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).
A long-span Prestressed Concrete Hunched Beam with Multi-Quadrilateral Opening has been developed as an alternative to steel structural elements. An experimental program was created and evaluated utilizing a single mid-span monotonic static load on simply supported beams, which included six beams with openings and the solid control beam without openings, to investigate the performance of such beams. The number and height of the quadrilateral openings are the variables to consider. According to test results, the presence of openings in the prestressed concrete hunched beam with multi-quadrilateral opening did not considerably affect their ultimate load capacity with respect to a contro
The effect of using grinded rocks of (quartzite and porcelanite) as powder of (10 and 20) % replacement by weight of cement for self-compacting concrete slabs was investigated in this study. Five slabs with 15 concrete cubes were tested experimentally at 28 days to study the compressive strength, ultimate load, ultimate deflection, ductility, crack load and steel strain. The test results show that, the compressive strength improvement when replacement of local rock powder reached to (7.3, 4.22) % for (10 and 20) % quartzite powder and (11.3, 16.1) % for (10 and 20) % porcelanite powder, respectively compared to the reference specimen. The ultimate load percentage increase for slabs with (10 and 20) % rep
... Show MoreThe formation of Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), Zn(II), and Cd(II)-complexes (C1-C5) respectively was studied with new Schiff base ligand [benzyl(2-hydroxy-1-naphthalidene) hydrazine carbodithioate derived from reaction of 2-hydroxy-1-naphthaldehyde and benzyl hydrazine carbodithioate. The suggested structures of the ligand and its complexes have been determined by using C.H.N.S analyzer, thermal analysis, FT-IR, U.V-Visible, 1HNMR, 13CNMR , conductivity measurement , magnetic susceptibility and atomic absorption. According to these studies, the ligand coordinates as a tridentate with metal ions through nitrogen atom of azomethane , oxygen atom of hydroxyl, and sulfur atom of thione
... Show MoreFour complexes of Co(II),Ni(II),Cu(II) and Zn(II) with the azo ligand (4-chloro-N-(2-(dimethylamino)ethyl)-5-((2-hydroxy- 4,6-dimethylphenol)diazenyl)-2-methoxybenzamide) L. The structure of ligand and complexes were confirmed on the basis of their analytical and spectral data, these dyes were tested as dyeing in cotton fabric, and also testing in light and cleaner firmness. Also, antimicrobial and antifungal activities of ligand and their complexes were evaluated and the results showed that the ZnL compound showed the higher antibacterial activity with inhibition zone of 13mm against Staphyloco-ccus epidermidis, Steptococcus sp. and Escherichia coli compared with ligand and other metal complexes .In case of ZnL compound the antifungal acti
... Show MoreFour complexes of Co(II),Ni(II),Cu(II) and Zn(II) with the azo ligand (4-chloro-N-(2-(dimethylamino)ethyl)-5-((2-hydroxy-4,6-dimethylphenol)diazenyl)-2-methoxybenzamide) L. The structure of ligand and complexes were confirmed on the basis of their analytical and spectral data, these dyes were tested as dyeing in cotton fabric, and also testing in light and cleaner firmness. Also, antimicrobial and antifungal activities of ligand and their complexes were evaluated and the results showed that the ZnL compound showed the higher antibacterial activity with inhibition zone of 13mm against Staphyloco-ccus epidermidis, Steptococcus sp. and Escherichia coli compared with ligand and other metal complexes .In case of ZnL compound the antifungal activ
... Show MoreUndoubtedly, rutting in asphalt concrete pavement is considered a major dilemma in terms of pavement performance and safety faced by road users as well as the road authorities. Rutting is a bowl-shaped depression in the wheel paths that develop gradually with the increasing number of load applications. Heavy axle loadings besides the high pavement summer temperature enhance the problem of rutting. According to the AASHTO design equation for flexible pavements, a 1.1 in rut depth will reduce the present serviceability index of relatively new pavement, having no other distress, from 4.2 to 2.5. With this amount of drop in serviceability, the entire life of the pavement in effect has been lost. Therefore, it is crucial to look at the mechani
... Show MoreIn this research, we did this qualitative and quantitative study in order to improve the assay of aspirin colorimetrically using visible spectrophotometer. This method depends on aqueous hydrolysis of aspirin and then treating it with the ferric chloride acidic solution to give violet colored complex with salicylic acid, as a result of aspirin hydrolysis, which has a maximum absorption at 530nm. This procedure was applied to determine the purity of aspirin powder and tablet. The results were approximately comparative so that the linearity was observed in the high value of both correlation coefficient (R= 0.998) and Determination Coefficient or Linearity (R2= 0.996) while the molar absorpitivity was 1.3× 103 mole
