This article presents an innovative method of bio-mediated soil improvement for increasing the shear strength of loose sand.The improvement is realized by mixing the loose sand with the inoculum of Rhizopus oligosporu...This article presents an innovative method of bio-mediated soil improvement for increasing the shear strength of loose sand.The improvement is realized by mixing the loose sand with the inoculum of Rhizopus oligosporus,a kind of fungus widely used in food industry for making Indonesian tempeh.The objective of this article is to investigate the performance and mechanism of mixing tempeh inoculum as a binding agent of loose sand particles.The inoculum dosage,water content of loose sand,and curing time were examined for identifying the increment of unconfined compressive strength(q_u)of the samples.The results showed that q_u of the treated samples increased when the inoculum dosage was elevated.It shows that 5.24%inoculum could yield 68 kPa of q_u,and 5%water content and 3 d curing time produced the maximum q_u.Moreover,the mechanism of hypha and mycelium in binding the soil particles was clearly observed using a digital microscope and scanning electron microscope.展开更多
Civil infrastructure is continuously subject to aging and deterioration due to multiple factors,which lead to a decline in performance and impact structural health.Accumulated damage on structures increases operationa...Civil infrastructure is continuously subject to aging and deterioration due to multiple factors,which lead to a decline in performance and impact structural health.Accumulated damage on structures increases operational costs and poses significant risks to public safety.Effective maintenance,repair,and rehabilitation strategies are needed to ensure civil infrastructure’s overall safety and reliability.Non-Destructive Evaluation(NDE)methods are utilized to assess latent damage and provide decision-makers with real-time information for mitigating hazards.Within the last decade,there has been a significant increase in the research and development of innovative NDE techniques to improve data processing and promote efficient and accurate infrastructure assessment.This paper aims to review one of those methods,namely,Infrared Thermography(IRT),and its applications in civil infrastructure.A comprehensive review is presented by investigating numerous journal articles,research papers,and technical reports describing numerous IRT applications for bridges,buildings,and general civil structures made from different materials.The capability of IRT to identify and pinpoint anomalies,typically in the early stages of degradation,has excellent potential to improve the safety and shore up the dependability of civil infrastructures while reducing expenses tied to maintenance and rehabilitation.Furthermore,the non-invasive nature of IRT is beneficial in mitigating disturbances and downtime that may occur during various inspection procedures.It is highlighted that IRT is a highly versatile and effective tool for infrastructure condition assessment.With further advancement and fine-tuning of the available techniques,it is likely that IRT will continue to gain significant popularity in maintaining and monitoring civil infrastructure.展开更多
We investigated the effects of fly ash(FA)content on the mechanical properties of recycled aggregate concrete(RAC)and its regeneration potential under freeze and thaw(F-T)cycles.The physical properties of second-gener...We investigated the effects of fly ash(FA)content on the mechanical properties of recycled aggregate concrete(RAC)and its regeneration potential under freeze and thaw(F-T)cycles.The physical properties of second-generation recycled concrete aggregates(RCA)were used to analyze the regeneration potential of RAC after F-T cycles.Scanning electron microscopy was used to study the interfacial transition zone microstructure of RAC after F-T cycles.Results showed that adding 20%FA to RAC significantly enhanced its mechanical properties and frost resistance.Before the F-T cycles,the compressive strength of RAC with 20%FA reached 48.3 MPa,exceeding research strength target of 40 MPa.A majority of second-generation RCA with FA had been verified to attain class Ⅲ,which enabled their practical application in non-structural projects such as backfill trenches and road pavement.However,the second-generation RCA with 20%FA can achieve class Ⅱ,making it ideal for 40 MPa structural concrete.展开更多
An image processing and deep learning method for identifying different types of rock images was proposed.Preprocessing,such as rock image acquisition,gray scaling,Gaussian blurring,and feature dimensionality reduction...An image processing and deep learning method for identifying different types of rock images was proposed.Preprocessing,such as rock image acquisition,gray scaling,Gaussian blurring,and feature dimensionality reduction,was conducted to extract useful feature information and recognize and classify rock images using Tensor Flow-based convolutional neural network(CNN)and Py Qt5.A rock image dataset was established and separated into workouts,confirmation sets,and test sets.The framework was subsequently compiled and trained.The categorization approach was evaluated using image data from the validation and test datasets,and key metrics,such as accuracy,precision,and recall,were analyzed.Finally,the classification model conducted a probabilistic analysis of the measured data to determine the equivalent lithological type for each image.The experimental results indicated that the method combining deep learning,Tensor Flow-based CNN,and Py Qt5 to recognize and classify rock images has an accuracy rate of up to 98.8%,and can be successfully utilized for rock image recognition.The system can be extended to geological exploration,mine engineering,and other rock and mineral resource development to more efficiently and accurately recognize rock samples.Moreover,it can match them with the intelligent support design system to effectively improve the reliability and economy of the support scheme.The system can serve as a reference for supporting the design of other mining and underground space projects.展开更多
