The Freeform Fabrication of Structurally Optimized and Complexly Shaped Metal Tubular Components

The service conditions of many structural frames composed of tubular metal components would ideally warrant the use of high strength-to-weight ratio components with shapes and internal geometries that respond to context-specific structural requirements. Commercially available and emerging solid freeform fabrication technologies can be utilized to indirectly or directly manufacture metal tubular structural components with optimizing features that cannot otherwise be manufactured. The results of prototyping experiments demonstrating the viability and potential of this application of additive manufacturing will be presented. This presentation will discuss successful prototype 356 aluminum and 316 stainless steel internally reinforced freeform tubular components manufactured indirectly using expendable patterns made by selective laser sintering and 3D printing. The application of laser and metal powder based freeform fabrication technologies that provide superior material properties will also be discussed, especially in terms of requirements for multi-axis deposition and sophisticated path planning software, and the implications of voxel- or layer-based functionally gradient materials.Mechanical Engineerin

Business and Sustainable Development; Business Purpose, in Search of Improvement in the Business and Society Relationship

In the light of continuing criticism of business in matters of CSR, this thesis investigates the propensity for business to connect legitimately with society in matters pertinent to sustainable development. The study utilises elite interviews and follows the animated interview technique. The emerging notions of business purpose are found to be congruent with promoting the implementation of the SDGs and to offer a significant change dynamic regarding the need to achieve transformational change at scale. However broad take up of business purpose is not assured. The dynamic is found to be impeded by deficits at the business and policy community interface rooted in lack of trust and mutual understanding between them. This is illustrated by the prime example of the need for co-operation to construct enabling legislation for business purpose. Complexity in the governance of SD, which the thesis positions as meta-responsibility where business is a crucial actor, is brought out. Situated in this meta-responsibility, a deficit in the contribution of HE input through the provision of business and management education for CSR is found in teaching, research, external engagement and governance. Detriment caused by the UK culture of marketisation and performativity in the setting of austerity funding is identified. Further, the need for HE institutions to declare purpose pertinent to public value relevant to SD, and for alternative business school models based on new ranking systems is found. The thesis makes a theoretical contribution by placing the emerging notions of business purpose within the Political CSR theory. Further, it follows call in the literature to progress the CSR theory through literature synthesis and alignment, here by utilising the Political CSR theory as a frame. Finally, managerial and policy implications are raised with a business focus and with a focus on HE input

Unravelling Soil Fungal Communities from Different Mediterranean Land-Use Backgrounds

Fungi strongly influence ecosystem structure and functioning, playing a key role in many ecological services as decomposers, plant mutualists and pathogens. The Mediterranean area is a biodiversity hotspot that is increasingly threatened by intense land use. Therefore, to achieve a balance between conservation and human development, a better understanding of the impact of land use on the underlying fungal communities is needed.We used parallel pyrosequencing of the nuclear ribosomal ITS regions to characterize the fungal communities in five soils subjected to different anthropogenic impact in a typical Mediterranean landscape: a natural cork-oak forest, a pasture, a managed meadow, and two vineyards. Marked differences in the distribution of taxon assemblages among the different sites and communities were found. Data analyses consistently indicated a sharp distinction of the fungal community of the cork oak forest soil from those described in the other soils. Each soil showed features of the fungal assemblages retrieved which can be easily related to the above-ground settings: ectomycorrhizal phylotypes were numerous in natural sites covered by trees, but were nearly completely missing from the anthropogenic and grass-covered sites; similarly, coprophilous fungi were common in grazed sites.Data suggest that investigation on the below-ground fungal community may provide useful elements on the above-ground features such as vegetation coverage and agronomic procedures, allowing to assess the cost of anthropogenic land use to hidden diversity in soil. Datasets provided in this study may contribute to future searches for fungal bio-indicators as biodiversity markers of a specific site or a land-use degree