Al-Nahrain Journal for Engineering Sciences
Login
NJES
  • Home
  • Articles & Issues
    • Latest Issue
    • All Issues
  • Authors
    • Submit Manuscript
    • Guide for Authors
    • Submission Resources
    • Authorship
    • Article Processing Charges (APC)
  • Reviewers
    • Guide for Reviewers
    • Become a Reviewer
  • Policies
    • Publication Ethics
    • Plagiarism
    • Allegations of Misconduct
    • Appeals and Complaints
    • Corrections and Withdrawals
    • Open Access
    • Archiving Policy
    • Copyright Policy
  • About
    • About Journal
    • Aims and Scope
    • Editorial Team
    • Journal Insights
    • Peer Review Process
    • Abstracting and Indexing
    • Announcements
    • Contact

Search Results for analysis

Article
Seismic Evaluation and Retrofitting of an Existing Buildings-State of the Art

Haider Ali Abass, Husain Khalaf Jarallah

Pages: 52-75

PDF Full Text
Abstract

In this study, previous researches were reviewed in relation to the seismic evaluation and retrofitting of an existing building. In recent years, a considerable number of researches has been undertaken to determine the performance of buildings during the seismic events. Performance based seismic design is a modern approach to earthquake resistant design of reinforcement concrete buildings. Performance based design of building structures requires rigorous non-linear static analysis. In general, nonlinear static analysis or pushover analysis was conducted as an efficient instrument for performance-based design. Pushover analysis came into practice after 1970 year.  During the seismic event, a nonlinear static analysis or pushover analysis is used to analyze building under gravity loads and monotonically increasing lateral forces. These building were evaluated until a target displacement reached. Pushover analysis provides a better understanding of buildings seismic performance, also it traces the progression of damage and failure of structural components of buildings. 

Article
Numerical Modal Analysis of Reinforced Concrete Slab with Opening

Hussam K. Risan, Omar Shamal Farhan, Hiba Imad Abbas

Pages: 368-377

PDF Full Text
Abstract

Openings in reinforced concrete (RC) slabs are usually created as a result of variations in construction function, architectural or mechanical necessities. Heavy equipment loads resulting from mechanical system of any building are often carried by RC slabs. Even the static analysis and design of RC slabs with opening is not clearly stated in the available international Codes, dynamic analytical solution for such structure is complex._x000D_ In this paper, numerical analysis based on finite element approach is utilized to implement the modal analysis of RC slabs. Opening size and position was parametrically studied. Slab natural frequency or periods in addition to, the mode shape were registered. The results showed that the opening size and position involved in RC slab had a significant change in the value of natural frequency and period for the high level modes. The material nonlinearity affect on free vibration analysis of RC opening slab with different levels of stiffness modifiers was taken into account. The dynamic characteristics of RC opening slab as a function of stiffness modifier degree was numerically measured for six mode shapes. The paper found that a reduction in stiffness modifier value greatly reduce the .natural frequency of RC opening slab.

Article
Earthfill Dams Response to Earthquake Excitation -Khassa Chai Dam as a Case Study

Mohammed Y. Fattah, Haider H. Alwash, Sarah A. Hadi

Pages: 405-418

PDF Full Text
Abstract

In this paper, a dynamic analysis has been carried out on zoned earthdam subjected to earthquake excitation in which pore water pressure, effective stresses and displacements are calculated. The finite element method is used and the computer program Geo-Studio is adopted in the analysis through its sub-programs SEEP/W and QUAKE/W.  A case study is considered to be Khassa Chai dam which is located on Khassa Chai river north of Iraq and consists of zoned embankment with a total length of 3.34 km. The selected earthquake for the analysis is El-Centro earthquake with a period of 10 sec and different amplitudes of acceleration. The time of the analysis is taken as 600 sec. with a time step (?t = 0.05 sec.) to investigate the behavior of the soil for a period of time after the earthquake has stopped, a free vibration period is included in the analysis. It was concluded that the value of pore water pressure generated at the base of the core is greater than that in the upper parts of dam. The horizontal and vertical effective stresses continue to decrease during the period of analysis 600 sec. which indicates that the soil continues to weaken during this period, the horizontal displacement increases with depth of the point from the crest and the largest horizontal displacement will be at the base of the dam at time 60 sec and There is attenuation of the acceleration to some degree depending on the amplitude of the input horizontal acceleration. The maximum horizontal displacement decreases by about 37%, 45% and 49% when using a horizontal drain 2 m thick at the downstream under a peak acceleration of 0.05g, 0.1g and 0.2g, respectively.

Article
Exploratory Data Analysis Methods for Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI): A Comprehensive Review of Software Programs Used in Research

Hussain A. Jaber, Basma A. Al-Ghali, Muna M. Kareem, Ilyas Çankaya, Oktay Algin

Pages: 491-500

PDF Full Text
Abstract

This extensive and thorough review aims to systematically outline, clarify, and examine the numerous exploratory data analysis techniques that are employed in the intriguing and rapidly advancing domain of functional MRI research. We will particularly focus on the wide array of software applications that are instrumental in facilitating and improving these complex and often nuanced analyses. Throughout this discourse, we will meticulously assess the various strengths and limitations associated with each analytical tool, offering invaluable insights relevant to their application and overall efficacy across diverse research contexts and environments. Our aim is to create a comprehensive understanding of how these tools can be best utilized to enhance research outcomes. Through this analysis, we aspire to equip researchers with critical knowledge and essential information that could profoundly influence their methodological selections in upcoming studies. By carefully considering these factors, we hope to contribute positively to the ongoing progression of this important field of inquiry, fostering innovation and enhancing the impact of future research findings in functional MRI studies.

Article
Comparison between Graded Crushed Gravel Filter and Textile Filter using Statistical Analysis

Amer Hasan Alhaddad, Rusul Latteef Naji

Pages: 166-171

PDF Full Text
Abstract

Many researchers have applied several experiments and research studies by developing criteria's design of drainage to improve the drainage process, and to show that the filters plays an important role to improve and maintain the drainage system from being blocked due to siltation. There are several types of filters, including granular mineral materials and organic materials, the other filter that was used is made from a special fabric material such as paper, burlap, or special fabric textile material. The objective of this study is to evaluate the performance of textile filters, and if it is desirable and suitable for Iraqi soil using statistical analysis. This study was conducted in the laboratory using sand tank model and two types of filters (graded crushed gravel and textile) with two types of soil (sandy soil and loamy soil) to compare and evaluate the hydraulic performance and the efficiency of utilizing textile filter instead of graded crushed gravel filter in drainage systems using statistical analysis methods. These statistical analysis show that there was a good agreement between measured and theoretical values of entrance resistance when using the two filters in sandy soil. On the other hand, the results showed that there was a weak performance when textile filters in were used in heavy soil (loamy soil) due to the high value of root mean square error (RMSE) and low value of agreement index (d). The results of statistical analysis show that the textile filter is desirable and suitable for Iraqi soil especially for sandy soil due to low entrance resistance of flow compared to loamy soil.

Article
Seismic Analysis of Reinforced Concrete Pier Strengthened by Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymers

Sarah Fadhil Abass, Bassman R. Muhammad, Qais A. Hasan, Qais A. Hasan

Pages: 313-318

PDF Full Text
Abstract

In this vast world after an earthquake lessons are learned; many strategies have been considered in order to achieve a proper seismic strength capacity.The aim of this paper is studying the seismic behavior of a typical reinforced concrete bridge pier in Iraq and implementing a proper technique of strengthening in order to fix any damage that had happened.Structure of a full scale three-dimensional finite element model was used in order to simulate a reinforced concrete pier via the computer software ABAQUS/CAE 2017 using concrete plasticity damage model (CDP).Under the action of Halabja earthquake, which was recorded at city of Halabja in Iraq on 12 November 2017, the behavior of model was traced, analyzed and the resulted damages were managed.The finite element analysis results indicated that the proposed configuration of carbon fiber reinforced polymers laminates substantially increases the lateral load strength and deformation capacity of the bridge pier

Article
Mechanical Analysis of Bone-Plate Construct Regarding Strength and Stiffness

Rana Idan Abed, Sadiq Jaafer Abbas, Walead Abd Al-Hasan Alsaadan

Pages: 89-93

PDF Full Text
Abstract

The aim of this study was to support surgeons to decide where to place the screws in order to achieve an optimal fracture healing and to prevent implant failure after a femoral shaft fracture So this paper focus on the analysis of bone-plate construct by using Finite element Analysis (FEA), comminuted femur fractured bone fixed with Dynamic Compression Plate (DCP) 16 holes by 4.5 Cortex screws, to investigate the effects of screws configuration on the mechanical behavior of different seven model as Interfragmentary strain which is the most important factor for femur fracture healing. The results state the relationships between the Von-Mises stress, Total deformation and Interfragmentary strain with respect to the screws configuration. The study shows the regions of maximum stress from stress distribution and also founded that we can decrease the Interfragmentary strain by increasing the number of screws.

Article
Development of Solid Waste Management Plan to Solve the Transport Routes Problem in Baghdad City

Ayad Naeem Sadoon, Ali H. Kadhum, Amjad Barzan Abdulghafour

Pages: 159-166

PDF Full Text
Abstract

The transportation cost problem of solid waste presents the biggest part of the budget allocated by municipalities for SWM. So, there is no comprehensive plan to address transport routes optimization problems in SWM that including the transfer of solid waste from transfer stations to final landfill sites. Therefore, the aim of the study finding a scientific method to solve the transportation problem of solid waste transport suitable Baghdad city that tries to find feasible solutions that ensure reducing total transport costs and leads to an effective solid waste management system. In this research, a new methodology has been developed to select the optimal transport routs of SWM in Baghdad city which involves determining the best-supposed scenario. the proposed methodology includes integration of Global Positioning System (GPS) technologies with Network Analysis model (NA). Therefore, this work provides an advanced framework of decision-makers for analysis and simulation of the optimal transport routs problem related to SWM. Applying these modeling tools to select the scenario that can provide economic benefits by minimizing travel time, travel distance and reduction of total transportation costs. The Results of work implementation show that all solutions that include current state S1 and suggested scenarios have been evaluated. The scenarios generated include (S2, S3) by applying the proposed technique for analyzed and identified the optimal routes. The solutions of scenario S2, specified with two landfill sites while scenarios S3 specified with four landfill sites. Finally, this work shows the Scenario S3 is the best scenario of the solution, that include applied GPS and Network Analysis for four landfill sites.

Article
Design and Analysis of Composite Biomaterial Bone Graft Plate

Dunia Abdulsahib Hamdi, Fatima Mowafaq Khider

Pages: 278-285

PDF Full Text
Abstract

The mixing technique was applied in this study to enhance the strength performance of the cement. The addition of 3% by weight of hydroxyapatite (HA) nanoparticles were mixed with 97% polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) acrylic polymer, which has a nano size to serve as the matrix material. The surface roughness and continuous porosity of the bone cement were found to be slightly increased by the incorporation of nanoparticles, which enhanced bone-implant osseointegration and ingrowth. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) analysis revealed that the addition of hydroxyapatite (HAp) nanoparticles resulted in a surface roughness value (Sa) of 16.25 nm, which is similar to that of natural bone. The energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) mapping results discover precentor material and uniform distribution. The Sample exhibited promising results in the antibacterial test, showing efficacy against bacteria both with and without sterilization, confirming its antibacterial properties. The mechanical tests conducted on the sample, including tensile, compression, bending and Vickers hardness tests, yielded favorable results and indicated that the sample is suitable for its intended application.  In the theoretical works the design of the bone, screw, and bone plate was conducted using SolidWorks, followed by an analysis using ANSYS under both axial and bending load conditions. The theoretical analysis revealed that the safety factor was less than 1 when an axial load of 13 N was applied and a bending load of 2 N was applied, indicating that the structure may not be able to withstand these loads safely. Under both ambient and physiologically relevant conditions in the human body, HA and PMMA have demonstrated to be excellent choices for enhancing the clinical performance of bone cement. This, in turn, can lead to increased longevity of implants, decreased patient risk, and lower healthcare costs

Article
Analysis of Free Vibration Features in FGM Plates

Sanaa Samir, Haneen Alaa Abdel-Hade, Dalia J. Al ibadi, Wasan Mahmood Ahmed, Engin Sansarci

Pages: 313-318

PDF Full Text
Abstract

Functionally graded materials (FGM) are a category of composite materials distinguished by specific design attributes that allow them to serve various purposes and applications. This study used FGM samples made from carbon particles and a polyester matrix to manufacture micro-shapes and study the changes in vibration characteristics at different parameters. The manufactured samples contained different weight percentages, ranging from 0% to 20%, and a subsequent step involved manufacturing two different grades of FGM samples: one consisting of five layers and the other of eleven layers. The free vibration characteristics of the FGM structure were determined experimentally and numerically. The effect of varying several parameters on the natural frequency was monitored, including the number of FGM layers, thickness, and gradient coefficient. The Ansys Workbench (version 2022 R1) was used to analyze free vibration to verify the experimental results. Vibration testing of square FGM panels showed that the natural frequency increased with the number of layers. Improving the thickness of the panels also resulted in increased natural frequency values, when changing the thickness from 5mm to 10mm increases the natural frequency by an amount of 173.34 Hz at 11 layers. Model analysis using finite element analysis (FEA) tools confirmed the validity of the experimental solution, with a maximum discrepancy of 9.72%. Based on numerical calculations, the natural frequency coefficient decreased with increasing power law index under different boundary conditions and increased with increasing number of constraints in the sample.

Article
Gait Analysis after Unilateral Total Hip Replacement Surgery

Sadiq J. Hamandi, Marwa Azzawi, Waleed Abdulwahed

Pages: 458-466

PDF Full Text
Abstract

Total hip replacement (THR) is an elective surgical procedure with the primary indication being pain relief. The aim of this study is to analyze gait dynamics for patients after they underwent a unilateral THR surgery and compare it with normal parameters. To investigate the gait dynamics a gait analysis was performed on five patients after they underwent a unilateral THR surgery; only two of them were examined before the surgery. The gait analysis was performed using a digital video camera with two force plates. Kinematics data were obtained from 2D trajectories of seven passive markers using SkillSpector software. MATLAB software has been used for inverse dynamics computation. General gait parameters, Harris Hip Score, joints’ angles, forces, moments and powers were obtained during gait cycle. It was found that the average of improvement in Harris Hip Score (for four patients who were examined 1.5, 2.5, 3 and 9 months after surgery) is 61.8 points, which is an indication of pain relief. In the other hand, the general gait parameters were found slightly lower than normal after THR surgery. The average hip reaction force was found to be 2.988 N/BW, which is within normal range. Also, the average of maximum hip extension and maximum hip flexion angles were found to be 25.69 and -13.524 degree respectively, which both are within normal ranges. Furthermore, hip, knee and ankle moments and powers results showed some abnormality. Therefore as a conclusion, patient satisfaction and functional improvement are not related to general gait parameter. And it is not unusual that gait mechanics improvement would not reach normal after months of recovery. Also, the results of gait dynamics which are from the engineer’s perspective are compatible with Harris Hip Score, which is from the physician’s perspective, in quantifying surgical results and subsequent recovery progress.

Article
Numerical Analysis of a Pile-Soil System Under Earthquake Loading

Qassun S. Mohammed Shafiqu, Ruba H. Majeed Sa'ur

Pages: 446-451

PDF Full Text
Abstract

Due to significant increasing in seismic activity in world during the last decades especially in Middle East region; engineers have been giving increasing attention to the design of buildings for earthquake resistance. In this study 3-D seismic behavior of piles is investigated using the finite element program PLAXIS 3D 2013. _x000D_ Piles are one of the most commonly used foundations in seismic areas where the soil is inadequate to carry the load on its own. In these seismic areas, piles often pass through (penetrate) shallow loose and/or soft soil deposits and rests on competent end bearing soils. Thus a model of soil - pile system is simulated in the finite element program._x000D_ The dynamic parameters of soil are used as input dynamic data of PLAXIS 3D program, in addition to the static properties of soil collected from soil investigation works._x000D_ The research showed the susceptibility of PLAXIS 3D program in analyzing piles with different soil conditions under earthquake action. The results also showed the importance of studying seismic behavior of soil-pile system using 3-D analysis rather than 2-D analysis because the problem is truly 3-D and should be analyzed as such.

