The studies on unbonded post-tensioned concrete members strengthened with Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymers (CFRPs) are limited and the effect of strengthening on the strain of unbonded pre-stressed steel is not well characterized. Estimating the flexural capacity of unbound post-tensioned members using the design methodology specified in the design guidelines for FRP strengthening techniques of bonded post-tensioned members does not provide a reliable evaluation. This study investigates the behavior of unbonded post-tensioned concrete members with partial strand damage (14.3% and 28.6% damage) and strengthened with CFRP laminates using a near-surface mounted technique with and without U-wrap anchorages. The experimental results show

In practical engineering problems, uncertainty exists not only in external excitations but also in structural parameters. This study investigates the influence of structural geometry, elastic modulus, mass density, and section dimension uncertainty on the stochastic earthquake response of portal frames subjected to random ground motions. The North-South component of the El Centro earthquake in 1940 in California is selected as the ground excitation. Using the power spectral density function, the two-dimensional finite element model of the portal frame’s base motion is modified to account for random ground motions. A probabilistic study of the portal frame structure using stochastic finite elements utilizing Monte Carlo simulation

Fencing sport coaches seek fencers who have high velocity and work hard to develop it through training. The research problem lies on when measuring movement abilities through some tests. Manual measurement does not give reasonable impartiality of timing because there is a time-frame between the movement of the fencer and the speed of the movement of the human time setter. Therefore, the authors sought to design an electronic vest to evaluate movement abilities in foil fencers. The study design was experimental, with 12 Iranian foil fencers of the national team, who were divided into two equal groups of 6 fencers. Moreover, there were 12 students from Physical Education and Sport Sciences that worked on the scientific f

An energy and exergy thermodynamic analysis using EES program was done for a domestic refrigerator working with R-134a using vapor compression refrigeration cycle. The analysis deals with the system component, i.e. compressor, condenser, evaporator and the expansion device. The analysis depends on the entropy generation minimization approach to improve the refrigerator performance by exploring the optimum design points. These design points were derived from three different theories governing the entropy generation minimization using exergy analyzing method. These theories were first applied to find the optimum balance between the hot inner condenser area and the cold inner evaporator area of the refrigerator and between

With a descriptive and analytical approach, it discusses the concept of phenomenology as an approach to seeing the aesthetics of ugliness as one of the concepts associated with the aesthetic experience in contemporary art designs, as it is the result of communication between artistic production and the recipient, which leads to creating a state of aesthetic pleasure. A phenomenological method is used to uncover the aesthetics of ugly and to connect ugliness and beauty since ugliness in aesthetics incorporates beauty as a modern aesthetic vision from the phenomenological perspective. The study investigated aesthetics as a phenomenon of perception, sensory knowledge, and the aesthetic response to the production of designs in contemporary a

Thrust blocks and restraint joints are the two most popular methods of counteracting the thrust force that generated at pipe fittings (bends, Tee, wye, reducers, dead ends, etc…). Both systems perform the same function, which is to prevent the joints from separating from the pipes. The aim of the study is to review previous studies and scientific theories related to the study and design of thrust blocks and restraint joints to study the behavior of both systems under thrust force and to study the factors and variables that affect the behavior of these systems. The behavior of both systems must be studied because they cannot be abandoned, as each system has conditions whose use is more feasible, scientific, and economic

A field experiment was conducted in the growth season 2019-2020 at the botanical garden of the Biology Department at the College of Education for Pure Sciences/Ibn Al-Haitham, University of Baghdad-Iraq. The experiments’ purpose is to determine the effects of different melatonin concentrations on some morphological and physiological characteristics of mung (Vigna radiata L.) plant under the influence of three periods of drought (5, 10, 15 days). The results were showed that the increasing of water stress periods had significant effects in the reducing rates of the studied characteristics, especially at the period 15 days. The external treatment of different concentrations of melatonin reduced the drought effects and that’s led to signif

Background: The COVID-19 virus outbreak had a massive effect on many parts of people's lives, as they were advised to quarantine and lockdown to prevent the virus from spreading, which had a big impact on people's mental health, anxiety, and stress. Many internal and external factors lead to stress. This negatively influences the body's homeostasis. As a result, stress may affect the body's capacity to use energy to defend against pathogens. Many recent investigations have found substantial links between human mental stress and the production of hormones, prohormones, and/or immunological chemicals. some of these researches have verified the link between stress and salivary cortisol levels. The aim of this study is to measure salivary corti