Ultimate Resilience Research Articles

A typology of supply chain resilience: recognising the multi-capability nature of proactive and reactive contexts

Even though resilience has received ample attention in recent literature, there is still a dearth of research when it comes to theorisation of supply chain resilience capabilities. Against this background, we aim to develop a framework for supply chain resilience capabilities based on proactive and reactive contexts. Apart from using ANOVA, we also perform a nuanced analysis using the response surface methodology. The analysis is done based on a survey dataset collected from 291 manufacturing firms. The results indicate that different combinations of proactive and reactive resilience capabilities can have a differential impact on the performance indicators. Although both proactive and reactive capabilities are essential for ultimate resilience strategies, supply chains might initially benefit more from reactive capabilities than proactive ones. The comprehensive framework proposed in our research addresses a vital gap in current supply chain resilience theorisation and could pave the way for further well-informed research on the evolving research domain. Moreover, this framework could serve as a powerful tool for supply chain managers to design and plan the development/improvement of resilience capabilities in collaboration with supply chain partners. They will be able to easily evaluate the current condition as well as targets for resilience capabilities.

Pandemic and Social Work: Exploring Finnish Social Workers’ Experiences through a SWOT Analysis

This article addresses the experiences of Finnish frontline social workers during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in the spring of 2020. Two questions are addressed. First, ‘what types of challenges social work professionals faced’ in their everyday, ‘glocal’ pandemic setting and, second, what types of solutions they developed to meet these challenges. The data consist of 33 personal diaries that social work professionals created from mid-March to the end of May 2020. The diaries are analysed by a thematic content analysis and placed within the framework of a strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats analysis. The results suggest that the pandemic challenged social work at all levels, from face-to-face interactions to its global relations. The pandemic revealed not only the number of existing problems of social work, but also created new types of challenges. It demanded ultimate resilience from social workers and a new type of adaptive governance from social welfare institutions.

Resilient Future-Making: How Cryptocurrency & Transhumanism Overlap for Immutable, Decentralised, Autonomous Futures

The ultimate resilience is immortality. Blockchain communities have long-standing links with transhumanism through the cryptographers, cypherpunks, and extropians. Now, blockchain communities are actively embracing and funding life extension technologies. This embodiment of self-enhancing technologies through biohacking, cryogenically freezing the deceased, and sovereign ownership of cryptocurrency keys brings new meaning to what it means to have resilient, long-term, socio-technical infrastructure. This phenomenon epitomises the ultimate vision of political decentralisation, autonomy, and resilience in self-governance and self-determination over one’s life, and time.

Slurry erosion behavior of high entropy alloys

High entropy alloys (HEAs) represent a new paradigm of structural alloys comprising of multiple principal elements in equimolar or near-equimolar concentration. The superior corrosion and oxidation resistance of HEAs at high temperature make them attractive for several structural applications. In this context, erosion behavior of HEAs has been largely unexplored. In this study, the slurry erosion performance of single phase Al0.1CoCrFeNi high entropy alloy was investigated. For comparison, mild steel and stainless steel (SS316L) were also investigated under similar conditions. The slurry erosion was conducted at different impingement angles and at a constant velocity of 20m/s. The microstructural and mechanical characterization were conducted using scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), x-ray diffraction (XRD), nanoindentation and micro-hardness testing. Similar to the mild steel and stainless steel, HEA also showed ductile mode of erosion. The erosion rate for HEA was found to be higher compared to stainless steel, however in spite of lower tensile strength and hardness, HEA exhibited higher erosion resistance compared to mild steel. The high erosion resistance of HEA compared to mild steel is explained on the basis of its work hardening behavior, low stacking fault energy, and superior corrosion resistance. Erosion response of the investigated materials showed significant correlation with ultimate strength and ultimate resilience. In depth analysis of the eroded HEA samples showed ploughing as the prominent material removal mechanism at oblique angles compared to micro-cutting for SS316L and mild steel. In contrast, highly deformed and work-hardened platelets were observed at normal impingement angle for all materials.

