Volume 14, Issue 1

This research is devoted to the development of innovative technology for automation of the quality management system (QMS) of enterprises in Kazakhstan and its adaptation to the management system of enterprises. This article deals with quality, as an important strategic tool in business. System effectiveness evaluation of quality management enterprises is of great importance connected with the formation of rational decisions in the management of QMSs, including specificity of quality indicators, multi-level system, the necessity to choose the optimal number of performance indicators, and system status evaluation. The objective and relevance of this research are related to the need to (1) solve the problems of quality management in the digital economy, following from the relevant National programs of the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan, which are important at this step of in-depth scientific research; (2) guarantee the competitiveness of domestic enterprises with high-quality requirements for products and services; (3) improve the efficiency of automated QMSs; (4) save resources (human and timing) in data processing. The method and model of automated enterprise quality management and intelligent automated system of quality management of enterprise integrated with ruling MICS (Management Information and Control System) subsystems are offered allowing to automate QMS implementation and support processes and increasing the validity, efficiency and effectiveness of management decisions by automating a number of functions of decision makers and personnel.

A spatial model of a vibratory conveyor supported on steel-elastomer vibration isolators and vibrated by two inertial vibrators is presented in this article. The results of analyses of the effect of the layout of vibrators on the operation of the conveyor are presented. Displacement of the line of action of vibrators resultant force beyond the machine mass center causes the drift of the trough movement from the desirable rectilinear motion and problems associated with the unevenness of material movement. Three main cases were analyzed in the article: the displacement of the center of mass of the machine body from the straight line of action of the resultant for the vibrators, rotation of the main axes of inertia of the conveyor body in the working plane of the conveyor, and the oblique-angular resonance. The model presented in this article is used to consider coupling between vibrators and the body of the machine, which is responsible for the process of self-synchronization of the vibrators and the correctness of machine operation. The results of the theoretical analyses presented in this article were verified by laboratory tests and references to observations based on the authors’ industrial experience.

This study presents the use of finite element method (FEM) in solving the real engineering problems, e.g., an electric motorcycle design project. A simplified scheme of industrial design is presented, followed by an indication of how to use the capabilities of the selected CAD/CAM/ CAE software in the industrial design of industrial form. Using concurrent design based on the CAD system with the simultaneous use of CAE modules, the interdisciplinary of industrial design engineering was shown, which cannot exist without access to numerical methods. In the electric motorcycle project discussed in this article, the close relation between CAD and CAE modules was used, looking for the best solution in the construction of the motorcycle frame. By conducting a series of numerical simulations based on the FEM and topological optimization, the final shape of the frame and the rear control arm mounting was presented. The designed structure was optimized in terms of mass and effective stress distributions determined from the Huber-Mises-Hencky hypothesis. The resulting model of the frame was adapted to the design project, briefly discussed in the summary of the article. This study indicates the need to use the FEM and CAD/CAM/CAE applications at almost every stage of engineering design.

Comparative analysis of the corrosion resilience and passivation characteristics of pure zinc (Zn) and aluminum (Al) alloys in neutral chloride and acid-chloride solutions at 0.5–3% NaCl concentrations was done with potentiodynamic polarization, potentiostatic evaluation, optical characterization, and open circuit potential measurement. Results show Al alloy was more resistant to general corrosion in both solutions with values ranging from 0.031 to 0.082 mm/year, and 0.037 to 0.389 mm/year compared to Zn alloys with values of 0.432–0.691 mm/year and 0.465–5.016 mm/year. Corrosion potential values of Zn alloy were significantly more electronegative than the values for Al alloy. The passivated region of the polarization plots for Al was thermodynamically unstable with visible current transients compared to that of Zn. Passivation of Al occurred at the early onset of anodic polarization in the neutral chloride solution. Zn alloy passivated at specific potentials, coupled with stable passivation behavior. The passivation range values of Al were generally greater than the values for Zn due to delayed stable pitting activity. Optical images for Al showed extensive localized degradation along specific regions and grain boundaries, whereas Zn morphology indicates general surface degradation. Open circuit potential plots indicate significant growth of Al 2 O 3 oxide on Al coupled with active–passive transition behavior of the oxide. This contrasts the observation for Zn where the plot configuration indicates limited oxide formation and growth but significant thermodynamic stability.

The goal of this article is to develop recommendations to assist logistic companies in formulating their B2B deployment policies as part of their engineering infrastructure strategy. It is postulated that logistic firms are likely to integrate B2B into their organizational structure in order to obtain a competitive advantage. The research examines the situation not only in the period immediately prior (2006) and after (2010) the 2008–2009 economic crisis, but also over a longer period of the following years in order to discover an eventual impact of the crisis on B2B deployment (2014, 2018). The results obtained from the 2008–2009 economic crisis are then applied analogically to the current 2020 coronavirus economic recession, where they serve as a foundation for formulating B2B deployment policy recommendations. We ascertained that B2B deployment increases in time of intensified market competition due to an economic crisis or recession and this tendency persists even in a longer horizon after the macroeconomic instability culmination. B2B systems can thus act as a significant “tool” for enhancing business competitiveness, which may be crucial for their economic “survival.”

Two freight platform wagons connected together conventionally or in the form of so-called rigid connection were taken into account to investigate the influence of unsupported sleepers on climb flange derailment on transition curve. Presented results are related to the freight wagons equipped with two-axle Y25 standard bogies, entering at an acceptable speed in the transition curve of the track with the radius of 150 or 1,000 m. Three cases have been analyzed: only the inner rail, only the outer rail, or both rails had unsupported sleepers. Simulation models were prepared using the VI-Rail software and nonlinear wheel–rail contact model. The dynamic calculations showed that wheel flange climb derailment caused by unsupported sleepers will only occur if deflection of the rail or track on transition curve is deep enough. These tests allowed us to determine the relationship between the radius of curvature and the depth of the trough causing derailment of the wagons. Calculation results allowed us to answer also the questions whether the method of connection and the weight of freight wagons have a significant impact on the wheel flange climb derailment.

Signal detection in orthogonal time frequency space modulation is one of the critical aspects for enhancing the throughput of the beyond fifth-generation framework, especially in challenging environments characterized by high mobility and multipath propagation. In this work, we proposed a hybrid detection algorithm by combining zero-forcing equalization (ZFE) and minimum square error equalization (MMSE), also known as ZFE–MMSE, with Rician and Rayleigh channels for 64 and 256 quadrature amplitude modulation. The combination of ZFE and MMSE allows for a more comprehensive approach to equalization. ZFE addresses channel-induced distortions, while MMSE tackles the impact of noise. Together, they enhance the overall performance of the equalization process, resulting in improved signal detection accuracy. The analysis and comparison of the simulation parameters with traditional detection systems include bit error rate, power spectral density (PSD), and complexity. The projected algorithms achieve a signal-to-noise ratio and a PSD gain of 2 dB and −800, respectively, outperforming the traditional detection techniques.

The transformation of shape-memory alloys to high-temperature shape-memory alloys can be achieved through either the addition of alloying elements or heat treatment. However, heat treatment is more effective in improving the properties of the alloys. This research paper explores the impact of annealing on the mechanical and shape memory properties of Cu–Al–Ni shape memory alloys. The alloys were first cast, homogenized, and then machined before being aged at temperatures of 250, 300, and 350°C, and finally air-cooled. The results showed an increase in transformation temperature and recovery strain, as well as shape memory effect, and a decrease in hardness. Moreover, there was an increase in yield stress and strain. In conclusion, aging was found to improve the shape memory properties and mechanical properties better than thermomechanical treatment and some alloying elements.

This study investigates the potential of hydrogen and ammonia, as alternatives for transportation fuels to tackle urgent issues concerning greenhouse gas emissions and air quality in the worldwide transportation sector. By examining studies and technological progresses, we evaluate the feasibility of transitioning to these energy options. Through an investigation of production methods, energy efficiency, environmental consequences, and infrastructure requirements, we present both the advantages and disadvantages of using hydrogen and ammonia as fuel substitutes. We spotlight production techniques such as electrolysis and renewable energy sources that could significantly decrease carbon emissions and air pollutants. Nonetheless, key challenges such as expanding infrastructure, cost-effectiveness, and safety considerations need to be resolved for adoption. Drawing on findings from research and industry developments, this article contributes to publications on transportation solutions while proposing avenues for research efforts and policy initiatives. Existing challenges and limitations are also discussed in details. In conclusion, this research underscores the significance of research endeavors and policy backing to unlock the potential of hydrogen and ammonia as sustainable transportation fuels underscoring their role in mitigating environmental impacts and promoting global sustainability objectives.

This study investigates the impact of insulation on energy consumption and CO 2 emissions in high-rise commercial buildings across various climate zones. Through a simulation-based approach using the Hourly Analysis Program (HAP), the effectiveness of insulation in reducing energy demand and carbon emissions are evaluated. The research includes multiple climatic regions of Afghanistan, including arid, semi-arid, and mountainous zones. Methodologically, detailed building characteristics, climatic data, and insulation materials are considered, with energy modeling techniques applied to assess the performance of insulation measures. Results indicate varying degrees of energy savings and CO 2 emissions reduction associated with insulation across different climate zones, in cities such as Kabul, Herat, Mazar, and Kandahar. Furthermore, the study calculates CO 2 emissions reduction resulting from insulation addition, emphasizing the importance of sustainable building practices in mitigating environmental impacts. By underscoring the scientific value of this research in addressing a pressing global challenge and providing actionable insights for building design and energy policy, this study contributes to the advancement of knowledge in the field of sustainable construction and environmental engineering.

The aim of this research is to enhance adaptive autopilots for the effective management of aircraft systems, control maintenance, and the rejection of external disturbances. To achieve this objective, we propose the design of an autopilot integrated with the extremum-seeking control (ESC) algorithm. Although autopilots proficiently manage the lateral and longitudinal modes of aircraft control, they lack filtering or adaptive capabilities, thereby exposing the system to significant external threats. To mitigate these risks, the ESC method is employed. This adaptive approach can operate in a disturbance rejection manner by adjusting parameters for unknown inputs and restoring the system to its original controlled response. ESC represents a versatile control method suitable for effective application in simulations or experimental models. Through the incorporation of this method, the pitch attitude hold autopilot, altitude hold autopilot, and yaw autopilot acquire advanced disturbance rejection capabilities with adaptive ESC features. The novelty of the proposed method lies in providing advanced disturbance rejection properties to conventional autopilots, thereby rendering them innovative and superior disturbance rejection controllers. The newly developed autopilots are capable of eliminating severe disturbances from the system response, including ramp, sinusoidal, and step disturbances. The integration of autopilots with ESC offers significant advantages, such as superior disturbance rejection properties for the aircraft unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) system. The proposed method successfully eliminates severe disturbances, as demonstrated in simulation results, surpassing previous methods in effectiveness. Furthermore, the Autopilot-ESC method enhances aircraft operation even under disturbances, minimizing energy consumption and ensuring stability and control. This novel method reduces operator workload and ensures reliable and efficient autonomous flight capabilities. Additionally, the adaptability of the Autopilot-ESC to changing environmental conditions make it well-suited in aircraft UAVs. This upgraded version of autopilot surpasses other robust controllers, such as Linear Quadratic Gaussian (LQG) regulator and Model Predictive Control (MPC), as it can effectively address ramp, sinusoidal, and step disturbances, which LQG and MPC cannot handle.

In today’s world, the widespread utilization of services such as Nearby Share, Near Field Communication (NFC), and Wi-Fi Direct for deploying various applications has significantly bolstered the demand for reliable and secure distributed ad-hoc peer-to-peer networks. Yet, ensuring the trustworthiness of participating nodes remains a significant challenge. Trust among nodes plays a pivotal role in collaborative network applications, especially in environments like Mobile Ad-hoc Networks and VANET (Vehicular Ad-hoc Networks). Evaluating the trustworthiness of nodes is essential for promptly identifying misleading entities, thereby preemptively preventing their involvement in ongoing transactions. Attributes or characteristics exhibited by nodes, such as honesty, selfishness, or malicious behavior, serve as key factors in trust computation. The effectiveness of trust evaluation directly influences the encouragement of honest nodes and the deterrence of malicious ones, thereby nurturing a healthy and competitive network ecosystem. Recognizing the dynamic nature of network environments, trust computation methods must be adaptable and diverse. The adaptive multidimensional trust (AMT) model introduced in this article goes beyond simple reputation assessment. It offers three distinct methods such as Direct Trust ( Direct Trust ) \left({{\rm{Direct}}}_{{\rm{Trust}}}) , multiple security parameters, identification of qualified recommenders, which got selected dynamically as per change in trust ratings of peers. AMT advocates for an incentive-driven approach to identify legitimate peers, monitoring gradual increases in their performance ratings, whereas, spikes in performance alert to potential colluding peers or nodes displaying erratic behavior. This article evaluates the effectiveness of the AMT through a case study focused on an E-commerce application. It scrutinizes the model’s performance across different percentages of malicious nodes within the network, providing a thorough analysis and discussion of the results based on the trust value of malicious and benign peers and efficiency by selecting genuine service for transaction.

The aim of this study is to evaluate numerically the effects of carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) sheets strengthening on the flexural performance of high-strength concrete (HSC) beam using ABAQUS 3D finite element (FE) modeling software. The developed FE models were verified against the experimental results found in literature. The FE models can accurately estimate the performance of CFRP-strengthened high-strength reinforced concrete (RC) beams. Subsequent parametric analysis was performed to assess the performance of CFRP-strengthened concrete beams considering various parameters including compressive strength of concrete, CFRP width, thickness, length, number of CFRP layers, and CFRP strengthening schemes. Based on the results of FE analysis. It was demonstrated that using HSC significantly enhances the performance of CFRP-strengthened RC beams. It was also confirmed that width, thickness, and layer number of CFRP sheets improve the flexural behavior of CFRP-strengthened HSC beams by increasing the ultimate loads and strain-hardening behavior of the specimens. The strengthening schemes contribute to delaying or inhabiting the debonding especially when the CFRP sheets are added along the bottom of the beams. It was demonstrated that using CFRP sheets U-wrapping contributes to the prevention or delay of debonding and increases the capability of resisting the stress imposed on the concrete. Therefore, installing the CFRP sheets at the bottom face of beam below the tensile reinforcement enhances the performance of CFRP-strengthened HSC beams.

This study conducts an in-depth analysis of the interplay between sustainable industrial growth and integrated industrial urban environments, proposing a novel paradigm for urban production. The aim of this study is to combine sustainable industrial growth with its integration into urban environments, to establish a new and novel way to seamlessly integrate industrial processes within urban surroundings. This research utilizes a thorough approach, incorporating several disciplines, to examine Hamadan industrial city. It includes an extensive survey of existing literature, a comparative analysis based on empirical evidence, and a detailed evaluation of a specific example. This technique aims to address a significant research gap by providing a comprehensive framework that promotes sustainable industrial practices in urban environments. The scholarly contribution of this work is to manifest in its formulation of a pragmatic framework designed to provide urban planners and policymakers with strategies to harmonize industrial growth with urban sustainability imperatives. This article tackles the considerable challenges posed by escalating urbanization and industrialization. To conceive a framework for urban planning and industrial operations that emphasize environmental stewardship, resource efficiency, and social welfare is the primary purpose of this project. The study shows how industrial cities may revitalize economies, innovate industries, and solve urban problems including housing shortages and congestion. The importance of creative, collaborative, and policy-driven initiatives to build sustainable and resilient industrial–urban ecosystems in global industrial sustainability efforts is highlighted. The findings show that synergistic urban–industrial integration is needed for economic growth, environmental protection, and social welfare.

This research shows the influence of a new active controller technique on a parametrically energized cantilever beam (PECB) with a tip mass model. This article remains primarily concerned with regulating the system’s response using a novel control mechanism. This study describes a novel control mechanism called the nonlinear proportional-derivative cubic velocity feedback controller (NPDCVFC). The motivation of this article is to design a novel control algorithm in order to mitigate the nonlinear vibrations of a parametrically energized cantilever beam with a tip mass model. The proposed controller NPDCVFC incorporates nonlinearly second- and first-order filters into the system. The system is governed by one nonlinear differential equation having both quadratic and cubic nonlinearities within the parametric force. The controller’s efficiency in reducing framework vibrations, managing nonlinear bifurcations, and calming unstable motion is evaluated using numerical simulations of instantaneous vibrations. The perturbation technique is beneficial for solving the current model under the proposed worst resonance case ( Ω ˆ p = 2 ω ˆ 0 ) \text{(}{\hat{{\Omega }}}_{\text{p}}=2{\hat{{\omega }}}_{0}) . In order to choose the optimal controller, we have also added three more controller approaches to the configuration. Integral resonant control, positive position feedback, and nonlinear integral positive position feedback are the three controller approaches that are applied to the structure under consideration. We determine that the NPDCVFC as a new controller is the most effective for lowering the high vibration amplitudes. Over the investigated model, all numerical results were performed using the MATLAB 18.0 programmer software. The stability analysis and the effects of various elements on the controlled structure have been investigated. A comparison with recently published works of a comparable model has also been prepared. Experiment capacities for a PECB with a tip mass are obtainable to validate the results, and they demonstrate good agreement with analytical and numerical results. Graphical abstract

Abrasive water suspension jet (AWSJ) machining on carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) composite-based orthopedic implants yielded insightful results based on experimental data and subsequent statistical validations. Underwater AWSJ cutting consistently outperformed free air cutting, with numerical findings demonstrating its superiority. For instance, at #100 abrasive size and 5 mm standoff distance (SOD), the material removal rate (MRR) peaked at 2.44 g/min with a kerf width of 0.89 mm and a surface roughness (SR) of 9.25 µm. Notably, the increase in abrasive size correlated with higher MRR values, such as achieving 2.15 g/min at #120 grit and 3 mm SOD. Furthermore, optimization techniques like the Taguchi method and response surface methodology (RSM) were applied to refine machining parameters. These methodologies enhanced MRR, exemplified by achieving 2.10 g/min with #120 abrasive size and 5 mm SOD in underwater cutting conditions. The research explored the impact of key process parameters, namely, the speed, feed, and SOD on the MRR, kerf width, and SR in both free air cutting and underwater cutting conditions, which is one of the novel research endeavors in the domain of abrasive jet machining of composites.

Determining soil “ E ” (modulus of deformation) value has been a persistent challenge in geotechnical engineering. Existing correlations between “ E ” and SPT (standard penetration test) “ N ” values for granular soils yield a notably broad spectrum of “ E ” values, leading to uncertainty and subjectivity in design. A comprehensive review of these correlations reveals significant limitations, such as limited data, small-scale or indirect tests, and other constraints. The present study highlights the deficiencies inherent in existing correlations and proposes a reliable correlation for granular soils. The present study utilizes the results of numerous large-scale load tests conducted on RCC (reinforced cement concrete) foundations resting on granular soils, at various locations in India and at a refinery site in Nigeria. These tests totalling 85 in number serve as a basis for developing an improved and reliable E – N correlation for granular soils. Soil “ E ” values (secant) were back-calculated for each footing load test result and correlated with SPT “ N ” values. The correlation presented in this article is based on a sound large database and yields higher “ E ” values than those predicted by most available correlations. This advancement will lead to substantial cost savings and enhanced reliability in the design of foundations and substructures.

The production of grain-oriented, electrical steel consists of a series of processes that lead to a product with superior magnetic properties used in transformers due to the low core loss. The unique properties are gained during the process of secondary recrystallization and abnormal grain growth. The abnormal grain growth occurs during a process of special thermal treatment with careful control over the heating rate, pressure, and type of gas used as atmospheric pressure during the process. The process of thermal treatment is known as high-temperature annealing. Investigating of developing the process hardware is crucially important to sustain energy-efficient processes and to maintain excellent final product properties. This research presents an overview of the technology of high-temperature coil annealing (HTCA) furnaces used at Cogent Power Orb, UK. The research focuses on some specific details of running, managing, and controlling the operation of the HTCA furnaces during the annealing process. The research provides energy analysis of the annealing process at Cogent Power Orb. Different factors were examined to identify the main factors that contribute to the high energy consumption. Actual data were collected from the annealing furnace control system. The raw data were processed and analyzed carefully to examine different factors, namely, steel charge weight, furnace on-time, and furnace heating elements. The study focused then on one specific factor, namely, annealing cycle time, and investigated further the way that this factor affects the process energy consumption. It was found that one of the main reasons for the long cycle duration and the high energy consumption is the failure of the heating elements during the cycle. The research discussed the area of improvements in the process hardware with a particular focus on the furnace design and the potential of introducing convection currents to overcome failure in the heating elements and thus reduce the process on time.

Manufacturing has experienced an immense transformation since the emergence of Industry 4.0. Digitalization has substantially improved production efficiency and product quality, and innovative business models have emerged. The backbone of emerging countries like India comprises small and medium enterprises (SMEs) that provide jobs for millions of families. Small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) account for around 31% of the nation’s GDP and 43% of 2021–2022 exports, both significant contributors to economic growth when there is a substantial labour pool. Therefore, they are often known as India’s growth engine. Unfortunately, in today’s highly competitive digital market, they fail to keep pace with technological innovations and keep their employees up to date. This article discusses the significance of digitalization for India’s SMEs, addressing the hurdles and the methods to remove them. New consumer markets have been established due to government programs like Make in India, Digital India, and E-Government.

This article evaluates SiGe/Si heterojunction vertical tunnel field-effect transistor (VTFET-hetero) biosensors, using SiGe in the source region to enhance sensitivity. It detects smaller analyte concentrations for biomedical applications. Non-ideal sensor behavior is explained by steric hindrance and irregular probe/receptor positions. Based on the simulation results, sensitivity is determined for four different cases in which partially filled nanogaps have decreasing, increasing, concave, and convex profiles. Simulation shows concave step profiles having the highest sensitivity. The VTFET-hetero structure exhibits higher sensitivity than horizontal biosensors, achieving a sensitivity of 8.64 × 10 7 for immobilized charged biomolecules.

In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, the urgency to secure data within expansive cloud storage systems has reached unprecedented levels. Conventional remote storage methods, while widely used, are inherently vulnerable to security breaches, corruption, and tampering. Recognizing this critical challenge, a state-of-the-art protocol has emerged to address these vulnerabilities head-on. This innovative solution integrates a sophisticated binary search tree (BST) structure with elliptic curve cryptography, ensuring not only efficient data retrieval but also robust encryption mechanisms. The protocol goes further by meticulously computing secure hashing algorithm hash values to verify the integrity of files, leaving no room for unauthorized modifications or tampering attempts. A thorough comprehensive benchmarking analysis has been conducted comparing this protocol with established techniques such as Rivest, Shamir, Adleman encryption and doubly linked list-based index table structures. The findings reveal that the proposed protocol outperforms these conventional methods, showcasing superior security features and computational efficiency. Remarkably, the proposed method reduces overheads by an impressive 5%, making it a highly favorable choice for both businesses and academic institutions. This marks a significant advancement toward fortified data security in cloud environments, contributing substantially to the ongoing discourse on secure data storage and management.

Nonlinearities in optical fibers are regarded as the most significant barriers that endanger the effectiveness of the optical transmission system and pose a threat to communication quality. Four-wave mixing (FWM) is one of the most important nonlinear effects that greatly reduces the wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) system performance at high data rates over extended transmission distances. This research examines, and assesses, numerically, the behavior of a 4-channel, 40 Gbps WDM system under the effect of the FWM under various tuning parameters, including dispersion, input power, and wavelength spacing. The system model was built using OptiSystem software, and then three different modulation formats, namely, Non-return-to-zero-frequency shift keying, Return-to-zero frequency shift keying, and differential phase shift keying (DPSK) are used to assess the FWM power penalty. The results demonstrate that the FWM power penalty obtained with 1 nm wavelength separation in the DPSK method is dramatically reduced to −35 dBm. This study also demonstrates that when power variation is taken into consideration, the DPSK modulation scheme delivers a lower bit error rate in comparison to other modulation schemes.

The structural integrity of a reinforced concrete (RC) beam could be compromised by the need for web holes for utilities like air conditioning and electricity. In places with high shear loads, these voids may appear near the columns supporting the structure. The impact of web openings close to the supports on the behavior of RC beams is inspected numerically in this article. Four-point loads were applied to the supports of seven RC beams with holes of varied sizes and locations. The crack patterns and deflections of the seven beams were analyzed in comparison to those of a solid RC beam without an aperture. The goal of the experiment was to verify that all simulation procedures were accurate and complete. The numerical analysis results showed that the experimentally tested failure load was in excellent consent with the numerical results. Therefore, the finite-element approach is a particularly reliable technique for exploring the nonlinear behavior of beams with multiple apertures, both from the perspectives of difficulty and time savings. Analytical and code equations were used to compare the measured load–deflection magnitude and shear strength of the examined RC beams to their prophesied values. The test findings demonstrated that the shear load capacity of RC beams was reduced by as much as 24.9% as compared to a solid beam, as shown by testing results. The shear load capacity for small-size openings was less than the solid beam by 12.8, 21.1, and 21.6%, while for the biggest openings by 34.6, 29.5, and 34.2% when taking the distance from the support 0, 100, and 200 mm.

A hybrid nanofluid is a kind of nanofluid that is made by combining a base fluid with two distinct types of nanomaterials. Compared to nanofluids, they have been discovered to have better thermal properties and stability, which makes them viable options for thermal applications such as heat sinks, solar thermal systems, automotive cooling systems, and thermal energy storage. Moreover, the research of nanofluids is typically limited to models with partial differential equations of integer order, which neglect the heredity characteristics and memory effect. To overcome these shortcomings, this study seeks to enhance our understanding of heat transfer in hybrid nanofluids by considering fractional Maxwell models. In time-fractional problems, one of the most significant and useful tools is the Caputo fractional derivative. Therefore, the fractional-order derivatives are approximated using the Caputo derivative. However, the integer-order derivatives are discretized using an implicit finite difference method, namely, the Crank–Nicolson method. It is an unconditionally stable and a second-order method in time. The impact of pertinent flow parameters on fluid motion and heat transfer characteristics is examined and displayed in numerous graphs. The results indicate that the volume concentration of hybrid nanoparticles boosts temperature and Nusselt number. Moreover, increasing the magnetic parameter increases Lorentz’s resistive forces, which reduces the velocity and raises the temperature of the fluid, and these effects are more dominant at t = 5 t=5 .

