Journals Published by Vilnius Tech
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Fatigue indicators for metal structures: from aircraft to bridges
Get PDFThe papers focus on a fatigue monitoring method for two types of engineering structures: (a) aircraft and (b) steel bridges. However, the potential application of this new approach extends beyond these examples. It is demonstrated that, despite advancements in stress-strain analysis, improvements in fatigue life prediction methods, and progress in contemporary non-destructive inspection techniques, unexpected failures of metal structures still occur. This paper outlines the evolution of Fatigue Indicators for Metal Structures, progressing from conceptual development to a family of indicators capable of monitoring fatigue damage in key structural components. These include aircraft parts made of aluminum alloys and load-bearing elements of steel bridges. All the indicators discussed share a unifying concept: the metal surface subjected to cyclic loading reflects accumulated fatigue damage. The primary parameter used to assess this damage is the intensity of the surface deformation relief (extrusion/intrusion patterns), measured using a computer-aided optical method. The conceptual design of Fatigue Indicators for both uniaxial and biaxial fatigue is explored. The required sensitivity level of the indicators is achieved through the redistribution of the strains by geometric optimization, which is carried out using Finite Element Analysis.
The creativity of the resistance after the 2020 Belarusian presidential election
Get PDFThe protests that followed the 2020 Belarusian presidential election marked an unprecedented display of creativity as a tool of resistance. This study introduces the theoretical model of creative resistance as a civic awakening, demonstrating how creativity in 2020–2021 Belarusian protests operate on two levels: as 1) symbolic resistance to oppressive regimes and as 2) a mechanism for cultural renewal. In the Belarusian case, acts such as the reclamation of historical symbols, the leadership of women, and the innovative use of art and humour went beyond political defiance. They catalyzed a process of cultural rebirth, reasserting suppressed national identity and collective memory. This model offers a framework to analyze how creativity in social movements can challenge authoritarianism while reshaping national identities. The study provides insights relevant to broader discussions of political resistance, highlighting the dual role of creativity as both a tool for opposition and a vehicle for cultural regeneration
Artificial intelligence in aesthetic situation management: new solutions supporting or substituting an art creator
Get PDFThe article aims to define and describe potential areas of an aesthetic situation in which artificial intelligence may be applied in supporting or substituting roles. Analysing relations between artist, artwork, art recipient, the world of values, and the real world – based on the components of the aesthetic situation theory by Maria Gołaszewska in the Outline of Aesthetics (orig. Zarys estetyki, first published in 1984) and its development by applying the managerial lens by Michał Szostak in the Art of Management – Management of Art (orig. Sztuka zarządzania – zarządzanie sztuką, first published in 2023), allows to define particular universal areas of an aesthetic situation where artificial intelligence may be applied. The central methodological approach is a literature review on an aesthetic situation, aesthetic situation management, and artificial intelligence and its use in aesthetic situation management. The analysis results define two groups of artificial intelligence roles within an aesthetic situation: supporting and substituting. Both roles are described in detail based on aesthetic situation components and their management by an artist who is considered a manager of the aesthetic situation. Limitations of the considerations and directions of future research are defined
The degree to which science teachers who won the Queen Rania of Jordan Award for Distinguished Teacher achieve the standards of educational excellence and creativity
Get PDFThe study aimed to reveal the degree to which the teachers who won the Queen Rania of Jordan Award for Distinguished Teacher achieved the standards of excellence in light of the standards approved by the award. The study adopted an analytical descriptive approach, and the sample consisted of all the teachers who won the Queen Rania of Jordan Award for Distinguished Teacher from 2013 to 2021, numbered 180 male and female teachers. To achieve the objectives, the performance evaluation tool adopted in the award was used, including specific criteria, and each criterion had several indicators, as its validity and reliability were verified before being officially approved by the Association of Queen Rania Award for Excellence in Education. The results of the analysis of the excellence standards among the sample members showed that the degree of their achievement to the standards in general was moderate, and the results also showed that there were statistically significant differences at the level α = 0.05 between the arithmetic means of the achievement degrees of standards of excellence among science teachers who won the Queen Rania of Jordan Award for Distinguished Teacher due to specialization and in favour of science teachers who won the award, while the results showed that there were no statistically significant differences due to gender
The impact of social capital on innovative behaviour as a reflection of creativity: the case of education sector
Get PDFSocial capital enables sharing, trust, solidarity, proper norms and respectful behaviours, and organisational participative management. Employee innovative behaviour is vital for organisations as it provides a competitive advantage. This study aims to determine the impact of social capital and its sub-dimensions, friendly acceptance, norms of behaviour, trusting/reciprocity, and governance on innovative behaviour and its sub-dimensions, participative leadership, external work contacts, and innovative output on innovative behaviour. The data were gathered from 264 school administrators and teachers through a questionnaire. The SPSS Statistics 25.0 program was used to test the research hypotheses. Reliability and validity analysis results are sufficient. The results showed that social capital (overall) and its all-sub-dimensions, except trusting/reciprocity, significantly and positively impact innovative behaviour. However, most of the sub-dimensions of social capital have no significant impact on the sub-dimensions of innovative behaviour
A comparison of transformation models between geodetic reference frames: case study in Illizi region (Algeria)