Staling of white wheat bread crumb and effect of maltogenic α-amylases. Part 1: Spatial distribution and kinetic modeling of hardness and resilience

Bread staling is one of the most costly food deterioration processes. This study presents an in-depth, multivariate, statistical assessment of the differences in the staling process of white wheat bread as a function of storage time, usage of maltogenic α-amylases and spatial position in the loaf by texture measurements and non-linear fitting (Avrami).This study demonstrates the effects of anti-staling enzymes upon bread staling, where significant changes in the spatial staling kinetics occur. While the spatial development of staling is reduced in the outer crumb by anti-staling enzymes, the staling is retarded in the middle. The Avrami model suggests that this happens by two different competing mechanisms: one which increases the initial staling rate, and one which slows the convergence towards the limiting hardness. The two enzyme treated breads differed widely in early and ultimate resilience, despite the fact that they were adjusted to provide the same ultimate hardness.

Laser Surface Treatment of Hydro and Thermal Power Plant Components and Their Coatings: A Review and Recent Findings

High-power diode laser (HPDL) surface modification of hydro and thermal power plant components is of the utmost importance to minimize their damages occurring due to cavitation erosion, water droplet erosion, and particle erosion (CE, WDE, and PE). Special emphasis is given on the HPDL surface treatment of martensitic and precipitate-hardened stainless steels, Ti6Al4V alloy, plasma ion nitro-carburized layers, high pressure high velocity oxy-fuel and twin-wire arc sprayed coatings. WDE test results of all these materials and coatings in ‘untreated’ and ‘HPDL- treated at 1550 °C’ conditions, up to 8.55 million cycles, are already available. Their WDE testing was further continued up to 10.43 million cycles. The X20Cr13 and X10CrNiMoV1222, the most common martensitic stainless steels used in hydro and thermal power plants, were HPDL surface treated at higher temperature (1650 °C) and their WDE test results were also obtained up to 10.43 million cycles. It is observed that the increased HPDL surface temperature from 1550 to 1650 °C has resulted in significant improvement in their WDE resistances because of increased martensitic (ά) phase at higher temperature. After conducting long-range WDE tests, the correlation of CE, WDE, and PE resistances of these materials and protective coatings with their mechanical properties such as fracture toughness and microhardness product, ultimate resilience, modified resilience, and ultimate modified resilience has been reviewed and discussed. One of the edges of a 500 MW low pressure steam turbine moving blade (X10CrNiMoV1222 stainless steel) was HPDL surface treated at 1550 °C and its radii of curvatures and deflections were measured. These were compared with the data available earlier from a flat rectangular sample of similar composition and identical HPDL surface temperature.

High-Power Diode Laser-Treated 13Cr4Ni Stainless Steel for Hydro Turbines

The cast martensitic chromium nickel stainless steels such as 13Cr4Ni, 16Cr5Ni, and 17Cr4Ni PH have found wide application in hydro turbines. These steels have adequate corrosion resistance with good mechanical properties because of chromium content of more than 12%. The 13Cr4Ni stainless steel is most widely used among these steels; however, lacks silt, cavitation, and water impingement erosion resistances (SER, CER, and WIER). This article deals with characterizing 13Cr4Ni stainless steel for silt, cavitation, and water impingement erosion; and studying its improved SER, CER, and WIER behavior after high-power diode laser (HPDL) surface treatment. The WIER and CER have improved significantly after laser treatment, whereas there is a marginal improvement in SER. The main reason for improved WIER and CER is due to its increased surface hardness and formation of fine-grained microstructure after HPDL surface treatment. CER and WIER of HPDL-treated 13Cr4Ni stainless steel samples have been evaluated as per ASTM G32-2003 and ASTM G73-1978, respectively; and these were correlated with microstructure and mechanical properties such as ultimate tensile strength, modified ultimate resilience, and microhardness. The erosion damage mechanism, compared on the basis of scanning electron micrographs and mechanical properties, is discussed and reported in this article.

Water Droplet Erosion Behavior of High-Power Diode Laser Treated 17Cr4Ni PH Stainless Steel

This article deals with water droplet erosion (WDE) behavior of high-power diode laser (HPDL) treated 17Cr4Ni PH stainless steel. After HPDL treatment, the water droplet erosion resistance (WDER) of 17Cr4Ni PH stainless steel has not improved. The main reason is the surface hardness, which has not improved after HPDL treatment though the microstructure has become much finer. On the other hand, precipitation hardening of the alloy at 490°C for 3 h has resulted in improved WDER more than twice. This is because of its increased microhardness and improved modified ultimate resilience (MUR), and formation of fine grained microstructure. The WDER has been correlated with MUR, a single mechanical property, based upon microhardness, ultimate tensile strength, and Young’s modulus. WDERs of HPDL treated, untreated, and precipitation hardened 17Cr4Ni PH stainless steel samples were determined using a WDE test facility as per ASTM G73-1978. The WDE damage mechanism, compared on the basis of MUR and scanning electron micrographs, is discussed and reported in this article.

