Finite element, analytical, artificial neural network models for carbon fibre reinforced polymer confined concrete filled steel columns with elliptical cross sections

In the present era of architecture, different cross-sectional shapes of structural concrete elements have been utilized. However, this change in shape has a significant effect on load-carrying capacity. To restore this, the use of column confinements with elliptical sections has gained attention. This paper aim to investigate the effect of elliptical shape sections of confined concrete reinforced with Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) and steel tube on axial load-carrying capacity. This study is achieved using following tools Finite Element (FE) in Abaqus and Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) modeling. The study involved a 500-mm-high column with three sets of aspect ratios: 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0. In each aspect ratio, three different layers of CFRP were used, i.e., .167, .334, and .501-mm. Analytical results showed that with the increase in aspect ratio from 1 to 2, there is a decrease in ultimate axial load of about 23.2% on average. In addition, the combined confining pressure of steel tube and CFRP increases with a decrease in dilation angle as the number of CFRP layers increases. The failure mode for the column with a large aspect ratio is local buckling at its mid-height along the minor axis. The result showed a good correlation between FE and experimental results of ultimate stress and strains, with a mean squared error of 2.27 and .001, respectively. Moreover, ANN and analytical models showed a delightful correlation of R2 of .97 for stress models and .88 for strain models, respectively. The elliptical concrete section of the column confined with steel tubes can be adopted for a new architectural type of construction; however, with more than three aspect ratios, the wrapping of the section with CFRP jackets is highly recommended

Expansive Soil Stabilization with Lime, Cement, and Silica Fume

The type of soil known as expansive soil is capable of changing its volume through swelling and contracting. These types of soils are mostly composed of montmorillonite, a mineral with the capacity to absorb water, which causes the soil to heave by increasing its volume. Due to their capacity to contract or expand in response to seasonal fluctuations in the water content, these expansive soils might prove to be a significant risk to engineering structures. Many studies have dealt with swelling soils and investigated the behavior of these soils, as well as their improvement. In this study, three percentages of lime, cement, and silica fume (5, 7, 9%) are used to stabilize the expansive soil, and the work is divided into two sections: the first is using a consolidation test to record the free swell and swell pressure for the untreated and treated soils; in the second part, the grouting technique is utilized as a process that can be applied in the field to maintain the improvement in the bearing capacity. It is concluded that the soil stabilized with different percentages of lime, cement, and silica fume exhibits a decrease in both free swell and swelling pressure by approximately 65% and 76%, respectively, as compared with untreated soil. The soil grouted with silica fume increases the bearing capacity of footings resting on the grouted soil by approximately 64% to 82% for the soil treated with 5% and 9% silica fume, respectively, as compared with untreated soil

Assessment of Lower Zab river water quality using both Canadian Water Quality Index Method and NSF Water Quality Index Method

Rivers are considered the most important sources of surface water on Earth. They are play a significant role in all human activities and the quality of river water is needed. Therefore, the importance of the water quality index is arising through providing data base about quality of the water source, and explain the change in the water quality over a period of time continually. This study involved determination of physicochemical and biological parameters of Lower Zab river in Kirkuk city at two different points. The objectives of the study are to assess the present water quality, through analysis of some selected water quality parameters like pH, TDS, BOD, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, EC, alkalinity, and salinity etc. and to compare the results with the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment and National Sanitation Foundation Water Quality Indices. Raw water samples were collected from the Lower Zab river twice a month by one sample every 15 days from each station. The water quality data include 16 different parameters. Tests were carried out following the American Public Health Association standard methods. The results show that all parameters values were within the standards of drinking water proposed by the CCME standards and Iraqi standards or the World Health Organization standards for drinking purpose, except turbidity, DO, nitrate, calcium, which were mostly higher than the standards and sometimes BOD and potassium. The results of WQI showed that the water quality at LZ3 station is lower than LZ2 station due to the polluting activity of the Lower Zab river. Furthermore, for the years 2014, 2015, and 2016, the water quality was degraded due to the ISIS war. Also, it was noted in the 2013 year that the water quality degraded more in fall and winter seasons due to that the earth has exposed to the long-dried season and then suddenly exposed to a high rainfall season which in turns leads to increase some parameters very high (i.e. turbidity). Finally, the Lower Zab river water cannot be use for drinking directly. However, a pretreatment is needed before the drinking use

Influence of Jute Fiber on Tensile, Electrical, and Permeability Characteristics of Slag Concrete: A Better, Cheaper, and Eco-Friendly Substitute for Conventional Concrete

This works promotes the idea of simultaneous incorporation of ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS) and jute fiber (JF) to develop eco-friendly and ductile concrete. For this purpose, an experimental investigation was conducted, where two concrete families were produced using 0% and 25% GGBS as partial replacements for cement. JF was incorporated as 0%, 0.25%, and 0.5% by volume fractions. Effect of plasticizer was also studied on behavior of jute fiber reinforced concrete (JFRC) with GGBS. Compressive strength-CS, splitting tensile strength-STS, flexural strength-FS, water absorption-WA, chloride ion penetration depth-CIPD, and electrical resistivity-ER were studied. The results showed that with the increasing JF content the CS of concrete declined and STS and FS improved. However, the positive effect of JF on CS was observed in mixes containing GGBS with or without a plasticizer. Incorporation of 0.5% JF without plasticizer improved the STS and FS of concrete by 11% and 17%, respectively. However, after achieving the target workability using plasticizer, the net gains in STS and FS due to the 0.5% addition of JF were 24.3% and 29%, respectively. The negative effects of hydrophilic nature of JF on WA and CIPD resistance of concrete were minimized by using GGBS and controlling workability