The present research aims at the comparison of the production time between the manual and computerized surveying systems. The surveying system consists of data acquisition, processing and plotting the engineering plan and contouring .The current computerised system is designed and tested using the pulse Total Station instrument GPT-2006, P.C. computer, traverse network adjustment computer programs, Auto Cad 2005, 2010 and Surfer- 9 contouring program. The results of the current field experiments showed that the computerized surveying system offers a considerable savings in the data acquisition, processing and plotting times as compared with the manual surveying system, i.e. for traversing , the reduction in the production time is up to (84%), for plan ( up to 74%) and for contouring ( up to 84%). The practical applications of the current research are in the fields of civil engineering projects ( roads, buildings, etc.), irrigation and environmental engineering schemes.
Constructing and testing a microbial fuel cell, (MFC) was accomplished in this research. Two chambers MFC connected with salt bridge was operated and studied using synthetic and real wastewater as anode chamber solution. Operating temperature and pH value were investigated by changing temperature from 25 OC to 30 OC and varying pH from 6.7 to 6.5. The results reveled that increasing operation temperature had a significant effect on reducing operation time while decreasing pH improved the measured voltage and current besides reducing operation time to just five days. The cell was tested with the presence of real wastewater under the optimal temperature and pH and the results proved the capability of the manufactured cell in treating such contaminate in relatively short operation time. The COD reduction rate was above 60% indicated the ability of living microorganisms in digesting the wastewater producing electrical power with maximum values of 0.443 mV and 8.3 μ A for voltage and current, respectively.
One of the most significant aspects of developing any region is establishing a viable road network and determining the relationship between landscape use and road networks. Adequate connectivity and direction are essential for the proper construction of any network. However, the Al-Ramadi road network has received far less attention and appraisal. As a result, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the current road network link in Al-Ramadi city. In addition, the GIS application was used in this study to show the city's primary features. The Alpha index, Beta index, Gamma index, and Eta index were utilized to evaluate the road network in this research. The primary goal of this research is to evaluate how successful the road network is in containing current road traffic and to make recommendations for the future traffic management efficiency to accommodate increase. The findings show that immediate upgrades, such as the construction of new roadways, are essential.
Wadi Houran is one of the largest valleys in Iraq. Although it is discharging billions of rainfall water over/during many years to Euphrates river, it's almost devoid of agricultural investment. The current study aims to focus on this important valley water resource and study the possibility of constructing a series of small dams to store rainfall water and planting forestry and establishing a natural reserve that is able to sustain and improve ecology system. Target area of 4000 km2 is selected in the midstream of the valley. In general, it is about one billion m3 of rainwater flowing to Euphrates River during some years with yearly average values about 400 Mm3. Four dams were constructed to store about 46 Mm3 of rainwater. It is possible to construct small-dam-series of optimal height and location to expand the rainwater harvesting and groundwater recharging. A Current study was done and aimed to establish of oases and natural reserves in order to improve climate conditions, minimize the dust and CO2, mitigation of summer high temperature and decrease the soil erosion due to torrents. This study recommended constructing 13 optimal height dams that store about 303 Mm3 of water, and increase the water surface area of reservoirs in this valley from 15 to 90 km2which leads increase the water volume that is recharging ground water from 4.7 Mm3 to 28 Mm3 per year.