Article
Single Link Manipulator Trajectory Tracking using Nonlinear Control Algorithm

Musadaq Ahmed Hadi, Hazem I. Ali

Pages: 30-39

PDF Full Text
Abstract

A new robust control algorithm is proposed for a class of nonlinear systems represented by a Single Link Manipulator (SLM) system. This algorithm is based on new techniques and methods in order to obtain a controller for the SLM system. First of all, the system is simplified using Variable Transformation Technique (VTT) in order to fit the analysis procedure. Then, a new idea of designing a model reference for the multiple states (n=4) system is presented to correspond the control design. Next, the Lyapunov Stability Analysis (LSA) is used to figure out a proper controller that can compensate the stability and the performance of the SLM system. After that, the Most Valuable Player Algorithm (MVPA) is applied to find the optimal parameters of the proposed controller to accomplish the optimum performance improvement. Finally, it can be concluded that the proposed control algorithm has improved the stability and the performance of the SLM system. In addition, the simulation results show the remarkable effects of the proposed nonlinear controller on the SLM system.

Article
Measurement and Analysis of ground reaction forces Distribution and electromyography for Ankle Joint Fixation Injury Using Different Types of Shoes

Noora Fakhri, Jumaa S. Chiad

Pages: 358-364

PDF Full Text
Abstract

One of the health issues that many people encounter on a daily basis is bone fracture, which can happen for a number of reasons, such as arthritis, sprains, or external trauma . The patient experiences instability as a result of these issues . Internal fixation is a type of surgery used to support and mend a damaged bone Treatment options include ankle joint fixation, a surgical procedure employing pins, plates, rods, or screws. This study uses gait analysis methods to assess lower limb biomechanics .  Gait analysis is vital for understanding walking patterns and intervention effectiveness. The impact of different shoe designs on ankle mechanics, using the finite element method and ANSYS, is investigated The results of the EMG and the GRF were discussed._x000D_ This research deepens our understanding of lower limb biomechanics and ankle joint health. By evaluating stress effects and designing custom shoes, it enhances ankle injury treatment and management strategies._x000D_ The patient, a 70-year-old woman with an internal fixation on her ankle joint, underwent a CT scan of her ankle. The patient underwent a number of experiments to evaluate her stability. EMG was used to determine the muscle stress for a brief period of time, and ground reaction force was then used to determine the pressure of walking. Both EMG and GRF have two walking speeds of1.5and 2 km/h while wearing four different types of shoes. The behavior of the EMG demonstrates that the stress on the muscle increases as walking speed increases, and the results varies depending on the shoe. The patient is afraid to apply pressure to the injured foot, so the health foot has better pressure over the entire foot_x000D_  

Article
Exploring the Potentials of Laser Induced Forward Transfer  and Laser Annealing Processes for Synthesis/Printing of Silver Nanofilms on Quartz Substrates using Nd:YAG and CO2 Laser Beams

Hanadi H. Altawil

Pages: 118-123

PDF Full Text
Abstract

Laser annealing represents a powerful method for tailoring the properties of silver nanofilms on quartz substrates, offering advantages in terms of precision, scalability, and functionalization. Continued research efforts are expected to deepen our understanding and broaden the applications of this promising technology in diverse fields. In this work, laser annealing of silver nanofilms deposited on quartz substrates was performed and investigated. RF CO2 laser of variable power in the range 1–20 W with beam quality of 1.1 was used to anneal silver nanofilms. AFM analysis emphasized that nanocrystal sizes of 60 nm were obtained for silver nanofilms. Furthermore, the optimum absorbance peak occurred at about 449 nm for smaller film thickness. Thermal simulation and analysis of the annealing process were also conducted using COMSOL Multiphysics software. It was observed that optimal temperature of 729 K was achieved when 10 W laser power and 2 mm/s scanning speed were used to anneal 20 nm silver film thickness. Design of expert analysis was also used to better understand the laser annealing process of silver nanofilms since convolution of several process parameters affect the process output.

Article
Cracking Control due to Early Thermal Movement of Watertight Continuous RC Members

Hussam K. Risan

Pages: 206-213

PDF Full Text
Abstract

Action of applied external loads, early thermal by hydration of cement in reinforced concrete (RC) structures, creep and shrinkage and seasonal effects due to environmental conditions are the main causes of inducing cracks in RC members. Most Design Codes of RC structures have underestimated the distribution steel requirements based on stating nominal or minimum requirements for early thermal and moisture movement especially in watertight continuous constructions. Three dimensional finite element analysis for a verification problem was carried out on a continuous reinforced concrete members with different bar diameter subjected to different applied temperatures values which represent the early-age and seasonal effects. The results of this analysis were compared with the available BS Code equations for crack control for early thermal movements. The comparison between the Code equation and finite element analysis was met in a good agreement. The resulted data was used to study parametrically the crack characteristics in terms of crack width and spacing of RC members in term of the effects of three different construction exposures (Class A, B and C), three values of temperatures with three different bar size diameter (10mm, 12, 16) for each one. The present work was indicated as the bar diameter increases, the required steel ratio increases proportionality to match the assumed crack width. So, to get the minimum steel ratio this is the target. It must use smallest bar diameter. But unfortunately this is limited by minimum practical bar spacing. The overall of present study was indicated that the continuous construction required high steel area especially for class A exposure.

Article
A Digital Systems and Infrastructure Assessment for Resilient Primary Healthcare Delivery in Paschim Bardhaman, India

Sudipta Das, Dibyendu Chattaraj, Sayandip Gangopadhyay

Pages: 364-370

PDF Full Text
Abstract

Primary healthcare institutions are highly important socio-technical systems, where infrastructure, digital technologies, and service delivery processes collaborate to establish service resilience and performance. Digital systems and sustainable infrastructure may not be integrated as well in a limited environment with resources, which may lead to reduced system robustness and efficiency. This paper is a systematic digital systems and infrastructure evaluation of the process of providing primary healthcare in Paschim Bardhaman District, India, through an engineering-based, multi-criteria analysis framework._x000D_ Cross-sectional engineering analysis was carried out on 25 Primary Health Centers (PHCs) chosen based on the rural and semi-urban settings. They have developed a composite system performance index by incorporating five domains of engineering, namely infrastructure robustness, operational workflow efficiency, outcome performance, digital systems readiness (ICT), and environmental sustainability systems. Information was gathered based on formal auditing of facilities, check of readiness of ICT equipment and software, field observation of operations and review of documents. Domain-specific scores were also summed up to create a Composite Quality and Resilience Index (CQRI). Statistical analyses were made to provide measures of description, correlation analysis and comparative testing between rural and semi-urban facilities._x000D_ Findings showed that there was moderate system performance (mean CQRI = 1.21 ± 0.24) and there was high inter-facility difference. The positive correlation of infrastructure robustness and the efficiency of operational workflow were found to be strong with composite system performance (r = 0.67 and r = 0.74, respectively). The readiness to digital systems, and environmental sustainability scored relatively low, which points out to the underutilization of ICT infrastructure, lack of telemedicine adoption, and the integration of renewable energy sources. The composite performance of semi-urban PHCs was much better than that of rural facilities (p < 0.05), which highlights the importance of infrastructure accessibility and digital connectivity to system resilience._x000D_ The results show that integration of digital systems and infrastructure design that is sustainable are important engineering determinants of resilient primary healthcare delivery. The suggested composite assessment framework can be used as a scalable engineering-based tool to estimate and optimize the performance of low-resource healthcare infrastructure in supporting the resilience of the system and its long-term sustainability and efficiency in delivering the services.

Article
Modeling and Analysis of Silicon Reflective-type Microring Resonator Assisted MZI as Filtering Device

Esraa El-edresee, Alhuda A. Al-mfrji

Pages: 455-464

PDF Full Text
Abstract

Recently microwave photonic filter (MPF) have a great interest due to their advantages which include low loss, wide bandwidth tunability, reconfigurability, and no electromagnetic interference. This paper presented a comprehensive optical transmission analysis of a reflective-type microring resonator (R-MRR) using coupled mode theory, and design guidelines for MPF through two cascaded R-MRR using COMSOL software simulation results. The design was implemented on silicon-on-insulator (SOI) platform-based MPF which exhibits wide bandwidth tunability and reconfigurability by adjusting the coupling coefficient in the two coupling regions. In this structure, a grating coupler (GC) reflector is introduced to the drop port of MRR. The analysis and simulation results were confirmed by utilizing a GC reflector and Mach-Zehender Interferometer (MZI). The results of the proposed MPF at laser light input of (1.55*10^6- m) wavelength showed the bandwidth and center frequency are adjusted from 0.3 to 6 GHz and 13 to 54.8 GHz, respectively, with a high rejection ratio reaching 70 dB. Overall, the structure represents a significant step towards designing the MPFs, which show perfect flexibility and have numerous applications in such fields as radar, sensor, and wireless communications.

Article
Comprehensive Survey of the State-of-the-Art Deep Learning Models for Diabetic Retinopathy Detection and Grading Using Retinal Fundus Photography

Noor Ali Sadek, Ziad Tarik Al-Dahan, Suzan Amana Rattan

Pages: 155-163

PDF Full Text
Abstract

In order to avoid losing sense of sight in a large portion of the working population, Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) identification during broad examination for diabetes is crucial. To prevent blindness in the future, early illness detection and measurement of disease development are essential. DR is diagnosed through medical image analysis. After the success of Deep Learning (DL) in other applications in the real world, it is considered a vital tool for upcoming health sector applications, providing solutions with accurate results for medical image analysis. This review provides a comprehensive survey of the state-of-the-art DL models for DR detection and grading using retinal fundus photography. This review thoroughly examined and summarized 81 relevant publications that were published through IEEE Xplore, Web of Science, PubMed, and Scopus between 2018 and 2023 based on the available database with binary or multiclass CNN classification models as well as the main preprocessing techniques. According to the findings of this review, transfer learning has proven to be an excellent technique for addressing the problems of limited resources for data for DR analysis. CNN models having tens or hundreds of layers are the most frequently utilized frameworks for DR classification. The most extensively utilized datasets for DR categorization are Aptos 2019 and EyePACS. Although DL has attained or surpassed human-level DR classification accuracy, there is still more work to be done in real-world clinical procedures.

Article
Synergistic Effects of Hybrid Nano-Calcium Carbonate and Nano-Talc Fillers on the Electrical, Thermal, and Morphological Properties of Epoxy-Glass Fiber Composites

Nishant Bhore, Prashant Thorat, Mangesh Deshmukh

Pages: 319-326

PDF Full Text
Abstract

This research investigates the influence of single and hybrid mineral nanofillers on the morphological, thermal, and electrical properties of epoxy-based glass fiber composites. Nanocomposites were fabricated using hand lay-up technique, incorporating nano-calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) and nano-talc with particle size of 50 to 100 nm into an epoxy matrix with 5-ply E-glass/S-glass fiber. The study evaluates composites with 2-8 wt% of nano-CaCO₃, and hybrid systems containing nano-CaCO₃ (2-8 wt%) and nano-talc (1-4 wt%). Morphological analysis via Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) assessed nanofiller dispersion, while thermal properties were analyzed using Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) for glass transition temperature (Tg). Electrical performance was evaluated through dielectric breakdown voltage (ASTM D149) and surface resistivity (ASTM D257). SEM analysis showed filler dispersion depended on concentration, with optimal distribution at 4-6 wt% before significant agglomeration at higher concentrations. DSC results revealed increased Tg with nanofillers, peaking for the composite with 6 wt% CaCO₃ and 3 wt% talc, indicating enhanced thermal stability. The dielectric breakdown voltage peaked at 17.6 kV for 2 wt% CaCO₃ and 1 wt% talc composite, while surface resistivity was highest for 4 wt% CaCO₃ and 2 wt% talc (73.74×1012Ω). All formulations maintained UL 94 V-1 flammability rating. The study concludes that the synergistic interaction between nano-CaCO₃ and nano-talc enables significant tailoring of thermal and electrical properties for advanced applications.

Article
Laser Produced Hydrophilic and Hydrophobic Silicon Surfaces

A. A. Hatem, B. G. Rasheed, Naser M. Ahmed

Pages: 54-60

PDF Full Text
Abstract

Two lasers were utilized for silicon processing using photoelectrochemical etching and laser texturing in order to produce nano/micro structures, respectively. Photoelectrochemical etching process utilizes a CW diode laser of 532 nm wavelength was used to support electrochemical etching for both n-type and p-type conductivity. While laser texturing process was employed using pulsed fiber laser of 1064 nm wavelength. Various characterization methods were devoted to examine silicon micro/nanostructures surfaces produced by lasers. These methods include AFM, SEM and Raman scattering to provide clear evidence about formation of micro/nanostructures abundant at silicon surfaces.  Moreover, FTIR analysis for the laser produced silicon surfaces could emphasize whether the resultant silicon surface is hydrophilic or hydrophobic. Image analysis software adopted a side view micro image was used to measure the contact angle between the water droplet and silicon micro/nano-surfaces. It is found that the laser produced silicon nanostructure by photoelectrochemical etching creates a hydrophobic surface and even super hydrophobic with contact angle of 130 degrees for 50 nm average size. In addition, utilizing fiber laser of high repetition rate for laser texturing produces microstructures that are super hydrophilic with contact angle could reach 8 degrees for a surface dimension of 50 μm.

Article
Optimal Policies for Conjunctive-Use and Cropping Pattern for Al-Wand Basin

Amer Hassan Al-Haddad, Zainab Kadhim Jabal

Pages: 550-561

PDF Full Text
Abstract

Applying conjunctive use between surface water and ground water is getting widely used at many regions in the world, due to the increasing need of water resources, especially when large quantities of water and for long time are used for irrigation purposes to meet agricultural production requirements.The linear programming has been formulated to optimize the optimum allocation of water. An economic analysis of conjunctive use for Al-Wand project in Iraq has been done for a certain cropping pattern using two scenarios of management and operation of ground water and surface water. One suggested scenario was to use ground tank to save the water during the period of water excess to be used during the shortage period. The other scenario was to operate the reservoir dam to supply the water requirements during the agriculture years. The main concerns of this research were: the fluctuation of the ground water and how to estimate the deficit of yield which is caused by using the decreased water in irrigation. The economic analysis has been done by calculating the overall cost and the annual estimation of return. It can be concluded that the operation of surface water at (60 and 70%) from total available surface is a compromise, because some of the water still flow in the river and canals and the ground water reservoirs were not affected especially its storage capacity.

Article
Finite Element Analysis of the Geogrid-Pile Foundation System under Earthquake Loading

Athraa A. Al Ghanim, Qassun S. Mohammed Shafiqu, Asma Thamir Ibraheem

Pages: 202-207

PDF Full Text
Abstract

The finite element method is one of the important methods in analyzing geotechnical engineering problems; its main advantage is the ability to apply for the materials exhibiting non-linear stress-strain behavior. In this study the finite element program PLAXIS 3D 2013 is used to study the behavior of the piles under the influence of seismic waves in saturated sandy soil and the effect of adding geogrid with the pile foundation. The program has been used to facilitate the representation of the real model, input the required soil parameters and implementation of seismic data. Seismic wave, the soil geometry and the pile dimensions were fixed in all models, while dimension and depth of the geogrid used were varied to study the influence of different depth and dimension in reducing the pile displacements and the pore water pressure of soil. The results show that The reduction in settlement ratio (the difference between settlement of pile without and with using geogrid to the settlement without using geogrid) for ( ×L/2), (L×L) and (2L×2L) are 10.6%, 17% and 21.3% respectively. And the settlement ratio for geogrid at depths 8.33% and 12.5% of pile length are 9.6% and 17% respectively.

Article
Finite Element Analysis of Reinforced Self Consolidation Concrete Beams Having a Horizontal Construction Joint

Muhaj Mustafa Abdulmunaam, Omar Shamal Farhan

Pages: 141-148

PDF Full Text
Abstract

Construction joints are separations between successive concrete pours. They are critical in the building of large concrete structures, since these structures cannot be cast in a single pour. Self-consolidation concrete is a relatively new kind of concrete that is considered suitable for a wide range of construction applications, especially those needing a high early resistance. Certain findings from earlier experimental tests were adopted and analyzed using finite element analysis. ANSYS program was used to analyze the impact of utilizing high strength concrete (fc') and the secondary reinforcement ratio (ρv) on the behavior of reinforced self-consolidating concrete beams having a horizontal construction joint. Nine beams analyzed in this study have the same dimensions (150×180×1200) mm (width× height ×length). Between the two supports, the clear span was 1100 mm. Two-point loads were applied to the simply supported beams during testing. One of the beams acts as a control beam (without a construction joint) and the remaining beams were with horizontal construction joint in the tension zone. The ultimate loads obtained analytically vary by between 3.1% and 7.8 % from those found experimentally. The presence of the horizontal construction joints made the beam less stiff. Utilizing a 70 MPa high strength concrete resulted in a 47.4 % in ultimate load over the experimental value for regular strength concrete (28 MPa). Increasing the ratio of secondary reinforcement (0.01229 to 0.049) resulted in a 10.3% increase in ultimate load magnitude, while decreasing the ratio of secondary reinforcement (0.01229 to 0.0025) with spanning the spacing between stirrups led to a reduction in ultimate load magnitude by 55.8%.

