A grounded theory examination of project managers' accountability

26 interviews were conducted with a snowball sample of project managers to explore how project managers were influenced by accountability arrangements and how they responded to accountability demands. Using a grounded theory approach to code the interview data, this study revealed that project managers develop new skills to respond to accountability demands. These effects are facilitated by the interaction of resource-based mechanisms and reflexivity that interact with the contextual factors of the project. The study broadens the understanding of accountability in project management and suggests a model for further empirical examination.     

Effect of microstructure on the fatigue crack growth behaviour of a near-α Ti alloy

Fatigue crack growth behaviour of Ti–6Al–2Zr–1.5Mo–1.5V (VT-20 a near-α Ti alloy) was studied in lamellar, bimodal and acicular microstructural conditions. Fatigue crack growth tests at both increasing and decreasing stress intensity factor range values were performed at ambient temperature and a loading ratio of 0.3 using compact tension samples. Lamellar and acicular microstructures showed lower fatigue crack growth rates as compared to the bimodal microstructure due to the tortuous nature of cracks in the former and the cleavage of primary α in the latter. The threshold stress intensity factor range was highest for acicular microstructure.     

Lab scale optimization of various factors for photocatalytic hydrogen generation over low cost Cu0.02Ti0.98O2-δ photocatalyst under UV/Visible irradiation and sunlight

We have demonstrated earlier that maximum H₂ generated @ 1.167 l/h/m² over Cu_0.02Ti_0.98O_2-δ photocatalyst with apparent quantum efficiency, AQE of 7.5% and solar fuel efficiency, SFE of 3.9% under sunlight. With an aim to scale-up the solar photocatalytic hydrogen process to pilot plant, optimization studies at lab scale as well as in upscaled photoreactors were performed over Cu_0.02Ti_0.98O_2-δ, photocatalyst under UV/visible and sunlight. Cu_0.02Ti_0.98O_2-δ was synthesized by facile sol-gel route and characterized by relevant techniques. Several operational parameters were investigated in order to finalize the conditions which are most favourable for photocatalytic hydrogen yield. Factors such as photocatalyst loadings, v/v concentration of sacrificial reagent, replacement of methanol by industrial waste glycerol, role of different configuration of light source with reactor, effect of stirring during the photocatalytic reaction, effect of fluctuations of solar flux at hourly basis, illumination area on hydrogen yield were studied. Contribution of each factor in determining the hydrogen yield was quantified. Relative standard deviation in hydrogen yield as a function of each factor was estimated. Our findings suggest that in addition to catalyst loadings and sacrificial reagent, improved dispersion of photocatalyst obtained by stirring the reaction mixture in horizontal geometry resulted in enhanced H₂ yield. Hydrogen yield obtained at lab scale can be appropriately extrapolated with respect to illumination area instead of weight of photocatalyst. A relative standard deviation (RSD) of ± 3.82% and ± 4.53% in H₂ yield was calculated for sunny and cloudy days in time zone of 10.30–16.30 h IST. Deviation of H₂ yield was more on cloudy days and beyond 16:30 h. These studies have provided a daily window of 11:00–15:00 h to be utilized throughout the year for a commercial scaled up process, prohibiting the illumination during less productive hours of the day for shaping the improved economics of solar hydrogen generation. Our results obtained at lab scale would be useful to perform sunlight driven scaled –up photocatalytic process using low cost visible light efficient photocatalyst, Cu_0.02Ti_0.98O_2-δ.     

Microemulsion synthesis of ms/tz-BiVO4 composites: The effect of pH on crystal structure and photocatalytic performance

In this work, BiVO₄ composites, containing the tetragonal zircon phase (tz-BiVO₄), and monoclinic scheelite phase (ms-BiVO₄), were synthesized using the microemulsion method. The effect of pH on phase composition and photocatalytic activity were investigated. Based on X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), a ms/tz-BiVO₄ composite forms at pH = 1.0 and pure ms-BiVO₄ is obtained in the pH range 4.0–10.0. The three primary steps in preparing BiVO₄ were monitored by optical microscopy and the role played by the microemulsion on the phase composition of BiVO₄ is explained. Photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL), UV–visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV-DRS), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET), linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) were employed to characterize the physical and chemical properties of BiVO₄ composites. The composite formed at pH = 1 exhibited the lowest hole-electron (h⁺-e^-) recombination rate, resulting in the highest photocatalytic activity towards microcystin-LR (MC-LR), with near 100% removal of MC-LR in 5 h. ESR and trapping experiments indicated that MC-LR degradation was mediated primarily by hydroxyl radicals (•OH), superoxide radicals (O₂^•−) and photogenerated holes (h⁺).     

白豹油田B166井区北部超前温和注水开发效果分析

B166井区为白豹油田主力开发区块之一,早期井区南部开展强注强采开发试验,导致油井含水上升速度快、采油速度低、递减快。笔者总结南部开发试验经验,参阅大量注水开发技术文献,并借鉴国内外油田注水开发实例,在超低渗油藏已成熟的超前注水技术基础之上,创新性的提出了温和注水技术。北部试验井组采用超前温和注水开发技术,取得良好的开发效果,平均单井日产油为强注强采井2倍左右,表明了超前温和注水技术适用于B166井区注水开发,该技术在国内外同类型油藏注水开发实践中具有较大的应用价值。     

行波效应对大跨度刚构桥地震反应的影响

地震输入问题一直是工程结构抗震研究所关注的焦点.大跨度桥梁结构各地面支承距离较大、延伸较长,进行进震反应分析时应考虑各支承处地震波的不同(多点激励)以及地震波有限波速传播所引起的行波效应.文章以洛河特大桥为例,进行了基于多点激励与行波效应下的动态时程地震反应分析,并比较了考虑多点激励与行波效应对该桥各项地震响应的不同影响.     

瑞雷波检测含块石人工填土强夯地基处理效果

从瑞雷波测试原理及测试方法出发，分析瑞雷波检测技术在强夯地基检测中的应用，并结合场地地基土情况，对强夯后人工填土的处理效果作出分析与评价。     

潍坊市人民公园改建工程回眸——浅析园林改建工程施工控制与实际效果的关系

以山东省潍坊市人民公园改建工程为个案,分析了在自然式园林营造中,如何把握工程项目的内涵,充分理解设计意图,掌握造园工程的原则和手法,灵活运用造园的各种要素,进行再创作,以弥补设计上的缺陷。在施工过程中确切把握工程特点,准确抓住关键环节,结合实际运用工程技术手段,实施有效控制,通过精细施工创造精品,达到预期建设的目标和效果。     

传统风水文化对现代城市景观设计的影响

运用中国传统风水中的相地选址、景观特征、风水物等环境观念来分析与研究现代城市景观问题，一方面是为了揭开“风水”文化的神秘面纱，分清精华与糟粕，从而更好地传承与发扬中国的传统文化；另一方面是为了扫清现代城市发展进程中的思想障碍，探寻适合现代景观环境规划与设计的新理念，使之得以健康的可持续发展。     

深基坑支护结构变形规律分析

以青岛市某深基坑工程的变形监测为例,分析深基坑支护结构变形在复杂条件下的时空效应变化规律。