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The Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical radio Telescope (FAST) is the world ’ s largest single-dish radio telescope. Its large reflecting surface achieves unprecedented sensitivity but is prone to damage, such as dents and holes, caused by naturally-occurring falling objects. Hence, the timely and accurate detection of surface defects is crucial for FAST’s stable operation. Conventional manual inspection involves human inspectors climbing up and examining the large surface visually, a time-consuming and potentially unreliable process. To accelerate the inspection process and increase its accuracy, this work makes the first step towards automating the inspection of FAST by integrating deep-learning techniques with drone technology. First, a drone flies over the surface along a predetermined route. Since surface defects significantly vary in scale and show high inter-class similarity, directly applying existing deep detectors to detect defects on the drone imagery is highly prone to missing and misidentifying defects. As a remedy, we introduce cross-fusion, a dedicated plug-in operation for deep detectors that enables the adaptive fusion of multi-level features in a point-wise selective fashion, depending on local defect patterns. Consequently, strong semantics and fine-grained details are dynamically fused at different positions to support the accurate detection of defects of various scales and types. Our AI-powered drone-based automated inspection is time-efficient, reliable, and has good accessibility, which guarantees the long-term and stable operation of FAST.

Although optimization models can be used to plan the production process, in most cases static heuristics, such as earliest due date (E), longest processing time (L), and shortest processing time (S), are used because of their simplicity. This study aims to analyze the production cost of the static heuristics and to determine how this cost relates to the size of the production orders in the sawmilling industry. We set a planning problem with different orders and due dates and solved it using two cost-minimization models to compare their solutions. The first was a planning model (PL) where orders were split up into products demand by period, and the second, a planning scheduling (PS) where the sequence of processing orders based on static heuristics was assumed as known. In the latter, the minimum production cost for each static heuristic was found. In both models, the same resource constraints were assumed. The costs showed no significant changes based on order sizes. However, 0,5 % of orders were delayed using PS-E, and 17 % of orders were delayed using PL. PL was an efficient solution method when changing the orders´ size and when looking for the best static heuristic to process the orders. However, PS-E showed the ability to reduce the backlog close to zero while the PL backlog ratio was 17 %. No penalties were applied to backlogs due to their subjective nature; however, when shortages occurred, the demand was unmet or backlogged with substantial costs. Thus, in case the proposed method is adopted using a conservative backlog cost, a sawmill producing under the cut-to-order environment that produces 300000 m3 /year would reduce backlogged orders by 51000 m3. If the holding lumber cost is 2 $/m3, annual savings would be $408000.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the contribution of Caesalpinia sappan (sappan wood) bark extractives by analyzing color change of the bark after extraction and the color of the extracts with several color measurement methods. Successive extraction was performed with n-hexane, ethyl acetate, methanol, and hot water. Color change of the bark was measured using CIELab color system and the extracts were analyzed with Ultraviolet-Visible Spectrophotometer, total phenolic content (TPC), and Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). The results showed that the highest change on the bark color after methanol extraction with the Δa* and Δb* values of -2,53 ± 0,60 and -3,64 ± 1,20 respectively. Also, methanol extract showed the highest total phenolic content (860,24 ± 30,19 mg GAE/g). In addition, the Ultraviolet-Visible is analysis showed a peak at 478 nm in the hot-water soluble extract and two peaks in the methanol soluble extract at 396 nm and 478 nm. Hydroquinone was detected as one of the major compounds by Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry in the methanol soluble extract. It was suggested that the color of Caesalpinia sappan (sappan wood) bark as well as the deep red coloration of its extract might be contributed by multiple phenolic compounds contained in the methanol extract with hydroquinone as its precursor. Therefore, it is also a potential source for coloring matter.

The production of particleboards from various kinds of ligno cellulosic materials are successful on commercial scale in various parts of the country. However, much success is not seen in use of crop residues for particleboards. Rice straw and wheat straw are one such materials that are abundantly available in India that can be used to produce particleboard. The present work investigated the effect of Rice straw particles and wood fibers combination on physical and mechanical properties of the composite board. The pulverized rice straw composite boards were produced with three different composition of rice straw material (100 %, 70 %, 50 %) and wood Fibers (0 %, 30 %, 50 %). Melamine Urea Formaldehyde (MUF), Phenol Cardanol Formaldehyde (PCF), Blocked Isocyanate resin combined with PCF (BPCF), Blocked Isocyanate combined with Urea Melamine Formaldehyde (BUMF) and Blocked Isocyanate combined with PF (BPF) resins were synthesized. The resin system (10%,12%,14%) with requisite additive was admixed with rice straw and wood fibers. According to the resin system employed, the hot press temperature, specific pressure and curing time were worked out for compression of the boards. The boards were produced with 780 - 850 kg/m3 nominal density and prior to testing, the test specimens were exposed to an atmosphere maintained at a relative humidity of 65 ± 5 percent and at a temperature of 27 ± 2 °C until their masses are nearly constant. The boards made were subjected for evaluation of physical and mechanical properties according to IS 3087. It was found that the Rice Straw particles with Wood Fibers of 50-50 combination bonded with PCF and also with MUF adhesive of 12 % resin solids confirms to the requirement of physical and mechanical properties as per IS 3087 particleboards of wood and other lignocellulosic materials (medium density) for general purposes Specification. Comparison with resin for hybrid boards of rice straw particles with wood fiber, BPCF has shown excellent properties than BPF and BUMF. The study indicated that increasing the percentage replacement of wood fibers with rice straw particles by more than 50 % decreased the internal bond strength. It can be concluded that rice straw pulverized particleboard can be successfully made with the combination of 30 % - 50 % wood fibers using PCF resin or BPCF resin.

Abstract Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are steadily moving in the direction of implementing digital and smart technologies, including the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) for improving their products and services. The adoption of IIoT allows manufactures and producers to make quick decisions for improving productivity and quality in real‐time. For this purpose, the era of digital industrial revolution from IR 1.0 to IR 5.0 is briefly explained. In this research study, the authors have reviewed and analysed the existing reviews, surveys and technical research studies on IIoT technologies for the manufacturing and production SMEs to highlight the concern raised. Forty‐seven (47) influencing factors are identified and classified into four groups based on the TOEI framework. Based on the identified influencing factors, IIoT adoption model is proposed for the manufacturing and production SMEs to adopt the new IIoT technologies in their business environments. Furthermore, a comparative analysis of the influencing factors has been done for the adoption of IIoT to increase efficiency, productivity and competitiveness for the manufacturing and production SMEs in developing countries. The proposed IIoT adoption model will help future policymakers and stakeholders to develop policies and strategies for the successful adoption and implementation of IIoT in manufacturing and production SMEs in developing countries. Also, recommendations are suggested to encourage IIoT adoption in production and manufacturing environments so that manufacturers and producers can respond easily and quickly to highly changing demands, product trends, skills gaps and other unexpected challenges in the future.