Article
Optimized Performance of Consensus algorithm in Multi Agent System Using PSO

Safanah Mudheher Raafat, Ahmed Mudheher Hasan, Teaba Wala Aldeen Khairi, Karar Ghalib Ali

Pages: 292-299

PDF Full Text
Abstract

This paper provides a theoretical framework for analysis of consensus algorithm for multi-agent networked systems considering the role of directed information flow. Improvement of the performance of the implemented consensus algorithm has been achieved by using Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO). Concepts of information consensus in networks and methods of convergence are applied as well. Our analysis framework is based on tools algebraic Graph Theory (GT). Simulation of multi-agent system and the performance of a consensus algorithm have been discussed. Acceleration the network while approaching the required goal has been accomplished and elimination of undesired swing that appears during the acceleration was proved.

Article
Experimental Analysis of Air Inlet Height Variation in a Solar Tower system Using Plate and Metal Foam Absorber

Sarmad A. Abdul Hussein, Mohammed A. Nima

Pages: 120-129

PDF Full Text
Abstract

The experimental analysis is conducted under the Iraqi climate conditions to investigate the performance enhancement of a solar updraft tower system (SUTS) using the porous copper foam as an absorber plate and conventional absorber plate with absorber inclination angle of 18°. In the present work, a semicircular collector is divided into two identical quarter thermal collectors to become two identical SUTS. One of the quarter circular thermal collectors contains on the metal foam as an absorber plate, while the other quarter collector on the conventional flat copper absorber plate. In this study the air inlet height is changed of (3, 5, and 8) cm. The experimental tests carried out in Baghdad city (latitude 33.3° N). Results showed that the air inlet height variation caused to enhance the solar updraft tower performance. The highest values was recorded when the air inlet height is 3 cm using porous absorber compared to flat absorber plate. Copper material foam as an endothermic surface causes a marked decrease in average surface temperature of the plate. The maximum hourly thermal efficiency of solar collector was increased to about 41.6 % and the maximum enhancement of the power output to about 45.2 % compared with flat absorber plate.

Article
Design and Analysis of an Orthogonal Chaotic Vectors based Differential Chaos Shift Keying Communication System

Fadhil Sahib Hasan

Pages: 952-958

PDF Full Text
Abstract

An orthogonal chaotic vectors based differential chaos shift keying (OCV-DCSK) digital communication system is presented. In this system the data transmission rates are increased by sending M bits in the same frame without needing for synchronization and channel state information since it use the benefit of non-coherent modulation of the DCSK and the orthogonality of chaotic vectors in the same scenario as QCSK system but instead of using Hilbert transform to create two orthogonal signals in QCSK, Gram Schmidt process is used to create M orthogonal chaotic signals from the M non-orthogonal chaotic signal. In the proposed system the analytical expression for OCV-DCSK are derived in AWGN and multipath fading channels. The simulation results show that the derived analytical expression have matched the Monte-Carlo simulation of the proposed system. Furthermore, comparison between orthogonal chaotic vectors and non-orthogonal, that are generated either as different initial conditions with the same chaotic generator or as different types of chaotic maps, reveals its superior BER performance in multipath fading channel.

Article
Nonlinear Vibration Analysis of Functionally Graded Carbon Nanotubes Sandwich Cylindrical Panels

Senaa S. Hafidh, Hamad M. Hasan, Farag M. Mohammed

Pages: 127-136

PDF Full Text
Abstract

In this research, we investigate the nonlinear vibration of functionally graded carbon nanotubes (FG-CNTs) for simply supported sandwich cylindrical panels. The sandwich consisting of three layers formed of (FG-CNTs) and isotropic material as (CNT, ALMINUME, CNT).  Mechanical properties of the sandwich media are acquired according to a re?ned rule of blend approach. The governing equations were derived using a first-order deformation theory (FOSDT). Four kinds of carbon nanotubes of sandwich cylindrical panels were analyzed. The volume fraction of CNTs is varied. The properties of nonlinear responses and free vibration are studied. The numerical approach employs the fourth-order Runge-Kutta and Galerkine procedure. Which conducted for the dynamic analysis of the panels to present the natural frequencies and non-linear dynamic response expression. The results show that; the natural frequencies and the nonlinear vibration amplitude decrease with the volume fraction and thickness ratio increase. The nonlinear vibration amplitude response increases when increasing the excitation force. The initial imperfection and the elastic foundation have a minor impact on the nonlinear vibration response of the panel. The Pasternak Foundation has a larger impact than the Winkler foundation. The structure formed of FG-CNT present an excellent choice for high-performance of engineering applications.

Article
Detection of Oil Mineral Pollution in Tigris River from Aldora Refined using Absorbance Spectroscopy

Thamer Mahmood Mohammed, Ahmed K. Ahmed

Pages: 346-350

PDF Full Text
Abstract

Accurately identifying the kind and amount of dissolved metal salts in wastewater used in oil refining processes is an iconic feature of ultraviolet and visible absorption spectroscopy. This method relies on the dissolved metal salts' ability to absorb light at certain wavelengths after reacting with it. The experiments were conducted in a lab setting with a broadband source (200-800 nm) to measure the absorbance of dissolved element salts and precisely identify the lowest concentration up to 2 ppm. A mixture of the mineral salts from oil refining operations was prepared and diluted to different concentrations using a standard solution. This allowed us to study and compare this result with the absorbance behavior of the wastewater from the Al-Dora Refinery. The two results reinforced that we can accurately estimate the detection parameters for the lowest water contamination. These materials are lead nitrate (PbNO3), phenol, calcium carbonate (CaCO3), sodium chloride (NaCl2), sulfide (SO4), and nitrate (NO3). At wavelengths of 340, 404, and 741 nm, the concentrations (10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, and 100) ppm were found, and for the concentration of 10ppm, the absorbance (0.15323, 0.15326, and 0.14685) was found, respectively. The process that has been tested with varying concentrations is considered and simulates the variation in river water concentrations caused by the river's water level and flow rate changes by the effect of rain abundance and thawing. It is fast, accurate data analysis, and a lower cost compared with the other chemical analysis and conventional methods.

Article
Standardizing Cervical Spine MRI for AI: A Mathematically Formalized Preprocessing and Harmonization Pipeline

Noel John Veigas, Dasharathraj K Shetty, Shyamasunder Bhat N, Prithvishree Ravindra, Praveen Shastry

Pages: 392-401

PDF Full Text
Abstract

The standardization and preprocessing decisions determine the performance, reproducibility and generalizability of Artificial Intelligence (AI) models in cervical spine Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). In this research, the author suggests a six-step standardized preprocessing pipeline that can help with the reliable analysis of heterogeneous MRI data using AI. It is obtained by the pipeline based on recurrent methodological patterns found in the literature, focusing on the operations reported to stabilize image intensity distribution and reduce unwanted sources of variability. A systematic literature review was screened on 2,882 records, and 43 articles were included per the inclusion criteria. Due to the large variability of imaging procedures, preprocessing plans, and reported outcomes metrics, no quantitative meta-analysis was performed and a qualitative synthesis was done. Basic methods such as segmentation, denoising, intensity normalization, augmentation, bias-field correction were consistently reported to improve AI performance. Studies evaluating tasks such as normalization and automated segmentation reported accuracies of 94% to 99.95%. Moreover, less-specific harmonization methods like Combatting Batch Effects (ComBat), z-score normalization and histogram matching, and Generative Adversarial Network (GAN)-based ones were also often attributed with lower scanner- and site-based variations. Regardless of these improvements, the AI workflow remains unstable because of the irregularity of predefined parameters, unequal standards of acquisition, and lack of methodological reporting. In efforts to deal with such challenges, the current work proposes a methodical six-stage preprocessing model that consists of quality control, noise removal, intensity normalization, anatomical segmentation, harmonization and validation. The suggested workflow model offers a practical and transparent basis of clinically translatable AI usage in cervical spine MRI based on conventional mathematical equations and clear documentation.

Article
An An Analysis of Strain Rate Distribution Using Streamline Model and A Quick Stop Device in Metal Cutting

Osama Ali Kadhim, Fathi A. Alshamma

Pages: 136-142

PDF Full Text
Abstract

In this paper, a quick stop device technique and the streamline model were employed to study the chip formation in metal cutting. The behavior of chip deformation at the primary shear zone was described by this model. Orthogonal test of turning process over a workpiece of the 6061-T6 aluminum alloy at different cutting speeds was carried out. The results of the equivalent strain rate and cumulative plastic strain were used to describe the complexity of chip formation. Finite element analysis by ABAQUS/explicit package was also employed to verify the streamline model. Some behavior of formation and strain rate distribution differs from the experimental results, but the overall trend and maximum results are approximately close. In addition, the quick stop device technique is described in detail. Which could be used in other kinds of studies, such as the metallurgical observation.

Article
Cyber security for smart inverters and distributed energy resources (DER)

Qaeser Mohsen Khayoon, Hassan Hadi M. A. Al-Fatlawi, Ali Jasim Albhadly

Pages: 174-180

PDF Full Text
Abstract

The growing use of “distributed energy resources (DER)” will result in a significant increase in the total number of gadgets or devices that users and third parties own and control. These gadgets rely largely on digital communication and control, placing them in danger due to cyber threats. This study presents a comprehensive framework that is resistant to attacks for defending integrated DER and major power grid infrastructure from hostile cyber-attacks, ensuring the safe integration of DER without jeopardizing system dependability and stability. This research focuses on the development of a cyber-physical power system that incorporates a significant integration of DER and analyses the particular cyber security problems brought about by DER integration. Following that, we provide a systematic DER resilience analysis approach, in addition to effective and measurable resilience measurements and concepts concerning design, and we summarize important DER assault scenarios. In conclusion, we suggest preventive, detective, and responsive measures against cyber-attacks, specifically tailored for integrating Distributed Energy Resources (DER) throughout the physical, cyber device, and regulatory levels of an eventual smart grid.

Article
A Comparative Analysis of Traditional and Smart Prosthetic Sockets: Enhancing Gait Symmetry and User Comfort

Shahed S. Nasir, Wajdi Sadik Aboud, Sallehuddin Mohamed Haris

Pages: 266-275

PDF Full Text
Abstract

This study compares two different sockets, traditional and smart. It includes designs, manufacturing, and testing to evaluate the influence of the socket designs on gait symmetry. The proposed materials are locally available in the prosthetics center where traditional sockets are manufactured. and smart socket designs with the same materials as traditional additions. A simple electronic system programmed to control the movement of the stump by pneumatic pads and prevent slipping during movement is considered an advanced suspension system. A gait cycle test was carried out to evaluate the sockets. it was performed on a patient with AK amputation in two cases: the first when the patient was wearing the traditional and the second when wearing the smart. Where the difference in (gait cycle time, step velocity, heel contact, and mid-stance) between the left and right leg is equal to (0.54, 4.3, 0.19, and 0.34) respectively, when the patient uses the traditional, while these values reduce to (0.09, 0.7, 0.07, and 0.27) respectively when the patient used the smart, it improves comfort by modifying pressure distribution, relieving pressure points, and enhancing functionality through gait analysis. They adjust to the volume of the residual limb, ensuring an effective fit. Real-time monitoring and remote modifications decrease the need for in-person meetings and enhance user confidence. The smart socket, designed to fit user requirements, provides enhanced comfort, functionality, and independence. The studies will explore its long-term benefits and broader applications, focusing on its originality, practical implications, and outcome measurement.

Article
Effect of Oil Temperature on Load Capacity and Friction Power Loss in Point Contact Elasto-hydrodynamic Lubrication

Hassan S Fatehallah, Zaid S. Hammoudi, Lutfy Y. Zidane

Pages: 180-186

PDF Full Text
Abstract

This study presents a numerical analysis for point contact Elasto-hydrodynamic lubrication EHL. The oils used are (0W-30 and 10W-40) as lubricants. The pressure and film-thickness profiles for point contact EHL are evaluated. The aims of this study are to estimate the effect of oil’s temperature on friction force, coefficient of friction and load carrying capacity. By using FORTRAN program, the Forward-iterative method is used, to solve two dimensional (2D) EHL problem. The viscosity is updating in the solution by using Roeland’s model. After the convergence of pressure is done, the friction force, friction power losses, and friction coefficient are calculated. The temperature used ranges from (-20 to 120 oC). The results showed the film-thickness decreases with the increasing of temperature. Though the maximum pressure is not affected, only the pressure distribution and profile are changed, inlet pressure decreases and the pressure profile tends towards a hertzian (dry contact) one. The friction force and the coefficient of friction decrease with the increasing of temperature.

Article
Numerical Analysis of the Effect of Scanning Speed on the Temperature Field Distribution for Laser Heat Treatment Applications

Furat I. Hussein Al-Najjar

Pages: 213-222

PDF Full Text
Abstract

One of the unique properties of laser heating applications is its powerful ability for precise pouring of energy on the needed regions in heat treatment applications. The rapid rise in temperature at the irradiated region produces a high temperature gradient, which contributes in phase metallurgical changes, inside the volume of the irradiated material. This article presents a comprehensive numerical work for a model based on experimentally laser heated AISI 1110 steel samples. The numerical investigation is based on the finite element method (FEM) taking in consideration the temperature dependent material properties to predict the temperature distribution within the irradiated material volume.  The finite element analysis (FEA) was carried out using the APDL scripting language (ANSYS Parametric Design Language) that is provided by the commercial code ANSYS. Infrared (IR) thermography technique was used to explore the workpiece surface and to validate the obtained results. The work takes into account the effect of different speeds of the laser beam and pulses overlap on the temperature pattern of the material surface and depth.

Article
Estimating Transfer Function of Below-Knee Prosthesis at Two Phases of Gait Cycle

Mahmud Rasheed Ismail, Imad Zuhair Ghani

Pages: 770-777

PDF Full Text
Abstract

The modern development in prosthetics field demand the evaluation of the dynamical behavior and automatic control .The key process in the design and implement of these devices is the determination of the model parameters inherited with the transfer function .In such complicated structures it is so difficult to evaluate transfer function analytically ,however experimental approaches can serve as a simple and effective tool for estimating transfer function and model parameters .In this regard computer software such as Matlab is used .System Identification SID refers to the method for estimating the system transfer function from experimental tests by using computer .In the present paper; SID method is employed for analyzing below-knee prosthesis leg .In order to simulate with the practical requirement for design and evaluation ,two phases of human gait are considered ,namely; swing phase and single support of stance phase .The validity of this method is firstly checked by applying it on clamped-clamped beam model where the required parameters are evaluated and compared theoretically (via modal analysis) and experimentally (via System identification) .It is found that ; the error in estimating the transfer function parameter of beam is not exceeded 6% . Then the transfer function of the prosthesis are estimated for two phases of gait cycle .It is found that; the estimated transfer function of the prosthesis leg is highly affected by the phase type of gait cycle , where ;the natural frequency highly increases, the static gain decrease for support phase as compared with the swing phase ,however the damping ratio does not affected .

Article
Study the Impact of Quality Control on Production Processes

Ameen Ali Zahra

Pages: 12-20

PDF Full Text
Abstract

The research aims to improve the quality of the product through improving the quality of production processes by relying on the principle of quality control, the aim of this research is to identify the reality of quality control in the industrial public sector companies in Syria, and explaining the advantages of using the principle of quality control   producing information and data that contribute to improve the quality of production, where the research was based on theoretical side to provide an explanation on the quality and its objectives and the principle of quality control and production processes, but on the practical side, the workers were surveyed at the General Company for Wool and Carpets in Hama._x000D_ To achieve the objective of the research and to prove or deny the impact of quality control on the quality of production processes was based on the descriptive analytical method and using the appropriate statistical methods, where statistical analysis was carried out using SPSS 19 program._x000D_ The statistical results have shown that there is a strong correlation between the quality control and improving the quality of production processes._x000D_ The researcher recommended the need to form an administrative structure or forming a team work to improve the quality or using the consultants and researchers in order to supervise on the principle of quality control.

