Nonparametric frontier analysis models for efficiency evaluation in insurance industry: a case study of Iranian insurance market

Performance evaluation and efficiency analysis is considered to be one of the critical responsibilities of the management department. This paper investigates and assesses the efficiency and performance of Iranian insurance companies through nonparametric frontier analysis (FA) models. The two well-known nonparametric FA models, data envelopment analysis (DEA) and free disposal hull, are utilized to separate the efficient companies from the inefficient companies, and two well-known super-efficiency analysis models are utilized to rank the efficient units. For the further analysis, critical inputs are also identified for inefficient companies using DEA sensitivity analysis which is a powerful tool for planning performance improvement project, and the reference sets are also identified as the benchmark pattern for each inefficient unit. Managerial insights and implications of the study are discussed finally.     

Investigating elastic stability of cylindrical shell with an elastic core under axial compression by energy method

In this paper, the elastic axisymmetric buckling of a thin, isotropic and simply supported cylindrical shell with an elastic core under axial compression has been analyzed using energy method. The nonlinear strain-displacement relations in general cylindrical coordinates are simplified using Sanders kinematic relations (Sanders, 1963) for axial compression. Equilibrium equations are obtained by using minimum potential energy together with Euler equations applied for potential energy function in cylindrical shell. To acquire stability equation of cylindrical shell with an elastic core, minimum potential energy theory and Trefftz criteria are implemented. Stability and compatibility equations for an imperfect cylindrical shell with an elastic core are also obtained by the energy method, and the buckling analysis of shell is carried out using Galerkin method. Critical load curves versus the aspect ratio are obtained and analyzed for a cylindrical shell with an elastic core. It is concluded that the application of an elastic core increases elastic stability and significantly reduces the weight of cylindrical shells.     

Creep damage evaluation of thick-walled spheres using a long-term creep constitutive model

This paper describes a numerical model developed for the computation of creep damages in a thick-walled sphere subjected to an internal pressure and a thermal gradient. The model predicts the creep damage histories during the life of the sphere, owing to variations in stresses with time and through-thickness variations. The creep damage fraction is based on the Robinson’s linear life fraction damage rule, which has been incorporated in a nonlinear time-dependent stress analysis. Following the stress histories, the effective stress histories are obtained and the creep damages are calculated and summed during the life of the sphere. The material long-term creep properties up to the rupture and creep rupture data are defined by the Θ projection concept [1]. The damage histories up to 38 years are calculated and the results show that the maximum damages are always located at the inner surface of the sphere, while the outer surface of the vessel sustains minimum damages.     

Investigating the effect of corona treatment on self-cleaning property of finished cotton fabric with nano titanium dioxide

This research aims to create the durable self-cleaning property on cotton fabric using nano titanium dioxide and corona treatment as a dry and environmentally friendly process. In this regard, cotton fabrics were investigated under corona treatment with intensities of 2 and 3 A for 1, 3, and 5?min of irradiation. The treated samples with 0.1, 0.5, 1, and 1.5 on weight of bath percent were cured by nano titanium dioxide to obtain the highest self-cleaning property. The treated cotton fabrics, which were stained with direct green 6, were exposed to 20 and 400?W of UV radiation and their self-cleaning property was examined, and the results were reported. In addition, using corona treatment helped to stabilize the nano titanium dioxide on the cotton fabric surface even after 50 washing cycles. Through SEM images, Thermo Gravimetric Analysis plots, and XRD patterns, the presence of nano titanium dioxide on the surface of the treated cotton samples after washing was verified. Also, the tensile strengths of TiO₂-coated cotton fabrics were measured.     

Characterization of Erbium,Indium, and Erbium–Indium co-doped 8%mol Yttria-stabilized Zirconia

Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Electronics - In this work, the cubic structure of Yttria-stabilized Zirconia (8YSZ) and Indium and Erbium co-doped 8YSZ nanopowders have been prepared by...     

