The dual nature of asphalt binder necessitates improvements to mitigate rutting and fatigue since it performs as an elastic material under the regime of rapid loading or cold temperatures and as a viscous fluid at elevated temperatures. The present investigation assesses the effectiveness of Nano Alumina (NA), Nano Silica (NS), and Nano Titanium Dioxide (NT) at weight percentages of 0, 2, 4, 6, and 8% in asphalt cement to enhance both asphalt binder and mixture performance. Binder evaluations include tests for consistency, thermal susceptibility, aging, and workability, while mixture assessments focus on Marshall properties, moisture susceptibility, resilient modulus, permanent deformation, and fatigue characteristics. NS notably improves binder viscosity by about 138% and reduces penetration by approximately 40.8% at 8% nanomaterial (NM) content, significantly boosting hardness and consistency. NS also enhances Marshall stability and decreases air voids, increasing the mix’s durability. For moisture resistance, NS at 8% NM content elevates the Tensile Strength Ratio (TSR) to 91.0%, substantially surpassing the 80% standard. Similarly, NA and NT also show improved TSR values at 8% NM content, with 88.0% and 84.1%, respectively. Additionally, NS, NA, and NT reduce permanent deformation by 82%, 69%, and 64% at 10,000 cycles at 8% NM content, illustrating their effectiveness in mitigating pavement distress. Notably, while higher NM content generally results in better performance across most tests, the optimal NM content for fatigue resistance is 4% for NS and 6% for both NA and NT, reflecting their peak performance against various types of pavement distresses. These results highlight the significant advantages of nanoparticles in improving asphalt’s mechanical properties, workability, stability, and durability. The study recommends further field validation to confirm these laboratory findings and ensure that enhancements translate into tangible improvements in real-world pavement performance and longevity.
Fine aggregates used for concrete works in Sulaymaniyah city frequently fail to meet the standard requirements for gradation and fineness modulus in cement concrete. This paper aims to critically evaluate gradation, fineness modulus, and clay contents of various natural sands produced and used for concrete work in the region. Sixteen field sand samples were collected from various sites in Darbandikhan (5 samples), Qalat Dizah (5 samples), Koysinjaq (5 samples), and Piramagroon (1 sample) confirming to ASTM D75. The field samples were parted into test specimens based on ASTM C702. Then, sieve analysis was carried out on the oven-dry test specimens in compliance with ASTM C136. The test results of fine aggregates wer
... Show MoreThis paper presents a nonlinear finite element modeling and analysis of steel fiber reinforced concrete (SFRC) deep beams with and without openings in web subjected to two- point loading. In this study, the beams were modeled using ANSYS nonlinear finite element
software. The percentage of steel fiber was varied from 0 to 1.0%.The influence of fiber content in the concrete deep beams has been studied by measuring the deflection of the deep beams at mid- span and marking the cracking patterns, compute the failure loads for each deep beam, and also study the shearing and first principal stresses for the deep beams with and without openings and with different steel fiber ratios. The above study indicates that the location of openings an
Mn2+ and Ce3+ Doped ZnS nanocrystals were prepared by a simple microwave irradiation method under mild condition. The starting materials for the synthesis of Mn2+ and Ce3+ Doped ZnS P nanocrystals were zinc acetate as zinc source, thioacetamide as a sulfur source, manganese chloride and Cerium chloride as manganese and cerium sources respectively (R & M Chemical) and ethylene glycol as a solvent. All chemicals were analytical grade products and used without further purification. The nanocrystals of Mn2+ and Ce3+ Doped ZnS P with cubic structure were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), the morphology of the film is seen by field effect scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). The composition of the samples is analyzed by EDS. The s
... Show MoreThe fluorescence emission of Rhodamine 6G (R6G) and Acriflavine dyes in PMMA polymer have been studied by changing the irradiation and exposure time of laser light to know the effect of this parameter. It was found that the fluorescence intensity decreases in the polymer samples doped dyes as the exposure time increases and then reaches stabilization at long times, this behavior called photobleaching, which have been shown in liquid phase less than solid phase. Using 2nd harmonic with wavelength 530 nm laser, the photobleaching effect in the two dye-doped polymers different solvent but same was studied. It was observed that photobleaching of by different solution and by using dip spin coating the photobleaching seem in liquid phase
... Show MoreThe fluorescence emission of Rhodamine 6G (R6G) and Acriflavine dyes in PMMA polymer have been studied by changing the irradiation and exposure time of laser light to know the effect of this parameter. It was found that the fluorescence intensity decreases in the polymer samples doped dyes as the exposure time increases and then reaches stabilization at long times, this behavior called photobleaching, which have been shown in liquid phase less than solid phase. Using 2nd harmonic with wavelength 530 nm laser, the photobleaching effect in the two dye-doped polymers different solvent but same was studied. It was observed that photobleaching of by different solution and by using dip spin coating the photobleaching seem in liquid phase more
... Show MoreForest fires continue to rise during the dry season and they are difficult to stop. In this case, high temperatures in the dry season can cause an increase in drought index that could potentially burn the forest every time. Thus, the government should conduct surveillance throughout the dry season. Continuous surveillance without the focus on a particular time becomes ineffective and inefficient because of preventive measures carried out without the knowledge of potential fire risk. Based on the Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KBDI), formulation of Drought Factor is used just for calculating the drought today based on current weather conditions, and yesterday's drought index. However, to find out the factors of drought a day after, the data
... Show MoreMicroalgae have been increasingly used for wastewater treatment due to their capacity to assimilate nutrients. Samples of wastewater were taken from the Erbil wastewater channel near Dhahibha village in northern Iraq. The microalga Coelastrella sp. was used in three doses (0.2, 1, and 2g. l-1) in this experiment for 21 days, samples were periodically (every 3 days) analyzed for physicochemical parameters such as pH, EC, Phosphate, Nitrate, and BOD5, in addition to, Chlorophyll a concentration. Results showed that the highest dose 2g.l-1 was the most effective dose for removing nutrients, confirmed by significant differences (p≤0.05) between all doses. The highest removal percentage was
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