• Coupled systems mechanics
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2012

The problem of laterally loaded piles is particularly a complex soil-structure interaction problem. The flexural stresses developed due to the combined action of axial load and bending moment must be evaluated in a realistic and rational manner for safe and economical design of pile foundation. The paper reports the finite element analysis of pile groups. For this purpose simplified models along the lines similar to that suggested by Desai et al. (1981) are used for idealizing various elements of the foundation system. The pile is idealized one dimensional beam element, pile cap as two dimensional plate element and the soil as independent closely spaced linearly elastic springs. The analysis takes into consideration the effect of interaction between pile cap and soil underlying it. The pile group is considered to have been embedded in cohesive soil. The parametric study is carried out to examine the effect of pile spacing, pile diameter, number of piles and arrangement of pile on the responses of pile group. The responses considered include the displacement at top of pile group and bending moment in piles. The results obtained using the simplified approach of the F.E. analysis are further compared with the results of the complete 3-D F.E. analysis published earlier and fair agreement is observed in the either result.

• Asian Journal of Business Environment
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.13-22
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• 2020

Purpose: Vietnam's financial sector has grown substantially but microfinance institutions (MFIs) still face up many challenges in providing financial services to underserved customer segments, including small businesses, rural populations, and urban migrants. The recent worldwide explosion of fintech, including in Vietnam, promises to fill this gap. The purpose of this paper is to analyze fintech activities in microfinance sector and recommend for fintech adoption of MFIs in Vietnam. Research Design, Data and Methodology: The paper's data is mainly based on international organizations such as Asia Development Bank (ADB), Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and Vietnamese organizations such as Vietnam Microfinance Working Group. The authors suggest new directions for microfinance activities in Vietnam. Results: In recent years, the application of fintech in microfinance sector has brought many good results, such as improving the quality of products and services, easy access to many customer groups, and scaling up the operating model. Conclusion: MFIs in Vietnam have developed new products and services by applying fintech. The application of technology and digital solution has supported MFIs in Vietnam to gradually achieve targeted growth through expanding geographical inclusion/scale, enhancing product supply/provision, helping in-depth customer understanding as well as improving operational efficiency.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.379-390
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• 2020

The behavior of a piled raft system in multi-layered soil subjected to vertical loading has been studied numerically using 3D finite element analysis. Initially, the 3D finite element model has been validated by analytically simulating the field experiments conducted on vertically loaded instrumented piled raft. Subsequently, a comprehensive parametric study has been conducted to assess the performance of a combined piled raft system in terms of optimum pile spacing and settlement of raft and piles, in multi-layered soil stratum subjected to vertical loading. It has been found that a combined pile raft system can significantly reduce the total settlement as well as the differential settlement of the raft in comparison to the raft alone. Two different arrangements below the piled raft with the same pile numbers show a significant amount of increase of load transfer of piled raft system, which is in line with the load transfer mechanism of a piled raft. A methodology for the factor of safety assessment of a combined pile raft foundation has been presented to improve the performance of piled raft based on its serviceability requirements. The findings of this study could be used as guidelines for achieving economical design for combined piled raft systems.

• Current Optics and Photonics
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.293-301
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• 2020

In this paper we propose and theoretically analyze a monolithic multiparametric sensor consisting of a superstructure of surface-relief waveguide Bragg gratings (WBGs), a micro-machined diaphragm, and a cantilever beam. Diaphragms of two different configurations, namely circular and square, are designed and analyzed separately for pressure measurement. The square diaphragm is then selected for further study, since it shows relatively higher sensitivity compared to the circular one, as it incurs more induced stress when any pressure is applied. The cantilever beam with a proof mass is designed to enhance the sensitivity for acceleration measurement. A unique mathematical method using coupled-mode theory and the transfer-matrix method is developed to design and analyze the shift in the Bragg wavelength of the superstructure configuration of the gratings, due to simultaneously applied pressure and acceleration. The effect of temperature on the wavelength shift is compensated by introducing another Bragg grating in the superstructure configuration. The measured sensitivities for pressure and acceleration are found to be 0.21 pm/Pa and 6.49 nm/g respectively.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.23-34
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• 2021

Purpose: This study identifies the critical elements of relationship management required to be studied in distribution sciences to create a relational bond of watch manufacturers with their retailers in India. The offline watch retail market is undergoing a rapid transformation due to technology intervention in the product portfolio and the advent of online retailing. The study identifies the interrelationships amongst the constructs of interdependence, trust, affective commitment, and information exchange to form long-lasting relational bonds in the watch industry. Research design, data and methodology: We used a path analysis to investigate the relationship between interdependence, trust, affective commitment, and information exchange. Data has been collected from 143 watch retailers using judgmental sampling method. Results: The data analysis suggested the establishment of measurement and structural model. The absolute and relative goodness of fit models in the causal analysis are 0.628 and 0.959 suggesting a sufficient fit index. Based on the analysis of direct and indirect effects, the results indicate that trust fully mediates the effect of interdependence and information exchange of retailers with the manufacturer. Conclusions: Trust plays an important role in driving commitment and information exchange between watch manufacturers and retailers. Interdependence in the manufacturer-channel relationships would lead to affective commitment only when trust exists in the relationship. [AMAWATE, Vibhas.] in Web of Science and Scopus).