In recent years, hospital waste has been one of the most serious issues in Iraq and other parts of the world. The current study aims to measure and analyze hospital waste output across all departments at the Ramadi Teaching Hospital. The data on waste generation rates gathered for the study were primarily based on existing records of field management of hospital waste over the course of eight months (one week per month) for all departments in the hospital; however, some random sampling information was provided to supplement the data. The results revealed that the estimated rate of medical waste creation at Ramadi hospital was between 144 and 188 kg/day, whereas the general (non-medical) waste generation was between (240-278) kg/day. In terms of patient numbers and per occupied bed, the average medical waste generation rates were from 0.60 to 0.90 kg/patient/day and (0.85-1.11) kg/bed/day, respectively, whereas the average general trash generation rates ranged from 0.86 to 1.15 kg/patient/day and 1.42-1.64 kg/bed/day. The recent analysis concluded that the hospital's segregation procedure is still inefficient, and there is room for improvement in terms of reducing hazardous medical waste creation
Microbial-induced carbonate precipitation (MICP) is a fast-evolving technology for cementing sandy soils, improving ground, repairing concrete cracks, and remediating contaminated land. The current work thoroughly reviews various factors that can impact the effect of the MICP technology on geomaterials. These factors include the type and strain of the microbes, concentration of bacterial solution, cementation solution composition and concentration, environmental factors (temperature, pH level, and oxygen dissolved), and soil properties. It was found that the type and strain of bacteria, concentration of bacterial suspension, pH value, temperature, and the reaction solution properties are the most affecting factors in controlling the characteristics of the produced calcium carbonate, which in turn affects the degree of bonding between geomaterials particles. For an optimal implementation of the MICP in soils treatment, it appeared that for the most commonly used bacterial strains a temperature between 20 and 40 °C, a pH between 6.5 and 9.5, and a cementation solution concentration of 0.5 mol/L, are typically recommended.
The current study includes application of QUAL2K model to predict the dissolved oxygen (DO) and Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD5) of lower reach of the Diyala River in a stretch of 16.90km using hydraulic and water quality data collected from Ministry of Water Resources for the period (January-April 2014). Google Earth and Arc-GIS technique were used in this study as supported tools to provide some QUAL2K input hydro-geometric data. The model parameters were calibrated for the dry flow period by trial and error until the simulated results agreed well with the observed data. The model performance was measured using different statistical criteria such as mean absolute error (MAE), root mean square error (RMSE) and relative error (RE). The results showed that the simulated values were in good agreement with the observed values. Model output for calibration showed that DO and CBOD concentration were not within the allowable limits for preserving the ecological health of the river with range values (2.51 - 4.80 mg/L) and (18.75 – 25.10 mg/L) respectively. Moreover, QUAL2K was used to simulate different scenarios (pollution loads modification, flow augmentation and local oxygenation) in order to manage the water quality during critical period (low flow), and to preserve the minimum requirement of DO concentration in the river. The scenarios results showed the pollution loads modification and local oxygenation are effective in raising DO levels. While flow augmentation does not give significant results in which the level of DO decrease even with reduction in the BOD5 for point sources. The combination of wastewater modification and local oxygenation (BOD5 of the discharged effluent from point sources should not exceed 15 mg/L and weir construction at critical positions 6.67km from the beginning of the study region with 1m height) is necessary to ensure minimum DO concentrations.
Because of rising the need for health clinics in recent years, as well as the current economic climate, the researcher used value engineering to reduce costs while retaining the necessity of these initiatives. The aim of this study is to increase the value of health clinics through applying value engineering approach to the main building (two and a half floors). Collected data, function analysis, brainstorming and alternatives, evaluating and selection, and generating the value report are the steps followed. According to the study, using the value engineering process resulted in a cost savings of 32.15 percent, or (258.305.000) million Iraqi dinars without jeopardizing the desired outcome.
Traffic movement is considered a compound phenomenon that is impacted by behavioural, economic, and physical aspects. It is performed within the context of an urban system that consists of road networks and crossings, where the movement crouches to depend. The measuring of identifying their size and densities and current problems helps to Improve and development for roads and streets network existing and important is intersections for purposes the accessibility, potentiality of future intersections, and network development towards constructing a composition to raise the quality and the efficient performance of roads and streets. The study was dependent on a traffic survey for intersections, areas of urban intersections, and the road network of Al-Ramadi city, as well as the number of vehicles that generated a large volume of traffic flow. The use of the program (HCS 2010) to detect appropriate for purposes decreasing traffic congestion and delayed trip time in the areas based on existing and future districts that generate different types and purposes of journeys to lessen the delay trip time to lessen traffic congestion. Therefore, research looks at both sides: first, a study of the existing intersections of the main road network and urban streets, including an examination of the components and shapes of these intersections in the study area; second, an examination of the importance placed on these intersections by the planning and design process.
