The conception and experimental assessment of a removable friction-based shear connector (FBSC) for precast steel-concrete composite bridges is presented. The FBSC uses pre-tensioned high-strength steel bolts that pass through countersunk holes drilled on the top flange of the steel beam. Pre-tensioning of the bolts provides the FBSC with significant frictional resistance that essentially prevents relative slip displacement of the concrete slab with respect to the steel beam under service loading. The countersunk holes are grouted to prevent sudden slip of the FBSC when friction resistance is exceeded. Moreover, the FBSC promotes accelerated bridge construction by fully exploiting prefabrication, does not raise issues relevant to precast construction tolerances, and allows rapid bridge disassembly to drastically reduce the time needed to replace any deteriorating structural component (e.g., the bridge deck). A series of 11 push-out tests highlight why the novel structural details of the FBSC result in superior shear load-slip displacement behavior compared to welded shear studs. The paper also quantifies the effects of bolt diameter and bolt preload and presents a design equation to predict the shear resistance of the FBSC.
To translate sustainable concepts into sustainable structure, there is a require a collaborative work and technology to be innovated, such as BIM, to connect and organize different levels of industry e.g. decision-makers, contractors, economists, architects, urban planners, construction supplies and a series of urban planning and strategic infrastructure for operate, manage and maintain the facilities. This paper will investigate the BIM benefits as a project management tool, its effectiveness in sustainable decision making, also the benefit for the local industry key stakeholders by encouraging the BIM use as a project management tool to produce a sustainable building project. This p
Mass transfer was examined at a stationary rectangular copper electrode (cathode) by using the reduction of cupric ions as the electrochemical reaction. The influence of electrolyte temperature (25, 45, and 65 oC), and cupric ions concentration (4, 8, and 12 mM) on mass transfer coefficient were investigated by using limiting current technique. The mass transfer coefficient and hence the Sherwood number was correlated as Sh =
In this paper different channel coding and interleaving schemes in DS/CDMA system over multipath fading channel were used. Two types of serially concatenated coding were presented. The first one composed of Reed-Solomon as outer code, convolutional code as inner code and the interleaver between the outer and inner codes and the second consist of convolutional code as outer code, interleaved in the middle and differential code as an inner code. Bit error rate performance of different schemes in multipath fading channel was analyzed and compared. Rack receiver was used in DS/CDMA receiver to combine multipath components in order to enhance the signal to noise ratio at the receiver.
Implementation of TSFS (Transposition, Substitution, Folding, and Shifting) algorithm as an encryption algorithm in database security had limitations in character set and the number of keys used. The proposed cryptosystem is based on making some enhancements on the phases of TSFS encryption algorithm by computing the determinant of the keys matrices which affects the implementation of the algorithm phases. These changes showed high security to the database against different types of security attacks by achieving both goals of confusion and diffusion.
In light of accelerating environmental degradation, the transition to a green economy is an imperative for achieving sustainable development. This study provides a critical analysis of the international legal and institutional framework governing this transition, revealing a significant gap between normative developments and the institutional framework on one hand, and their practical implementation on the other. The transition faces legal obstacles, including reliance on non-binding voluntary commitments and conflicts between environmental obligations and global trade and investment rules. It also reveals a significant financing gap, as financial flows to developing countries continue to lag behind commitments, in add
... Show MoreInsufficient and poor sleep quality significantly impacts the health and quality of life of persons with end-stage renal failure (ESRF) on hemodialysis. This study explored the effectiveness of teaching patients on hemodialysis, Benson’s relaxation technique. Seventy-one persons on hemodialysis in Iraq were randomly assigned to either the experimental or the control group. The experimental group received training and encouragement to use the Benson relaxation technique. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) score was collected for all the patients before and after the intervention. After 8 weeks a repeated measurement of the post-test on sleep quality was done for both groups. The experimental group showed a statistically sign
... Show MoreThis study aimed to develop a stable nanosuspension of repaglinide and improve its dissolution, using the Nano-precipitation method, involving a different concentration of a stabilizer, different co-stabilizers and different solvents. Employment of a systemic approach to optimize the formulation parameters, including stabilizer concentration, solvent choice and co-stabilizer election. Soluplus® (SOL) was used as the primary stabilizer for this research, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), poloxamer 188 (PXM 188), tween 80 (TW80), and polyvinyl pyrrolidine (PVP k30) were investigated as co-stabilizers to prevent particle agglomeration and ensure long-term stability. In addition to ethanol as a primary solvent, acetone and chloroform were used
... Show More