Laser Treatment of Textured X20Cr13 Stainless Steel to Improve Water Droplet Erosion Resistance of LPST Blades and LP Bypass Valves

X20Cr13, a martensitic stainless steel, is commonly used for the manufacture of low pressure steam turbine (LPST) moving blades and LP bypass valves of fossil fuel and nuclear power plants. The LPST blades, at present, are laser surface treated to improve their water droplet erosion (WDE) resistance. The laser-treated X20Cr13 stainless steel has improved the water droplet resistance (WDER) several times compared to untreated ones. Further improvements are being carried out by providing a carbide-based HVOF coating having appropriate surface roughness or by creating textured surfaces and treating with a high power diode laser. The surfaces, having appropriate roughness, absorb more laser energy, resulting in improved microstructure, microhardness, modified ultimate resilience, and thicker hardened layer. The WDER of laser-treated textured X20Cr13 stainless steel has improved significantly compared to the untextured ones. The WDE test results of laser-treated textured and untextured X20Cr13 stainless steel along with their microhardness, modified ultimate resilience, microstructure, SEM, and XRD analysis are discussed and reported in this paper. The laser-treated textured X20Cr13 stainless steel is highly suitable for LP bypass valves and LPST blades for achieving a thicker hardened layer with lesser heat input to the components.

Water Droplet and Cavitation Erosion Behavior of Laser-Treated Stainless Steel and Titanium Alloy: Their Similarities

This article deals with water droplet and cavitation erosion behavior of diode laser-treated X10CrNiMoV1222 stainless steel and Ti6Al4V alloy. After laser surface treatment, the water droplet and cavitation erosion resistance (WDER and CER) of these materials improved significantly. The main reason for the improvement is the increased surface hardness and formation of fine-grained microstructures after laser surface treatment. It is observed that there is a similarity in both the phenomena. The WDER and CER can be correlated with a single mechanical property based on modified ultimate resilience (MUR) provided the laser-treated layers are free from microcracks and interface defects. The CER and WDER behavior of HPDL-treated X10CrNiMoV1222 stainless steel and Ti6Al4V alloy samples using different test equipment as per ASTM G32-2003 and ASTM G73-1978, their correlation with MUR, and their damage mechanism compared on the basis of XRD analyses, optical and scanning electron micrographs are discussed and reported in this article.

A Cinematic Lens on Talent Development in Piano Prodigies: Considerations for Positive Psychology

This article examines talent development in piano prodigies through a case study of the life of Australian pianist David Helfgott as depicted in the film Shine. Utilizing theory from positive psychology, especially Csikszentmihalyi’s flow theory of motivation and optimal experience, and his sociocultural systems model of creativity, Helfgott’s development as a musical prodigy, his subsequent psychological challenges, and his ultimate psychological resilience are detailed. This case of Helfgott serves as a cinematic lens through which to explore optimal talent development more broadly. Thus, this article also makes refer- ence to other cinematic depictions of prodigies, as well as to autobiographical and biographical source materials from other talented musicians. Implications for the optimal development of talented musicians are discussed.

Cavitation Erosion in Hydraulic Turbine Components and Mitigation by Coatings: Current Status and Future Needs

