• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.58 no.5
• /
• pp.931-947
• /
• 2016

The effects of nanotechnology and smartness on the buckling reduction of pipes are the main contributions of present work. For this ends, the pipe is simulated with classical piezoelectric polymeric cylindrical shell reinforced by armchair double walled boron nitride nanotubes (DWBNNTs), The structure is subjected to combined electro-thermo-mechanical loads. The surrounding elastic foundation is modeled with a novel model namely as orthotropic nonhomogeneous Pasternak medium. Using representative volume element (RVE) based on micromechanical modeling, mechanical, electrical and thermal characteristics of the equivalent composite are determined. Employing nonlinear strains-displacements and stress-strain relations as well as the charge equation for coupling of electrical and mechanical fields, the governing equations are derived based on Hamilton's principal. Based on differential quadrature method (DQM), the buckling load of pipe is calculated. The influences of electrical and thermal loads, geometrical parameters of shell, elastic foundation, orientation angle and volume percent of DWBNNTs in polymer are investigated on the buckling of pipe. Results showed that the generated ${\Phi}$ improved sensor and actuator applications in several process industries, because it increases the stability of structure. Furthermore, using nanotechnology in reinforcing the pipe, the buckling load of structure increases.

• Journal of Sport and Applied Science
• /
• v.4 no.2
• /
• pp.1-9
• /
• 2020

Purpose: This study sought to investigate the critical features of Word of mouth (WOM) advertising and their impact on sport consumer behavior. Research design, data, and methodology: Target population of the study consisted of all sports consumer of the Federation of Special Patients and Organ Transplantation, Tehran (Iran), who had indirectly watched the World Organ Transplant Competition documentary at least once on others' advice. For this purpose, 360 sports consumers of the federation were purposefully selected and they were asked to complete the standard WOM advertising questionnaire of Asda and Ko. Pearson correlation coefficient test and modeling of structural equations were performed using Spss24 and Smart PLS software at an error level of 0.05 used to analyze the data. Results: The findings show that there is a significant relationship between experience and expertise, trust and validity, content richness, and the power of message transmission through WOM advertising and its predictability. Finally, interpersonal relationships and work involvement also had a moderating role in this regard. Conclusions: The general conclusion is that the components of WOM advertising as well as involvement and homophily with the mediating role directly as one of the presuppositions for persuasion. The sports consumer was promoting WOM.

• The Journal of Industrial Distribution & Business
• /
• v.8 no.1
• /
• pp.23-31
• /
• 2017

Purpose - Market orientation is a key factor for business performance in today's fluctuating conditions. This study investigates whether the employment of innovation can improve the innovative capability and increase the performance by gaining competitive advantages or not. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the effects of market orientation on the performance of small and medium size distributer enterprises (SMDEs) in Iran. Research design, data, and methodology - Customer orientation, Competitor orientation, and Inter-functional coordination have been regarded as market orientation indices to determine the effects of these indices on marketing innovation, gaining competitive advantages, and companies' performance as well. Data were collected from managers and experts in SMDEs in Iran. The structural equations modeling are used for analysis. Results - The results indicated that marketing innovation has been improved in competitive companies that enjoyed a high level of Inter-functional coordination among the various units. Besides, marketing innovation resulted in gaining competitive advantages regarding cost management, concentration, and differentiation in these companies. In addition, it was observed that SMDEs that obtain competitive advantages are equipped to reap superior performance. Conclusions - With cost management, differentiation and concentration are more likely to enhance the enterprise efficiency and effectiveness than other companies. Additionally, competitiveness, inter-functional coordination, and marketing innovation in SMDEs have a positive impact on marketing innovation.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.66 no.1
• /
• pp.61-73
• /
• 2018

In this article, a higher shear deformation theory (HSDT) is improved to consider the influence of thickness stretching in functionally graded (FG) plates. The proposed HSDT has fewer numbers of variables and equations of motion than the first-order shear deformation theory (FSDT), but considers the transverse shear deformation influences without requiring shear correction coefficients. The kinematic of the present improved HSDT is modified by considering undetermined integral terms in in-plane displacements and a parabolic distribution of the vertical displacement within the thickness, and consequently, the thickness stretching influence is taken into account. Analytical solutions of simply supported FG plates are found, and the computed results are compared with 3D solutions and those generated by other HSDTs. Verification examples demonstrate that the developed theory is not only more accurate than the refined plate theory, but also comparable with the HSDTs which use more number of variables.

• Journal of Korean Society of Industrial and Systems Engineering
• /
• v.38 no.1
• /
• pp.188-198
• /
• 2015

Both employee satisfaction and loyalty play an important role in increasing the business performances of organizations in the service industry. However, the influence of TQM practices on employee satisfaction and employee loyalty has not been examined in the ICT service supply chain. This study aimed to investigate the impact of five total quality management (TQM) practices on employee satisfaction and employee loyalty in Korean ICT customer service and retail distribution organizations. Based on an empirical study of 578 respondents in a Korean ICT service company, the study examined the hypothesized relationships among TQM practices, employee satisfaction, and employee loyalty. Using structural equations modeling, it is found that TQM practices are significantly related to employee satisfaction, whereas the latter in turn influences employee loyalty. The results of analysis suggest that the ICT customer service and retail distribution organizations should concentrate on enhancing employee satisfaction of their TQM practices and creating a people-satisfied job environment.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.37 no.1
• /
• pp.95-110
• /
• 2011

