Abstract

               Documentary credits are considered successful means to reduce imports, especially unnecessary imports that lead to the outflow of foreign currency from the country. However, due to the backwardness of the banking methods, the reintroduction of documentary credits after 2003 did not effectively contribute to reducing import rates. This has had a negative impact on the Iraqi economy and made it vulnerable to external markets. Documentary credits are also considered the best way to ensure payment in international trade, providing independent credit support and sufficient security for exporters and importers against commerci

The international standing has an impact on the strategic importance of the country in its relations with other regional and international countries. The strategic position of Taiwan has an impact on the US-Chinese relations, as it is one of the most important issues that raise dispute between the two countries. The while the Chinese consider Taiwan is an ancient legacy of their republic, and an integral part of it, the Americans consider it as an area linking the U.S. to the Asia-Pacific region, through which it intends to help its allies (Japan and South Korea). Moreover, Taiwan has huge economic importance as it is one of the largest manufacturers of electronic chips and semiconductors. This fact represents one of the most important issu

Flow of water under concrete dams generates uplift pressure under the dam, which may cause the dam to function improperly, in addition to the exit gradient that may cause piping if exceeded a safe value. Cutoff walls usually used to minimize the effect of flow under dams. It is required to
1)minimize the flow quantity to conserve water in the reservoir, it is also required to
2)minimize the uplift pressure under the dam to maintain stability of the dam, and it is required to

3) minimize the exit gradient to prevent quick condition to occur at the toe of the dam where piping may occur and may cause erosion of the soil. Varying the angle of cutoff walls affects its influence on the factors aforementioned that are required to

In this work, the behavior of reinforced concrete columns under biaxial bending is studied. This work aims at studying the strengthening of columns by using carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP). The experimental work includes investigation of eight reinforced concrete columns (150*150*500mm) tested under several load conditions. Variables considered in the test program include; effect of eccentricity and effect of longitudinal reinforcement (Ø12mm or Ø6mm). Test results are discussed based on load – lateral deflection behavior, load –longitudinal deflection behavior, ultimate load and failure modes. The CFRP reinforcement permits
a complete change in the failure mode of the columns .The effect of longitudinal reinforcement in

One of the most important parameters determining structural members' durability and strength is the fire flame's influence and hazard. Some engineers have advocated using advanced analytical models to predict fire spread impact within a compartment and considering finite element models of structural components to estimate the temperatures within a component using heat transfer analysis. This paper presented a numerical simulation for a reinforced concrete beam’s structural response in a case containing Water Absorbing Polymer Spheres (WAPS) subjected to fire flame effect. The commercial finite element package ABAQUS was considered. The relevant geometrical and material parameters of the reinforced concrete beam model a

Nonlinear diffraction patterns can be obtained by focusing a laser beam through a thin slice of the material. Here, we investigated experimentally the formation of the far field nonlinear diffraction patterns of cw laser beam at 532 nm passing through a quartz cuvette containing multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNT's) suspended in acetone and in DI water at concentrations of 0.030.wt.%, 0.045 wt.%, 0.060 wt.%, and 0.075 wt.%. Our results show that increasing the concentration of both types of suspensions (MWCNTs in acetone and MWCNTs DI water) led to increase in the number of pattern rings which indicates an increase in their nonlinear refractive indices. Moreover, MWCNTs DI water suspension at a concentration of 0.075 wt. % was more effic

One of the most important parameters determining structural members' durability and strength is the fire flame's influence and hazard. Some engineers have advocated using advanced analytical models to predict fire spread impact within a compartment and considering finite element models of structural components to estimate the temperatures within a component using heat transfer analysis. This paper presented a numerical simulation for a reinforced concrete beam’s structural response in a case containing Water Absorbing Polymer Spheres (WAPS) subjected to fire flame effect. The commercial finite element package ABAQUS was considered. The relevant geometrical and material parameters of the reinforced concrete beam model at elevated t