Abstract Industrial defect detection is an important part of intelligent manufacturing, and Internet of things (IoT)‐based defect detection is receiving more and more attention. Although deep learning (DL) can help defect detection reduce the cost and improve the accuracy of traditional manual quality inspection, DL requires huge computational resources and is difficult to be simply deployed on IoT devices with limited computational power and memory resources. Digital signal processor (DSP) is an important IoT device with small size, high performance and low energy consumption, which has been widely used in intelligent manufacturing. In order to perform accurate defect detection on DSP, the authors proposed various optimisation strategies and then used a parallel scheme to scale the model to execute on multiple cores. The authors’ method evaluated it on Northeastern University Surface Defect Dataset, Magnetic Tile Defect Dataset, Rail Surface Defect Dataset and Silk Cylinder Defect Dataset, and the experimental results showed that the authors’ method obtains faster speeds without accuracy loss compared to running the same Convolutional Neural Networks model on a mainstream desktop CPU. This means that the authors’ method can realise efficient and accurate defect detection on IoT devices with limited computational power and memory resources, which opens up new possibilities for future development in the field of smart manufacturing.

Abstract Collaborative Networked Organisations (CNOs) are increasingly recognised for their ability to harness cooperation and complementary competencies, outperforming individual efforts in pursuing business opportunities. However, the criticality of selecting the right long‐term partner for a CNO has been understated, especially considering the evolving landscape of sustainability perceptions. This research addresses the issue of time inconsistency within the context of sustainable CNO partner selection by employing the Fuzzy Analytical Hierarchical Process with the Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution. Time inconsistency refers to a situation where preferences or decisions change over different points in time, leading to inconsistencies in choices or actions. Specifically, the study focuses on a Swiss Manufacturing CNO, examining how the evaluation of potential partners' environmental criteria changes over time. The findings reveal the presence of time inconsistency in environmental criterion evaluation between two time periods. This inconsistency stems from the evolving perception of environmental conditions and the increasing social and governmental pressures surrounding environmental standards. As a consequence, improper partner choices in CNOs can be made, potentially undermining the collaborative's overall sustainability goals. The study sheds light on the importance of considering dynamic sustainability factors in partner selection for CNOs, emphasising the need for a more comprehensive and adaptive approach to secure fruitful and lasting collaborations.

Abstract Workload control (WLC) is usually employed to make order release to attain workload balance, satisfactory delivery rate and high production efficiency. However, in the real production environment of printed circuit board (PCB) industries, slight modifications in the product process shifts the bottleneck resources which leads to misjudge the effect of WLC and may ultimately increase the lateness of orders. Therefore, this research focuses on the order release problem of PCB production system considering main process flow and shifting of bottlenecks. At first, certain improvements are proposed on the classic WLC method and two order release control strategies based on process switching are designed to generate order release plan on the basis of Lancaster University Management School Corrected Order Release method. Furthermore, different scheduling rules are investigated along with the upper workload limits on the PCB system simultaneously. Finally, a simulation model is developed to analyse the impact of order release methods on the system performance through simulation experiments. Furthermore, extensive simulation experiments for different scheduling rules on bottleneck resource and different workload upper limit ratios are also carried out in the current research. Simulation results show that the process order release control strategy based on process switching has a strong adaptability in PCB manufacturing system.

Abstract Significant attention has been given to low‐carbon smart manufacturing (SM) as a strategy for promoting sustainability and carbon‐free emissions in the manufacturing industry. The implementation of intelligent algorithms and procedures enables the attainment and enhancement of low‐carbon clever manufacturing processes. These algorithms facilitate real‐time monitoring and predictive maintenance, ensuring efficient and sustainable operations and data‐driven decision‐making, increasing resource utilisation, waste reduction, and energy efficiency. The research examines the utilisation of algorithms in the context of low‐carbon smart manufacturing, encompassing machine learning, optimisation algorithms, and predictive analytics. A comprehensive literature evaluation spanning from 2011 to 2023 is conducted to assess the significance of low‐carbon approaches in the context of smart manufacturing. An integrated approach is used using content analysis, network data analysis, bibliometric analysis, and cluster analysis. Based on the published literature the leading contributors to low‐carbon manufacturing research are India, China, United States, United Kingdom, Singapore, and Italy. The results have shown five main themes—Low‐carbon smart manufacturing and applications of Algorithms; Industry 4.0 technologies for low‐carbon manufacturing; low carbon and green manufacturing; Low‐carbon Manufacturing, and Product design and control; Lean Systems and Smart Manufacturing. The purpose of this study is to provide policymakers and researchers with a guide for the academic development of low‐carbon manufacturing by evaluating research efforts in light of identified research deficits.

Abstract The medium‐thick plate is an important type of steel product widely used in construction and engineering machinery. The orders are usually characterised by multiple specifications and small quantities. The plate design is an important part in the production process of medium‐thick plate, which includes the combination of sub‐plates and the size design of the motherboard. A multi‐objective model for medium‐thick plate design is proposed based on the 2D bin packing model, comprehensively considering spatial and size constraints of the plate production. A two‐stage genetic algorithm (TSGA) is developed to solve the proposed model. In the first stage, an improved GA is used to optimise the corresponding relationship between the sub‐plates and the slab, as well as the size of the motherboard. In the second stage, an exact algorithm based on the integer programming model is applied to calculate the order layout to minimise the surplus materials. To validate the proposed method, computational experiments are conducted based on actual production data from a steel plant. The experimental results show the effectiveness of the TSGA algorithm in solving the plate design problem.

Abstract A distributed heterogeneous permutation flowshop scheduling problem with sequence‐dependent setup times (DHPFSP‐SDST) is addressed, which well reflects real‐world scenarios in heterogeneous factories. The objective is to minimise the maximum completion time (makespan) by assigning jobs to factories, and sequencing them within each factory. First, a mathematical model to describe the DHPFSP‐SDST is established. Second, four meta‐heuristics, including genetic algorithms, differential evolution, artificial bee colony, and iterated greedy (IG) algorithms are improved to optimally solve the concerned problem compared with the other existing optimisers in the literature. The Nawaz‐Enscore‐Ham (NEH) heuristic is employed for generating an initial solution. Then, five local search operators are designed based on the problem characteristics to enhance algorithms' performance. To choose the local search operators appropriately during iterations, Q‐learning‐based strategy is adopted. Finally, extensive numerical experiments are conducted on 72 instances using 5 optimisers. The obtained optimisation results and comparisons prove that the improved IG algorithm along with Q‐learning based local search selection strategy shows better performance with respect to its peers. The proposed algorithm exhibits higher efficiency for scheduling the concerned problems.