Article
Kinematic Analysis of WMR Tracked by a Camera Vision System

Hasan M. Alwan, Qasim A. Atiyah, Hussein A. Hasan

Pages: 1090-1096

PDF Full Text
Abstract

This paper presents a study of a nonholonomic differential drive wheeled mobile robot (WMR) of the type (BOE-Bot). In this paper, two aims are presented: the first is the study of the WMR movement on a specific trajectories to get the desired goals positions and the second is the evaluation of the kinematic performance factor of the WMR movement. The kinematic model of the robot movement in terms of the robot wheels velocity is studied by making the robot to move on the desired trajectories. The determination of the actual robot centre position in two dimensions (X) and (Y) is done by tracking the movement of a red point located above the robot by using a fixed camera attached to the ceiling. The position error between the theoretical and actual WMR position vectors is studied and calculated in global and local coordinates' frames. The values of the position error percentage ratios when the robot moved on a (S-shape) trajectory were higher than its values when the robot moved on a (straight-line) trajectory because of the existence of a gyroscopic torque resulted from the WMR circular movement around an axis perpendicular to the axis of the WMR wheels rotation. Finally, the kinematic performance factor of the WMR movement is evaluated depending on the position error in the global coordinate.

Article
Compare Between Gait Analysis of Patient with Ilizarov Leg and Prosthesis Leg

Omyia Mahmoud Jawad, Sadiq Jaffar Abass, Safa Kadiam Dia’a

Pages: 178-186

PDF Full Text
Abstract

Gait analysis can be described as a field of biomechanical engineering dealing with the subject of human locomotion. This study aimed to identify the effect of Ilizarov on gait when the presence the above-knee prosthesis. The study was made on a 50-year-old male patient was underwent correction right tibia with Ilizarov fixation due to war accident in July 2012. Also, this accident led to trans-femoral amputation. Two-dimensional gait system of a synchronized 25 Hz camera with an AMTI force platform was use for measuring gait kinematics and kinetics data while walking at a self-selected speed. These data can be used as standard measures in pathology studies, as input to theoretical joint models, and as input to mechanical joint simulators treated with Ilizarov and prosthetics.

Article
Finite Element Analysis of RC Tapered Beams under Cyclic Loading

Ibrahim S. I. Harba, Abdulkhalik J. Abdulridha

Pages: 378-396

PDF Full Text
Abstract

This paper presents a numerical investigation to study the effect of variations in displacement history sequence and magnitude on cyclic response of RC tapered (haunched) beams (RCHBs).Five simply supported RCHBs (four haunched and one prismatic) were selected from experimental work carried out by Aranda et al. The selected variables included were five loading history types. The first part of this study focused to verify the finite element analysis with selected experimental work and the second part of this study focused too studying the effect of varying in loading history to the response of RCHBs. The finite element code Abaqus was used in the modeling. The adopted cyclic simulation performance of the selected beams using the plastic- damage model for concrete developed by Lubliner and Lee & Fenves. The constitutive model of plain concrete describing the uniaxial compression response under cyclic loading proposed by Thorenfeldt, and the uniaxial tension response follows the softening law proposed by Hordijk was used in the modeling. Menegotto-Pinto model was used to simulate the steel response. Model verification has shown A good agreement to the selected experimental work. The variations in loading history will decrease the ultimate load and corresponding deflection with increase in the number of cycles at ultimate load.

Article
Damage detection in composite plate based on vibration Measurements using Genetic Algorithm

Rafal Taha Abdulhussein, Muhammad A. M.

Pages: 709-718

PDF Full Text
Abstract

The effect of defect on structures and machines has negative consequences on them and it always takes researchers concern and attention in order to find feasible solutions to trace and detect the location of the defect accurately.In this research, the effect of a hole with different diameters on a square composite plate is studied as well as the effects of both the boundary condition and the plate thickness, furthermore, Vibration analysis of composite plate has been studied numerically and experimentally. The Numerical analysis has been carried out by using FEM by building MATLAB program as well as (ANSYS 15). The experimental part of this research is done by using vibration measuring instruments. The rate of error among the experimental tests and the numerical solution is less than 15%. These results have been used an inputs to the Genetic Algorithm model that the defect is located by, with a high percentage of success.

Article
Enhancement of Maintenance Downtime Using Poisson Motivated-Taguchi Optimization Method

Akinwale Olusegun Raji, Sunday Ayoola Oke

Pages: 294-306

PDF Full Text
Abstract

In an original article, an addition was made to the well-known Taguchi’s methodical design literature by proposing how Poisson distribution may be incorporated into the Taguchi method for enhanced performance analysis in optimization. While the article is recent, it was found compelling enough to apply this novel concept of Poisson distribution to a growing area of maintenance research known as maintenance downtime analysis. Consequently, this paper contributes to the expanding research neighborhood through a Taguchi optimization method based on Poisson distribution related to the maintenance process optimization. A valuable method to optimize maintenance downtime was developed wherein the Poisson distribution was used to achieve the probability of maintenance downtime. An important foundation of the method is the Taguchi scheme. These elements were transformed into the factor-level design of the Poisson enhanced Taguchi scheme while the framework was tested using data from a process industry for validation. Interesting, the Taguchi's signal-to-noise quotient led to an enhanced set of limiting factors for better reliability of the system as G1H1I1J1K3. By interpretation, the following was found: downtime (204.61 mins), probability density function (0.00187), and cumulative density function (0.00776). The combination of these factors and levels will enhance maintenance downtime in the process industry as a result of their contributions. The outcome revealed the competence of the model to optimization schemes.

Article
Dynamic Advanced Analysis and Maintenance Strategies for Airport Pavements: A Comprehensive Literature Review

Mustafa I. Ahmed, Alaa H. Abed

Pages: 224-232

PDF Full Text
Abstract

Flexible and rigid pavements are commonly built for airport pavements to support the moving loads of aircraft during the pavement design life. Airport pavements represent a cornerstone of the aviation world. Their condition profoundly impacts safety, operational efficiency, airport capacity, and financial well-being. These meticulously engineered surfaces must withstand the immense stresses generated by aircraft during takeoff, landing, and taxiing. At the planning stage, the pavement structure, materials, aircraft loads, environmental conditions, and pavement damage models should be evaluated. Comparing with road pavement design, airport pavement structural design is unique in terms of the traffic loads supported by pavements with high load magnitude, significant tire pressure, and dynamic traffic conditions. Over time, deterioration stemming from environmental exposure, aircraft loading, and other factors becomes inevitable. This study aims to explore the various factors influencing airport pavement performance, review the existing methodologies for pavement design and maintenance, and propose enhancements to current practices to ensure long-term durability and safety of airport pavements. This study aims to explore the various factors influencing airport pavement performance, review the existing methodologies for pavement design and maintenance, and propose enhancements to current practices to ensure long-term durability and safety of airport pavements.

Article
Preparation and Characterization of Biochar from New Precursor

Douha S. Khudair, Yasser I. Abdul-Aziz

Pages: 441-449

PDF Full Text
Abstract

The purpose of this study is to investigate the potential of biochar derived from Peganum harmala (Pgh) seeds as an adsorbent material for wastewater treatment. Biochar is a cost-efficient, ecologically friendly, and effective bio-sorbent for a wide range of pollutants in wastewater. Researchers are investigating the production of biochar from novel biomass sources. Phosphoric acid (H3PO4) was utilized in a chemical activation technique to produce biochar at various concentrations (20%, 30%, and 40%). The pyrolysis process lasted three hours at 600°C in a tube furnace with an inert nitrogen gas atmosphere. Elemental analysis, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) nitrogen adsorption, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), The biochar was characterized using several techniques, including elemental analysis, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) nitrogen adsorption, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). The findings demonstrate the significant potential of Pgh seed-derived biochar as an inexpensive and ecologically acceptable sorbent material. A large surface area (691.58 m2g−1) was achieved at 600◦C for three hours with 40% H3PO4 activation. 

Article
Performance Evaluation of Gesture Recognition Using Myo Armband and Gyroscope Sensors

S. M. Sarhan, M. Z. Al-Faiz, A. M. Takhakh

Pages: 461-468

PDF Full Text
Abstract

The technique of recording muscle signals is crucial in determining how effectively they can be utilized for individual benefit. This study focuses on hand movements recognized by using the Myo armband and Motion Processing Unit (MPU) 6050 sensors. Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA), K-nearest neighbors (k-NN), and Support Vector Machine (SVM) were employed for classification. sEMG signals using the Myo armband for 7 hand gestures and 2 elbow movements were recorded from 10 healthy subjects. Results showed that SVM outperforms LDA and k-NN in accuracy in both cases, the sensor is worn once on the arm and again on the forearm. regions. The window size and choice of features significantly influence system accuracy, with SVM achieving an average accuracy of 89.84%. Besides that, the fusion of Myo Armband sensor and gyroscope sensor through OR rule makes significant enhancement in recognition accuracy with which is reached to 97.0135%. In conclusion, the Myo armband, when worn on the forearm, proves practical for hand gesture recognition, with SVM offering superior recognition accuracy. Furthermore, the combination of the Myo Armband sensor and the gyroscope sensor showed higher recognition accuracy.

Article
Free Vibration Analysis of Rotating Clamped-Clamped Multi-Layered Cylindrical Shells Containing Functionally Graded Middle Layer

Ehaab W. Jarallah, Hama M. Hasan, Khalid B. Najim

Pages: 153-160

PDF Full Text
Abstract

The free vibration analysis of rotating multi-layered cylindrical shell is investigated based on the first order shear deformation theory (FSDT) of shell. Cylindrical shell consists of three layers; outer and inner layers are isotropic material and the middle layer is a functionally graded material (FGM). The material properties for middle layer are assumed to be graded in the thickness direction. Based on Hamilton’s principle, the equilibrium equations and the equations of motion are derived and then solved by using the differential quadrature method (DQM) as a numerical tool. MATLAB software was adopted for programming the equations and the related boundary condition. The effect of (FGM) layer thickness, angular speed, index power law, circumferential wave number on the natural frequency of the clamped-clamped rotating cylindrical shell were examined. The numerical results showed that a reasonable agreement between the present study and analytical data available in the literature.

Article
An Improved Algorithm for Congestion Management in Network Based on Jitter and Time to Live Mechanisms

Samar Taha Yousif, Zaid Abass A. Al-Haboobi

Pages: 352-356

PDF Full Text
Abstract

As internet network developed rapidly in the past ten years, and its operating environment is constantly changing along with the development of computer and communication technology, the congestion problem has become more and more serious. Since TCP is the primary protocol for transport layers on the internet, the data transmitted via the transport protocol utilizes Vegas Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) as the congestion control algorithm, where it uses increasing in delay round trip time (RTT) as a signal of network congestion. However, this congestion control algorithm will attempt to fill network buffer, which causes an increase in (RTT) determined by Vegas, thereby reducing the congestion window, and making the transmission slower, Therefore Vegas has not been widely adopted on the Internet. In this paper, an improved algorithm called TCP Vegas-A is proposed consist of two parts: the first part is sending the congestion window used by the algorithm for congestion avoidance along with the TTL (Time To Live) mechanism that limits the lifetime of a packet in the network. While the second part of the algorithm is the priority-based packet sending strategy, and jitter is used as a congestion signal indication. The combination of the two is expected to improve the efficiency of congestion detection. A mathematical model is established, and the analysis of the model shows that the algorithm has better effects on controlling congestion and improving the network throughput, decreasing packet loss rate and increasing network utilization, the simulation is done using NS-2 network simulation platform environment and the results support the theoretical analysis.

Article
Stability and Volumetric Properties of Colored Asphalt Mixtures Containing Iron Oxide

Samer Ali Naji, Alaa H. Abed

Pages: 130-136

PDF Full Text
Abstract

The objective of this paper is find the effect of using iron oxide as a filler on the Marshall stability, flow and the volumetric properties of HMA and compared the results with conventional HMA using limestone dust. Three blends were used: coarse, mid and fine with neat bitumen (AC 40-50). One aggregate type (crushed) with two types of fillers: limestone and iron oxide III (?- ) with three different filler content 6%, 8% and 10%. The Marshall mix design was conducted on the three blends and the optimum binder content is computed for each blend. The Marshall stability test results and the volumetric properties analysis showed that increasing the iron oxide content from 6% to 10%  increases the stability about 28%, 17% , 16% for the coarse , mid and fine mixtures respectively. This increment in stability of mixtures using iron oxide related to the increment in specific gravity of the mix (Gmb) by (1.3% to 1.5% about 30 to 50 kg/m3). On the other hand, the flow of mixtures is decreased about (5%) for mixes using iron oxide than the ones that used limestone as filler. The fine blend with 10% iron oxide exhibit the highest stability of 13.3 kN. While the coarse blend stability was 10 kN for the same filler type and content. Generally, the Marshall Test results of HMA using iron oxide as filler showed better resistance to plastic deformation, also produce denser HMA with higher stiffness. On the other hand, the volumetric properties analysis showed lesser values as compared with conventional mixture where the void in mineral aggregates and void filled with asphalt has decreased but within the acceptable limits.

Article
Effective Feature Selection on Transfer Deep Learning Algorithm for Thyroid Nodules Ultrasound Detection

Ghufran Basim Alghanimi, Hadeel Aljobouri, Khaleel Akeash Alshimmari, Rasha Massoud

Pages: 396-401

PDF Full Text
Abstract

Thyroid nodules (TNs) are discrete abnormalities located within the thyroid gland that are radiologically different from the surrounding thyroid tissue. Ultrasound is an accurate and efficient way to diagnose thyroid nodules. Recently, several methods of AI were proposed to improve the detection of thyroid nodules ultrasound images with good performances. However, in some cases related to the type or size of the dataset using machine or transfer deep learning methods alone is unable to achieve high accuracy and high specificity. Consequently, the addition of feature selection)FS) to the deep learning method enhances the results by reducing the high features and the time needed for training the dataset. This study proposes two deep-learning models for classifying thyroid nodule US images into two categories: benign and malignant. ResNet50 was the first model used to extract deep features from US images. The second model integrates ResNet50 and principal component analysis (PCA) for feature selection, intending to reduce dataset dimensionality while maintaining the greatest data variance possible before classification. The proposed model was created using a freely available dataset. The dataset consists of 800 images, 400 benign and 400 malignant. The suggested system was accessed based on accuracy, precision, recall, and F1 score. The classification accuracy for ResNet50 was 85%, while ReNet50-PCA was 89.16%. The combination of deep learning and FS techniques in this research produces an interesting diagnostic framework that can potentially increase efficiency and accuracy in thyroid cancer detection, especially in local healthcare centers.

Article
Effect of Head Types on the Free Vibration and Fatigue for Horizontal LPG Pressure Vessels

Marwan Abdulrazzaq Salman, Mahmud Rasheed Ismail, Yassr Y. Kahtan

Pages: 494-500

PDF Full Text
Abstract

Pressure vessels are the heart of plants and oil refineries stations. In many engineering applications such vessels can be subjected to periodic loading either internally due to the charging and discharging process or externally due to the excitation from other nearby components such as pumps, compressors or from seismic. So that in spite of a good design according static assumption it may be critical in dynamics. In this work a horizontal pressure vessel with accessories subjected to liquefied petroleum gas pressure LPG is considered. Three models of different head types are investigated herein namely; Deep torispherical, Elliptical 2:1 and Hemispherical. The design and material selections are chosen as per ASME. For practical service many accessories are attached to the vessel such as manhole, supports, inlet and outlet opining. Finite Element method via ANSYS R18.2 is introduced for the numerical analysis. The fatigue life in case of fully reversed cyclic loading are estimated and located. Vibration characteristics such as mode shapes and natural frequencies for the lowest five modes are evaluated and compared. It is found that the fatigue life can be increased as higher as 180% for hemi- spherical head as compared with deep torispherical head pressure vessel and the lowest four natural frequencies are nearly identical for all models, however significant change observed in the fifth natural frequency.

