWh. The outcomes from this simulation modeling also demonstrated that the annual fuel consumption for base case is 3.7 kWh/m2 while 1.5 kWh/m2 is for proposed case with the reduction of 2.2 kWh/m2 per year. The calculation and simulation results also presented 70.3% GHG reduction in the region which presented drastic drop of environmental pollution