Abstract: This article aims to analyze the static stability and
pseudostatic slope by using different methods such as: Bishop
method, Junbu, Ordinary, Morgenstern-price and GLE. The two
dimensional modeling of slope stability under various loading as: the
earthquake effect, the water level and road mobile charges. The
results show that the slope is stable in the static case without water,
but in other cases, the slope lost its stability and give unstable. The
calculation of safety factor is to evaluate the stability of the slope
using the limit equilibrium method despite the difference between the
results obtained by these methods that do not rely on the same
assumptions. In the end, the results of this study illuminate well the
influence of the action of water, moving loads and the earthquake on
the stability of the slope.
Abstract: The degradation of concrete due to various hygrochemo-
mechanical actions is inevitable for the structures particularly
built to store water. Therefore, it is essential to determine the material
properties of dam-like structures due to ageing to predict the behavior
of such structures after a certain age. The degraded material
properties are calculated by introducing isotropic degradation index.
The predicted material properties are used to study the behavior of
aged dam at different ages. The dam is modeled by finite elements
and displacement and is considered as an unknown variable. The
parametric study reveals that the displacement is quite larger for
comparatively lower design life of the structure because the
degradation of elastic properties depends on the design life of the
dam. The stresses in dam cam be unexpectedly large at any age with
in the design life. The outcomes of the present study indicate the
importance of the consideration ageing effect of concrete exposed to
water for the safe design of dam throughout its life time.
Abstract: In present study, it was aimed to determine potential
agricultural lands (PALs) in Gokceada (Imroz) Island of Canakkale
province, Turkey. Seven-band Landsat 8 OLI images acquired on
July 12 and August 13, 2013, and their 14-band combination image
were used to identify current Land Use Land Cover (LULC) status.
Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was applied to three Landsat
datasets in order to reduce the correlation between the bands. A total
of six Original and PCA images were classified using supervised
classification method to obtain the LULC maps including 6 main
classes (“Forest”, “Agriculture”, “Water Surface”, “Residential Area-
Bare Soil”, “Reforestation” and “Other”). Accuracy assessment was
performed by checking the accuracy of 120 randomized points for
each LULC maps. The best overall accuracy and Kappa statistic
values (90.83%, 0.8791% respectively) were found for PCA images
which were generated from 14-bands combined images called 3-
B/JA.
Digital Elevation Model (DEM) with 15 m spatial resolution
(ASTER) was used to consider topographical characteristics. Soil
properties were obtained by digitizing 1:25000 scaled soil maps of
Rural Services Directorate General. Potential Agricultural Lands
(PALs) were determined using Geographic information Systems
(GIS). Procedure was applied considering that “Other” class of
LULC map may be used for agricultural purposes in the future
properties. Overlaying analysis was conducted using Slope (S), Land
Use Capability Class (LUCC), Other Soil Properties (OSP) and Land
Use Capability Sub-Class (SUBC) properties.
A total of 901.62 ha areas within “Other” class (15798.2 ha) of
LULC map were determined as PALs. These lands were ranked as
“Very Suitable”, “Suitable”, “Moderate Suitable” and “Low
Suitable”. It was determined that the 8.03 ha were classified as “Very
Suitable” while 18.59 ha as suitable and 11.44 ha as “Moderate
Suitable” for PALs. In addition, 756.56 ha were found to be “Low
Suitable”. The results obtained from this preliminary study can serve
as basis for further studies.
Abstract: The flow duration curve (FDC) is an informative
method that represents the flow regime’s properties for a river basin.
Therefore, the FDC is widely used for water resource projects such as
hydropower, water supply, irrigation and water quality management.
The primary purpose of this study is to obtain synthetic daily flow
duration curves for Çoruh Basin, Turkey. For this aim, we firstly
developed univariate auto-regressive moving average (ARMA)
models for daily flows of 9 stations located in Çoruh basin and then
these models were used to generate 100 synthetic flow series each
having same size as historical series. Secondly, flow duration curves
of each synthetic series were drawn and the flow values exceeded 10,
50 and 95% of the time and 95% confidence limit of these flows were
calculated. As a result, flood, mean and low flows potential of Çoruh
basin will comprehensively be represented.