There is a lack of information about the geometric description of radial–axial runner blades. The article aims to fill this gap using a method that exploits modern differential geometry for the description and shape modification of the runner blade. Three-dimensional Euclidean space with a curvilinear coordinate system serves as a basic manifold object, and the technique of coordinate slice gives the blade camber surface a submanifold. The camber surface definition given in the article is suitable for interactive design and optimization of the shape in a computer program optimization loop. Geometric entities and maps can be viewed as objects and methods of a computer object-oriented in-house program. The Francis runner blade serves as an example. Complete blade design contains the camber surface wrapped up with an airfoil surface, but this is not dealt with here. Basic knowledge of differential geometry and spline theory is expected.

The curvature causes a variation in the deflection of the outer and inner sides. The effect of curvature was investigated by casting and testing two specimens with the same section – one straight and the other horizontally curved continuous box girder. ABAQUS software was used to numerically model the box girder in order to verify the model and investigate additional parameters. Numerical modeling is successful with less effort, cost, and time because good results are obtained. The effect of the span-to-depth ratio, the compressive strength of concrete, and the percentage of stirrup steel reinforcement was studied numerically. Increasing the height, compressive strength, and percentage of stirrup steel led to a significant increase in load capacity and stiffness. The load capacity in the curved specimen decreased by 11% compared to the straight one due to the effect of torsional moments. A mathematical model was proposed based on the theory of strut-and-tie modeling (STM), where the span was divided into several panels, the effect of torsion was added, and then the results were compared with the traditional sectional method according to ACI and CEB-FIB. For the straight specimen, the sectional ACI, CEB-FIB, and STM methods were used, which gave theoretical results less than the experimental by 31, 48 and 13%, respectively. For the curved specimen, to get closer to reality, the sectional and STM methods were modified by adding the effect of torsion, and the results were less than the experimental tests by 43, 61 and 22%, respectively.

Over the past decade, the textile-reinforced concrete (TRC) composite was gradually used to replace the fibre-reinforced polymer in the strengthening or repairing of existing reinforced-concrete structures, thanks to many criteria of sustainable development. The reinforcement ratio of textiles within TRC composites emerges as a crucial factor significantly impacting their reinforcement effectiveness, altering the material’s mechanical behaviour and properties. This study presents both experimental and numerical findings concerning the tensile behaviour of carbon TRC composites, exploring reinforcement ratios ranging from 0.5 to 1.5%. As experimental results, the carbon TRC specimens exhibited a strain-hardening behaviour with the cracking phase. The ultimate strength improved by 95 and 146% compared to that of non-reinforced specimens, respectively, with the reinforcement ratio of 0.92 and 1.32%. As numerical results, the model reached the strain-hardening curve with three distinct phases when the reinforcement ratio was higher than a critical value (0.7%). The effect of reinforcement ratio ranging from 0.5 to 1.5% on the mechanical behaviour and properties of carbon TRC was also highlighted and analysed.

Over the past few decades, composite joints have been regarded as one of the most promising approaches. After reviewing the research articles dealing with composite beam-column joints, it can be withdrawn that few researchers studied and developed different types of composite beam-column joints. The objectives of this paper to study the effect and behavior of different connection types on the composite beam – column joint under repeated loading as well as to investigate new forms of slab connection with column flange in composite connection joints, aiming to enhance the behaviors of the joints and make the slab endure a part of the load in a more efficient way. Five specimens with various connection types were tested to failure; the composite model number two (CM2) was considered the control specimen. Regarding the ultimate moment, the result found that CM5 has moment 50.47% more than control specimen, the lowest rotation value was in CM5. The general behaviours of the FEM were in good accordance with the experiment results. According to the parametric a higher yield strength is more rigid stiffer, the effect of web thickness on the load is too small and increase in load resistance with an increase in beam flange thickness.

In anti-lock brake systems (ABS), the primary goal of the controller is to maximize vehicle deceleration by maintaining the slip ratio at an optimal level. This work presents a fresh approach that enhances ABS performance by integrating a sliding mode controller with a barrier function. This method combines integral sliding mode control with adaptive laws informed by barrier functions, effectively managing external disturbances and uncertainties in inertia. A significant benefit of this approach is that it does not require prior knowledge of the upper limits of these uncertainties and disturbances, thanks to the barrier function-based sliding mode control. The system state is initially aligned with the switching manifold, ensuring robust compensation for any uncertainties and disturbances right from the start of braking. During the sliding mode phase, dynamic properties are finely tuned to ensure that the system’s performance remains consistent. The effectiveness and reliability of the proposed controller have been demonstrated through numerical simulations conducted in MATLAB/Simulink, proving its capability across a range of road conditions.

Data sheets for 3D printing materials typically include softening temperature, impact strength, tensile strength, and stiffness. However, creep strength, an important parameter for components used over an extended period, is usually not included. Nevertheless, this parameter is of significant importance for components that are used over an extended period of time. This study compares the long-term creep behavior of a selection of materials that are commonly used in fused deposition modeling 3D printing. The materials under investigation are acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, acrylonitrile styrene acrylate, polylactic acid, and polycarbonate. In addition, the influence of fiber reinforcements on these materials is also examined. A simple, reproducible test procedure is proposed for users to determine and compare creep resistance of materials. This enables developers to select materials suitable for their own requirements on creep resistance and allows 3D-printing users to compare different materials. Results suggest that fiber reinforcement generally improves creep stability in 3D-printing materials, with GreenTEC Pro Carbon and add:north PC Blend HT LCF showing the most promise in this study.

This study presents a control framework that integrates both feedforward (FF) and feedback (FB) procedures to control nonlinear systems. The intelligent control component consisted of a modified recurrent wavelet neural network used to build the FF controller. Furthermore, the H-infinity control, renowned for its robust and durable attributes, was employed in the FB loop. The parameters of the controller were improved using particle swarm optimization. The proposed controller’s efficacy was compared with that of another FF-FB controller, in which the FF controller was a multilayer perceptron, and the FB controller was an H-infinity controller. The effectiveness of the proposed framework to control the nonlinear mass–spring dynamics was evaluated by analyzing its control accuracy and its capacity to tolerate external disturbances.

Rapid urbanization and land scarcity lead to the construction of multiple structures in proximity, supported on common soil media. This proximity increases soil stress, influencing the deformation characteristics of nearby footings. Hence, there is a need to investigate the effect of structure–soil–structure interaction (SSSI) on the footing settlement. In the present study, the effect of SSSI on the footing settlement of a three-storey building is investigated due to the presence of similar adjacent buildings arranged in various patterns (single adjacent building, side-by-side, L-shape, and inverted T-shape). The various interaction analyses are performed using finite element software ANSYS under gravity loading. The vertical and differential settlement of footings obtained from soil–structure interaction (SSI) and SSSI analyses are compared to evaluate the effect of SSSI under various adjacent building arrangements. The results indicate that in SSI case, inner footings show greater settlement compared to peripheral footings which causes high value of differential settlement between peripheral footings and those immediately adjacent to them. However, the presence of an adjacent structure in SSSI cases provides higher settlement in adjacent footings, which in turn reduces the differential settlement in these footings. Moreover, the SSSI effect on vertical settlement in SSSI (L-shaped) and SSSI (inverted T-shaped) is found to be more in corner footing located near to the adjacent buildings due to overlapping of soil stresses from two sides. The study quantifies the extent of settlement increase in various SSSI cases compared to SSI case, contributing valuable insights to mitigating potential settlement issues in densely developed areas.

Flanges are critical parts of railway wheels that guide the wheels on the track and prevent them from derailing. However, curved tracks have a great influence on wheel flange wear, which leads to increased maintenance costs, passenger discomfort, poor ride quality, and increased noise and vibrations. This research aims to analyze the effect of curved tracks on wheel flange thickness reduction using the multi-body simulation software SIMPACK. The wheel flange wear was calculated to determine how much material is lost in terms of the area of material loss for different curve radii of 50, 100, and 200 m. The obtained results show that at curved track sections of smaller radius, for example, 50 m, the occurrence of wheel flange thickness reduction is higher than that of curved track sections with larger radii. Also, high speeds such as 40 km/h, especially at the track curved sections with small radii, lead to an increase in wheel flange thickness reduction compared to track curved sections with large radii. The results of wear indices obtained using SIMPACK and VAMPIR closely matched with a small percentage error difference of 1.94%. The matching of these results validated the effectiveness of the methods used in this research to calculate wear. Therefore, these conclusions will assist maintenance personnel in developing countermeasures to minimize wheel flange thickness reduction, ensure proper re-profiling, and reduce maintenance costs.

We report a brief review on the recent developments on smart cement nanocomposites. Cement nanocomposites containing functional nanomaterials are important class of materials for the development of sustainable civil infrastructures. Smart properties can be achieved by adding various nanomaterials, such as, titanium oxide (TiO 2 ), iron oxide (Fe 2 O 3 ), graphene, graphene oxide (GO), carbon nanotubes (CNTs), carbon nanofibres (CNFs), and polymers at low weight percent (wt%) to cement. However, optimization and understanding of underlying physical and chemical mechanisms are necessary for further developments. Although, there exist huge research articles, and some reviews dealing with specific aspect over the last 10–15 years, a systematic review is necessary, encompassing both the aspects of mechanical properties as well as smart properties. In the present review, we focus on the effect of addition of functional nanomaterials to achieve smart properties maintaining basic mechanical strength at the desired level. Our review shows that addition of TiO 2 , SiO 2 , Fe 2 O 3 , CNTs, or GO in the range of <5 wt% improves mechanical strength by ∼30–50% or more due to improvement in the filling of pores, bridging of gaps, and prevention of cracks. Addition of functional nanomaterials show higher photocatalytic dye degradation (∼90% dye pollutant is degraded within first 1 h), higher inhibition zone of microbial growth (due to the addition of 1 wt% (or less) TiO 2 , silver, copper oxide, or zinc oxide nanoparticles). Furthermore, addition of functional nanomaterials also show improvement in the impermeability, shrinkage, hydrophobicity, thermal/electrical conductivity, and piezo electricity to a significant level.

A wide variety of materials having at least one dimension between 1 and 100 nm make up the remarkable class of materials known as nanomaterials (NMs). By rationally designing nanoparticles, very large surface areas may be attained. It is possible to create NMs with exceptional mechanical, optical, electrical, and magnetic properties that differ significantly from their traditional materials. A brief history of NMs and how they have been used to spur advancements in nanotechnology development is covered in this overview. Throughout the review, the special properties of NMs are emphasized. There is a discussion of several techniques for synthesizing NMs, including top-down and bottom-up strategies. The characteristics, uses, and methods of manufacture of nanoparticles are succinctly and simply summarized in this study.

Recent studies have focused on different aspects of green management, practices, and green consumption in the hotel industry. However, there is a need to explore and better understand the association between indoor environmental quality (IEQ) and green hotel guest’s comfort. Therefore, it is essential to explore the effects of IEQ on the comfort and satisfaction of green hotel guests. This study conducts a comprehensive review of the effects of various IEQ parameters, including indoor air quality, thermal comfort, lighting, visual/view, acoustic comfort, building characteristics, decoration, and indoor greenery, on guest’s comfort and satisfaction in green hotels. Based on previous literature, it was also revealed that most current green building schemes lack of comprehensive evaluation of the performance of IEQ dimensions in green hotels. It was also observed that these IEQ parameters show a significant influence on the hotel guest’s comfort and satisfaction. Based on the findings of the literature review, a conceptual model was developed to represent the relationship between the IEQ parameters and guest’s comfort and satisfaction. The proposed conceptual model can be implemented by the hotel management for a comprehensive assessment of guests’ perceptions toward the IEQ in green hotels. The novelty of this study is based on its findings that establish a more effective IEQ evaluation method and serve as the reference scenario of IEQ, which can be a useful tool for both academician and practitioners and contribute to improving the indoor environmental performance of green hotels through highlighting the key IEQ parameters, which affect the comfort and satisfaction of hotel guests.

In this work, the factors that influence indoor radon (Rn) level and most usual methods to prevent or mitigate Rn are presented and discussed, according to their way of action. The findings show that it is possible to select the most appropriate and effective solutions for each situation, even in cases where there is a high risk of Rn concentration, by combining these methods to increase overall efficiency. Finally, most relevant strategic recommendations are presented to guarantee the success of Rn protection measures, to reduce problems associated with Rn.

In environmental infrastructure projects, decision-making can be complex and challenging because of the inherent trade-offs between environmental, economic, and social considerations. During urban development, wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) site selection is one of the most critical parts of environmental infrastructure. Choosing suitable sites for constructing a WWTP is based on various variables and limits. In the modeling phase of this study, ten criteria were developed from three main criteria to evaluate sites suitable for WWTPs. These criteria were slope, soil type, and proximity from rivers, roads, agricultural lands, railways, oil fields, groundwater, outfall, and residential areas. These parameters and their respective weights were determined based on a literature review, expert knowledge, field observation, and geophysical investigation. The fuzzy analytical hierarchy process (AHP) method, which integrates AHP and fuzzy logic, was used as a multicriteria decision-making, and fuzzy membership functions were performed to determine the criteria weights used with geographical information systems to select all available sites for the WWTP for the center of the Basrah province. The study concludes that the old Hamdan WWTP was located in an unsuitable area. In light of the rapid population growth in Basrah center in recent years, it may be proposed that a new WWTP be built in a new location that meets environmental, economic, and social criteria. This study reveals that 138.52 km 2 (or 9.98% of the total land area) is appropriate for constructing the new WWTP.

The mechanical and physical characteristics of composites are made of reinforced palm leaves and copper, the green palm leaves in nanoparticles forms once, and another sample from ash powder of palm leaves with copper powder metal as a matrix that was studied. First, a Cu metal was complemented with green palm leaf at a ratio (10:20:30)% on a sub-micron scale and second with the ash of palm leaves with the same ratio (10, 20, and 30)% and as nanoparticles. Apparent porosity, thermal conductivity, SEM, and compressive strength were carried out. It was noticed that adding additives to Cu causes its apparent porosity rise, porosity value of Cu samples supported with green palm leaves fibers was higher than that of Cu samples supported with palm leaves ash, and the highest percent of porosity was for the sample supported with 30% green palm leaves fibers which were 2.4%. It is also clear from the results that the increase in the percentage of additives led to a significant decrease in the thermal conductivity, as it decreased from 385 W/m K for the unsupported copper sample to 175 W/m K for the green copper supported sample, which was the lowest value, while the lowest value recorded for the palm leaves ash supported sample was 253 W/m K. The results of the compression test showed that the inverse relationship between the percentage of additives and the value of the compressive strength, as the lowest value of the compressive strength estimated at 23 MPa was recorded for the copper sample reinforced with 30% green palm leaves, and it is the same sample that recorded the highest value for porosity as mentioned before.

The present investigation adopts a new method to recycle the oils. The used and recycled lubricants were compared to fresh oil. Accordingly, an investigation was carried out to evaluate the viscous shear of different oil grades at each certain temperature using the Walther formula of the viscosity–temperature relationship. The investigation indicates acceptable and fair results in front of a technical point of view and environmental improvement by reducing pollution. The results show lower viscosity of the recycling oil than the used oil, which affects the viscous shear as it is directly proportional to the velocity gradient and the fluid’s viscosity at ascertaining temperature. In the present investigation, alum (Al 2 (SO 4 ) 3 (H 2 O) 18 ) was used, which gives good precipitation according to the practical results mentioned in this work. The used oils of grades 5w20, 5w30, and 10w30 under consideration are collected from the local internal combustion engines. Both kinematic viscosity and viscous shear for 10w30 oil grade record the highest values, and 5w20 records the lowest values for all oil types (fresh, recycled, and used oil).

Aluminum is a highly valuable structural metal utilized in various industrial sectors; particularly, it is utilized in considerable quantities in the nautical, aeronautical, and automotive industries. Aluminum is additionally utilized in small amounts in several other industrial sectors. The composite materials are now extensively utilized in various applications after their introduction. In this research, they prepared composite samples of aluminum with adding hematite nanoparticles with different ratio (2, 4, 6, and 8) wt% by powder metallurgy technology, and the sample preparation conditions was (mixing time reach to 2 h for every sample; the compaction loads is 6 tons and sintering temperature equal to 600°C). The tests conducted were XRD, SEM, EDS, green density, green porosity, microhardness, compression, and wear. The results illustrate that the hardness and wear values increase when increasing the hematite percentage.

Wall piles supported with anchors are considered one of the most prevalent types of engineering support. This research includes studying the behavior of wall piles through a numerical parametric study using the FE-method program (PLAXIS 2D). The study includes the most influencing factors such as the angle of the inclination, the vertical spacing between the rows of anchors, and the distance of the first row of anchors from the ground surface. The effects of these factors on the stability of the wall were studied. Optimal positioning of the anchors is crucial, as it maximizes their effectiveness and contributes significantly to reducing the overall construction costs. The use of a guys queue for the economic aspect saves the cost of executing two guys queue because the effect of having two rows does not significantly change the transfer values. The optimum angle of inclination of the tensioner row is 15° in favor of safety, and as it gives good stability of the wall to the wedge wall, with an increase in this angle, the horizontal movement decreases. The first optimum dimension for a row of guys from the horizontal surface of the earth is O = 25%H. Decrease the values of horizontal movement of the wall by increasing the angle of friction.

The need for low-power low-voltage circuit so lutions increases significantly with the rapid spread of wireless sensor network (WSN) and energy harvesting applications. The design of Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) oscillators in sub-threshold region is challenged by the limits of the minimum start-up sup ply voltage, the power available from the harvester, die area, the demand of fully integrated CMOS circuits, and the additional auxiliary circuits that are needed to stabilize the frequency vs a supply voltage V DD . In this work, low-power CMOS oscillator with a simplified design is proposed in order to overcome the aforementioned obstacles. The circuit is designed using 2.5 µm 2-polySi 2-metal CMOS technology from IMB–CNM (CSIC) [1] with a threshold voltage of n-channel metal oxide semiconductor NMOS and p-channel metal oxide semiconductor PMOS transistors of 0.86 and −1.52 V, respectively. The suggested oscillator is capable to start up even in the deep sub-threshold region at V DD of 0.25 V. Accordingly, the minimum power consumption is 2.9 pW with an oscillation frequency of 2 Hz. The circuit can produce a P–P voltage of the oscillation signal equal to the supply voltage within a power supply range of 0.25–1.25 V.

The current study focuses on utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) techniques to identify the optimal locations of production wells and types for achieving the production company’s primary objective, which is to increase oil production from the Sa’di carbonate reservoir of the Halfaya oil field in southeast Iraq, with the determination of the optimal scenario of various designs for production wells, which include vertical, horizontal, multi-horizontal, and fishbone lateral wells, for all reservoir production layers. Artificial neural network tool was used to identify the optimal locations for obtaining the highest production from the reservoir layers and the optimal well type. For layer SB1, the average daily production is 291.544 STB/D with the horizontal well, 441.82 STB/D with the multilateral well, and 1298.461 STB/D with the fishbone well type. Also, for the SB2 layer: 197.966, 336.9834, and 924.554 STB/D, and for the SB3 layer: 333.641, 546.6364, and 1187.159 STB/D for the same well type sequence. The cumulative production for each formation layer is 22.440 MMSTB from the horizontal well, 59.05 MMSTB from the multilateral well, and 84.895 MMSTB from the fishbone well types for the SB1 layer; 48.06, 70.1094, and 160.254 MMSTB for SB2; and 75.2764, 111.7325, and 213.1291 MMSTB for SB3 for the same well types.

Concrete is considered one of the greatest innovations in the construction industry since it has significant applications in the construction field. The main limitation of concrete is the low flexural and tensile strength, especially for concrete tiles used for floors and roofs. Therefore, this study aims to enhance the behavior of concrete tiles by using both nano-papyrus (NP) and carbon fibers (CF). Eleven different concrete mixtures with different content of NP and CF were prepared using various models, and the percentage of NP content ranged from 1.5 to 7.5%, while the percentage of CF content ranged from 0.2 to 1%; flexural strength and water absorption tests were also conducted. It was found that employing NP enhanced the flexural strength of concrete tile by up to 48%, whereas using both NP and CF optimized the flexural strength by up to 57%. Also, the surface and total absorption rates decreased by up to 47.1 and 52.6%, respectively.

During the normal life of the transformers, they are subjected to different electromagnetic stresses. One of these stresses is the electromagnetic forces resulting from the passage of short-circuit current in the transformer coils due to internal or external faults and may lead to the failure of the transformer when this electromagnetic force exceeds the threshold level. This work deals with the computation and analysis of leakage magnetic flux and electromagnetic forces when the worst-case fault (symmetrical short-circuit current) occurs in distribution transformer (DT) coils using the finite element method (FEM). The three types of DTs that were adopted in this work are similar in capacity and voltage transformation ratio (250 kVA and 11,000/416 V), but they are different in the shape of coils (oval, cylindrical, and rectangular coils). ANSYS software was used to build two-dimensional models of the three transformers, which were different in coil shapes and in the type of iron core. The objective of this work is to compare the effect of coil shape on the distribution of electromagnetic forces and their value, in order to find out which coil shape is the best to withstand electromagnetic forces when short-circuit current is passed in the coils. The results of the simulation of the finite element models were approximately equivalent to the results of the design calculations that depend on the classical method (the analytical method), but the FEM is more accurate, due to the accuracy of calculating the magnetic flux and its distribution, which cannot be calculated using the classical method. One of the most important contributions of this research is the analysis and calculation of electromagnetic forces for three types of DTs with different coils by applying the same design parameters to all the transformers. The research also contributed to determining the best coil shape by comparing simulation results, and it was found that transformers with cylindrical coils are the best to withstand electromagnetic forces due to the homogeneity of the cylindrical coil structure from all sides.

In this research, the diagrams and divided power, together with their Capelli’s identities, were employed to investigate “ the Complex of Lascoux ” \mbox{''}{the\; Complex\; of\; Lascoux}\mbox{''} in the situation of partition {partition} (7,5,3).

The restrained captive domination number (RCDN), denoted by γ Rca ( G ) , {\gamma }_{{\rm{Rca}}}(G), is a new definition of domination number in graphs introduced in this article. If D D is a captive dominating set and G [ V − D ] G{[}V-D] has no isolated vertex, then D D is a restrained captive dominating set (RCDS) of graph G G . Furthermore, some properties, theorems, and propositions are determined. The inverse RCDN is introduced too. The RCDN in complement graphs is discussed. Finally, the RCDS of some graphs is determined. We have explained that if the graph has pendent vertex, then it has no RCDN.

Using hot asphalt mixtures (HMAs) is very common in flexible pavement construction due to its mechanical properties of durability, water resistance, and riding comfort. It proved to substantially reduce the applied stresses from vehicular traffic to subgrade. However, these types of pavements can undergo different types of distress such as cracks and rutting, which could be the result of weak mixing of the asphalt mixture and/or increasing traffic volumes. Therefore, the need to improve the mechanical properties of hot mix asphalt mixtures using different additives and modifiers was raised. Different materials have been recently used to reinforce asphalt concrete. For the construction of road pavements, using fibers in a HMA has emerged as a significantly more appealing option due to their strengthening properties. The alteration of asphalt binder is expected to benefit from carbon fibers (CFs) more than other types of fiber. In this study, an experimental study is carried out to investigate the effects of adding CFs to the asphalt mixtures with grades of (40–50) which comply with the Iraqi specifications. Twelve Marshall specimens were tested for stability and flow, 24 specimens for moisture failure testing, and two specimens for the rutting resistance of the asphalt mixture. The optimum bitumen content of 5.0% was used to prepare all the specimens. Different percentages of CFs by weight of asphalt (0, 0.2, 0.4, and 0.6%) were implemented to study the performance of paving mixtures. The way to mix the disperse the CFs homogeneously is by dry state (after separating the fibers manually) for 10 min, and then the asphalt was added; the mixture was heated to 165°C and mixed for at least 20 min. The results showed that the optimum properties of the HMA were reached by adding 0.4% CF to the HMA. Marshall stability was increased by 48%, the flow was decreased by 23%, and in addition, rut depth was reduced by 50%. The unit weight and the percentage of air voids in the mix were maintained and, along with other mix properties, are preserved within acceptable limits. Moreover, the indirect tensile strength has increased by 88.6%. Furthermore, moisture susceptibility reached 88%. Therefore, the addition of 0.4% CFs improved the performance of HMA at a high temperature of 60°C, which is close to the paving temperature in Iraq, by reducing the rutting of the asphalt mixture, which is considered the most dangerous tiling problem in Iraq. By improving the performance characteristics of asphalt mixture, the durability of the pavement will increase, and the riding will be more comfortable.

In the last few decades, tyre rubber waste has been considered a risky issue to the ecosystem. A huge amount of used and deformed tyres is disposed of in landfill or recycled into other products. The main goal is to modify 60/70 bitumen grade to achieve 40/50 bitumen results. In this work, tyre rubber waste was added at different weights from 5 to 20% after cutting into small particles to use in the modification process of 60/70 asphalt binder. The modified asphalt was tested to meet the Iraqi standard specifications of roads and bridges. In the experimental work, Central Composite Design was applied to attain mathematical models that describes binder consistency by relating three operating parameters: tyre rubber ratio, mixing temperature and time. The predicted models relate to the penetration and softening point of the modified binder achieved R 2 of 97 and 99%, respectively. The obtained results indicated that the penetration and softening point improved after adding 20% recycled tyre rubber at 170°C and 20 min of mixing time.

In this article, we propose a novel radiant floor cooling system employing phase change materials (PCMs) with the applicability of a thermal energy simulation (TES) using two different TESs (spiral and counter). The numerical simulation was done with the help of a computational fluid dynamic program tool, namely, the ANSYS FLUENT 2022R2 software package. The results indicated that the cooling system’s performance is not greatly improved by the water mass flow rate (0.5 kg/s). Such radiant floor cooling systems can be calculated and designed with the help of the model. The results also showed that the PCM took a long time to dissolve with respect to the counterblow model (144 min) more than the spiral model reached (130 min) and thus benefited from storing and reducing energy consumption during peak load. The results also showed the temperature range of melting during the charging process is about 27–29°C, while it ranges between 22 and 26°C) during the discharge process. It is found that, generally, the counter pattern is the best configuration, allowing better thermal homogenization.