This study presents an experimental research of Self-Compacting Concrete (SCC) properties containing waste plastic fibers (WPF). Adding waste plastics which resulting from cutting PET bottles as fibers to SCC with aspect ratio (l/d) equal to (28). To illustrate the effects of WPFs on the SCC, the current study was divided into two parts, the first part shows the effect of adding plastic fibers on the properties of fresh SCC, which include the ability flow, spread, passing and resistance to segregation, and the second part to evaluate the properties of hardened (mechanical) destructive and non-destructive, which include compression strength, flexural strength and ultrasonic pulse velocity test. One reference concrete mix was conducted and eight mixes contain WPF has been producing self-compacting concrete mixers containing a different volumetric ratio of plastic fibers (Vf) % percentages (0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1, 1.25, 1.5, 1.75, 2) %. Three cubes samples were prepared for testing the compressive strength, three prisms were prepared for the test modules of rupture, one cylinder were prepared testing the modulus of elasticity. The experiments show that adding plastic fibers to SCC leads to an increase in the compression strength and modulus of rupture at 28-day as follows (42.30)% and (73.12)% respectively for mix ratio (1.5)% in comparison with the reference mix, which represent the best ratio of fibers, as such the results of testing the fresh concrete containing waste fibers showed that adding these fibers led a reduction in workability for SCC.
The current research’s purpose is to examine how Ultra-High Performance Fiber Concrete (UHPFC) holds up in terms of strength and durability for strengthening purposes. For this reason, the experimental and the theoretical studies in this research attempted to assess different fresh and hardened properties of a variety of ultra-high performance combinations. Steel fibers were utilized to differentiate all of the program's combinations at percentages of 0.25 %, 0.5 %, 0.75 %, 1%, and 1.25 % by volume. Mini flow slump, compressive and flexural strength, ultrasonic pulse velocity, water absorption, and porosity tests were all used to examine the performance of the strength and durability of the material. The findings of this study's trials showed that steel fibers increased the strength of UHPFC. The steel fiber ratio of 1% gave the maximum compressive strength, whereas 1.25 percent yielded the highest flexural strength. Because the fibers function as a bridge, preventing internal breaking, the tensile test results were improved as the proportion of steel fiber rises. Through the use of the multi-objective optimization approach, the optimal ratio of fibers was chosen at the end of the laboratory work since it has the best durability and strength characteristics. Statistical software (Minitab 2018) was used to find the optimal combination of UHPFC that meets all of the requirements. The theoretical selected optimum ratio of 0.77% of fibers obtained from the optimization was evaluated and validated experimentally. The optimized mix provided 90.28 MPa, 14.6 MPa, and 20.2 MPa for compressive, splitting tensile and flexural tests respectively with better durability performance compared to other mixes prepared in this investigation.
This main aim of this study is evaluate wide range of fresh and hardened properties of sustainable self-compacting concrete containing various types of Cement Replacement Materials with optimum contents of Polyethylene Terephthalate PET waste plastic as fibers and fine aggregate replacement. This is to evaluate effect of the two forms of PET and to determine the best CRMs could be used with sustainable SCC. such as limestone, glass powder and fly ash with high replacement rate of 70% by weight of cement were used while fourth one (kaolin) was used with replacement rate of 20%. PET fibers were added to SCC with an aspect ratio of 24.4 and 0.7% volume fraction whereas fine aggregate partially replaced by 4% of waste plastic. Four reference mixtures contained FA, LP, GP and KA only, same four mixtures contained 0.7% PET fibers by volume, and the other same four mixtures contained 4% PET fine aggregate by volume. The obtained results all tested fresh properties, which include slump flow, T500, L-Box and segregation resistance were within the limits of the specification reported in EFNERC guidelines. Further, the forms PET have an adverse effect fresh properties of SCC. As for hardened properties (compressive strength, splitting tensile strength, flexural strength and impact strength). Further, this produced type of SCC showed an range of compressive strength (15.2-31.64 MPa) at 28 days. It can be from the current study the best CRMs to be used in SCC containing PET wastes was FA in terms of most tested properties.