Thermal modification of wood is an environmentally friendly method to improve wood durability, mainly against microorganisms. By employing a process similar to the ThermoWood®, various Gmelina arborea (gamhar) wood specimens were thermally modified at 180 °C, 200 °C, and 220 °C for 3 hours. The effects of the thermal modification process on the resistance to decay by rot-fungi, and attack by subterranean, arboreal, and dry-wood termites were determined. Generally, the thermal modification improved the resistance of Gmelina arborea (gamhar) to decay by Trametes versicolor with increasing process temperature. However, the effect of the process was null on the resistance to biodeterioration by the brown-rot fungus Coniophora puteana and the dry-wood termites Cryptotermes brevis. Even so, the visual damage caused by Cryptotermes brevis was slight. Untreated and thermally modified woods recorded higher resistance to Coniophora puteana than Trametes versicolor. Mass loss caused by Nasutitermes corniger also decreased with increasing thermal modification temperature. According to the visual damage rating values, the attack by Nasutitermes corniger was slight. However, the thermal modification inversely impacted Gmelina arborea (gamhar) attack by Macrotermes sp., as its resistance in the field to the termites decreased with increasing modification temperature. Thus, the thermal modification process contributed to improving the decay resistance of the modified wood to white-rot fungus Trametes versicolor and attack by the arboreal termites Nasutitermes corniger exposed indoors. On the other hand, thermally modified Gmelina arborea (gamhar) wood was very susceptible to Macrotermes sp. in the field. This work would provide a reliable reference document to guide wood industry stakeholders in assessing the performance of untreated and thermally modified Gmelina arborea (gamhar) wood in situations exposed to fungi and termite species adopted.

Owing to its physico-mechanical properties, wood is widely used in housing for both outdoor structures and indoors in floors, ceilings and others. However, its vulnerability to fire makes protection necessary for occupant safety and damage prevention. In this study, the fire performance of Pinus taeda (loblolly pine) wood from northeastern Uruguay treated with zinc borate synthetized in our laboratory is tested. The effect of leaching on zinc borate fire retardant properties was also evaluated. The following parameters associated with the thermal degradation process of wood were analyzed: flame spread, carbonized area, carbonization index and mass loss. The wood was radially and tangentially exposed to the flame in a Vandersall tunnel under controlled conditions for three exposure times: 30, 60, and 80 seconds. The micromorphology of the surfaces exposed to the flame at each exposure time was analyzed with a scanning electron microscope in order to evaluate fiber damage, zinc borate distribution within the wood, and the effects of leaching on fire performance. A clear improvement in the fire resistance of the zinc borate -treated wood could be verified for all exposure times; leaching did not affect its fire retardant properties despite the harsh conditions of the test, making the product potentially suitable for outdoor use.

The fashion industry has a negative impact on the environment and society, leading consumers to seek more responsible alternatives. As a natural and durable material, wool is gaining popularity, but local wool sourcing is often overlooked. This article explores the opportunities for sustainable local wool production in Quebec and the challenges in developing a new local wool supply chain. The study draws on a pilot project by Fibershed Quebec, which collected feedback from 75 participants to better understand the challenges faced by new actors in the fashion industry in this logistics chain. The results show that local companies in the textile and apparel ecosystem need to assess best practices and adopt new perspectives and strategies to support local wool production and strengthen the local supply chain. An additional survey was conducted to capture the real challenges of creating a fashion collection using local fibers for a specific market. The results emphasize the importance of training and support for new actors in the wool and fashion industry to help them overcome obstacles and succeed in a highly competitive market. Finally, the article explores the challenges and opportunities of sustainable local wool production in Quebec. It examines current efforts to diversify wool production and analyzes the challenges and opportunities facing local businesses. This study highlights the importance of wool production in Canada. It highlights the need for scientists and stakeholders in the sheep industry to find new ways to make this activity profitable.

This paper presents aspects concerning digital, smart and green transition of the Romanian textile sector. This survey was conducted in the framework of the ADDTEX Erasmus+ project, between August and December 2022, involving mainly qualitative research methods (group activities and questionnaires, presenting concepts, meanings and perspectives) in the framework of the desk & field research and living lab sessions for ADDTEX Erasmus+ project. In order to conduct this survey several workshops were organized in situ or online (Meetup and living labs) concerning digital technologies to companies and HEI. In addition, we asked them to define their past, actual and future roles in the context of the green, smart and digital economy. Digitalization, integration of smart things and sustainable development are priorities for Romanian research and innovation sector and several initiatives such as implementing digitization, smart and green technologies and methods for innovative learning are ongoing. In addition, the main objectives including carbon footprint reduction and integrating digital and smart things (electronics) using IoT.

In the present paper, the materials for making three mattress covers (an antibacterial mattress cover, a mattress cover intended for hospital use and a hypoallergenic mattress cover) were treated and tested in order to obtain basic information about the chemical treatment of fibers in the new mattress covers. The constituent components of the three mattress covers were each undersampled by cutting each layer then, it was passed to the collection of samples in small, labeled bags. Each sample was sampled over its entire layer depth, with section areas of about 1-2 cm. This paper highlights the difference in finishing treatments, depending on the areas of use of knitted materials intended for mattress covers. Thus, in addition to the differences between the solutions that are applied to these materials, we can also observe that those intended for hospital use are without preservatives and are not washed, because the whole solution is eliminated from the treatment process, the ones that are contrary to the materials from which the hypoallergenic mattress covers are made, which after each wash becomes more and more beautiful and qualitative. On the machine called Squeezing Pader Machine of Tai Ping Yang, the treatment of the materials analyzed in this work was performed, both by treatments applied to the surface of the materials and by immersion, obtaining a load with 100% solution.

The paper provides practical information on the process of valorization of textile waste. Different types of products are made from industrial and consumer waste, such as redesigned clothing, women's accessories, bags, women's purses, etc. The work presents the way of making several small accessories, respectively necklace models and earrings, made from the waste resulted in the workshop. The authors chose to make denim accessories because as we know denim is a type of fabric, usually made of cotton, and cotton is a vegetable fiber. Cotton fabrics are versatile, with good durability, breathable, hypoallergenic, with very good capacity of retaining dyes, with good resistance to abrasion, all this making it a material preferred by those who make accessories, because it provides wearing comfort. Unlike other textiles, cotton lets the skin breathe, especially during warm periods, thus naturally preventing the appearance of sweat. Both the necklace and the earrings are made from a piece of material extracted from denim waste. It was unfolded and checked from an aesthetic and qualitative point of view, on the grounds of texture and uniformity of color, then strips of material were cut out, which were assembled piece by piece, twisted, glued, and at the end for added value, decorative elements were applied.

The textile industry is one of the most flourishing and developed at the level of the European Union and as a result, being such an important field, it is imperative to have some legislative acts at the European level in order to regulate and harmonise the conduct of the Member States. The main goal of the Regulation No 1007/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council is to set up common rules on both fabric names and the composition of textile products and, at the same time, to harmonise the indications that appear on the labels, markings and documents which accompany such products throughout the process of their production and distribution. In addition to this Regulation, there are other normative acts at the level of the European Union with a particular impact on the textile industry. We are taking into consideration, alongside with the above-mentioned Regulation, the Directive 2001/95/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council, which refers to the general product safety and other acts in connection with these. The aim of this paper is to briefly present the provisions of these legislative acts, as they are closely connected to the textile industry.