Decentralized cryptocurrencies have received much attention over the last few years. Bitcoin (BTC) has enabled straight online expenditures without the need for centralized financial institutions. Cryptocurrencies are used not only for online payments but are also increasingly used as financial assets. With the rise in the number of cryptocurrencies, including BTC, Ethereum (ETH), and Ripple (XRP), and the millions of daily trades through different exchange services, cryptocurrency trading is prone to challenges similar to those seen in the traditional financial industry, such as price and trend forecasting, volatility forecasting, portfolio building, and fraud detection. This study examines the use of Recurrent neural networks (RNNs) for predicting BTC, ETH, and XRP prices. Accurate price prediction is essential for investors and traders in this volatile market. Machine learning techniques, including RNNs, Long-Short-Term Memory (LSTM), and convolutional neural networks, have been employed to forecast cryptocurrency prices with varying degrees of success. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of RNNs in predicting cryptocurrency prices and compare their performance with other established methods. The results indicate that RNNs, particularly LSTMs and Gated Recurrent Units, demonstrate excellent capabilities in accurately predicting currency prices and providing insights to investors and traders in the cryptocurrency market.

Deep reinforcement learning (DRL) has emerged as a promising approach for optimizing control policies in various fields. In this article, we explore the use of DRL for controlling vibrations in building structures. Specifically, we focus on the problem of reducing vibrations induced by external sources such as wind or earthquakes. We propose a DRL-based control framework that learns to adjust the control signal of a classical adaptive linear quadratic regulator (LQR)-based model to mitigate the vibration of building structures in real-time. The framework combines the proximal policy optimization method and a deep neural network that is trained using a simulation environment. The network takes input sensor readings from the building and outputs signals that work as a corrector to the signals from the LQR model. It demonstrates the approach’s effectiveness by simulating a 3-story building structure. The results show that our DRL-based control approach outperforms the classical LQR model in reducing building vibrations. Moreover, we show that the approach is robust for learning the system’s dynamics. Overall, the work highlights the potential of DRL for improving the performance of building structures in the face of external disturbances. The framework can be easily integrated into existing building control systems and extended to other control problems in structural engineering.

The method for soil preservation has been completely revolutionized thanks to internally reinforced walls. Although such walls have gained significant awareness in many parts of the globe, this construction technique has only been extensively utilized lately. The primary reason may be that the costs associated with constructing such walls are likely higher than those associated with constructing conventional externally reinforced walls. The construction methods involved may be excessively time demanding. The term “mechanically stabilized Earth systems” refers to an internally stabilized fill structure that is made up of an unreinforced concrete levelling pad, precast concrete face panel units and coping units, selected granular backfill (reinforced backfill), a subsurface drainage system, and reinforcing elements (high-strength, metallic, or polymeric inclusions) to create a reinforced soil mass which is utilized to stabilize the backfill. The purpose of this article is to provide a historical overview of the mechanically stabilized Earth retaining walls by focusing on the necessary aspects required for their design, as well as to discuss how the change of the characteristics of the soil influences lateral displacements and stress responses that occur under various ground movements. The results of this study lead to the conclusion that the dynamic behaviour of the cantilever wall is very sensitive to the frequency characteristics of the seismic record and the interaction between the soil and the structure.

Numerical investigation was performed to improve heat transfer in triangular ducts using ribs of different sizes and shapes. Increased heat transfer may be achieved by the roughness in the duct surface, which is a prospective and successful method. It is shown that the sectional shape of the roughness given on the area exposed to heat has a major impact on the effective performance of heat transfer channels. This research will study the results of using different shapes and sizes of roughness components, such as triangular rib ( e / W = 0.1, 0.2, and 0.3) as well as semi-circular rib ( R / W = 0.1, 0.2, and 0.3). Likewise, the influence of rib width b ( b / w = 0.2, 0.4, and 0.6) is examined using computational fluid dynamics for variable Reynolds number (1,000 < Re < 1,800) at fix rib height ( e / W , R / W = 0.1). ANSYS FLUENT 2020 R1 is used to model the heat and the flow dynamics in roughened ducts. The best performance was for the semi-circular ribs. At a Reynolds number of 1,200, the optimum ratio of enhancement ( ε ) for the semi-circular rib sample e = 0.2 × W was 1.717. Additionally, sample 4 has the greatest Nusselt number across all Reynolds numbers and is the best-shaped sample. Furthermore, the pressure drop and the friction factor also increase when the rib width is increased, the sample ( p = 0.2 × W ) highest pressure drop and coefficient of friction values.

A new composite adsorbent was created by activating bentonite, a sludge, to improve its adsorption capability. These innovative adsorbents address sulfate ion pollution in wastewater treatment. Researchers used various techniques to study the composite’s surface structure, chemical, elemental, and mineralogical characteristics. The composite adsorbs over 864 mg/L of sulfate ions from wastewater with an initial concentration of 900 mg/L, demonstrating its high removal efficiency of 96%.

Strengthening the carpentry joints is considered a big challenge for designers to maintain the joined timber elements’ load transfer and integrity. This research work investigates different techniques to strengthen the lap joints in glulam timber beams using carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) sheets. For this purpose, 12 specimens of glulam timber beams were tested using the four-point loading method. One of the glulam timber specimens was an intact nonlapped specimen, and the others were lapped at mid-span using half-height lap joints. The lap joints were strengthened using different configurations of the CFRP sheets. The test variables were the clamping scheme, bond length, and reinforcement ratio of the CFRP sheets. The analysis of the test results indicates that the CFRP strengthening configuration could be more effective in strengthening the lapped glulam timber beams when the reinforcement ratio of the longitudinal CFRP sheets was equal to 0.303%, and the wrapping CFRP sheets continued beyond the lapped joint by a distance equal to the beam height. Such a strengthening configuration could succeed in increasing the effective stiffness and ultimate load of the lapped timber specimen to 109 and 110%, respectively, relative to those of the intact nonlapped specimen. Moreover, the results reveal that increasing the length or the reinforcement ratio of the longitudinal CFRP sheets without increasing the width of the wrapping CFRP sheets could not succeed in achieving the required improvements in the structural behavior of the lapped timber beams.

The study of rotor-bearing vibration is crucial across various fields, encompassing applications such as rotating machinery, wind turbines, washing machines, and elevators. However, operational challenges can arise from these machines’ propensity to vibrate under specific conditions. To address this issue, the current research investigates the utilization of shape memory alloy (SMA) springs as intelligent materials in the rotor suspension system. SMA’s unique property of changing stiffness with temperature-induced phase shifts is harnessed, leading to the construction of a test rig for validating vibration characteristics. A novel hybrid bearing is devised to effectively manage vibrations, particularly in resonance zones. To the authors’ knowledge, this new model is never reported in the literature. Then, an accelerometer is employed to measure the rotor shaft response corresponding to disc position vibration signals. Furthermore, a numerical model is developed to validate experimental results, taking into account the phase change of SMA springs and the disc’s influence on the rotor bearing’s natural frequency. Temperature variations from 20 to 80°C resulted in a 13% change in natural frequency for the hybrid spring configuration. The experimental findings align closely with ANSYS simulations, displaying an acceptable error ratio, with the highest error remaining within 20% thresholds.

The purpose of this study was to calculate the Hub dam’s slope stability analysis in a rapid drawdown scenario. Using the slide software, we compared four distinct analytic techniques – the Bishop, Janbu, ordinary way of slicing, and Morgenstern-Price approach – to determine whether or not a given slope would remain stable at the highest possible water level. According to the simulation outcomes, the portion of the dam upstream directly impacts the safety factor. The upstream safety factors, calculated using the Bishop approach, are 2.122 for steady-state seepage and 2.023 for the fast drawdown scenario. This ensures the Hub dam’s stability even under rapid drawdown conditions.

The “Failure Mode and Effects Analysis” (FMEA) is a widely recognized and practical method in reliability engineering. Its primary objective is to investigate, identify, and prioritize potential failure modes in a given system, design, operation, or service. However, it possesses several limitations. The present research employs a novel hybrid assessment model that combines the conventional FMEA with the “Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System” (ANFIS) technique and “Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process” (FAHP) method. The aim is to overcome the limitations of conventional FMEA and establish a system-based decision model that can serve as an efficient tool for evaluating and ranking potential trouble factors in construction projects, identifying suitable responses promptly and assisting the project management team in recovering troubled projects. The model proposed utilized the amalgamated impact ( I T ) of cost and time, both of which are gauged via fuzzy AHP, alongside the Probability of Occurrence ( P ) and the degree of detection and control for potential trouble factors (DCD), as the basis for decision-making criteria, This (decision) is achieved by computing a trouble priority number. The hybrid approach was utilized to assess trouble factors in troubled construction projects. The findings demonstrate that the FMEA-ANFIS-FAHP model can provide a better assessment of trouble factors in construction projects experiencing difficulties. The hybrid model is a viable alternative to the conventional FMEA approach, as it mitigates various limitations and weaknesses inherent in the latter. Additionally, the hybrid model circumvents the need for many experts and expedites the assessment process.

The piled rafts are expressed as consisting of three geotechnical elements (piles, raft, and soil). As the load can be divided between the piles and the raft, the piles are highly effective in reducing settling and increasing the bearing capacity of the piled rafts, compared to shallow foundations. Civil engineering is witnessing a development in the field of geotechnical engineering, and because the experimental study takes a long time to verify, so the numerical study was conducted by the program MIDAS GTS NX 2020 (v1.1) for comparison with the experimental study. Small-scale models were tested in a sandbox placed in an iron structure containing a hydraulic jack with a capacity of 50 tons, and then, a vertical load was placed in the center of the raft; the bearing capacity was recorded by the load cell, the settlement was recorded by the dial gauge digital and the LVDT, in this study, the number of piles (9) was taken hollow aluminium, the diameter of piles (25) mm, and length of pile (500) mm. They were distributed under the raft by (3 × 3). The distance between the piles was taken by three-dimensional (3D) of the pile, and the dimensions of the raft were 250 mm × 250 mm, with a thickness of 20 mm. Numerical modelling was also used in the MIDAS GTS NX 2020(v1.1) program to solve the problem of the piled raft system for modelling and analysis. 3D models were analyzed using a sandy soil model with a raft of iron 250 mm × 250 mm and a thickness of 20 mm using piles of hollow aluminium with a length of 500 mm and a diameter of 25 mm and the number 3 × 3. As well as taking the criteria (Cullum-Mohr) and (von Mises). It was shown that the numerical study could be relied upon in the field of geotechnical engineering, where the percentages of convergence between the two studies were up to 91% in the piled raft test and 89% in the raft test only.

The increased demand for asphalt and other materials involved in the construction of pavement led to an increase in the cost of these materials, which calls for searching for alternatives to virgin materials that can be used to produce asphalt mixtures. Reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) was employed in this study and regenerated using oxidized asphalt modified with waste engine oil (WEO). This method can achieve economic and environmental benefits. After improving the properties of oxidized asphalt using WEO, it was used with reclaimed asphalt mixtures (RAP). When the RAP was added at ratios of 20, 30, 40, and 50%, an improvement can be noticed in the mechanical performance of the asphalt mixtures renewed with oxidized asphalt and WEO and an increase in its resistance to stripping. When reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) is added to hot mix asphalt (HMA) at concentrations of 20, 30, 40, and 50%, respectively, the Marshall stability of HMA is improved by 10, 20, 28, and 9.5%, the flow is declined by 1% for all ratios of RAP except for 50% RAP where the flow decline by 3%, the unit weight is enhanced, the quantity of air voids in the mix is preserved within allowable ranges, and the resistance to stripping is increased by 62, 77, 85, and 76%, respectively. Research also shows that incorporating 40% RAP enhances the resistance to moisture by about 5.9%. The addition of 40% RAP reduced the Cantabro loss values by about 2 and 16% for both aging and non-aging samples, respectively. The rutting resistance increased by 50 and 47% for mixes with 40% RAP at 50 and 60°C, respectively. As a result, it became evident that mixtures containing RAP material could be effectively adapted to satisfy the relevant volumetric and performance requirements.

The Diyala River Basin in Iraq is vital for water supply to residential, agricultural, and the Tigris River (with approximately 4.5 billion cubic meters annually), but it faces frequent floods and droughts due to reliance on rainfall. This study aims to address these issues by simulating flood inundation using the hydrological engineering centre-river analysis system model and predicting high-intensity rainfall with artificial neural networks. ArcGIS and remote sensing tools aid model development with data from official sources and organizations such as national aeronautics and space administration and food and agriculture organization. The hydraulic model is calibrated using satellite imagery to depict a 2019 flood, and artificial intelligence predicts the precipitation patterns for the next 50 years based on historical data from 1981 to 2021. One of the challenges and difficulties encountered in the study is the scarcity of available data, as well as the absence of scientific research pertaining to the region regarding hydraulic modeling. The study identifies flood risks in March and April every year, notably for the Hemrin Dam, which may exceed permissible water levels (reach a level over 110 m where the Hemrin Crest level is 109.5 m). To mitigate this, an artificial canal is proposed to divert water annually, protecting the dam and downstream areas without disrupting operations. The diverted water could also augment the Tigris River in Kut Governorate during summer. The study demonstrates the value of integrating multiple modeling techniques and data sources for accurate hydraulic predictions. It offers insights for decision-makers in flood management and planning. This study contributes to efficient flood management strategies by adopting a multidisciplinary approach.

A side or lateral weir can be defined as a longitudinal weir put in parallel to the main flow direction. A piano key side weir (PKSW) is one of the various side weirs used to control flow level, flow diversion, and flood harm prevention in dams and hydraulic systems. A side weir aims to keep the water level in the main channel at a specific level by discharging the overflow water into a side channel. The discharge coefficient of the PKSW was covered in this study by numerical modeling of a rectangular PKSW type B with various ratios of the crest length to the width in a straight channel. Results showed that the discharge coefficient of the PKSW was more affected by the L / W parameter when the other parameters were constant. It was noted that the PKSW discharge coefficient for L / W equal to 6 demonstrated a significantly higher level of performance and also found that increasing the upstream head above the side weir crest ( h a / P ) negatively affected the coefficient of discharge. It was concluded that a high capacity of the discharge coefficient required the ( h a / P ) ratio to be smaller than 0.75 or within the range (0.3 ≤ h a / P < 0.75).

Meta-heuristic approaches evaluate the optimum size and position of flexible alternative current transmission systems power systems. The seeker optimization algorithm (SOA) technique was used to solve power engineering optimization problems with better performance than traditional approaches. This article shows the application of SOA for optimal setting and allocation of thyristor-controlled series compensators (TCSCs) in a transmission line. TCSC devices are used to improve transmission systems’ capacity and voltage profile by controlling the transmission line reactance. The IEEE 30 bus system, as well as the Iraqi Super Grid 400 kV system, is used as a test system to illustrate the technique used. Results showed that the installation of TCSC unites the aims to reduce the voltage deviation, reduce the losses of active/reactive power, and increase transmission line reserves over thermal limits. TCSC devices are very effective for the better use of existing installations without sacrificing the stability margin. SOA is intended to identify the best location and size of TCSC devices that resolve the technological difficulties of reducing the TCSC devices’ costs.

Using computational models and low-speed wind tunnel tests, the aerodynamic characteristics of the NACA 0012 airfoil with low Re numbers of (8 × 10 4 {10}^{4} , 2 × 10 5 {10}^{5} , 3 × 10 5 {10}^{5} , and 4 × 10 5 ) {10}^{5}) and angle of attack (AOA) ranging from 0° to 18° by two steps are examined. Using the same 3-D wind tunnel dimensions, numerical simulations were run. The software program ANSYS FLUENT was used to solve the mathematical model using the continuity equation, the Navier‒Stokes equations, and the k – ω shear‒stress transport turbulence model. Findings demonstrate that at all AOAs, there is a direct relationship between Reynolds numbers (Re), lift and drag coefficients, kinetic energy, and stall angle. The lift coefficient rises linearly as the AOA increases, peaking at 14°, the stall angle at higher Reynolds number. The lift coefficient was found to decline when the AOA was increased further, reaching its minimal value at an AOA of 18°. With a greater AOA, the airfoil’s drag coefficient rises, creating turbulent flow. The eddies produced by the turbulence cause the flow to start separating from the airfoil surface as turbulence increases. As a result, the airfoil lift coefficient drops, and its drag coefficient rises at the same time, leading to poor performance. The validation of the numerical results through wind tunnel experiments provided confidence in the findings of the study.

In recent years, nano-modified asphalt has gained significant attraction from researchers in the design of asphalt pavement fields. The recently discovered Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO 2 ) are among the most exciting and promising nanomaterials. This study examines the effect of 1, 3, 5, and 7% of nano-TiO 2 by weight of asphalt on some of its rheological and hardened properties. The experimental study included physical and rheological properties. The asphalt penetration, softening point, ductility, and rotational viscometer tests indicate that 5% nano-TiO 2 is the ideal amount to be added to bitumen as a modifier. The study of the rotating viscosity test showed that the addition of nano-TiO 2 helped to increase viscosity and lessen bituminous sensitivity. Rutting factor in terms of G */sin δ indicated the addition of 3 to 7% of nano-TiO 2 increased the rutting resistance of asphalt against higher temperatures and promoted performance grade by about one grade at 3% and two grades at a range of 5–7% this suggests that nano-TiO 2 increased the stiffness of the asphalt and leading to enhance the rutting performance of asphalt. While fatigue parameter, G *.sin δ shows that as nanocontent increases, higher stiffness at 5 and 7% of TiO 2 content leads to an increase in complex modulus and a decrease in fatigue parameter. Higher creep stiffness and higher m -values were noted at low temperatures as nano increases in asphalt binder, increasing stiffness and decreasing the m -value at −6 and 12°C. As a result, using 5% nano-TiO 2 will improve asphalt’s physical properties and enhance asphalt anit-rutting and fatigue resistance.

Recently, researchers have been moving toward using local waste as an alternative for construction materials. Using these wastes to pave roads is one of the essential recycling methods, which aims to reduce the consumption of natural resources and environmental pollution resulting from the difficulty of decomposing these wastes. In the Middle East, especially in Iraq, Date Palm fiber is widely available as a local waste material. The aim of this research is to evaluate the performance of a developed asphalt mixture with palm leaf powder (PLP) as a partially substituted mineral filler. The Marshall mix design method produced the asphaltic mixes with ordinary Portland cement and PLP as mineral fillers. PLP was included in three rates denoted by 10, 20, and 30% by the weight of the mineral filler. Marshal stability, flow, bulk specific gravity, air voids, voids in mineral aggregates, voids filled with the binder, the indirect tensile strength, and the indirect tensile strength ratio of the PLP mixture were measured and compared with those of the conventional asphalt mixture. Based on the findings of this study, 20% of the Portland cement could be replaced with PLP, at which all of the properties of the enhanced mixture met the requirements of the Iraqi specifications. Then, the asphalt mix with 20% PLP was tested to assess its resistance against fatigue cracks. The results support the usage of waste PLP in pavement construction, enhancing its properties, which would also be very effective as an eco-friendly material.

Significant social, economic, and environmental costs are associated with traffic congestion. The effectiveness of intersections makes a substantial contribution to the effectiveness of entire road networks. The three-leg at-grade Al-Husainea intersection, located 20 km from the center of holy Karbala city in Iraq, is subjected to serious congestion, resulting in an increase in delay time, reduction in capacity, and bad level of service (LOS). Therefore, it is essential to use advanced software tools to ensure that the current intersection can be controlled, evaluated, and improved. So, the major goal of this study is to use SIDRA, an acronym for signalized and unsignalized intersection design and research aid, software to evaluate the LOS of the Al-Husainea intersection, in which the traffic is assessed using the current LOS. LOS, delay time, and degree of saturation were the criteria utilized to evaluate the traffic flow performance. SIDRA is also used to assess benefits as a result of suggested changes in the design of particular junctions. The first stage is to gather field data regarding traffic volumes utilizing a method of traffic volume gathering. From 7 am to 6 pm, the SIDRA program gathered data for a full 7 days. The results showed that the LOS for the Al-Husainea intersection in the Al-Husainea arm is F, with an average delay of 52 s per vehicle and a saturation level of 0.86 v/c. Finally, it was determined that the Al-Husainea intersection needs additional improvements based on the study and findings from the SIDRA program, and some remedies are suggested in this study to improve the intersection traffic flow.

The external composite material bonding is an effective and practical method for flexural strengthening of reinforced concrete (RC) beams, providing a large opportunity to develop high-performance and cost-effective structures. Numerous uses exist for carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) materials as RC-member strengthening methods. However, issues with bonding and de-bonding continue to be a barrier to this technique's accomplishment. In this research, the CFRP sheets were integrated as an external strengthening material to evaluate their contribution to the flexural performance and so determine how well the CFRP sheets are being used. The experimental work includes one control beam and ten RC beams with CFRP sheets as external strengthening. All beams have the same dimensions: a length of 1.7 m and a sectional area of 20 cm × 25 cm. Experimental tests were carried out with varying CFRP types, lengths, numbers, and arrangements. Each beam’s performance was evaluated in terms of failure mode, ultimate load capacity, ultimate deflection, and a load–deflection curve. The findings demonstrate the effectiveness of CFRP strengthening by demonstrating a considerable improvement in the majority of the study variables. Furthermore, the CFRP strengthening offered an exterior crack-arresting mechanism.

The cold-bonded pelletizing method is often employed in aggregate production since it uses less energy and helps reduce issues with gas emissions, contributing to economic and environmental benefits. In this study, fly ash was chosen as the raw material and used to partially replace cement in manufacturing artificial aggregate. Three types of fibers (polypropylene, polystyrene, and glass fiber) in different volume fractions were used to investigate their effect on the properties of the artificial cold-bonded lightweight aggregate. After the manufacturing process, aggregates were cured with a 28-day water curing. Their specific gravity, water absorption, density, impact value, and crushing value were tested to analyze the properties of the cold-bonded artificial aggregate. Results show that adding various volume fractions of PS, glass, and PP fibers during pelletization caused a more stable generation of aggregates with enhanced mechanical and physical properties.

Objectives The goal of this article is to examine the behavior of reinforced concrete (RC) rays that strengthen superficially the basalt fiber-reinforced polymer (BFRP) fabrics. We found out that one ray without BFRP and seven rays enveloped within numerous lay-up arrangements. The importance of the study is to improve the flexural capacity of rays, using fiber-reinforced polymer procedure and examine the over-reinforcement technique. Methods Interestingly, we have examined under two-point loading, one BFRP fabric sheet flexure. Results Loads corresponding to the first crack/delamination and ultimate failure of the beams have been verified. Moreover, we have recognized the types of failure and load contrasted with deflection graphs that have been strategized at outstanding ray locations. Novelty Our investigation has unraveled the increased flexural strength of the strengthened RC rays after using coating. Additionally, we have applied pressure to the BFRP fabrics on both sides of the beams. Moreover, we have improved performance with flexural strength, ductility, and failure. Our results are novel and show that the flexural capacity of the wrapped RC rays increases by 46.6%. The ductility increased by 84%, and unfortunately, we had failed the FRB and the concrete had crushed.

Fractional differential equations (FDEs) are used for modeling the natural phenomena and interpretation of many life problems in the fields of applied science and engineering. The mathematical models which include different types of differential equations are used in some fields of applied sciences like biology, diffusion, electronic circuits, damping laws, fluid mechanics, and many others. The derivation of modern analytical or numerical methods for solving FDEs is a significant problem. However, in this article, we introduce a novel approach to generalize Runge Kutta Mechee (RKM) method for solving a class of fifth-order fractional partial differential equations (FPDEs) by combining numerical RKM techniques with the method of lines. We have applied the developed approach to solve some problems involving fifth-order FPDEs, and then, the numerical and analytical solutions for these problems have been compared. The comparisons in the implementations have proved the efficiency and accuracy of the developed RKM method.

The complex phenomenon of sedimentation in urban areas is well studied using numerical models. Because they may be used to mimic sediment flow, obstructions, and drainage system optimization, the simulations are useful in urban planning and design. By merging ANSYS Fluent with Rocky, researchers were able to track the motion of sediment particles of various sizes and speeds. The sizes of the sediment particles were measured using a sieve after being collected from the streets of Karbala. The particle sizes established by the sieve analysis were used in both the computational and experimental procedures. Varied particle sizes and velocities, including 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.35, 0.4, and 0.49 m/s, as well as varied particle sizes, including 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, 0.1, and 1.2 mm, were investigated. Numerical analysis showed that 1.2 mm-sized particles sedimented between 10 and 148 cm from the input pipe’s X coordinate at a rate of 0.49 m/s. A maximum sedimentation distance of 380 cm was also observed for particles with a diameter of 1 mm. Sediment did not include 0.4 mm-sized objects flowing at the same speed. The findings demonstrated that particle size and velocity significantly impacted the quantity of drag and lift forces acting on the particles. As the particle size increased, the drag force increased, which led to more sedimentation. The particle positions along the X coordinate (pipe bed) showed a declining trend. Overall, this work offers crucial insights for understanding sediment transport in urban drainage systems by illuminating the connection between velocity, particle size, and sedimentation behaviour.

The current work assesses the availability and reliability of repairable 1-out-of-3 cold standby systems, undergoing switching failure, by the Markov models, where a finite set of differential equations govern the repairable system. A numerical approach based on KAOS programming in MATLAB is employed to solve the differential equations. Thus, numerical solutions for the time-dependent availability can then be obtained. The Laplace transform method is used for the reliability model to find the explicit form of the reliability function and the mean time to failure (MTTF) of the system. An availability estimation model for a 1-out-of-3 cold standby system is developed and the main electrical power network, local electricity generator, and domestic electricity generator are studied. Finally, the model is analyzed to illustrate the effect of both failures and repair rates as well as component capacity partitioning on system availability and MTTF.

The goal of this work is to investigate the use of the Ѡ &#x0460; eyl module's resolution in the situation of two rows described in the partitions (5, 4) and (5, 4)/(2, 0), utilizing the homological Ѡ &#x0460; eyl after we find the terms of these resolutions.

In order to examine the characteristics of center group spaces, center orbits, center stabilizers, and center kernels, the major purpose of this work is to introduce the definition of center group actions. We review the definition and proposition of the center limit set, as well as the center thin sets (briefly C {\mathscr{C}} -thin) and the center Cartan Cp ( G ) {Cp}\left(G) -spaces (briefly C {\mathscr{C}} -Cartan Cp ( G ) {Cp}\left(G) -spaces).

