Rutting is a crucial concern impacting asphalt concrete pavements’ stability and long-term performance, negatively affecting vehicle drivers’ comfort and safety. This research aims to evaluate the permanent deformation of pavement under different traffic and environmental conditions using an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) prediction model. The model was built based on the outcomes of an experimental uniaxial repeated loading test of 306 cylindrical specimens. Twelve independent variables representing the materials’ properties, mix design parameters, loading settings, and environmental conditions were implemented in the model, resulting in a total of 3214 data points. The network accomplished high prediction accuracy with an R2 of 0.93 and a mean squared error (MSE) of 0.0039. Results based on the sensitivity analysis and variable importance techniques showed that the percentage of aggregate passing the 4.75 mm sieve and the (rice) theoretical maximum specific gravity (Gmm) were the most significant factors in predicting axial permanent strain (εp). Furthermore, the connection weight method highlighted input variables’ distinct positive and negative impacts on permanent deformation.
In this paper, numerical and experimental studies on the elastic behavior of glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) with stiffeners in the GFRP section's web (to prevent local buckling) are presented. The GFRP profiles were connected to the concrete deck slab by shear connectors. Two full-scale simply supported composite beams (with and without stiffeners) were tested under impact load (three-point load) to assess its structural response. The results proved that the maximum impact force, maximum deflection, damping time, and damping ratio of the composite beam were affected by the GFRP stiffeners. The experimental results indicated that the damping ratio and deflection were diminished compare
... Show MoreSlurry infiltrated fibrous concrete (SIFCON) is a modern type of fibre reinforced concrete (FRC). It has unique properties; SIFCON is superior in compressive strength, flexural strength, tensile strength, impact resistance, energy absorption and ductility. Because of this superiority in these characteristics, SIFCON was qualified for applications of special structures, which require resisting sudden dynamic loads such as explosions and earthquakes. The main aim of this investigation is to determine the effect of fibre type on the apparent density of SIFCON and on performance under impact load. In this investigation, hook-end steel fibre and polyolefin fibre were used. Purely once and
The performance and durability of asphalt pavements are strongly influenced by the rheological properties of asphalt binders, particularly under severe climatic and traffic conditions. This study investigates the synergistic effects of incorporating multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) at dosages ranging from 0.25% to 1% into AC 40-50 asphalt binders modified with 4% Styrene–Butadiene–Styrene (SBS). A comprehensive experimental program involving physical, rheological, and chemical characterization tests was conducted, including penetration, softening point, viscosity, storage stability, a Dynamic Shear Rheometer (DSR), Multiple Stress Creep Recovery (MSCR), Linear Amplitude Sweep (LAS), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (F
... Show MoreThe performance grading system (superpave) has provided means to incorporate binder characteristics with
pavement failure types. It’s a comprehensive system that relates climate, traffic conditions and aging with
critical pavement distress. The objective of this paper is to develop an improved asphalt binder grading
system for Iraq based on the principal of superpave. The country was divided into different zones according
to the highest and lowest temperature ranges and traffic loading. The Performance graded binder proposed
for each zone was compared with some States of USA that have same hot weather of Iraq by using Long
Term Pavement Performance (LTPP v3.1) software. Iraqi asphalt samples were tested using the Supe
The sorption of Cu2+ ions from synthetic wastewater using crushed concrete demolition waste (CCDW) which collected from a demolition site was investigated in a batch sorption system. Factors influencing on sorption process such as shaking time (0-300min), the initial concentration of contaminant (100-750mg/L), shaking speed (0-250 rpm), and adsorbent dosage (0.05-3 g/ml) have been studied. Batch experiments confirmed that the best values of these parameters were (180 min, 100 mg/l, 250 rpm, 0.7 g CCDW/100 ml) respectively where the achieved removal efficiency is equal to 100%. Sorption data were described using four isotherm models (Langmuir, Freundlich, Redlich-Peterson, and Radke-Prausnitz). Results proved that the pure ads
... Show MoreThis study investigates the possibility of using waste plastic as one of the components of expired lead-acid batteries to produce lightweight concrete. Different percentages of lead-acid battery plastic were used in the production of lightweight concrete. The replacements were (70, 80 and 100%) by volume of the fine and coarse aggregate. Results demonstrated that a reduction of approximately 23.6% to 35% in the wet density was observed when replacement of 70% to 100% of the natural aggregate by lead-acid battery plastic. Also, the compressive strength decreased slightly with the increase in plastic content at different curing ages of 7, 28, 60, 90, 120 days. The lowest value of compressive strength was (20.7 MPa) for (wa
... Show MoreThis study focuses on the behavior of simply supported perforated prestressed concrete rafters (PPCRs) under single midspan monotonic static loading. The experimental program consisted of testing seven specimens; one solid (control) rafter, and six perforated with quadrilateral openings. The main investigated variables are the number and height of the openings. The test findings indicate that, in comparison to the solid rafter, the presence of quadrilateral openings in the PPCRs led to reducing the load capacity by (4.3-36%) and increase the midspan deflection at ultimate by (14.8-33%). Also, increasing the number of concrete posts between openings resulted in increasing the failure load and decreasing the deflection at all stages o
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