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.
Spinal dysraphism is the incomplete fusion of the neural arch, which can be seen as an occult or open neural tube defect. Meningoceles are a form of open neural tube defect characterized by cystic dilatation of the meninges containing cerebrospinal fluid without the involvement of neural tissue. Neurosurgical intervention is necessary in the newborn period since survival in advancing ages is often impossible. Therefore, meningoceles are rarely reported in adulthood. Here, we discussed a case of a 23-year-old female who presented with a meningocele in the lumbosacral area since birth, which had not been operated on. Surgical management and intraoperative findings are also discussed.
This paper aims to study the effect of circular Y-shaped fin arrangement to improve the low thermal response rates of a double-tube heat exchanger containing Paraffin phase change material (PCM). ANSYS software is employed to perform the computational fluid dynamic (CFD) simulations of the heat exchanger, including fluid flow, heat transfer, and the phase change process. The optimum state of the fin configuration is derived through sensitivity analysis by evaluating the geometrical parameters of the Y-shaped fin. For the same height of the fins (10 mm), the solidification time is reduced by almost 22%, and the discharging rate is enhanced by almost 26% using Y-shaped fins compared with the straight fins. The results demonstrate that the sol
... Show MoreCoupling reaction of 4-nitroaniline with 3-aminobenzoic acid provided the corresponding bidentate azo ligand. The prepared ligand was identified by Microelemental Analysis, 1H-NMR, FT-IR, and UV-Vis spectroscopic techniques. Treatment of the prepared ligand with Y(III) and La(III) metal ions in 1:3 M:L ratio in aqueous ethanol at optimum pH yielded a series of neutral complexes with the general formula of [M(L)3]. The prepared complexes were characterized by flame atomic absorption, Elemental Analysis (C, H, N), FT-IR, and UV-Vis spectroscopic methods, as well as conductivity measurements. The nature of the complexes formed were studied following the mole ratio and continuous variation methods; Beer's law obeyed over a concentration range o
... Show MoreIn the Iraqi educational context, the academic presentation of learning and teaching Spanish faces several challenges due to the lack of updated teach-ing resources, absence of new teaching and learning methodologies, and in-adequate infrastructure to accommodate students in their study locations, among other issues. Given this comprehensive landscape, this article pro-poses a documentary analysis investigating the potential advantages of im-plementing self-regulation as a strategy for teaching and learning Spanish in the Iraqi educational setting. Accessing clarification of some fundamental concepts, self-regulation can be understood as the control each individual can exert over their thoughts, actions, emotions, and strategies,
... Show MoreThe essential objective of this study presents a analyzes of the combination of reality and fantasy in three dramas of Spanish author Alejandro Casona. "Trees die standing" (premiered in Buenos Aires in 1949), “Prohibited suicide in spring” (premiered in Mexico in 1937) and "The boat without fisherman" (premiered in Buenos Aires in 1945).
The first part is an introduction about the biography of Spanish author Alejandro Casona that will allow us to understand some peculiarities of his work in relation to the social historical context of his time.
In the second part of this study we have analyzed elements of reality and fantasy in the th
... Show MoreInternal curing is a method that has been advised to decrease the primary age cracking, mainly of concrete mixes using low (water to cementitious materials - w/cm) ratios corresponding to the self-compacting concrete-(SCC). This research aims to study the effect of the internal curing using saturated lightweight aggregate- (LWA) on the steel reinforcing corrosion in SCC. In this research, crushed bricks or thermostone were partially replaced by (20%) by the weight of sand and volumetrically measured. The results showed that the steel reinforcement of internally cured concrete showed a slight increase in corrosion up to 300 days of exposure to the saline solution (containing 3.5% NaCl). The ability of using the crushed bricks or thermostone
... Show MoreInternal curing is a method that has been advised to decrease the primary age cracking, mainly of concrete mixes using low (water to cementitious materials - w/cm) ratios corresponding to the self-compacting concrete-(SCC). This research aims to study the effect of the internal curing using saturated lightweight aggregate- (LWA) on the steel reinforcing corrosion in SCC. In this research, crushed bricks or thermostone were partially replaced by (20%) by the weight of sand and volumetrically measured. The results showed that the steel reinforcement of internally cured concrete showed a slight increase in corrosion up to 300 days of exposure to the saline solution (containing 3.5% NaCl). The ability of using the crushed bricks or thermostone
... Show MoreLow incoming discharge upstream of Samarra-Al Tharthar System leads to sediment accumulation and forming islands, especially an island upstream of Al Tharthar Regulator. This island and the sedimentation threaten the stability of the structure and reduce the efficiency of the system. This study aims to hydraulically identify the sedimentation problem mentioned above, to find solutions of how to control the sediment problems, and to develop the capacity of
the system for 500 years return period flood of 15060 m3/s. Surface Water Modeling System (SMS10.1) with two dimensional depth average models (RMA-2) software were used to simulate and analyze the system. The results of analysis showed that the maximum permissible discharge through t
In this paper, the static analysis for finding the best location of boxes inside the composite wing-box structure has been performed. A software ANSYS (ver.11) was used to analyses the Aluminum wing to find the maximum stresses reached in. These results are used as a base for the composite wingbox to find the numbers of layers and location of the box beam and its dimensions so that the composite wingbox may carry the same loading conditions in the Aluminum wing. Analysis showed that a composite wingbox having two boxes is better than the single or triple boxes wing based on stress to weight ratio. Mass saving of (40%) had been achieved when composite wing-box is used instead of Aluminum wing.