The studies on unbonded post-tensioned concrete members strengthened with Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymers (CFRPs) are limited and the effect of strengthening on the strain of unbonded pre-stressed steel is not well characterized. Estimating the flexural capacity of unbound post-tensioned members using the design methodology specified in the design guidelines for FRP strengthening techniques of bonded post-tensioned members does not provide a reliable evaluation. This study investigates the behavior of unbonded post-tensioned concrete members with partial strand damage (14.3% and 28.6% damage) and strengthened with CFRP laminates using a near-surface mounted technique with and without U-wrap anchorages. The experimental results showed that the use of CFRP laminates significantly affects strand strain, especially with the use of anchors. The CFRP reinforcement affected flexural strength, crack width, and midspan deflection. However, the flexural stiffness of strengthened members during the serviceability phases is critical as strand damage ratios increase. In comparison with the nondamaged girder, the NSM-CFRP laminates enhanced the flexural capacity by 11% and 7.7% corresponding to strand damage of 14.3% and 28.6% respectively. Additionally, semiempirical equations were proposed to predict the actual strain of unbonded strands whilst considering the effects of FRP laminates. The suggested equations are simple to apply and provide accurate predictions with little variance.
This paper presents a combination of enhancement techniques for fingerprint images affected by different type of noise. These techniques were applied to improve image quality and come up with an acceptable image contrast. The proposed method included five different enhancement techniques: Normalization, Histogram Equalization, Binarization, Skeletonization and Fusion. The Normalization process standardized the pixel intensity which facilitated the processing of subsequent image enhancement stages. Subsequently, the Histogram Equalization technique increased the contrast of the images. Furthermore, the Binarization and Skeletonization techniques were implemented to differentiate between the ridge and valley structures and to obtain one
... Show MoreThe research involves using phenol – formaldehyde (Novolak) resin as matrix for making composite material, while glass fiber type (E) was used as reinforcing materials. The specimen of the composite material is reinforced with (60%) ratio of glass fiber.
The impregnation method is used in test sample preparation, using molding by pressure presses.
All samples were exposure to (Co60) gamma rays of an average energy (2.5)Mev. The total doses were (208, 312 and 728) KGy.
The mechanical tests (bending, bending strength, shear force, impact strength and surface indentation) were performed on un irradiated and irrad
... Show MoreBackground: Restoration of root canal treated teeth with a permanent restoration affect in the success of endodontically treated teeth. This in vitro study was performed to evaluate and compare the fracture strength of endodontically treated teeth restored by using custom made zirconium posts and cores, prefabricated carbon fiber, glass fiber and zirconium ceramic posts. Materials and method: Forty intact human mandibular second premolars were collected for this study and were divided into five groups. Each group contains 8 specimens: Group1: Teeth restored with Carbon Fiber Posts; Group2: Teeth restored with Glass Fiber Posts; Group3: Teeth restored with Zirconium Ceramic prefabricated Posts; Group4: Teeth restored with Zirconium Posts
... Show MoreIn this work, the effect of ceramic coating on performance, exhaust gas temperature and gases emissions of diesel engine operated on diesel fuel and biodiesel blends was investigated. A conventional four stroke, direct injected, single cylinder, diesel engine was tested at constant speed and at different load conditions using diesel fuel and biodiesel blends. The inlet and exhaust valves, the head of piston and cylinder head of the engine were coated by ceramic materials. Ceramic layers were made of (210-240) μm of Al2O3 and (30-60) μm of 4NiCr5Al as a bond coat for inlet and exhaust valves and (350-400) μm of YSZ and (50-100) μm of 4NiCr5Al as a bond coat for head of piston and (280-320) μm of Sic and (40-80) μm of 4NiCr5Al as a b
... Show MoreThis research was designed to study effect of performance appraisal dimensions on organizational confidence.
Asset completion questionnaire was used to collect data of this research from a random simple represent forty employees who works in Iraqi Oil ministry. The main result of this research was positive relations and the effect between performance appraisal and organizational confidence. The research contains some conclusions, the main of it is unimplemented the performance appraisal results in the policies of employees in the ministry and it work in classic methods incentives and training.
The important recommendations must doing to achieve integrating between the result of pe
... Show MoreIn this work, we studied the effect of power variation on inductively coupled plasma parameters using numerical simulation. Different values were used for input power (750 W-1500 W), gas temperature 300K, gas pressure (0.02torr), 5 tourns of the copper coil and the plasma was produced at radio frequency (RF) 13.56 MHZ on the coil above the quartz chamber. For the previous purpose, a computer simulation in two dimensions axisymmetric, based on finite element method, was implemented for argon plasma. Based on the results we were able to obtain plasma with a higher density, which was represented by obtaining the plasma parameters (electron density, electric potential, total power, number density of argon ions, el
... Show MoreThe aim of this paper is to determine the effect of nostalgia marketing on consumers’ purchase intention and demographic factors. Nostalgia marketing is one of the marketing ideas that some organizations use it to attract customers by evoking memories or heritage in their minds. This method would affect the emotions and feelings of people, which may raise their desire to buy. The questionnaire was used as a tool for data collection, and it was distributed to a random sample of 512 individuals. A sample is a group of individuals who have seen small sculptures displayed in shops inside Babylon Mall in Baghdad. The small sculptures show the life of Baghdadis in the fifties and sixties of the last century. Statistical software was used for
... Show MoreChemical spray pyrolysis technique was used at substrate temperature 250 ˚C with annealing temperature at 400 ˚C (for 1hour) to deposition tungsten oxide thin film with different doping concentration of Au nanoparticle (0, 10, 20, 30 and 40)% wt. on glass substrate with thickness about 100 nm. The structural, optical properties were investigated. The X-ray diffraction shows that the films at substrate temperature (250 ˚C) was amorphous while at annealing temperature have a polycrystalline structure with the preferred orientation of (200), all the samples have a hexagonal structure for WO3 and Au gold nanoparticles have a cubic structure. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) was used to characterize the morphology of the films. The optical pr
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