Construction joints serve as interruption points in the concrete placement process, which is necessary because it is often not feasible to pour concrete continuously in many structures. The quantity of concrete that can be poured at a single instance depends on the batching and mixing capacity, as well as the strength of the formwork. An effective construction joint must ensure sufficient flexural and shear continuity across the junction. Many studies investigated the construction joints in the reinforced concrete (RC) normal beams, but there are no studies investigating the effect of construction joints on the behavior of the RC deep beams. This study was prepared to show the behavior of deep beams having horizontal construction joints (HCJs) extended through their entire length. The parameter studied in this research was the location of the HCJ within the beam height. Four simply supported RC deep beams were tested under a two-point static load up to failure. One of these beams was without a construction joint and was considered a reference beam. Each one of the other beams has only one horizontal construction. The location of these joints was below, at, or above the beam mid-height. The crack patterns, the strain distributions, the mode of failure, deflection, and failure load are discussed. It was found that the existence of construction joints below, at, or above the beam mid-height results in a decrease in load failure load by 9, 11, and 1% compared with the reference beam. It can be concluded that the best location of the HCJ in the RC deep beam is in the upper part of the beam.

Some aspects of even sum domination are introduced generally in this book. Additionally, the number of even sum dominators in graph G may change or remain the same when a vertex is removed. The final step is to calculate the even sum domination number for every possible scenario in which a vertex in a connected network is removed.

The water-cement ratio is multiple phases procedure in which we aim to determine the most optimal combination for producing high-performing concrete. In modern literature and business practice, there are various methods for designing concrete mixes, although the Three Equation Method-inspired procedures are by far the most widely used. Concrete compressive strength is one of the fundamental properties that determines its class. Foreseeable compressive strength concrete is necessary to promote the use of concrete structures. The primary feature of its durability and safety is. Deep learning has recently received a lot of attention, and the prospects for this technology are even brighter. Machine learning algorithms have advanced to the point that they can recognize patterns, which are difficult for humans to recognize. This has sparked interest in data mining on enormous datasets. In this research, we aim to utilize cutting-edge developments in machine learning techniques for the production of concrete mixes. To provide the ideal structure of a synthetic neural network that has been chosen, we compiled a comprehensive dataset of concrete mixtures, complete with laboratory destructive test results. A mathematical formula that may be used in practical applications has been developed from the creation of an artificial neural network.

This study examined eight specimens of two groups of deep beam (DB) with the same dimensions and reinforcement quantity, where the first group had four specimens tested under two-point loads and the second group had four specimens tested under one-point load (Ammash HK, AL-Mousawi MM. Experimental investigation of deep beam reinforced with different types of reinforcement. Eng Technol Appl Sci Res. 2021;11(2):7585–90.) where both groups have the same reinforcement and the dimensions and difference between the groups was only the type of load. Digital image correlation technology software was used to verify the results. Upon examining the results, each group had one reference specimen with conventional reinforcement and the other three specimens were with strut reinforcement. It was observed that the strut reinforcement technique was more effective than the conventional reinforcement. This study also found that the load capacity was decreased at two-point loads from one-point load. The results from the present study were compared to those from a prior study (Ammash HK, AL-Mousawi MM. Experimental investigation of deep beam reinforced with different types of reinforcement. Eng Technol Appl Sci Res. 2021;11(2):7585–90.) that only employed a one-point load. The concrete type, its dimensions, and its method of reinforcing were the same as Ammash and AL-Mousawi’s (Experimental investigation of deep beam reinforced with different types of reinforcement. Eng Technol Appl Sci Res. 2021;11(2):7585–90.) study. The maximum load capacity for SC (Reference DB specimen) and S10 (the deep strut beam employed a specimen with 100% reinforcement from the reinforced web) specimens for one-point load were more tolerant to stress than the two-point loads, with 15% for SC and 27% for S10 as both specimens had comparable amounts of reinforcement. When a force is applied that is less than the sum of the two load points, cracks occur in the shear and flexural zones at one load point. We have found that the use of two-point loads leads to a decrease in the maximum load capacity of specimens when compared with a one-point load. It was also noted that cracks are formed in the shear and flexural zones at one-point load when a load less than the two-point load is applied. It was also observed that when two-point loads were applied to a specimen, the displacement was less than half of what it was when tested under a one-point load, and the strain in specimens examined under two-point load was lower than in specimens examined under one point load.

This research presents the effect of carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) on a strength of concrete containing rice husk. Two shapes of columns (circular and square) were used to compare these two types in terms of resistance axial loading. Twelve concrete columns were casting; six are square and others are circular cross-section. All columns of each shape were divided into three groups, and each group consisted of two columns: the first group without CFRP, the second group covered with one layer of CFRP, and the last group covered with two layers of CFRP. The dimensions of the square columns were 300 mm × 300 mm and the height was 900 mm, with reinforced 4–6 mm steel bars. The circular columns were 300 mm in diameter with same height 900 mm and reinforced with 6–6 mm steel bars. Burnt rice husks are added at a rate of 10% of the amount of cement that should be added to the concrete mix. The test results showed the circular columns were the strongest and most resistant to axial loading than square columns. Also, the CFRP wrapping is very effective in strengthening circular concrete columns but significantly less effective in strengthening square concrete columns because the latter have sharp corners and flat sides.

One of the key variables that can affect energy consumption in a building is the shape of the structure. The current study aims to balance the using solar radiation (lighting, heating, and cooling) and energy consumption by analyzing climatic factors’ effect on building formation systems’ standards. The research shows the mechanism of reaching optimal solutions in building performance problems using evolutionary algorithms as a reliable strategy. By examining the formation of compact fabric elements, the mass of the building on the site is compared with the parametric model adapted to the context to find out the negatives and positives according to the heat gain for each. The research relied on analytical and descriptive methods to clarify the determinants. The analysis included three main axes, the urban characteristics, the urban climatic compatibility in the study area, and parametric analysis. According to the results, shaped building blocks can simultaneously enhance indoor daylight levels and energy performance. Using the framework as a reference model can increase the chances of solving complex urban design problems earlier and recommend sustainable building designs.

One of the most significant issues facing local governments and municipalities worldwide is choosing an appropriate location for landfills. In order to suggest appropriate places for waste sites, this study proposes a strategy using a fuzzy logic model and spatial analytic tools. The proposed approach utilized five parameters extracted from Geographic Information System (GIS) layers in Hillah city in Iraq, which include distances from hydrology features, residential or urban areas, transportation, and historical locations. These parameters were used as standards to construct a geodatabase for generating suitability maps. These indicators are relevant factors in determining the suitability of a site for an urban landfill. It is important to consider the distance from residential or urban areas when selecting a landfill site. A significant distance helps reduce the potential negative impacts on nearby communities, such as odors, noise, traffic, and health concerns associated with waste disposal, and for the other indicators. The fuzzy logic model is more accurate than conventional methods such as the weighted overlay approach. Based on a fuzzy logic model, the total surface area of acceptable locations is 1.1 km². According to the fuzzy logic model, some frequent adequate places were discovered to be beyond the city borders, to the west and south of the research region. To minimize the negative impacts on the environment and its residents, this study demonstrated how the fuzzy logic model and GIS might be combined for waste management decision concerns connected to landfill site selection.

Inaccurate estimation in sustainable construction projects is a significant challenge for appraisers, particularly when data and knowledge about the projects are lacking. As a result, there is a need to use cutting-edge technology to solve the issue of estimation inaccuracy. Iraq’s productivity estimates are now made using outdated, ineffective methodologies and procedures. In addition, it is essential to implement cutting-edge, quick, precise, and adaptable technology for productivity estimation. This study’s major goal is to calculate the overall costs of sustainable buildings using the cutting-edge technique known as artificial neural networks (ANNs). For Iraq’s construction industry to handle projects successfully, ANNs must be used as a new technology, a methodology developed to estimate the overall costs of sustainable construction projects. In this study, the process of cost estimation was modeled using ANNs. Investigations of a number of examples involving the creation of ANNs have also been made, including network design and internal elements and how much they impact the effectiveness of models built using ANNs. Equations were developed to determine structural productivity. These networks were shown to have extremely strong predictive power for both accounting coefficients ( R ) (93.33%) and the overall costs of sustainable construction projects, with a prediction accuracy of 87.00 and 93.33%, respectively.

This study aims to ascertain the effects of polymer-modified bitumen (PMB) and to utilize mineral filler with micro-silica (MS) on various properties of hot-mix asphalt (HMA). In this work, three specimens of an asphalt-concrete mixture were prepared. The first specimen represents a control mixture, the second specimen contains MS at rates 15, 30, and 45% by the total weight of the total aggregate as filler, and the third specimen contains MS and PMB with 4% novolac by the weight of bitumen and 15% hexamine by the weight of the novolac. The properties of designed mixes were evaluated using the indirect tensile strength test, tensile–strength ratio, and creep compliance. The test results showed an increase in the resistance of asphalt concrete to moisture damage, a reduction influence of water on asphalt concrete properties, creep compliance values indicating growing stiffness for asphalt mixture, and enhanced fatigue life. In conclusion, using 45% MS and PMB improved the properties of HMA and provided long-lasting mixtures for highway construction.

Stopping power, range, and time of proton in water, lung, bladder, and intestinal human tissues are calculated using density functional theory and Beth’s relativistic equation in range of proton energy (0.01–1,000 MeV). The experimental data extracted from SRIM-2013 program were used to proton to the same human tissues applied in the MATLAB-2021 program, and the mean ionization potential of water and the studied tissues is calculated using Gaussian 09W program. A good agreement has been found between our calculations for stopping power, range, and time of protons in the studied human body tissues and SRIM-2013 program calculations.

The objective of this review article is to provide a comprehensive analysis of the latest research on microchannel heat sinks, with a particular focus on single-phase flow, flow boiling, and coating microchannels. The review aims to highlight the progress made in this field and identify the challenges that need to be addressed to promote the widespread adoption of microchannel heat sinks. The review article examines the research on microchannel heat sinks and analyzes the findings related to single-phase flow, flow boiling, and coating microchannels. The analysis of single-phase flow in microchannels covers the impact of various parameters, including channel size, fluid properties, and flow conditions, on the heat transfer rate. The analysis of flow boiling in microchannels includes the identification of the potential advantages and challenges associated with this technique, as well as the strategies developed to mitigate these issues. The analysis of coating microchannels examines the effects of surface coatings on flow behavior and heat transfer performance. The review finds that microchannel heat sinks have gained significant attention due to their potential for high heat transfer rates in a compact size. The analysis of single-phase flow reveals that the heat transfer rate is proportional to the channel diameter and inversely proportional to the fluid viscosity. Increasing the flow rate results in higher heat transfer rates and pressure drops. The analysis of flow boiling reveals that this technique can significantly increase the heat transfer rate compared to single-phase flow. However, it can also lead to flow instability, wall superheat, and premature drying. The review identifies strategies to mitigate these issues, including using different surface coatings, enhancing nucleation, and optimizing channel geometry. The analysis of coating microchannels shows that coatings can alter the surface energy, wettability, and roughness of the channel walls, affecting the flow behavior and heat transfer performance. Coatings made from materials such as metals, polymers, and self-assembled monolayers have been investigated, and their effects on the flow of boiling heat transfer have been analyzed. The review highlights the need for further research to address the challenges associated with microchannel heat sinks, including flow instability and premature drying. Additionally, the review suggests that there is a need for more comprehensive studies on the effects of different surface coatings on flow behavior and heat transfer performance. Future research can also explore the potential of other materials for coating microchannels and investigate new strategies to optimize channel geometry and enhance nucleation. The review article concludes that the progress made in understanding microchannel heat transfer is significant, but further research is necessary to realize the full potential of microchannel heat sinks.

This project aims to investigate the effect of near-surface-mounted glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) bars strengthening on the flexural behavior of hybrid reinforced concrete beams. Seven beams were made; one of these specimens had no strengthening and is considered as a reference beam. The other models were strengthened using near-surface-mounted GFRP bars at the bottom of beams with different lengths (0.5, 0.75, and 1) of effective span beams and diameters (8 and 12 mm) of GFRP bars. The beam length was 2,200 mm with 150 mm width and 240 mm depth. The flexural reinforcement consists of 2 φ12 steel bars at the tension zone and 2 φ12 at the compression zone for all beams. Furthermore, to resist shear forces, φ12 steel bars were used, distributed along the length of the beams spaced at 125 mm c/c; two-point loads on the beams with 500 mm between them were applied at the mid-span. The investigated characteristics were cracking and failure load, crack width, deflection, and failure patterns. By examining the models, it was found that there is an improvement in failure load range from 11.54 to 53.84% relative to the control.

The aim of this study is to present a comprehensive review of the impact of various parameters on flow boiling heat transfer in microchannels and coated microtubes. The objectives of this study are to analyze the existing literature, identify the research methods employed, summarize the findings, and highlight the novelty and potential improvements in the field of microscale heat transfer. The review encompasses a wide range of parameters including fluid flow rate, wall heat flux, surface roughness, tube diameter, and tube coating. By examining these parameters, the study investigates their effects on the heat transfer performance in microchannels and coated microtubes. A systematic analysis is conducted to understand the relationships between these parameters and the heat transfer characteristics. The findings of this review contribute to the current state of knowledge in microscale heat transfer. The analysis reveals significant insights into the impact of various parameters on flow boiling heat transfer, providing valuable information for researchers and engineers in fields such as microelectronics cooling, energy conversion, and biomedical engineering. Moreover, this review identifies areas for further investigation and highlights the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead in this research domain. The novelty and improvement of this work lie in its comprehensive analysis of the interplay between different parameters and their effects on flow boiling heat transfer. By synthesizing the existing literature, this review serves as a valuable resource for researchers and engineers working on microscale heat transfer. It offers a deeper understanding of the subject matter and paves the way for future advancements in the design and optimization of microchannels and coated microtubes for enhanced heat transfer performance.

This study investigated the performance of rubberized asphalt mixtures through Marshall and wheel track tests. The optimal binder content for rubberized asphalt specimens containing 6 and 8% rubber was determined to be 4.9 and 5%, respectively, while the control asphalt required 4.6% binder content. The results indicate that modifying the binder with crumb rubber improves the properties of the asphalt mixture. The wheel track tests show that the rubberized asphalt samples have far shallower ruts than the control samples, demonstrating successful protection against long-term distortion. Rubberized asphalt is more resistant to rutting at higher temperatures, with lower sustained strain rates and shallower ruts. Adding crumb rubber enhances the stiffness and viscosity of the asphalt binder, contributing to the improved rutting resistance of the rubberized asphalt mixtures. This study emphasized the potential of rubberized asphalt as a sustainable solution for enhancing pavement durability and longevity. The findings highlight the benefits of using rubberized asphalt in pavement engineering and provide valuable insights for optimizing binder content and improving performance. Incorporating crumb rubber in asphalt mixtures can reduce rutting and enhance the overall sustainability of pavement surfaces.

In the recent industry field, automation has become the most important role in production processes to improve efficiency, increase production, and reduce workers. Sorting the products based on their color is a common task in the industries, but using manual sorting may take a longer time and human error may occur, especially if the production quantities are very large. To contribute to improving the quality and speed of production, we have proposed a new system to automatically separate products based on their color. This article presents a new system for identifying and separating industrial products based on their colors. The implemented system consists of three sensors used to detect the colors of the products, four chutes, and two conveyor belts designed to guide objects along the manufacturing path, and three push mechanisms to place objects in their designated places. The system includes an emergency interface, a reset interface, a stop interface, as well as communication using the PN (PROFINET Process Field Net) protocol, a programmable logic controller, and a 1511-1 central processing unit. This system has been precisely programmed and simulated using FACTORY I/O software and TIA PORTAL software to control and monitor the system effectively. The Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition system also includes a Human–Machine Interface user interface for maximum control. The performance of this system was tested by sorting 250 objects of different colors. These tests resulted in the successful separation of a total of 85 blue objects, 89 green objects, and 86 gray (metallic) objects within a time period of 20 min. This system shows wide applicability in various industries including diamond mining, recycling, and grain manufacturing sectors.

The objective of this study was to predict the suspended sediment load at upstream of the Al Kufa barrage. Ten cross-sections in the upstream region have been identified to collect field measurements. As part of the inquiry, the fluid and hydraulic parameters were measured in the field and sediment samples were collected in sections to develop an empirical formula. These variables included the gravitational constant ( g ), hydraulic radius ( R h ), mean velocity ( V ), median particle size ( d 50 ), river top breadth ( B ), kinematic viscosity ( v ), and ( ρ ) water density. The formula was created using both statistical analysis and dimensional analysis techniques. The results showed that the newly developed formula agreed well between the calculated and observed suspended sediment discharges based on the determination coefficient R 2 of 0.979. There was a very high acceptance between the average sediment discharge from the new formula, equal to 7.365 kg/s, and the average sediment discharge from field measurements (7.142 kg/s).

The synthesis of ambient-cured sustainable geopolymer mortars (GMs) was studied throughout this work. To reduce carbon dioxide emissions, new materials must be used in the production of sustainable concrete and mortars. Many types of binders are used in the synthesis of GM and concrete (GPC), especially clay minerals. These clay minerals are considered sources of alumina and silica in GM and concrete. The geopolymerization process relies on the alkaline solution activating the alumino-silicate to produce geopolymer gel products. The palygorskite (PA) clay mineral, sodium hydroxide (NaOH), and sodium silicates (Na 2 SiO 3 ) were chosen as a binder (solid material) and alkaline activator solution to synthesize GM at ambient temperature. PA was thermally treated at 550, 650, 700, and 750°C, respectively, to convert into high-reactive PA (HRP) HRP550, HRP650, HRP700, and HRP750, respectively. The characteristics of PA clay, HRP powders, and HRP-based GM were evaluated using compressive strength (CS) testing, X-ray fluorescence analysis, c arbon footprint analysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD) diffractograms, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) analysis. The maximum CS of 25.1 MPa was acquired for geopolymer synthesis utilizing HRP700-based GM cured at 30°C for 28 days. FTIR spectroscopy demonstrated that HRP-based GM showed the presence of Si–O, Al–O, and O–C–O bonds stretching vibrations in the alumino-silicate network. The results showed that the CO 2 emissions had a reduction in the HRP-based GM compared with the reference mix of ordinary Portland cement mortar (OPM). The percentage of reductions was 14.1, 13.7, 13.1, and 12.4 for HRP550, HRP650, HRP700, and HRP750, respectively, compared with the OPM mixture. SEM images/EDS analysis and XRD diffractograms confirmed the presence of sodium alumino-silicate hydrates, magnesium silicate hydrate, and calcium silicate hydrate gels with high quantities particularly in the HRP700-based GM than that in HRP550, HRP650, and HRP750, respectively. The results indicate the suitability of HRP calcined at 700°C (HRP700) in the synthesis of the GM.

This study estimated the amount of bed sediment load upstream of Kufa Barrage mainly depending on the hydrodynamic conditions, sediment concentration, and hydraulic parameters. Ten cross-sections approximately over 2 km in length in front of the barrage were selected. Velocities and suspended sediment concentrations at 0.2, 0.6, and 0.8 of the water depth at each section were recorded using an ADCP device. A depth-integrated sampling was utilized to examine the collected data from 6th January to 15th October 2022. It was noted that the effective depth-to-width computation methods and the Toffaleti sediment transport function with the Van Rijn fall velocity were the most compatible and appropriate approaches for determining the sediment transport potential in the selected reach. It was also noted that such techniques were better than the previous formulae to predict the total sediment load. The results revealed excellent agreement between the mean sediment discharge obtained using HEC-RAS 6.2, equal to 6.214 kg/s, and the mean sediment discharge obtained from the field measurements, equivalent to 7.142 kg/s.

In this study, the energy loss, range, and stopping time were calculated using the Bethe theory for protons in germanium and copper materials over an energy range of 0.01–1,000 MeV. The mathematical equations were programmed and implemented using MATLAB2013 to obtain the results for the relative mass stopping power and range, illustrated in tables and graphs. The computed results from the Bethe and Ziegler equations were compared with the experimental results from Pstar. The results showed a difference between the experimental and theoretical results at the beginning of the range used in the Bethe equation because it is a quantized equation that is not suitable for low energies. Hence, a correction term was proposed for the Bethe equation to correct the results at low energies, which produced negative values. On the other hand, the Ziegler equation showed good agreement along the range used as it is a semi-empirical equation. The range and stopping time of the incident particle increased with increasing incident particle energy in the mentioned materials.

Due to the disposal of different wastewater into the water bodies, the rate of surface water pollution is increasing. The virginia initiative plant (VIP), one of the most efficient and economical wastewater treatment systems, was assessed. The experiments were carried out by a laboratory-scale VIP system used for this study, with a flow rate of 100 L/day and a solid retention time rate estimated at 10 days. The system works on three different ratios for internal rotation (100, 150, and 200%) and three for external rotation (80, 90, and 100%), and the effective volumes were 20, 40, and 60 L for anaerobic, anoxic, and oxic reactors, respectively. The results showed that the VIP system achieved the best removal efficiency of organic matter represented by COD, phosphorous, and ammonia (86, 94, and 93%, respectively). The impact of internal and external rotation ratios was tested by removing COD, phosphorous, and ammonia. The percentages of internal rotation significantly affect the biological removal of nitrates. The relationship between them is inverse, while the percentages of external rotation significantly impact the biological removal process of phosphorus. The relationship between them is positive, whereas the internal and external rotation percentages did not considerably affect the efficiency of removing both ammonia and COD. According to the research results, internal and external rotation ratios enhanced the removal efficiency of phosphorus and nitrates. The VIP system proved to be an effective method for domestic wastewater treatment with a flow conforming to Iraqi standards for draining wastewater with all organic matter, phosphorous, and nitrogenous compounds to rivers.

The research aims to study the behaviour of concrete columns reinforced with fibreglass as bars exposed to seawater. Firstly, hardened concrete properties as the compressive strength and the tensile strength were investigated at ages 14, 28, and 56 days. Secondly, the experimental testing also involved casting 18 short concrete columns that have a length of 300 mm with the cross-sectional dimensions of 100 mm × 100 mm. Six samples were plain concrete, six were reinforced with a diameter of 6 mm longitudinal fibreglass bars, and six polypropylene fibre concrete columns were reinforced with a diameter of 6 mm fibreglass bars. The results added useful information using fibreglass bars (anti-corrosion materials) as reinforced longitudinal concrete columns, so the ultimate load of the reinforced concrete column with fibreglass rod exposed to seawater was 174.8 kN that it was higher than that of the plain concrete column at 104.9 kN. Thus, the fibreglass reinforcement technology enhances the capacity of the columns. So, it could be used in non-impacting structural parts. Meanwhile, the ultimate load of the fibre-reinforced concrete column with fibreglass rod exposed to seawater was 201.8 kN. It is 15.4% higher than that of the ultimate axial load of the reinforced concrete column with fibreglass rods only. Also, the results achieved of this research were encouraging, as the maximum failure load for short columns reinforced with fibreglass rods reached approximately 84 to 87% of failure load relative to polypropylene fibre concrete columns containing reinforcing fibreglass bars. As a result, the structural behaviour bars have been enhanced using fibreglass rod and polypropylene fibre.

The present investigation assesses the impact of zeolite-enhanced sustainable cement (ZESC), a product achieved through the blending and grinding of clinker, gypsum, and varying percentages of natural zeolite (6, 10, and 15%). While the existing research has mainly concentrated on substituting ordinary Portland Cement with natural or synthetic zeolite, a critical research gap persists in using this manufactured cement in nontraditional building materials. Addressing this gap, our investigation assesses the durability and mechanical properties of concrete paver blocks manufactured by ZESC, particularly crucial for road paving applications. Comprehensive evaluations of hardened properties were conducted, including compressive strength, splitting tensile strength, abrasion resistance, and water absorption. In addition, the impact of ZESC on the fresh properties of concrete paver blocks was examined. The findings reveal that a 15% N.Z. inclusion in ZESC production results in an optimal mix design, leading to a remarkable increase in compressive strength and splitting tensile strength by 24 and 25%, respectively. It reduces water absorption and abrasion resistance by 80 and 7.8%, respectively, compared to O.P.C. cement concrete paver blocks. It is noteworthy that the addition of natural zeolite to ZESC mixtures led to an increased water demand. Notably, the integration of natural zeolite significantly reduces the environmental impact of cement production, promoting a sustainable shift by minimizing cement clinker. The study employs microstructural analysis, supported by scanning electron microscopic images, revealing a significant reduction in microcracks and enhanced cohesiveness, particularly at the aggregate-cemented paste interface in ZESC mixes.

As Karbala City is a religious tourism destination, millions of tourists visit the city annually, so there is a high fluctuation of flow in the wastewater between the plants during the year. The aim of this study is to evaluate the performance of the wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) in Karbala, Iraq, in removing pollutants for different flow rates in five scenarios using the GPS-X model. The most important phase in modeling, which greatly impacts simulation accuracy, is characterizing the influent composition to meet the mass balance. As a result, the influent wastewater was initially described and thoroughly examined. The model has been calibrated, followed by the collected data’s validation. The sensitivity of different stoichiometric and kinetic factors in the GPS-X was examined and screened to calibrate the model. To demonstrate the consistency between the simulated and measured data, the route mean square error was used in this instance. The result showed that the Karbala WWTP complies with Iraqi environmental regulations for water discharged to surface water or water for other uses and has an appropriate efficiency of wastewater treatment even if the flow entering the plant reaches the peak flow rate of 180,000/day. An improvement in orthophosphate removal efficiency was observed as the flow rate increased because of the contact time in the anaerobic basins, which gradually decreased as the flow increased until it reached the appropriate time for PO 4 3 − {\text{PO}}_{4}^{3-} removal. The outcomes of the present study provide an impression to the operators of the treatment plant of the impact of fluctuating flow on the treatment plant. The developed model can also be used for future studies.

Photonic crystal fibers (PCF) have demonstrated promising capabilities for liquid sensing applications owing to their distinctive optical properties. This work presents a numerical investigation of a PCF sensor optimized for discriminating water, ethanol, and benzene samples. In the proposed configuration, there are five concentric rings of air holes in the cladding arranged in a hybrid lattice structure, while the core contains only one air hole. The optical properties of the sensor, such as refractive index, power fraction, relative sensitivity, confinement loss, effective area, and nonlinearity, were assessed through a comprehensive analysis utilizing the full vector Finite Element Method within the COMSOL Multiphysics software. All these properties have been meticulously examined through numerical investigation across a broader range of wavelengths spanning from 0.8 to 2.2 µm. The suggested model has high sensitivity, minimal confinement loss, and an exceptional nonlinear coefficient value. At a wavelength of 1.3 µm, the suggested PCF exhibits greater sensitivity of 96.84, 98.12, and 100% for water, ethanol, and benzene, respectively, and nonlinear coefficients of 13.98 W −1 km −1 for water, 13.93 W −1 km −1 for ethanol, and 14.85 W −1 km −1 for benzene, with decreased confinement loss. The created model can be utilized in several research areas, particularly in chemical sensing and bio-sensing, as well as their respective applications.