Article
Design, Analysis and Manufacturing Polymer Fiber Reinforced Composite Helical Spring

Hadeer Abdul Rasol Hamed, Mahmud Rasheed Ismail, Abdul Rahman Najam

Pages: 338-344

PDF Full Text
Abstract

In this work it had been focused on the possibility of replacement of steel spring in suspension system by fiber reinforced polymer composite that is responsible for light weight of spring which leads to reduces the weight of vehicle and improve fuel efficiency. This type of spring used in motor cycles, light weight vehicle.  The design will be simulated by ANSYS workbench. Then, E-Glass fiber has been used to fabricate helical compression spring of 40%   fiber volume fraction of glass. with polyester resin. The deflection of glass reinforced composite spring is more than steel spring but within permissible limit. weight of composite spring is reduced by 57% than of steel.

Article
Fatigue life of hybrid metal composite materials: A review

Yaseen Rashid, Basim M. Fadhil, Dlair O. Ramadan

Pages: 57-66

PDF Full Text
Abstract

Hybrid metal composite materials, combining diverse metal components, have emerged as promising alternatives in engineering applications, offering a unique synergy of mechanical properties. This review comprehensively examines the fatigue life of hybrid metal composites, delving into the intricate interplay of materials, manufacturing processes, and environmental factors. Drawing from a rich array of literature, the review explores the evolution of hybridization strategies, emphasizing their impact on fatigue resistance. Key factors influencing fatigue behavior, including material selection, manufacturing techniques, and environmental conditions, are systematically analyzed. The article highlights the significance of strategic hybridization in enhancing fatigue characteristics, reducing costs, and optimizing the overall performance of metal composites. The insights presented contribute to advancing the understanding of fatigue mechanisms in hybrid metal composite materials, offering valuable guidance for future research and engineering applications. Hybrid metal composite materials, characterized by the combination of diverse metal components, have garnered significant attention in engineering applications due to their potential to provide a unique synergy of mechanical properties. This comprehensive review delves into the intricate aspects of the fatigue life of hybrid metal composites, offering a thorough analysis of the interplay between materials, manufacturing processes, and environmental factors.

Article
Prediction of California Bearing Ratio from Consistency and Compaction Characteristics of Fine-grained Soils

Kamal Ahmed Rashed, Nihad Bahaaldeen Salih, Tavga Aram Abdalla

Pages: 123-129

PDF Full Text
Abstract

Soil’s characteristics are essential for the successful design of projects such as airports runway and flexible pavement. CBR (California Bering Ratio) is one of the significant soil characteristics for highways and airports projects. Thus, the CBR property can be used to determine the subgrade reaction of soil through correlations. Many of the soil geotechnical parameters such as compaction characteristics (Maximum Dry Density, MDD; Optimum Moisture Content, OMC), and consistency parameters (Liquid Limit, LL; Plastic Limit, PL; Plasticity Index, PI) can be in charge of changes that happen in soil CBR value. Soaked and/or non-soaked conditions of soils also affect CBR value. Hence, testing soils in a laboratory for CBR calculation is time-consuming that needs notable effort. Therefore, this study aims to generate some useful correlations for soil’s CBR with compaction and consistency parameters for 85 samples of fine-grained soils. The study trials were applied on natural soil samples of various places in Sulaimani Governorate, Northern Iraq. Statistical analysis has been carried out by using SPSS software (Version 28). Soaked CBR is counted, which is important for conditions such as rural roads that remain prone to water for few days. Based on the statistical analysis, there is a significant correlation between LL, PL, PI, MDD, and OMC with CBR as the dependent variable as a single variable equation with R2 of  0.7673, 0.5423, 0.5192, 0.6489, and 0.51, respectively. In addition, the highest value of R2 correlation was obtained between CBR value with consistency and compaction properties as a multiple regression equation with R2 of 0.82. The obtained equations for correlation purposes are successfully achieved and can be used, notably, to estimate CBR value.

Article
Nonlinear Finite Element Analysis of RC Beams without Stirrups Strengthened by Longitudinal Soffit Bonded CFRP Strips for Shear

Laith Khalid Al-Hadithy, Mustafa Mahmood Al-Ani

Pages: 996-1004

PDF Full Text
Abstract

This study concerns utilization of nonlinear finite element method for to evaluate the role of longitudinal soffit-bonded CFRP strips in elevating the shear behavior of RC beams without stirrups. All beams cross-sections were of 150 mm breadth and 200 mm depth, the overall length was 1500 mm with clear span 1300 mm. One beam was provided by minimum web reinforcement according to the ACI 318M-14, while the other five were without web reinforcement but externally strengthened by a variety of CFRP-strip combinations consisting of longitudinal soffit-bonded strips. The predictions of a proposed ANSYS (version 14.5) model for six of the test beams including modeling of concrete, steel rebars, CFRP strips and supports and loading steel plates, by SOLID65, LINK180, SHELL41 and SOLID185 elements, respectively, show high agreements with experimental evidence, which stands as a definite witness to the efficiency and reliability of the present numerical model.

Article
Free Vibration of Simply Supported Beam on Elastic Foundations

Adel A. Al-Azzawi

Pages: 353-357

PDF Full Text
Abstract

Fourier series and finite element analysis are utilized to obtain the solution of simply supported beams resting on elastic foundations with different loadings in order to arrive at a free vibration. The equation of the free vibration of beam on elastic foundation is derived and solved. Good agreement has been obtained between the results of the present study Fourier and finite element analysis and other previous solutions. The effect of modulus of subgrade reaction, axial tension force (foundation modulus) and beam depth on the behavior is studied.

Article
Metabolic Cost Reduction and Analysis of Assisted Walking Gait: A Review

Noor Abdul Kareem Shehab, Mahmud Rasheed Ismail

Pages: 392-402

PDF Full Text
Abstract

With the occurrence of pathological disorders in some people or aging, metabolic energy consumption begins significantly due to the weakness of the peripheral muscles and the increase in body fat with time, which aggravates the issues for this type of people, causing the rest hours extremely lengthy and consequently may produce heart or arterial diseases and elevate the mortality rate. Regarding the significance of the matter, this study examines a number of previous researches that featured several approaches to energy calculation and strategies for lowering energy consumption through the use of various external assistance devices, such as exosuits or exoskeletons, to assist people in carrying out their everyday tasks. And additionally discussed musculoskeletal simulation employs a variety of programs, especially OpenSim, which enables users to build models of musculoskeletal structures and produce dynamic movement simulations. According to the research findings, exoskeletons and other assistive technology can successfully lower the cost of metabolic energy to varying extents, depending on the device's weight, placement within the body, and whether it is active, semi-active, or inactive. In the future, the work to design and simulate a semi-active torsional ankle-foot exoskeleton with a specialized mechanism aimed to minimize metabolic energy.

Article
Theoretical and Experimental Study of the Vibration of a Drum Type Washing Machine at Different Speeds

Ibtisam Mahdi Shihab, Wafa Abd Soud, Nazik Abdulwahid Jebur

Pages: 1160-1171

PDF Full Text
Abstract

In the present work, theoretical and experimental Study of vibration of a drum type of Horizontal Washing Machine. The effect of the Isolators stiffness, damping coefficient and the drum mass for specific laundry capacity also has been studied. The work in this research has been carried out analytically by using MATLAB, and Study experimentally the effect of different speed and unbalance force during the spinning cycle of the washing machine at four sides of it. This analysis aims to reducing the excited vibration. This was achieved theoretically by investigate the effect of various parameters in order to assign property values to increase the isolation efficiency to reach optimum design. The results is show that drum vibration amplitude reduced to 42 % at spinning speed 1000 rpm and 41% at 1200, 1400 rpm when the applied selected parameters.

Article
Enhancement the Osseo Integration Properties of Polymer for Human Body Implants

Dhurgham Majid Rasheed, Dunya Abdulsahib Hamdi

Pages: 331-337

PDF Full Text
Abstract

In this research, polymer polymethyl methacrylate PMMA composite with nano ceramic Zr and HAp material were used to manufacture one part of the implant system (femoral ball head of hip implant). Three set of hybrid materials were fabricated and tested for this study; the first mixtures which contains 100% (PMMA), the second mixtures which contains (90% (PMMA) + 8% (Zr) + 2% (HAp)), and the third mixtures which contains (80% (PMMA) + 18% (Zr) + 2% (HAp)) were investigated. The mechanical properties for these mixtures increased with the increasing of nano ceramic concentration (Zr and HAp) composite material in the polymer compared to pure polymer PMMA sample. However, an increase in the concentration of Zr from 8% to 18% content cause a considerable decrease of the hardness where a drop of homogeneity in Zr- matrix PMMA contact occurred, V Hardness value are (68 ,80 and 70) Kg.mm for three mixture respectively. The wear test was in agreement with results of the hardness test. The weight loss of the above samples of the wear test were (0.041, 0.035 and 0.037) respectively. According to mechanical properties, the best sample contains (90% (PMMA) + 8% (Zr) + 2% (HAp)). The Scanning electron microscopy resolute showed the particles forming semi-continuous network along grain boundaries polymer for second sample mixtures containing (90% (PMMA) + 8% (Zr) + 2% (HAp)), provides a low atomic packing and high energy. This will make the grain boundaries more reactive and strengthen mechanical performance. The Optical microscopy, Scanning electron microscopy and Xray spectroscopy analysis for In vitro test using SBF shows the growth of HAp layer with an increase in concentration of Ca and P elements formed on the surface of the second sample. This display of good results is a proof of the biocompatibility of the polymer sample.

Article
Improvement of Eye Tracking Based on Deep Learning Model for General Purpose Applications

Ahmed Aamer Almindelawy, Mohammed H. Ali

Pages: 12-19

PDF Full Text
Abstract

The interest in the Eye-tracking technology field dramatically grew up in the last two decades for different purposes and applications like keeping the focus of where the person is looking, how his pupils and irises are reacting for a variety of actions, etc. The resulted data can deliver an extraordinary amount of information about the user when it's interlocked through advanced data analysis systems, it may show information concerned with the user’s age, gender, biometric identity, interests, etc. This paper is concerned about eye motion tracking as an unadulterated tool for different applications in any field required. The improvements in this area of artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and deep learning (DL) with eye-tracking techniques allow large opportunities to develop algorithms and applications. In this paper number of models were proposed based on Convolutional neural network (CNN) have been designed, and then the most powerful and accurate model was chosen. The dataset used for the training process (for 16 screen points) consists of 2800 training images and 800 test images (with an average of 175 training images and 50 test images for each spot on the screen of the 16 spots), and it can be collected by the user of any application based on this model. The highest accuracy achieved by the best model was (91.25%) and the minimum loss was (0.23%). The best model consists of (11) layers (4 convolutions, 4 Max pooling, and 3 Dense). Python 3.7 was used to implement the algorithms, KERAS framework for the deep learning algorithms, Visual studio code as an Integrated Development Environment (IDE), and Anaconda navigator for downloading the different libraries. The model was trained with data that can be gathered using cameras of laptops or PCs and without the necessity of special and expensive equipment, also It can be trained for any single eye, depending on application requirements.

Article
Surface modification of 316L Stainless Steel alloy using Nano Ceramic Hydroxyapatite, Magnesium Oxide, Zinc Oxide, and composite coating by EPD to enhancing corrosion resistance in biomedical application

Aya Muhsin Hazber, Ayad Naseef Jasim, Abbas Al-Bawee

Pages: 47-56

PDF Full Text
Abstract

The toxicity of permanent implants is the main concern. The release of ions from the substrate leads to toxicity. Because of how the human body works biologically, the toxicity of corrosion compounds is a byproduct of wear and fretting debris. aimed to improve the corrosion resistance of a 316L stainless steel substrate. Bio ceramic Nano-hydroxyapatite (HA) was coated using the Electrophoretic Deposition (EPD) technique. Stainless steel has good mechanical properties and high compatibility, but it suffers from body fluid attack due to its chloride content, which can penetrate the passivation layer, resulting in the release of chromium and nickel ions. Tissues and organs are damaged by the ions and debris that are released. To address this problem, it was coated with bioceramic using the EPD method. Suspensions of various powders—hydroxyapatite, magnesium oxide, zinc oxide, and the composite—were prepared and coated by electrophoretic deposition. The coated samples were dried at room temperature to ensure a homogeneous coating structure. The zeta potential test for magnesium oxide and hydroxyapatite suspensions was positive, while zinc oxide and complex suspensions were negative. One of the important parameters for achieving electrolyte and implant balance is the open circuit potential (OCP). A substantial change towards a more noble direction (less negative) was seen in the OCP-coated (316 L) alloy, suggesting excellent thermodynamic stability. Tafel extrapolation analysis was used to obtain the corrosion potential (Ecorr) and corrosion current density (Icorr) values of composite-coated stainless steel 316L, which are generally derived from the polarization curve. The findings that are in line with the MgO, HA, and ZnO coatings show a significant decrease in corrosion current (Icorr), an increase in corrosion potential (Ecorr), and a decrease in corrosion rate from (4.386 × 10-¹ mm/y) Stainless Steel 316 L to (1.417 × 10-² mm/y) MgO Coated and (1.222 × 10-³ mm/y) (65%MgO+25%ZnO+10%HA coated).

Article
Behaviour of Slabs Under Impact Loading: A Review

Raid A. Daud, Sultan Daud, Mustafa H. Al-Allaf, Fahad Alrshoudi

Pages: 129-137

PDF Full Text
Abstract

The behaviour of slabs under impact loading differs significantly from that observed under short-term or long-term static loading conditions. Such dynamic loading scenarios typically arise from vehicular collisions, explosive events, or other forms of sudden impact. This paper aims to synthesise and critically evaluate the extant literature concerning the response of slabs subjected to impact loading. The investigation encompasses an analysis of the salient factors influencing slab behaviour, elucidation of failure mechanisms, examination of methodologies for simulating impact loading, and a critical appraisal of pertinent design code recommendations. Through this comprehensive review, it has been ascertained that reinforcement configuration plays a pivotal role in augmenting the resistance of slabs to impact loading. Furthermore, the predominant mode of failure observed in such scenarios is punching shear. This finding underscores the necessity for meticulous consideration of shear capacity in the design of impact-resistant slab structures. 

Article
Finite Element Modelling of Concrete Filled Double Skin Steel Tubular Columns under Cyclic Axial Compression Load

Riyadh J. Aziz, Laith Kh. Al-Hadithy, Shayma M. Resen

Pages: 326-340

PDF Full Text
Abstract

CFDSST Concrete Filled Double-skinned steel tubular columns are composite columns consisting of two concentric circular steel tubes with concrete filler in between.  Finite elements method is considered through the use of the computer program ABAQUS to model CFDSST columns numerically under cyclic axial compression. Damage plasticity model was considered to model the concrete while elastic-plastic model used to model the steel tubes. six CFDSST specimens and three ordinary Concrete Filled Steel Tubular (CFST) specimens were analyzed under static axial compression, while three CFDSST specimens were considered for analysis under cyclic axial compression. The numerical results were presented in terms of axial load axial strain displacement curves. It was found that the ultimate axial load carrying capacity calculated numerically in good agreement with that of the experimentally tested specimens. Also it was concluded that Damage plasticity model used for simulating the behavior of concrete and metal plasticity model used for simulating the behavior of steel produced accurate results as compared to the experimental results.

Article
Using Zeolite as a Partially Replaced Cement in Construction Materials: A Systematic Review of Properties

Alaa M. Hamad, Asmaa T. Ibraheem, Ahmad S. Ali, Azza H. Moubarak

Pages: 378-391

PDF Full Text
Abstract

Concrete is considered the most important and widely used building material in the world of construction and building due to its durability, high efficiency in shaping, and relatively reasonable cost. The main component of concrete is cement, and one of the most important problems related to cement is the environmental problems associated with cement manufacturing, as the cement manufacturing process releases a large amount of carbon dioxide. Despite the essential role of concrete in construction, we cannot ignore its environmental impact. Some claim that exploring alternative materials or innovative building techniques would reduce the carbon footprint and enhance sustainability in the industry. Partial cement replacement with pozzolanic materials like zeolite is a key technique to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Zeolite, which reduces permeability, is a typical concrete ingredient that strengthens and lasts. Recently, natural zeolite has become a prominent concrete pozzolanic component. For environmental preservation and sustainable development, various experiments were done on concrete with pozzolanic components partially substituting cement and compared to ordinary concrete. A partial replacement of cement with zeolite improves the properties of concrete up to a certain age and mixing ratio. More than 44 relevant articles from 2004–2024 were selected from 762 papers evaluated for this paper. This paper reviews natural zeolite research in real applications. Additionally, it provided a cutting-edge review of natural zeolite literature through a critical analysis of various previous investigations. It also helped to understand how zeolite influences concrete mixture workability, strength, and durability. Since zeolite is a major concrete ingredient, it should be promoted as a sustainable resource.

