This study investigates the characterization and mechanical performance of Stone Mastic Asphalt (SMA) mixtures modified with two types of polymers: styrene–butadiene–styrene (SBS) and high-molecular-weight polyethylene (PE). Neat asphalt cement PG 64-16 was modified using a higher content of SBS and PE at concentrations of 6%, 7%, and 8% by weight of asphalt through the dry blending method to produce Highly Modified Asphalts (HiMA). The physical and rheological properties of the modified binders were evaluated using penetration, softening point, rotational viscosity, and dynamic shear rheometer (DSR) tests. Also, their phase compatibility and morphological changes were evaluated using the storage stability testing and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis. The mechanical performance of the corresponding SMA mixtures was assessed through Marshall stability and flow, moisture susceptibility, crack tolerance index (CT-index), resilient modulus, and rutting resistance tests. Also, a mechanistic durability analysis was conducted using the KENLAYER software. Results indicated that both polymers enhanced the binder’s stiffness and high-temperature performance, with SBS exhibiting greater overall improvements. SBS-modified binders displayed a relatively low softening point difference (ΔT) of 5.1 °C to 5.8 °C, indicating good thermal stability and uniform polymer dispersion. In contrast, PE-modified binders exhibited significantly higher ΔT values, reaching 13.5 °C with 8% PE content, indicating a greater tendency toward phase separation. Moreover, Marshall stability improved substantially, increasing by 43% for 8% SBS-modified mixes and 28% for 8% PE-modified mixes compared to the neat SMA mix. Flow number (FN) results indicated enhanced rutting resistance, with FN values increasing by 2.45 times for SBS mixes and 2.1 times for PE mixes at 8% polymer content. Additionally, moisture susceptibility was significantly improved, as evidenced by the tensile strength ratio (TSR) values of 97% with 8% SBS and 92% with 8% PE, compared to 81% for the neat mix. Resilient modules increased notably, with a 38% rise for 8% SBS mixes and a 24% rise for 8% PE mixes, reflecting enhanced stiffness and load-bearing capacity. Also, the CT-index significantly improved, reaching values of 154 for the 8% SBS mix and 127 for the 8% PE-modified mix, compared to 86 for the neat mix, indicating enhanced resistance to cracking. Finally, both polymer-modified mixes demonstrated improved durability, where the 8% SBS mix exhibited the longest design life (21.66 years) and the highest number of allowable load repetitions (5.42 × 106), followed by 8% PE (13.98 years and 3.50 × 106 repetitions).
Sewer system plays an essential task in urban cities by protecting public health and the environment. The operation, maintenance, and rehabilitation of this network have to be sustainable and scientifically. For this purpose, it is crucial to support operators, decision makers and municipalities with performance evaluation procedure that is based on operational factors. In this paper, serviceability and performance indicator (PI) principles are employed to propose methodology comprising two enhanced PI curves that can be used to evaluate the individual sewers depending on operational factors such as flowing velocity and wastewater level in the sewers. To test this methodology; a case study of al-Rusafa in Baghdad city is
... Show MoreSewer system plays an indispensable task in urban cities by protecting public health and the environment. The operation, maintenance, and rehabilitation of this network have to be in a sustainable and scientific manner. For this purpose, it is important to support operators, decision makers and municipalities with performance evaluation procedure that is based on operational factors. In this paper, serviceability and performance indicator (PI) principles are employed to propose methodology comprising two enhanced PI curves that can be used to evaluate the individual sewers depending on operational factors such as flowing velocity and wastewater level in the sewers. In order to test this methodology; a case study of al-Ru
... Show MoreA particulate polymer composite material was prepared by reinforcing with the Aluminum Oxide (Al2O3) or Aluminum (Al) metallic particles with a particle size of (30) µm to an unsaturated Polyester Resin with a weight fraction of (5%, 10%, 15%, 20%).
Tensile test results showed the maximum value of elastic modulus reached (2400MPa.) in the case of reinforcing with (Al) particles with weight fraction (20%) and (1500 MPa.) in the case of reinforcing with (Al2O3) particles of the same weight fraction.
When the impact and the flexural strength tests were done, the results showed that flexural strength (F.S), maximum shear stress (τmax), impact strength
... Show MoreSteel fiber aluminum matrix composites were prepared by atomization technique. Different air atomization conditions were considered; which were atomization pressure and distance between sample and nozzle. Tensile stress properties were studied. XRF and XRD techniques were used to study the primary compositions and the structure of the raw materials and the atomized products. The tensile results showed that the best reported tensile strength observed for an atomization pressure equal to 4 mbar and sample to nozzle distance equal to 12 cm. Young modulus results showed that the best result occurred with an air atomization pressure equal to 8 mbar and sample to nozzle distance equal to 16cm
The research aims to develop the general performance and improve the level of activity of private insurance companies in line with the current progress of the country. Besides, Evaluating financial performance to diagnose weaknesses and strengths in sample research companies and then developing appropriate solutions. The deviation in the financial performance of the research sample was revealed by measuring the various accounts of the company. The research sample included five companies in the private insurance sector listed in the Iraqi Stock Exchange Market, which represent the private insurance sector. The research concluded that the added economic value is a broad concept that goes beyond the traditional performance evaluation process a
... Show MoreThe performance evaluation process requires a set of criteria and for the purpose of measuring the level of performance achieved by the Unit and the actual level of development of its activities, and in view of the changes and of rapid and continuous variables surrounding the Performance is a reflection of the unit's ability to achieve its objectives, as these units are designed to achieve the objectives of exploiting a range of economic resources available to it, and the performance evaluation process is a form of censorship, focusing on the analysis of the results obtained from the achievement All its activities with a view to determining the extent to which the Unit has achieved its objectives using the resources available to it and h
... Show MoreThe current research aims to identify the level of both psychological comfort and job performance among a sample of high school teachers for the academic year (2019-2020). The researcher has built two tools to measure psychological comfort, and one to measure job performance. The researcher applied the two scales to a random stratified sample of (100) male and female teachers. The results showed a low level of feeling with psychological comfort among secondary school teachers and a good level of sense of job performance. There is no statistically significant difference in the level of psychological comfort according to gender. There is a significant difference in psychological comfort according to the variable of the length of service in
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