Peak ground acceleration (PGA) is one of the critical factors that affect the determination of earthquake intensity. PGA is generally utilized to describe ground motion in a particular zone and is able to efficiently predict the parameters of site ground motion for the design of engineering structures. Therefore, novel models are developed to forecast PGA in the case of the Iraqi database, which utilizes the particle swarm optimization (PSO) approach. A data set of 187 historical ground-motion recordings in Iraq’s tectonic regions was used to build the explicit proposed models. The proposed PGA models relate to different seismic parameters, including the magnitude of the earthquake (Mw), average shear-wave velocity (VS30), focal depth (FD), and nearest epicenter distance (REPi) to a seismic station. The derived PGA models are remarkably simple and straightforward and can be used reliably for pre-design purposes. The proposed PGA models (i.e., models I and II) obtained via the explicit formula produced using the PSO method are highly correlated to the actual PGA records owing to low coefficients of variation (CoV) of approximately 2.12% and 2.06%, and mean values (i.e., close to 1.0) of approximately 1.005 and 1.004. Lastly, high-frequency, low absolute relative error (ARE), which is below 5%, is recorded for the proposed models, thereby showing an acceptable error distribution.
The drive of this exploration is to investigate the mucoadhesive assets of A. indica (Azadirachta indica) fruit mucilage by incorporating it into mucoadhesive microspheres with Acyclovir (AVR) as a model drug. The study was performed to check the impact of the mucilage proportion on particle size and swelling index. Nine batches of AVR mucoadhesive microspheres were made with varying proportions of Polyacrylic acid 934P and A. indica fruit mucilage (AIFM). A central composite design with design expert software to check the impact of dependent variables (A. indica mucilage and Polyacrylic acid 934 P levels) on particle size and swelling index as a response. As part of congeniality studies, the batches w
... Show MoreIn this study the simple pullout concrete cylinder specimen reinforced by a single steel bar was analyzed for bond-slip behavior. Three-dimension nonlinear finite element model using ANSYS program was employed to study the behavior of bond between concrete and plain steel reinforcement. The ANSYS model includes eight-noded isoperimetric brick element (SOLID65) to model the concrete cylinder while the steel reinforcing bar was modeled as a truss member (LINK8). Interface element (CONTAC52) was used in this analysis to model the bond between concrete and steel bar. Material nonlinearity due to cracking and/or crushing of concrete, and yielding of the steel reinforcing bar were taken into consideration during the analysis. The accuracy of this
... Show MoreFire is one of the most critical risks devastating to human life and property. Therefore, humans make different efforts to deal with fire hazards. Many techniques have been developed to assess fire safety risks. One of these methods is to predict the outbreak of a fire in buildings, and although it is hard to predict when a fire will start, it is critical to do so to safeguard human life and property. This research deals with evaluating the safety risks of the existing building in the city of Samawah/Iraq and determining the appropriateness of these buildings in terms of safety from fire hazards. Twelve parameters are certified based on the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA20
Cutting forces are important factors for determining machine serviceability and product quality. Factors such as speed feed, depth of cut and tool noise radius affect on surface roughness and cutting forces in turning operation. The artificial neural network model was used to predict cutting forces with related to inputs including cutting speed (m/min), feed rate (mm/rev), depth of cut (mm) and work piece hardness (Map). The outputs of the ANN model are the machined cutting force parameters, the neural network showed that all (outputs) of all components of the processing force cutting force FT (N), feed force FA (N) and radial force FR (N) perfect accordance with the experimental data. Twenty-five samp
... Show MoreRutting is a crucial element of the mechanical performance characteristics of asphalt mixtures, which was the primary target of this study. The task involved substituting various portions of virgin coarse aggregate with recycled concrete aggregate materials that had been treated or left untreated at rates ranging from 25 to 100%, with a constant increase of 25%. The treatment process of recycled concrete aggregate involved soaking in acetic acid, followed by a mechanical process for a short time inside a Los Angeles machine without the balls. This research utilized two primary tests: the standard Marshall test to identify the optimal asphalt contents and the volumetric characteristics of asphalt mixtures. The other one w
... Show MoreIn this study the simple pullout concrete cylinder specimen reinforced by a single steel bar was analyzed for bond-slip behavior. Three-dimension nonlinear finite element model using ANSYS program was employed to study the behavior of bond between concrete and plain steel reinforcement. The ANSYS model includes eight-noded isoperimetric brick element (SOLID65) to model the concrete cylinder while the steel reinforcing bar was modeled as a truss member (LINK8). Interface element (CONTAC52) was used in this analysis to model the bond between concrete and steel bar. Material nonlinearity due to cracking and/or crushing of concrete, and yielding of the steel reinforcing bar were taken into consideration during the analysis. The accuracy of t
... Show MoreIn the literature, several correlations have been proposed for hold-up prediction in rotating disk contactor. However,
these correlations fail to predict hold-up over wide range of conditions. Based on a databank of around 611
measurements collected from the open literature, a correlation for hold up was derived using Artificial Neiral Network
(ANN) modeling. The dispersed phase hold up was found to be a function of six parameters: N, vc , vd , Dr , c d m / m ,
s . Statistical analysis showed that the proposed correlation has an Average Absolute Relative Error (AARE) of 6.52%
and Standard Deviation (SD) 9.21%. A comparison with selected correlations in the literature showed that the
developed ANN correlation noticeably