Risks of modular integrated construction: A review and future research directions

Stakeholders remain skeptical in adopting modular integrated construction (MiC) because of the associated risks and uncertainties, although its benefits have been extensively documented. The unique business model of MiC nurtures several risks and uncertainties different from those of the conventional construction approach. Despite the growing attention on MiC with its market expansion, no systematic evaluation is in place to monitor its risks research progress. Accordingly, this research reviewed published literature addressing the risks associated with MiC from 1992 to 2019. Analysis reveals that the research publications on risks of MiC witnessed a steady growth, with considerable progress occurring in the last decade. Result implies that the risk of MiC has gained extra attention in the construction engineering and management domain in recent times. Existing empirical studies have focused heavily on perceived implementation risks, supply chain risks, schedule risks, investment risks, structural risks, ergonomic risks, and MiC risk management strategies, which indicate that MiC is associated with a host of risk events. The research further identified the critical risk events (CREs) in the application of MiC based on frequency of occurrence. The identified CREs contributes to the checklists of risk events in the implementation of offsite construction (OSC). The latter may be useful in risk planning, especially where the MiC is less developed, and fewer or no bespoke risk assessment exists. Research gaps in existing studies are highlighted in this research, and areas for further studies are then proposed. Thus, it makes a useful contribution to the scholarly literature on the risk of OSC and may prove useful to offsite construction researchers, industry practitioners, and project managers.     

Reduced-order modelling of linear discrete-time systems via continued-fraction expansion of a z transfer function about z = 1 and z = a alternately

A new time-domain procedure is suggested for obtaining reduced-order models of linear time-invariant discrete-time systems. The procedure is based on presenting a new form of continued-fraction expansion (CFE) about z = 1 and z = a alternately, and deriving a realization form for the CFE. An algorithm is presented for obtaining the new CFE of the z transfer function of a linear discrete-time system from its state-space model directly, without having to determine the corresponding rational z transfer function. Also presented is a systematic approach to deriving two similarity transformation matrices: one is used to transform a state-space model from a general form to the CFE canonical form, and the other is used to transform a state-space model from the phase-variable canonical form to the CFE canonical form. Finally, an approximate aggregation matrix is constructed to relate the state vector of the original system to that of a reduced model obtained by the present method. The proposed procedure is illustrated with examples.     

Optimal sensitivity bound estimation and controller design

An explicit computational form is given for the estimation of the smallest upper bound on the sensitivity function over an operating band for a given stability margin in a single right half-plane (RHP) zero scalar system. A stable minimum-phase weighting function is constructed to meet such an infimum and the given stability margin with the H^∞ criterion. A numerical example is presented to demonstrate the optimal sensitivity estimation, weighting function construction and controller design.     

Parameter estimation of discrete systems via Hahn polynomials

This paper presents a procedure for using Hahn polynomials for the analysis and parameter estimation of linear discrete-time single-input/single-output systems described by difference equations. An advantage is gained through transforming a linear difference equation into a set of algebraic equations of the system parameters and the Hahn coefficients of the system variables. The key to the equation conversion is the derivation of a relation between the Hahn coefficients of a function and its time-shifted ones. Examples are provided to show the utilization of the procedure.     

Optimization of production planning problem with continuously distributed time-lags

This paper considers a production and inventory problem in which the utility or potential of an item gradually reduces with the passage of time, such as grain, photographic film and electronic component. The aim of this paper is to determine the production rate of the decaying item in a way that minimizes the current value of total cost using optimal control theory. For the model developed, a computational procedure of finding an optimal solution is developed. The steady-state solution and the properties of the optimal solution for the case of constant rate of decay are discussed.     

EFFECTS OF DIETARY GLYCINE BETAINE ON BLOOD CHARACTERISTICS AND PORK QUALITY

This study was conducted to determine the effects of dietary glycine betaine on pork quality and blood characteristics. A total of 80 female pigs (Landrace  ×  Yorkshire  ×  Duroc) were randomly allotted into one of four experimental diet groups. Each group of pigs fed with a commercial diet (control) added with 0.2 g glycine betaine (T1), 0.4 g glycine betaine (T2) and 0.6 g glycine betaine (T3)/kg diet during 40 days. Glycine betaine concentrations in plasma and loin muscle were significantly increased by dietary glycine betaine; however, triglyceride concentration in serum was decreased by dietary glycine betaine. Creatine phosphokinase concentrations in plasma had no significant difference among the dietary groups. Redness ( a* ) was significantly higher in T2 and T3; however, at the first and seventh days of storage, redness ( a* ) was not significantly different between dietary groups. Shear force was significantly higher in dietary glycine betaine groups at the first day of storage. Cholesterol content was significantly lower in T2 and T3, whereas T1 was not significantly different compared with the control group. In fatty acid composition, the ratio of saturated fatty acids was increased, whereas unsaturated fatty acids were decreased by dietary glycine betaine.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

Glycine betaine is an amino acid (trimethylglycine) present in most organisms, and is an obligatory intermediate in the catabolism of choline. Glycine betaine has been reported to affect some aspects of pork qualities. As a result of this study, dietary glycine betaine should improve meat redness and reduce cholesterol. However, dietary glycine betaine did not influence creatine phosphokinase levels in plasma. These results will be helpful to the pork industry and meat scientists for improving meat qaulity.     

Collapse behavior evaluation of hybrid thin-walled member by stacking condition

The recent trend of vehicle design aims at crash safety and environmentally-friendly aspect. For the crash safety aspect, the energy absorbing members should absorb collision energy sufficiently but for the environmentally-friendly aspect, the vehicle structure must be light weight in order to improve the fuel efficiency and reduce the tail gas emission. Therefore, the light weight of vehicle must be achieved in a securing safety status of crash. An aluminum or carbon fiber reinforced plastics (CFRP) is representative one of the light-weight materials. Based on the respective collapse behavior of aluminum and CFRP member, the collapse behavior of hybrid thin-walled member was evaluated. The hybrid members were manufactured by wrapping CFRP prepreg sheets outside the aluminum hollow members in the autoclave. Because the CFRP is an anisotropic material whose mechanical properties, such as strength and elasticity, change with its stacking condition, the effects of the stacking condition on the collapse behavior evaluation of the hybrid thin-walled member were tested. The collapse mode and energy absorption capability of the hybrid thin-walled member were analyzed with the change of the fiber orientation angle and interface number.