Article
The Extreme Flood Capacity of Al-Majjarah Canal and Regulator Within Al-Ramadi Project System

Amro Al-Tameemi, Hayder Al-Thamiry

Pages: 235-243

PDF Full Text
Abstract

It is essential to review and develop a system of water control structures and canals that can be used to manage high-flow discharges and the flood control plan requirement to modify the system's capacity. Al-Ramadi Project System is considered one of the main flood control projects on the Euphrates River within Anbar Governorate, Western Iraq. This study will focus on Al-Majjarah Canal and Regulator, which is part of Al-Ramadi Project and has the function of a link canal between Al-Habbaniyah and Al-Razazza lakes, and describe the capacity of the canal under typical operating conditions and during floods. The study used HEC-RAS 6.1 software to run a numerical model to simulate this canal. According to previous research studies near the research region on the Euphrates River, for the main canal, the roughness coefficient was taken at 0.026, and for the flood plain, it was taken at 0.03. The same parameter value was applied to Al-Majjarah Canal. Due to the study region's similar geology and nature. Moreover, a sensitivity analysis was made of the roughness coefficient and its influence on the water surface elevation for the canal. The model result indicated in the current situation of Al-Majjarah Canal can pass a flow rate of 1300 m3/s when Al-Razazza Lake is at an average water level that has been approved by the Ministry of Water Resources at 32.02 m.a.m.s.l.. If the water level in Al-Razazza Lake is in the semi-filled position of 40 m.a.m.s.l., it causes floods for the canal because the water level rises above the banks of the canal at the last kilometer from the canal, even when passing a few discharges through the canal. Accordingly, it is not possible to safely pass the flow rate for a flood wave with a 500-year return period predicted by the "Study of Strategy for Water and Land Resources in Iraq (2014)", which is 2000 m3/s for this canal, without making modifications to the expansion of Al-Majjarah Regulator by adding additional gates, expanding the entrance and exit of the Regulator, reshaping and expanding some cross-sections, and raising some of the banks for the canal. The above-mentioned modification were applied for the purpose of passing the expected discharge from the canal, while maintaining a freeboard of 1 m between the water surface and the canal banks.

Article
Evaluation of Combined Sewer Network Design Using GIs and Multi Criteria Decision Making (MCDM)

Zeena Adil Najeeb

Pages: 1143-1153

PDF Full Text
Abstract

In this Research Geometric network modeled for combined sewer network pipe design were establish for AL-Nahrain University site by Arc map and GIS tools which is built within a feature dataset in the geodatabase. The geometric networks consist of lines and points which refer to the pips and junctions respectively. Data were collected for manholes location, flow direction, slop and elevations. Many influencing features were used in multi criteria decision making (MCDM) vie Super decision 2.0.8 software which be selected to fix the problem and find the alternative for two sewer networks. The first sewer network (A) considered the existing one and the second was the alternative one (B) , Bentley sewer Cad V8 have the ability to work with ArcGIS program as a part of it by export data as shape file from GIS then by scenario report form program that exam the part of network and find the alternative . The purpose of this research was to use this data GIS model, and developed it in future event by predicting some function like rainfall amount or adding population increasing density represent by both student and employers. As a result using (ANP) analysis this method allow to make consideration alternative we found the network(A) need to add some routs depending in the amount of person daily consumption with the amount of rain fall Intensity for the next years., judgment based on expert advice is obtained through pair-wise comparisons. Afterwards, the corresponding matrix is established, and sanity of the comparisons is checked by super decision software. Finally Existing network (A) shows highest benefit score and efficiency in this time for steady case depends on two criteria coast and optimum flow for person consumption.

Article
Performance of Single Degree of Freedom (SDOF) Systems Subjected to The Near-Fault Earthquakes

Ayah Hameed Mhawish, Hussam K. Reisn

Pages: 32-37

PDF Full Text
Abstract

This paper aims to assess the structures' seismic response with a system of Single-degree-of-freedom exposed to near-fault earthquakes, taking into account the effect of pulse period, shear wave velocity (VS30), and fault mechanism. Strong ground motion data were taken for different events in different places around the world and the prism software program is used for the analysis of seismic response for structures recognized as single-degree-of-freedom systems. Results show that the ground motion with a higher value of (VS30) provides an acceleration response higher than that of the lower value of (VS30). However, the findings revealed that the peak displacement requirements are observed in a nearby of the pulse period limits. In addition, it is noticed that there is an obvious increase in spectrum demand with longer pulse periods. Finally, results show at short vibration periods (T? 0.6sec) for both types (strike slip and dip slip) comparable results while an increment is observed in the results of the strike-slip for vibration periods more than (0.6sec) of the acceleration response spectrum. Nonetheless, for the velocity response spectrum dip-slip continuous in flocculating with a significant increase.

Article
Comparative Analysis of Deep Learning Models for Pneumonia Detection

Elaf Ayyed Jebur

Pages: 639-652

PDF Full Text
Abstract

This study evaluates the performance and efficiency of four deep learning models—VGG-16, ResNet-50, Inception-V3, and DenseNet-121—in detecting pneumonia from chest X-rays, addressing the critical need for balanced accuracy and computational efficiency in clinical diagnostics. Methods: A dataset of 5,234 chest X-rays (3,875 pneumonia, 1,341 normal) was augmented via rotation, flipping, and zooming to mitigate class imbalance. Models were trained on an RTX 2060 GPU for 40 epochs, with performance assessed using accuracy, F1 score, sensitivity, specificity, precision, and computational metrics (training time, memory usage). Statistical significance was validated via paired t-tests (p < 0.05). Results: DenseNet-121 achieved the highest accuracy (95.2% ± 0.8), F1 score (95.1% ± 0.7), and throughput (400 images/sec) with minimal memory usage (33MB). ResNet-50 and Inception-V3 showed moderate performance, while VGG-16 exhibited overfitting tendencies. In conclusion, DenseNet-121 showed strong performance compared to other models, both in terms of accuracy and processing speed, which is essential for use in real-time clinical settings. However, the small size of the validation set and limited population diversity are important limitations that should be addressed in future studies. Moreover, more testing on larger datasets is needed to confirm the stability of the model and see how the model will work in different settings. Future work should address ethical considerations in AI-driven diagnostics and validate findings across multi-institutional datasets.

Article
Stress Analysis of Thoracolumbosacral Orthosis (TLSO) for Scoliosis deformity and its Effects on Gait Cycle

Fahad Mohanad Kadhim, Sara I. Ahmed

Pages: 187-193

PDF Full Text
Abstract

This work involved two major parts: the first one is the experimental part which included treatment of scoliosis deformity by manufacturing thoracolumbosacral orthosis, measuring  the cobb angle of deformity, measuring the gait cycle data and walk path for both legs and suggesting a composite material to improve the mechanical properties of the orthosis and finally the interface pressure between trunk  and orthosis is measured for twelve points covering of the total TLSO surface area by using f-socket devise. The second part of this study is the numerical simulation part during which the stresses are calculated using Ansys software for calculating stresses due to interface pressure loading boundary condition. The result shows no deference in gait cycle phases but the clear difference noted in walking path due to deviate center of mass, maximum pressure recorded left thoracic region with 900KPa due to correct spinal deformity while the minimum pressure recorded at right chest with l40KPa because of it is tissue region and Maximum value of stress was recorded at the left thoracic region with 2.81MPa due to Maximum interface pressure at this point.

Article
Strategies of Nanocarrier-Based Therapeutic Drug Delivery

Walaa A. Salih, Alaa A. Al-Taie

Pages: 365-373

PDF Full Text
Abstract

In recent years, nanoparticles have gained significant attention in the field of cancer treatment due to their extensive potential and wide range of uses. The research mostly focuses on the inorganic chemicals, with a specific emphasis on metals, in order to enhance the comprehension of  functional nanoparticles synthesis. This undertaking is motivated by the distinctive characteristics exhibited by these materials, which provide significant advantages for both fundamental scientific inquiry and practical implementations, notably those focused on cancer. The objective of this review is to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the diverse applications of nanocomposites, with a specific focus on their utilization in medication delivery.

Article
A Neuro-Fuzzy and Neural Network Approach for Rutting Potential Prediction of Asphalt Mixture Based on Creep Test

Israa Saeed Jawad Al-Haydari

Pages: 275-284

PDF Full Text
Abstract

This study implements the soft computing techniques such as Artificial Neural Network (ANN) and an adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy (ANFIS) approach. Thus to model the rutting prediction with the aid of experimental uniaxial creep test results for asphalt mixtures. Marshall samples, having Maximum Nominal Size of 12.5 mm, have been selected from previous studies. These samples have been prepared and tested under different conditions. They were also subjected to different loading stress (0.034, 0.069, 0.103) MPa, and tested at various temperature (10, 20, 40, and 55) °C. The modeling analysis revealed that both approaches are powerful tools for modeling creep behavior of pavement mixture in terms of Root Mean Square Error and Correlation Coefficient. The best results are obtained with the ANFIS model.

Article
Experimental and Numerical Investigations of the Hydraulic Characteristics of the Makhool Dam in Iraq: A Review

Fatima Ali Sadiq, Haitham Alaa Hussein, Mohd Remy Rozainy Mohd Arif Zainol

Pages: 121-128

PDF Full Text
Abstract

The hydraulic characteristics of dams can be predicted with high precision and reliability of physical and numerical models depending on accurate hydraulic data. The model is operated and simulated to get a more efficient, optimized utilization of the dam. This research included a comprehensive overview and literature examination of the Makhool Dam which is considered one of the most important dams under construction in Iraq. Previous studies of the dam focused on different topics in the operation of the dam and analyses of its properties, part of which focused on the dam ability to manage flood and how it works best with other dams in critical times, and another part studied the properties of the stilling basin, velocity in the dam reservoir, pressure, seepage and other characteristics that affect the operating the dam. Despite this research and the variety of topics discussed, there is no well-established research on the operation of the bottom and emergency spillway of the dam by using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation software. CFD is considered an essential tech because it has an important influence in determining the hydraulic properties of a spillway and studying its effectiveness under different operating conditions. Because the spillway is an important element in the dam body, the research highlighted the necessity of performing a simulation using appropriate CFD software for this part. This research has also reviewed previous research on CFD software and their ability to simulate previously constructed or under-construction dams to analysis of its hydraulic properties.

Article
Diagnosing the Integration of Resilient City Pillars and Indicators with Urban Energy Systems

Aisha Alaa Saleh, Khalid Abdul Wahab Al-Mudares

Pages: 103-114

PDF Full Text
Abstract

Contemporary urban discourse is paying increasing attention to the issue of urban resilience, due to the stresses, disasters and disturbances (natural and human) that the cities of the world are experiencing and facing, which confirms the need to be familiar with the concept of urban resilience, its dimensions, practices, and characteristics at different levels; In order to reach the aspects of developing the urban energy sector in them, and in a way that supports the preparedness of cities to face potential expected and unexpected disturbances in the future, as cities are usually formed from many main and sub-systems that are dynamically intertwined with each other, such as: the social and economic system, infrastructure systems, land use, and media Various transports, which have a high level of direct interactions with the natural environment; ; It is therefore necessary to understand how the city deals with the odds of threats and challenges in an integrated manner; To overcome its weaknesses and enhance its resilience of use, which aims to make cities more secure, resilient and sustainable in the future, as well as that requires rethinking the field of expanding the use of renewable energies and the general urban landscape. To become a search problem “Failure to exploit the potential of natural energies on the possibility of exploiting renewable natural energies with their components (active and passive) in the production of resilience urban formations in cities.” The aim of the research is to try to "extract an integrated theoretical framework on the characteristics of urban energy resilience from international and Arab experiences, and to diagnose its most important planning and design pillars and indicators, which can be adopted to evaluate the reality of urban energy resilience in local cities." The research hypothesized that “the exploitation of energy systems produced from renewable natural resources, for the purposes of environmental treatments for resilient cities, especially in the buildings of housing projects and their urban surroundings, reduces the consumption of fossil energies for the city, frees its sites from linking to depleted energy transmission networks, and reduces potential environmental pollution problems, which contributes to in the production of flexible energy systems and helps in the generation of flexible cities." The descriptive analysis method was adopted.

Article
Effects of Backpack Loads on Kids Posture

Sadiq Jafer Abbass, Duha Qais Abd-ul-Amir

Pages: 876-886

PDF Full Text
Abstract

Kids carrying heavy loads as a part of everyday activity may be related to bend their trunks forward to maintain body posture and balance while walking. This study was to determine a correlation between the weight of a child's backpack, their body weight, and certain features of their body posture. The study group consisted of 6 children, in age of primary school. The anthropometry (age, length, weight) were taken for each volunteers. A school backpack was specially built for the present study. Walking gait was filmed in three cases: (zero kg, 3 kg and 6 kg) backpack.Posture was analyzed by using (Kenova and MATLAB) computer programs.The results show that the forward inclination of the trunk increases when the load and the walking distance are increased, this forward inclination segment may impose greater stress over the vertebral column (ligaments and intervertebral disks) and increase the risk of back problems.Spine and back health may be adversely affected by load carriage and it may be important to use spinal curvature as a measure of posture for load carriage. This study shows that the backpack load cause a lumbar asymmetry by 10 to 20 degree according to the load which has a significant amount of back pain in kids.

Article
Microstructure and Compressive Peak Stress Analyses of 3D Printed TPU MM-3520

Ahmed Ameen, Ayad Takhakh, Abdalla Abdal-hay

Pages: 336-345

PDF Full Text
Abstract

Specimens with the structure of a face-centered cubic were produced using several sets of printing conditions. An experimental testing is conducted to carefully evaluate the microstructural analysis and compressive strength of this structure. The results include the measurement of mechanical properties, such as the peak stress. Fused deposition modeling is employed for the additive manufacturing of experimental specimens made from shape memory polymer thermoplastic polyurethane (MM-3520). We take into account the impact of printing factors on lattice structures, such as layer thickness, printing temperature, and printing speed. Analyzing the microstructure of the printed specimens exhibits that the specimens with highest printing temperature, lowest printing speed and thinner printing layer have better layers adhesion and lower porosities. All the mechanical tests are performed on specimens with the same structure and at a relatively constant density. Among the tested printing parameters, using a layer height of 0.1 mm, a printing temperature of 230 °C, and a printing speed of 20 mm/s yields the highest strength in the specimens. However, specimens printed with a layer height of 0.2 mm, a printing temperature of 220 °C, and a printing speed of 30 mm/s also exhibit good strength, albeit slightly lower than the maximum values. Additionally, when using these specific settings (0.3 mm – 210 °C – 40 mm/s), the mechanical qualities are minimized, yet the stress-strain curves exhibit characteristics similar to elastomers.

Article
Fourier Transformation Infrared Spectroscopic Studies of Acidity of NaH-13 X Zeolites

Shatha Abd-Alhameed Al. Sofy

Pages: 428-435

PDF Full Text
Abstract

Fourier transformation Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) has been used to characterize and measure the concentration of acid sites (Si-OH-Al groups) in NaH-13 X Zeolites. Ion exchange was followed by dealumination to get (28, 40, 65, 85.8 and 97.5 Wt. %) of NaH-13 X Zeolites samples. The conclusion of homogeneity of OH groups was obtained by analysis of Fourier transformation infrared spectroscopy absorption bands of OH groups after adsorption and desorption of Ammonia. It found that there were different acid sites on a broader absorption (3,800-3,000 cm-1) corresponds to hydroxyl groups of the less acidic Brønsted acid sites approximately at 3464cm-1 and the more acidic at 3441cm-1 and Lewis acid sites was found at 1636 cm-1 which is few and weak acid sites . It can be conclusion that concentrations of OH groups increased with increasing the exchange degree and delamination. The concentration of acid sites in samples were calculated from stretching frequencies and extinction coefficients of OH bands, also the frequency shift  ??OH = 23 cm-1 which was due to the hydrogen bonding of OH groups with ammonia in 97.5 % NaH-13 X Zeolites. Knowing the acidity of catalyst is important for the reactions which required acidic surface.