Abstract: Boiling process is characterized by the rapid
formation of vapour bubbles at the solid–liquid interface (nucleate
boiling) with pre-existing vapour or gas pockets. Computational fluid
dynamics (CFD) is an important tool to study bubble dynamics. In
the present study, CFD simulation has been carried out to determine
the bubble detachment diameter and its terminal velocity. Volume of
fluid method is used to model the bubble and the surrounding by
solving single set of momentum equations and tracking the volume
fraction of each of the fluids throughout the domain. In the
simulation, bubble is generated by allowing water-vapour to enter a
cylinder filled with liquid water through an inlet at the bottom. After
the bubble is fully formed, the bubble detaches from the surface and
rises up during which the bubble accelerates due to the net balance
between buoyancy force and viscous drag. Finally when these forces
exactly balance each other, it attains a constant terminal velocity. The
bubble detachment diameter and the terminal velocity of the bubble
are captured by the monitor function provided in FLUENT. The
detachment diameter and the terminal velocity obtained are compared
with the established results based on the shape of the bubble. A good
agreement is obtained between the results obtained from simulation
and the equations in comparison with the established results.
Abstract: A pilot field study was conducted at the Jagjeetpur
Municipal Sewage treatment plant situated in the Haridwar town in
Uttarakhand state, India. The objectives of the present study were to
study the effect of treated wastewater on the production of various
paddy varieties (Sharbati, PR-114, PB-1, Menaka, PB1121 and PB
1509) and the emission of GHG gases (CO2, CH4 and N2O) as
compared to the same varieties grown in the control plots irrigated
with fresh water. Of late, the concept of water footprint assessment
has emerged, which explains enumeration of various types of water
footprints of an agricultural entity from its production to processing
stages. Paddy, the most water demanding staple crop of Uttarakhand
state, displayed a high green water footprint value of 2474.12 m3/
Ton. Most of the wastewater irrigated varieties displayed up to 6%
increase in production, except Menaka and PB-1121, which showed a
reduction in production (6% and 3% respectively), due to pest and
insect infestation. The treated wastewater was observed to be rich in
Nitrogen (55.94 mg/ml Nitrate), Phosphorus (54.24 mg/ml) and
Potassium (9.78 mg/ml), thus rejuvenating the soil quality and not
requiring any external nutritional supplements. A Percentage increase
of GHG gases of irrigation with treated municipal wastewater as
compared to control plots was observed as 0.4% - 8.6% (CH4), 1.1%
- 9.2% (CO2), and 0.07% - 5.8% (N2O). The variety, Sharbati,
displayed maximum production (5.5 ton/ha) and emerged as the most
resistant variety against pests and insects. The emission values of
CH4, CO2 and N2O were 729.31 mg/m2/d, 322.10 mg/m2/d and
400.21 mg/m2/d in water stagnant condition.
This study highlighted a successful possibility of reuse of
wastewater for non-potable purposes offering the potential for
exploiting this resource that can replace or reduce the existing use of
fresh water sources in agriculture sector.
Abstract: In this study, the experiments were carried out to
determine the best coolant for the quenching process among waterbased
silica, alumina, titania and copper oxide nanofluids (0.1 vol%).
A sphere made up off brass material was used in the experiments.
When the spherical test specimen was heated at high temperatures, it
was suddenly immersed into the nanofluids. All experiments were
carried out at saturated conditions and under atmospheric pressure.
After the experiments, the cooling curves were obtained by using the
temperature-time data of the specimen. The experimental results
showed that the cooling performance of test specimen depended on
the type of nanofluids. The silica nanoparticles enhanced the
performance of boiling heat transfer and it is the best coolant for the
quenching among other nanoparticles.
Abstract: An experiment was conducted to elucidate the effects of turmeric powder supplementation on egg production performance of old laying hens (80 weeks of age). There were 40 hens of Hysex Brown strain used in the study. They were caged individually, and randomly divided into 4 treatment groups of diet containing 0 (control), 1, 2 and 4 % oven dried turmeric powder for 3 periods of 4 weeks; Egg production (% hen day) and feed intake of the 4 treatment groups at the commencement of the experiment were not significantly different. In addition to egg production performance (% and egg weight), feed and water intakes were measured daily, and cholesterol content of the whole egg was determined. The results indicated that feed intakes of the hen were significantly lowered when 4% turmeric powder supplemented, while there were no significant changes in water intakes. Egg production were significantly increased and maintained at a higher level by turmeric powder supplementation up to 4% compared with the control, while the weight of eggs were not significantly affected. The research markedly demonstrated that supplementation of turmeric powder up to 4% could improve and maintain egg production performance of the old laying hen at a higher level with a lower cholesterol content.
