Nanoparticles have gained considerable interest in recent times for oil recovery purposes owing to significant capabilities in wettability alteration of reservoir rocks. Wettability is a key factor controlling displacement efficiency and ultimate recovery of oil. The present study investigates the influence of zirconium (IV) oxide (ZrO2) and nickel (II) oxide (NiO) nanoparticles on the wetting preference of fractured (oil-wet) limestone formations. Wettability was assessed through SEM, AFM and contact angle. The potentials of the nanoparticles to alter oil-wet calcite substrates water wet, was experimentally tested at low nanoparticle concentrations (0.004–0.05 wt%). Quite similar behaviour was observed for both nanoparticles at the same particle concentration; while ZrO2 demonstrated a better efficiency by altering strongly oil-wet (water contact angle θ=152°) calcite substrates into a strongly water-wet (θ=44°) state, NiO changed wettability to an intermediate-wet condition (θ=86°) at 0.05 wt% nanoparticle concentration. We conclude that ZrO2 is very efficient in terms of inducing strong water-wettability; and ZrO2 based nanofluids have a high potential as EOR agents.
Improving the permanent deformation resistance of asphalt pavements is a vital challenge. Nanomaterials have emerged as promising additives due to their ability to enhance the binder stiffness and elasticity. This study evaluated the influence of five nanomaterials, namely Nano-Silica (NS), Nano-Alumina (NA), Nano-Zinc (NZ), Nano-Titanium (NT), and Carbon Nanotubes (CNTs) incorporated into a base asphalt binder at varying dosages, with up to 10% for NS, NA, and NT, and up to 5% for NZ and CNT. Fifteen modified binders were assessed using the Multiple Stress Creep Recovery (MSCR) test to obtain non-recoverable creep compliance (Jnr), while the corresponding hot mix asphalt samples underwent repeated load testing and rut depth predict
... Show MoreRecently, interest in the use of projectiles in research on recycling waste materials for construction applications has grown. Using recycled materials for the construction of asphalt concrete pavement, in the meantime, has become a topic of research due to its significant benefits, such as cost savings and reduced environmental impacts. This study reports on comprehensive experimental research conducted using a typical mechanical milling waste, iron filing waste (IFW), as an alternative fine aggregate for warm mix asphalt (WMA) for pavement wearing surface applications. A type of IFW from a local machine workshop was used to replace the conventional fine aggregate, fine natural sand (FNS), at percentages of 25%, 50% 75%, and 100% b
... Show MoreThe main aim of this research study is to point out the vital importance of high-quality exterior audits to limit discretionary accounting, as it could distort a company’s commercial results. The research introduces a well-founded hypothesis on the preventive powers of high-quality audits, as it can act as a strong exterior control. The research focuses on testing the complex relationship between earnings management and investors’ behavior within the public-listed companies from the food industry. The research gathers credible annual comprehensive data from thirty-five publicly-listed firms from the United States. It encompasses the twenty years prior to 2024, as it includes the twenty years prior to 2024. Additionally, the gathered dat
... Show MoreTo promote sustainable steel-concrete composite structures, it is essential to develop special shear connectors that facilitate accelerated construction and deconstruction. A lockbolt demountable shear connector (LBDSC) was recently proposed. While the LBDSC has been evaluated using horizontal and vertical (standard) push-out tests, it is essential to further assess the disassembly mechanism and the positive flexural performance of prefabricated demountable composite beams (PDCBs) under both serviceability and ultimate limit states. Two full-scale test specimens of PDCBs with LBDSC were designed with partial shear connections and assessed using a three or four-point load beam setup under both cyclic and static monotonic loading conditions.
... Show MoreCadmium sulfide photodetector was fabricated. The CdS nano
powder has been prepared by a chemical method and deposited as a
thin film on both silicon and porous p- type silicon substrates by spin
coating technique. Structural, morphological, optical and electrical
properties of the prepared CdS nano powder are studied. The X-ray
analysis shows that the obtained powder is CdS with predominantly
hexagonal phase. The Hall measurements show that the nano powder
is n-type with carrier concentration of about (-5.4×1010) cm-3. The
response time of fabricated detector was measured by illuminating
the sample with visible radiation and its value was 5.25 msec. The
specific detectivity of the fabricated det
Nanoparticles are a special group of materials with unique features and extensive applications in diverse fields. The use of nanoparticles of some metals is a viable solution to stop infectious diseases due to the antimicrobial properties of these nanoparticles. The present work demonstrates the effect of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) on the antibacterial activity of four different antibiotics (amoxicillin, ceftriaxone, chloramphenicol, and penicillin) against eleven Gram-positive and Gram-negative isolates. Disk diffusion method was used to determine the antibacterial activity of various classes of antibiotics in the absence and presence of sub-inhibitory silver nanoparticles of concentration (80 microgram/ml). A synergistic effect was o
... Show MoreThis study evaluated the extent to which obturation materials bypass fractured endodontic instruments positioned in the middle and apical thirds of severely curved simulated root canals using different obturation techniques. Sixty resin blocks with simulated root canals were used, each with a 50° curvature, a 6.5 mm radius of curvature, and a length of 16.5 mm, prepared to an ISO #15 diameter and taper. Canals were shaped using ProTaper Universal files (Dentsply Maillefer) attached to an X-smart Plus endo motor (Dentsply), set at 3.5 Ncm torque and 250 rpm, up to size S2 at working length. To simulate fractures, F2 and F3 files were weakened 3 mm from the tip, then twisted to break in the apical and middle sections of the canal, re
... Show MoreThis paper presents a numerical analysis of the piled-raft foundation (PRF) based on the actual behavior of supporting piles. The raft was modeled as a thin plate, while the piles were modeled as springs in different ways. This research also aims to propose an analytical model of piles based on actual behavior at fieldwork. The results proved that the structural behavior of raft member can be improved through utilizing the actual behavior of supporting piles. When the piles were modeled as non-linear stiffness springs, settlements and bending stresses of raft foundation were reduce marginally as compared with those obtained from piles with linear stiffness springs.