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.69 no.1
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• pp.21-31
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• 2019

Optimizing composite structures to exploit their maximum potential is a realistic application with promising returns. In this research, simultaneous maximization of the fundamental frequency and frequency separation between the first two modes by optimizing the fiber angles is considered. A high-fidelity design optimization methodology is developed by combining the high-accuracy of finite element method with iterative improvement capability of metaheuristic algorithms. Three powerful nature-inspired optimization algorithms viz. a genetic algorithm (GA), a particle swarm optimization (PSO) variant and a cuckoo search (CS) variant are used. Advanced memetic features are incorporated in the PSO and CS to form their respective variants-RPSOLC (repulsive particle swarm optimization with local search and chaotic perturbation) and CHP (co-evolutionary host-parasite). A comprehensive set of benchmark solutions on several new problems are reported. Statistical tests and comprehensive assessment of the predicted results show CHP comprehensively outperforms RPSOLC and GA, while RPSOLC has a little superiority over GA. Extensive simulations show that the on repeated trials of the same experiment, CHP has very low variability. About 50% fewer variations are seen in RPSOLC as compared to GA on repeated trials.

• Advances in Computational Design
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.1-13
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• 2019

Recent generations of smartphones offer accelerometer sensors as a standard feature. While this has led to the development of a number of related applications (apps), there has been no study on their comparative or individual performance against a benchmark. This paper investigates the comparative performance of a number of smartphone accelerometer apps amongst themselves and to a calibrated benchmark accelerometer. A total of 12 apps were selected for testing out of 90 following an initial review. The selected apps were subjected to sinusoidal vibration testing of varying frequency and the response of each compared against the calibrated baseline accelerometer. The performance of apps was quantified using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and test of significance was carried out. The apps were then compared for a realistic dynamic scenario of measuring the acceleration response of a bridge due to the passage of a French Train $\grave{a}$ Grande Vitesse (TGV) in a laboratory environment.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.133-143
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• 2019

The paper presents the experimental investigations into the effect of ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS) on the time-dependent tensile strength of concrete. The splitting and flexural tensile strength of concrete was determined at the ages of 3, 7, 28, 56, 90, 150 and 180 days using the cylindrical and prism specimens respectively for plain and GGBFS concrete. The amount of cement replacement by GGBFS was 0%, 40% and 60% on the weight basis. The maximum curing age was kept as 28 days. The results showed that the splitting and flexural tensile strength of concrete containing GGBFS has been found lower than the plain concrete at all ages and for all mixes. The tensile strength of 40 percent replacement has been found higher than the 60 percent at all ages and for all mixes. The rate of gain of splitting and flexural tensile strength of 40 percent GGBFS concrete is found higher than the plain concrete and 60 percent GGBFS concrete at the ages varying from 28 to 180 days. The experimental results of time-dependent tensile strength of concrete are compared with the available models. New models for the prediction of time-dependent splitting and flexural tensile strength of concrete containing GGBFS are proposed. The present experimental and analytical study will be helpful for the designers to know the time-dependent tensile properties of GGBFS concrete to meet the design requirements of liquid retaining reinforced and pre-stressed concrete structures.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.447-458
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• 2022

Cold-formed steel (CFS) sections are thin-walled, therefore, more susceptible to different types of geometric imperfections. Global type of geometric imperfections has a significant impact on the load-carrying capacity of flexural members. This paper reports an experimental study that discusses the influence of global imperfections on the flexural response of CFS built-up I-beams composed of two lipped channels, with simply supported ends, under four-point loading. Global imperfections of magnitude over eight times the maximum permissible ones were induced in the specimens, leading to their distress. Using various simple stiffening schemes, the capacity and stiffness of the distressed specimens were improvised. The performance comparisons were made based on the maximum loads resisted, flexural stiffnesses offered, and failure modes experienced by the specimens. As experimental data on such distressed specimens are currently lacking in the literature, the test results of the present study will provide the necessary data needed by future researchers to numerically extend this study further, which will help in the development of necessary design guidelines for the same. The stiffening schemes significantly improved the structural efficiency of distressed specimens in terms of strength and stiffness, by over 60%. As a result, an effective and time-saving solution to such realistic structural engineering problems is given.

• Wind and Structures
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.153-161
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• 2023

Wind speed data from Nepal and adjoining countries have been analyzed to estimate an extreme wind speed climatology for the region. Previously wind speed information for Nepal was adopted from the Indian National Standard and applied to two orographically different regions: above and below 3000 m elevation respectively. Comparisons of the results of this analysis are made with relevant codes and standards. The study confirms that the assigned basic wind speed of 47 m/s for the plains and hills of Nepal (below 3000 m) is appropriate, however, data to substantiate a basic wind speed of 55 m/s above 3000 m is unavailable. Using a composite analysis of 15 geographically similar stations, the study also generated 435 years of annual maxima wind data and fitted them to Type I and Type III extreme value distributions. The results suggest that Type III distribution may better represent the data. The findings are also consistent with predictions made by Holmes and Weller (2002) and to a certain extent those of Sarkar et al. (2014), but lower than the analysis undertaken by Lakshmanan et al. (2009) for northern India. The study also highlights that the use of a load factor of 1.5 on wind load implies lower strength design MRI's of around 260 years compared to the 700 years of ASCE 7-22.