Abstract: The present study is concerned with the problem of determining the shape of the free surface flow in a hydraulic channel which has an uneven bottom. For the mathematical formulation of the problem, the fluid of the two-dimensional irrotational steady flow in water is assumed inviscid and incompressible. The solutions of the nonlinear problem are obtained by using the usual conformal mapping theory and Hilbert’s technique. An experimental study, for comparing the obtained results, has been conducted in a hydraulic channel (subcritical regime and supercritical regime).
Abstract: The paper develops a Non-Linear Model Predictive
Control (NMPC) of water quality in Drinking Water Distribution
Systems (DWDS) based on the advanced non-linear quality dynamics
model including disinfections by-products (DBPs). A special attention
is paid to the analysis of an impact of the flow trajectories prescribed
by an upper control level of the recently developed two-time scale
architecture of an integrated quality and quantity control in DWDS.
The new quality controller is to operate within this architecture in the
fast time scale as the lower level quality controller. The controller
performance is validated by a comprehensive simulation study based
on an example case study DWDS.
Abstract: Steady three-dimensional and two free surface waves
generated by moving bodies are presented, the flow problem to be
simulated is rich in complexity and poses many modeling challenges
because of the existence of breaking waves around the ship hull, and
because of the interaction of the two-phase flow with the turbulent
boundary layer. The results of several simulations are reported. The
first study was performed for NACA0012 of hydrofoil with different
meshes, this section is analyzed at h/c= 1, 0345 for 2D. In the second
simulation a mathematically defined Wigley hull form is used to
investigate the application of a commercial CFD code in prediction of
the total resistance and its components from tangential and normal
forces on the hull wetted surface. The computed resistance and wave
profiles are used to estimate the coefficient of the total resistance for
Wigley hull advancing in calm water under steady conditions. The
commercial CFD software FLUENT version 12 is used for the
computations in the present study. The calculated grid is established
using the code computer GAMBIT 2.3.26. The shear stress k-ωSST
model is used for turbulence modeling and the volume of fluid
technique is employed to simulate the free-surface motion. The
second order upwind scheme is used for discretizing the convection
terms in the momentum transport equations, the Modified HRIC
scheme for VOF discretization. The results obtained compare well
with the experimental data.
Abstract: Image segmentation and color identification is an
important process used in various emerging fields like intelligent
robotics. A method is proposed for the manipulator to grasp and place
the color object into correct location. The existing methods such as
PSO, has problems like accelerating the convergence speed and
converging to a local minimum leading to sub optimal performance.
To improve the performance, we are using watershed algorithm and
for color identification, we are using EPSO. EPSO method is used to
reduce the probability of being stuck in the local minimum. The
proposed method offers the particles a more powerful global
exploration capability. EPSO methods can determine the particles
stuck in the local minimum and can also enhance learning speed as
the particle movement will be faster.
Abstract: This study examines the feasibility of indirect solar
desalination in oil producing countries in the Middle East and North
Africa (MENA) region. It relies on value engineering (VE) and costbenefit
with sensitivity analyses to identify optimal coupling
configurations of desalination and solar energy technologies. A
comparative return on investment was assessed as a function of water
costs for varied plant capacities (25,000 to 75,000 m3/day), project
lifetimes (15 to 25 years), and discount rates (5 to 15%) taking into
consideration water and energy subsidies, land cost as well as
environmental externalities in the form of carbon credit related to
greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction. The results showed
reverse osmosis (RO) coupled with photovoltaic technologies (PVs)
as the most promising configuration, robust across different prices for
Brent oil, discount rates, as well as different project lifetimes.
