This study investigates the characterization and mechanical performance of Stone Mastic Asphalt (SMA) mixtures modified with two types of polymers: styrene–butadiene–styrene (SBS) and high-molecular-weight polyethylene (PE). Neat asphalt cement PG 64-16 was modified using a higher content of SBS and PE at concentrations of 6%, 7%, and 8% by weight of asphalt through the dry blending method to produce Highly Modified Asphalts (HiMA). The physical and rheological properties of the modified binders were evaluated using penetration, softening point, rotational viscosity, and dynamic shear rheometer (DSR) tests. Also, their phase compatibility and morphological changes were evaluated using the storage stability testing and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis. The mechanical performance of the corresponding SMA mixtures was assessed through Marshall stability and flow, moisture susceptibility, crack tolerance index (CT-index), resilient modulus, and rutting resistance tests. Also, a mechanistic durability analysis was conducted using the KENLAYER software. Results indicated that both polymers enhanced the binder’s stiffness and high-temperature performance, with SBS exhibiting greater overall improvements. SBS-modified binders displayed a relatively low softening point difference (ΔT) of 5.1 °C to 5.8 °C, indicating good thermal stability and uniform polymer dispersion. In contrast, PE-modified binders exhibited significantly higher ΔT values, reaching 13.5 °C with 8% PE content, indicating a greater tendency toward phase separation. Moreover, Marshall stability improved substantially, increasing by 43% for 8% SBS-modified mixes and 28% for 8% PE-modified mixes compared to the neat SMA mix. Flow number (FN) results indicated enhanced rutting resistance, with FN values increasing by 2.45 times for SBS mixes and 2.1 times for PE mixes at 8% polymer content. Additionally, moisture susceptibility was significantly improved, as evidenced by the tensile strength ratio (TSR) values of 97% with 8% SBS and 92% with 8% PE, compared to 81% for the neat mix. Resilient modules increased notably, with a 38% rise for 8% SBS mixes and a 24% rise for 8% PE mixes, reflecting enhanced stiffness and load-bearing capacity. Also, the CT-index significantly improved, reaching values of 154 for the 8% SBS mix and 127 for the 8% PE-modified mix, compared to 86 for the neat mix, indicating enhanced resistance to cracking. Finally, both polymer-modified mixes demonstrated improved durability, where the 8% SBS mix exhibited the longest design life (21.66 years) and the highest number of allowable load repetitions (5.42 × 106), followed by 8% PE (13.98 years and 3.50 × 106 repetitions).
Background: Polycystic ovarian syndrome is one of the common gynaecological diseases encountered nowadays in the gynaecological clinic. Many criteria and diagnostic test had been evolved to be used with different classifications methods.Objectives: The present study aimed to measure the anti-mullerian hormone levels in serum of the women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome and to test the possibility that if it can be used as a marker for diagnosis of polycystic ovary syndrome patients.Methods: A cross sectional study that had been conductedat Kamal AL-Samaraee Hospital, AL-Suwayrah Hospital andAl-Elwiya Maternity Teaching Hospital during the periodfrom July, 1st, 2013 – Jan. 1st, 2014. Where forty women withPolycystic ovarian syndrome (wit
... Show Morelarization modulation plays an important role in polarization encoding in quantum key distribution. By using polarization modulation, quantum key distribution systems become more compact and more vulnerable as one laser source is used instead of using multiple laser sources that may cause side-channel attacks. Metasurfaces with their exceptional optical properties have led to the development of versatile ultrathin optical devices. They are made up of planar arrays of resonant or nearly resonant subwavelength pieces and provide complete control over reflected and transmitted electromagnetic waves opening several possibilities for the development of innovative optical components. In this work, the Si nanowire metasurface
... Show MoreThe paper presents research results of the vibration transmitted from the steering wheel of the
tractor with a 2-wheel drive to the driver’s hands. The vibration measurements were carried out on the
tractor randomly chosen from the collage of agriculture / university of Baghdad. Before testing the
tractor was examined and adjusted following the producer’s recommendations. The vibration levels
were measured during the operation tillage at idling and at full load .The field was 3١٫٧ m above level
sea. Soil was treated at soil constant moisture (1٧-20 %) with depth of plowing (١٧ cm). During
operation the weather temperature was measured (15 C) and humidity was ( 27 % ) The vibration level
on the steering whee
This work is devoted to study the properties of the ground states such as the root-mean square ( ) proton, charge, neutron and matter radii, nuclear density distributions and elastic electron scattering charge form factors for Carbon Isotopes (9C, 12C, 13C, 15C, 16C, 17C, 19C and 22C). The calculations are based on two approaches; the first is by applying the transformed harmonic-oscillator (THO) wavefunctions in local scale transformation (LST) to all nuclear subshells for only 9C, 12C, 13C and 22C. In the second approach, the 9C, 15C, 16C, 17C and 19C isotopes are studied by dividing the whole nuclear system into two parts; the first is the compact core part and the second is the halo part. The core and halo parts are studied using the
... Show MoreArtificial lift techniques are a highly effective solution to aid the deterioration of the production especially for mature oil fields, gas lift is one of the oldest and most applied artificial lift methods especially for large oil fields, the gas that is required for injection is quite scarce and expensive resource, optimally allocating the injection rate in each well is a high importance task and not easily applicable. Conventional methods faced some major problems in solving this problem in a network with large number of wells, multi-constrains, multi-objectives, and limited amount of gas. This paper focuses on utilizing the Genetic Algorithm (GA) as a gas lift optimization algorit
This paper presents a method to organize memory chips when they are used to build memory systems that have word size wider than 8-bit. Most memory chips have 8-bit word size. When the memory system has to be built from several memory chips of various sizes, this method gives all possible organizations of these chips in the memory system. This paper also suggests a precise definition of the term “memory bank” that is usually used in memory systems. Finally, an illustrative design problem was taken to illustrate the presented method practically.
The research discusses the most important goals and means of IGAD in making peace in Sudan and then regional peace.
Economic performance is one of the most important indicators of economic activity and with the performance of the economy progress varied sources of output and increase economic growth rates and per capita national income, and to recover the business environment and increase investment rates and rising effectiveness of the financial and monetary institutions and credit market. Which leads to increased employment rates and reducing unemployment rates and the elimination of many of the social problems and improve the average per capita income as well as improve the level of national income.
The input / output tables is a technique mathematical indicates economic performance
... Show MoreElectro-chemical Machining is significant process to remove metal with using anodic dissolution. Electro-chemical machining use to removed metal workpiece from (7025) aluminum alloy using Potassium chloride (KCl) solution .The tool used was made from copper. In this present the optimize processes input parameter use are( current, gap and electrolyte concentration) and surface roughness (Ra) as output .The experiments on electro-chemical machining with use current (30, 50, 70)A, gap (1.00, 1.25, 1.50) mm and electrolyte concentration (100, 200, 300) (g/L). The method (ANOVA) was used to limited the large influence factors affected on surface roughness and found the current was the large influence f
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