This paper presents a tri-uniform bond stress model for predicting the lap splice strength of reinforcing bar at the critical bond splitting failure. The proposed bond distribution model consists of three zones, namely, splitting zone, post-splitting zone and yielding zone. In each zone, the bond stress is assumed to be constant. The models for bond strength in each zone are adopted from previous studies. Combining the equilibrium, strain-slip relation and the bond strength model in each zone, the steel stress-slip model can be derived, which can be used in the nonlinear frame analysis of the column. The proposed model is applied to derive explicit equations for predicting the strength of the lap splice strengthened by fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) in both elastic and post-yield ranges. For design purpose, a procedure to calculate the required FRP thickness and the number of FRP sheets is also presented. A parametric investigation was conducted to study the relation between lap splice strength and lap splice length, number and thickness of FRP sheets and the ratio of concrete cover to bar diameter. The study shows that the lap splice strength can be enhanced by increasing one of these parameters: lap splice length, number or thickness of FRP sheets and concrete cover to bar diameter ratio. Verification of the model has been conducted using experimental data available in literature.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
• /
• v.8 no.11
• /
• pp.297-305
• /
• 2021

The study aims to investigate loyalty rewards programs on customers' satisfaction in Jordanian banks, and to investigate the statistical differences in loyalty rewards programs and customers' satisfaction according to demographics such as age, sex, education level, duration of engagement with bank, and the type of bank. The study is based on the data obtained from the sample. The questionnaire is the tool for collecting data from the respondents. The study materials include website resources, regular books, journals, and articles. The study population consists customers in the banking sector. The figures indicate that number of actual customers reaches 2.06 million. The sample size requirement is 386 items. Customers are split between traditional and Islamic banks, with 231 and 155 customers respectively. The stratified random sampling technique and the structural equations modeling methodology were used. The results show moderated impact of the loyalty rewards programs on customers' satisfaction. The results show statistical differences in the loyalty rewards programs and customers' satisfaction according to the engagement period with the bank only. The findings suggest better managing the loyalty programs and developing one credit card for all banks in Jordan.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.69 no.3
• /
• pp.335-345
• /
• 2019

In present study, a novel refined hyperbolic shear deformation theory is proposed for the buckling analysis of thick isotropic plates. The new displacement field is constructed with only two unknowns, as against three or more in other higher order shear deformation theories. However, the hyperbolic sine function is assigned according to the shearing stress distribution across the plate thickness, and satisfies the zero traction boundary conditions on the top and bottom surfaces of the plate without using any shear correction factors. The equations of motion associated with the present theory are obtained using the principle of virtual work. The analytical solution of the buckling of simply supported plates subjected to uniaxial and biaxial loading conditions was obtained using the Navier method. The critical buckling load results for thick isotropic square plates are compared with various available results in the literature given by other theories. From the present analysis, it can be concluded that the proposed theory is accurate and efficient in predicting the buckling response of isotropic plates.

• The Journal of Information Systems
• /
• v.27 no.4
• /
• pp.189-202
• /
• 2018

Purpose As job market squeezes and more institutions have been requiring NCS(National Competency Standards) based recruitments, the importance of NCS has been growing. Among the 10 domains of NCS, the most relevant one with MIS(Management Information Systems) field is 'information ability', which is becoming more important with the advent of the fourth industrial revolution era. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of college students' information ability on their career preparation behavior. Design/methodology/approach In this study, we set up a process model to comprehend the effect of college students' information ability on career preparation behavior based on social cognitive career theory. For research model testing, 561 questionnaires were used for empirical analysis through structural equations modeling. Findings Empirical analysis showed that information ability positively influenced college students' career preparation behaviors for employment. In addition, this study presented a process model explaining the effect of information capability on career preparation behavior. In order to strengthen the information ability of college students, not only university-level efforts, but also MIS discipline efforts should be accompanied. Other academic and practical implications are discussed.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
• /
• v.8 no.1
• /
• pp.711-721
• /
• 2021

A firm's competitive advantage generating from empowering its dynamic capabilities is very important for established companies and new business ventures in facing intense competition and in responding to unanticipated environmental changes. This study aims to investigate the relationship between dynamic capabilities of a new business venture and its competitive advantage and the effect of entrepreneurial creativity and ambidextrous innovation mediation on the relationship between dynamic capabilities and the competitive advantage of a new business venture. Data was collected using an online survey from 143 new Indonesian shipping agency companies that spread over two-thirds of Indonesia's territory and was analyzed using structural equations modeling (SEM). The results showed that the dynamic capabilities of new business ventures are positively associated with competitive advantage but not significantly. This result indicates that empowering a new business venture's dynamic capability is not sufficient to generate a competitive advantage. However, a new business venture's dynamic capability is significantly and positively associated with the competitive advantage when mediated by entrepreneurial creativity and ambidextrous innovation. The findings of this study suggest that the competitive advantage of a new business venture can be gained from empowering a firm's dynamic capabilities through mediating entrepreneurial creativity and ambidextrous innovation in facing intense competition and in responding to unanticipated environmental changes.