Soft clays are generally characterized by low shear strength, low permeability and high compressibility. An effective method to accelerate consolidation of such soils is to use vertical drains along with vacuum preloading to encourage radial flow of water.  In this research numerical modeling of prefabricated vertical drains with vacuum pressure was done to investigate the effect of using vertical drains together with vacuum pressure on the degree of saturation of fully and saturated-unsaturated soft soils.  Laboratory experiments were conducted by using a specially-designed large consolidometer cell where a central drain was installed and vacuum pressure was applied. All tests were conducted

Abstract

A new type of solar air heater was designed, fabricated, and tested in Baghdad, Iraq winter conditions. The heater consists of two main parts. The horizontal section was filled with the black colored iron chip while the vertical part has five pipes filled with Iraqi paraffin wax. A fan was fixed at the exit of the air. Two cases were studied: when the air moved by natural convection and when forced convection moved it. The studied air heater has proven its effectiveness as it heated the air passing through it to high temperatures. The results manifest that using little air movement makes the temperatures, stored energies, and efficiencies of the two studied cases converge

The aim of study is to identify the histological changes in ovaries of the albino mice exposed to silver nanoparticles. Sixty adult females were collected and exposures by 4000 p.p.m. and 50-150 nm in size, Females were divided into 3treated groups. The concentration dosage was (1, 1.5 and 2) p.p.m. of silver nanoparticles for 7, 14 and 21 days as exposure periods as well as control group which treated by normal saline. Treated groups appeared different histopathological changes, it is depending on the concentration of silver nanoparticles and the period of exposure. These changes were included congestion in the blood vessels, hemorrhage, hyaline degeneration, fatty degeneration, pyknosis, necrosis as well as fusion of cells in follicula

In this study, the effect of the annealing temperature on the material properties and the structural properties of cuprous oxide was studied in order to investigate how the annealing temperature affects the material properties, and the temperature varied between 200℃, 300℃, 400℃ and 500 ℃ and was unannealed. The physical properties of the cuprous oxide were measured by X-ray diffraction (XRD). The XRD patterns showed that the Cu₂O nanoparticles were highly pure, crystalline, and nano-sized. From the XRD results, we found the pure cuprite (Cu₂O) phase. The values of crystal size were discovered and calculated by the Halder-Wagner and Size-Strain Plot (SSP) methods, respectively. The crystallite size increased

The evaluation of banks plays an important role in maintaining the interests of customers with the bank as well as providing continuous supervision and control by the Central Bank. The Central Bank of Iraq conducted an assessment of the Iraqi banks through the implementation of the CAMEL model during a certain period. This evaluation did not continue. The research provides continuity to the Central Bank's assessment and as a step to continue the evaluation process for all banks through the use of the CAMEL model. ROA and ROE by using the regression model for four Iraqi banks registered in the Iraqi market for securities during the period 2010-2016. The results showed that the capital and profitability indicators have a significan

Bobbin friction stir welding (BFSW) is a variant of the conventional friction stir welding (CFSW); it can weld the upper and lower surface of the work-piece in the same pass. This technique involves the bonding of materials without melting. In this work, the influence of tool design on the mechanical properties of welding joints of 6061-T6 aluminum alloy with 6.25 mm thickness produced by FSW bobbin tools was investigated and the best bobbin tool design was determined. Five different probe shapes (threaded straight cylindrical, straight cylindrical with 3 flat surfaces, straight cylindrical with 4 flat surfaces, threaded straight cylindrical with 3 flat surface and threaded straight cylindrical with 4 flat surfaces) with various dimensio

The present study was directed to determine the effect of silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) on the weights of the testes and epididymides and the characteristics of sperm in male albino mice. Animals were orally dosed with 200 mg/kg of Ag NPs for 5,10,15 days and then during the day following the end of dosage period all animals were sacrificed, then the testes and epididymes (head and tail) were isolated and after their weights measured. Then we studied the percentage of vitality and sperm abnormalities and calculate the concentration of sperm in the testes and epididymides. The results of this study after comparing it with the control showed a statistical decrease (P<0.05) in the weights of testes and tunica albuginea for the three peri

An investigation was conducted for the improvement of viscosity index of light lubricating oil fraction (40 stock)
obtained from vacuum distillation unit of lube oil plant of Daura Refinery, using solvent extraction process.
In this study furfural solvent was used to extract the undesirable materials which reduce the viscosity index of raw
lubricating oil fraction.
The studied effecting variables of extraction were extraction temperature range from 70 to 110°C, and solvent to oil
ratio range from 1:1 to 4:1 (wt/wt).
The n-d-M method was used for calculation of carbon distribution and structural group analysis of the raffinate
produced from furfural extraction.
Also the three component phase diagram for a mixed-ba

Abstract: Objectives: To investigate the effect of temperature elevation on the bonding strength of resin cement to the zirconia ceramic using fractional CO2 laser. Background: Fractional CO2 laser is an effective surface treatment of zirconia ceramic, as it increases the bonding strength of zirconia to resin cement. Methods: Thirty sintered zirconia discs (10 mm diameter, 2 mm thickness) were prepared and divided to three groups (N=10) and five diffident pulse durations were used in each group (0.1, 0.5, 1, 5 and 10 ms). Group A was treated with 10 W power setting, group B with 20 W and group C with 30 W. During laser irradiation, temperature elevation measurement was recorded for each specimen. Luting cement was bonded to the treated z