Environmental externalities and subsidies analysis revealed that a
16% reduction in existing subsidy on water tariffs would ensure
economic viability. Additionally, while land costs affect investment
attractiveness, the viability of RO coupled with PV remains possible
for a land purchase cost
Abstract: Steady three-dimensional and two free surface waves
generated by moving bodies are presented, the flow problem to be
simulated is rich in complexity and poses many modeling challenges
because of the existence of breaking waves around the ship hull, and
because of the interaction of the two-phase flow with the turbulent
boundary layer. The results of several simulations are reported. The
first study was performed for NACA0012 of hydrofoil with different
meshes, this section is analyzed at h/c= 1, 0345 for 2D. In the second
simulation a mathematically defined Wigley hull form is used to
investigate the application of a commercial CFD code in prediction of
the total resistance and its components from tangential and normal
forces on the hull wetted surface. The computed resistance and wave
profiles are used to estimate the coefficient of the total resistance for
Wigley hull advancing in calm water under steady conditions. The
commercial CFD software FLUENT version 12 is used for the
computations in the present study. The calculated grid is established
using the code computer GAMBIT 2.3.26. The shear stress k-ωSST
model is used for turbulence modeling and the volume of fluid
technique is employed to simulate the free-surface motion. The
second order upwind scheme is used for discretizing the convection
terms in the momentum transport equations, the Modified HRIC
scheme for VOF discretization. The results obtained compare well
with the experimental data.
Abstract: Current research is targeting new molecular
mechanisms that underlie non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)
and associated metabolic disorders like non-alcoholic steatohepatitis
(NASH). Forty New Zealand White rabbits have been used and fed a
high protein (HP) and energy diet based on grains and containing
11.76 MJ/kg. Boron added to 3 experimental groups’ drinking waters
(30 mg boron/L) as boron compounds. Biochemical analysis
including boron levels, and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) based
metabolomics evaluation, and mRNA expression of peroxisome
proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) family was performed. LDLcholesterol
concentrations alone were decreased in all the
experimental groups. Boron levels in serum and feces were increased.
Content of acetate was in about 2x higher for anhydrous borax group,
at least 3x higher for boric acid group. PPARα mRNA expression
was significantly decreased in boric acid group. Anhydrous borax
attenuated mRNA levels of PPARγ, which was further suppressed by
boric acid. Boron supplementation decreased the degenerative
alterations in hepatocytes. Except borax group other boron groups did
not have a pronounced change in tubular epithels of kidney. In
conclusion, high protein and energy diet leads hepatocytes’
degenerative changes which can be prevented by boron
supplementation. Boric acid seems to be more effective in this
situation.
Abstract: To mitigate the urban heat island effect has become a
global issue when we are faced with the challenge of climate change.
Through literature review, plant photosynthesis can reduce the carbon
dioxide and mitigate the urban heat island effect to a degree. Because
there are not enough open space and parks, green roof has become an
important policy in Taiwan.
We selected elementary school buildings in northern New Taipei
City as research subjects since elementary schools are asked with
priority to build green roof and important educational place to promote
green roof concept. Testo175-H1 recording device was used to record
the temperature and humidity differences between roof surface and
interior space below roof with and without green roof in the long-term.
We also use questionnaires to investigate the awareness of comfort
level of green roof and sensation of teachers and students of the
elementary schools.
The results indicated that the temperature of roof without greening
was higher than that with greening by about 2°C. But sometimes
during noontime, the temperature of green roof was higher than that of
non-green roof probably because of the character of the accumulation
and dissipation of heat of greening. The temperature of the interior
space below green roof was normally lower than that without green
roof by about 1°C, showing that green roof could lower the
temperature. The humidity of the green roof was higher than the one
without greening also indicated that green roof retained water better.
Teachers liked to combine green roof concept in the curriculum,
and students wished all classes can take turns to maintain the green
roof. Teachers and students whose school had integrated green roof
concept in the curriculum were more willing to participate in the
maintenance work of green roof. Teachers and students who may have
access to and touch the green roof can be more aware of the green roof
benefit. We suggest architects to increase the accessibility and
visibility of green roof, such as use it as a part of the activity space.
This idea can be a reference to the green roof curriculum design.
Abstract: Microbes have been used to solve environmental
problems for many years. The role of microorganism to sequester,
precipitate or alter the oxidation state of various heavy metals has
been extensively studied. Treatment using microorganism interacts
with toxic metal are very diverse. The purpose of this research is to
remove the mercury using Pseudomonas putida (P. putida), pure
culture ATTC 49128 at optimum growth parameters such as
techniques of culture, acclimatization time and speed of incubator
shaker. Thus, in this study, the optimum growth parameters of P.
putida were obtained to achieve the maximum of mercury removal.
