Studies on the flexural behavior of post-tensioned beams subjected to strand damage and strengthened with near-surface mounted (NSM) technique using carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) are limited and fail to examine the effect of CFRP laminates on strand strain and strengthening efficiency systematically. Furthermore, a design approach for UPC structures in existing design guidelines for FRP strengthening techniques is lacking. Hence, the behavior of post-tensioned beams strengthened with NSM-CFRP laminates after partial strand damage is investigated in this study. The testing program consists of seven post-tensioned beams strengthened by NSM-CFRP laminates with three partial strand damage ratios (14.3% symmetrical damage, 14.3% asymmetric damage, and 28.6% symmetrical damage). The experimental results showed that the use of CFRP laminates significantly increases the flexural capacity by up to 17.4 to 20.4%, corresponding to a strand damage ratio of 14.3 and 28.6%, respectively, enhances the stiffness, and reduces strand strain by up to 15.8 to 22.2%. However, the flexural stiffness of strengthened beams during serviceability phases is critical as strand damage ratios increase. Additionally, semi-empirical equations were proposed to predict the actual strain of unbonded strands whilst considering the effects of CFRP laminates. The suggested equations provide accurate predictions with little variance. Doi: 10.28991/CEJ-2022-08-07-013 Full Text: PDF
Single Walled Carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs), as nano-needle structures, are good candidates as nanocarrier delivery systems that carry drug to the site of action. They are good due to their unique pharmaceutical properties. Teniposide is an anticancer drug, which is widely used, but it has a problem of low solubility. In this study, to improve the properties of carbon nanotubes, pre-functionalization of carbon nanotubes via carboxylation with strong acids has been performed and then functionalized through attaching them to the polymer and copolymer. Concurrently, a proper polymer-copolymer combination has been selected by the UV-Visible spectrometer at 880nm. It is selected based on the qualitative dispersibility analysis, the visual observa
... Show MorePurpose: To determine the impact of service encounter in stimulating voluntary customer behaviors.
- Approach / methodology: It was selected a sample of customers Bank Iraqi Trade (TBI) was (105) individual, using a questionnaire designed in the light of previous studies, was drafted scale and tested in the light of a group of statistical methods developed (reliability coefficient, reliability coefficient composite, convergence). Then test hypotheses through structural equation modeling.
- Results: The behaviors and characteristics of the service provider in effect urged bank customers to perform voluntary extra, as the service environment service encounter
Flexible pavements are subjected to three main distress types: fatigue crack, thermal crack, and permanent deformation. Under severe climate conditions, thermal cracking particularly contributes largely to a considerable scale of premature deterioration of pavement infrastructure worldwide. This challenge is especially relevant for Europe, as weather conditions vary significantly throughout the year. Hydrated lime (HL) has been recognized as an effective additive to improve the mechanical properties of asphalt concrete for pavement applications. Previous research has found that a replacement of conventional limestone dust filler using hydrated lime at 2.5% of the total weight of aggregates generated an optimum improvement in the mec
... Show MoreWheat straw was modified with malonic acid in order to get low cost adsorbent have a good ability to remove copper and ferric ions from aqueous solutions, chemical modification temperature was 120°C and the time was 12 h. Parameters that affect the adsorption experiments were studied and found the optimum pH were 6 and 5 for copper and iron respectively and the time interval was 120 min and the adsorbent mass was 0.1 g. The values for adsorption isotherms parameters were determined according to Langmuir [qmax were 54.64 and 61.7 mg/g while b values were 0.234 and 0.22 mg/l] , Freundlich [Kf were 16.07 and 18.89 mg/g and n were 2.77 and 3.16], Temkin [B were 0.063 and 0.074 j/mol and At were 0.143 and 1.658 l/g] and for Dubinin-Radushkev
... Show MoreGovernment spending is the tool that the state uses to achieve its various goals. The research aims to identify the most important determinants of government spending in Iraq and to indicate the type and nature of the relationship between government spending and its determinants, which will contribute to understanding the movement of government spending. The results of the co-integration test using the border test methodology showed that the variables of population growth and oil prices have a long-term effect on government spending while inflation is not significant in the long run, and that 47% of the equilibrium imbalance (short-term imbalance) in government spending in the previous period (t-) can be corrected in the current period (t)
... Show MoreAbstract
In this work, two algorithms of Metaheuristic algorithms were hybridized. The first is Invasive Weed Optimization algorithm (IWO) it is a numerical stochastic optimization algorithm and the second is Whale Optimization Algorithm (WOA) it is an algorithm based on the intelligence of swarms and community intelligence. Invasive Weed Optimization Algorithm (IWO) is an algorithm inspired by nature and specifically from the colonizing weeds behavior of weeds, first proposed in 2006 by Mehrabian and Lucas. Due to their strength and adaptability, weeds pose a serious threat to cultivated plants, making them a threat to the cultivation process. The behavior of these weeds has been simulated and used in Invas
... Show MoreAbstract This study aims to compare British war poetry of the First World War with Iraqi poetry from the mid-20th century with special reference to Iraqi war poetry of the 1980’s Iraq-Iran War and the period that followed it. It will also investigate the influence of the designated British war poetry on the chosen body of Iraqi poetry. Through the comparison of sample poems the study presents, firstly, the direct influence of the British poetry of the Great War and its translation which formed the seeds of a more radical movement in Iraqi poetry during the 1980’s Iran/Iraq War and the period that followed it. The study also presents a comparison of the works of British and Iraqi civilian poets during and after the war time and their con
... Show MoreThis paper focuses on Load distribution factors for horizontally curved composite concrete-steel girder bridges. The finite-element analysis software“SAP2000” is used to examine the key parameters that can influence the distribution factors for horizontally curved composite steel
girders. A parametric study is conducted to study the load distribution characteristics of such bridge system due to dead loading and AASHTO truck loading using finite elements method. The key parameters considered in this study are: span-to-radius of curvature ratio, span length, number of girders, girders spacing, number of lanes, and truck loading conditions. The results have shown that the curvature is the most critical factor which plays an important