The aim of the study is to present the functionality of clothing products intended for premature babies, developed in accordance with the requirements of care, positioning and monitoring during their stay in the neonatal therapy ward. Methods: The analysis of the medical personnel involved in the care of premature children was carried out; analyzed which types of positions are recommended for growth and development. All the positioning procedures were performed in the premises of the Gheorghe Paladi Chisinau Municipal Hospital, by the specialized medical staff. Therefore, the functionality of the proposed clothing products is aimed at meeting the requirements of neonatal care and facilitating some medical procedures in the case of examination of patients by medical personnel. Video recordings were made to observe the correctness of the positioning of the children, which will be a source of information for parents who will have the opportunity to get involved, so it can contribute to improving the care of premature children.

Brands, collections, colors and styles are increasingly being created every season, changing accordingly to the many trends’ society generates. People and lifestyle transform rapidly, and so their expectations. With all the demanding adjustments this sector has to currently face, it seems, the industry is facing unprecedented challenges to meet consumer needs. The textile industry is one of the many industries that has the capacity to have a big impact on the environment and society. In the presents that impact leads toward the negative side. It is known that the fashion industry is responsible for 10% of global annual carbon emissions. This creates an urgency for us to reduce the effects the industry has as much as possible. One way is going back what we know from our ancestors and that is bio-dying. The processes of bio-dying successfully exploit the potential of natural biological systems, making industrial activity more environmentally friendly. This paper is the result of using the bio-dying method as a way to be sustainable and, at the same time, bring back the knowledge we have while using contemporaneous technology, by creating a project and products that balances the past and present with the aim of offering people the possibility to preserve memories of the past and now, in the present.

Sublimation transfer printing is based on printing the disperse dyestuff onto the transfer paper and contacting the printed transfer paper with the fabric under temperature and pressure. The dispersed dyestuff in the transfer paper is transferred to the fabric by passing from the solid phase to the gas phase with temperature. Sublimation transfer printing has some advantages such as low investment cost compared to conventional printing machines, less space requirement, etc. However, sublimation transfer printing is only suitable for synthetic fibers, especially polyester fibers. This limits the use of this type of printing. In recent years, research on the possibilities of using sublimation transfer printing in the printing of natural fibers has been increasing. The present work investigated silicone agents for the sublimation transfer printing of cotton in terms of color and fastness properties. The process variables were also investigated, such as printing temperature and time. In this study, hydrophobic macrosilicone, hydrophobic microsilicone, hydrophilic macro silicon, hydrophilic microsilicone, dimethylol dihydroxy ethylene urea, and fluorocarbon were used. Two concentrations of finishing agents were applied (30 g/l before printing and 15 g/l before printing + 15 g/l after printing). Three different printing times (30 sec., 50 sec. and 90 sec.) and temperatures (180oC, 200oC and 220oC) were also applied. Color strength values of printed fabrics were investigated.

This paper presents aspects on circular economy of fibrous composites and technical textiles, in the framework of the Erasmus+ project CircuTex, under reference number 2021-1-ES01-KA220-HED-000032075. The project envisages the following results: 1) An e-learning course on circular economy of fibrous composites and technical textiles will be addressed to HEI students and aims to develop the skills in circular economy practices concentrated in fibrous composites and technical textiles. 2) A virtual laboratory for the implementation of virtual experiments was built, to test and apply experiments related to the circular economy of fibrous composites and technical textiles. The laboratory includes virtual “digital twins” of actual laboratory equipment, enhanced with 3D representations and virtual movement. Students will be able to access the virtual laboratory online through their virtual reality glasses. 3) A roadmap to microcredentials created to work on a quality assurance framework for the elearning course and a methodology to apply ECTS points to the course. Actions for the validation of the course and the issuing of digital certificates with the potential to be included in the new European-wide digital format of “Europass Digital Credentials” will be taken

The textile industry is one of the largest water-consuming industries, and it generates a significant amount of wastewater that needs to be treated before being discharged into the environment. To address this challenge, there has been a growing interest in the development of state-of-the-art technologies for wastewater treatment in the textile industry. Physical treatments such as sedimentation, flotation, and filtration are commonly used to remove suspended solids and organic matter from textile wastewater. Chemical treatments such as coagulation/flocculation and oxidation are effective in removing dyes and other colorants. Biological treatments such as aerobic and anaerobic treatments have been shown to be effective in treating organic matter and other pollutants. Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor (MBBR) technology has become increasingly popular in the textile industry for treating wastewater. This technology uses a combination of biological and physical processes to effectively remove pollutants from textile wastewater. The use of MBBR technology in textile industry wastewater treatment has several benefits. It is highly efficient in removing pollutants, including organic matter, color, and suspended solids. It can also handle high variations in flow and organic loads, making it suitable for the highly variable wastewater generated by the textile industry. The use of MBBR technology in the textile industry offers a cost-effective, efficient, and sustainable solution for treating wastewater, making it an increasingly popular option for textile manufacturers worldwide.

The global fashion industry is highly energy-consuming, polluting, and wasteful: both production and consumption. The industry is mainly spurred by small and medium enterprises (SME) which have the competitive advantage of recovering textile solid waste, thus contribute to the slow/eco/sustainable fashion discourse. Fashion design university graduates particularly join the SME sector, either as employees or entrepreneurs. Hence, their engagement in sustainable fashion through course projects positions them as potential change agents in the industry. Upcycling is one of the most sustainable circular solutions in the waste hierarchy. Upcycling requires little energy input and can eliminate the need for a new product. Upcycling involves a substantial amount of creativity and vision, based on a fundamental environmental consciousness. The end result is typically a product/item that is unique and sustainable. This paper presents a project undertaken by the author and undergraduate fashion design and textile technology students aligned with the International Federation for Home Economics (IFHE) commemoration of the World Home Economics Day held on 21st March. This year’s theme was ‘Waste Reduction Literacy’. The students and the author interpreted the theme and created apparel, apparel accessories, soft furnishings, and interior accessories from textile solid waste. The effort provided the students with a business opportunity, alternative source of cheaper materials, enriched creativity, and fun. It is critical for higher education institutions offering fashion design programmes to incorporate sustainability in all courses and prepare students to tackle emerging issues in the industry. The faculty too need to keep abreast with sustainable fashion discourse.

