Concrete structures are exposed to aggressive environmental conditions that lead to corrosion of the embedded reinforcement and pre-stressing steel. Consequently, the safety of concrete structures may be compromised, and this requires a significant budgets to repair and maintain critical infrastructure. Prediction of structural safety can lead to significant reductions in maintenance costs by maximizing the impact of investments. The aim of this paper is to establish a framework to assess the reliability of existing post-tensioned concrete bridges. A time-dependent reliability analysis of an existing post-tensioned involving the assessment of Ynys-y-Gwas bridge has been presented in this study. The main cause of failure of this bridge was corrosion of tendons, making it a relevant case study to evaluate the effect of corrosion on bridge safety. Uncertainties associated with material properties, geometry, loads and corrosion parameters are taken into account. The probabilistic models of the uncertainties are combined with a non-linear finite element analysis to study the effect of tendons pitting corrosion on the post-tensioned concrete bridge. The limit state function considered is flexural strength. The Monte-Carlo simulation (MCS) method is used to compute the statistical parameters of the resisting bending moment through a MATLAB code running ABAQUS. It was found that the reliability index for the first year of bridge service life is below the minimum value acceptable for structures. The study confirmed that this bridge was a high risk structure due to its design and location. The proposed framework can be used by engineers and researchers as a tool to support decision for segmental post-tensioned (PT) bridges maintenance since they need for a regular inspection due to their risk to corrosion.
The aim of this investigation is to study the rote of alkaline phosphatase in mammogenesis and lactogenesis. A total of fortyfemalealbino rats were used and divided according to their physiological states into four groups [ten rats each]. From each deeply ether anesthetized rat, the mammary gland was removed, fixed, quenched in liquid nitrogen and sectioned using SLEE cryostat. The sections were employed for routine haematoxylin and eosin stain and alkaline phosphatase demonstration using the calcium–cobalt method. The obvious finding in the mammary glands of pregnant rat was the presence of thick black rings indicating strong alkaline phosphatase activityaround the basal part of the secretory epithelium of the alveoli. In lactating mamma
... Show MorePurpose: Studying the activity of acid phosphatase, which is the marker of lysosomal activity in the mammary glands of rats at different stages of the physiological maturation [virgih, pregnancy, lactation and Post lactation] Methods: Forty, female, albino rats were used in this study. They were divided into four groups according to their physiological states [virgin, pregnancy, lactation and post lactation]. The mammary glands, after suitable fixation and sectioning, were employed for routine haematoxylin and eosin stain and for acid phosphatase demonstration Results: Acid phosphatase activity was weakly diffuse in the secretory tubules of virgin rats, the diffuse and granular activity of this enzyme was increased during pregnancy in the s
... Show MoreMaintenance of hospital buildings and its management are regarded as an important subject which needs attention because hospital buildings are service institutions which are very important to a society, requiring the search for the best procedure to develop maintenance in hospitals. The research is aimed to determine an equation to estimate the annual maintenance cost for public hospital. To achieve this aim, Al-Sader City Hospital maintenance system in Al-Najaf province has been studied with its main elements through survey of data, records and reports relating to maintenance during the years of the study 2008-2014 and to identify the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threat points in the current system through Swat analysi
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Objectives: The study is carried out to assess functional performance for heart's valve replacement patients and find out relationship with sociodemographic data and clinical data
Methodology: Descriptive design is carried out at cardiac surgery centers in Baghdad ; Ibn -Al Betar Specialized for cardiac surgery center and Al-Iraqi center for cardiac disease. its initiation from December28the 2013 to September 1st 2014,A non- probability (purposive) sample of 50 adults patients are attended cardiac surgery centers at Baghdad city and who have heart valves replacement. The data collection through development of questionnaire which is composed from three parts(socio demographic data, clinical information, functional performa
Objective (s): to assess nurses' practices regarding discharge planning post-cardiac surgery and to find out the relationship between nurse practices and demographic characteristic (age, gander, level of education, years of experiences, and years of experiences in surgical ward).
Methodology: A descriptive study was carried out at cardiac centers and hospitals in Baghdad (Ibn Al- Bitar specialized center for cardiac surgery; Iraqi center for heart disease and Ibn al Nafees hospital). For the period of 6th February 2017 up to 1st of June 2018. A non-probability (purposive) sample of (58) nurses (male & female) who were working in surgical wards. The data was collected, by using of a questionnaire, which consists of two parts, part
This study presents a mathematical model describing the interaction of gut bacteria in the participation of probiotics and antibiotics, assuming that some good bacteria become harmful through mutations due to antibiotic exposure. The qualitative analysis exposes twelve equilibrium points, such as a good-bacteria equilibrium, a bad-bacteria equilibrium, and a coexisting endemic equilibrium in which both bacteria exist while being exposed to antibiotics. The theory of the Sotomayor theorem is applied to study the local bifurcation around all possible equilibrium points. It’s noticed that the transcritical and saddle-node bifurcation could occur near some of the system’s equilibrium points, while pitchfork bifurcation cannot be accrued at
... Show MoreBackground: The purpose of this study was to compare regional bond strength at middle and cervical thirds of the root canal among glass fiber-reinforced composite (FRC) endodontic posts cemented with different cements, using the push-out test to compare the performance (retention) of two types of luting cements; polycarboxylate cement and Zinc phosphate cement used to cement translucent fiber post and to compare the result of the push-out test at different storage times;1 week ,1month and 2 months. Materials and methods: Ninety caries-free, recently extracted single-rooted human teeth with straight root canals was used in this study, The root canals were endodontically instrumented at a working length of 0.5 mm from the apex by m
... Show MoreThis research investigated the effect of adding two groups of reinforcement materials, including bioactive materials Hydroxyapatite (HA) and halloysite nanoclay and bioinert materials Alumina (AL2O3) and Zirconia (ZrO2), each of them with various weight ratios (1,2,3,4 &5)% to the polymer matrix PMMA. The best ratios were selected, and then a hybrid was preparing Composite red from the best ratios from each group. Thermal properties, including thermal conductivity and Thermomechanical Analysis (TMA) technology, have been studied. The results showed that adding 3% Hydroxyapatite (HA) and 5% halloysite nanoclay to the polymethacrylate (PMMA) mer leads to an increase in thermal conductivity. It was also found from the Thermomechanical Analysis
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