Investigation of nanosized alumina-binder feedstock rheology for ceramics injection molding (CIM) and survey spark plasma sintering of output green body to obtain transparent alumina

The purpose of this work is to optimize the feed containing alumina-binder nanoparticles for ceramics injection molding to create transparent alumina parts. In this research, two Alumina with and without MgO as sintering aid fabricated via the spark plasma sintering method. Feed fluidity, fracture toughness, density, IR, and visible transmission of SPSed bodies of the sintered pieces were measured. Furthermore, a pin on the disc test was used on the disk to examine the alumina friction coefficient. The results of feed rheology showed that the sample prepared at 90°C had the best conditions as a pseudoplastic fluid for the ceramic injection molding (CIM) method. The results showed that a combination of CIM and spark plasma sintering (SPS) methods cause more visible transmission than conventional SPS of alumina nanopowder. Also, the fracture toughness and hardness of as-obtained transparent alumina were in the range of 3.6 MPa m^0.5 and 20.1 MPa, respectively. The wear rate of the as-obtained transparent sample (4.5 × 10⁻⁷ mm³/N m) was proportional to the alumina grain size (1–4 μm).     

Interface-induced negative differential resistance and memristive behavior in Gr/MoSe2 heterostructure

Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Electronics - Heterostructures of materials can possess the prominent characteristics of their individual layers or gain newly emerged interface effects...     

Semi-analytical solution of time-dependent electro-thermo-mechanical creep for radially polarized piezoelectric cylinder

History of strains, stresses, deformations and electric potentials of hollow cylinders made from PZT_5 have been investigated using successive elastic solution method. A differential equation containing creep strains for displacement is obtained. Since creep strains are time, temperature and stress dependent, the closed form solution cannot be found for this constitutive differential equation. Hence, a semi-analytical method is proposed. Electric potentials increase with time (similar to the radial stress histories), since it is induced by the radial stress histories during creep deformation of the cylinder, justifying industrial application of such a material as efficient actuators and sensors.     

The analysis of time-dependent creep in FGPM thick walled sphere under electro-magneto-thermo-mechanical loadings

Time-dependent creep response of a smart sphere made of functionally graded piezoelectric material (FGPM) is investigated. The vessel is subjected to an internal pressure, a uniform temperature field, an electric potential and a uniform magnetic field. Under such a loading condition initial elastic stresses are locked in the vessel at zero time. Due to high temperature, creep evolution causes stress redistribution in the sphere which is followed by electric potential redistribution across the thickness of the sphere. History of radial stresses is always reflected by history of electric potential which can be used for condition monitoring of the smart sphere. From the initial elastic stresses it has been found that imposing an electric potential decreases effective stresses. It has also been concluded from history of electric potential that electric potential redistribution is decreasing due to creep evolution and therefore this is followed by increasing effective stresses.     

Semi-analytical solution of magneto-thermo-elastic stresses for functionally graded variable thickness rotating disks

In this paper, a semi-analytical solution for magneto-thermo-elastic problem in functionally graded (FG) hollow rotating disks with variable thickness placed in uniform magnetic and thermal fields is presented. Stresses and perturbation of magnetic field vector in FG rotating disks are determined using infinitesimal theory of magneto-thermo-elasticity under plane stress conditions. The material properties except Poisson’s ratio are modeled as power-law distribution of volume fraction. The profile of disk thickness is assumed to be a parabolic function of radius. The non-dimensional distribution of temperature, displacement, stresses and perturbation of magnetic field vector throughout radius are shown. Effects of material grading index, geometry of the disk and magnetic field on the stress and displacement fields are investigated. The results of stresses and radial displacements for two different boundary conditions with and without the effect of magnetic field are compared for a FG rotating disk with concave thickness profile. It has been found that imposing a magnetic field significantly decreases tensile circumferential stresses. Therefore the fatigue life of the disk will be significantly improved by applying the magnetic field. Results of this investigation could be applied for optimum design of FG hollow rotating disks with variable thickness.