Get PDFThe Illizi region is an important petroleum zone in Algeria, where various seismic surveys have been conducted. The merging of adjacent surveys is not possible due to incompatible data linked to the geodetic networks. In this study, the transformation of coordinates, from the global system (WGS84) to the local system based on the Clarke 1880 A spheroid, is carried out based on a set of 57 control points well distributed over the study area with coordinates determined in both the global and local systems. Five approaches were used to determine the transformation parameters between the two systems, namely: Geocentric Translation Model, Bursa-Wolf Transformation, Molodensky-Badekas Transformation, Abridged Molodensky transformation and Multiple Regression Equations (MRE). From statistics on the determined parameters and considering its advantage of reversibility, the Bursa-Wolf Transformation Model is the most suitable model to be used to transform coordinates between the two systems in the study area. Small amount of residuals in transformed coordinates using this model indicates acceptable Bursa-Wolf parameter estimation. An improvement in the results was observed after removing of the outliers control points detected using a statistical test. For the validation of the estimated parameters, external control points were used. The results show acceptable RMS in transformed coordinates of these points
From engineering to aesthetics: morphology and constructive techniques of the New Bridge of Ronda (Spain)
Get PDFThis study analyzes the morphology and construction techniques of the New Bridge of Ronda, focusing on its key engineering elements. Existing publications on the bridge’s construction history, along with research on stone bridge technologies, were used to identify elements in the New Bridge. The morphological characteristics and materials used were analyzed to deduce the techniques employed. The research shows that the New Bridge follows construction methods typical of stone bridges from Roman times, despite being built in the 18th century. Its height required large abutments and multi-level vaults, resembling medieval bridge designs, resulting in a unique structure compared to most stone bridges. This paper fills the gap in knowledge about the construction techniques and morphology of the New Bridge, offering a deeper understanding of its design. The value of this study lies in its contribution to the understanding of the New Bridge’s construction methods, shedding light on its historical significance and aiding in its preservation. This study enhances the appreciation of the New Bridge, supporting efforts for its preservation for future generations
A systematic review on safety practices in high-rise building construction: benefits, barriers, and strategic improvements
Get PDFHigh-rise building construction has long been considered one of the most dangerous jobs globally. However, there is currently a lack of comprehensive systematic reviews that approach the implementation of safety practices in high-rise construction. This study aims to fill the following research gaps: first, to understand the significance and identify the barriers faced to implementing safety practices in high-rise construction; second, to propose a framework to improve safety performance. A total of 109 articles from databases were thoroughly reviewed in this study.
The research identified six categories of benefits, five types of safety barriers, and 15 strategies proposed to overcome these barriers. In terms of the number of sources, “reduced accident rates” and “improved organizational reputation” were identified as the top benefits in terms of the significance of safety practices. “Lack of health and safety training” was deemed the largest barrier. To address these challenges, this paper explores the strategies and risk mitigation measures from the perspectives of six stakeholders: regulatory agencies, government, owners, contractors, consultants, and workers. The findings suggest that establishing strict market entry mechanisms are fundamental while strengthening worker safety training and conducting regular safety inspections and real-time site monitoring are the most effective methods
Performance comparison of various time-series forecasting models for bridge sufficiency rating prediction
Get PDFThe rapid increase in the number of bridges worldwide has intensified the need for effective maintenance strategies to ensure structural safety and economic efficiency. Accurate predictions of future bridge performance are essential for preventing unexpected failures and optimizing road network maintenance planning. However, existing prediction models frequently overlook the time-series characteristics inherent in bridge inspection data, thereby limiting their accuracy. This study aims to develop improved prediction models by integrating sequential data patterns using advanced deep-learning techniques. Data from the National Bridge Inventory were utilized. As most NBI data lacked explicit sequential structures, preprocessing techniques were applied to generate meaningful time-series patterns. Deep-learning models, including deep neural networks (DNNs), convolutional neural networks, long short-term memory (LSTM), and Transformers, were developed and evaluated using cross-validation to optimize their performance. Results showed that the LSTM model improved prediction accuracy by approximately 46% compared to the baseline DNN model. The Transformer model further improved accuracy by approximately 7% over the LSTM, highlighting its superior ability to capture long-term dependencies. These findings highlight the potential of the Transformer model as a powerful tool for predicting bridge performance, thereby supporting effective maintenance planning and reducing the risk of structural failures
Relationship of CSR, innovation, human resource practices, and competitive advantage: a test of two mediation models
Get PDFIn the dynamic business environment, manufacturing companies need a competitive advantage for long-term survival, and this can be achieved by focusing on CSR, HR practices, and innovation. While CSR is often viewed as a tool for enhancing corporate reputation and addressing societal concerns, its potential to drive innovation and contribute to a sustainable competitive advantage remains underexplored. Additionally, the role of human resource practices in mediating these relationships is not well understood. This research seeks to address the gap in the literature by examining the relationships between CSR, innovation, human resource practices, and competitive advantage, and investigating how these elements interact to help organizations gain a competitive edge in a rapidly evolving market environment. The current research aims to highlight the influence of CSR on competitive advantage. Moreover, it also examined how mediation mechanisms of innovation and HR practices influence the effect of CSR on competitive advantage. The current study utilized quantitative research approach and the data were gathered from the managers of manufacturing companies in Jordan. The results highlighted that CSR significantly influences innovation, HR practices, and competitive advantage. Furthermore, innovation and HR practices both significantly mediate the relationship between CSR and competitive advantage. The findings of this study can act as a guideline for managers of Jordanian manufacturing companies aiming to achieve competitive advantage