In this paper, mesoscale modeling is performed to simulate and understand fracture behavior of two concrete composites: cement and asphalt concrete using disk-shaped compact tension (DCT) tests. Mesoscale models are used as alternative to macroscale models to obtain better realistic behavior of composite and heterogeneous materials such as cement and asphalt concrete. In mesoscale models, aggregate and matrix are represented as distinct materials and each material has its characteristic properties. Disk-shaped compact tension test is used to obtain tensile strength and fracture energy of materials. This test can be used as a better alternative to other tests such as three points bending tests because it is more convenient for both field and

Experimental results on harmonic distortions in 13.56 MHz RF Argon glow discharge using different grounded electrodes areas and electrodes spacing are presented. The experiment is carried out at four pressure values. RF power values used are between 20 and 90 watts. The results indicate significant increase in distortions at two specific values of the cone angle enclosing the two electrodes within its geometrical volume. The computation of the cone head angle gave the symmetry discharge or asymmetry as well as when the angle is small the condition is near symmetry discharge associated with decrease in the nonlinearity.

Adsorption techniques are widely used to remove certain classes of pollutants from wastewater. Phenolic compounds represent one of the problematic groups. Na-Y zeolite has been synthesized from locally available Iraqi kaolin clay. Characterization of the prepared zeolite was made by XRD and surface area measurement using N2 adsorption. Both synthetic Na-Y zeolite and kaolin clay have been tested for adsorption of 4-Nitro-phenol in batch mode experiments. Maximum removal efficiencies of 90% and 80% were obtained using the prepared zeolite and kaolin clay, respectively. Kinetics and equilibrium adsorption isotherms were investigated. Investigations showed that both Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms fit the experimental data quite well. On the

Abstract Planetary nebulae (PN) represents the short phase in the life of stars with masses (0.89-7) M☉. Several physical processes taking place during the red giant phase of low and intermediates-mass stars. These processes include :1) The regular (early ) wind and the envelope ejection, 2) The thermal pulses during Asymptotic Giant Branch (AGB ) phase. In this paper it is briefly discussed how such processes affect the mass range of Planetary Nebulae(PN) nuclei(core) and their evolution, and the PN life time, and fading time for the masses which adopted. The Synthetic model is adopted. The envelope mass of star (MeN ) and transition time (ttr) calculated respectively for the parameter (MeR =1.5,2, 3×10-3 M☉). Another time scale is o

This work investigates the structural, optical, and surface properties of ZnO thin films prepared by sol-gel method. The effect on waveguide sensor was examined at different irradiation durations of alpha particles. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements revealed that the crystalline phase of ZnO thin films does not change after irradiation and showed a hexagonal structure of wurtzite type with an orientation toward (002). Moreover, ZnO thin films absorbance was increased with increasing irradiation time, whereas the transmittance was decreased. Additionally, increasing the irradiation time of alpha particles caused an increase in the extinction coefficient and the imaginary part,  while the optical energy gap of the ZnO samples w

Abstract

In this work, the plasma parameters (electron temperature (T_e), electron density( n_e), plasma frequency (f_p) and Debye length (λ_D)) have been studied by using the spectrometer that collect the spectrum of Laser produce CdTe_(X):S_(1-X) plasma at X=0.5 with different energies. The results of electron temperature for CdTe range 0.758-0.768 eV also the electron density 3.648 10¹⁸ – 4.560 10¹⁸ cm^-3  have been measured under vacuum reaching 2.5 10^-2 mbar .Optical properties of CdTe:S were determined through the optical transmission method using ultraviolet visible spectrophotometer within the r

Background: Many materials were proposed as root canal obturating materials but the biocompatibility issue remains to be a critical one. Propolis has been used as a therapeutic agent since the time of Hippocrates. It is known that propolis exhibits some pharmacological activities, such as antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal and anti inflammatory activity. Materials and methods: Eighteen albino rats were used in the study and divided randomly into three groups of 6 animals for each group. Each group was scheduled to be sacrificed at different time periods, which were three days, one week and three weeks. Propolis and ZOE sealer implants of 4mm in diameter and 0.5 gm in weight were implanted in the dorsal side of the rats. At the end of the

In this work, SnO₂ and (SnO₂)_1-x(ZnO)_x composite thin films with different ZnO atomic ratios (x=0, 5, 10, 15 and 20%) were prepared by pulsed laser deposition technique on clean glass substrates at room temperature without any treatment. The deposited thin films were characterized by x-ray diffraction atomic force microscope  and UV-visible spectrophotometer to study the effect of the ZnO atomic ratio on their structural, morphological and optical properties. It was found that the crystallinety and the crystalline size vary according to ZnO atomic ratio. The surface appeared as longitudinal structures which was convert to spherical shapes with increasing ZnO atomic ratio. The optical trans