The utilization of distillation stands as a predominant separation method within the chemical and petroleum industries, prominently influencing operational costs and environmental impact due to energy consumption. Enhancing energy efficiency holds paramount significance in elevating the sustainability and overall efficacy of distillation operations. Within this study, we introduce an innovative approach termed “marginal vapor flow (MVF)” to optimize the distillation column sequence for crude oil processing, focusing on the third distillation unit at the Basra Refinery. This research evaluates diverse column designs through streamlined simulations using Aspen HYSYS V11 software. The study determines total energy consumption as a benchmark, comparing it against the optimal sequence recommended by the MVF methodology. A novel application of the downward reduction equation to crude oil guides the selection of light and heavy components. Key findings from this comprehensive analysis showcase the potency of combining MVF with Aspen HYSYS for optimizing crude oil distillation column sequences. Aspen HYSYS, a widely recognized process simulation tool, accurately represents distillation processes. Simultaneously, MVF facilitates the determination of optimal column sequences based on marginal vapor flow rates. Notably, the results reveal that within the studied sequences, sequence 9 exhibits the lowest total MVF of (1393.4 kmol/h), signifying its optimality, while sequence 2 displays the highest total MVF of (4827.3 kmol/h), representing the least favorable scenario. Simulation of the optimal sequence derived through the MVF approach exhibits a remarkable 35% reduction in energy consumption compared to real-life operations. Conversely, simulating the least favorable sequence demonstrates a substantial 32% increase in energy consumption compared to actual operations. This study underscores the pivotal role of MVF methodology in optimizing distillation sequences for enhanced energy efficiency, providing actionable insights for refining operations to significantly reduce energy consumption and operational costs while advancing sustainability goals.

As the main load bearer throughout the gait cycle, the tibia is a crucial bone in the lower leg that distributes ground reaction forces with each stride. Comprehending the distribution of stress inside the tibia is essential for both avoiding fractures and developing efficient methods of redistributing load to promote healing and biomechanical correction. The study examined the stress, strain, and deformation encountered by the tibia over a 7-s walking cycle using an ANSYS workbench software, using tibia bone under a period of force applied to the boundary condition at intervals of 0.2 s. The tibia encounters stress levels varying from 0 to 1,400 N, exhibiting a regular pattern that aligns with the loading attributes often associated with traditional walking. The research conducted in this study identified the occurrence of maximum stress levels, measuring 25.45 MPa. Additionally, related peak elastic strains and deformations were observed, measuring 2.19 × 10 −3 and 2.43 mm, respectively. The patterns that have been seen indicate that there is an initial contact of the foot with the ground, followed by the bearing of weight and subsequently the toe-off. These observed patterns closely resemble the natural motion of the foot during the act of walking. Temporal fluctuations in elastic strain through the tibia throughout a gait cycle reveal that the strain is mostly cantered at the medial surface of the tibia. Additional investigation into the elastic properties and overall deformations of the tibia yielded valuable observations on prospective areas of interest within the bone’s structure. These findings are of utmost importance for biomechanical assessments and the identification of potential injury hazards in subsequent research endeavours.

Digital image protection is crucial since images often contain private and sensitive information in business, medical, and military. One of the best techniques for securing the content of these images is encryption. This article introduces a cryptosystem known as the elliptic curve Diffie-Hellman Hill Cipher (ECDHHC) that uses the modified eliptic curve Diffie-Hellman (ECDH) key exchange protocol to generate the shared secret key integrated with the Hill Cipher. An elliptic curve point-based secret shared key matrix using the ECDHHC, which will be used for encryption and decryption, is generated. Thereafter, the input image is split into a set of 8 × 8 submatrices and then changes the values of these matrices by multiplying each block with the secret shared key matrix. The encrypted image is constructed by merging all encrypted blocks. With this combination, the correlation between adjacent pixels in the ciphered image is effectively removed, and the level of unpredictability and uncertainty for the ciphered image is also enhanced. The suggested approach used the key space, entropy, histogram, antinoise attack, differential attack, and correlation coefficient to evaluate the performance of the encryption method. According to simulation findings, the proposed method offers a high level of security and efficiency, and resists attackers.

This study uses solar energy to convert steam from a saturated to a superheated state using a solar steam superheater system. This collector system comprised a parabolic dish with a cylindrical cavity. The parabolic dish is of 2 m diameter and 0.83 m focal distance, covered with a reflective surface made of 1,283 rectangular pieces of mirrors, each of 3.5 cm × 4 cm that were fixed in place with glue type (FnTai). The receiver is a stainless-steel cylindrical cavity having a diameter of 17 cm and a length of 25 cm. A helical copper coil with a diameter of 10 mm and a length of 6 m was inserted inside the cylindrical cavity. The experimental work utilized saturated steam produced separately from an auxiliary electric boiler system, which was made along with other system components. A 0.011 kg/s of saturated steam at a temperature of 112°C enters the copper coil and is heated by the solar radiation reflected by the parabolic dish onto the receiver. As a result, the temperature of the steam is increased to 169.5°C at the receiver outlet. It was found that the collector efficiency is 55.6%. In addition, the convection and radiation heat losses are 12.14 and 10.98%, respectively. Also, the heat losses of (spillage, reflection, and conduction) were estimated to be 21.18%. The mass flow rate and pressure of the saturated steam from the boiler and entering the receiver affected the superheated steam production process. The process of superheating the steam, coupled with the subsequent improvement in thermal performance, indicates an increased efficiency of the collector. This is achieved by boosting the generation of useful heat and mitigating heat losses.

This study investigates the effect of surface roughness on the interface behavior between clayey soils and structural materials, aiming to determine the necessary parameters for soil-structural interaction. The research site, located in one of Iraq’s seismically active regions, was selected for its significance. Experimental measurements were conducted using the SRT-6210 Digital Surface Roughness Tester to assess the roughness characteristics of steel and concrete samples. Four distinct roughness parameters were measured, and their correlation with shear parameters was analyzed. The shear behavior of clay-steel and clay-concrete interfaces was successfully described using the average roughness parameter (Ra), which exhibited the strongest correlation with shear parameters. Direct shear box and interface shear box tests were employed to identify soil’s shear strength parameters and evaluate interface shear strength parameters. The experimental findings highlight the significant influence of surface roughness on the shear strength parameters of clay-steel and clay-concrete interfaces. The interface shear strength, friction angle, and adhesion exhibited an increasing trend with roughness. Notably, shear strength increased by approximately 29.76% when concrete sample roughness was below 20 μm and by 32.8% when steel sample roughness was below 30 μm. Moreover, increasing surface roughness improved the interface friction angle of clay-steel and clay-concrete samples by about 37.95 and 36.3%, respectively. Additionally, an increase in roughness led to a rise in the adhesion of concrete and steel samples by approximately 26.24 and 32%, respectively. These findings emphasize the significance of surface roughness in optimizing the interface behavior between clayey soils and structural materials. The results have important implications for enhancing the design and performance of soil-structural systems.

In this work, the optical characteristics of SiO 2 (refractive index [ n n ], dielectric constant [ ε r {\varepsilon }_{{\rm{r}}} ], reflectivity [ R ], transmissivity [ T ], absorptivity [ A ], and absorption coefficient [ α ]) were studied using the Lorentz model. A comparison was made with the practical results of previous studies and showed a good agreement.

The experimental study investigated the impact of partially closing the end of a tubular steel pile with a diameter of 1.22 m on the induced driving vibrations. Long piles, spanning 50 m, were driven into Al-Fao soil using hammers from Daewoo Company – the PTC-110HD vibro-hammer for the initial 24 m of penetration and the IHC S-280 hydro-hammer for the remaining depth. This study established comparisons between open-end pipe (OEP) and partially closed pipe (PCP) piles concerning various parameters. These parameters included the number of blows, driving energy delivered by the hydro-hammer along the depth, and the peak soil particle velocity (PPV). Data collection was carried out using pile dynamic integral sensors for pile driving analysis, strain gauges placed along the lengths of the piles, and geophones positioned at varying distances from the pile. The results of the study unveiled a substantial effect of partial closure on the vibration response. Specifically, vibrations in the vicinity of the pile were amplified by a factor of 3–4 at depths ranging from 1 to 22 m where the vibro-hammer was employed, and by a factor of 2.5 to over 3 for the remaining depth where the hydro-hammer was utilized. Furthermore, it was observed that the rate of vibration attenuation was higher for the OEP when compared to the PCP. The vibrations are attenuated along the distance from the source where the PPV is decreased to approximately average (3.5% for OEP) and (2.3% for PCP) at a distance of around two times the penetration depth (50 m) for all embedded depths. Varied properties like stiffness, density, and damping in different soils can influence the propagation of vibrations differently. Nonetheless, as the distance from the vibration source increases, the impact of soil properties may diminish, and the vibrations tend to homogenize. Consequently, the statistical analyses yielded empirical equations that can be used for estimating vibrations in scenarios involving similar pile and hammer characteristics within comparable site conditions.

Defense mechanisms remain important and indispensable due to the different types of pistols and ordnance besides many guns. Hybrid composite sandwich panels are an attractive focus because of their ingrained characteristics, such as high stuffiness and high energy absorption. Hybrid composite sandwich panels are among the most important in armoring various structures. Despite the high density of these panels, they have significant qualities that qualify them to be the first selection for use in armored vehicles or body armor. Recently, there have been several types of structures, and selecting the appropriate structure as armor against the projectiles is very important. The study subjected three samples to the ballistic impact test using a 7.62 × 39 mm bullet. The first sample, S1, consists of ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE)/epoxy, unfilled honeycomb core, Kevlar/epoxy, unfilled honeycomb core, Kevlar/epoxy, and UHMWPE/epoxy; the second sample, S2, comprises Kevlar/epoxy, unfilled honeycomb core, Kevlar/epoxy, unfilled honeycomb core, and UHMWPE/epoxy, and the third sample, S3, comprises Al 2 O 3 , Kevlar/epoxy, unfilled honeycomb core, carbon/epoxy, unfilled honeycomb core, and carbon/epoxy. ABAQUS software was used to evaluate the ballistic impact numerically, and after that, the study examined the same armor samples experimentally. The results manifested that only the armor S3 succeeded in stopping the bullet. This is attributed to the structure of the cores, which helps compress and accumulate the cells under the projectile. The speeds of the bullet after penetration (residual velocity; VR) were 748.5 and 715.3 m/s for S1 and S2 armors, respectively, where the back face signature for S3 was 1.5 mm, which is optimum and within the allowed range. The total energy absorption of these armors S1, S2, and S3 is 344.65, 539.04, and 2585.66 J. Furthermore, the highest deviation between numerical and experimental approaches is about 2.04% in the VR.

Seismically, settlement of buildings with shallow foundations lying above dry sand soils has caused severe destruction in recent earthquakes. This study investigated the effect of seismic loads with shallow foundations located above sandy soil containing an intermediate soft clay layer. The impact of a clay layer’s existence with different thickness and closeness to the base of foundation when subjected to El Centro earthquake with 6.9 magnitude. This investigation has been carried out with the help of a three-dimensional PLAXIS 3D, which has been used to solve many geotechnical issues. A database was created for the various dynamic and static parameters of soils in seismically active areas of Iran and Iraq and USA. In this research, important factors are recognized, including relative density. Clay layer thickness and proximity to the foundation, the soil relative density the results of this research indicated that shallow foundation settlement increased on the dry sand and decreased with the presence of clay layer thickness and wave propagation in cohesion soil is less than cohesion-less soil. In addition, it was reached that as close as the clay layer to the foundation the settlement increased.

To sustain the life of flexible pavement materials, the quality of the binder needs to be modified and improved. The purpose of the current research is to investigate the optimum mechanical performances, Marshall characteristics, and moisture damages of hot asphalt mixtures containing nano-clay (nC) additives. Three nominated contents of nC additives of 3, 5, and 7% of the hot asphalt weight were combined by a shear blender at 4,000 rpm for 45 min at 150 ± 5°C. Significant mechanical tests were carried out to estimate the modified asphalt mixture characteristics, such as Marshall stability and moisture susceptibility. Mechanical test results showed that the use of nC as an additive was suitable for enhancing the main characteristics of hot asphalt mixes. Generally, it was found that the indirect tensile strength ratio and stability values of the asphalt mixtures containing 3, 5, and 7% of nC were improved by 8, 23, and 24% and 12.5, 40, and 52%, respectively. The 7% nano-clay additive showed superior values of tensile strength and stability as compared with all asphalt mixtures (i.e., 94% and 15.8 kN, respectively).

This study evaluates seismic mitigation methods, including high damping rubber bearing, lead rubber bearing, double sliding pendulum (DSP), and tuned mass damper (TMD), considering earthquake intensity, building height, and isolation level. Moreover, the study delves into a novel approach that incorporates multi-level isolation and multi-level TMD. Reinforced concrete buildings, ranging in height from 4 to 40 storeys, were nalysed and nalysed using SAP2000 under the seismic influence of the Badra, El Centro, and Northridge earthquakes. The study reveals a significant rise in the fundamental period ( T ) with base isolation systems, reaching 378% of the fixed base value for a six-storey building. Building height directly affects T values, with simplified equations introduced for calculation. DSP proves 5% more efficient in reducing base shear (BS), while TMD is effective in weaker earthquakes for minimizing lateral displacement. Base isolators outperform mid-level isolation and TMD at the top storey. Combining base isolators with TMD at the top storey is deemed impractical and uneconomical. The study recommends multilevel isolation or multilevel TMD for enhanced seismic isolation efficiency, with four-level isolation achieving an 80% reduction in BS for 12-storey buildings. In addition, four-level TMD outperforms TMD at the top storey with a 44.5% reduction in BS, surpassing the 26.6% reduction achieved with TMD at the top storey only.

Accurate evaporation estimation is crucial for managing hydrologic, hydraulic, and agricultural systems, among many other applications of water resources. Empirical formulae for estimating evaporation exist, but their performance is not always sufficient due to the intricacy of the process and its nonlinear connection with other elements of the hydrological cycle. For this reason, a model of artificial neural networks was developed to estimate the daily potential evaporation in the southern Iraqi city of Basrah. A feedforward backpropagation (BP) network with a single hidden layer has been used to construct the mode. Different networks with various neuron counts were assessed. The developed models have been trained, tested, and validated using daily observations of the average rainfall, wind speed, average temperature, average relative humidity, and evaporation. The final evaporation was predicted using an artificial neural network (ANN) model. The proposed model was found to be more suitable to describe evaporation in any region of the world based on the values of the error analysis and the coefficient of determination, according to the ANN model. The Levenberg–Marquardt algorithm (LMA) was determined to have the lowest mean-squared error (MSE) and highest value of the coefficient of correlation ( R ) of the six proposed BP algorithms. The LMA’s hidden layer’s ideal neuron count was 30 neurons, with an MSE of 0.00288 and R 2 = 99. As a result, ANN displayed excellent performance in terms of evaporation prediction value. The study’s findings highlight the significance of predicting evaporation as the main metric for evaluating the effects of climate change on water resources.

The study proposes a simplified energy management system (EMS) that can be a useful tool for small towns with a majority of middle-class residents who are looking to improve their quality of life while lowering energy expenditures and having a smaller environmental effect. This article examines the advantages of setting up an EMS in a small community and offers guidance on how to do so. The system is composed of a wind turbine and a gas turbine. The latter can be fueled either from natural gas or from biogas. The system has been implemented in Matlab/Simulink and executed with real-world data that is publicly available. The research presented in this article can assist small towns in developing an environmentally friendly EMS that will improve citizens’ quality of life, where the results have shown continuity of service for the system over many hours with cheap or even free electricity.

In this study, minimizing entropy generation in a horizontal pipe is numerically investigated through two passive techniques: in the first mode, the helical wire inserts in the pipe were placed at three various ratios of pitch ratio. The second mode is adding cupric oxide nanoparticles at various volume concentrations. Experiments were conducted for Reynolds numbers ranging from 4,000 to 14,000 under a uniform heat flux scenario of 25,000 W/m 2 . The study utilized the ANSYS 14.5 software, employing the K-omega standard model, which involves three primary governing equations: continuity, momentum, and energy. According to the data, it was determined that the helical wire placed inside the pipe with a small pitch ratio decreased the entropy generation number. Cupric oxide nanoparticles also have a substantial impact on the entropy generation number. The higher volume concentration models had lower entropy generation numbers and Bejan numbers than the other models. Comparative analyses further emphasize the substantial advantages of using cupric oxide nanofluids and helical-wire inserts, with efficiency gains ranging from 5.08 to 11.7%.

Accurate determination of grate inlet discharge coefficients is crucial in reducing modeling uncertainties and mitigating urban flooding hazards. This review critically examines the methods, equations, and recommendations for determining the weir/orifice discharge coefficients, based on the inlet parameters and flow conditions. Reviewing previous studies for inlets showed that the discharge coefficient of rectangular inlets under subcritical flow ranges from 0.53 to 0.6 for weirs and from 0.4 to 0.46 for orifices, while in grated circular inlets, it falls between 0.115 and 0.372 for weirs and between 0.349 and 2.038 for orifices. For circular non-grated inlets under subcritical flow, the weir and orifice coefficients are in the range of 0.493–0.587 and 0.159–0.174, respectively. However, the orifice discharge coefficients of grated and non-grated inlets with unknown Froude number range between 0.14–0.39 and 0.677–0.82, respectively. For supercritical flow, the weir and orifice discharge coefficients of grated and non-grated rectangular inlets are 0.03–0.47 and 1.67–2.68, respectively. Previous studies showed that it is recommended to correlate the discharge coefficients with the approaching flow and Froude number under subcritical and supercritical flows, respectively. Yet, additional studies are recommended for a better understanding of the limits and parameters governing the flow transitional stage between weir and orifice and between subcritical and supercritical conditions. Moreover, further research is required to determine the weir and orifice discharge coefficients of circular inlets under supercritical flow as well as the orifice discharge coefficient range of rectangular non-grated inlets under subcritical flow. Finally, it is recommended to increase the road surface roughness to reduce Froude number, and thereby, increase discharge coefficients of street inlets. The aim of this review is to help inlet designers and authorities promote sustainable cities with resilient urban drainage systems and reduce the environmental, economic, health, and social impacts of urban drainage failure.

The analysis of a critical buckling temperature is dependent on the new displacement function field provided in the literature and uses third-order shear deformation theory. The value of the parameter “ m ,” which determines the new displacement function, closed with the three-dimensional (3D) elasticity results. Thermal critical buckling is analyzed for thick and thin laminated plates by using the Navier solution for symmetric and anti-symmetric cross-ply simply supported boundary conditions. Several design parameters are considered such as extension thermal coefficient ratio ( α 1 ⁄ α 2 ), number of schemes, thickness ratio ( a / h ), aspect ratio ( a / b ), and modular ratio ( E 1 / E 2 ) when analyzing the dynamic behavior of the critical buckling temperature for different materials, including composite (glass/epoxy) and hybrid (glass/carbon/epoxy), under uniformly distributed temperature load. The accuracy for theoretical results by using Matlab R2019b was checked with other results for different researchers and gave good agreement. Increasing orthotropic ratio and aspect ratio resulted in increasing critical buckling temperature in M1 than M2, whereas increasing thickness ratio, thermal coefficient expansion, and number of layers resulted in decrease in critical buckling temperature in M2 than M1.

The addition of recycled expanded polystyrene (EPS) in cement mortar is a key to enhancing buildings’ insulation and reducing energy consumption. The main objective of this study is to improve the thermal conductivity of lightweight mortar (LWM) by using the EPS. Also, to overcome the segregation problem when increasing the EPS proportion by more than 70% by volume, slurry sand was used. To achieve that, more EPS waste is required to produce an LWM with less cement and natural resources (sand) content. The effect of different percentages and particle sizes of the EPS either virgin or grated on the workability, density, compressive, flexural strength, and thermal conductivity were investigated by using the EPS with the range of 0, 75, 80, and 85% by mortar’s volume. The results exposed that LWM with grated EPS waste had greater physical and mechanical properties than with EPS beads because it has low void content and suitable distribution. In addition, mortar with 85% grated EPS had similar properties than that with 75% EPS beads. Accordingly, EPS should be grinded to increase its volumetric percentage in the mixture. Also, electron microscopy was used as an integral technique to study surface morphology between mortar components and the EPS.

Progress in jet grouting technology has been focused on the cutting-edge observer of jets, which aims to generate large columns of jet grouting and increase the activity of construction sites. Since jet grouting techniques vary from conventional grouting methods to modern techniques, they can be used in a variety of soil types and their application areas are expanding quickly. So, grouting methods have become very popular methods for subsoil strengthening. This article includes finding the physical and mechanical properties of the soil of the AL-Rashdia site, using a single-jet grouting machine and a steel model to test concrete piles and jet piles, and a double-jet grouting machine to compare the results obtained from laboratory model of one-dimensional jet grouting column pile with those of a one-dimensional concrete pile. The comparison showed that the settlement of the jet pile was smaller than that of the concrete pile and the bearing load was higher with jet columns giving a high bearing capacity comparable with the concrete pile. Shen’s method is more adequate to find the ultimate bearing load and the settlement for this load. Also, the ultimate pile ratio was 115.63% for the jet column, and the ultimate pile ratio for the concrete column was 123.49%. The compressive strength of the core sample of jet columns was large which improved the bearing capacity of the foundation.

The goal of the investigation is to produce a cement mortar for building units and a high-performance ceramic tile adhesive by using V autoclaved aerated concrete as a partial substitute for cement. The combination consists of sand, crushed limestone, and polymeric additives. The experimental procedures were conducted utilizing contemporary laboratory equipment to facilitate the manufacturing of the product and the subsequent investigation of its characteristics, in accordance with the standards outlined in EN12004 and ASTM C1660. The laboratory tests carried out, which included splitting tensile strength, bonding strength, and open application duration, have demonstrated conformity to the product standards. The raw materials undergo many examinations prior to their utilization in the preparation process. The conducted tests encompassed chemical analysis, X-ray diffraction, and viscosity evaluation. These experiments aimed to ascertain the mixing ratios and determine the optimal quantity of water required for the preparation procedure. A thickness of 3 mm was employed, rendering it very cost-effective and environmentally sustainable due to the utilization of recycled resources. This particular adhesive possesses supplementary characteristics, such as its self-sufficiency on the site, since it is readily used without the need for extra materials, requiring only the addition of the necessary amount of water. Extensive research has been conducted on a range of mix designs and particle sizes for raw materials, together with varying proportions of additives, to determine the optimal ratio that satisfies both criteria and cost considerations. The adhesion strength of the building units was determined to be 7 N/mm 2 , surpassing the specified value in ASTM C1660. This indicates that the material is deemed successful and meets the required specifications for its application as a mortar for building units, as per the standard stating that an adhesion strength test exceeding 5 N/mm 2 is necessary. The evaluation of the characteristics of the material employed as tile adhesive mortar was conducted in accordance with the EN1348 standard, revealing satisfactory compliance with all specified criteria. The application duration of the tile adhesive exceeds 25 min, while its tensile strength surpasses 10 N/mm 2 , thereby meeting the criteria for classification as a Class A tile adhesive.

Objective The contemporary structural engineering notion of "seismic resilience" is to yield a public to its pre-earthquake state in precise time. The goal of our research is the OMRF (Ordinary Moment Resisting Frame), which is mid-rise building that had exposed to several earthquakes. The research examined the constructions mechanical act and seismic confrontation. Methods For hazard evaluations, the building's proneness and functionality were measured using the Seismic Resilience Index (SRI) and delicateness tops. The course had five critical phases: Selecting the goal buildings, picking and ascending a assembly of repetitive seismic ground motion (SGM) archives, emerging brittleness outsides, manufacture incremental dynamic analysis (IDA), and scheming the functionality curve using the seismic resilience index (RI) are the other steps. Findings: It was evident from the hazard evaluation, which included IDA and flimsiness surface examination, that the nominated assemblies required the structural integrity needed to endure a 15-second repeated earthquake. Novelty As the probable seismic ground acceleration raised, it was also probable to figure the variation in functionality, SRI, resilience, structural losses, and the amount of time desirable to mend from numerous presentation stages. These outcomes highpoint the worth of cutting-edge structural engineering methods for educating buildings' seismic resilience in earthquake-prone districts. More resilient configurations that can better endure and recover from seismic shocks can be attained by addressing strategy errors and improving structural presentation.

Today, advancements in science and technology have spurred the rapid evolution of systems like electronic banking, demanding precise, swift, and secure identification of individuals based on their distinct traits. Among these traits, fingerprints stand out as a dependable means of identification, finding application in realms such as crime investigation and national border control due to their simplicity and heightened security. The qualities inherent in fingerprint-based identification have led to its widespread adoption over other identification methods. This article proposes a hybrid biometric system that integrates the Gabor filter and scale-invariant feature transform features and then uses support vector machine and K-nearest neighbors as classifiers, aiming to notably enhance authentication systems by mitigating issues seen in single-method biometric systems. Also, principal component analysis is used to reduce dimensions and eliminate redundancy. In this article, the famous database FVC2004 is used. Test results highlight the considerable reliability and accuracy of the proposed combined approach compared to systems reliant on a singular biometric method.

A general quasilinear sixth-order ordinary differential equation (ODE) is an important class of ODEs. The primary objective of this study is to establish a numerical method for solving a general class of quasilinear sixth-order partial differential equations (PDEs) and ODEs. However, the Runge–Kutta method (RKM) approach for solving special classes of ODEs has been generalized as an effort to solve the general class of ODEs. Nonlinear algebraic order condition (OCs) equations have been obtained up to the tenth order using the Taylor-series expansion methodology which is used to derive the novel generalized Runge–Kutta method (GRKM). In this study, a GRKM integrator has been derived for solving a general class of quasilinear sixth-order ODEs and then this method is modified subsequently to solve a class of PDEs. Accordingly, the proposed GRKM is modified to solve a quasilinear sixth-order PDE by converting it to a system of sixth-ODEs using the method of lines. Nine problems have been implemented to prove the efficiency and accuracy of the proposed method. Simulation results of these problems showed that the proposed numerical GRKM is an accurate and efficient method. In contrast, by comparing the proposed GRKM numerical approach with the classical RK method, the numerical results demonstrate that the direct integrator outperforms the indirect classical RK method in terms of algorithm complexity and function evaluations, proving that the numerical GRKM is efficient.

