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The emergence of digitalization to the manufacturing sector in the sustainability context: a multi-stakeholder perspective analysis
Get PDFSustainable digitalization in industry requires extensive preplanning to integrate business strategies with the concept of digitalized sustainability. However, stakeholders often have different perspectives, making alignment more challenging. Stakeholders in the digitalized sustainable manufacturing industry must be identified and prioritized for effective implementation. Therefore, the present study combines a Systematic Literature Review and Hybrid Multi-Criteria Decision Techniques, including the Full Consistency Method and Fuzzy-Evaluation based on the Distance from Average Solution method, to prioritize stakeholders' roles in digitalized sustainable manufacturing and associated strategies. This study explores various implementation methodologies and their relations to different stakeholders. It categorizes stakeholders, such as manufacturers, research and development teams, managers, mergers and acquisitions, education programs, the 6R strategy, and eco-efficiency, to illustrate corresponding strategies. Overall, the study highlights the urgent need for meticulous planning to synchronize business strategies with digitalized sustainability while recognizing the difficulty in harmonizing different stakeholders' assessments. The research findings offer valuable insights for industry professionals aiming to navigate the complexities of sustainable digitalization successfully.Journal of Cleaner Productio
Understanding and comparing digital traces
Get PDFDigital forensic practitioners will encounter digital traces during their examinations which they must take steps to understand. This may involve trying to attribute an ‘activity’ to a trace (what created it) or determine where it came from (its ‘source’) – Trace-to-Activity/Source interpretation. Alternatively, they may need to determine if an activity has taken place on a system by identifying traces denoting it – Activity-to-Trace interpretation. In both instances, practitioners may need to conduct tests and/or identify research which will help them understand a trace, and compare any results of their testing/research to the traces in their casework. This work describes both the Trace-to-Activity/Source and Activity-to-Trace interpretive journeys, as well as the steps contained in both. In addition, six ‘trace comparison criteria’ are proposed and discussed to help those carrying out a trace comparison, notably: ‘trace location’, ‘trace structure’, ‘trace examination method’, ‘trace metadata’, ‘trace content’, and ‘trace context’.Australian Journal of Forensic Science
An experimental and simulation screening of X-65 steel weldment corrosion in high flow rate conditions
Get PDFOver many decades, the oil and gas industry has encountered significant challenges due to weldment corrosion. The issue of internal-pipeline local corrosion at the welded joint region has garnered significant concern, especially due to the combined impact of high shear stress and electrochemical corrosion. This combination can lead to pipeline rupture with relative ease. Hence, a new approach to screen the flow corrosion of X-65 steel via electrochemical methods, predicting fluid shear stress and velocity using computational fluid dynamic (CFD) simulation is positively tested and presented here. For that, the X-65 steel specimens were cut/designed as the inner, centre, and outer electrodes of the target to analyse the Weld Metal (WM), Heat Affected Zone (HAZ), and Parent Metal (PM). Electrochemical screening was carried out simultaneously at a flow of 10 m/s using a brine solution saturated with CO2. The PM and HAZ will corrode less than the WM, in some cases at 30–23% of the rate of the WM. Thus in an environment of uninhibited brine saturated with CO2 at 10 m/s, preferential weld corrosion (PWC) is expected to occur. In addition, the surface morphology screening (scanning electron microscope with energy dispersive x-ray analysis, X-Ray diffraction, focus ion beam, raman spectroscopy) was employed to monitor the corrosion damage on the metal surface and also to support the electrochemical measurements (linear polarization resistance, galvanic measurement, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy).This research was funded by the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (INDONESIA)Materials Today Communication
Advancements in 3D x-ray imaging: development and application of a twin robot system
Get PDFdevelopment of a novel twin robot system for 3D X-ray imaging integrates advanced robotic control with mobile X-ray technology to significantly enhance diagnostic accuracy and efficiency in both medical and industrial applications. Key technical aspects, including innovative design specifications and system architecture, are discussed in detail. The twin robots operate in tandem, providing comprehensive imaging capabilities with high precision. This novel approach offers potential applications ranging from medical diagnostics to industrial inspections, significantly improving over traditional imaging methods. Preliminary results demonstrate the system's effectiveness in producing detailed 3D images, underscoring its potential for wide-ranging uses. Future research will focus on optimizing image quality and automating the imaging process to increase utility and efficiency. This development signifies a step forward in integrating robotics and imaging technology, promising enhanced outcomes in various fields.This work was supported by ATI funding for advanced manufacturing innovation - ATI Robot-Mounted 3D X-Ray Inspection25th Annual Conference Towards Autonomous Robotic Systems (TAROS