The textile industry is considered a polluting industry due to the use of chemicals in production and excessive use of energy and water, plus the generation of toxic waste. In present, the significance of environmental pollution and related problems in the world had led to development and application of environmental friendly production methods that less polluted environment.Wool fibers are subjected to a number of water-based treatments that pollutes the environment. In a desire to make the wool industry to become more sustainable, this paper reports an ecological wool washing method by using three alkaline solutions based on ash obtained from burning wood type beech/oak/hornbeam and water. The mixture solutions used for manually wool washing has different concentration of lye (10% to 30%) and pH, respectively. The higher the pH of the alkaline solution, the more impurities are removed.The optical images of washed wool fibers presented in the paper show no damage on surface structure. Wastewater collected after wool washing was used as natural fertiliser for watering seeds of grass. Some measurements on blades of grass were done to see the effect of wastewater. The number of grass blades/unit area, average lenght and the uniformity regarding the lenght increased when watering was done with wastewater.

Poliester and cotton fibres are the most utilized fibres by the textile and clothing sector, where ring spinning and open-end rotor spinning systems are the most widely used technologies to manufacture yarn by the sector. Also, with the increment in sustainable awareness in the sector, new approaches like use of recycled raw materials have been improved. The yarns converted from recycled fibres have been started to be intensively used in apparel and household textiles. However, recycled yarns are considered as mechanically weak. In the present study, it is aimed to how yarn type and fabric tightness affect the pilling tendency, mechanical characteristic, and vertical liquid transfer behaviour of knitted fabrics. For this purpose, six different knitted fabrics with different loop lengths were manufactured in single jersey construction using different yarn types. The selected yarns are 100% poliester (PES) ring carded, 100% cotton (Co) ring carded, and recycled polyester/cotton open-end rotor yarns in 35/65 proportion. In this direction, pilling resistance, bursting strength, and wicking tests were performed. It was observed that the knitted fabrics using PES ring carded yarns have medium to light pilling tendency, while the knitted fabrics using PES/Co blended open-end yarns show serious to medium pilling tendency. In addition, loose fabrics with higher loop length have no pilling tendency. Tight fabrics have the highest strength, whereas the fabrics from recycled open-end rotor yarns have poor strength. In both wale and course direction, the fabrics knitted using PES ring carded yarns displayed better wicking behaviour.

Formaldehyde (CH₂O) is a colorless, highly toxic, and flammable gas at room temperature. Exposure to formaldehyde can irritate the skin, throat, lungs, and eyes, and repeated exposure to formaldehyde can lead to cancer. Formaldehyde resin products used in the textile industry include printing inks, dyes and textile finishing products. These formaldehyde-based materials help bind dyes and pigments to fabrics, prevent colours from running, improve a fabric's resistance to wrinkles, ease clothing care and maintenance and prevent mildew. This study described two analytical methods for detecting formaldehyde in textile materials: high performance liquid chromatography and spectrophotometric. The textile materials containing formaldehyde were extracted in water at 40 degrees C, filtrated and complexed with a coloring reagent – Nash, that contains acetylacetone, acetic acid, ammonium acetate and water. The solutions were comparatively analyzed by spectrophotometry and liquid chromatography coupled with a multiwavelength detector (HPLC-MWD). The spectrophotometric method was validated for precise and reliable results, proving it fits the intented use. The method is linear from the limit of quantification of 4 mg/kg ppm up to 600 mg/kg levels of formaldehyde. This method is intended for formaldehyde analyses in textile samples with excellent recovery, good sample stability, accurate results and good sensibility.

The textile industry is estimated to be the second most polluting industry in the world. Carbon emissions exceed the amount of simultaneous emissions from the aviation and shipping industries, which are also responsible for 20% of the total amount of polluted water. Biomaterials are a sustainable alternative to traditional materials used in the fashion industry. The actuality of the theme is determined by the increased interest of researchers in the field of the fashion industry to find a sustainable alternative for traditional textiles. The aim of the paper is to find sustainable alternatives in the textile industry. The paper includes not only theoretical studies on the current state of availability and areas of usage of biomaterials in the fashion industry but also practical applications for obtaining biomaterials and studying their characteristics. For this purpose, I created 3 samples of biomaterial according to the same recipe, following the same process. The samples had been researched in different environmental conditions. Environmental conditions were simulated under laboratory conditions. For the manufactured biomaterial sample were detetermined characteristics such as thickness, mass and surface. The obtained results are summarized in the form of graphs. The obtained data allow to evaluate the samples of the tested biomaterial and determine the conditions, areas of use. Further research directions will include the determination of mechanical, hygienic-functional, and appearance properties for manufactured biomaterial samples.

This papers’ main aim is to present the rendering method for a dress within the 3D Vidya module of the Assyst design program. Rendering is one of the major topics of 3D computer graphics, and in practice it is always connected to the other topics. It is the last important step in the graphics pipeline, giving models and animation their final look. With the increasing sophistication of computer graphics since the 1970s, it has become a more distinct subject. Assyst has the largest 3D dimensioning and fitting portal in the world. It enables the integration of customer sizing and fitting directly into the used processes and systems, with a multitude of functions ranging from market and target group studies to 3D and CAD integration and avatar creation. The computer-aided design program Assyst is in the top 3 of the profile programs used on the European market, the latest development is the 3D Vidya design module. Assyst 3D Vidya combines both the design process, the product, the 2D designed model and its subsequent simulation in 3D. The texture of materials is displayed in the highest photo quality, and the simulation of the use of accessories such as zipper, snaps is very realistic. Using the 3D Vidya module can save the sample execution process and increase the quality and efficiency of the supply chain.

Gaining sustainability in the textile finishing industry deals among others with the replacement of synthetic dyes with non-toxic and biodegradable natural dyes. Lately, increasing preoccupation has been noticed with the reassessment of the North America and Europe flora, as potential resources for extraction of natural colorants. Within the wide range of natural colorants, anthocyanins - found in fruits and vegetables, dye natural fibers in beautiful pink and purple shades. Chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa) fruit, ordinarily used as a nutraceutical, has one of the highest contents of anthocyanins in the plant kingdom. This paper deals with the extraction of anthocyanins from dried chokeberry fruits and pomace, using a conventional solvent extraction with acidulated acetone-water mixture and a non-conventional aqueous two-phase extraction based on salt-alcohol mixtures. The anthocyanins extraction yield from chokeberry fruits was very low and had comparable values for both extractants, of around 70 mg/100 g dried fruit. Pomace had a much higher anthocyanins content, namely 876.37 mg/100 g dry pomace for the acetone extractant and 1287.2 mg/100 g dry pomace for the two-phase extractant. Anthocyanins’ color and stability showed an expected variation when the solution pH shifted from acidic to alkaline. Aronia juice extraction leftovers can be turned from a potential waste into a valuable and easily available source of natural dyes.

This work presents aspects regarding the actuators used to create artificial muscles and their operating principles. Actuators perform an action (movement, brightness increase, colour change) based on a stimulus (electrical, mechanical, magnetic or chemical). Actuators can be used to create artificial muscles, stimulating or replacing the functions of human muscles, for robots or medical devices such as prostheses. They can be used to create linear or rotary motion and can be controlled via electrical or hydraulic systems. In terms of artificial muscles, actuators are used to produce the movement or force required to mimic the action of human muscles. In general, the actuators used in artificial muscles must present good precision and be easily controlled. In addition, they must be reliable and able to be integrated into a wide range of devices. While electric motors are the most popular actuator-based systems, hydraulic, pneumatic and piezoelectric actuators are frequently used to create artificial muscles.

