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10 pages, 1028 KB

Open AccessProceeding Paper

Exploring Causes of Waste Relating to the Role of Project Managers in Highway Projects in Pakistan

by Usman Aftab, Farrokh Jaleel, Mughees Aslam, Muhammad Haroon, Javed Ahmed Khan Tipu and Rafiq Mansoor

Eng. Proc. 2025, 111(1), 2; https://doi.org/10.3390/engproc2025111002 - 14 Oct 2025

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Abstract

The construction industry is struggling to resolve the issue of the enormous quantity of waste produced during construction processes, which impacts the performance and sustainability of projects. Causes of waste generation have been studied by researchers to formulate waste minimization strategies for these [...] Read more.

The construction industry is struggling to resolve the issue of the enormous quantity of waste produced during construction processes, which impacts the performance and sustainability of projects. Causes of waste generation have been studied by researchers to formulate waste minimization strategies for these projects. The research on waste in highway infrastructure projects and waste causes specific to the roles and competencies of project team members is inadequate. This quantitative study addresses this gap by evaluating the influence of project managers (PMs) in minimizing CW through a structured questionnaire survey administered to 300 professionals, yielding 129 valid responses (43% response rate). The results indicate that 8.5% of construction materials are wasted in highway projects. Among four key project stakeholders (PM, quantity surveyor, designer, and client), PMs were rated as having the most significant impact on waste minimization (mean Likert score: 4.5/5). Using the Relative Importance Index (RII), the study identified the top five waste causes linked to PM competencies: faulty work requiring the work to be carried out again (RII = 0.742), wrong construction methods (0.734), lack of awareness (0.731), poor supervision (0.721), and poor material planning (0.706). A waste minimization framework is proposed, linking each of these causes to specific PM competencies and actionable strategies. These findings provide empirical support for targeting PM training and resource planning to reduce material waste in highway construction projects. Full article

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9 pages, 2778 KB

Open AccessProceeding Paper

Research on Fault Diagnosis of Gear Transmission Systems Based on Dynamic Transmission Error

by Siliang Wang, Jianlong Wang and Haonan Ren

Eng. Proc. 2025, 111(1), 3; https://doi.org/10.3390/engproc2025111003 - 14 Oct 2025

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Abstract

In complex working environments where early fault diagnosis of mechanical equipment is required, interference signals such as ambient vibrations and motor noise can significantly affect the acquisition and analysis of vibration signals and meshing force signals, making it difficult to capture early fault [...] Read more.

In complex working environments where early fault diagnosis of mechanical equipment is required, interference signals such as ambient vibrations and motor noise can significantly affect the acquisition and analysis of vibration signals and meshing force signals, making it difficult to capture early fault features. This paper provides a method for fault diagnosis and identification of typical gear tooth faults by analyzing the influence of meshing stiffness on dynamic transmission error in the gear transmission process. Three-dimensional models of both normal and faulty gear pairs were built using SolidWorks 2021 software and imported into Adams for dynamic simulation to obtain the system’s dynamic transmission error and meshing force data. By training and identifying these two different types of data, the experimental results demonstrate that the identification accuracy using dynamic transmission error is higher than that based on meshing force. Full article

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10 pages, 1528 KB

Open AccessProceeding Paper

Preliminary Investigation of Tool Wear When Machining Super Duplex Stainless Steel Using Coated Inserts Under Dry Environment

by Shailendra Pawanr and Kapil Gupta

Eng. Proc. 2025, 111(1), 4; https://doi.org/10.3390/engproc2025111004 - 14 Oct 2025

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Abstract

Machining is a fundamental manufacturing process that entails the controlled removal of material from a workpiece to achieve desired shapes and dimensions. Super duplex stainless steel (SDSS) 2507 is a high-performance alloy which is notable for its superior mechanical strength and excellent corrosion [...] Read more.

Machining is a fundamental manufacturing process that entails the controlled removal of material from a workpiece to achieve desired shapes and dimensions. Super duplex stainless steel (SDSS) 2507 is a high-performance alloy which is notable for its superior mechanical strength and excellent corrosion resistance, making it particularly suitable for deployment in aggressive service environments, including offshore structures, subsea equipment, chemical industries, and marine engineering systems. Its low thermal conductivity, high hardness, and rapid work hardening pose significant challenges during dry machining, leading to accelerated tool wear. This study investigates the dry machining of SDSS 2507 by employing TiAlN-PVD (physical vapor deposition)-coated cutting inserts deposited to address these issues. The Taguchi method of experimental design was employed to evaluate the influence of key machining parameters on tool wear. The results demonstrated that PVD-coated inserts offered excellent wear resistance. Furthermore, the Taguchi signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio analysis and analysis of variance (ANOVA) identified feed rate as the primary factor influencing tool wear, with depth of cut and cutting speed ranking as secondary factors. This study highlights the effectiveness of tools with coatings for the dry machining of SDSS 2507-type difficult-to-machine material, offering a reliable solution for enhancing tool life and operational efficiency in industrial applications. Full article

