Innovation in construction: a sociology of technology approach

An alternative approach to understanding innovation is made using two intersecting ideas. The first is that successful innovation requires consideration of the social and organizational contexts in which it is located. The complex context of construction work is characterized by inter-organizational collaboration, a project-based approach and power distributed amongst collaborating organizations. The second is that innovations can be divided into two modes: 'bounded', where the implications of innovation are restricted within a single, coherent sphere of influence, and 'unbounded', where the effects of implementation spill over beyond this. Bounded innovations are adequately explained within the construction literature. However, less discussed are unbounded innovations, where many firms' collaboration is required for successful implementation, even though many innovations can be considered unbounded within construction's inter-organizational context. It is argued that unbounded innovations require an approach to understand and facilitate the interactions both within a range of actors and between the actors and technological artefacts. The insights from a sociology of technology approach can be applied to the multiplicity of negotiations and alignments that constitute the implementation of unbounded innovation. The utility of concepts from the sociology of technology, including 'system building' and 'heterogeneous engineering', is demonstrated by applying them to an empirical study of an unbounded innovation on a major construction project (the new terminal at Heathrow Airport, London, UK). This study suggests that 'system building' contains outcomes that are not only transformations of practices, processes and systems, but also the potential transformation of technologies themselves.     

Spin Dependent Hopping in Ti Doped La0.67 Ca0.33 MnO3

A systematic investigation of the magnetic and transport properties of Ti doped La0.67Ca0.33MnO3 was reported. The Ti substitution for Mn ions results in a reduction in ferromagnetism and conductivity. The metal-insulator transition temperature is close to Curie temperature which decreases from 274 to 82 K as x increases from 0 to 0.17. The most important effect of Ti doping is to introduce spin clusters in the samples due to the distortion of local lattice and the inhomogeneous magnetic structure induced primarily by the random distribution of Mn ions. A maximum magnetoresistance ratio as large as 90% in 1 T at 122 K was obtained for the sample with x =0. 055, which is four times larger than that obtained for LCMO sample at 272 K. There is a remarkable field-history dependent MR in the cooling process for the doped samples while such phenomenon disappears in the warming run. The resistivity follows well the variable range hopping behavior in paramagnetic state. Both the size effect and spin dependent hopping of carriers between the spin clusters should be considered in this system.     

Improved Matrix-Filler Adhesion

Enhanced matrix-filler adhesion is realized after filler treatment with a surface treatment process. The hydrosol/coupling agent treatment was applied to a wide range of inorganic and organic fillers, and adhesion to a variety of matrix resins was improved. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) was used to determine the locus of failure in the filled systems. The locus of failure shows the relative degree of adhesion between the filler and the polymer matrix. Significant improvement in adhesion in humid environments is also observed.     

Capture of Airborne Particulate Using Surface Applied Emulsions: Potential for Postdetonation Dirty Bomb Cleanup

Recent research has proposed the use of asphalt and tall-oil-pitch emulsions for stabilizing radioactive contamination deposited on surfaces in urban areas. The objective of this project was to investigate whether surface applied emulsions could capture airborne radioactive particulate. Laboratory experiments included wind-blown particulate capture studies using an acrylic column and particulate retainment experiments using a wind box capable of producing wind speeds of 96?km/h. A probe methodology was developed to relate particulate retainment to a tack force on the emulsion surface. Experiments were also performed to determine the potential for such emulsions to absorb particulate matter into their emulsion matrix. Tall-oil-pitch emulsions outperformed asphalt emulsions in terms of particulate retention, tack force, and the ability to absorb magnesium silicate. Both tall-oil-pitch and asphalt emulsions were capable of extracting 22–24?g?m?2 of powder from particulate-laden airflow. Tall-oil-pitch emulsions were capable of retaining as much as 5–10% of magnesium silicate powder applied (i.e., retainment densities of 10–20?g?m?2) even after seven?days of curing and after applying 96.5?km/h (60?mph) wind. Tall-oil-pitch emulsions were able to absorb surface-applied magnesium silicate (approximately 0.1–0.2?g of magnesium silicate per 1.0?g of emulsion within three?days) into their emulsion matrix, preventing the magnesium silicate from being exposed to the external environment. Initial results with these five different emulsion formulations suggested particulate capture was feasible. Future emulsion formulations (i.e., longer curing times with greater acid concentrations) should be tested to optimize this postdetonation response strategy.     

Effect of Rare Earth Element Cerium on Mechanical Properties and Morphology of TiN Coating Prepared by Arc Ion Plating

TiN coatings were deposited on polished substrates of W18Cr4V high speed steel by means of vacuum arc ion plating. The effect of cerium on adhesion between TiN coating and substrate was studied. The microstructures and composition of TiN coatings were also investigated by means of scanning electron microscope (SEM), Auger electron spectroscopy (AES), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) technique. It was found that cerium is an effective modifying agent and the addition of suitable amount of cerium to TiN coatings can produce relatively excellent properties such as micro-hardness, wear resistance, oxidation resistance and porosity. The experimental results show that the added cerium in TiN coatings makesa contribution to form the preferred direction along with a (111 ) or (222) close packed face, which may be one of the reasons that improves some properties mentioned above.     

Towards real CAD

Present-day computer-aided design (CAD) packages play only a small part in the area of mechanical engineering design, which involves the synthesis and embodiment of physical components to perform a pre-determined function without unwanted side effects. The computer cannot properly help the designer in this task until it is able to capture and process the function requirements of the design. This paper describes the computer system being developed for this purpose at the Engineering Design Centre at Cambridge University Engineering Department. The paper also explores some of the geometrical and programming implications raised.     

WC对Cu/WC_P复合材料性能及组织的影响

通过ＷＣ含量对ＷＣ／Ｃｕ复合材料性能的影响，确定了冷压－烧结法制备Ｃｕ／ＷＣ材料的适宜ＷＣ含量为１０ｖｏｌ％左右。并就ＷＣ对该材料组织和再结晶行为的影响进行了有益的探讨。     

Equipment for Testing Sheet Structural Materials under Biaxial Tension. Part 2. Testing by Biaxial Loading in the Plane of the Sheet

We analyze specific features of the design of equipment used for mechanical testing of sheet structural materials under the conditions of biaxial static, cyclic, or dynamic loading. We propose original solutions of the problems related to the fatigue testing of crosslike specimens performed without using complex hydraulic systems and their dynamic testing carried out by using very simple testing machines for uniaxial tension–compression.     

建材研究的新热点——黄河淤泥沙综合利用进展及前景展望

简要介绍了黄河淤泥沙的特性及相关情况,论述了黄河於泥综合利用研究的进展及主要成果,概述了其工业化开发的现状,分析了其存在的问题,对其发展前景进行了预测。黄河淤泥沙综合利用工作是关系到国计民生、千秋万代的大事,具有重要的现实意义和深远的历史意义。