2,250 research outputs found
Redefining Healthcare Infrastructure: Moving Toward Integrated Solutions
No full textCurrently in the United Kingdom there is a trend to broaden the scope of service provision in the healthcare sector.
Not only are new healthcare-related services being provided to the community, but also there is increasing concern for
providing services to extend the life cycle of built facilities. This trend is similar to what has been observed in
manufacturing, where different approaches are used to combine products and services, generating high-value
integrated solutions.
This article analyzes integrated-solution approaches that have been adopted in the manufacturing sector and
compares them to trends that are emerging in the healthcare sector. The practical implications of these trends in the
UK healthcare sector are also pointed out. This study discusses how to improve value generation by combining
products and services; it also addresses the need for a value-creating system that is capable of developing and
sustaining new healthcare infrastructures.
Some of the major changes needed to achieve fully integrated solutions in healthcare-such as supporting policies for
innovation and stakeholder engagement-are pointed out. However, understanding the theoretical concept behind such
approaches (and thus how value can be generated) and the challenges associated with introducing them into practice
seem to be the first steps toward achieving integrated solutions in the healthcare context.
Key Words: Healthcare infrastructure development, integrated solutions, value generatio
Dataset relating to "Cementitious materials data for aerial additive building manufacturing", phase one, 2017
No full textThis dataset contains test data relating to the Aerial Additive Building Manufacturing project's initial phase of investigations into cementitious pastes and mortar mixes. A series of mixes are formulated using CEM1, fly-ash, silica fume, polyol resin, limex, building sand and plasticiser in varying quantities and the mixes are tested in terms of mechanical strength, rheology, calorimetry, microstructure and creep. Data collected from the tests are stored in Microsoft Excel format. Mixes are also evaluated qualitatively (by inspection) and quantitatively (using power requirements) by the ease in which they pass through a small lightweight syringe-based automated deposition device (workability) and the buildability of the mixes (the ability to support their own weight and the weight of subsequently deposited layers) is assessed by inspection
A review of research towards computer integrated demanufacturing for materials recovery
No full textThe recovery of both toxic and non-toxic materials from billions of end-of-life electronics calls for efficient processes and exploration of opportunities for computer integrated demanufacturing for materials recovery. To date, recycling automation for selective disassembly has been limited by the proliferation of product designs, the difficulty of acquiring product feature and material content information, and the lack of integration of collection and demanufacturing processing. Product designs with standard modules and standard fasteners would improve the options for more automated disassembly. Making product structure and material composition information from a product design profile available will support planning models, Petri net algorithms and control models for demanufacturing, as well as integrated manufacturing and demanufacturing. Advances in imaging and materials identification techniques as well as more flexible technologies to separate materials may provide new opportunities for expert Petri net approaches for selective robotic disassembly. Linking end-of-life product service demand information will enhance scheduling for demand-driven demanufacturing. Nonetheless, the random arrival of so many different product sizes and design structures will require new approaches to designing reverse logistics networks and linking their activities. The present paper reviews the research to automate materials recovery planning and control, identifies challenges, and discusses directions for future research.Journal Articl
Dataset for "Assessing the susceptibility to mould growth of mycelium-based composite insulation"
No full textThis dataset contains the raw experimental results generated in the characterisation of mycelium-based composite (MBC) insulation materials. It includes primary measurement data for laboratory-produced specimens (MBC A) and two commercially sourced materials (MBC B and MBC C), covering thermal conductivity measurements, liquid water absorption by immersion, surface wettability (contact angle) measurements, and mould susceptibility assessments. The mould dataset includes individual specimen ratings after 28 days of incubation across five temperature and relative humidity conditions, as well as ratings after subsequent liquid-water exposure. All files report unprocessed specimen-level results used to generate the figures and statistical summaries in the associated publication
Dataset for the results of fibrous plaster tests: Flexural and FTIR tests for moisture and fungal degradation samples
No full textThe data concerns the tests conducted to date concerning fibrous plaster material. The dataset consists of tests for fibrous plaster flexural tests and FTIR tests. Test samples were made and tested in the laboratories of the University of Bath. Flexural tests were conducted on rectangular samples which had been subjected to a range of moisture and fungal degradation. Hessian fibres within the flexural samples subjected to moisture and fungal treatments were further tested using FTIR and a peak ratios method was used to compare results with mechanical performance
Investigation of production systems for a building integrated photovoltaic thermal product
No full textA building integrated photovoltaic thermal (BIPVT) system based on long-run metal roofing is being developed at the University of Waikato in partnership with Dimond Ltd., a long-run roof product manufacturer. The concept consists of a CNC folded metal roofing sheet with a central channel and a collector plate bonded to the roofing sheet to create a sealed channel for thermal fluid flow. PV laminates are bonded to the collector plate and inlet and outlet manifolds attached for thermal fluid distribution. When exposed to solar radiation the system generates heat and electricity for domestic and industry use.