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9 pages, 2017 KB

Open AccessProceeding Paper

Properties of Cu-Al₂O₃ Nanocomposite Materials Synthesized by Mechano-Chemical Process

by Ky-Thanh Ho and Duc-Duy Nguyen

Eng. Proc. 2025, 111(1), 5; https://doi.org/10.3390/engproc2025111005 - 16 Oct 2025

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Abstract

This study investigates the synthesis and characterization of Cu-(5 vol.%) Al₂O₃ nano-composites via a mechano-chemical process. CuO, Al, and Cu powders were mechanically alloyed for 12 h in an argon atmosphere, leading to the formation of Al₂O₃ [...] Read more.

This study investigates the synthesis and characterization of Cu-(5 vol.%) Al₂O₃ nano-composites via a mechano-chemical process. CuO, Al, and Cu powders were mechanically alloyed for 12 h in an argon atmosphere, leading to the formation of Al₂O₃ nanoparticles within the Cu matrix. The composite powders were cold-compressed at pressures ranging from 200 to 400 MPa and sintered at temperatures between 700 °C and 900 °C for 1 to 3 h. X-ray diffraction and EDX analyses confirmed the disappearance of Al peaks, indicating the successful formation of Al₂O₃ in the Cu matrix. SEM images revealed Al₂O₃ particles (~10–20 nm) evenly distributed throughout the composite. The results demonstrated that increasing the compaction pressure from 200 MPa to 400 MPa reduced porosity by over 40%, enhancing microhardness by 30% and electrical conductivity by more than 32%, highlighting the significant influence of processing conditions, while lowering the effects in temperature and duration of sintering. These findings provide novel insights into optimizing Cu-Al₂O₃ composites via mechano-chemical routes. Full article

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12 pages, 46812 KB

Open AccessProceeding Paper

Experimental and Numerical Analysis of Hybrid Silica Sand–Basalt Rock Thermal Energy Storage for Enhanced Heat Retention and Discharge Control

by Muhammad Imran, Zainab Waseem, Rahaya Tayyab, Hassaan Aziz, Muhammad Anwar and Talha Irfan Khan

Eng. Proc. 2025, 111(1), 6; https://doi.org/10.3390/engproc2025111006 - 15 Oct 2025

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Abstract

In order to guarantee energy sustainability, effective thermal energy storage (TES) systems are required due to the volatile nature of renewable energy sources. In order to optimize energy storage capacity and reduce thermal losses, this study addresses a hybrid TES system that combines [...] Read more.

In order to guarantee energy sustainability, effective thermal energy storage (TES) systems are required due to the volatile nature of renewable energy sources. In order to optimize energy storage capacity and reduce thermal losses, this study addresses a hybrid TES system that combines basalt rocks and silica sand. Using ANSYS, a computational transient thermal analysis was conducted to compare conduction and convection heat transfer modes, revealing convection as the more effective mechanism. Six sand–rock mixtures were tested experimentally; the 70% sand and 30% rock combination produced the highest temperature increase (52.38 °C), the highest heat storage capacity (3.21 ± 0.19 MJ), alongside an efficiency of 80.5%. This hybrid system had a very low discharge rate (0.24 ± 0.036 MJ lost in one hour), outlining its potential for integration with renewable energy. The results show that hybrid sand–rock TES systems are a cheap and green alternative to solutions that rely on fossil fuels. They can be used for large-scale energy storage. Full article

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10 pages, 1320 KB

Open AccessProceeding Paper

Experimental Research on the Effect of Different Controllable Parameters on Solar Still Productivity: A Parametric Study

by Mansoor Ali Zaheer, Nawaf Mehmood Malik, Muhammad Shahmeer and Mubeen Shehzad

Eng. Proc. 2025, 111(1), 7; https://doi.org/10.3390/engproc2025111007 - 16 Oct 2025

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Abstract

Water scarcity is one of the most major issues the world is facing at the moment. Solar still is one of the most economical and environment friendly technologies for desalinizing brackish and salty water. An experimental study on controllable parameters affecting the performance [...] Read more.