Based on the optimum parameters of P. putida for specific growth
rate, the removal of two different mercury concentration, 1 ppm and
4 ppm were studied. From mercury nitrate solution, a mercuryresistant
bacterial strain which is able to reduce from ionic mercury
to metallic mercury was used to reduce ionic mercury. The overall
levels of mercury removal in this study were between 80% and 89%.
The information obtained in this study is of fundamental for
understanding of the survival of P. putida ATTC 49128 in mercury
solution. Thus, microbial mercury removal is a potential
bioremediation for wastewater especially in petrochemical industries
in Malaysia.
Abstract: In contrast with literal meaning of nano, researchers
have been achieved mega adventures in this area and every day more
nanomaterials are being introduced to the market. After long time
application of fossil-based plastics, nowadays accumulation of their
waste seems to be a big problem to the environment. On the other
hand, mankind has more attention to safety and living environment.
Replacing common plastic packaging materials with degradable ones
that degrade faster and convert to non-dangerous components like
water and carbon dioxide have more attractions; these new materials
are based on renewable and inexpensive sources of starch and
cellulose. However, the functional properties of them do not suitable
for packaging. At this point, nanotechnology has an important role.
Utilizing of nanomaterials in polymer structure will improve
mechanical and physical properties of them; nanocrystalline cellulose
(NCC) has this ability. This work has employed a chemical method to
produce NCC and starch bio nanocomposite containing NCC. X-Ray
Diffraction technique has characterized the obtained materials.
Results showed that applied method is a suitable one as well as
applicable one to NCC production.
Abstract: Any variation in environmental characteristics of
geomorphosites would lead to destabilisation of their geotouristic
values all around the planet. The Urmia lake, with an area of
approximately 5,500 km2 and a catchment area of 51,876 km2, and to
which various reasons over time, especially in the last fifty years
have seen a sharp decline and have decreased by about 93 % in two
recent decades. These variations are not only driving significant
changes in the morphology and ecology of the present lake
landscape, but at the same time are shaping newly formed
morphologies, which vanished some valuable geomorphosites or
develop into smaller geomorphosites with significant value from a
scientific and cultural point of view. This paper analyses and
discusses features and evolution in several representative coastal and
island geomorphosites. For this purpose, a total of 23 geomorphosites
were studied in two data series (1963 and 2015) and the respective
data were compared and analysed. The results showed, the total loss
in geomorphosites area in a half century amounted to a loss of more
than 90% of the valuable geomorphosites. Moreover, the comparison
between the mean yearly value of coastal area lost over the entire
period and the yearly average calculated for the shorter period (1998-
2014) clearly indicates a pattern of acceleration. This acceleration in
the rate of reduction in lake area was seen in most of the southern
half of the lake. In the region as well, the general water-level falling
is not only causing the loss of a significant water resource, which is
followed by major impact on regional ecosystems, but is also driving
the most marked recent (last century) changes in the geotouristic
landscapes. In fact, the disappearance of geomorphosites means the
loss of tourism phenomenon. In this context attention must be paid to
the question of conservation. The action needed to safeguard
geomorphosites includes: 1) Preventive action, 2) Corrective action,
and 3) Sharing knowledge.
Abstract: Water miscible cutting fluids are conventionally used to lubricate and cool the machining zone. But issues related to health hazards, maintenance and disposal costs have limited their usage, leading to application of Minimum Quantity Lubrication (MQL). To increase the effectiveness of MQL, nanocutting fluids are proposed. In the present work, water miscible nanographite cutting fluids of varying concentration are applied at cutting zone by two systems A and B. System A utilizes high pressure air and supplies cutting fluid at a flow rate of 1ml/min. System B uses low pressure air and supplies cutting fluid at a flow rate of 5ml/min. Their performance in machining is evaluated by measuring cutting temperatures, tool wear, cutting forces and surface roughness and compared with dry machining and flood machining. Application of nanocutting fluid using both systems showed better performance than dry machining. Cutting temperatures and cutting forces obtained by both techniques are more than flood machining. But tool wear and surface roughness showed improvement compared to flood machining. Economic analysis has been carried out in all the cases to decide the applicability of the techniques.