BIPVT manufacturing methods were investigated for creating the sealed channel for thermal fluid flow. Adhesives (ADH), resistance seam welding (RSW) and autoclaving (ATC) were considered the most suitable. Processes were designed for the three methods and investigated through economic analysis. ATC was found to be the best for production volumes greater than 20,000 BIPVT panels per year as it has greater production capacity and lower capital investment payback time than ADH and RSW. ATC had a payback time of 0.26 years for 90,000 BIPVT panels per year at a 40% mark up. However ATC has several technical challenges that need to be overcome whereas ADH and RSW are proven production methods. ADH is more suitable for low production volumes below 20,000 panels per year as it has a low capital cost compared to RSW and ATC and can be readily optimised when increased production is required. Cost savings can be achieved by reducing material costs as they were 95% of the total operating costs for all methods. ADH and RSW could be readily optimised to increase production at lower capital expenditure by installing additional equipment at production bottlenecks rather than installing new production lines. ATC could not be as readily optimised as it has high production capacities.
Installing a low volume BIPVT production facility into Dimond Ltd. could potentially generate an additional $3.5 million per year in profit, for a process that produces 7,680 panels a year. Payback time for the capital investment including a PV laminator would be just over half a year making BIPVT an attractive possibility
Dataset for the results of fibrous plaster tests: Pull-off samples tensile tests.
No full textThe data concerns the tests conducted to date concerning fibrous plaster pull-off test samples. Samples were made and tested in the laboratories of the University of Bath. Tensile tests were performed on 'pull-off' samples where an attached cylinder was pulled from a base plate to test the adhesion of the cylinder material to the base plate material
Degradation of Environmental Protection Coatings for Gas Turbine Materials
Full text linkNowadays, problems of component materials reliability in gas and oil-fired gas turbines focus on assessing the potential behaviour of commonly employed coatings, in order to avoid expensive and unpredictable failure in service and producing new materials whose performance meets life time and manufacturing/ repairing requirements.
This MPhil project has investigated the oxidative and corrosive degradation mechanisms for some of the alloy/coatings systems (CMSX-4, CMSX-4/ RT22, CMSX-4/ CN91 and CMSX-4/ “LCO22”), which are currently used for turbines blades and vanes, in order to achieve a better knowledge of materials behaviour and to improve models for the prediction of turbine components’ lives. To achieve this target the study has made use of realistic simulations of turbine exposure conditions in combined with pre- and post-exposure metrology of bar shape materials samples, while optical microscopy has been applied to describe the microstructural evolution during the exposure and the products of the degradation for the hot corrosion.
For high temperature oxidation, over extended periods of time (up to 10,000 hours), the research has allowed to describe the morphological changes in respect of the exposure time and temperature and to determine the oxidation kinetics experienced by the alloy and coatings. A model has been presented for predicting θ- α-Al2O3 growth. Moreover, using NASA COSP spalling model, with rate constants values coming from this study, a comparison between experimental mass change data and prediction has been shown.