Cavitation erosion is a frequently observed phenomenon in underwater engineering materials and is the primary reason for component failure. The damage due to cavitation erosion is not yet fully understood, as it is influenced by several parameters, such as hydrodynamics, component design, environment, and material chemistry. This article gives an overview of the current state of understanding of cavitation erosion of materials used in hydroturbines, coatings and coating methodologies for combating cavitation erosion, and methods to characterize cavitation erosion. No single material property fully characterizes the resistance to cavitation erosion. The combination of ultimate resilience, hardness, and toughness rather may be useful to estimate the cavitation erosion resistance of material. Improved hydrodynamic design and appropriate surface engineering practices reduce damage due to cavitation erosion. The coatings suggested for combating the cavitation erosion encompasses carbides (WC Cr2C3, Cr3C2, 20CrC-80WC), cermets of different compositions (e.g., 56W2C/Ni/Cr, 41WC/Ni/Cr/Co), intermetallic composites, intermetallic matrix composites with TiC reinforcement, composite nitrides such as TiAlN and elastomers. A few of them have also been used commercially. Thermal spraying, arc plasma spraying, and high velocity oxy-fuel (HVOF) processes have been used commercially to apply the coatings. Boronizing, laser surface hardening and cladding, chemical vapor deposition, physical vapor deposition, and plasma nitriding have been tried for surface treatments at laboratory levels and have shown promise to be used on actual components.

Reflective Learning from Project Failure in a University/Agency/Community Partnership

Disaster recovery efforts, especially directly following a natural or technological disaster, tend to focus on the immediate short-term needs of communities. The disaster recovery literature (Rolfe and Britton 1995, Tootle 2007) references the pressure governments are under to be proactive in the aftermath of a disaster. Unfortunately, by focusing so tightly on short-term needs, long-term planning, which can be critical to a community's ultimate resilience, can often be overlooked, inhibited, or disrupted. The fulfillment of an immediate short-term need can act as a force to push against and limit a community's long-term vision. Universities and government and non-profit agencies that work to provide valuable services to communities, especially in post-disaster situations, must be attuned to the long-term visions of the communities with which they work. At the Center for Hazards Assessment, Response, and Technology (CHART), we have taken advantage of the reflective character of participatory action research (PAR) in order to learn from our own shortcomings in such partnerships. An account of our missteps and wrong turns in regards to one particular project could be useful to others starting similar collaborative efforts.

An experimental study to corelate water jet impingement erosion resistance and properties of metallic materials and coatings

This paper describes the water jet impingement erosion characteristics of titanium alloy (Ti 6Al 4V), Hadfield steel, laser hardened, plasma nitrided and pack borided 12Cr steel along with most commonly used steels in hydro turbines. Round samples as per ASTM G73-98 were tested for water jet impingement erosion study. While testing, in the incubation period, plasma nitrided and pack borided 12Cr steel performed much better than 12Cr and 13Cr4Ni steels. Plasma nitrided 12Cr steel performed much better than pack borided 12Cr steel. This is due to the integrity of plasma nitrided layers and their ability to absorb shocks due to jet impingement. During incubation as well as in the long run, Hadfield steel and laser hardened 12Cr steel performed exceptionally well followed by 17Cr4Ni ‘PH’ steel. Based on this experimental study, a suitable criterion based on ultimate resilience (UR) for metallic materials and a composite modified resilience (CMR) for hard metallic coatings has been discussed. Water jet impingement erosion test results along with the mechanical properties of materials and coatings, and their scanning electron microstructural details are reported in this paper.

Diffusion-dispersion method of hardening the surface of austenitic steel

1. A method of hardening the surface of austenitic steel, which makes it possible to obtain a layer 0.4–0.7 mm thick with a hardness greater than 700 HV is developed. This method consists of diffusion saturation with carbon or carbon and nitrogen in accordance with a stepwise regime. Hardening of the layer is achieved primarily due to the segregation of special carbides during aging. 2. Steel 25Kh18N8V2 exhibits a higher ultimate rupture strength and resilience at 20–300°C, long-term strength, fatigue strength in bending, and wear resistance after diffusion-dispersion hardening than after nitriding. 3. After diffusion-dispersion hardening, steel 25Kh18N8V2 exhibits satisfactory corrosion resistance in a tropical chamber after grinding off a layer 0.1–0.15 mm thick.

Effect of nickel and manganese on the structure and properties of steel R3M3F2

1. Alloying of steel R3M3F2 with nickel to 3.4% lowers the hardness after quenching, reduces the secondary hardness and red hardness somewhat, and increases the ultimate bending strength and resilience. To improve the mechanical properties of a tool operating under dynamic loads, it is possible to alloy this steel with nickel to 1.5%; in other words, the effect of nickel on the properties of the steel is analogous to a reduction in quenching temperature. 2. When up to 2.7% of manganese is introduced to steel R3M3F2, the secondary hardness remains virtually unchanged, and the red hardness is increased somewhat; these properties diminish sharply as the manganese content is increased. The ultimate bending strength is increased with a manganese content to 1.5%, and diminishes when its content is increased. 3. The introduction of copper to steels R3M3F2 and 11M5FYuS is inexpedient.

