A Selection of Benchmark Problems in Solid Mechanics and Applied Mathematics

In this contribution we provide benchmark problems in the field of computational solid mechanics. In detail, we address classical fields as elasticity, incompressibility, material interfaces, thin structures and plasticity at finite deformations. For this we describe explicit setups of the benchmarks and introduce the numerical schemes. For the computations the various participating groups use different (mixed) Galerkin finite element and isogeometric analysis formulations. Some programming codes are available open-source. The output is measured in terms of carefully designed quantities of interest that allow for a comparison of other models, discretizations, and implementations. Furthermore, computational robustness is shown in terms of mesh refinement studies. This paper presents benchmarks, which were developed within the Priority Programme of the German Research Foundation ‘SPP 1748 Reliable Simulation Techniques in Solid Mechanics—Development of Non-Standard Discretisation Methods, Mechanical and Mathematical Analysis’. © 2020, The Author(s)

Building Competitive Advantage in District Firms: The Role of the Network and the Company

This paper analyses how a firm which operates in a local tourism destination, or tourism district (Dredge, 1999; Sainaghi, 2004), can achieve a sustainable competitive advantage. In this case it becomes important to look at the relationships between the firm and the metamanager, which can be described as the district director who defines the destination’s strategic and managerial model

Value creation through strategic innovation and cooperation

This paper focuses on strategic and organizational innovation (Shumpeter, 1947) as key factors in creating additional value for customers – and, as a consequence, for firms – in mature tourist services located in tourism districts (Sainaghi, 2004). The paper aims at thinking about context conditions that can encourage or constrain innovation (§3), identifying sources of competitive advantage, and levels of strategies (§4), and finally discovering the mechanisms of value distribution among innovative organizations (§5)

Sinkholes Susceptibility Assessment in Urban Environment Using Heuristic, Statistical and Artificial Neural Network (ANN) Models in Evaporite Karst System: A Case Study from Lesina Marina (Southern Italy).

Sinkhole susceptibility assessment was carried out in “Lesina Marina” evaporite karst area, located in the north-eastern part of the Apulia region (southern Italy), near the Adriatic coast. Land instability due to the widespread presence of sinkholes especially in a built-up area, constitutes a complex dynamic system, structured by a sets of interacting components, controlled by several natural and anthropogenic factors, forming an integrated whole, in which physical dynamic processes evolve. Heuristic method, multivariate statistical analysis and ANN procedure were performed in order to assess sinkhole susceptibility. In the study area, sinkhole phenomenon is strictly related to the structure and stratigraphy of the evaporite rocks, the groundwater regime conditioned by tide-induced surface water and groundwater interactions, and by the presence of the complex sea-channel-lagoon system. The analysis performed by different procedures explains the relationship between datasets and models capability to predict the behaviour of the phenomenon. The performances of prediction models have been evaluated using ROC curves. The results show that the multivariate statistical model produces a more reliable accuracy

The balanced scorecard of a new destination product: implications for lodging and skiing firms

New product development (NPD) is a counter-seasonal strategy able to reduce demand fluctuations, especially during the seasonal tails. No previous study has analysed this field through the lens of balanced scorecard (BSC). This explorative paper contributes to this gap and considers two research questions: i) How is a destination NPD process operationalized using the four BSC perspectives? ii) What is the relevance and content of each perspective in this particular field? The study deploys a longitudinal analysis of the Skipassfree product, launched by Livigno (Italy) in 2007. Over a decade, this product generated a significant uplift both in terms of hotel guests (+108%) and ski company clients (+248%). The proposed framework is built around 22 codes and incorporates a fifth BSC perspective (the destination context). “Learning and growth” is the most significant perspective with “alignment” being a key attribute, which suggests the relevance of innovation and stakeholders’ involvement

The balanced scorecard of a new destination product: Implications for lodging and skiing firms

New product development (NPD) is a counter-seasonal strategy able to reduce demand fluctuations, especially during the seasonal tails. No previous study has analysed this field through the lens of balanced scorecard (BSC). This explorative paper contributes to this gap and considers two research questions: i) How is a destination NPD process operationalized using the four BSC perspectives? ii) What is the relevance and content of each perspective in this particular field? The study deploys a longitudinal analysis of the Skipassfree product, launched by Livigno (Italy) in 2007. Over a decade, this product generated a significant uplift both in terms of hotel guests (+108%) and ski company clients (+248%). The proposed framework is built around 22 codes and incorporates a fifth BSC perspective (the destination context). “Learning and growth” is the most significant perspective with “alignment” being a key attribute, which suggests the relevance of innovation and stakeholders’ involvement

Mega events and seasonality: the case of the Milan World Expo 2015

Purpose – This paper aims to explore the effects generated by the Milan World Expo 2015 on both firm performance and seasonality structure. It aims to answer the following research question: Did the Milan Expo 2015 influence only hotel results without changing seasonal patterns, or was this mega event able to reconfigure seasonal periods? Design/methodology/approach – The present analysis is based on Smith Travel Research (STR) data. This source offers daily data on a large sample of Milan hotels (approximately 80 per cent of the total), representing more than 30,000 rooms. The empirical data relate to a period of 12 years, 11 of which are focused on the pre-event period (2004-2014), while 2015 is centered on the Milan Expo. This data comprise 4,383 daily observations. For each day, three operating measures were analyzed: occupancy, average daily rate (ADR) and revenue per available room (RevPAR). Findings – The empirical findings fully support the first hypothesis: the four seasonal periods built around the main market segments are relevant lenses for understanding Milan’s demand structure before Expo 2015. The findings also support the second hypothesis relating to the effects generated by the event: Expo 2015 was able to improve hotel performance during the four seasonal periods analyzed. The most fragile seasonality registered the highest rise. Finally, the last two hypotheses to be investigated are as follows: did the Milan Expo 2015 simply improve hotel performance, without changing the underlying seasonal patterns (H3), or did this event reconfigure the demand structure (H4)? The analyses carried out lend more support to the fourth hypothesis, suggesting that new seasonal patterns emerged during Expo 2015. Originality/value – This paper explores the impact of a mega event on seasonal patterns of hotel performance metrics. At least three original aspects are introduced. First, to analyze the Milan demand variation, a market segment approach that proposes an innovative seasonal matrix is developed. This is based on the three main client groups attracted by the destination. Second, the effects generated by the Expo are measured with consideration given to the four seasonal periods. Third, based on graphical and statistical analysis, the paper confirms that new seasonal patterns emerged during the Expo

The Finite Cell Method for Simulation of Additive Manufacturing

Additive manufacturing processes are driven by moving laser-induced thermal sources which induce strong heat fluxes and fronts of phase change coupled to mechanical fields. Their numerical simulation poses several challenges, e.g. the evolution of the (possibly complex) domain as the specimen is produced and the differences in scales of the problem. In this work, the first aspect is addressed using the Finite Cell Method, an immersed approach that removes the need for meshing and is able to accurately handle complex geometries. For the second aspect we develop a framework with local refinement to selectively increase accuracy where needed, and derefinement in previously refined regions far from the laser source to keep the overall computational cost constant throughout the simulation. In this work, we present the essential theoretical fundament of the computational framework. Then, we show its application to model additive manufacturing processes in various examples, including experimental validation