Photocatalytic oxygen reduction provides a sustainable method for on-site hydrogen peroxide(H_(2)O_(2))synthesis.However,most photocatalysts suffer from moderate kinetics due to sluggish electron transfer and ineffici...Photocatalytic oxygen reduction provides a sustainable method for on-site hydrogen peroxide(H_(2)O_(2))synthesis.However,most photocatalysts suffer from moderate kinetics due to sluggish electron transfer and inefficient oxygen adsorption and activation.Herein,sodium(Na)and potassium(K)are co-incorporated into graphitic carbon nitride(g-C_(3)N_(4))via a stepwise co-doping strategy combining sodium chloride-induced and molten salt-assisted polymerization.Experimental results and density functional theory calculations demonstrate that the synergistic interaction between intralayer Na+ions and interlayer K^(+)ions facilitates charge carrier separation and migration both within and between g-C_(3)N_(4)layers.Additionally,multiple heteroatom sites enhance surface charge polarization and introduce cyano groups,which synergistically promote oxygen molecule(O_(2))adsorption and elevate local proton coverage.Simultaneously,the energy barrier for H_(2)O_(2)desorption on the optimal photocatalyst(5Na/3.3K-CN)is lowered,thus improving H_(2)O_(2)production efficiency.Eventually,5Na/3.3K-CN exhibits an impressive H_(2)O_(2)yield of 2541.6μmol·g^(-1)·h^(-1) in an artificial reactor,which is 10.6 times higher than that of pure g-C_(3)N_(4)(240.2μmol·g^(-1)·h^(-1)).Under natural sunlight outdoors,5Na/3.3K-CN still maintains ultrahigh H_(2)O_(2)photosynthesis efficiency,achieving an H_(2)O_(2)photosynthesis rate of 2068.7μmol·g^(-1)·h^(-1).This work introduces a straightforward method to simultaneously optimize charge transfer and O_(2)activation for boosting H_(2)O_(2)photosynthesis,offering valuable insights toward the real-world deployment of g-C_(3)N_(4)-based photocatalysts in environmental protection and energy conversion.展开更多
To elucidate the dispersion and explosion characteristics of multi-metal powder and liquid composite fuel formulations,high-energy metal powders(aluminum(Al),boron(B),and magnesium hydride(MgH_(2)))are incorporated in...To elucidate the dispersion and explosion characteristics of multi-metal powder and liquid composite fuel formulations,high-energy metal powders(aluminum(Al),boron(B),and magnesium hydride(MgH_(2)))are incorporated into a liquid fuel primarily composed of diethyl ether(DEE)and isopropyl nitrate(IPN).The explosion characteristics of different solid-liquid fuel-air-explosive(FAE)under unconfined conditions are investigated using a high-speed camera,infrared thermal imaging,and a pressure measurement system.Results demonstrate that high-energy metal powders significantly enhance detonation energy dissipation,with aluminum exhibiting the most pronounced effect.Fuel 5#(45.4 wt%DEE,9.2 wt%IPN,29.5 wt%Al,9.1 wt%B,6.8 wt%MgH_(2))exhibits superior explosion performance,achieving higher values of overpressure,impulse,and thermal radiation damage during the detonation stage compared to other fuels.However,Fuel 5#also displays faster decay rates,attributed to accelerated heat release rates induced by B and MgH_(2)powders.This study reveals that different metal powders in solid-liquid FAE exhibit distinct enhancements in explosion performance,providing critical insights for optimizing composite fuel design.展开更多
Semi-active dampers are used in base-isolation to reduce the seismic response of civil engineering structures. In the present study, a new semi-active damping system using variable amplification will be investigated f...Semi-active dampers are used in base-isolation to reduce the seismic response of civil engineering structures. In the present study, a new semi-active damping system using variable amplification will be investigated for adaptive baseisolation. It uses a novel variable amplification device （VAD） connected in series with a passive damper. The VAD is capable of producing multiple amplification factors, each corresponding to a different amplification state. Forces from the damper are amplified to the structure according to the current amplification state, which is selected via a semi-active control algorithm specifically tailored to the system＇s tmique damping characteristics. To demonstrate the effectiveness of the VAD-damper system for adaptive base-isolation, numerical simulations are conducted for three and seven-story base-isolated buildings subject to both far and near-field ground motions. The results indicate that the system can achieve significant reductions in response compared to the base-isolated buildings with no damper. The proposed system is also found to perform well compared to a typical semi-active damper.展开更多