Water scarcity is one of the most major issues the world is facing at the moment. Solar still is one of the most economical and environment friendly technologies for desalinizing brackish and salty water. An experimental study on controllable parameters affecting the performance of a basin-type single-slope solar still was conducted in order to optimize them to achieve maximum productivity. The effects of three parameters, i.e., the basin water depth, the thickness of the glass cover, and glass cover cooling, on the distillate output of the solar still were studied. The effects of basin water depths of 2 cm, 3 cm, and 4 cm were tested experimentally, and the cumulative distillate output observed was 1.614, 1.444, and 1.386 L/day respectively. Glass cover thicknesses of 4 mm and 6 mm were used and the distillate output at these glass thickness was 1.587 and 1.078 L/day. In the comparative analysis of solar still performance with and without water showering, a distillate output of 2.022 L/day was found in the case of water showering, and an output of 1.587 L/day was observed in the case of no water showering on the glass cover. Full article

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2875 KB

Open AccessProceeding Paper

Design and Fabrication of Wall-Climbing Robot Using Magnetic Adhesion

by Ajmal Khan, Wasim Ahmad and Salman Hussain

Eng. Proc. 2025, 111(1), 8; https://doi.org/10.3390/engproc2025111008 (registering DOI) - 16 Oct 2025

Abstract

This research paper presents the design and implementation of a wall-climbing robot for safety-critical inspection systems. The robot incorporates wheels embedded with neodymium magnets and a rocker-bogie mechanism to navigate vertical and inverted surfaces. The key novelty of this work lies in the [...] Read more.

This research paper presents the design and implementation of a wall-climbing robot for safety-critical inspection systems. The robot incorporates wheels embedded with neodymium magnets and a rocker-bogie mechanism to navigate vertical and inverted surfaces. The key novelty of this work lies in the use of a simplified, sensorless rocker-bogie mechanism that enables smooth inner and outer transitions without depending on complex control systems. This study addresses the following research questions: (1) How can a wall-climbing robot achieve stable transitions using a rocker-bogie mechanism? (2) What is the maximum payload capacity of the robot without compromising mobility and stability? (3) How will the robot behave during obstacle climbing? Weighing 2.08 Kg, the robot can easily carry a payload of 1.56 Kg, and can climb obstacles of up to 20 mm. The robot system is controlled wirelessly via a Bluetooth module. During experimental testing, the robot performed different types of transitions with stability and reliable control. Future developments could include hybrid adhesion systems for unstructured situations and AI-assisted navigation. Full article

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7 pages, 427 KB

Open AccessProceeding Paper

Enhancing Makespan Minimization in Unrelated Parallel Batch Processing with an Improved Artificial Bee Colony Algorithm

by Longfei Lian, Haosen Zhang and Yarong Chen

Eng. Proc. 2025, 111(1), 9; https://doi.org/10.3390/engproc2025111009 - 16 Oct 2025

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Abstract

To solve the unrelated parallel batch processing machine scheduling problem (UPBPMSP) with dynamic job arrivals, heterogeneous processing times, and machine heterogeneity, this paper presents an improved artificial bee colony (IABC) algorithm aimed at minimizing the makespan. Three improvements include the following: (1) a [...] Read more.

To solve the unrelated parallel batch processing machine scheduling problem (UPBPMSP) with dynamic job arrivals, heterogeneous processing times, and machine heterogeneity, this paper presents an improved artificial bee colony (IABC) algorithm aimed at minimizing the makespan. Three improvements include the following: (1) a hybrid encoding scheme that combines machine allocation coefficients and priority weights, allowing for flexible consideration of machine capabilities and dynamic job priorities; (2) a dual-mode variable neighborhood search strategy to optimize machine allocation and job sequencing simultaneously; (3) a dynamic weight tournament selection mechanism to enhance population diversity and avoid premature convergence. Experimental results show that IABC reduces the makespan by 5% to 25% compared to traditional ABC and genetic algorithms (GAs), with the most significant advantages observed in concentrated job arrival scenarios. Statistical tests confirm that the improvements are statistically significant, validating the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm. Full article

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9 pages, 824 KB

Open AccessProceeding Paper

Need Assessment for Implementation of Digital Transformation Practices Through the Capacity Building

by Muhammad Sohail Iqbal, Salman Hussain, Wasim Ahmad, Abaid Ullah and Sajjad Hussain

Eng. Proc. 2025, 111(1), 1001; https://doi.org/10.3390/engproc2025111001 - 14 Oct 2025

Viewed by 127

Abstract

This study systematically identifies and prioritizes barriers to Industry 4.0 adoption in manufacturing within a developing economy. We used a mixed-methods approach—combining a systematic literature review and PLS-SEM. The research synthesizes 45 critical factors across nine I4.0 pillars, mapped to five sustainability dimensions. [...] Read more.

This study systematically identifies and prioritizes barriers to Industry 4.0 adoption in manufacturing within a developing economy. We used a mixed-methods approach—combining a systematic literature review and PLS-SEM. The research synthesizes 45 critical factors across nine I4.0 pillars, mapped to five sustainability dimensions. Data from 160 professionals show the technological dimension (β = 0.218) to be the most significant broad barrier. Analysis of high outer loadings (≥0.80) highlights key specific barriers: IT infrastructure gaps and poor technological leverage; a lack of organizational and digital readiness; cultural fragmentation and weak knowledge systems; high implementation and cyber threat costs; and low customization demands with absent data standards. The study proposes a maturity model and strategic framework to help policymakers address these barriers and promote sustainable digital transformation. Full article

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