Test results of six half-scale reinforced concrete flat plates connections with an opening in the vicinity of the column are reported. The test specimens represent a portion of a slab bounded by the lines of contraflexure around the column. The tests were designed to study the effect of openings on the punching shear behavior of the slab-column connections. The test parameters were the location and the size of the openings. One specimen had no opening and the remaining five had various arrangements of openings around the column. All specimens were cast with normal density concrete of approximately 30 MPa compressive strength. The openings in the specimens were square, with the sides parallel to the sides of the column. Three sizes of ope

Heat transfer process and fluid flow in a solar chimney used for natural ventilation are investigated numerically in the present work. Solar chimney was tested by selecting different positions of absorber namely: at the back side, front side, and at the middle of the air gap. CFD analysis based on finite volume method is used to predict the thermal performance, and air flow in two dimensional solar chimney under unsteady state condition, to identify the effect of different parameters such as solar radiation. Results show that a solar chimney with absorber at the middle of the air gap gives better ventilation performance. A comparison between the numerical and previous experimental results shows fair agreement.

The robot arm is the most popular robotic form used in industry. Thus, it is crucial to make a system programming which could controlled the movement of each part in the industrial robot to make it works properly. One of the simplest models of the robot arm is EDARM ED-7100 which has a controller to control the movement of the robot arm manually. In this study, the robot controller has been redesigned in order to improve this robot's function. The new controller system used AT89S52 microcontroller which has wire connected to the robot hand. A function has been added with this controller to improve the system of controlling and becomes better than the previous system (only manually). The functions of the new system include three mo

Background: zirconium (Zr) implants are known for having an aesthetically pleasing tooth-like colour Unlike the grey cervical collar that develops over time when titanium (Ti) implants are used in thin gingival biotypes. However, the surface qualities of Zr implants can be further improved. This present study examined using thermal vapour deposition (TVD) to coat Zr implants with germanium (Ge) to improve its physical and chemical characteristics and enhance soft and hard tissue responses. Materials and methods: Zr discs were divided into two groups; the uncoated (control) group was only grit-blasted with alumina particles while the coated (experimental) group was grit-blasted then coated with Ge via TVD. Field emission scanning ele

In this work, CdS/TiO2 nanotubes composite nanofilms were successfully synthesized via electrodeposition technique. TiO2 titania nanotube arrays (NTAs) are commonly used in photoelectrochemical cells as the photoelectrode due to their high surface area, excellent charge transfer between interfaces and fewer interfacial grain boundaries. The anodization technique of titanium foil was used to prepare TiO2 NTAs photoelectrode. The concentration of CdCl2 played an important role in the formation of CdS nanoparticles. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) shows that the CdS nanoparticles were well deposited onto the outer and inner of nanotube at 40 mM of CdCl2. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analyses wer

In the present investigation, 24 adult dipteran species with forensic importance belonging to 13 genera and 8 families that were collected from different localities of Iraq. The specimens were identified by different taxonomical keys; in addition the date and localities of collecting specimens were recorded.