Concrete pavements are essential to modern infrastructure, but their low tensile and flexural strengths can cause cracking and shrinkage. This study evaluates fiber reinforcement with steel and carbon fibers in various combinations to improve rigid pavement performance. Six concrete mixes were tested: a control mix with no fiber, a mix with 1% steel fiber (SF1%), a mix with 1% carbon fiber (CF1%), and three hybrid mixes with 1% fiber content: 0.75% steel /0.25% carbon fiber (SF0.75CF0.25), 0.25% steel /0.75% carbon fiber (SF0.25CF0.75), and 0.5% steel /0.5% carbon fiber ((SF0.5CF0.5). Laboratory experiments including compressive, flexural, and splitting tensile strength tests were conducted at 7, 28, and 90 days, while Finite Element Analysis (FEA) using ABAQUS software was developed to examine pavement behavior under repeated loading. The results revealed that at 90 days, the SF1% mix exhibited a 9.1% improved compressive strength and CF1% mix a 7.3% improved strength over the control mix. The SF1% mix increased flexural strength by 72.5% and the CF1% mix by 48.6%. Additionally, splitting tensile strength increased by 70% for the SF1% and 45.5% for the CF1%. The hybrid mixes improved compressive strength by 7.6%-8.5%, flexural strength by 59.7%-70.2%, and splitting tensile strength by 56%-67.8%. The finite element modeling showed that the control mix was displaced 15 mm under repeated loading, while the SF1% reduced displacement by 35% and the hybrid mixes by 30%. These findings indicated that SF1% exhibited the best mechanical properties. However, fiber reinforcement, whether used single or in hybrid combinations, improves concrete pavement mechanical performance and loading behavior, offering a promising way to infrastructure durability and service life.
In recent years, nano-modified asphalt has gained significant attraction from researchers in the design of asphalt pavement fields. The recently discovered Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2) are among the most exciting and promising nanomaterials. This study examines the effect of 1, 3, 5, and 7% of nano-TiO2 by weight of asphalt on some of its rheological and hardened properties. The experimental study included physical and rheological properties. The asphalt penetration, softening point, ductility, and rotational viscometer tests indicate that 5% nano-TiO2 is the ideal amount to be added to bitumen as a modifier. The
Dental clinicians and professionals need an affordable, nontoxic, and effective disinfectant against infectious microorganisms when dealing with the contaminated dental impressions. This study evaluated the efficiency of hypochlorous acid (HOCl) as an antimicrobial disinfectant by spraying technique for the alginate impression materials, compared with sodium hypochlorite, and its effect on dimensional stability and reproduction of details. HOCl with a concentration of 200 ppm for 5 and 10 min was compared with the control group (no treatment) as a negative control and with sodium hypochlorite (% 0.5) as a positive control. Candida albicans, Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were selected to assess the antimicrobi
... Show MoreThe water supply network inside the building is of high importance due to direct contact with the user that must be optimally designed to meet the water needs of users. This work aims to review previous research and scientific theories that deal with the design of water networks inside buildings, from calculating the amount of consumption and the optimal distribution of the network, as well as ways to rationalize the use of water by the consumer. The process of pumping domestic water starts from water treatment plants to be fed to the public distribution networks, then reaching a distribution network inside the building till it is provided to the user. The design of the water supply network inside the building is
... Show MoreThe azo dye brilliant reactive red K-2BP (λmax = 534 nm) is widely used for coloring textiles because of its low-cost and tolerance fastness properties. Wastewaters treatment that contains the dye by conventional ways is usually inadequate due to its resistance to biological and chemical degradation. During this study, the continuous reactor of an advanced oxidation method supported the use of H2O2/sunlight, H2O2/UV, H2O2/TiO2/sunlight, and H2O2/TiO2/UV for decolorization of brilliant reactive red dye from the effluent. The existence of an optimum pH, H2O2 concentration, TiO2 concentration, and d
... Show MoreProteus mirabilis is considered as a third common cause of catheter-associated urinary tract infection, with urease production, the potency of catheter blockage due to the formation of biofilm formation is significantly enhanced. Biofilms are major virulence factors expressed by pathogenic bacteria to resist antibiotics; in this concern the need for providing new alternatives for antibiotics is getting urgent need, This study aimed to explore whether green synthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) can function as an anti-biofilm agent produced by P.mirabilis. Bacterial cells were capable of catalyzing the biosynthesis process by producing reductive enzymes. The nanoparticles were synthesized from cell free
... Show MoreDental clinicians and professionals need an affordable, nontoxic, and effective disinfectant against infectious microorganisms when dealing with the contaminated dental impressions. This study evaluated the efficiency of hypochlorous acid (HOCl) as an antimicrobial disinfectant by spraying technique for the alginate impression materials, compared with sodium hypochlorite, and its effect on dimensional stability and reproduction of details. HOCl with a concentration of 200 ppm for 5 and 10 min was compared with the control group (no treatment) as a negative control and with sodium hypochlorite (% 0.5) as a positive control. Candida albicans, Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were selected to assess the antimicrobi
... Show Moreobjective: To evaluate the influence of monolithic zirconia brand, thickness, and substrate color on color matching accuracy when optically coupled to abutment substrates. Methods: A total of 180 samples of two brands of monolithic zirconia [Prettau Anterior (PA), Ceramill Zolid FX Multicolor (CZ)] were prepared in three different thicknesses (0.8 mm, 1.5 mm, and 2 mm) with a standardized 10 mm diameter. Color properties of the samples were assessed using spectrophotometry at baseline and after coupling to three substrate types: standard dentin, discolored dentin, and titanium. Color differences (ΔE) were calculated and statistically analyzed by 3-way ANOVA and pairwise comparison ( α=0.05). Results: The brand and material thickness, at
... Show MoreThis paper aims to improve the voltage profile using the Static Synchronous Compensator (STATCOM) in the power system in the Kurdistan Region for all weak buses. Power System Simulation studied it for Engineers (PSS\E) software version 33.0 to apply the Newton-Raphson (NR) method. All bus voltages were recorded and compared with the Kurdistan region grid index (0.95≤V ≤1.05), simulating the power system and finding the optimal size and suitable location of Static Synchronous Compensator (STATCOM)for bus voltage improvement at the weakest buses. It shows that Soran and New Koya substations are the best placement for adding STATCOM with the sizes 20 MVAR and 40 MVAR. After adding STATCOM with the sizes [20MVAR and 40MV
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