Article
Experimental Investigation of Forced Convection Heat Transfer in Open Cell Copper Fins

Issam Mohammed Ali, Munther Abdullah Mussa, Mustafa Mahdi Mustafa

Pages: 272-280

PDF Full Text
Abstract

Recently, major part of convection heat transfer researches focus on increasing fins efficiency by increasing thermal performance for the same fin volume. Metal foam is a promising way to achieve this aim. Performance analysis has been carried out to investigate the heat transfer characteristics of copper fin foam samples. The samples have been compared with the solid metal fin heat transfer. A forced convection heat transfer had been applied to a four specimens. An electrical heater heats up the fins, which are subjected to a stream of the ambient air driven by a blower fan as heat dissipated. The heat flux had been fixed along the tests with three different air velocity used; the forced heat convection had been simulated. The pores density of copper fin foam is varied in the range of 10, 20 & 40 pores per inches (PPI). Thermal performance of copper fin foam has been evaluated in terms of average Nusselt number and thermal resistance of heat sinks. The increasing in the heat transfer rate and average Nusselt number when used metal foam has been found in the range of 36-133 % compare to solid copper. Furthermore, it has been proven that this increment reaches the maximum value for a given PPI even when raise the air velocity.

Article
The Critical Review to Evaluate Performance of Ready-Mix Concrete Production Plant

Sara Ghazi, Faiq Mohammed Sarhan Al-Zwainy, Gunasekaran Manogaran Manogaran

Pages: 205-215

PDF Full Text
Abstract

In Republic of Iraq, ready-mix concrete production plants have been adversely affected by the lack of modern and advanced technology to assess their performance in line with technological advancements. Current evaluation methods rely on traditional approaches and financial measures, yielding unrealistic performance results. To address this problem, there is a need to utilize modern models and methods for performance evaluation. The study's main objective This was achieved by employing a literature survey methodology and utilizing digital databases such as the Iraqi Scientific Journals website, virtual libraries, and scientific platforms like ScienceDirect, Springer, Google Scholar, and Gate Research between 2015 and 2023. The research study provided a comprehensive overview of performance evaluation, including its definitions, importance, and an introduction to modern models and evaluation methods. The study found that no previous studies have been conducted in Iraq to evaluate ready-mix concrete production plants. However, four studies were found in Egypt, Sudan, and India. The previous similar relevant studies discussed various topics and related studies. Firstly, they discussed the classification, advantages, and disadvantages of concrete mixing plants. Additionally, the previous studies analyzed the factors that most influence the performance of concrete production plants, including laboratory manager efficiency, work team efficiency, communication and relationships within work teams, plant operator, material transportation method, and time and courses. Furthermore, the previous research studies present a comprehensive analysis of all variable data simultaneously using the statistical package for Social Science (SPSS) input stage. The evaluation also extends to the evaluation of laboratories, encompassing plant arrangement, internal quality control systems, and final product quality. The overall evaluation results of previous studies. Indicate that 75% of the concrete production plants failed to meet the required criteria, while only 25% demonstrated satisfactory performance. The study proposed improvements to enhance the performance rate of ready-mix concrete production plants by leveraging the most influential variables, which will be considered in the study.

Article
Engineering Determinants of Artificial Intelligence Adoption in Indian Healthcare Systems: A Regression-Validated Institutional Readiness Model

Prateek Singh, Sudipta Das, Justin Babu, Alok Satsangi

Pages: 384-391

PDF Full Text
Abstract

The introduction of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in medical care is becoming an acknowledged challenge in the framework of engineering systems, in which the level of computational readiness, the integration of the infrastructure, the level of user competence, and the limitations of the ethical aspect play a role. The paper analyzes the most important engineering predictors of a readiness to use AI in Indian hospitals, which are assessed using correlation and multiple linear regression frameworks._x000D_ There was a structured survey on 120 healthcare workers and 20 deep interviews with experts to evaluate system-level perceptions and institutional preparedness. The results of regression showed that the model is well fitted (R 2 = 0.61, p < 0.001) with Perceived Usefulness (= 0.43), Infrastructure Availability (= 0.38) and AI Training Exposure ( = 0.26) identified as significant and positive predictors of AI adoption readiness. The Ethical Concern Scores (β = -0.32) had a significant negative impact, highlighting the importance of governance as an important constraint of the system._x000D_ These findings were reinforced by qualitative thematic analysis, which identified interoperability challenges, lack of computational training, data governance oversights, and infrastructure vulnerability as significant engineering limitations. The respondents positively indicated the conditional acceptance of AI on the basis of the explainable model transparency, as well as the system of institutional AI training._x000D_ The research adds a new regression-tested engineering preparedness pathway to AI implementation in Low- and Middle-Income Country (LMIC) hospital setting, suggesting system interface, capacity formation, and ethical algorithm control as the main keystones on the sustainable AI implementation in Indian healthcare.

Article
Experimental and Numerical Stress Distribution of Molar Teeth with Different Type of Fillings

Bashar Owaid Bedaiwi, Zaineb Wared Matab

Pages: 1105-1111

PDF Full Text
Abstract

The human body poses the most important aim for many researchers. In nowadays, the science complex required the involvement of many resources and the coordinated team work of doctors, engineers, and other from the specialists. In the case of dental medicine, due to the nature of teeth material, their dimension and geometrical position, very important problems, like cavities that led to tooth losses. In this study, both the Experimental methods as well as the numerical finite element method have been used to analyze the stress within human teeth under forces similar to those that usually occur during chewing process with different type of food in experimental work. It was manufactured a device Resembling chewing process with vertical movement by converting circular movement into reciprocating. And used DAQ system (strain gauge sensor, DAQ and LABVIEW program) to measure the stress and strain resulted from tooth during the mastication process. Models of Natural lower first molars teeth were collected. All the teeth were cleaned from the soft tissue and stored in saline at room temperature. The teeth were randomly divided into two experimental groups according to the treated cavities shape (class I and class II) each class restored with two type of dental fillings material (Nanohybrid composite and Microhybrid composite), and then strain gauge was bonded at a buccal surface of tooth used. Their installed in acrylic jaws and applied different vertical loads. With used various morsels with different elastic modulus. The stress was calculated at the crown. In numerical 2D model of teeth were created by software Auto CAD (V.14) using wheeler 's data were transfer to ANSYS mechanical APDL (V. 16), subjected load at model similar at that applied at the Experimental work. Class I exhibited the highest stresses compared with class II, in two case Nanohybrid bear stress higher than microhybrid composite. At class I the stress at Nanohybrid is higher than Microhybrid for all morsels by rate (12.96%, 21.48%, 41.8%, 16.56%, 16.86% and 15.74%) at (E1, E2, E3, E4, E5 and E6) respectively, and the stress at Nanohybrid is higher than Microhybrid by almost (36.67%, 45.69%, 47.89%, 34.21%, 41.2% and 165.01%) respectively at the same morsels used at class II.  _x000D_ Keywords: , , .

Article
Strut and Tie Modelling of Reinforced Concrete Deep Beams Under Static and Fixed Pulsating Loading

Ajibola Ibrahim Quadri

Pages: 306-312

PDF Full Text
Abstract

Numerical analysis of the performance of reinforced concrete (RC) deep beam subjected to static and fixed-point pulsating loading at the midpoint has been investigated. Three-dimensional nonlinear finite element model using the Strut and Tie approach was adopted. The damage level under the influence of the applied fixed pulsating loading is higher than the static applied loading, hence early crack was observed because of the stepwise loading in the form of vibration. Although the Strut and Tie approach gave a good estimation of the resistance capacity of the beam, the beam undergo high shear damage when subjected to these two types of loading. Material strength properties, applied loadings and cross-sections adopted are some of the factors that affect the performance of the deep beam.

Article
Assessing Reliability in Manufacturing Systems by a New Arrangement of the Mean Time Between Failures (MTBF)

Abdulkhalek M. Kadir

Pages: 555-561

PDF Full Text
Abstract

This work has studied the size of the mean time between failures (MTBF) because it has a vital role in assessing reliability in manufacturing systems. Previous studies have indicated that the reliability value depends on the size of MTBF, so they indicated only 11 types of time that reliability value depends on, and they used methods of DFR and RCM to enhance the reliability level. To assess and increase reliability value, this work referred to the four main times: mean time between failures (MTBF), mean time to diagnosis (MTTD), mean time to repair (MTTR), and mean time to failure (MTTF) in more detail. Also, it designed a new arrangement of failure notification time, failure diagnosis time, downtime, failure repair, testing time, and recovery periods for ongoing operations in manufacturing systems through a new redistribution of 19 times and time intervals in detail between the four main times, so it revealed and added 8 types of other times and time intervals more than previous studies because they have vital roles in increasing reliability value. Thus, the new arrangement contains two parallel pathways and 19 types of times and time intervals. The first pathway represents 5 positions and 11 types of start and end times; the second pathway represents 4 positions and 8 time intervals. Consequently, MTBF becomes longer because the new arrangement shortens the time distances between the start of failure and repair process end, between diagnosis end and test, and between inspection end and the system's return to normal operating conditions. The motivations are to raise the reliability value, quality level, and effective maintenance and save costs. This work used the data collection and analysis method. The results showed that there is a higher reliability for manufacturing systems when the time arrangement is better, MTBF is longer, MTTD is shorter, MTTR is smaller, MTTF is longer, and the error rate is lower.

Article
Effect of Different Friction Stir Spot Welding Techniques on the Mechanical Properties and Microstructure of Aluminum AA2024-T3

Akeel Z. Mahdi, Samir A. Amin, Sadeq H. Bakhy

Pages: 117-123

PDF Full Text
Abstract

This paper presents a comparison of using different techniques for stir spot welding of Aluminum 2024-T3, which are refill friction stir spot welding (RFSSW), edited (RFSSW-pin) and conventional friction stir spot welding (FSSW), depending on the obtained tensile shear strength property. Specimens were prepared from AA2024-T3 sheet for chemical analysis and mechanical tests. Workpieces were stir spot welded utilizing the above mentioned techniques at four rotational speeds (2000, 2500, 3000 and 4000 rpm) using tool pin diameters (5 and 7 mm) for conducting the tensile shear tests. The microhardness along the cross section of the welded specimens was conducted at the best conditions as well as the microstructure examination. The comparison results revealed that at the rotational speeds (2000 and 4000 rpm) in both cases of tool pin (5 and 7 mm), the ultimate tensile shear force was slightly higher than that for other speeds. However, the ultimate tensile shear force was found higher at 3000 rpm speed with a tool pin 7 mm. The microhardness results manifested a W-shape at the best conditions. Finally, the microstructure examination depicted the morphology of the main zones of the weld joint.

Article
Fabricating Different Laminate Composites by Manual Layup and Estimating the Optimum Parameters for CNC Milling Machine

Ghadak M. Alkhafaji, Fathi A. Alshammaa, Enas A. Khalid

Pages: 388-396

PDF Full Text
Abstract

In this paper the ability of fabricating laminate composites by manual layup was discussed. Heating method was used to manufacture the composites; heat was applied to approximately 12 hours with specific heat temperature. There were four types of laminate composites fabricated and studied in this research, containing Aluminum alloy 6061 as the common element in all types, two types of fibers; woven Carbon fiber with two different orientations: ±45°, ±60°, random fiberglass and with two types of resin; epoxy resin and polyester resin. Different types of composites were made to determine the effect of CNC milling machine to the measured surface roughness and for specified parameters. The weight fraction ratio of the fibers is 37%, polymer is 34% and 29% for Aluminum. The parameters selected are spindle speed, feed rate and depth of cut. The L9 Taguchi orthogonal arrays, signal to noise (S/N) ratio and analysis of variance (ANOVA) are selected to determine the effect of these parameters; it was analyzed by MINITAB 17 program. The results showed that the parameter were significant more to the epoxy resin specimens than polyester resin specimens. The optimal milling parameters for good surface finish for Aluminum – Carbon fiber composite are at 3000RPM, 1200mm/min, 1.2mm, and for Aluminum – Fiberglass composite are 5000RPM, 1800 mm/min, 2.0mm.

Article
Springback Analysis in Bending of V-Section Using Deformable Die

Jalil Shukur, Waqass Khudhir, Mohanad Abbood

Pages: 96-102

PDF Full Text
Abstract

With the development of manufacturing techniques, the demands have increased on tools with flexible components that can produce parts with different shapes and sizes only by replacing the rigid part of these tools, since the flexible part can match the required geometry. This study is focused on effects of rubber hardness and sheet thickness on the springback developed on the produced parts. Silicone rubber with three hardness (40,60 ,80) Shore A hardness scale was used. The material of workpiece was Aluminum (3003) with three different thicknesses of (0.8,1,1.2) mm and three holding time of (0,10,20) seconds. The results demonstrate that, the springback decreases with any increase in the rubber hardness or sheet thickness. In addition, the holding time showed a significant effect only with a harder rubber.

Article
YOLOv11 with spatial attention and preprocessing enhancements for accurate skin cancer classification

Aythem Khairi Kareem, Ahmed Adil Nafea, Afrig Aminuddin

Pages: 141-151

PDF Full Text
Abstract

This work suggests a Deep Learning (DL) architecture based on You Only Look Once YOLOv11 for Skin Cancer (SC) detection. The similarity between malignant and benign lesions makes visual inspection a failure to distinguish between them. To solve this problem, the proposed approach uses a 3-step pre-processing stage, namely hair removal, color normalization, and Contrast Limited Adaptive Histogram Equalization (CLAHE) contrasts, has been conducted to eliminate artifacts and improve image quality. Balanced data augmentation on the training set of the PROVe-AI dataset.  In this process, YOLOv11 with C3k2 module and C2PSA module showed significant results in optimized multi-scale feature collection and spatial interest. The experimental outcome demonstrates that the proposed model has a classification accuracy of 93.09% and led the baseline models, such as Convolutional Neural Network (CNN), Recurrent Neural Network (RNN), Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM), and Artificial Neural Network (ANN). The proposed optimized YOLOv11 architecture allows for skin cancer detection in a computationally efficient framework with promising preliminary results so that the proposed approach can be a beneficial Artificial intelligence (AI) tool for early diagnosis, particularly in a lack of high-tech medical facilities.

Article
Effect of Treating Expansive Soil with Lime

Sarah R. Salih, Qassun S. Mohammed Shafiqu

Pages: 226-233

PDF Full Text
Abstract

Expansive soil poses significant challenges for civil engineers worldwide since it seriously affects the structures built upon it. This soil has a very active group of minerals called montmorillonite, which is responsible for the significant volume change it exhibits. For a number of years, chemical additives have been utilized to stabilize soil, with various levels of success. Soil stabilization has involved the use of a variety of additives, including cement, lime, polymers, salts, and combinations of these. However, lime is very often used for expansive soil stabilization as it improves the soil's mechanical properties. The effects of adding three percentages of lime (3%, 6%, and 9%) to expansive soil to improve its engineering properties are investigated through several tests. The laboratory tests consist of standard compaction, sieve analysis, atterberg limits, hydrometer, California bearing ratio, consolidation test, swelling potential, and specific gravity. The test results displayed that the plasticity index, liquid limit, swelling potential, and maximum dry density, specific gravity decreased using (3%, 6%, and 9%) lime. In contrast, the plastic limit, and optimum moisture content increased using (3%, 6%, and 9%) lime. The California bearing ratio is increased from (12.13% to 14.65%) by adding (9% L). The swelling index and compression index are decreased from (0.070 to 0.030) and from (0.581 to 0.193) respectively by adding (9% L). The swelling percentage is reduced from (18.77% to 6.03%) by adding (9% L).

Article
Effect of Underground Corrosion on the Buckling of Al Alloy 6061-T4 Columns under Increasing Load

Ali Yousuf Khenyab, Hussein Fadhil Ajaj, Rawa Ahmed Helal

Pages: 417-427

PDF Full Text
Abstract

This research deals with the extent to which corrosion affects the behavior of buckling for 6061-T4 aluminum alloy under increasing compressive dynamic loads. Two types of columns, long, and intermediate were used.1% of the length column is the allowable lateral deflection. This is called the critical buckling of the columns. For the purpose of calculating the critical deflection, a digital dial gauge was used and set at a distance of 0.7 of column length from the fixed end condition for the column. The experimental analysis revealed that the corrosion time negatively affects the mechanical properties of materials such as the corroded specimens of 60 days (The least time to observe the corrosion of aluminum in the soil) which have approximately 2.7 % reduction in ultimate strength compared with the non-corroded specimen.  Increasing the corrosion time reduces the critical load such as the maximum reduction will be 4.24% in critical buckling load for 60 days’ corrosion time. The results obtained were experimentally compared with the theoretical formulas of the Perry-Robertson and Euler-Johnson formula with the results of the ANSYS. It was found that the Perry-Robertson formula has a good agreement with the experimental results with a safety factor of 1.2, while the Euler-Johnson formula agreed with the experimental results taking a safety factor of 1.5. The ANSYS results showed a good agreement between the measured and calculated values by taking 1.1 factor of safety. 

