Water Conservation and Management Practices at the University of Sharjah to Achieve Sustainability Excellence

The University of Sharjah is a leading educational and research institution in the Gulf region. To stimulate the different aspects of sustainability in education and research as well as to ensure the implementation of sustainability concepts throughout the University campus operations, the concept of sustainability circles is implemented. The University being in hot-arid-zone and mostly surrounded by desert terrain relies on unconventional water conservation programs and initiatives such as the use of innovation & technology, reuse and recycling of water, and awareness campaigns. In line with such programs, the use of potable water is limited for hygiene purposes and wastewater generated within the University is reused after treatment to irrigate the vast green spaces through the most efficient irrigation water application systems. Examples of water conservation practices include use of efficient water devices, reuse of treated greywater for toilet flushing at a selected location, water quality monitoring, preservation to conserve water for its intended use, promoting waterless car wash on the campus grounds etc. On-campus water is also conserved through disseminating knowledge and awareness to the University community and beyond through various sustainability related programs and initiatives organized by Sustainability Office for water conservation and environmental protection

Concrete-to-concrete shear friction behavior under cyclic loading

The main objective of this paper was to study the concrete-to-concrete shear friction behavior under cyclic loading and different test rates. Eight dynamic push-pull tests were performed on concrete specimens with as-cast surface roughness type applying four different test rates. The test results include the hysteresis loops of the friction force-displacement relations. It is concluded that the dynamic coefficient of friction decreased with the increased test rate. This reduction in the dynamic coefficient of friction should be considered in the design of structural elements under cyclic or dynamic loading

Experimental and Nonlinear Finite Element Analysis Data for an Innovative Buckling Restrained Bracing System to Rehabilitate Seismically Deficient Structures

This article presents experimental data and nonlinear finite element analysis (NLFEA) modeling for an innovative buckling restrained bracing (BRB) system. The data were collected from qualification testing of introduced BRBs per the AISC 341 test provision and finite element modeling. The BRB is made of three parts: core bar, restraining unit, and end units, in which duplicates of three different core bar cross sections (i.e., fully threaded, threaded notched, and smooth shaved) were tested. The BRBs introduced in this research come with innovative end parts, so-called fingers. These fingers provide the longitudinal gap required in every BRB system and simultaneously prevent buckling of the core bar at the end regions at both ends of the BRB sample, thus facilitating an easy core replacement if it gets damaged in the event of an earthquake. The measured parameters were the applied cyclic load and the corresponding displacement. Analysis of the acquired data illustrated an almost symmetric hysteric behavior with a little higher capacity under compression but a noticeable overall ductility of 4. Moreover, finite element modeling data for one type of core bar (fully threaded) were curated. The data presented in this paper will be valuable for fabricating BRBs in practice and further research on the topic considered

Reliability analysis of concrete beams reinforced with FRP bars

The strength reduction factors (ϕ) adopted by ACI-440.1R-15 standard code for the flexure design of Fiber Reinforced Polymers Reinforced Concrete (FRP-RC) beams are calibrated in this study. The code calibration process aims to achieve a particular target reliability index (βT) for the selected FRP-RC rectangular beams. An extensive experimental database is collected and used in the calibration process of the resistance factors. It was found that the calibrated ϕ led to a more economical and less conservative design while satisfying the safety requirements imposed by the design code. To meet the βT, a recommended value of ϕ, is found to be 0.70 for cast-in-situ beams failing in compression and 0.65 for tension-controlled cast-in-situ beams. Thus, the proposed values are slightly greater than comparable factors adopted by the ACI code of 0.65 for compressioncontrolled and 0.55 for tension-controlled cast-in-situ beams