This study explores the role of nanomaterials in the performance of asphalt binders and mixtures. Two commonly available nanomaterials, i.e., nanosilica (NS) and nanoalumina (NA), were used at contents of 0%, 2%, 4%, 6%, and 8% by weight of asphalt binder. A set of experiments was carried out at the binder level to investigate properties such as penetration, softening point, aging-related mass loss, nanomaterial dispersion (storage stability), and workability (rotational viscosity). In addition, the suitability of NS and NS was also assessed through the testing of nanomodified asphalt mixtures, which focused on Marshall properties, the resilient modulus, moisture susceptibility, permanent deformation, and fatigue resistance. The findings indicate that nanomaterials impart a stiffening effect and enhance binder properties while maintaining storage stability and aging characteristics within limits. Their addition also improved the asphalt mixture stability and volumetric characteristics, especially at higher contents. The resilient modulus (Mr) evaluations highlight the ability of NS and NA to sustain repetitive loading as well as enhance recovery from deformation, with significant increases of 28.7% and 16.1% observed at 8% NS and NA contents, respectively, compared with those of the control mixture. Although both nanomaterials exhibit improved resistance against moisture damage, permanent deformation, and fatigue distress, the effect of NS was more promising than that of NA. Statistical analysis confirmed the importance of selecting these nanomaterials and contents for producing asphalt mixtures. On the basis of the performance testing, 4% NS and 6% NA were the optimal contents for achieving satisfactory performance.
The rate of gas induction was measured in gas-inducing type mechanically agitated contactors provided with two impellers. A reactor of 0.5 m i.d. was used with a working capacity of 60 liters of liquid. Tap water was used as the liquid phase, and air was used as the gas phase. The bioreactor mixing system consists of two equal diameter stirrers; the top impeller is shrouded-disk/curved-blade turbine with six evacuated bending blades, while the bottom impeller was disk turbine. The impeller speed was varied in the range of 50 to 800 rpm. The ratio of impeller diameter to tank diameter (D/T) and the submergence (S) of upper impeller from the top were varied. The effects of clearance of lower impeller from the tank bottom (C2) an
... Show MoreArtificial roughness applied to a Solar Air Heater (SAH) absorber plate is a popular technique for increasing its total thermal efficiency (ηt−th). In this paper, the influence of geometrical parameters of V-down ribs attached below the corrugated absorbing plate of a SAH on the ηt−th was examined. The impacts of key roughness parameters, including relative pitch p/e (6–12), relative height e/D (0.019–0.043), angles of attack α (30–75°), and Re (1000–20,000), were examined under real weather conditions. The SAH ηt−th roughened by V-down ribs was predicted using an in-house developed conjugate heat-transfer numerical model. The maximum SAH ηt−th was shown to be 78.8% as predicted under the steady-state condition
... Show MoreOptimized Link State Routing Protocol (OLSR) is an efficient routing protocol used for various Ad hoc networks. OLSR employs the Multipoint Relay (MPR) technique to reduce network overhead traffic. A mobility model's main goal is to realistically simulate the movement behaviors of actual users. However, the high mobility and mobility model is the major design issues for an efficient and effective routing protocol for real Mobile Ad hoc Networks (MANETs). Therefore, this paper aims to analyze the performance of the OLSR protocol concerning various random and group mobility models. Two simulation scenarios were conducted over four mobility models, specifically the Random Waypoint model (RWP), Random Direction model (RD), Nomadic Co
... Show MoreConstruction projects are complicated in nature and require many considerations in contractor selection. One of the complicated interactions is that between performance with the project size, and contractor financial status, and size of projects contracted. At the prequalification stage, the financial requirements restrict the contractors to meet minimum limits in financial criteria such as net worth, working capital and annual turnover, etc. In construction projects, however, there are cases when contractors meet these requirements but show low performance in practice. The model used in the study predicts the performance by training of a neural network. The data used in the study are 72 of the most recent roadw
... Show MoreA long-span Prestressed Concrete Hunched Beam with Multi-Quadrilateral Opening has been developed as an alternative to steel structural elements. An experimental program was created and evaluated utilizing a single mid-span monotonic static load on simply supported beams, which included six beams with openings and the solid control beam without openings, to investigate the performance of such beams. The number and height of the quadrilateral openings are the variables to consider. According to test results, the presence of openings in the prestressed concrete hunched beam with multi-quadrilateral opening did not considerably affect their ultimate load capacity with respect to a contro
The main challenge of military tactical communication systems is the accessibility of relevant information on the particular operating environment required for the determination of the waveform's ideal use. The existing propagation model focuses mainly on broadcasting and commercial wireless communication with a highs transceiver antenna that is not suitable for numerous military tactical communication systems. This paper presents a study of the path loss model related to radio propagation profile within the suburban in Kuala Lumpur. The experimental path loss modeling for VHF propagation was collected from various suburban settings for the 30-88 MHz frequency range. This experiment was highly affected by ecological factors and existing
... Show MoreMobile Ad hoc Networks (MANETs) is a wireless technology that plays an important role in several modern applications which include military, civil, health and real-time applications. Providing Quality of Service (QoS) for this application with network characterized by node mobility, infrastructure-less, limitation resource is a critical issue and takes greater attention. However, transport protocols effected influential on the performance of MANET application. This study provides an analysis and evaluation of the performance for TFRC, UDP and TCP transport protocols in MANET environment. In order to achieve high accuracy results, the three transport protocols are implemented and simulated with four different network topology which are 5, 10
... Show MoreHeat is one of the most energy forms emitted to atmosphere by industrial processes. Water is considered to be the best material to reduce heat energy since its available in nature in abundance and has the ability to absorb heat efficiently. Cooling towers are ideal alternatives to re-cool hot water instead of throwing it especially in places that lack natural water resources or when there are environmental precautions because water with high temperature would be harmful to the ecosystem when it recycled to natural resources such as rivers and lakes. Also, cooling towers considered economically feasible when using west water. This paper interests with hydraulic characteristics of a counter flow wet cooling tower which was investigated experi
... Show MoreA new two-way nesting technique is presented for a multiple nested-grid ocean modelling system. The new technique uses explicit center finite difference and leapfrog schemes to exchange information between the different subcomponents of the nested-grid system. The performance of the different nesting techniques is compared, using two independent nested-grid modelling systems. In this paper, a new nesting algorithm is described and some preliminary results are demonstrated. The validity of the nesting method is shown in some problems for the depth averaged of 2D linear shallow water equation.
In this study, industrial fiber and polymer mixtures were used for high-speed impact (ballistic) applications where the effects of polymer (epoxy), polymeric
mixture (epoxy + unsaturated polyester), synthetic rubber (polyurethane), Kevlar fiber, polyethylene fiber (ultra High molecular weight) and carbon fiber.
Four successive systems of samples were prepared. the first system component made of (epoxy and 2% graphene and 20 layer of fiber), then ballistic test was
applied, the sample was successful in the test from a distance of 7 m. or more than, by using a pistol personally Glock, Caliber of 9 * 19 mm. The second
system was consisting of (epoxy, 2% graphene, 36 layers of fiber and one layer of hard rubber), it was succeeded