A survey of artificial intelligence-related cybersecurity risks and countermeasures in Mobility-as-a-Service
No full textMobility-as-a-service (MaaS) integrates different transport modalities and can support more personalization of travelers’ journey planning based on their individual preferences, behaviors and wishes. To fully achieve the potential of MaaS, a range of artificial intelligence (AI) (including machine learning and data mining) algorithms are needed to learn personal requirements and needs to optimize the journey planning of each traveler and all travelers as a whole, to help transport service operators and relevant governmental bodies to operate and plan their services, and to detect and prevent cyberattacks from various threat actors, including dishonest and malicious travelers and transport operators. The increasing use of different AI and data processing algorithms in both centralized and distributed settings opens the MaaS ecosystem up to diverse cyber and privacy attacks at both the AI algorithm level and the connectivity surfaces. In this article, we present the first comprehensive review on the coupling between AI-driven MaaS design and the diverse cybersecurity challenges related to cyberattacks and countermeasures. In particular, we focus on how current and emerging AI-facilitated privacy risks (profiling, inference, and third-party threats) and adversarial AI attacks (evasion, extraction, and gamification) may impact the MaaS ecosystem. These risks often combine novel attacks (e.g., inverse learning) with traditional attack vectors (e.g., man-in-the-middle attacks), exacerbating the risks for the wider participation actors and the emergence of new business models.Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)This work was supported by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), part of the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), as part of the research projects “MACRO – Mobility as a service: Managing Cybersecurity Risks across Consumers, Organisations and Sectors” (EP/V039164/1), and “TAS-S: Trustworthy Autonomous Systems: Security” (EP/V026763/1)
Properties and combustion characteristics of bioslurry fuels from agricultural waste pyrolysis
Get PDFThe current research investigates the combustion characteristics of bioslurry fuel derived from the products of agricultural waste pyrolysis. The bioslurry fuel was prepared by mixing biochar and pyrolysis oil. The combustion characteristics of a suspended single droplet of the bioslurry were analysed. The results indicate that an increase in pyrolysis temperature (400–600°C) lead to higher concentrations of fixed carbon (56–60%), increased ash content (16–18%), and higher calorific values (25–32 MJkg−1). As the pyrolysis temperature rises, the biochar surface becomes more porous, lower volatile matter content and particle size. As biochar content increases, the bioslurry’s density, viscosity, and caloric value increase but stability index decreases. Higher biochar content in the bioslurry increases the ignition delay and burnout time while reducing the burning rate. The bioslurry fuel contained 30% biochar achieved a calorific value of 28 MJkg−1 and a viscosity of 600 cP, comparative to conventional fossil fuels.International Journal of Sustainable Energ
Nutrient removal and recovery from urine using bio-mineral formation processes
Get PDFHarvesting nutrients from waste presents a promising initiative to advance and deliver the circular economy in the water sector while mitigating local shortages of mineral fertilizers worldwide. Urine, a small fraction of municipal wastewater, holds substantial amounts of nitrogen, orthophosphate (PO4–P), and chemical oxygen demand (COD). Separating urine aids targeted nutrient recovery, emissions reduction, and releasing capacity in wastewater treatment plants and taps into overlooked vital nutrients like magnesium (Mg2+) and potassium (K+), essential for plant growth. The ability of selected microorganisms (Brevibacterium antiquum, Bacillus pumilus, Halobacterium salinarum, Idiomarina loihiensis, and Myxococcus xanthus) to remove and recover nutrients from fresh urine through bio-mineral formation of struvite was investigated. The selected microorganisms outcompeted native microbes in open-culture fresh urine, and intact cell counts were 1.3 to 2.3 times larger than in noninoculated controls. PO4–P removal reached 50% after 4 days of incubation and 96% when urine was supplemented with Mg2+. Additionally, soluble COD was reduced by 60%; urea hydrolysis was only < 3% in controls, but it reached 35% in inoculated urine after 10 days. The dominant morphology of recovered precipitates was euhedral and prismatic, identified using energy dispersive spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction as struvite (i.e., bio-struvite), but K+ was also present at 5%. Up to 1 g bio-struvite/L urine was recovered. These results demonstrate the ability of bio-mineral producing microorganisms to successfully grow in urine and recover nutrients such as bio-struvite, that could potentially be used as sustainable fertilizers or chemicals.Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)We would like to thank Microvi Biotech, Inc., Severn TrentWater Plc., and the UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council [grant number EP/R513027/1] for their support and funding of this PhD studentship.ACS Sustainable Resource Managemen
Effect of thermo-mechanical treatment on microstructure and mechanical properties of wire-arc additively manufactured Al-Cu alloy
