Influence of Stiffeners for Improving the Compressive Strength of Ventilated Corrugated Packages Using Finite Element Modelling Technique

The aim of this research is to optimize the corrugated fibreboard (CFB) boxes recommended by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) for packaging apples and suggest improvements for the same with the help of finite element modelling technique. The motivation for the current study grew with the advent of the multipurpose use of corrugated fibreboard as a structural material, particularly for packaging boxes. A standard double walled (DW) panel box is considered for improvements in terms of ventilation slot configuration and reduction in material utilization for manufacturing through the implementation of a single walled (SW) panel box design. In order to maintain the structural integrity upon reduction in box construction material, the concept of stiffener has been introduced as a load-bearing enhancement feature. These enhancements will help establish a rationale and enable the corrugated fibreboard manufacturers and consumers to improve the understanding of the behaviour of such structures and help to check for the cost utilization, avoid overdesign and further mitigate the failures in practical applications. Full depth vertical rectangular slot was found to generate the least stresses and found to be suitable as ventilation slots. With the replacement with SW panel box, a saving in material consumption can be realized amounting to more than 34%. It was found that a 3-ply box configuration with a full-depth ventilation slot with panel stiffener can serve as a potential candidate for the replacement of the current box constituting of 5-ply panels recommended in the context of Indian standards.

Factors Affecting Students’ Acceptance of Mobile Learning Application in Higher Education during COVID-19 Using ANN-SEM Modelling Technique

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, most universities around the world started to employ distance-learning tools. To cope with these emergency conditions, some universities in Jordan have developed “mobile learning platforms” as a new tool for distance teaching and learning for students. This experience in Jordan is still new and needs to be evaluated in order to identify its advantages and challenges. Therefore, this study aims to investigate students’ perceptions about mobile learning platforms as well as to identify the crucial factors that influence students’ use of mobile learning platforms. An online quantitative survey technique using Twitter was employed to collect the data. A two-staged ANN-SEM modelling technique was adopted to analyze the causal relationships among constructs in the research model. The results of the study indicate that content quality and service quality significantly influenced perceived usefulness of mobile learning platforms. In addition, perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness significantly influenced behavioral intention to use mobile learning platforms. The study findings provide useful suggestions for decision makers, service providers, developers, and designers in the ministry of education as to how to assess and enhance mobile learning platform quality and understanding of multidimensional factors for effectively using mobile learning platforms.

Comparison of Numerical Models of Flow and Heat Transfer Through Porous Medium in a Vertical Channel

Porous medium modelling technique has opened up ways for number of numerical studies to investigate the performance of many devices that involve heat exchanging process. Such modelling technique not only avoids huge cost and time as compared to experimental analysis but also makes computationally less time-consuming as in case of numerical simulation by exact geometry modelling of porous materials. In this regard the present paper analyses two different thermal models namely local thermal equilibrium model and local thermal non equilibrium model along with two different flow models namely Darcy flow model and Darcy extended Forchheimer model. Suitability of the mentioned models in predicting heat transfer through metal foam and wire mesh porous medium is examined subjected to variations in structural aspects of the porous medium that could be primarily represented by variation in porosity and pore density. For this purpose, a vertical channel subjected to constant heat flux capable of housing porous medium reported in literature is numerically modelled and air flow is numerically simulated through the channel. A variety of structural configuration (combination of different porosity and pore density) of the mentioned porous media are considered and among the mentioned flow and thermal models, best suited models for predicting flow and heat transfer through such medium are identified with appropriate justifications. It is revealed from the present study that, Darcy-Forchheimer and LTNE models are best suited to predict flow and heat transfer through porous media than the basic Darcy and LTE models.

Modelling technique trend (interatomic potential) to study the mineral surfaces: Review

Computational chemistry is another branch of chemistry that can be used to model the material which is based on the mathematical methods and combined that with the theories of the quantum mechanics. However, in this filed there are two different techniques or categories, classical interatomic potential and the electronic structure methodology. The aim of this paper is to describe how can modelling the structures and energetics of surface and interface processes of minerals surface, using the classical atomistic simulation methods. We will illustrate the types of potentials and some of Codes (Gulp and METADISE) which is needed to do these calculations to elucidate the structures and stabilities as well.

A Fibre-Based Modelling Technique for the Seismic Analysis of Steel-Concrete Composite Shear Walls

Steel-concrete composite shear wall offers a favourable lateral strength and deformation ductility for seismic applications while significantly shortening the project schedule through eliminating the use of formworks and taking advantage of modular construction methodology. This paper presents a fibre-based modelling technique for simulation of the cyclic nonlinear response of composite walls by taking advantage of existing reinforced concrete and steel plate shear wall models. The improved modelling technique for cyclic analysis of composite walls that benefits from the macro models available for steel and concrete shear walls is introduced. The model is validated using experimental test data from 20 wall specimens. A sensitivity analysis is performed to examine the influence of various geometrical and material properties using the proposed modelling technique. A step-by-step modelling recommendation is finally proposed. The results show that the proposed modelling technique can efficiently be used to reproduce the nonlinear cyclic response of composite walls.