One of the most important concerns in developing efficient heterojunction photocatalysts for the photodegradation of environmental contaminants is the enhancement and acceleration of photocarrier separation. In this study, novel nanocomposite photocatalysts of Ag–AgVO 3 nanorods grafted with Zn 0.5 Mn 0.5 Fe 2 O 4 metal ferrites nanoparticles were developed by using facial hydrothermal and coprecipitation techniques for the effective photodegradation of Rhodamine B (Rh B) under visible light exposure. The fabricated materials were analyzed in detail using scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), nitrogen adsorption/desorption, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL), vibrating sample magnetometer, and ultraviolet–visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS). The results showed an efficient contribution when compared to the earlier research. The TEM showed a hybrid of nanorods of supported composite with metal ferrite and Ag attached on the surface, consistent with field emission scanning electron microscopy and EDS results. The DRS expressed a lower band gap for supported nanocomposites (1.5 eV), which, arranged with PL, showed a lower recombination rate of supported nanocomposites. The surface properties showed that the supported hybrid might be as small as 45.42 nm or as large as 20.33 nm compared with others. When comparing the photocatalytic activity of pure AgVO 3 , Ag/AgVO 3 , and Zn 0.5 Mn 0.5 Fe 2 O 4 photocatalysts, the performance of Ag–AgVO 3 /Zn 0.5 Mn 0.5 Fe 2 O 4 nanocomposite photocatalyst was clearly superior (more than 99.9% degradation efficiency was achieved). The boosted activity the Ag–AgVO 3 /Zn 0.5 Mn 0.5 Fe 2 O 4 photocatalyst system was justified by Z-system heterojunction induced by the plasmonic effect, and the suggested mechanism was investigated by quenching of reactive species by scavengers. The degradation performance was achieved under optimum conditions (pH = 2, 20 ppm of pollutant concentration, 120 mM of hydrogen peroxide, 1 g/L of catalysts dose). The results showed that after 240 min of visible irradiation resulted in the high (chemical oxygen demand) and (total organic carbon) reductions with a removal efficiency of (85) to (90%) for Rh B dye. The fabricated Ag–AgVO 3 /Zn 0.5 Mn 0.5 Fe 2 O 4 nanocomposites were effective in the degradation of organic pollutants in wastewater treatment.

Blast furnaces create iron and steel from pig iron, which in turn produces iron slag. Iron ore is the primary raw material for these transformations. Slag aggregate, a byproduct of the iron and steel industry, is a sustainable building material. In order to produce more environmentally friendly and cost-effective concrete, this study evaluated the effect of inclusion of two waste materials in concrete including, 10% treated cement kiln dust (TCKD) as cement weight replacement with different volumetric contents (15, 25, and 35%) of iron slag coarse aggregate (ISCA) as a replacement to natural coarse aggregate. Microstructure, static modulus of elasticity, splitting tensile strength, flexural strength, water absorption, and workability were among the many concrete qualities studied. There was an improvement in oven-dry, splitting tensile, flexural, compressive, ultrasonic pulse velocity, and static modulus of elasticity as ISCA content rose, as shown in the results. Increasing the ISCA concentration reduces thermal conductivity. Depending of the ISCA content, increasing the compressive strength by 1.43–12.4% and the splitting tensile strength by 0.4–5.34% were both possible. There was an additional increase of 1.3–9.15% in flexural strength. From the experimental results, it can be observed that innovative and potent method for producing structural sustainable concrete is provided in this study by inclusion of two waste materials, including TCKD and ISCA. The sustainable concrete produced has high strength and low thermal conductivity relative to concrete not containing these waste materials, which can be used in different construction projects. Moreover, the use of these waste materials in concrete has a benefit of reducing the environmental pollution. All the above-mentioned results conforms the goal of this study.

A concrete slab is one of the chief structural members in buildings, considered the most prominent member consuming concrete. Structural engineers are challenged to work on the new trend introduced using different slabs. One-way ribbed slabs are commonly used in construction due to their efficiency in spanning long distances while maintaining a low overall depth and giving the least possible number of columns. The main limitation of slab design in the construction of a reinforced concrete structure is the span between columns; a greater span between columns necessitates more supported beams or increased slab thickness; these requirements lead to an increase in the structure weight due to other concrete and steel which make the structure more costly. On the other hand, any increase in the structure’s self-weight limits the horizontal slab’s span, increases the structure’s stress, and raises the inertia forces that must be resisted. Lightweight aggregate concrete has been effectively utilized for structural applications for a long time. The density of lightweight concrete (LWC) is sometimes more essential than its strength in structural applications. The dead load is reduced for structural design and foundations when the density is lower for the same strength level. Reinforced concrete ribbed slabs have become increasingly popular in industry construction as an alternative to solid slabs in building structures. The incorporation of steel fibers facilitates flexural softening, which takes longer than sudden brittle failure, indicating its ability to increase energy absorption and improve crack behavior. Designing structures requires materials with higher strength-to-weight ratios. Ribs and LWCs are two leading sustainable assets. The world is moving toward sustainability by reducing the amount of concrete used and the overall weight of the unit. Studies have shown that the drop in compressive strength was about 4.85–65.55%. The structural performance of lightweight fiber-reinforced concrete slabs is influenced by the concrete mix ratio, fiber type and content, reinforcement detail, and rib geometry. The study provides valuable insights into the properties and performance of key effects on the structural behavior of fiber-reinforced LWC-ribbed slabs. It provides recommendations for future research and advancement of sustainable building methods.

Water levels in main or sub-channels can be controlled and regulated with the help of weirs. Piano key weirs (PKWs), a type of non-linear weir, include side crests, as well as front and back crests. Due to the fact that the PKW is a modern, newly installed infrastructure, several studies addressing the distribution of energy for each type are not yet available. This study examines the amount of energy dissipated for the four primary types, as well as the impact of altering the width ratio and the height ratio. To investigate the effects on energy dissipate, and compare the energy dissipate efficiency of the main types of PKWs, each type of PKW was created with five models using width ratios ( W i / W o = 1.25, 1, and 0.8) and height ratios ( P / L = 0.11 and 0.078). The energy dissipation depends on type of PKW and decreases as the width ratio increases by 5% and the energy dissipation increases, with the rise in the height ratio by 4%. Due to the overhang effect, type-C is the energy type that dissipates the most, making it the best example of PKW in terms of energy dissipation efficiency. Type-A follows type-C in this respect.

This work presents the results of the research on the thermal state of the road surface measured by means of a mobile road condition sensor. A 15 km route circumnavigating the city centre and used by urban traffic was taken as the research area. Sixteen test runs were performed under summer and winter conditions. An analysis of the locations at which the rate of change of surface temperature had extreme values between consecutive test runs (which lasted around 25 min) was carried out. Based on that, critical sections of the test route were identified, and thus points characterised by readings deviating significantly from the mean values. Based on the thermal mapping methodology, an analysis of the rate of surface cooling was carried out. It was shown to be characterised by temporal (as well as spatial) non-uniformity. The rate of change of surface and air temperatures was calculated as a function of time, which was equal to −2.22 and −1.97°C/h, respectively. During the analysis, it came to light that hourly intervals represent the optimal frequency for thermal monitoring of a road network. Exceptions to the above are the aforementioned sections selected on the basis of the mobile measurements, in which permanent monitoring of road conditions via ESS stationary systems are recommended.

Reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) is a sustainable and cost-effective way to reduce the need for virgin asphalt in road construction and rehabilitation. However, RAP is often hard and brittle, leading to performance problems. Rejuvenators can be used to restore RAP's physical and rheological properties, but many conventional rejuvenators are petroleum-based and have environmental drawbacks. The objective of this study is to assess the rutting and moisture resistance characteristics of reclaimed asphalt mixtures rejuvenated with waste engine oil (WEO), with a particular focus on regions characterized by hot climates, such as Iraq. This study investigated WEO as a rejuvenator for RAP and oxidized asphalt grade 30–40. WEO is a waste product that can be recycled and reused, making it a sustainable and environmentally friendly rejuvenator. The study found that asphalt mixes containing RAP rejuvenated with WEO had improved mechanical performance compared to conventional asphalt mixes. Marshall stability increased by up to 30%, indirect tensile strength increased by up to 29%, moisture resistance improved by up to 19%, resilience to stripping increased by up to 97%, and rutting resistance increased by up to 64.5%. The study findings suggest that asphalt mixtures containing RAP rejuvenated with WEO are a promising new technology for sustainable road construction and rehabilitation. WEO is a waste product that can be recycled, reused, and used to produce asphalt mixes with improved mechanical performance. The novelty of this study is the use of WEO as a rejuvenator for RAP. WEO is a waste product that can be regenerated and reused, making it a sustainable and environmentally friendly rejuvenator. The study also investigated the optimal WEO concentration for rejuvenating RAP asphalt mixes, which is important for producing asphalt mixes with the desired performance characteristics.

Fatigue and moisture damage have been recognized as the most prevalent problems on asphalt roads, necessitating large annual expenditures for road maintenance. Much industrial waste is added to bitumen paving to enhance its conventional quality while decreasing the negative impacts on the natural environment and increasing resistance to pavement distress. This research uses ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS) to substitute conventional filler (Portland cement [PC]) in hot mix asphalt (HMA). To determine how the GGBFS affects the HMA's susceptibility to moisture and fatigue cracks, Marshall characteristics, tensile strength ratio (TSR), and index of retained strength (IRS) of the asphalt concrete were evaluated. HMA was prepared with different rates of GGBFS (0, 25, 50, 75, and 100%) instead of PC. The data support the usage of 50% GGBFS in asphalt pavements as a partial replacement of PC, which enhanced Marshal stability by 34.4%, reduced flow value by about 12.9%, and increased TSR and IRS by 11.1 and 14.54%, respectively. The fatigue resistance of the modified asphalt mix at the optimum rate was evaluated with the four-point bending beam test; the fatigue life (Nf) increased by 33.8% relative to the reference mixture. The results obtained from this research hold scientific value for researchers and method designers aiming to enhance the resistance of hot asphalt mixtures to moisture and cracking. Using waste materials as an alternative to PC contributes to cost reduction while mitigating the environmental damages associated with cement manufacturing. To summarize, this research highlights the significance of exploring sustainable options in the construction industry, emphasizing the importance of reducing costs, and minimizing environmental impacts.

Through the past few months, our world witnessed and is still suffering from several severe earthquakes in different places around the globe like Turkey, Syria, and Morocco. Therefore, the seismic activity domain grew the center of attention for researchers, engineers, and even regular people. The most significant topics in this field that must be taken into consideration are soil–structure interaction (SSI) and structure–soil–structure interaction (SSSI). The term SSI refers to the connection among structure, foundation, and soil while the term SSSI refers to the link among adjacent structures with the soil. Formerly, these subjects were not taken into account through the numerical and analytical methods utilized for the dynamic analysis of the seismic response of the structures (i.e., the effect of soil was ignored), and this matter led to disastrous costs that included loss of lives and properties. This article intends to offer an inclusive helpful knowledge of some significant factors that were not taken into consideration in the previous studies and can be utilized in the field of seismic analysis and design for minimizing the possible risks of earthquakes particularly the heavy ones by defining the SSSI behavior of adjacent structures due to these factors. To accomplish this goal, a sequence of seismic examinations via a shaking table system will be performed taking into consideration the impact of soil media. These tests will inspect the effect of the structure’s orientation and distance between them on the dynamic response of two close steel structures predicating on sand soil. The orientations selected here are of two types: the first one is parallel to direction of the earthquake wave and the second one is perpendicular to direction of the earthquake wave. Each orientation will contain three tests of three distances: close distance, medium distance, and far distance. Two novel small-scale multi-degrees of freedom steel models of three storeys are utilized in this study. Test results illustrated that the diversity of buildings orientation with distances has a significant effect on the SSSI behavior of the neighboring buildings. It is seen that the orientation perpendicular to the direction of the earthquake wave offered maximum impact on the dynamic responses at the far distance while the parallel orientation gave ultimate effect at the medium distance.

The extreme porosity and brittleness of cement mortar, when subjected to external forces, explain its fragility and low compressive and flexural resistance. Utilizing polymers is a cheap way to address these drawbacks. In this research, cement mortar samples were improved their mechanical and physical properties using the polymer-impregnated mortar (PIM) method, where polyethylene glycol (PEG) was utilized in the impregnation process through three different methods for impregnation: vacuum technique, ultrasound technique, and immersion in PEG for 24 h. The results showed an increase in mechanical properties. PIM exhibited the highest compressive strength (CS [24.47 MPa]), flexural strength (18 MPa), and splitting tensile strength (2.082 MPa) compared with the reference specimen, which attained 1.38 MPa CS, 0.52 (MPa) flexural strength, and 1.346 MPa splitting tensile strength. Optimum mechanical properties were achieved by vacuum technique, along with the increase in bulk density. The porosity test showed a slight effect of polymer on porosity. The results of diffusion showed the greater diffusivity of the reference sample compared with the PIM samples, that is, approximately 5% weight gain after one-day immersion in water. The results of thermal conductivity exhibited the increased thermal conductivity of polymer-impregnated samples compared with the reference sample.

The design of steel beam-column end-plate bolted connections is becoming increasingly popular owing to its simplicity of production. This requires knowledge of the full nonlinear resisting moment–rotation (M–Φ) behavior of the joint. To investigate the impact of various geometrical factors on the overall behavior of the connection, this work provides a three-dimensional finite element model (FEM) utilizing ABAQUS software. The suggested model accounts for the pretension force on the bolts, material and geometrical deviations from linearity, and the proximity of surfaces that are adjacent. The numerical model’s ability to simulate and process both the total and specific behavior of varieties of end-plate steel riveted connections is confirmed by calibrating the finite element findings with experimentally disclosed outcomes, which are reviewed in this study. The ultimate behavior was then investigated through a parametric study using the verified FEM with variations in the bolt pretension load, yield strength of the sections, and yield stress of the bolt considering the M–Φ curve. The results of the parametric study showed that as the bolt pretension load and yield stress of the column, beam, and plate materials increased, so did the connection’s moment ability. The yield tension of the bolts, however, had only a minor effect on the connection’s moment capacity.

Climate change poses an urgent global challenge in water resource management, with drought emerging as a pervasive threat worldwide. Over the past two decades, Iraq has faced severe droughts, categorized into meteorological, agricultural, hydrological, and socioeconomic types. Agricultural drought, marked by prolonged soil moisture deficits due to insufficient rainfall, often leads to crop failures. This comprehensive study delves into the impact of drought on Iraq’s vegetation cover from 2000 to 2022, utilizing advanced tools like remote sensing (RS) and geographic information systems. The normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) facilitated the creation of multitemporal drought maps. Employing Landsat satellite imagery and Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) vegetation indices, the study revealed 2000, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, and 2022 as the most drought-prone years. In specific years such as 2000, 2008, 2010, and 2009, Landsat imagery showcased the lowest vegetation cover percentages (3.356, 4.984, 5.112, and 5.409%, respectively), while MODIS data indicated the lowest percentages in 2008, 2000, 2009, 2012, and 2022 (11.122, 11.260, 12.580, 13.026, and 14.445%, respectively). This study underscores the pivotal role of RS, particularly NDVI, as a valuable tool for agricultural drought early warning systems. The findings highlight the effectiveness of NDVI as a simple and cost-efficient index for monitoring changes in vegetation conditions and assessing the impact of droughts on agriculture.

Semiflexible pavement (SFP) is considered a composite mixture, as it consists mainly of a porous asphalt mixture with high air voids grouted with highly flowed cementitious grout. Numerous benefits have been attributed to this technology, including exceptional slip resistance, a high static bearing capacity, and rutting resistance. In this study, two different types of semiflexible paving mix were produced by using two different types of grouting materials (GMs). There is a discrepancy between the compressive strengths of the two GMs used, as the compressive strength of the first mixture, which consisted of 96% cement and 4% silica fume (SF), was approximately twice the compressive strength of the second mixture, which consisted of 75% cement and 25% sand. The mechanical and durable properties of the two SFPs were studied, in addition to the effect of variation in the compressive strengths of the two GMs and their effect on the final performance of the pavement. The results of Marshall and rutting tests show that the SFP material exhibits good high-temperature stability. The effect of the variation in the compressive strength of the two mixtures was evident in the results of the tests compared with the sand mixture at a strength of 20.8 MPa, the SF at a strength of 48.1 MPa witnessed a 39.54% increase in the Marshall stability at 28-day curing age. Also, the composite material (CM) showed better rutting performance than traditional asphalt mixtures, which did not exceed 2 mm. The results of the indirect tensile strength (ITS) test showed a discrepancy between the two types of CM, as the ITS value of the grouting material of SF (GMSF) mixture increased by 14.91% compared with the grouting material of sand (GMSN) for the curing age of 28 days for unconditioned samples and by 20.22% for the conditioned samples for the same curing age, while the durability of two types of CM was measured by Cantabro abrasion loss and tensile strength ratio. The results were acceptable and within the specification limits. With a variation for the two types of CM, the GMSF mixture showed an increase in the value of Cantabro loss by 11.52% over the GMSN mixture for ageing samples and 6.59% for non-aging samples of 28 days of curing age.

Geopolymer in recent concrete (GP) has gained significant attention due to its sustainability and environmental friendliness. Local metakaolin-based geopolymer is weaker than geopolymers made from other materials due to its low Si/Al ratio. A consistent mixture design is also lacking because geopolymers are affected by many variables. This study presents a method to find the optimal geopolymer mixture based on locally modified metakaolin as a source of aluminates and silicates using the Taguchi method. Metakaolin was modified using different contents of materials rich in silica, such as silica fume (SF), or materials rich in calcium, such as calcium oxide (CaO) of 5, 10, and 15%. The inclusion of 5% SF, 10% CaO, and a combination of 5% SF and 5% CaO as substitutes for metakaolin increases the compressive strength by 16.8, 6.9, and 22.8%, respectively, compared to the reference mixture without any modifications. In other words, adding 5% SF and CaO increased the molar ratio of SiO 2 /Al 2 O 3 (R) from 1.782 to 1.914, resulting in the highest compressive strength of 53.3 MPa after 7 days of sun curing. To obtain the optimal mixture that achieves the highest compressive strength, the impact of three main variables, including the concentration of sodium hydroxide (SH), alkali solution-to-binder (Al/B) ratio, and sodium silicate-to-sodium hydroxide (SS/SH) ratio, must be considered using Taguchi method. A total of nine mixtures were investigated. It was found that 13 M of SH, 0.65 Al/B, and 2.5 SS/SH give a high compressive strength of 58.6 MPa at 7 days. Also, it was found that the concentration of SH plays a more important role in increasing the compressive strength than the alkali-to-binder ratio and SS/SH ratio. The scanning electron microscopy images show that the 5% weight replacement of metakaolin by silica and CaO could source fewer and smaller pores and reduce the microcracks’ width.

Roller-compacted concrete pavement (RCCP) is one of the most durable, economical, and practical solutions for the construction of roads for various heavy-duty purposes. To make RCCP more sustainable, different waste materials have been utilized. These materials were densified silica fume (SF), ground granulated blast furnace slag (S), crumb rubber (CR), and recycled steel fibers (RSFs) from waste tires. The weight percentages of replacement for SF and S from cement were 5, and 27.5%, respectively. CR was utilized as a volumetric replacement of sand with 0, 2, 5, and 10%. As a volumetric addition of concrete, RSF with 0.2, 0.4, and 0.6% was utilized. Water content was 6% for all mixtures. The impact resistance test was performed to evaluate the behavior of RCCP to the repeated load on roads. Also, ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV) (nondestructive) and abrasion resistance tests were performed to validate roller-compacted concrete (RCC) as pavement. There is a substantial increase in impact energy by using 10% of CR and 0.6% of RSF, compared with that of reference specimens. The use of CR and RSF can improve the abrasion resistance of RCC, and this can ensure its applications in pavements. The relationships between impact, abrasion, and UPV were established, and models have been proposed to predict these relationships.

When Rankine or Coulomb theories are used to design a retaining wall, it is accepted that the retaining wall will experience a lateral displacement. By allowing the wall to move laterally, the earth pressure decreases on the active side of the wall and wall and earth pressure increases on the passive side, and therefore, more economical walls can be obtained when the lateral displacement is allowed. This lateral displacement is usually not calculated when designing a retaining wall. An experimental investigation is carried out to study the lateral displacement of a retaining wall subjected to dynamic loads with different load amplitude vibration, absolute frequencies, backfill sand relative densities, and different distances between the retaining wall and the loading source. The objectives of this study are to trace the lateral displacement of retaining wall under dynamic loads other than earthquakes such as the traffic load caused by trucks or railroads by direct measurement of displacements. The model footing used in this study is square. On a cohesionless soil, the tests were carried out using a dynamic load. The studied variables were as follows: three load amplitudes (0.25, 0.5, and 1 ton), three vibration frequencies (0.5, 1, and 2 Hz), two relative densities of sandy soil (30% loose sand and 70% dense sand), and three different distances between the foundation and the retaining wall. Observations show that the lateral displacement increased by increasing the load amplitude and decreased by increasing the distance between the foundation and the retaining wall. There is insignificant consequence of frequency on the cumulative lateral displacement. The lateral displacement decreased by increasing the density of sandy soil.

Due to a variety of reasons, including the water retained inside and the intrinsic weight of the dam itself, dam constructions have the ability to move both horizontally and vertically. If these displacements exceed a crucial limit, a dam’s structural integrity is jeopardized. Concrete buttress dams in particular may be susceptible to high-frequency vibrations because of their slender structure, especially when the flow of water is involved. The Khassa Chi Dam, which is located northeast of Kirkuk City, is the subject of this study’s attempt to offer an alternative since the constructed dam is an embankment dam. In this research, a concrete buttress dam design was studied as an alternative dam to the constructed one. Such designs exemplify one form of gravity dams widely implemented on diverse soil types. Finite element model (FEM) was employed to simulate the behavior of the dam. The simulation utilized DIANA FEA, which relies on governing equations. There are several steps involved in developing an accurate FEM that faithfully simulates the actual behavior of a dam and predicts its future responses. The model is evaluated in later analyses in terms of stress and displacement. In this context, RSA was conducted on the modeled buttress dam. The outcome of the displacement analysis of the buttress dam exhibited its safety across all load combinations after undergoing linear dynamic analysis. This analysis included Eigenvalue Analysis and RSA. The response remained low at seismic frequencies below 3 Hz, and the extent of displacement correlated with the frequency values.

Soil investigation is very important to check the bearing capacity before constructing any structure. There are different types of soils that cause many problems for the structure in short and long term, which are known as problematic soils. A lot of researchers dealt with improvement and reinforcement of the problematic soils by physical and chemical treatments. The objective of this study is reinforcing the problematic soil with micropiles with different depths and different configurations. In this study, two types of soils, soft clay and loose sand, were used to study the effect of adding micropiles of different depths and different configurations to investigate the best improvement of bearing capacity for shallow foundations on these soils. The results showed that reinforcing the natural soil with micropiles could improve the pressure carrying capacity of the problematic soils. When the design width is changed from under foundation alone to under foundation and 2 B width, the soil reinforced with 2 B depth of micropiles can raise the soil’s load carrying capacity by 45 to 65% when compared to untreated soil. Just 7% more bearing capacity may be achieved by increasing the depth of the micropiles from 2 B to 3 B (where B is the footing width); as a result, going deeper than 2 B is not advantageous. Additionally, the bearing capacity of the micropiles increases by only 3% when the breadth of the configuration is increased from 1 B to 2 B ; so, wider configurations than 1 B are invalid.

This study combines two types of waste materials to achieve sustainable lightweight concrete (LWC) including agricultural and industrial wastes that hold high potential to reduce global environmental pollution. A novel application of 35% treated date seed (DS) wastes as partially replaced by volume to natural coarse aggregate in producing sustainable LWC was investigated. Calcium hydroxide solution was utilized as a treatment to extract cellulose from the achieved hemicelluloses of the DS. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy was utilized to analyze the structural characteristics of the isolated cellulosic samples before and after treatment. Then different volume fractions of steel fibers (0.5, 0.75, and 1%) recycled from scrap tires were added to the LWC with 35% DS. Several experimental tests, including slump test, compressive strength, oven-dry density, split tensile strength, flexural strength, and water penetration depth, were carried out in this investigation. The results demonstrate that concrete containing 35% DS and reinforced with 1% recycled steel fibers show enhancement in the compressive, tensile, and flexural strengths by about 15.2, 32.6, and 58.2%, respectively, and reduces the permeability by 16.1% relative to the reference concrete mixture.

In this study, hybrid functional fillers were used to create an electrical network that is used to develop self-damage sensing ability within conventional cementitious mixtures. This electrical network was used to examine the self-sensing properties of cementitious composites under different loading scenarios such as compression, splitting tensile, and cyclic loading for three ages, those are 7, 14, and 28. With the help of a single type of functional filler or fiber, the self-sensing capabilities of the majority of previous works are demonstrated. This study incorporates two types of functional fillers for sustainability and low cost: micro-scale carbon fibers (CF) and waste iron (Ir) powder in the form of microparticles. The purpose of the current work is to fill up the subject’s gap using two different types of functional fillers as a hybrid form. Three hybrid proportions of a micro-scale CF (vol% of mixture) and waste iron powder (Ir) (wt% of cementitious materials) are utilized. These are (0.33, 15), (0.67, 10), and (1.00, 5), respectively. Unlike carbon-based materials, polyvinyl alcohol is used as a mechanical reinforcing fiber 2% by volume of the cementitious mixture. Additionally, a control combination without any fillers has been created. The electrical resistivity of the fabricated samples was monitored during various loading applications for every second to confirm their self-sensing capabilities. Regarding the fractional change in electrical resistivity, the self-sensing behavior was superior for mixes containing high dosages either of waste iron powder or CF in the same hybrid matrix. Quite the contrary to that, the piezoresistivity was modest in the middle hybrid ratio.