No full textWire-arc additive manufacture (WAAM) has great potential for manufacturing of Al-Cu components. However, inferior mechanical properties of WAAM deposited material restrict its industrial application. Inter-layer cold rolling and thermo-mechanical heat treatment (T8) with pre-stretching deformation between solution and aging treatment were adopted in this study. Their effects on hardness, mechanical properties and microstructure were analyzed and compared to the conventional heat treatment (T6). The results show that cold rolling increases the hardness and strengths, which further increase with T8 treatment. The ultimate tensile strength (UTS) of 513 MPa and yield stress (YS) of 413 MPa can be obtained in the inter-layer cold-rolled sample with T8 treatment, which is much higher than that in the as-deposited samples. The cold-rolled samples show higher elongation than that of as-deposited ones due to significant elimination of porosity in cold rolling; while both the T6 and T8 treatments decrease the elongation. The cold rolling and pre-stretching deformation both contribute to the formation of dense and dispersive precipitated θ′ phases, which inhibits the dislocation movement and enhances the strengths; as a result, T8 treatment shows better strengthening effect than the T6 treatment. The strengthening mechanism was analyzed and it was mainly related to work hardening and precipitation strengthening.Project(ZZYJKT2024-08) supported by the State Key Laboratory of Precision Manufacturing for Extreme Service Performance, China; Project(2022JB11GX004) supported by Selection of the best Candidates to Undertake Key Research Projects by Dalian City, China; Project(201806835007) supported by China Scholarship CouncilJournal of Central South Universit
Exploring the role of additive manufacturing in the prosthetic supply chain: qualitative evidence
Get PDFPurpose
This study aims to evaluate the enhancement in prosthetic supply chain capabilities resulting from the implementation of additive manufacturing (AM) technologies. The study presents an emerging model outlining the key areas that undergo changes when integrating 3D printing technologies into the prosthetic supply chain.
Design/methodology/approach
Employing a qualitative approach, data were collected through field observations and 31 in-depth interviews conducted within various Jordanian organizations associated with the prosthetic industry and 3D printing technologies.
Findings
The findings suggest that the adoption of 3D printing technologies improves the prosthetic supply chain’s capabilities in terms of customization, responsiveness, innovation, environmental sustainability, cost minimization and patient empowerment. The study sheds light on the specific areas affected in the prosthetic supply chain following the adoption of 3D printing technologies, emphasizing the overall improvement in supply chain capabilities within the prosthetic industry.
Practical implications
This study provides recommendations for governmental bodies and prosthetic organizations to maximize the benefits derived from the use of 3D printing technologies.
Originality/value
This study contributes as the first of its kind in exploring the impact of 3D printing technology adoption in the Jordanian prosthetic industry, elucidating the effects on the supply chain and identifying challenges for decision-makers in an emerging market context.The TQM Journa
Development of wire and arc additive manufacture for large scale application for the energy industry.
No full textWire + arc additive manufacture (WAAM), as the most discussed tool in manufacturing, can complement the design of a fully optimised structure through multi-material deposition and incorporation of geometric design features not possible by traditional manufacturing technologies. Despite all the progress made in WAAM, detail studies on the implication of WAAM parameters on the structural integrity of steel-built components in both machined and as-built condition, and their fracture mechanics properties are largely unknown. To effectively and economically commercialise WAAM, the integrity and reliability of built components under specific loading conditions must be assured.
In these studies, the properties of steel components built with WAAM were determined, and the possible methods to improve strength, fatigue performance, and fracture toughness, by tailored deposition of different wire grades, through the modification of the build surface from rolling, and through the addition of cold wire during deposition were determined. The results were presented through mechanical test data (tensile properties, hardness, Charpy and fracture toughness, and fatigue crack growth rate and fatigue life results, along with microstructural analysis (electron microscopy of fractured surfaces, EBSD, XRD, and optical microscopy), and the surface topography of the WAAM build, as characterised by the surface waviness.
The studies showed that WAAM process parameters are responsible for the fatigue initiation of WAAM as-deposited (ASD) structures and that reduction of SW by process parameter optimisation and the use of side rolling will improve the fatigue life of ASD WAAM components. The possible cause of variability in fracture toughness in the WAAM steel deposits is the hardening and softening regions in the layer bands caused by the variation in peak temperature and cooling rates of the adjacent layer in the building direction. The addition of cold wire into the melt pool mop-up the excess heat, controlled the surface morphology and improved the mechanical properties and the deposition rate. In this study, a deposition rate of 6.27kg/hr was achieved.
In conclusion, low carbon and high strength steel wires will be suitable for making bespoke components with WAAM application for large scale energy manufacturing, and WAAM mild steel components could be used in the as-deposited condition for engineering application when rolling is applied to reduce its SW.PhD in Renewable Energy Marine Structures (REMS