Coventry University

About: Coventry University is a education organization based out in Coventry, United Kingdom. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Context (language use) & Population. The organization has 4964 authors who have published 12700 publications receiving 255898 citations. The organization is also known as: Lanchester Polytechnic & Coventry Polytechnic.

Common ground? : Motivations for participation in a community-supported agriculture scheme

Abstract: Direct marketing strategies of different kinds are often central to so-called “alternative food networks”, which tend to be underpinned by a central principle of somehow “reconnecting” food producers and consumers. This paper uses a case study of a community-supported agriculture project in Scotland to examine the motivations behind producers' and consumers' participation in such schemes. It shows the range of motivations and philosophies that consumers bring to the scheme and reflects on how these work with the more limited stated aims of the scheme organisers. It argues that communication within direct marketing schemes can be important for two reasons. First effective communication between producers and consumers can underpin the kind of understanding that leads to long-term commitment and tolerance amongst consumers. Second, communication between consumers can spur them to consider their wider behaviour and practices, perhaps leading to more radical changes to production–consumption relations...

An adaptive process planning approach of rapid prototyping and manufacturing

Abstract: This paper presents an adaptive approach to improve the process planning of Rapid Prototyping/Manufacturing (RP/M) for complex product models such as biomedical models. Non-Uniform Rational B-Spline (NURBS)-based curves were introduced to represent the boundary contours of the sliced layers in RP/M to maintain the geometrical accuracy of the original models. A mixed tool-path generation algorithm was then developed to generate contour tool-paths along the boundary and offset curves of each sliced layer to preserve geometrical accuracy, and zigzag tool-paths for the internal area of the layer to simplify computing processes and speed up fabrication. In addition, based on the developed build time and geometrical accuracy analysis models, adaptive algorithms were designed to generate an adaptive speed of the RP/M nozzle/print head for the contour tool-paths to address the geometrical characteristics of each layer, and to identify the best slope degree of the zigzag tool-paths towards achieving the minimum build time. Five case studies of complex biomedical models were used to verify and demonstrate the improved performance of the approach in terms of processing effectiveness and geometrical accuracy. Highlights? NURBS curves were introduced to maintain the accuracy of slicing layers. ? A mixed tool-path algorithm was developed to balance accuracy and build time. ? Adaptive algorithms were designed to identify the best slope degree of the zigzag tool-paths. ? Case studies of complex biomedical models were used to verify and demonstrate the approach

In-situ X-ray computed tomography characterisation of 3D fracture evolution and image-based numerical homogenisation of concrete

Abstract: In-situ micro X-ray Computed Tomography (XCT) tests of concrete cubes under progressive compressive loading were carried out to study 3D fracture evolution. Both direct segmentation of the tomography and digital volume correlation (DVC) mapping of the displacement field were used to characterise the fracture evolution. Realistic XCT-image based finite element (FE) models under periodic boundaries were built for asymptotic homogenisation of elastic properties of the concrete cube with Young's moduli of cement and aggregates measured by micro-indentation tests. It is found that the elastic moduli obtained from the DVC analysis and the FE homogenisation are comparable and both within the Reuss-Voigt theoretical bounds, and these advanced techniques (in-situ XCT, DVC, micro-indentation and image-based simulations) offer highly-accurate, complementary functionalities for both qualitative understanding of complex 3D damage and fracture evolution and quantitative evaluation of key material properties of concrete.