Regions characterized by an arid or semi-arid climate are highly susceptible to prospective climate change impacts worldwide. Therefore, evaluating the effects of global warming on water availability in such regions must be accurately addressed to identify the optimal operation policy of water management facilities. This study used the weather generator model LARS-WG6.0 to forecast possible variations in precipitation and temperature of the Mosul Dam Reservoir in northern Iraq. Future climate change was predicted using three greenhouse gas emission scenarios (i.e., RCP2.6, RCP4.5, and RCP8.5) for four time intervals (2021–2040, 2041–2060, 2061–2080, and 2081–2100) using five Global climate models (GCMs): CSIRO-Mk3.6.0, HadGEM2-ES, CanESM2, BCC-CSM1-1, and NorESM1-M. The model’s calibration and validation were conducted using data from 2001 to 2020 from eight meteorological stations in the study area. The results showed that the weather generator model’s performance was outstanding in predicting daily climate variables. The results also showed that the highest increase in maximum and minimum temperatures was 5.70°C in July and 5.30°C in September, respectively, for the future period 2081–2100 under RCP8.5. The highly forecasted minimum and maximum temperatures were extracted from the CanESM2 and HadGEM2-ES GCM models. It was demonstrated that the study region would experience different patterns of precipitation change during the wet seasons in the evaluated periods. Finally, the variations in precipitation and temperatures in the Mosul dam region would significantly impact the amount of freshwater obtained in these areas due to rising loss rates of evaporation. This could lead to a water shortage and mismanagement of the sustainable operations of the dam.

Modeling the propagation of waves in geomechanics is an essential part of dynamic analysis. In geotechnics, the study of the interaction between the soil and the foundation is particularly interesting. In order to mimic low-speed operating types (less than 1,500 rpm), this study details the creation of a dependable and efficient approach for designing and fabricating the steel box container. When employed as a boundary, an absorbing layer drastically reduces the amount of wave reflection that occurs inside the limited region. The present effort is split into two halves. The first step is to calculate the damping layer’s damping constants, subgrade response modulus, damping ratio, shear modulus, vibration amplitude, and resonant frequency. The second section focuses on the dynamic study of the circular foundation by measuring the vibration amplitude, acceleration, velocity, and displacement caused by harmonic vibration machines. The findings demonstrate that simple material borders prevent the wave from dissipating as a consequence of reflection. Attenuation of waves is possible when the absorbing layer of energy represents semi-infinite soil. When absorbing just one layer, the vertical displacements at positions located at the box side boundary and its base decreased by 65, 63, and 67%, respectively. However, it dropped by 97, 96, and 98%, respectively, when two absorbent layers were used. On the basis of these promising results, the model results were compared with and without the absorbing layer. It would appear that the modeling of the absorbing layer, which is designed as two layers, has been satisfied for low speeds of harmonic vibration.

This research aims to use numerical methods to analyze concrete beams with different reinforcement ratios. Two software packages – ABAQUS and OpenSeesPy – were employed to achieve this task. Empirical stress–strain relationships were utilized to forecast the concrete’s stress–strain behavior. The numerical analysis results were compared with previously published experimental results, and the findings showed a reasonable similarity. The results were consistent with the published laboratory results, particularly for ultimate and yield loads, with no more than 10% differences. However, the ultimate deflection variation was higher. For the first control beam, denoted as B 2−12 , ABAQUS predicted a 24.64% difference in ultimate deflection, while OpenSeesPy predicted a 35.83% difference for the second beam, sampled as B 2–16 . However, the ultimate deflection for the remaining beams differed by less than 10%. Meanwhile, the difference in yield deflection was greater than in ultimate deflection, with OpenSeesPy showing a maximum difference of 18.51%. The maximum ductility was found to occur at a reinforcement ratio equal to 0.0016. Additionally, OpenSeesPy was faster than ABAQUS in computation while still producing satisfactory agreement with experimental results.

Utilizing one of the most effective new technologies is the primary goal of this research, which uses a combination of bituminous surfacing materials with geotextile reinforcement sheets, to improve the behavior of asphalt mixes and fatigue reduction. The aim of this research is to analyze the impact of woven geotextile upon fatigue characteristics of hot mix asphalt mixtures. In order to improve the tensile qualities of the asphalt pavement, the experimental program for this study includes the application of geotextile within the wearing layer. Marshall fatigue and stability tests were carried out. Four-point bending test in a strain-controlled mode was adopted in this study. Three micro strain levels (250, 400, 750) at a frequency of 5 Hz were used. The findings demonstrated that unreinforced mixtures have a shorter fatigue life than wearing layers reinforced with geotextile. Additionally, exposure to different temperatures (5, 20, 30°C) showed that the performance of the geotextile interlayer system in cold environments is inferior to that of those in warm and moderate climates. The analyzed geotextile has a positive impact on the performance of the pavement and a large potential to extend the life of the pavement as a whole, according to the obtained results of fatigue life.

Scientists and engineers are consistently working to enhance the performance attributes of asphalt concrete mixtures. Pavement condition monitors, despite their high cost and long-term inaccuracies, are utilized for assessing pavement conditions and determining the level of deterioration. Consequently, they provide crucial data for the design, cost estimations, and development of pavement maintenance programmers. In recent times, there have been significant technological advancements and the introduction of new characteristics, such as the self-sensing feature. This study utilized this feature to build hot asphalt mixtures with several functionalities. The incorporation of conductive elements into asphalt mixtures enhances their electrical and mechanical characteristics. The objective of this study is to develop a hot asphalt mixture with electrical conductivity capable of detecting applied loads through conducting experimental tests such as the Marshall and compression tests. The asphalt grade used was between 40 and 50, and the aggregates were in proportions that met the Iraqi requirement. The asphalt mixture contained 2.5% steel fibers by volume, which were added to investigate their impact on the functional performance of the asphalt mixtures. An analysis was conducted on the samples’ behavior during the tests, revealing a discernible alteration in the electrical resistance measurement. This alteration demonstrated that the asphalt mixture detected the weights exerted upon it. The findings also indicated a rise in the Marshall stability metric. The advanced asphalt mixtures and their novel features allow for the monitoring of pavement conditions. Through the resolution of monitoring device issues, they additionally offer superior performance and extended lifespan.

Deep beams are crucial for construction projects due to their load-carrying capacity, shear resistance, and architectural adaptability. Ultra-high strength concrete and ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) are used in their production. Basalt fiber is used as an alternative due to its corrosion resistance, tensile strength, and thermal stability. This study investigates the behavior of UHPC deep beams reinforced with basalt fibers. Three sets of 11 specimens were constructed without transverse reinforcement and reinforced with either fibers or steel fibers. The study also analyzes the impact of parameters like shear strength capacity, crack development, and load-deflection behavior on UHPC deep beams. The study discovered that the inclusion of basalt fibers in UHPC deep beam can effectively postpone the onset of diagonal cracks. Incorporating basalt fiber at concentrations of 0.5, 0.75, and 1.0% led to respective increases of 48.17, 70.07, and 86.66% in the diagonal fracture force, as compared to the inclusion of steel fibers which resulted in increases of 18.24, 56.93, and 98.54% in diagonal fracture loads. The ideal ratio for enhancing the maximum shear capacity was found to be 0.75% of basalt. This specific percent resulted in the highest measured force out of the three percentages that were examined. The addition of basalt fibers at concentrations of 0.5, 0.75, and 1.0% resulted in respective improvements of 11.62, 30.08, and 28.69% in the ultimate shear capacities. During that period, steel fibers significantly enhanced the ultimate shear capacity, resulting in an increase of 19.83, 34.49, and 55.24% compared to specimens without fiber reinforcement. Regarding the second parameter of this investigation, a drop in the shear span ratio is linked to an augmentation in shear capacity and a reduction in mid-span deflection to varying extents for both the utilization of basalt and steel fibers.

The efficacy of a pavement system is significantly influenced by the condition of the road pavement. Improving pavement quality is essentially the key to reducing problems with fatigue cracks and rutting on roads. One of its tenets is changing and enhancing asphalt’s performance by use of various additives. One of the plastics having the highest recycling rates across various nations is polyethylene terephthalate, or PET. Since virgin PET (V-PET) and recycled PET (R-PET) cannot currently be analytically separated from one another, numerous indirect approaches have been developed to achieve this. According to one idea, recycling PET causes polymer chains to break, which alters the material’s structural, mechanical, and thermal characteristics. R-PET and V-PET can therefore be distinguished from one another. Temperature and load stress cause asphalt pavement damage, especially rutting. In order to reduce the issue of road rutting, several measures have been implemented, such as enhancing the quality of pavement and improving the procedures used for structural design. In recent years, engineers have shown a growing interest in enhancing the performance of asphalt by incorporating various additives and substituting raw materials with virgin and recycled materials. This approach aims to improve environmental sustainability and reduce the cost of modified pavement mixtures. The purpose of the study is to assess the effect of modifying bitumen of grade 40–50 with V-PET. This study examined the use of V-PET as an asphalt modifier, at varying concentrations of 1, 2, and 4% by weight of asphalt. The study aimed to assess the influence of these concentrations on the performance of asphalt under high temperature conditions. The results demonstrated that the addition of 2% V-PET to the asphalt binder significantly improved the characteristics of the asphalt, resulting in increased resistance to rutting in the pavement.

The present research investigates how incorporating waste concrete block aggregates (WCBA) in place of natural coarse (5–12 mm) aggregates (NCA) affect the characteristics of concrete pavement. The topography of the voids, water absorption, porosity, and hydraulic conductivity characteristics such as flexural and compressive strengths in addition to density were investigated. The consequences of replacement were looked at using four replacement percentages, 10, 30, 60, and 100% of the normal weight had been substituted with 0% functioning as the control value. Mix design of 1:1.41:2.52 (cement:fine aggregate:coarse aggregate) was used in the study with water to cement ratio of 0.43. As the replacement percentage of WCBA increased, water absorption, porosity, and hydraulic conductivity increased while density, compressive strength, and flexural strength decreased. The drop in values in comparison to control mixture were in the range of 10–30, 22–40, and 1–32% for density, compressive strength, and flexural strength, respectively. On the other hand, increase in values (16–33, 12–40, and 11–37%) have been identified for hydraulic conductivity, porosity, and water absorption, respectively. When designing rigid pavement, concrete with replacement percentages of WCBA 30% produces results that were acceptable. Porosity along with other hydraulic characteristics, such as hydraulic conductivity, are closely associated. There is an extremely significant correlation between porosity and all topological parameters. Finally, high level validation ( R 2 > 0.9) and predictive models of hydraulic conductivity and porosity were established.

Anaerobic digestion (AD) of feedstocks yields biogas, a potentially useful new energy source. This study looked into the anaerobic co-digestion of cow dung and organic garbage to produce biogas. An anaerobic biodigester, with a volume of 20 L, was used to digest organic waste (OW) and to trace the changes that occur during the AD process. It was equipped with tools that ensure complete control of the conditions affecting anaerobic biological reactions such as temperature, pH function, and mixing speed. Therefore, an anaerobic biodigester was designed to contain such biological transformations and to improve the biogas production process from OW. Based on the present investigation, the AD of OW was improved by integrating the substrate with sewage sludge or cow manure (CM) during the digestion process to provide the basic microorganisms to complete the digestion process. Feeding into the digester was a blend of 100 kg of cow dung (CM) and OW per day, diluted 1:1 with water. A gasbag was used to capture the methane that resulted. Biogas production began on the seventh day after the substrate was fed into the digester. A performance test was carried out on the produced biogas to determine its composition. For OW–CM, the generated biogas’s methane (CH 4 ) concentration was determined to be 60%, but the rates of decline for TS and VS were 57 and 50.6%, respectively. Anaerobic biodegradation of OW–CM experiments was observed at 37°C, a mesophilic temperature. For OW–CM, the pH value was 6.7. After being adjusted to standard circumstances, the cumulative volume of methane produced which had been recorded as 4,914 mL became 3964.5 mL.

In this study, cobalt nanoparticles (CoNPs) were prepared by using an Nd–YAG pulsed laser at a wavelength of 1,064 nm and an energy of 800 mJ. From the results of the structural and morphological attributes of CoNP films, it is evident that CoNPs exhibit different spherical configurations with diameters spanning from a few nanometers to 24 nm. The surfaces of these CoNP films indicate that they exhibit a certain degree of homogeneity and uniform vertical heights. Additionally, the results demonstrate an increase in granular size growth and the emptying of cavities on the material’s surface. The absorption curves appeared as a function of the wavelength within the range of 300–1,000 nm and the peak absorption of CoNPs in the ultraviolet radiation region, and the prohibited energy gap for direct transitions was known, and the value is 4 eV, while the nonlinear optical properties showed that the particles show a nonlinear refractive index (self-defocusing) and a nonlinear absorption cobalt coefficient with the absorption of two photons; thus, the CoNPs possess good nonlinear properties and can be used in nonlinear optical photonic device, optical power limiter, and a wide range of nonlinear applications.

A study was conducted for four-story reinforced concrete (RC) structure existing in Baghdad-Iraq (residential building) to evaluate the accuracy and reliability of the equivalent lateral force procedure (ELFP) analysis and the response spectrum model (RSA) according to Iraqi seismic code (ISC 2016) for designing and analyzing irregular buildings. The building was classified as an irregular in plan according to American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE 7-16). The seismic behavior of the building was investigated by verifying many parameters: the ratio of shear demand to shear strength on the columns ( V V / V n {V}_{n} ), internal force (bending moment, shear force, and axial force) for beams and columns, and the inter-story drift ratio (IDR) obtained from the (ELFP and RSA); then, the results were compared with the nonlinear static procedure (NSP) and the nonlinear dynamic procedure (NDP) according to ASCE 7-16. Also, this study investigated the effects of the higher modes in the plan (roof plan displacement). From the results, it can be concluded that ELFP and RSA are not a suitable analysis for asymmetric structures and should use appropriate methods such as the NSP and NDP.

The high speeds resulting from the use of millimeter waves (mmWave) in 5G mobile networks are accompanied by high path loss. The issue of generating a reliable propagation model of radio waves is crucial to the development of cellular networks since it reveals essential information regarding the properties of the wireless channel. The received signal strength, the coverage area, and the outage probability in certain places may all be determined through theoretical or empirical radio frequency propagation models, which offer essential valuable information regarding signal path loss and fading. This work analyzes a comprehensive three-dimensional ray-tracing method at 28 GHz for Najaf city, Iraq. The optimum path loss model for the city of Najaf is evaluated using the close-in (CI) model. On average, the values of the main parameters of CI model n n , X σ CI {X}_{\sigma }^{{\rm{CI}}} accomplished, respectively, 3.461866667 and 11.13958333. The lowest achievable path loss exponent was 3.0619 across all analyzed scenarios, while the highest possible value was 4.1253. The results of this work can serve as a baseline for mmWave measurement campaigns conducted in comparable conditions, and they provide a new avenue for future research into mmWave at 28 GHz in Iraq.

The quality control of road implementation on the rim and the strengthening of river edges to prevent road collapses need to be studied and developed continuously. In order to carry out maintenance in a cost-effective manner as much as possible, this research aims to provide a way to reach a better understanding of the quality control of riverbank roads. The study conducted an SWOT questionnaire, which is a means of discovering and evaluating the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats in the field of quality control of river bank roads, and it can help in identifying the optimal path to achieve specific goals and improve the quality of roads in these areas and determine the necessary steps to improve performance and quality in general. It also contributes to enhancing joint cooperation between the concerned parties. The type of questionnaire was closed and included two parts: the first part is the personal information of the respondents, and the second part is related to the subject of the study, which in turn includes four basic axes. It relates to the elements of the SWOT tool and includes questions ranging from 1 to 44. Sixty people from different academic levels in Iraq responded to the questionnaire, and the answers were according to a five-point Likert scale. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 26 was used for statistical analysis, and the statistical methods used in this study are Cronbach’s alpha test to measure reliability, validity of the test to measure the validity of the research tool, frequencies, and percentages, or what is known as relative frequencies, arithmetic mean, and standard deviation, relative importance index.

This work presents an adaptive model predictive control (MPC) strategy to suppress the vibration in a laminated composite beam. The control method incorporates a system identification algorithm to estimate the system parameters online, which provides a precise simulation of system dynamics. A fixed-free cantilever composite beam equipped with piezoelectric actuators was used to evaluate the efficacy of the control method. The sensors and actuators are securely bonded to the upper and lower surfaces at arbitrary locations along the beam’s length. A unified mechanical displacement field is applied to all layers, while displacements are considered independently for each layer. The beam is composed of eight layers of material, each with a thickness of 0.2 mm and orientations specified as (90°/0°/90°/0°). To achieve the best performance, the parameters of the MPC were adjusted numerically. The numerical analysis revealed that placing the actuator near the clamped end at the fixed end resulted in superior control outcomes, with a settling time of approximately 1.8 s. Conversely, the longest settling time occurred when the actuator was positioned at the free end, taking around 4 s. This model could potentially be expanded to address vibration in more intricate beams exhibiting nonlinear characteristics. The deflection readings measured at the end of the beam have been utilized as feedback control signals for predicting future behavior over a predetermined control horizon. The subsequent cost function is minimized through a quadratic equation to determine the sequence of optimal yet constrained control inputs. The suggested active vibration control system is then implemented and assessed numerically to examine the effectiveness of the control method.

The development of nanotechnology has led to the creation of materials with unique properties, and in recent years, numerous attempts have been made to include nanoparticles in concrete in an effort to increase its performance and create concrete with improved qualities. Nanomaterials are typically added to lightweight concrete (LWC) with the goal of improving the composite’s mechanical, microstructure, freshness, and durability qualities. Compressive strength is the most crucial mechanical characteristic for all varieties of concrete composites. For this reason, it is essential to create accurate models for estimating the compressive strength (CS) of LWC to save time, energy, and money. In addition, it provides useful information for planning the construction schedule and indicates when the formwork should be removed. To predict the CS of LWC mixtures made with or without nanomaterials, nine different models were proposed in this study: the gradient-boosted trees (GBT), random forest, tree ensemble, XGBoosted (XGB), Keras, simple regression, probabilistic neural networks, multilayer perceptron, and linear relationship model. A total of 2,568 samples were gathered and examined. The most significant factors influencing CS during the modeling process were taken into account as input variables, including the amount of nanomaterials, cement, water-to-binder ratio, density, the content of lightweight aggregates, type of nano, fine and coarse aggregate content, and water. The performance of the suggested models was assessed using a variety of statistical measures, including the coefficient of determination ( R 2 ), scatter index, mean absolute error, and root-mean-squared error (RMSE). The findings showed that, in comparison to other models, the GBT model outperformed the others in predicting the compression strength of LWC mixtures enhanced with nanomaterials. The GBT model produced the best results, with the greatest value of R 2 (0.9) and the lowest value of RMSE (5.286). Furthermore, the sensitivity analysis showed that the most important factor influencing the prediction of the CS of LWC enhanced with nanoparticles is the water content.

Construction projects in Iraq suffer from many complex problems. Therefore, the aim of this study is to identify the most critical factors affecting the performance of Iraqi construction projects, delving into their identification, analysis, and understanding. A comprehensive list of 32 influential factors was compiled through site surveys, interviews with engineers and experts, and a review of previous research. These factors were categorized into eight groups: planning and management, design and engineering, procurement and supply chain, workforce and labor, technology and innovation, environmental and regulatory aspects, site conditions and infrastructure, and external factors. One hundred and ten questionnaires were distributed to project stakeholders, including owners, consultants, and contractors. The results found that the five most important factors affecting performance ranked using the relative importance Index are poor planning, failure to allocate resources properly, unavailability of skilled labor, poor labor productivity, and volatile economic conditions. Based on these results, for solutions to be effective, they must be adapted to the local environment. Project participants must be interested in planning as it is essential to address the same. The skills of project workers must be developed through training programs. Communication with project stakeholders must be coordinated to contribute to the decision-making process.

Container docks, which are an essential component of the marine berth, are exposed to loads from various sources, such as self-weight, operation, and environment. In this study, four sets of combined loads to which the container berth is exposed were selected at the Um-Qaser Port in southern Iraq. The berth was constructed more than 40 years ago, which has to be verified according to latest specifications, and each set of combined loads was analyzed in three cases. In the first case, the piles were assumed to be fixed at the seabed, and in the second and third cases the piles were modeled as embedded in elastic and elasto-plastic sandy soil, respectively. The general-purpose finite-element software ABAQUS was used to model the various components to determine the maximum stresses, displacements, axial forces, shear forces, and bending moments due to dead, live, operate, berthing, mooring, waves, and seismic loads. It has been demonstrated that the impact loads of ships have a more significant impact on the structure compared to other loads. The calculated displacement when the piles are assumed to be fixed at the seabed level may be reduced by 50–94% of that calculated when the soil is modeled, meaning that assuming fixed piles yields inaccurate results, especially for deck displacements. However, this assumption was verified to yield reasonable results for shear forces at the pile head. It could also be noted that the elasto-plastic model of soil was more sensitive than the elastic model in displacement by 0.4–8% and bending moment by 0.3–34%, while it is less sensitive in axial force by 3–8%. The aim of this study is to obtain knowledge on the behavior and efficiency of container berth under the influence of different loads and the environmental conditions surrounding it.

High-speed impact performance has significantly expanded over the past few decades. The target response based on the impact conditions has been more difficult to visualise and evaluate. In this article, Ansys model analysis has been used to measure, visualise, and predict the projectile and target responses of Kevlar ® (K) and Ramie ® textile-reinforced unsaturated polyester resin (UP) matrix. The laminate thickness threshold was detected experimentally based on the highest stress intensity factor and energy release rates. Furthermore, tensile strength and bending of the laminate were found. The impact conditions have a significant impact on the target response; thus, an explicit dynamic analysis was used to visualise the impact response based on the number of target fixed supports (FSs). Two FS (2 FS) target absorbs 11% more energy than four FS (4 FS) target. Additionally, the target size has a major effect on the projectile and laminate responses, and a successful arrest of the projectile was detected in both cases. The smallest targets with 2 FS have the highest and wider response, where a successful change in the projectile trajectory was obtained.

The punching shear capacity of bubbled slabs is one of the main problems due to its decreased thickness; when there is inadequate curing, the problem becomes more critical, causing the building’s structural performance to deteriorate and exposing it to the risk of collapse. This study aimed to investigate the effect of using water-absorbent polymer balls in internal curing on the punching shear behavior of bubble slabs. Six concrete slabs were cast (1,000 mm × 1,000 mm × 70 mm). The main variables in this study are the type of slab (solid and bubble), type of curing (water and air), and ratio of water-absorbent polymer balls (5 and 10%). Studying the performance use of polymer balls and recycled plastic balls together and in normal strength concretes is limited. Also, investigating their behavior can provide insight into the efficiency of using these materials to improve concrete structures. Results showed that the most effective ratio for using polymer balls in internal curing is 5%, which had a good effect on the ultimate load, the first crack load, deflection, and crack pattern compared to the water-curing sample (reference sample). The water-absorbent polymer balls used in this study can absorb water when added to a concrete mixture. They release the water absorbed and subsequently contract, forming voids that are equivalent in size to the balls. This process facilitates internal curing while reducing the weight of concrete through the air voids left by the balls after they are dry.

Understanding the interface shear strength is crucial for the design of geotechnical structures. This study investigates the effect of surface roughness on the interface friction angle, peak interface friction coefficient, and interface shear strength through direct interface shear tests. The experiments were performed on 10 samples of concrete and steel with the level of roughness varying and soil. The objective is to provide soil parameters for a site that is located around 6 km away to the south of Al-Amarah city, Southeast of Iraq where earthquakes hit frequently. The research is intended to investigate the effect of earthquakes on objects that are built in that particular region, by putting emphasis on the interaction between the soil structure and the roughness of the contact surface between the structural parts and the soil. In order to evaluate the roughness nature of structural materials, a test program was conducted using the SRT-6210 Digital Surface Roughness Tester. The average roughness parameter ( R a ) had the strongest association with shear parameters, and so it is the indicator to explain the shear behavior of sand‒concrete and sand‒steel interfaces. The direct shear box test was employed to find out the soil’s shear strength parameters as well as the interface shear strength parameters. The test shows a profound change in the shear strength characteristics of sand‒concrete and sand‒steel indispensable interfaces. As the roughness index increased. It depicted an upward slope of apparent shear strength and friction coefficient taken at the interface. The shear strength had increased by 25.13% when the roughness of the concrete was below 20 μ m 20{\rm{\mu }}{\rm{m}} and by 36.26% when the roughness of the steel was below 30 μ m . \hspace{0.25em}30{\rm{\mu }}{\rm{m}}.\hspace{0.25em} Moreover, sand‒steel samples interface friction angle increased by approximately 31.5% with increasing surface roughness and sand‒concrete samples by 21.54%. The results also revealed that the peak interface friction coefficient ( μ p ) \left(\mu p) increased with the increase in R a .

This article presents an experimental investigation into alternative strategies for enhancing the interaction of H-shaped steel sections embedded in normal reinforced concrete. Utilizing 12 push-out specimens subjected to monotonic and repeated loading, the study examines the natural bond-effecting parameters and shear transfer mechanisms facilitated by studs. Key parameters under investigation include embedded length, confinement stirrups, concrete cover, and variations in stud welding configurations, specifically welding to the flange and both the flange and web. In summary, a mathematical model for bond slip was proposed. In enhancing steel‒concrete interaction, adding 10-mm-diameter studs to both flanges and the web of the steel section is more effective than increasing the embedded depth by 67%. The second most effective method is doubling the concrete cover, followed by increasing the stirrups ratio by 40%. However, adding studs just to flanges outperforms solely increasing the stirrups ratio under repeated loading but does not match the effectiveness of other enhancement parameters. Yet notable shift from brittle to ductile behavior by introducing shear studs attached to flanges. The study also explores the influence of loading type on natural bond, noting lower values (13–18%) in ultimate load and (8–18)% in residual load capacities under repeated loading compared to monotonic loading, this drop is effectively mitigated by shear stud connections, particularly on the flange.