The hot corrosion study has provided new quantitative metal loss data and observations that extend/validate an existing model for materials life prediction, based on defining the severity of the corrosion conditions through measures of gas composition and contaminant deposition flux
Materials-Related Aspects of Thermochemical Water and Carbon Dioxide Splitting: A Review
No full textThermochemical multistep water- and CO2-splitting processes are promising options to face future energy problems. Particularly, the possible incorporation of solar power makes these processes sustainable and environmentally attractive since only water, CO2 and solar power are used; the concentrated solar energy is converted into storable and transportable fuels. One of the major barriers to technological success is the identification of suitable active materials like catalysts and redox materials exhibiting satisfactory durability, reactivity and efficiencies. Moreover, materials play an important role in the construction of key components and for the implementation in commercial solar plants. The most promising thermochemical water- and CO2-splitting processes are being described and discussed with respect to further development and future potential. The main materials-related challenges of those processes are being analyzed. Technical approaches and development progress in terms of solving them are addressed and assessed in
this review
Improving Construction Processes by Integrating Lean, Green, and Six-Sigma
Full text linkThe overall goal of this research was to develop and implement methods to improve the performance and the efficiency of construction processes prior to and during the construction phase in Design-Bid-Build (DBB) projects. In order to accomplish these goals, the three methods Lean, Green, and Six-Sigma were implemented in two different scenarios and validated by different case studies.
First, a framework was developed that integrated the three methods Lean, Green, and Six-Sigma with an overall layout of the Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, and Control (DMAIC) improvement model. The framework was then validated via a construction process of installation of pile caps for an educational institute during the construction phase in Pittsburgh. The framework highlighted two issues with the pile caps construction process. First, disparate quantities of materials (purchased and installed) were determined. Second, the pile caps construction process took a total time of 54 business days while it could have been completed in 30 business days. Using life cycle assessment, environmental impacts of the pile cap construction process were analyzed and results showed that major environmental impacts including global warming potential, release of carcinogenics, negative respiratory effects, ozone depletion, and ecotoxcity could result from the materials used for the process. Next, the root causes behind waste generation were determined via developing and administrating a questionnaire to a local construction company.
Second, the previously developed framework was further validated and applied to a residential development project in Saudi Arabia. The construction sector has been growing rapidly in Saudi Arabia; however, the quality of Saudi Arabian construction is decreasing, resulting in excess waste generation and associated environmental impacts. This case study examined a project with 53 residential units overall but only 10 units acceptable at final inspection. The largest quality issue was determined to be exterior paint blistering. Using the developed framework, defective units were investigated through a field examination, narrowing down the causes of the blistering applying the Pareto method as follows: Inadequate method, untrained workers, weather, and others. Next, the Process improvement tool was applied to reduce the blistering causes and to improve the current process. A new method designed and applied to a separate residential unit for validation. The modified method showed a great improvement and in the end the unit was able to pass inspection.
Finally, building on the previous case studies, the framework was later refined with the goal of applying it earlier in a project, prior to construction, to further reduce potential waste generation and associated environmental impacts. Using Lean Green, and Six-Sigma (LG6) and adopting the same improvement model, DMAIC, the owner can evaluate all steps separately in the process, addressing all resources consumed and analyzing environmental impacts which might be generated; this highlights potential waste and so can help the owner avoid waste occurrence by indicating where the process needs to be amended to create less environmental impact and more efficiency. For this research, the model was used to help evaluate the construction process for the installation of 160 woodpiles. The model identified that four steps out of eight were considered as non-adding value steps or waste. Three steps out of four non-adding value steps were involved with moving down, moving around, and setting up the equipment. The remaining wasteful step was cutting to length all installed woodpiles. The model showed that if these steps were replaced, eliminated or planned well, environmental impacts would be reduced by 9% and expenses by 1%
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