This study was prepared to investigate the performance and behavior of concrete thrust blocks supporting pipe fittings. In the water distribution networks, it is always necessary to change the path of the pipes at different degrees or to create new branches. In these regions, an unbalanced force called the thrust force is generated. In order to counter this force, these regions are supported with concrete blocks. In this article, the system components (soil, pipe with its bend and thrust blocks) have been numerically modeled and simulated by the ABAQUS CAE/2019 software program in order to study the behavior and stability of the thrust block with different burial conditions (several burial depths) by the soil under the influence of the thrust force. Accordingly, 45° bend angles were studied with a specified pipe diameter placed on soil with known properties under the influence of internal hydrostatic test pressure. The obtained results that were relied upon to describe the behavior and stability of the block are (the lateral displacement of the block in the direction of the thrust force, as well as the vertical displacement of the block in addition to the Von Mises stresses transmitted by the block to the soil). It was concluded that the case in which the block is fully supported from its back side represents the optimum state of the block as it provides marginal sliding of the block and the least transmitted stress to the soil. It was also concluded that the transition from the first case (thrust block without soil behind it) to the second case (a quarter of the block is supported by soil), in which the maximum change in the performance of the concrete block was recorded, but after shifting to the other cases, the effect was reduced gradually.
Polyethersulfone (PES) ultrafiltration membrane blending NaX zeolite crystals as a hydrophilic additive was examined for zinc (II) and lead ions Pb (II) removal from aqueous solutions. The effect of NaX zeolite content on the permeation flux and removal efficiency was studied. The results showed that adding zeolite to the polymer matrix enhanced the permeation flux. The permeation flux of all the zeolite/PES matrix membranes was higher than the pristine membrane. No significant improvement was observed in the removal of Zn (II) ions using all prepared membranes as the removal percentage did not raise above 29.2%. However, the removal percentage of Pb (II) ions was enhanced to 97% using a membrane containing 0.9%wt. zeolite. Also, it was
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This study aims to conduct an exhaustive comparison between the performance of human translators and artificial intelligence-powered machine translation systems, specifically examining the top three systems: Spider-AI, Metacate, and DeepL. A variety of texts from distinct categories were evaluated to gain a profound understanding of the qualitative differences, as well as the strengths and weaknesses, between human and machine translations. The results demonstrated that human translation significantly outperforms machine translation, with larger gaps in literary texts and texts characterized by high linguistic complexity. However, the performance of machine translation systems, particularly DeepL, has improved and in some contexts
... Show MoreThe aim of this research is to test the relationship of influence and correlation between strategic performance and its five dimensions (financial dimension, after internal processes, after internal customer satisfaction, after learning and growth, environmental and social dimension), by adopting international indicators in agricultural projects To determine the extent of the differences between the research variable and its dimensions, and then try to come out with a number of recommendations that contribute to the evaluation of agricultural projects and their performance by diagnosing and treating deviations, and based on the importance of the research topic in agricultural institutions. Institutions of the Environment and Soci
... Show MoreIn this work, a convex lens concentrating solar collector is designed and manufactured locally by using 10 convex lenses (concentrator) of a diameter 10cm and one Copper absorber tube of a diameter 12.5mm and 1mm in thickness 1m length. Two axes manual Tracking system also constructed to track the sun continuously in two directions. The experiments are made on 17th of May 2015 in climatic conditions of Baghdad. The experimental data are fed to a computer program to solve the thermal performing equation, to find efficiency and actual useful energy. Then this data is used in numerical CFD software for three different absorber diameters (12.5 mm, 18.75 mm and 25 mm). From the results that obtained the maximum the
... Show MoreThis research aims to predict the value of the maximum daily loss that the fixed-return securities portfolio may suffer in Qatar National Bank - Syria, and for this purpose data were collected for risk factors that affect the value of the portfolio represented by the time structure of interest rates in the United States of America over the extended period Between 2017 and 2018, in addition to data related to the composition of the bonds portfolio of Qatar National Bank of Syria in 2017, And then employing Monte Carlo simulation models to predict the maximum loss that may be exposed to this portfolio in the future. The results of the Monte Carlo simulation showed the possibility of decreasing the value at risk in the future due to the dec
... Show MoreABSTRACT Background: One of the major problems of all ceramic restorations is their probable fracture against the occlusal forces. The objective of this in vitro study was to evaluate the effect of two gingival finishing lines (90°shoulder and deep chamfer) on the fracture resistance of full contour CAD/CAM and heat press all-ceramic crowns. Materials and Methods: Thirty two maxillary first premolars were prepared to receive full contour CAD/CAM (zolid) and heat press (Cergo Kiss) ceramic crowns using a special paralleling device (Parallel-A-Prep). The teeth were divided into four groups according to the type of finishing line prepared. Each crown was cemented to its corresponding tooth using self-etch, self-adhesive dual cure resin ceme
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