Additive manufacturing technologies have a great potential for use in the manufacture of flexible sensors and in recent years, rapid research advances have been achieved in this field. Moreover, by combining textiles with printing technologies, novel sensing structures can be developed, eliminating the disadvantages of rigid sensors. These sensors are in great demand in various applications from the field of wearable e-textiles, such as sports, rehabilitation, and in medical tasks like vital sign monitoring. Printing makes possible to design patterns with complicated structures that could not be possible with the traditional weaving techniques, for example, because of the lack of precision. This also allows the use of a wide range of materials with advanced properties. Flexible sensors require flexible materials that can withstand the mechanical demands of bending, twisting or compression, provide comfort and most importantly withstand repeated washing cycles. In this document, we briefly overview the flexible sensors manufactured via different printing approaches and the flexible materials developed by recent studies in this area. Moreover, we discuss a hot topic in current research: self-powered flexible sensors. These sensors eliminate the need for an external power source, enabling fully portability and lightweight wearable devices. On the other hand, we present some challenges encountered in the field of flexible printed sensors.

The worn-out of different components of textile machines can conduct to deterioration or even failure, which may have a negative impact on their effectiveness. If such spare parts can not be found on the market, a possibility of their redesign and manufacture is the use of a reverse engineering approach. In order to apply reverse engineering, the points cloud that defines the physical part must be first obtained. The points cloud of the real part is then transferred to a dedicated redesign program to redesign the 3D model of the piece. Finally, the redesigned part is manufactured using rapid prototyping techniques. The aim of this paper is to present the application of a reverse engineering approach for the redesign and manufacture of the presser foot base for sewing machines. The Shining 3D Scanner was used to scan the part, and the redesign of the part was achieved using the ShiningForm XOR software. The part was manufactured using the Inspire 200 3D printer, and the quality inspection of the manufactured part was carried out using the ShiningForm XOV software. The use of the reverse engineering approach allows the rapid development of parts with complex geometry, acceptable quality and relatively lower manufacturing costs.

El porcentaje de madera juvenil en coníferas de crecimiento rápido es un factor determinante de las propiedades básicas, ya que su proporción aumenta a medida que disminuye la edad de rotación. Dicha madera se caracteriza por presentar menor longitud y espesor de pared de traqueidas y mayor ángulo micro-fibrilar, lo cual se traduce en menor densidad y propiedades elasto-resistentes más bajas. Para delimitar la edad transición de madera (juvenil-madura) se realiza el análisis radial de algunas de las características mencionadas. La importancia de establecer dicha edad, radica en la estimación de los volúmenes de ambos tipos de madera, su calidad y potencialidad de uso. El objetivo del trabajo fue determinar la edad de transición y comparar sus valores elasto-resistentes en Pinus contorta (lodgepole). Se trabajó con 9 muestras de 35 años, radios norte y sur para estudios anatómicos, y madera juvenil y madura para ensayos físico mecánicos. Las edades de transición resultaron entre los 12 y 16,5 años, dirección norte y sur, respectivamente. Las variables anatómicas, físicas y mecánicas se diferenciaron significativamente, siendo mayores en la madera madura. A fin de generar una base de datos de esta especie para la región, se sugiere continuar con estudios similares en otros sitios.

In this study, different loading levels of cellulose nanofibril and borax were added as reinforcement in melamine-urea-formaldehyde adhesive to enhance the performance properties of plywood panels as engineered wood composites. Physical properties (density, thickness swelling, water absorption, and moisture content), mechanical properties (modulus of rupture, modulus of elasticity, and bonding strength), and formaldehyde content were tested using relevant standards. The results showed that cellulose nanofibril and borax had a synergistic effect, resulting in improved physico-mechanical properties. The best results were obtained by combining 3 % cellulose nanofibril and borax. It was determined that the combination of cellulose nanofibril and borax reinforcement resulted in a significant improvement of around 15 % in the thickness swelling, water absorption, and moisture content of plywood panels. The combination of cellulose nanofibril and borax reinforcing resulted in a significant increase of around 26 % in the modulus of rupture and modulus of elasticity of plywood panels, with a bonding strength of around 47 %. The reinforcement technique did result in a 34 % decrease in free formaldehyde content. As a consequence, cellulose nanofibril and borax can be used as effective additives in the production of plywood panels to enhance their performance properties.

There is a strong interest in developing and using acoustic technology to evaluate the mechanical properties of wood in situations where a static bending test is not feasible to undertake. In this study, the mechanical properties of Acacia mangium (black wattle) wood were predicted by using stress wave and ultrasonic wave methods. The values of dynamic modulus of elasticity based on stress wave and ultrasonic wave were 9,29 % and 4,75 % higher than those obtained from static modulus of elasticity, respectively. There was no statistically significant correlation between acoustic velocity and mechanical properties measured by destructive tests. The strong experimental correlation coefficients were found between stress wave and modulus of elasticity (r = 0,94; P < 0,001), and ultrasonic wave and modulus of elasticity (r = 0,83; P < 0,001). This result indicates that stress wave and ultrasonic wave techniques are suitable for predicting the static modulus of elasticity of Acacia mangium (black wattle) wood if the density of the measured elements is known. There was no dependence of wood density and acoustic propagation velocity measured in this study, whereas statistically significant correlations were found between the fiber length with stress wave velocity (r = 0,44; P < 0,05) and ultrasonic velocity (r = 0,48; P < 0,05).

The use of residues from human activities has been currently gaining ground in the national and international markets, aiming toward the production of more sustainable materials that are less aggressive to the environment. Reusing and adding value to new products has also become an important factor in reducing production costs and the best alternative for this is process optimization. The choice for residual balsa wood was due to its rapid growth and low density, as well as for its ease of engineering and determining the ideal amount of resin for different types of panels. This study aims to investigate the influence of the content variation of castor oil-based polyurethane resin on the physical and mechanical properties of OSB board particles made from residual balsa wood in reforestation areas. The panels were produced with 8, 10, and 12 % commercial castor oil-based polyurethane resin and 9 mm long particles; their physical and mechanical characterizations followed international normative recommendations. The results indicated that the panels with resin contents higher than 10 % reached the minimum regulatory requirements for type 2 OSB panels, suitable for structural application. On the other hand, the panels produced with 8 % resin reached the minimum requirements for type 1 OSB panels, suitable for non-structural use by the furniture industry, such as linings and partitions. Therefore, our study concludes that the variation of resin contents for OSB panels of residual balsa wood allowed us to achieve optimal levels for the use of castor oil-based polyurethane resin, reaching minimum values recommended by regulations for OSB panels type 1 and 2 and a great possibility of application of this product for engineered materials.