Artificial neural networks, machine learning, and data preparation are normally implemented in a wide range of real-world problems, especially in geotechnical applications with optimistic prospects of accurate procedure outcomes. This technique has been utilized to precisely predict the top settlement of piles with various piles and soil parameters. Generally, the pile settlement is an essential requirement to produce a secure structure and has high-performance services. The current article presents the fitting of the artificial neural network (ANN) outcomes by calculating the coefficient of correlation R 2 between the predicted and the measured or calculated value of pile settlement. The ANN algorithm is developed using Python 3.9 IDLE and open-source libraries such as Keras, sklearn, Numpy, matplotlib, pandas, and Tensorflow. Because of random training and test performance, the model has been run at least ten times. The ANN model score and R 2 are compared for all runs in the testing phase. The higher score and R 2 values are chosen. Moreover, the Multivariate Linear Regression with the sklearn library is also offered in this article and utilized to produce a pile settlement formula by applying the same dataset used in ANN. The score and R 2 for choosing the first run of the ANN are 99.95% and 0.9631, respectively, while the correlation coefficient for the Multivariate Linear Regression in the training and testing phases is 0.972 and 0.919, respectively. Both techniques illustrate considerable results.

This study explores the field of sign language recognition through machine learning, focusing on the development and comparative evaluation of various algorithms designed to interpret sign language. With the prevalence of hearing impairment affecting millions globally, efficient sign language recognition systems are increasingly critical for enhancing communication for the deaf and hard-of-hearing community. We review several studies, showcasing algorithms with accuracies ranging from 63.5 to 99.6%. Building on these works, we introduce a novel algorithm that has been rigorously tested and has demonstrated a perfect accuracy of 99.7%. Our proposed algorithm utilizes a sophisticated convolutional neural network architecture that outperforms existing models. This work details the methodology of the proposed system, which includes preprocessing, feature extraction, and a multi-layered CNN approach. The remarkable performance of our algorithm sets a new benchmark in the field and suggests significant potential for real-world application in assistive technologies. We conclude by discussing the impact of these findings and propose directions for future research to further improve the accessibility and effectiveness of sign language recognition systems.

The present article aims to cover the most recent advancements in heat recovery technology in heating, ventilation, and air conditioning and identify areas that have not been thoroughly investigated. Extensive information is available on heat recovery technologies and exchangers in central systems. Furthermore, the research examines both direct and indirect evaporative cooling approaches. The literature discusses how the heat recovery process is influenced by climatic conditions, air flow rate, and the type of heat exchanger employed. The latest studies contributing to enhancing the performance of heat exchangers were also considered. The results of the study indicate that recent years have witnessed great interest from researchers in the field of lost energy recovery; the experimental, theoretical, and numerical studies have focused on studies of the influencing factors that contribute to improving the performance of the energy recovery process. The current project involves doing an analytical and comparative analysis of the newest research about enhancing the efficiency of thermosyphon heat exchangers and various forms of evaporative cooling.

Nanotechnology has made significant inroads across various sectors, augmenting properties and economic impacts. Its pivotal role extends notably to the realm of construction and building. This study focuses on the tangible consequences of incorporating nano-silica (NS) into lightweight concrete (LWC) and its influence on mechanical attributes. The primary aim is to illustrate how NS impacts the mechanical properties of LWC, specifically its effects on compressive strength, flexural strength, and tensile strength in comparison to conventional LWC. The research encompassed the casting and examination of seven distinct concrete mixtures, including a reference mix, in laboratory settings. The study findings highlight that the utilization of lightweight Iraqi porcelanite stone resulted in a one-third reduction in the weight of standard concrete. Furthermore, the introduction of varying quantities of NS into structural LWC yielded enhancements in compressive, tensile, and flexural strength when contrasted with the reference mix, albeit at the expense of workability. Remarkably, The results showed an introduction of varying quantities of NS into structural LWC yielded enhancements in compressive, tensile, and flexural strength when contrasted with the reference mix, albeit at the expense of workability. The findings demonstrated that when doses of 1, 3, 5, 10, 15, and 20% NS were applied, the rate of three models for determining compressive strength at 90 days old rose by 19, 45, 62, 32, 15, and 37%, respectively. On the other hand, when dosages 1, 3, 5, 10, 15, and 20% were added, the percentage of improvement in tensile strength at 28 days of age was 77, 75, 84, 51, 55, and 53%. Additionally, while employing the same above doses, the bending strength at 28 days of age improved by 141, 140, 171, 115, 114, and 108%, respectively. Remarkably, the results also underscored the sustained efficacy of NS, particularly during the later stages of concrete maturation.

Polymer-modified concrete and mortars are widely used with different purposes in precast concrete and prestressed concrete structural elements, bridge decks, buildings, and repair requirements because of their significant behavior under different conditions, such as durability against freezing and thawing, ability to absorb impact loads and good mechanical properties compared to ordinary concretes. This study aims to improve some mechanical properties of cement mortar by using styrene–butadiene rubber (SBR) latex, a superplasticizer, and also decreasing the absorption level to lower values by using these two admixtures. The study shows that using 10% SBR by weight of cement increases the compressive strength from 28.6 to 30.8 MPa and decreases the absorption from 2.3 to 1.7% which gives durability for cement mortar. This study also shows the development in strength achieved by using SBR superplasticizer simultaneously, and absorption decreases to only 0.76% for 10% SBR mixes. In comparison, it was 1.75% for mixes with SBR only.

Digital beamforming (DBF) has emerged as a pivotal technology for large-scale antenna arrays, offering precise beam steering control. This study presents an innovative approach to enhance millimeter wave transmission by integrating DBF with long short-term memory (LSTM)-based deep learning. Departing from conventional analog beamforming, our proposed system leverages digital signal processing and LSTM networks to optimize beamforming parameters, particularly in the presence of imperfect Channel state information. The primary objective is to achieve heightened spectral efficiency and increased robustness to channel uncertainties. Implemented in MATLAB, our methodology demonstrates significant performance enhancement through simulation results. The findings highlight the potential of DBF with LSTM for future communication systems. Furthermore, the study incorporates LSTM network training on historical data and its integration within the DBF process, offering a comprehensive perspective. This provides a clearer overview of the research issue, key findings, and contributions, setting the stage for the subsequent detailed exploration in the study.

Heritage buildings and sites are significant assets for any country, they hold values of the past to the new generation. This research focuses on the problem of deterioration and demolition of heritage buildings due to negligence or aspiration for more profitable projects, which will lead to the loss of valuable heritage buildings. Assuming that this problem can be solved initially from the planning stage, this research aims to enhance the planning process for heritage buildings by specifying the main factors that affect the planning process for the maintenance work and developing a framework of sequential steps for planning process activities to help in creating an efficient plan. The research evaluates the current situation of heritage building conservation in Baghdad, Iraq as a case study, by classifying the relevant categories into maintenance and non-maintenance categories, which describe the reasons that led to the deterioration of numerous local heritage buildings. The results found in this research specify the main factors that lead to an efficient plan that are budget, methods and techniques, level of skills of the workers, schedule, and required materials. A framework for a successive conservation plan is suggested to be adapted, including a series of sequenced processes to get a sound plan. Finally, some recommendations are suggested to develop planning for heritage building conservation, like reevaluating the legislations and laws to enhance the heritage sector, serious work to make the heritage sites take place in the community activities, paying maximum care to the heritage sector by the governmental authorities, and using modern tools in planning in addition to other recommendations.

Electric vehicles (EVs) cut greenhouse gas emissions and our use of non-renewable resources, making them more attractive. EVs have lower fuel and maintenance expenses than internal combustion engine automobiles. This study proposes a multi-converter/Multi‒Machine system with two induction motors (IM) that drive a pure EV’s rear wheels. EV two-stage controllers using a simple Adaline neural network (NN) regulate Field-Oriented regulate of a three-phase IM. To control IM speed, the first controller level is a hybrid proportional–integral (PI) with a robust integral sign of error (RISE) controller. Injection torque is controlled by PI‒adaline NN in the second controller step. The simple Adaline NN improves two-stage controller performance. The Multi-Verse Optimization algorithm found the ideal RISE parameter to improve EV drive system performance. A plug-in EV’s linear speed is controlled by the Electronic Differential Controller (EDC). It uses the driver’s reference speed and steering angle to set each driving wheel’s reference speed. EDC adjusts wheel speeds to enhance traction and stability during cornering, accelerating, and decelerating. Utilizing this information, the EDC can effectively distribute power and torque to the wheels, thereby enhancing vehicle handling and overall performance. Three distinct road scenarios and the designated driving route topology have been used to act and demonstrate the resistive forces that affected the EV while it was traveling down the road. By using Matlab (Simulink), EV’s roadworthiness and efficiency will be evaluated.

Enhancement of microstructure and mechanical features of the hybrid aluminum matrix composite (HAMC) prepared by the stir-casting process (SCP) is quite significant for failure prevention during the service. In this work, the circular rod of hybrid aluminum matrix composite reinforced with particles of alumina (Al 2 O 3 ) 50 μm, and graphite (Gr) 40–100 µm fabricated by SCP was adopted. This Al1050/Al 2 O 3 /Gr composite was subjected to severe plastic deformation using equal channel angular pressing (ECAP) at room temperature to show the impact of this process on the microstructure and mechanical features of the fabricated composite. Grain refinement, strength, and hardness were evaluated at different forming passes (1P, 3P, and 5P) with two channel angles (die angles) of 120° and 135°. The results revealed that the number of ECAP cycles has a significant effect on the refinement of the grain size. The fifth pass of ECAP (5P ECAP) with a die angle of 120° gave more refinement of the grains in the range of 36–75 nm compared to other passes. On the other hand, the strength and hardness relatively augment until 5P ECAP with increasing the cycle number at two die angles of 120° and 135°. The ultrafine grain can reduce the voids of the aluminum matrix then the hardness is enhanced.

The determination of stopping power and the range of protons present in CH 3 OH, CH 2 O, and CO 2 was accomplished within the energy range of 0.01–1,000 MeV by employing the Bethe equation and Ziegler equation. The latter two equations utilize quantum mechanics to derive an approximation of the stopping force formula, which applies to highly charged particles. The software MATLAB was utilized in the calculation of the results. A suitable equation for computing the halting power of protons in the range of 0.01–1,000 MeV has been identified. A correlation coefficient of 0.999 was determined, suggesting a high degree of concordance between the derived results and those of the SRIM 2013 and P-STAR programs. Proton stopping power analyses of this nature will aid the scientific community in selecting the optimal formulation of stopping power.

Surface changes of biomaterials are essential for aligning with the biological system’s dynamics and enhancing the effectiveness of bioimplants. Customized surface alterations based on the material’s bonding ability, biocompatibility, and interactions with host cells may have a substantial impact. This investigation uses hydroxyapatite (HAp) with 0, 10, 20, 30, and 40 wt% silver as a thin coating layer on stainless steel (SST) 316 L by electrophoretic deposition preparation at 30 V and 30 min coating duration. The coating’s crystallinity, morphology, and microstructure have been investigated using structural characterization methods such as X-ray diffraction, Scanning electron microscopy, and energy dispersive spectroscopy. The resistance to corrosion of uncoated and coated SST substrates has been assessed using potentiodynamic polarization experiments. The results show that the HAp-nanosilver coating layer increases the SST’s resistance to corrosion in Ringer solution. The HAp 10% silver-coated SST displays a reduction in corrosion current density. These further demonstrate the potential for using HAp and silver-coated stainless steel as a surgical instrument to increase biocompatibility and resistance to corrosion.

Tribology is the science of studying friction, wear, and lubrication. Composite materials consist of two or more constituents (phases): the discontinuous phase represents the reinforcement and the continuous phase represents the matrix. Journal bearing is manufactured from various composite materials. This article reviews the literature on improving the tribological properties of journal bearings made of composite materials (polymer matrix composite materials and metal matrix composite materials) by dividing the previous studies into six primary sections depending on the kinds of composite materials. An efficient method was utilized to solve the problems of composite journal bearings in water lubrication such as wear resistance, reduced friction, and increased service life of journal bearings in various applications especially in ships. The impact of composite materials, which were added through thermoplastic such as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), polyether-ether-ketone, POM, and PA 66 , thermoset such as epoxy, polyester, and phenolic reinforced with fibers, and thermoplastic with thermoset (PTFE/epoxy composite) to reduce wear rate and coefficient of friction, and also the addition of nanomaterials to composite journal bearing to enhance the tribological properties in various applications were examined. The last section used metal matrix composite reinforced to other metal or alloy to give the attractive mechanical properties used to improve wear resistance and friction coefficient of journal bearing. The novelty of this article lies in the comprehensive analysis of various composite materials and their effect on the tribological properties of journal bearings, providing future insights into bearing design and optimization to improve performance.

There is a demand for a digital currency that facilitates remote trading over the Internet and strives to reduce external control, ensuring that transactions are conducted only between authorized persons or parties involved in the transfer. The financial sector has been significantly impacted by cryptocurrency, or digital currency, which brings new potential and challenges. The concept of digital currency is thoroughly examined, as are its complicated implications on various aspects of the economy. Trading digital currencies via the Internet may be vulnerable to theft and forgery due to the development of hacker programs. Therefore, we proposed to design a new digital currency and then built a 16 × 16 structure and filled the matrix with random numbers within GF(251). We used the random algorithm (Chun–Hui He’s iteration), then generated four directions, and used polynomial equations for the purpose of distributing powers between the parties in our future complete system. The original matrix was encoded with the photon sponge hash function after updating the S box by integrating the algorithms (Chun–Hui He’s iteration, Mariorana–McFarland method), and the results were good security measures (correlation coefficient, bijective property, balanced criteria, completeness criteria, and strict avalanche criteria) as well as the encryption and decryption time became faster (0.0005202). The major objective is to design a new digital currency system toward achieving security, scalability, and comprehensive adoption, looking into how it might improve security, promote financial inclusion, and change the present payment systems.

With the continued exponential growth of digital images, concerns about the security and confidentiality of visual data have increased. In this session, a new developed approach was presented for image security and confidentiality by taking advantage of deep learning (DL) technology and producing data hierarchies. Due to the development taking place in the field of images and the large circulation of them through modern applications, it has become necessary to maintain their security. DL technology was used to encrypt and decrypt images, and based on hierarchical variables to complicate the encryption process. Convolutional neural networks are used in automatic learning to extract hierarchical features from an image, and to ensure adaptability, the model is trained on a variety of images. In order to encrypt the image, multi-layered hierarchical processes are used, and there are layers added during the work for complexity and to thwart attacks. Manipulating the layers of the neural network in a hierarchical manner to benefit from the outputs of the layers in feedback reflects the importance of the contributions here. Likewise, scattering the columns and rows of the image in a descending or ascending manner increases the efficiency of the contribution in this study. The use of hierarchical parameters facilitates encryption and decryption for authorized users. The evaluation of the research was conducted using established picture metrics and compared to pre-existing encryption techniques. The experimental findings substantiated the efficacy of the proposed approach in upholding image security, with the inclusion of hierarchical information further bolstering its ability to thwart attacks. Consequently, it emerges as a very promising strategy for ensuring image security. The proposed method is a significant advancement in creating an image security strategy using DL and a hierarchical variable creation process. The study provides a good and adaptable solution to evolving image security challenges in the digital age.

Computing the axial load capacity of pile foundations is often challenging for geotechnical engineers. Different theoretical and empirical approaches were proposed for determining the ultimate bearing capacity. Among these approaches, the in situ testing methods are based on cone penetration test (CPT) measurements. This study compares five CPT methods in estimating the axial load capacity of precast concrete piles evaluated at four piling construction projects in Northwest and Central Florida. The analytical methods used in this work are the Aoki and De Alencar method (1975), the Schmertmann method (1978), the Bustamante and Gianeselli Laboratoire Central des Ponts et Chausees method (1982), the Eslami and Fellenius method (1997), and the Eurocode 7 (2007). The outcomes indicated that the Eurocode method 7 had the most increased load capacity estimates, whereas the Eslami and Fellenius method yielded the lowest estimates. The results also indicated that the Aoki and De Alencar (1975) method consistently demonstrated the slightest differences among these values, showing its potential for reliable and consistent pile-bearing capacity estimations.

The management of rainwater collection in a practical way is a fundamental need for the management of water resources in a manner that is sustainable. The goal of this research is to determine whether or not remote sensing technology is effective in providing data on precipitation for the purpose of locating rainwater collection tank locations in the province of Karbala. Rainfall patterns fluctuate considerably. Remote sensing may not capture variability enough to estimate the rainfall period and location. Sustainable rainfall harvesting requires accurate rainfall timing and distribution. This information is applied in the modeling of hydrological processes, the management of disasters, and environmental research. Following the completion of a geographical study, it has been established that the city of Karbala may be divided into two basic sections. Through the use of estimation, it is possible to more easily identify the region that is ideal for the location of rainwater-harvesting reservoirs and lakes. On the contrary, it is crucial to keep in mind that a location that was chosen based on average rainfall over a period of two years could not be suitable for other time periods. This is an idea that should be kept in mind several times. To put this into perspective, when choosing a location, it is vital to take into consideration the severity of the rainfall as well as the geographical location of the area. Particularly in locations such as Karbala, the implementation of data visualization systems into water management practices has the potential to improve both the efficiency and sustainability of water management methods. The findings of this study show the significance of implementing precise site selection techniques to enhance rainwater collection systems and encourage activities that are environmentally responsible for water management.

Shallow foundations are often the most economical option for building support, as they distribute structural weight to soil layers, require minimal earthwork, and do not necessitate specialized machinery. The most common type of soil in the city of Karbala is sandy soil. It is granular and loose by nature which has a relatively low bearing capacity. According to previous studies, the soil weakness is one of the problems with shallow foundation construction. Thus, the aim of this study is to improve the properties of the soil using geogrid reinforcement. Three critical parameters are examined, including depth, size, and number of geogrid layers in the soil reinforcement process to increase bearing capacity and decrease soil settling. The effect of geogrid depth ( u ) was studied by considering four depth ratios ( u / B = 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0) in order to determine the ideal depth of the geogrid layer, where ( B ) refers to the width of the footings. The results indicated that a decrease in depth ratio significantly increased the bearing capacity of footings built on reinforced soil layers compared to those built on natural soil, and the settlement reduction ratio (SRR) also increased. The size of the geogrid layer ( i.e. , width of the geogrid layer ( b ) was evaluated by evaluating four size ratios ( b / B = 1.5, 3.0, 4.5, and 6.0). With an increasing size ratio of the geogrid layer, the bearing capacity ratio (BRC) was significantly improved. Additionally, the study examined the optimal number of geogrid layers, focusing on single and multiple layers with N = 1, 2, 3, and 4. The results showed a higher BRC for footings on reinforced soil layers, as well as a significant rise in SRR with an increase in the number of geogrid layers. Finally, it was concluded that the optimal depth ratio was u / B = 0.5, the size ratio was b / B = 4.5, and reinforced with three geogrid layers, which provided the highest bearing capacity and SRR. The experimental test results were verified by comparing them with those calculated using theoretically developed models. The variation between the experimental and theoretical results is reasonable, confirming that the experimental testing results exhibit a high degree of accuracy.

The effective and consistent operation of wastewater treatment plant systems (WWTPs) is crucial for the sustainability of the environment and public health protection. The main objective of the present study is concentrated on assessing the reliability of the Karbala wastewater treatment plant’s (WWTP’s) performance. It investigates the plant’s efficiency through the weekly concentration values of three key water quality indicators, which are biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), total suspended solids (TSS), and chemical oxygen demand (COD) collected over 4 years of operation from 2020 to 2023. The methods employed were the coefficient of reliability (COR) method for plant performance in removing the effluent concentrations of 5-day biochemical oxygen demand, COD, and TSS. The analysis found that the COR values were generally close to 1 for all years, with the lowest value recorded at 0.71 in 2020, during the initial stabilization phase of the WWTP. The main finding was that the Karbala WWTP has been effective in pollutant removal. The present study is important because it supplies dependable data that wastewater treatment operators can use to assess their daily operations and gauge the success of biological treatment methods. It is worth noting that no study has been done on the reliability model for examining the quality of wastewater of the Karbala WWTP, and such a method of analysis is considered a new improvement for the evaluation of the plant to meet the Iraqi standards.

An affordable local adsorbent was physically activated and modified to form a novel composite adsorbent. Similar processes were used to activate bentonite and limestone to create this low-cost local adsorbent. Furthermore, when compared to the inexpensive local resources, the innovative composite adsorbent showed improved adsorption capacity. Fouling brought on by sulphate-ion pollution is a significant problem in the wastewater treatment industry. In this work, a composite material known as Limestone and Bentonite composite, was developed, and its capacity to absorb sulphate ions from tainted wastewater was evaluated. Using the scanning electron microscope, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller theory, the chemical, elemental, and mineralogical properties, as well as the functional group interaction, of the limestone, bentonite, and LB composite were determined. The model wastewater initially included 900 mg/L of sulphate ions; however, the experiment showed that the new (LB) composite absorbed over 729 mg/L of sulphate ions. Its (LB) = 81% strong elimination effectiveness was observed. It was found that the ideal adsorption conditions were 250 rpm, 60 min, 900 mg/L, and 0.5 g/50 mL. Adsorption studies were carried out in batches. With a greater determination coefficient, the Freundlich model provides a more accurate prediction for adsorption processes, bolstering the theory that chemisorption is the actual adsorption process. These results demonstrate the novel composite adsorbent (LB)’s tremendous potential for sulphate ion absorption.

Earth dams must be supplied with seepage control devices to prevent piping and sloughing. One such device used for this purpose is the so-called drain pipe. This study focuses on the influence of drain pipes on seepage and slope stability analysis in a zoned earth dam; here, for the specific case study of the Al-Adhaim dam, Iraq. The purpose of this study is to demonstrate the beneficial effects of drain pipes in the control of seepage and improving slope stability in zoned earth dams, thus allowing for specific recommendations for the optimal location(s) of any drain pipes. SEEP/W software was used to evaluate the steady-state seepage that occurs through and beneath the dam, and SLOPE/W software was used to analyze slope stability. In this study, two drain pipes, each with diameters of 15 cm, were used in the earth dam, with a vertical distance of 1 m between them. The effects of the drain pipes through the earth dam were investigated by varying their relative locations, specifically at X / B = 0.5, 0.6, and 0.7. The results of the study showed that the presence of the drain pipes was effective in reducing the elevation of the phreatic surface line. Additionally, the drain pipes significantly reduced the seepage flow and hydraulic exit gradient while increasing the factor of safety (FOS). Based on the findings, it was concluded that the most effective position for the drain pipes was when they were located at X / B = 0.7; in this configuration, they allowed for minimum seepage flow (70%) and hydraulic exit gradient (72%), while providing the highest FOS (17.2).

This work investigates the intricate interplay between particle size and water flow velocity in connection to sedimentation within the sewage systems. The experimental design involves simulating the sedimentation process in a laboratory setup using an 8 inch unplasticized polyvinyl chloride pipe with a controlled slope. Three factors of flow and discharge velocity detailed in this work are particle size, velocity, and sedimentation rate, which are determined through calculations based on the Manning equation. For the numerical simulations, the software packages Fluent and Rocky were used. Sediment transportation under laminar flow conditions can be analyzed by means of numerical simulation. The size, shape, and velocity of the fluid in which the particles are suspended are only a few of the variables taken into consideration while assessing the drag force acting on the particles. The results show that the smaller particles escape the entry further because they are more movable within the conduit. Conversely, it is demonstrated that increased settling pressures near the entrance increase the probability of larger particle sizes settling. Higher water velocities have been found to have a favorable effect on the sediment mobility, which decreases the particle accumulation. This study presents practical methods to mitigate sedimentation in sewage systems, including increasing water flow rates and employing filtration methods to keep larger particles out of the system. This work adds a great deal to the body of information previously known on sedimentation behavior in these systems with its incisive finds that may boost the longevity and efficiency of sewage systems. More research is required to determine the value of the proposed treatments.

Electrocardiogram (ECG) recognition systems now play a leading role in the early detection of cardiovascular diseases. However, the explanation of judgments made by deep learning models in these systems is prominent for clinical acceptance. This article reveals the effect of transfer learning in ECG recognition systems on decision precision. This article investigated the role of transfer learning in ECG image classification using a customized convolutional neural network (CNN) with and without a VGG16 architecture. The customized CNN model with the VGG16 achieved a good test accuracy of 98.40%. Gradient-weighted class activation mapping (Grad-CAM), for this model, gave the wrong information because it focused on parts of the ECG that were not important for making decisions instead of features necessary for clinical diagnosis, like the P wave, QRS complex, and T wave. A proposed model that only used customized CNN layers and did not use transfer learning performed 99.08% on tests gave correct Grad-CAM explanations and correctly identified the influencing areas of decision-making in the ECG image. Because of these results, it seems that transfer learning might provide good performance metrics, but it might also make things harder to understand, which could make it harder for deep learning models that use ECG recognition to be reliable for diagnosis. This article concludes with a call for careful consideration when using transfer learning in the medical field, as model explanations resulting from such learning may not be appropriate when it comes to domain-specific interpretations.

In geotechnical engineering, a scale factor “ n ” is a numerical ratio that relates the physical properties of a physical model to those of a prototype. The effect of scale factor on the dynamic response of a frame foundation used for high-speed turbo machines is examined through numerical analyses to clarify the influence of scaling dimensions, frequency, static and dynamic loads, and scaled models’ material on the dynamic responses of the frame foundation. The static and dynamic analyses were conducted using Ansys Workbench software. The total number of analyses used to investigate the scale factor effect was 28. Both modal and harmonic analyses were performed to calculate the natural frequencies and displacement responses of the scaled and prototype models under the scaled dynamic loading. Five scale factors were used in this study for concrete models (1, 20, 25, 32, and 40), and two additional analyses on steel models of scale (1 and 20) were used to study the material scaling. The prototype results were first verified, and then the models were investigated after scaling the dynamic loads and dimensions. The results of this study revealed the importance of scaling the frequency when studying the high-speed turbo machine foundation models to reflect the correct responses of the prototype foundation.

Multi-object detection and tracking is a crucial and extensively researched field in image processing and computer vision. It involves predicting complete tracklets for many objects in a video clip concurrently. This article uses the frame cancellation technique to reduce the computation time required for deep learning and DeepSORT (for any version of the YOLO detector) coupled with DeepSORT algorithm techniques. This novel technique implements a different number of frame cancellations, starting from one frame and continuing until nine frame cancellations, tabling the result of each frame cancellation against the overall system performance for each frame cancellation. The proposed method worked very well; there was a small drop in the average tracking accuracy after the third frame rate cancellation, but the execution time was much faster.