Recycling the old paving waste and reusing it in the construction of new highways was resorted to, and this is a good step from an economic point of view, as well as from an environmental and health point of view, as it reduces carbon emissions and eliminates a large amount of disposable reclaimed asphalt pavement materials (RAP). This study aims to evaluate the best layer of pavement structure; base, binder, and surface layers for inclusion (RAP) materials based on stability and indirect tensile strength. In addition, highlight the best percentage that can be added from RAP to achieve positive results and better than that associated reference mixture in terms of Marshall test and Indirect tensile strength test RAP materials collected from different sources Karbala and Fallujah, were adopted in this study at percentages of 20%, 30%, and 40% by weight of the asphalt mixture. Two scenarios of incorporating RAP materials have been adopted : The first is considered that RAP as a black rock in which the effect of aged binder surrounding the aggregate of RAP is neglected while the second is not considered RAP as black rock and the influence of aged binder in RAP materials has been taken into consideration. Dora bitumen has been adopted in the current study which is used commonly in Iraq. It has been highlighted that the best layer in which RAP can be incorporated is the base layer, with a percentage up to 40% that RAP without considering RAP black rocks regardless of the sources of RAP
This research aims to propose a new methodology of obtaining the basic solution of the transportation model, which is one of the operations research. Transportation model aimed to find the economic solution to the plan of allocation of products from production centers to consumption centers. One of the important issues of application the transportation model is the issue of transfer raw materials for construction projects (such as ready-mix concrete) and for which there is usually a set of options for production centers as there is always a group of consumption centers (construction sites). This application was chosen because of the wide use of it and due to its impacts on macroeconomic level. Started by reviewing the current methods of obtaining the basic solution of the transportation model, then the factors that are not taken into account in these methods have been identified and, accordingly, two methods have been developed to obtain the basic solution of the transportation model. The first method depends on the indicator of the biggest costs of transport between the centers, while the second method uses the cost multiplied by the amount transmitted (actual cost) as an indicator to determine the basic solution of the transportation model. Unlike other methods, this method considers all variables mentioned in the objective function. Finally, the proposal method has been illustrated by the use of an empirical example.
In recent years, a number of researchers have adopted the wet packing (WP) approach to design different types of concrete mixes. Particle grading is a key to the optimization of the wet compactness density; for that reason, all empty spaces that exist in between large-size particles need to be completely filled with particles of smaller size. Previously-conducted studies in this field have been focused on measuring the particle size distribution’s packing density (PD) of the of granular matrices is the purpose of investigating how to increase the PD of cementitious materials. Thus, literature lacks models capable of predicting the optimal PD value. The current study collected and analyzed 216 datasets in order to construct a model for accurate prediction of PD. The main datasets were organized into two categories: modeling datasets and validation datasets. To configure the model in the best way, a hybrid gravitational search algorithm-artificial neural network (GSA-ANN) was also developed in this study. The findings confirmed ANN as an effective alternative for measuring the ultimate PD of cementitious pastes. ANN provided high levels of accuracy, practicality, and effectiveness in the process of predicting the PD value. Based on the final results, the implementation of the hybrid GSA-ANN technique causes a significant decrease in the number of tests conducted on experimental samples, which results in not only saving time and money, but also reducing the CO2 emission volume.
The construction projects are designed and implemented according to the needs of the employer and according to reasonable program and cost, and if the employer is not the performer in this case he needs an experience constructor and adequate capacity to assume responsibilities for all phases of the project implementation .the challenges facing the construction industry in Iraq, especially in the current circumstances necessitate the workers serious thought in order to advance progress in construction area for the better. The research idea has crystallized on the subject (choosing the most appropriate tender) with a study of application case for construction projects in Iraq due to the emergence of tenders referral to bids least price or referral to certain companies without competition and consequently the emergence of serious problems including humanitarian problems and economic and otherwise. Since corruption in the contracts implementation and conclusion is a major disaster on the industrialized and developing countries a like , especially when bribe money is large and when man prefers money to values, the result will be poor construction quality, weak management and this what can be seen in construction sector in Iraq, the time being.