Characterization of Solid Particle Erosion Resistance of Ductile Metals Based on Their Properties

This paper presents experimental results pertaining to spherical glass bead and angular crushed glass particle impingement. A concept of energy absorption to explain the failure of material is proposed and is correlated with the erosion characteristics of several pure metals. Analyses of extensive erosion data indicate that the properties—surface energy, specific melting energy, strain energy, melting point, bulk modulus, hardness, atomic volume—and the product of the parameters—linear coefficient of thermal expansion × bulk modulus × temperature rise required for melting, and ultimate resilience × hardness—exhibit the best correlations. The properties of surface energy and atomic volume are suggested for the first time for correlation purposes and are found to correlate well with erosion rates at different angles of impingement. It further appears that both energy and thermal properties contribute to the total erosion.

An application of bubble collapse pulse height spectra to venturi cavitation erosion of 1100-o aluminum

Venturi cavitation erosion tests were performed and correlated with bubble collapse pulse height spectra measured by a microtransducer. The effects of the throat velocity and the cavitation number σ (referred to the downstream pressure and throat velocity) on the erosion rate (MDPR) were studied. The velocity damage exponent was 4.11 for 0.62 ⩽ σ ⩽ 0.80, while the MDPR is almost independent of velocity for σ = 0.85. The MDPR decreases with increased σ for 0.62 ⩽ σ ⩽ 0.85. The data were reduced to “acoustic power” (from pulse height spectra) and “erosion power” (the ultimate resilience multiplied by the MDPR). A near-linear relationship was found between these. Their reciprocal ratio ηcav ≈ 7 × 10−11. For σ = 0.62, the data deviated from the others, possibly because of the work hardening of the eroded surface.

Cavitation erosion of hydraulic turbine steels containing 0.2 pct carbon and 1 pct Mn

A vibratory ultrasonic apparatus has been used to study the cavitation erosion resistance of 0.2 pct C steels used in the construction of large hydraulic turbines. In the “fabricate weld” technology the final normalizing operation improves the brittle fracture resistance, thereby improving the reliability of the turbine over that of the stress relieved machine. However, normalizing improves the cavitation erosion resistance of some steels only, while a slight degradation occurs in the case of others. Materials properties such as fracture toughness, Charpy impact energy, average grain size, and strain energy to fracture were found to have no relationship to the cavitation erosion resistance of the material. In the range of microstructures observed in hydraulic turbines, the cavitation erosion resistance is determined by the ultimate resilience, i.e., a high ultimate tensile stress is associated with a low cavitation erosion rate. The mechanism of material removal consists of plastic deformation and ductile rupture. Twinning and brittle fracture do not play a significant role in the cavitation erosion of these steels.

Comparison of cavitation erosion test results from venturi and vibratory facilities

A detailed comparison of cavitation erosion performance in tap water for five alloys in a vibratory (no-flow) system and a Venturi (flow) system was made. The effects of temperature variation (80 – 200 °F), Venturi throat velocity (34 – 49 m s −1) and vibratory horn double amplitude were studied. Correlations between maximum erosion rate (maximum mean depth of penetration rate (MDPR max)) and incubation period IP, and the material mechanical properties Brinell hardness and ultimate resilience UR = UTS 2 2E . (where UTS is the ultimate tensile strength and E is the elastic modulus), were examined. Only moderate success was achieved in correlations between “erosion resistance” MDPR max −1 and IP and these mechanical properties. However, a good correlation was found between MDPR max and IP, pertinent to both facilities, of the form MDPR max −1 = aIP n , where n is near unity (0.94). The cavitation intensity, as measured by MDPR max, was found to be 10–20 times greater in the vibratory system, depending on horn amplitude and material. This ratio varies between 5 and 30 if individual materials are considered separately, being greatest for 1018 carbon steel and least for 316 stainless steel. This indicates the important differences in form between these cavitating regimes and the imprecision of material comparisons made in both regimes.