Article
Mathematical Modeling and Advanced Control of the Refinery Processes: A Review

Laith S. Mahmood, Khalid Alzobai, Salam K. Al-Dawery

Pages: 253-265

PDF Full Text
Abstract

The oil industry has a direct impact on the economic feasibility of other sectors and is considered to be the most important energy source used to turn the wheels of other industries. Therefore, it was necessary to pay attention and continuously develop this industry, to find the best modern techniques for designing, pre-commissioning and controlling process, to improve efficiency, preserve energy and achieve the highest production of costly components with the highest purity of the product. This study aims to provide a literary analysis of the stages of development and progress of the dynamics and control of the petroleum industry, in particular the distillation column, because it is multivariable with high interaction between control cycles, nonlinear behaviour and large gains. Control processes have undergone many developments and modernizations to achieve the best results. Various control methods have been used, ranging from simple proportional-integral-derivative controller (PID) to advanced control strategies such as model predictive control (MPC), multivariate model predictive control (MMPC), fuzzy logic control (FLC), quadratic dynamic matrix control (QDMC), artificial neural network control (ANN) and other advanced control techniques. The authors concluded from the review that the advanced control strategies superior than the conventional methods.

Article
Analysis of Intra-Aortic Balloon Performance in Open-Heart Surgery

Zainab A. Wajeeh, Sadiq J. Hamandi, Wisam S. Alobaidi, Georges B. Tedy

Pages: 157-166

PDF Full Text
Abstract

A failing heart can be supported in several ways, including cardiopulmonary bypass pumps (CPB), extracorporeal membrane oxygenators (ECMOs), and other types of auxiliary heart pumps. The intra-aortic-balloon-pump (IABP) is one technique of internal counter-pulsation that supports maintaining the circulatory system It continues to be used as a vascular support device to critically unwell cardiac patients. Many recent studies have focused on the problems of the (IABP) in open-heart surgery, while other researchers concentrated on the positioning and size of the balloon, some of them studied the timing of the balloon's inflation and deflation. this paper has reviewed a brief Introduction, the basic principles of the balloon, how to trigger the balloon pump as well as the use of IABP in Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG), balloon mistiming of inflation and deflation, balloon timing usage within open-heart surgery and finally a balloon position and sizing.

Article
Deep Learning-Based Classification of Alzheimer's Disease Using EEG Signals: A CNN Approach for Early Detection

Najlaa S. Mezher, Ahmed F. Hussein, Sufian M. Salih

Pages: 545-554

PDF Full Text
Abstract

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that severely impacts cognitive functions such as memory, attention, and reasoning, ultimately affecting daily life. Early and accurate detection is crucial for timely intervention and management. Traditional diagnostic methods, including neuroimaging and cognitive assessments, can be expensive and time-consuming, necessitating more accessible and efficient alternatives. This study aims to develop an automated and efficient deep learning-based detection system that uses Electroencephalogram (EEG) signals to accurately classify AD and healthy individuals. A Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) model was designed to extract meaningful features from preprocessed EEG data. The architecture consists of convolutional layers with max pooling, dropout regularization, and fully connected layers to improve classification accuracy. The model was trained and evaluated on a comprehensive EEG dataset, using key performance metrics such as accuracy, recall, precision, and F1-score. The proposed CNN model achieved a high classification accuracy of 94.56%, a low loss of 0.2162, and an AUC value of 0.93828, demonstrating superior classification capability. The results indicate that the model effectively distinguishes between AD and healthy individuals, outperforming several state-of-the-art approaches. The findings highlight the potential of deep learning-based EEG analysis for AD detection, providing an accessible and cost-effective tool for early diagnosis. The high accuracy of the proposed CNN model suggests that it can assist medical professionals in making well-informed decisions, ultimately improving patient outcomes.

Article
Inducing Frictional Force to Enhance the Transient Response in Beams

Hamed Khanger Mina, Waleed K. Al-Ashtrai

Pages: 88-93

PDF Full Text
Abstract

This paper studies the effect of contact areas on the transient response of mechanical structures. Precisely, it investigates replacing the ordinary beam of a structure by two beams of half the thickness, which are joined by bolts. The response of these beams is controlled by adjusting the tightening of the connecting bolts and hence changing the magnitude of the induced frictional force between the two beams which affect the beams damping capacity._x000D_ A cantilever of two beams joined together by bolts has been investigated numerically and experimentally. The numerical analysis was performed using ANSYS-Workbench version 17.2. A good agreement between the numerical and experimental results has been obtained. In general, results showed that the two beams vibrate independently when the bolts were loosed and the structure stiffness is about 20 N/m and the damping ratio is about 0.008. With increasing the bolts tightening, the stiffness and the damping ratio of the structure were also increased till they reach their maximum values when the tightening force equals to 8330 N, where the structure now has stiffness equals to 88 N/m and the damping ratio is about 0.062. Beyond this force value, increasing the bolts tightening has no effect on stiffness of the structure while the damping ratio is decreased until it returned to 0.008 when the bolts tightening becomes immense and the beams behave as one beam of double thickness.

Article
Studying the Impact of Soil Stabilization Techniques on Rigid Pavement Joints Across Various Axle Loads

Asma Thamir Ibraheem, Hassan M. Mahdi M. Alddin

Pages: 351-357

PDF Full Text
Abstract

Rigid pavement slabs are erected on a prepared subgrade or foundation layer, providing a hard and continuous surface. Transverse joints made of dowel bars connect them, and longitudinal joints made of tie bars join them longitudinally. This study is an investigation of the impact of soil strength and concrete parameters on the effectiveness of dowel bars in rigid pavements. Moreover, three parameters were examined; California Bearing Ratio (CBR), concrete compressive strength and slab thickness. The analysis was conducted using the Ever FE program and focused on several axle configurations applied to the joint. The results indicate inverse association between the pavement slab thickness and the concrete strength, under the assumption of consistent soil strength. Moreover, an assortment of reduced shear forces on the dowel bars is seen when the soil strength values increase. It indicates that soil strength has a greater impact on the shear load of dowel bars compared to the qualities of concrete. Additionally, the type of axles used and the magnitude of soil strength were shown to have a significant effect on the shear load.

Article
Study Noise Effects on The Students of The Faculty of Engineering/ Mustansiriyah University

Shatha Abduljabbar Ibrahim

Pages: 178-186

PDF Full Text
Abstract

Noise effects on the students include both auditory and non-auditory effects and cause ?the lack of concentration and disability of learning? ?and communication. The Faculty of ?Engineering was chosen to conduct the questionnaire ?because the students have both ?theoretical and practical courses and they ?spend one-third of their day in the ?laboratories, so it is expected they exposure to noise more than other faculties’ students ?A questionnaire was conducted to understand the effect of noise on student behavior ?and whether they could classify the sounds that they heard as noise and determine the ?noise sources (indoor, outdoor) and the noisiest places (classroom, laboratory, and ?campus). 438 students participated in this questionnaire from all stages, and they ?covered eight engineering departments in the Faculty of Engineering, Mustansiriyah ?University. A statistical analysis of the questionnaire found that 39.5%, 46%, 32% and ??49% of students suffered from noise in classrooms, laboratories, open spaces and closed ?spaces (campus), respectively. In the actual situation, the effects that students ?experience can be arranged in the following descending order: feeling discomfort, ?hearing difficulty, raising the voice when speaking, lack of concentration, headache, ?tinnitus and nausea. Using a sound and vibration meter with the analyzer, the noise ?levels in dBA were measured in the noisiest places that the students mentioned. The ?noise levels exceed the standard limitation that organizations and agencies such as the ?WHO determined. ??

Article
Enhancement the Agglutination of Erythrocytes in Blood Typing Test by Acousto-Optic Technique

Farah Mohammed Ali, Jamal A. Hasan, Eman Ghadhban Khalil

Pages: 365-370

PDF Full Text
Abstract

A proposed modern technique for determination the blood group typing by monitoring the agglutination of red blood cells using acousto-optical technique and digital camera. The method based on analysis the digital image of the agglutination process by MATLAB software._x000D_ We present an overview of two acousto-optic sensing approaches; the first demonstrates the cuvette approach while the second is the microscope slide approach. The cuvette approach digital image analyzing depends on the green channel distribution of the original image and count the brighten pixels, while the microscope slide approach passes through series of algorithms started with grayscale filter and end with edge detection it counts the different color pixels._x000D_ The experimental result shown that it is possible to enhance the determination of blood group typing by using acousto-optical technique in both cases of using isohemagglutinating sera as well as the crossmatch test in a short time and high efficiency compared with the traditional methods.

Article
Characterization and Fabrication of Ankle Foot Orthoses using Composite with Titanium Nanoparticles

N.J. Khalaf, Sabrine Ben Amor, Borhen Louhichi

Pages: 109-117

PDF Full Text
Abstract

Orthoses and prostheses were Chosen and laminated based on their high Yield, ultimate stresses, bending stresses, and fatigue limit. Response Surface Methodology (RSM) was utilized to find the best values for two parameters reinforcement perlon fiber and percent of Titanium Nanoparticle coupled with the matrix resin during optimization. The response surface methodology combined the expertise of mathematicians and statisticians to construct and analyze experimental models. Using this method, we identified 13 different lamination samples comprising a wide range of perlon number and Ti nano Wt% in their Perlon layer composition. All lamination materials defined by RSM methods and produced by a vacuum system were subjected to a battery of tests, with fatigue tests performed on the ideal laminating material in contrast to laminations created in the first study (Tensile test, Bending test, and Fatigue tests according to the ASTM D638 and D790 respectively). In comparison to the other 12 laminations tested using Design Expert version 10.0.2, the lamination with ten perlon layers and 0.75 percent Ti nano proved to be the strongest overall in terms of Yield, ultimate, and bending loads. This study used composite materials and titanium nanoparticles to characterize and fabricate ankle foot orthoses. Strength in bending should amount to about 70 MPa, around 85 MPa in tensile tension. Two empirical quadratic equations for the models of peak bending strength and maximum tensile stress with 95% confidence were created using the response surface approach and analysis of variance within the design of experiments software.

Article
Improvement of Overlap for 2x2 MZI Electro-Optic Switch Based on Lithium Tantalite (LiTaO3)

Sadeq Adnan Hbeeb

Pages: 91-95

PDF Full Text
Abstract

This research introduces a method of an electro-optic effect and electro-refractive effect that considers very imperative for high-speed optical communication systems. In this research, it presents way by a reduction the gap between the electrodes d, and this technique achieves to solve the problem of overlap for Mach-Zehnder interferometer MZI electro-optical switch base on lithium tantalite LiTaO3, also this technique suggests a model for analysis the effect parameters on the electro-optic overlap of the electro-optic switch as the ordinary positive changing of refractive index and a length of arm switch. This study achieves a better overlap by large positive changing refractive index with a suitable small length of arm about 8µm and low driving power at least 4V/µm. Also, for lithium tantalite LiTaO3, this research achieves a better performance for system using the near infrared wavelength.

Article
AI-driven crop disease detection with efficient NetB3 hybrids for sustainable agriculture

Rituraj Jain, Kuldeep Tapodhan, Shubham Bhalala, Yash Jotangiya, Amar Davda

Pages: 103-110

PDF Full Text
Abstract

In precision agriculture, crop disease detection can be a highly valuable undertaking in which scalable and correct solutions may save considerable amounts of money and loss of yield. This paper introduces a comparative analysis of state-of-the-art deep learning models with special attention to EfficientNetB3 hybrids, which are trained on a balanced subsample of the PlantVillage dataset with 33 classes based on nine crops. To overcome the shortcomings of the previous studies, which used unbalanced sample, a leakage-free balancing approach was used, resulting in 13,200 training and 3,300 validation samples. Custom head transfer learning was used where it was tested using two strategies; FreezeUnfreeze fine-tuning, and Singlephase training. MobileNetV2, InceptionV3, DenseNet121, GhostNet, in addition to other baseline CNNs, were compared to baseline Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs). The findings indicate that EfficientNetB3 hybrids are superior with an accuracy of ≥99.5% and 99.9% Area Under the Curve (AUC) and specificity than the previous CNN-based systems. The paper logically defines a performance ladder between model options and real-life deployment demands, such as lightweight mobile applications to precision agriculture systems, and points out future trends in the field-based validation.

Article
Geothermal Energy Development in Türkiye: A Review

Mohammed Faris Abbas, Ansam Adil Mohammed, Akeel Abdullah Mohammed, Shylesha Channapattana, Zekeriya Parlak

Pages: 207-225

PDF Full Text
Abstract

Türkiye possesses abundant geothermal resources. It is ranked seventh globally for this particular energy resources and grade among the first 5 in utilizing geothermal and thermal springs for various purposes such as electricity generation, residential cooling and heating, greenhouse operations, desiccating processes, thermal recreation, therapeutic applications, mining, agricultural uses, and aquaculture. The government's endorsement from renewable power sources is fueling growing interest on this particular energy sector. This article provides a comprehensive analysis of geothermal energy in select locations of Türkiye, including an assessment of its potential and various applications. The study seeks to provide a valuable involvement to the future advancements of a geothermal technology on Türkiye.

Article
Thermal Performance Analysis of Parabolic Trough Solar Concentrator with Helical Tube Receiver

Saad Tami Hamidi, Jamal Abdul-Kareem Mohammed, Laith Mohsen Reda

Pages: 374-383

PDF Full Text
Abstract

In this paper, the experimental thermal performance for a parabolic trough solar concentrator (PTSC) combined with helical tube receiver and directed by two axes solar tracking system at different amount of water flow rates has been analyzed. The experimental test results of thermal performance with regard to temperature rise of water, useful heat gain and collector thermal efficiency for the PTSC prototype at controlled water flow rates (2.3, 22.5 and 29.4 L/h) are collected. The results show that the increase of water mass flow rates causes decrease in the average water output temperature as (120.8, 63.82 and 46.08oC), respectively, the maximum outlet temperature becomes (160.5, 76, 47) oC, respectively, and thus, the average useful heat gain will be (1249.4, 732, 732.5W), respectively and the average thermal efficiency decreases as (73.021, 49.51 and 44.31 %), respectively. The experimental results show that decrease the water mass flow rate by 74.4%, causes an increase in the thermal efficiency of the PTSC by 64.7%.

Article
Investigate the Microstructure and the Mechanical Properties of Ni-Ti-Cu Shape Memory Alloys

Dania F. Abbas Aljuboori, Kadhim K. Resan, Ayad M. Takhakh

Pages: 105-112

PDF Full Text
Abstract

In this study a Nickel-Titanium-Cupper shape memory alloys was manufactured by powder metallurgy (PM) technique, powder mixture of 50% Ti , 47% Ni and 3% Cu was prepared by mixing for two hours and compacted in a press machine using various compacting pressure (600, 700 and 800) MPa , sample was then sintered for 5 hrs in an electrical tube vacuum furnace using sintering temperature of (850?C, 900?C and 950?C) .phase analysis of samples was conducted by X-ray diffraction test, the effect of different sintering temperature and compacting pressure on the porosity, microhardness ,compression strength and the shape memory effect (SME) was studied, the result showed decrease in the porosity and increasing in the shape recovery ,compression strength and microhardness with increasing compacting pressure and at lower sintering temperature and hence the best results was at 800MPa compacting pressure and 850?C sintering temperature.

1 - 100 of 132 items 1 2 > >> 

Search Parameters

×

The submission system is temporarily under maintenance. Please send your manuscripts to

Go to Editorial Manager
Journal Logo
Al-Nahrain Journal for Engineering Sciences (NJES)

College of Engineering, Al-Nahrain University

  • Copyright Policy
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility
  • Cookie Settings
Licensing & Open Access

CC BY NC 4.0 Logo Licensed under CC-BY-NC-4.0

This journal provides immediate open access to its content.

Editorial Manager Logo Elsevier Logo

Peer-review powered by Elsevier’s Editorial Manager®

Copyright © 2026 College of Engineering, Al-Nahrain University, its licensors, and contributors. All rights reserved, including those for text and data mining, AI training, and similar technologies. For all open access content, the relevant licensing terms apply.