Algerian Journal of Engineering and Technology

A Experimental investigation and artificial intelligence modeling of stability of Agbabu Bitumen Emulsion using green-based surfactant

Thu, 09 Jan 2025 20:06:27 +0100

One of the challenges that affected the optimal utilization of 42.47 billion tons of natural bitumen deposit in Nigeria is its high viscosity and high pumping cost in current state. This research investigated the possibility of reducing viscosity of Agbabu Bitumen (AB) through formation of emulsion using plant sourced surfactant solution. AB Emulsion (ABE) was prepared by homogenizing 60 vol. % of bitumen and 40 vol. % of water in the presence of surfactant solution extracted from Sanya root bark (surfactant solution was varied with respect to the volume of aqueous phase). Effect of increase in volume of extract, pH and salinity of extract was tested on the stability of the prepared emulsion. Emulsification Stability Index (ESI) was computed for all ABE prepared. Viscosity, pour, flash and fire point were determined for the emulsion formed while further analysis were conducted on the emulsion using Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX) and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The surfactant solution extracted ABE prepared from AB and water which was enhanced in alkaline solution, a 64% reduction in viscosity was recorded in emulsion prepared, and the pour point of emulsion drastically reduced when compared with that of AB.

Effect of Using Recycled Fine Aggregate on Concrete Performance

arshd Y. Ismail, Ashtar S Al-Luhybi, Khalaf I. Mohammad — Sat, 28 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0100

The practical use of recycled aggregate produced from crushing concrete waste in the production of new concrete reduces the consumption of natural aggregate and also reduces the amount of concrete waste that ends up in landfills. This study addresses the properties of concrete containing recycled fine aggregate (RFA) obtained from existing waste in Mosul. Four sets of concrete mixtures with different compressive strength (25, 30, 35 and 40MPa) were prepared, and for each strength, the effect of changing the replacement ratios of natural fine aggregate with recycled fine aggregate was studied, where four different ratios (0, 10, 20, 30)% of recycled fine aggregate (RFA) were adopted. The focus was on the compressive strength of concrete containing recycled fine aggregate due to the importance of this property as an indicator of concrete feature and the main determinant of its quality and the most important factor in design. The results showed a gradual decrease in the fresh properties of concrete containing recycled fine aggregate, such as slump and fresh density, as the proportion of recycled aggregate increased. However, there was an improvement in the compressive strength of the concrete mixes. Based on the practical results, equations were derived to predict the compressive strength of concrete containing recycled fine aggregate. According to the theoretical results obtained through analysis of variance (ANOVA), it was found that adding recycled fine aggregate at a rate of 20% is considered the best proportion, although the change in compressive strength is not significant.

Effect of Guinea Corn Husk Ash (GCHA) on the compressive strength and water absorption of mortar

Sikiru Abdulganiyu Siyanbola — Sat, 28 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0100

In this research work, the weight loss, compressive strength, and water absorption of samples of cured mortar are measured to assess the effects of adding a 2% increment of GCHA content into the mortar mixture as a partial replacement of cement to determine how this addition affects the strength and other physical properties of the mortar samples produced. Compressive strength, slump, and water absorption tests were conducted according to BS EN 12390-3 (2009), BS EN 12350-2 (2009), and BS 1881-122 (2011) respectively. The results show that adding GCHA into mortar mix improves the mortar's strength up to 4% replacement level before it starts to decline. Moreover, adding more GCHA to mortar increases the mortar slump and water absorbance while density decreases. In addition, the study also reveals that GCHA-containing mortar is easier to handle than the control sample. These findings collectively support the potential of incorporating agricultural waste material in construction practices to achieve environmentally sustainable and durable building materials.

Neutron irradiation effect on dielectic loss of bi-stretched polyethylene naphthalate

Sat, 28 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0100

In the present work, the study of the evolution of the β^∗ process in both pristine and neutron irradiated bi-stretched polyethylene naphthalate films, is realized at a constant temperature and in the frequencies domain comprised between 10² and 10⁶ Hz by using the impedance spectroscopy technique. The results show the presence of dielectric loss peak determined in 10⁵ to 10⁶Hz frequency range, where the shape, position and the intensity are affected by morphological damage due to the large quantity of neutron beam energy transferred to the polymeric molecules that were highlighted by different structural analysis such as the Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and the polarized light optical microscopy (PLOM). At room temperature, the FTIR technique showed an increase in the quantity of the carbonyl and naphthalene groups responsible of the presence of the Sub-Tg dielectric relaxation in the volume of the irradiated BSPEN (IR-BSPEN) film due to the amorphization phenomena traduced, respectively, by the absence and presence of the absorption bands characteristics of crystalline and amorphous phases. The PLOM characterization, revealed change in the texture of the IR-BSPEN surface indicating by the appearance of microcracks which contribute to the oxidation of macromolecular chains. The study of the effect of temperature on the dielectric behavior of non irradiated BSPEN film, in β^∗ region, showed that the dielectric parameters such as the maximum of dielectric losses and its position are thermally activated. This dielectric response has not identified in the case of irradiated BSPEN film, for which the evolution of losses with temperature change above T = 333K.

A Simulation and Analysis of I(V) and P(V) Characteristics of a Photovoltaic module under MATLAB/SIMULINK Connected to the Electrical Grid

Anouar benhaimoura, Aissa Souli — Sat, 28 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0100

The objective of our work is the simulation and analysis of the I(V) and P(V) characteristics of a photovoltaic module under MATLAB/SIMULINK connected to the electrical network. To achieve this goal, we followed the following steps: At the start of work; we performed a simulation of a photovoltaic cell (photovoltaic module). By two methods: by simulation of the mathematical data of the model of a photovoltaic module inspired by the electrical diagram of a photovoltaic cell, by the use of the mathematical equations of: inverse saturation current, saturation current, photonic current, current of the shunt resistance, and the output current to create from each equation a model in MATLAB/SIMULINK, then we collect and connect these models according to the mathematical equation to obtain the final model of the output current of a photovoltaic module, and on the other hand by simulation through the model of the solar cell which exists in the SIMULINK library by checking the data of each box coming from this source. then we showed the Simulation of the BOOST converter with MPPT, and we presented the functional diagram of the PV generator and the BOOST converter with MPPT under MATLAB/SIMULINK, In the same context, we showed the voltage curve at the output of the command MMPT in MATLAB, the current curve at the output of the chopper booster, the curve of the voltage measured at the converter, the curve of the current measured at the converter, the curves of the phase currents of the network and the reference current, and the curve of PV generator power and Pmpp power At the end of the work, we connected this photovoltaic module to an electrical network, to see the impact of our network on the photovoltaic module and vice versa. Finally we explained and interpreted the results obtained according to our points of view.