The increasing use of wood in the forest industry and reduction of forest resources have prompted the paper industry to look for new materials. To this end, this study examined the biometric coefficients of the seven woody stems grown in different regions and investigated suitability for papermaking as an alternative to the use of wood. Wood samples of each species were collected from two different regions in Türkiye: the Kozan region, which has a Mediterranean climate, and the Yuvacık region, which has a mostly oceanic climate. The species included in the study were Phillyrea latifolia (mock privet), Arbutus andrachne (greek strawberry tree), Erica arborea (tree heath), Spartium junceum (spanish broom), Laurus nobilis (bay tree), Pistacia turpentine (cyprus turpentine tree), and Rhus coriaria (elm-leaved sumac). All fibers were classified as short. The longest fiber was observed for Spartium junceum (spanish broom) in Kozan. The fiber diameter was highest for Arbutus andrachne (greek strawberry tree) from Kozan, followed by Rhus coriaria (elm-leaved sumac) from Yuvacık and Laurus nobilis (bay tree) from Kozan. The fiber dimensions and the relationship between them were statistically analyzed. These included the slenderness ratio, flexibility coefficient, Runkel ratio, rigidity coefficient, Luce’s shape factor, F-factor, and Muhlsteph ratio. Although differences in fiber properties were detected between the two regions, it was determined that these were not enough to affect the desired properties for paper production. It was concluded that the fibers could be used in pulp, paperboard, and corrugated board production when mixed with long fibers.

The research for improving adhesives and the properties of wood composites is always important for industry. The aim of this study is investigating the effect of adding graphene oxide in the UF resin on the functional properties of particleboard panels with an average thickness of 16 mm. The influence of graphene oxide content (0; 0,25 %; 0,5 % and 0,75 % based on the dry weight of the UF resin) and pressing time (4 and 5 minutes) on the internal bonding, bending strength, modulus of elasticity and dimensional stability were studied. The results showed that the use of graphene oxide in the UF resin caused an improvement of the mechanical and physical properties of the particleboards. Also, comparing two different pressing times, the boards made by 4 minutes with graphene oxide is preferred without negative effect on the functional properties of particleboards.

The fractometer is a device that breaks increment cores to measure fracture strength. The advantages of the device are that it is relatively fast, easy to use in the field, and it can perform direct strength measurements on increment cores. The main purpose of the study was to evaluate the usability of the fractometer as a preliminary evaluation tool for wood density traits of standing Turkish Pinus brutia (red pine) trees. Fracture strength was measured on 5 mm diameter increment cores, and X-ray densitometry was used for density measurements. Due to the high correlation between the two traits (fracture and density), a model was built using linear regression. Fifty trees were sampled to build the statistical model (r2: 0,74), and an equal sample size was used to test the model. The density value obtained from the model was 0,546 gcm-3, while the density value averaged by the X-ray method for the same group was 0,543 gcm-3. When considering mean values, it can be said that the model provides a good prediction. Based on personal experience and research results, some trees exhibited better growth and wood quality traits than others. Breeding from these trees could offer improvement in timber production and performance for Pinus brutia (red pine). As a general consequence, the fractometer and increment core sampling can be used for pine tree breeding programs for the preliminary assessment of wood density.

In this study, the sustainable recycling of tire waste, which is frequently formed in the automotive industry, and the transformation of this recycling into valuable materials are in question. Waste tire pyrolysis oil obtained as a result of the pyrolysis of tire wastes was evaluated for the first time as a reinforcement element in nanocellulose-based nanocomposite films. Nanocellulose was produced using the TEMPO method (2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl radical). 5 %, 10 % and 20 % pyrolysis oil were added to the nanocomposite films. Thermal (thermal gravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, thermomechanical (dynamic mechanical thermal analysis and morphological (scanning electron microscopy) characterization of the produced nanocomposite films were performed. The highest thermal stability was observed in the nanocellulose/pyrolysis oil-20 sample with 20% pyrolysis oil additive. The pyrolysis oil-reinforced nanocomposites resulted in an excellent increase in storage and loss modulus. The storage modulus of the 20 % pyrolysis oil added sample at 100 °C was exactly 18 times that of pure nanocellulose. Nanocellulose-based nanocomposite films with superior thermal properties and structural compatibility demonstrated by characterized results have been shown to be pioneers in future industrial applications such as pharmacy, coating, green packaging.

In mushroom cultivation, it is important to be aware of the impact of the growing substrate. This study investigated the cultivation of various oyster mushrooms, including Pleurotus ostreatus, Pleurotus citrinopileatus, and Pleurotus djamor, on different types of wood sawdust. Total phenolic content, condensed tannins, antioxidant activity by ferric reducing antioxidant power assay, protein and sensory evaluations were performed in cultivated oyster mushrooms. Wood sawdust of Fagus orientalis (oriental beech), Alnus glutinosa (alder), Castanea sativa (chestnut), and Juglans regia (walnut) were used as substrate for studied mushroom type, separately. Because champignon (Agaricus bisporus) was the most consumed mushroom, it was used as control sample. Methanolic extracts of dried mushrooms were used to measure bioactive characteristics. Pleurotus ostreatus samples cultivated in Alnus glutinosa (alder) sawdust substrate had the highest antioxidant activity. The lowest antioxidant activity values were found in Pleurotus djamor cultivated in Juglans regia (walnut) wood sawdust substrate. The highest protein content was measured in Agaricus bisporus as 13,84 %. The other highest protein concentration was found in Pleurotus ostreatus cultivated in Alnus glutinosa (alder) sawdust substrate, at 13,75 %. The lowest protein concentration belonged to Pleurotus citrinopileatus cultivated in Fagus orientalis (oriental beech) sawdust substrate as 9,86 %. While Agaricus bisporus and Pleurotus ostreatus had the highest overall appreciation score, Pleurotus citrinopileatus had the lowest. It has been observed that the substrate content has an important impact on chemical and sensory properties of the oyster mushrooms. This study provides knowledge on the chemical and sensory characteristics of three different Pleurotus mushroom species cultivated on different composts.