Pavement rutting as a permanent deformation is a major type of distress in flexible pavements. In Iraq, the rutting in Expressway pavements represents a severe problem due to its widespread, and high severity and distress density levels. Therefore, driving is profoundly dangerous and causes severe damage to the vehicle’s parts and the life of its riders. To date, the number of comprehensive research on pavement rutting has been limited in Iraq, owing to several technical, logistic, and economic considerations. The current research studies the major mechanisms responsible for rutting and evaluates the structure of the Iraqi Expressway No.1 at selected sections. The work encompasses field and laboratory aspects. The field work involved; performing field surveys to investigate the pavement rutting condition and its extension with depth, characterizing pavement layers in terms of geometric material properties, and collecting field samples for lab tests. The laboratory work was detailed and included; performing a set of standard lab tests on samples taken from the asphalt, the subbase, and the subgrade layers as well as the natural ground. In addition, the project’s archive was searched for specific design information and limitations. In order to assess pavement rutting in the selected sections of Expressway No.1/R9 (A and B), two well-established evaluators were considered; The rutting severity levels and the distress density.
The construction projects are designed and implemented according to the needs of the employer and according to reasonable program and cost, and if the employer is not the performer in this case he needs an experience constructor and adequate capacity to assume responsibilities for all phases of the project implementation .the challenges facing the construction industry in Iraq, especially in the current circumstances necessitate the workers serious thought in order to advance progress in construction area for the better. The research idea has crystallized on the subject (choosing the most appropriate tender) with a study of application case for construction projects in Iraq due to the emergence of tenders referral to bids least price or referral to certain companies without competition and consequently the emergence of serious problems including humanitarian problems and economic and otherwise. Since corruption in the contracts implementation and conclusion is a major disaster on the industrialized and developing countries a like , especially when bribe money is large and when man prefers money to values, the result will be poor construction quality, weak management and this what can be seen in construction sector in Iraq, the time being.
The performance of the structural materials (concrete and steel reinforcement) and the behavior of the structural members after they were exposed to high temperatures have been considered the main topics of the current literature review. All varieties of concrete mixtures lost their compressive strength after 300˚C, even though there was no discernible strength loss between 150 and 300˚C. It was also discovered that the heating time had no appreciable impact on the strength loss when the exposed to heat less than 300 ˚C. Above 300 ˚C. Concrete begins to lose strength after being exposed for longer than one hour; the greatest loss of strength occurs during the first and second hours of exposure. Both the cured cement paste and the aggregates undergo chemical and physical changes at temperatures ranging from 600 °C to 900 °C. The 5% weighted rice husk ash (RHA) blended concrete still had an advantage in compressive strength, over the concrete when subjected to temperatures up to 700 C for two hours. Adding more recycled glass and ceramic particles to regular concrete increases its overall compressive and tensile strengths. Concrete becomes more durable and has fewer cracks when there is a higher replacement rate for ceramic and glass particles. The splitting tensile strength decreased with increasing temperature, changing from 60% to 70% of its initial strength after 600 °C. In this review, the better performance of concrete than the other concrete in terms of mechanical, physical, and durability properties at both room temperature and high temperature were concrete with 10% waste glass powder (WGP) substitution as a partial of cement and 10%–20% crushed glass (CG) substitution as a partial of aggregate .
Partial degradation of organic materials presented in sewage water had been conducted in the current research in a simulated sewer system. The process had been improved by aeration and seeding with activated sludge to reveal the effect of increasing the amount of biomass in the system. Three ambient temperatures were conducted as 10, 20, and 30 OC to display the influence of temperature on the degradation process. The results revealed that adding activated sludge to the system in a ratio of 50/50 (v/v) had a significant influence on the degradation as more microorganisms required more organic nutrients. In the other hand, increasing the operating temperature indicated positive influence in terms of soluble chemical oxygen demand (SCOD) removal as temperature motivated the living biomass towards severe degradation.