Reflection cracking in asphalt concrete (AC) overlays is a common form of pavement deterioration that occurs when underlying cracks and joints in the pavement structure propagate through an overlay due to thermal and traffic-induced movement, ultimately degrading the pavement’s lifespan and performance. This study aims to determine how alterations in overlay thickness and temperature conditions, the incorporation of chopped fibers, and the use of geotextiles influence the overlay’s capacity to postpone the occurrence of reflection cracking. To achieve the above objective, a total of 36 prism specimens were prepared and tested using an overlay testing machine (OTM). The variables considered in this study were the thickness of the overlay (40, 50, and 60 mm), temperature (20, 30, and 40 °C), mix type (reference mix and mix modified with 10% chopped fibers by weight of asphalt cement), and the inclusion of geotextile fabric at two positions (one-third of the depth from the base and at the bottom). The research outcomes revealed that a decreased temperature and thicker overlay led to a higher resistance to crack initiation and full propagation, as indicated by the values of critical fracture energy (Gc) and crack progression rate (CPR). Furthermore, the study observed the enhanced crack resistance of overlays in the presence of geotextiles, whether at the bottom or one-third of the depth from the bottom, with superior performance of the former. Despite a slight enhancement in certain properties, the incorporation of chopped fibers in the overlays did not substantially improve the overall performance compared to the reference specimens. Overall, the study provides valuable insights into the variables that influence the ability of AC overlays to mitigate reflection cracking. These findings will aid engineers and designers in making informed decisions regarding overlay design and construction.
Cohesive soils present difficulties in construction projects because it usually contains expansive clay minerals. However, the engineering properties of cohesive soils can be stabilized by using various techniques. The research aims to elaborate on the influences of using hydrated lime on the consistency, compaction, and shear strength properties of clayey soil samples from Sulaimnai city, northern Iraq. The proportions of added hydrated lime are 0%, 2.5%, 5%, 7.5% and 10% to the natural soil sample. The results yielded considerable effects of hydrated lime on the engineering properties of the treated soil sample and enhancement its strength. The soil's liquid limit, plasticity index, and optimum moisture content were de
... Show MoreThis study aims to determine the effect of x-ray radiation resulting from solar flares in high-frequency radio wave communications through the ionosphere and to study the radio blackout events that occur over Iraq, located within (38,28) latitude, and (38,49) longitude. Using X-ray data during strong X flares and radio wave absorption data across the D ionosphere for 10 years from 2012 to 2021. The study concluded that there were 43 events of x-flare, most of which were during years of high solar activity. All of these flares produced X-rays that caused a radio blackout, R3 and only 13 events affected Iraq.
The possible effects of COVID-19 vaccines on reproductive health and male fertility in particular have been discussed intensely by the scientific community and the public since their introduction during the pandemic. On news outlets and social media platforms, many claims have been raised regarding the deleterious effects of COVID-19 vaccines on sperm quality without scientific evidence. In response to this emerging conflict, we designed this study to evaluate and assess the effect of the Pfizer-BioNTech mRNA COVID-19 vaccine on male fertility represented by the semen analysis parameters.
Gum Arabic is a natural gummy exudate gained from the trees of Acacia species (Acacia senegal and Acacia seyal), Family: Fabaceae. Gum Arabic considers as a dietary fiber with a high percentage of carbohydrates and low protein content. Sugars arabinose and ribose were originally discovered and isolated from gum Arabic and it is representing the original source of these sugars. A gum emanation from trees occurs under stress conditions such as heat, poor soil fertility, drought, and injury. Mainly gum is produced in belt region of Africa, mainly Sudan, Chad, and Nigeria. In the food industry, it is used in confectionery; in the pharmaceutical industry, it is used as emulsifier, film coating and others. Traditionally the g
... Show MoreThe characteristic of our time is the tremendous technological progress and the wide use of the Internet. Children have had a large share of this progress.as they are becoming fond of having the technological equipment of tablets and mobile phones which become indispensable for these children cannot do without them .
Recently, the phenomenon of using mobile phones and tablets by children has become more widespread, and the society in general and parents, in particular, have ignored the reasons for their health .Despite the many advantages and benefits for children who are well trained to use these devices properly that have enhanced their cognitive and social abilities, there are many disadvantages that could harm children's growth if
Experimental and numerical investigations of the centrifugal pump performance at non-cavitating and cavitating flow conditions were carried out in the present study. Experiments were performed by applying a vacuum to a closed-loop system to investigate the effects of the net positive suction head available (NPSHa), flow rate, water temperature and pump speed on the centrifugal pump performance. Accordingly, many of the important parameters concerning cavitation phenomenon were calculated. Also, the noise which is accompanied by cavitation was measured. Numerical analysis was implemented for two phase flow (the water and its vapor) using a 2-D simulation by ANSYS FLUENT software to investigate the internal flow of centrifugal pump under c
... Show MoreThis quasi-experimental study investigated generative AI (GenAI) tools—Copilot for chemistry and GitHub Copilot for mathematics—on academic achievement and sustainable professional development among 160 undergraduates (40 experimental/control per department) at the University of Baghdad’s Ibn Al-Haitham College of Education for Pure Sciences (2024–2025). Non-random assignment controlled for covariates. Pre/post validated tests (α ≥ .85; 15 MCQ + 5 essay items) measured outcomes. ANOVA revealed significant gains for experimental groups (p < .001, η2 = .41, Cohen’s d = 0.72 [95% CI: 0.45–0.98]). Chemistry excelled in affective domains; mathematics in cognitive/skills. Findings affirm GenAI’s domain-specific efficacy, prov
... Show MoreThis quasi-experimental study investigated generative AI (GenAI) tools—Copilot for chemistry and GitHub Copilot for mathematics—on academic achievement and sustainable professional development among 160 undergraduates (40 experimental/control per department) at the University of Baghdad’s Ibn Al-Haitham College of Education for Pure Sciences (2024–2025). Non-random assignment controlled for covariates. Pre/post validated tests (α ≥ .85; 15 MCQ + 5 essay items) measured outcomes. ANOVA revealed significant gains for experimental groups (p < .001, η2 = .41, Cohen’s d = 0.72 [95% CI: 0.45–0.98]). Chemistry excelled in affective domains; mathematics in cognitive/skills. Findings affirm GenAI’s domain-specific effica
... Show MoreThe vacancy of natural resources is undoubtedly limited by time. The sustainable development principle recommends modern technology for its protection and renewal. This project conducted analyses on two underground water sources in the north of Algeria (Mechroha Province). Besides, the use of the hardness factor and the adoption of the titration method, which is the determining the concentration of an unknown solution using a known solution concentration, have permitted the characterization of the examples taken and to verify their conformity to the standard required, the results found showed HT=6.66 French degrees (oF) ) for Ain Guilloume water spring in comparison to Ain Messai water spring H