Faced with the need for innovation and waste reduction that the market demands, the high consumption of adhesive in the furniture industry led to the need and interest in studying ways to reduce this consumption, through changes in the bonding process without compromising the mechanical properties of the bonded material. The collage is carried out to form Edge Glued Panels of Pinus taeda (loblolly pine), using PolyVinyl Acetate adhesive with an average weight of 205 g/m². If lower weights are used, using the current application method (roller), mechanical strength problems begin to arise. The objective of this work was to study the feasibility of applying glue by another method (spray) with weights and, consequently, shorter pressing times, to evaluate the conservation of the mechanical properties of the panels through shear and traction tests. For that, samples were made according to the standards with the current situation of bonding (weight of 205 g/m² and pressing time of 80 s), to obtain reference results in the tests, and in the proposed situations (adhesive weights of 125 g/m² and 80 g/m² and pressing times of 70 s and 75 s), in an attempt to reach the established reference values. Regarding the results, it was feasible to conclude that the current method could be replaced by the proposed one, using the spray together with an adhesive weight of 125 g/m² and pressing times of 75 s and 70 s, with no statistically significant difference for the current method

La generación de nuevos materiales genéticos para atender las diversas demandas del mercado de la madera requiere una constante evaluación de sus propiedades tecnológicas. En el presente estudio, se evaluó el contenido relativo de duramen y albura a tres alturas de fuste (0,10 m, 2,80 m y 5,50 m) así como la variación de densidad en dirección axial y radial de clones puros Eucalyptus grandis (rose gum) e híbridos (Eucalyptus grandis (rose gum) x Eucalyptus camaldulensis (red gum) y Eucalyptus grandis (rose gum) x Eucalyptus tereticornis (red irongum)) de 11 años de edad. Los clones puros mostraron un 10 % más de duramen que los híbridos. El material híbrido alcanzó el mayor valor medio de densidades, siendo más homogéneo en el perfil radial y axial. En general, la densidad presentó un patrón creciente en la dirección radial. No se encontraron diferencias significativas en la densidad para las alturas estudiadas en los clones híbridos, mientras que los clones puros presentaron valores de densidad significativamente mayores a 0,10 m. La densidad de la albura fue mayor que la del duramen para las tres alturas de fuste en todos los materiales genéticos. El análisis de los resultados indica que los clones híbridos podrían ser aptos para la producción de pulpa de celulosa debido a la menor proporción de duramen, lo cual facilita el proceso de blanqueo, así como para su uso como madera aserrada o contrachapado estructural por su mayor densidad y homogeneidad en altura.

Hydraulic testing of isolated sapwood from mature tree trunks is time-consuming and prone to errors, whereas the measurement of compression strength is a standardized and rapid wood technological application. In this study, we aimed to analyze if compression stress perpendicular to the grain relates to hydraulic vulnerability of mature Norway spruce (Picea abies) trunk wood with an expected narrow vulnerability range. The sample-set comprised 52 specimens originating from 34 trees harvested in Sweden. Before mechanical testing, the P50, i.e., the water potential resulting in 50 % of hydraulic conductivity loss, was estimated on small sapwood beams employing the air injection method. Compression strength perpendicular to the grain was defined as the first peak of a stress-strain curve (peak stress) when the wood is subjected to radial compression. Peak stress ranged between 1,65 MPa and 5,07 MPa, P50 between -2,98 MPa and -1,98 MPa. We found a good correlation between the peak stress and P50 (r = 0,80; P < 0,0001). This provides further evidence that peak stress in radial compression and P50 are both extremely dependent on the characteristics of the “weakest” wood part, i.e., the highly conductive earlywood. We conclude that the radial compression strength is a good proxy for P50 of mature Norway spruce trunk wood.

Softwoods are the basic and traditional raw materials for medium-density fiberboard production. However, sustainable consumption of wood material in the production of wood-based products requires material variety. Therefore, the usability of hardwood species in the production and its effects on the board properties should be of interest. Considering this, the influence of oak utilization percentages (30 %, 50 %, 70 %, and 100 %) on the physical (density, thickness swelling-TS 2 and 24 h) and mechanical (modulus of rupture, modulus of elasticity, internal bonding, screw holding resistance, and Janka hardness) properties of medium density fiberboard was evaluated in this study. Boards were factory-made instead of laboratory-made using Quercus petraea (oak), Fagus orientalis (beech), and Pinus sylvester (Scots pine) fibers. According to the results, the modulus of rupture, modulus of elasticity, and Janka hardness values were increased when medium-density fiberboard was produced using only oak fiber. On the contrary, thickness swelling, screw-holding resistance, and internal bonding properties were decreased.

Abstract 3D meshes simplification plays an important role in many industrial domains. The two goals of Delaunay mesh simplification are maintaining high geometric fidelity and reducing mesh complexity. However, they are conflicting and cannot solved by gradient. Such limitation prevents existing Delaunay mesh simplification to obtain a small enough number of vertices and promising fidelity at the same time. To address these issues, this paper proposes an evolutionary multi‐objective approach for Delaunay mesh simplification. Firstly, the authors replace the previous fixed error‐bound threshold by the designed adaptive segment‐specific thresholds. Secondly, a constrained simplification is performed through a series of edge collapses that satisfy both Delaunay and error constraints. Next, the non‐dominated sorting genetic algorithm II (NSGA‐II) is employed to solve the multi‐objective problem to search for the optimal trade‐off threshold sequences. Finally, a fine‐tuning method is designed to further enhance the geometric fidelity of the simplified mesh. Experimental results demonstrate that the authors’ method consistently achieves a satisfactory balance between the approximation error and number of vertices, outperforming existing state‐of‐the‐art methods.

Abstract Nowadays, multi unmanned aerial vehicle (multi‐UAV) systems have been widely used in battlefield. The rationality of mission plan can directly affect the effectiveness of multi‐UAV system. The existing multi‐UAV task allocation model lack a comprehensive modelling of task pre‐allocation and task reallocation issues. However, in actual task execution, task pre‐allocation and task reallocation are a holistic problem. Therefore, based on the background of multi‐UAV cooperative reconnaissance, the authors establish a multi‐UAV cooperative reconnaissance task pre‐allocation and reallocation model (MCRTPR). There are two kinds of task allocation in MCRTPR model. One is task pre‐allocation, which is a static task allocation before the mission begin. Another is task reallocation, that is a dynamic task allocation during the mission. For task pre‐allocation, a particle swarm optimisation algorithm based on experience pool (EPPSO) is proposed. And for task reallocation, the authors design a partial task reallocation algorithm based on contract network protocol (CNP‐PTR). The experimental results show that, compared with some state‐of‐the‐art algorithms, EPPSO can get the lowest fitness value under various experimental conditions, and CNP‐PTR is able to handle task reallocation problem caused by multiple kinds of dynamic events.

Abstract The reliability of well‐performing production processes not only depends on internal but also on external factors in the upstream supply chain. Therefore, companies require fast and reliable information exchange with cooperating organisations. Since existing researches usually put focus on reviewing intra‐organisational solutions, the authors have conducted a survey to capture the current state and needs regarding the inter‐organisational information exchange between German companies. The main outcomes of the authors’ survey are outlined. In a first step, the current status of digitalisation in the companies is analysed. The authors have found that the use and implementation of modern methods correlates positively with the company size. Taking a look on the current methods for inter‐organisational information exchange in a second step, it is seen that only a few companies are completely satisfied with their current methods. Companies see the greatest potential for the improvement of information exchange in standardisation and the increase of required resources. This indicates that companies would be best supported by the development of solutions that can be implemented easily and help to form the heterogeneous landscape of data exchange strategies towards a structured, standardised way.