Using the knowledge obtained from previous courses such as:soil mechanics,structural analysis,steel design,etc.,a team of seven students at California State University,Northridge(CSUN)designed a two-story residential ...Using the knowledge obtained from previous courses such as:soil mechanics,structural analysis,steel design,etc.,a team of seven students at California State University,Northridge(CSUN)designed a two-story residential steel house for their senior design course.The home was chosen to be located in the city of Pacific Palisades,California.The following paper outlines the design of the home ranging from the architectural plans to the beam,column,and foundation design.California is known to be seismically active,therefore,seismic loading played a large factor into the design of the house.Once the design of the house was completed,a cost estimate of the house was prepared using the estimating platform RSMeans.Additionally,a second estimate of the home was also completed with the addition of LEED(Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)features such as solar panels,LED lighting,and energy star appliances that make the home environmentally friendly and will give the owner a greater return on their investment in the future.展开更多
Public construction project data were analyzed to develop models for the actual construction duration and actual cost. Based on 50 civil engineering projects in Libya from the database of the Great Man-Made River Syst...Public construction project data were analyzed to develop models for the actual construction duration and actual cost. Based on 50 civil engineering projects in Libya from the database of the Great Man-Made River System 1992-2009, the models identified extension as a main factor that affecting both the actual duration and cost of a project, while considering the contract cost and contract duration as fixed for the project. The suitability of each model was confirmed by examining RMSE (root mean squared error), NSE (Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency), and MEF (modeling efficiency factor). The models were validated with data from 17 different projects. The validation of both models demonstrated that models are very practical and accurate. The models are very effective in capturing the uniqueness of Libyan construction industry practice.展开更多
The present researched topic was conceived from a senior design course for Civil Engineering students at CSUN (California State University), Northridge. In this work, experimental trials were performed and compared to...The present researched topic was conceived from a senior design course for Civil Engineering students at CSUN (California State University), Northridge. In this work, experimental trials were performed and compared to establish theoretical values of the discharge coefficient. The discharge coefficient is a dimensionless number used to characterize the flow and pressure loss behavior of nozzles and orifices in fluid systems. A group of low-income undergraduate students with diverse backgrounds designed multiple 3D printed orifices where each 3D printed orifice had a specific shape. Utilizing the methods of technical problem solving, the undergraduates found experimental discharge coefficient values for the following orifices: borda, short-tubed, and sharp-edged. Implementing ethics of engineering practice and utilizing university resources, this study is a representation of the collaborative work of minorities and females that want to expand their knowledge within their respective discipline of Civil Engineering.展开更多
One of the big problems of the urban centres of the cities in Brazil is the growth of the generation of the Civil Construction Waste （CCW）. A disturbing concern for the public and private sectors is to find proper d...One of the big problems of the urban centres of the cities in Brazil is the growth of the generation of the Civil Construction Waste （CCW）. A disturbing concern for the public and private sectors is to find proper disposal of Urban Solid Waste （USW） in large cities, since suitable dumping sites for this waste are increasingly scarce due to the spread and development of large urban centres. In general, recycling is currently one of the procedures most studied by researchers for disposal of such waste. In this context and aiming a new application for recycled CCW aggregates, the research characterized the physical properties of the material to use in fill compaction piles in soil improvement. The analysis shows results from laboratorial tests executed in CCW recycled samples, which came from works in different construction stages from Recife-PE, and natural aggregate, adopted as a reference. Characterization tests were performed with samples CCW recycled CLue aggregates and samples of natural fine aggregate （stone powder）. The results of characterization tests showed similarities between the CCW samples tested and the reference samples, indicating that the civil construction wastes has potcntial use as material for consolidation piles in foundation works.展开更多
The vast production of CCW （Civil Construction Waste） has caused socio-environmental concern as a result of the exploration of natural resources, clandestine disposal and proliferation of vector-borne diseases, for ...The vast production of CCW （Civil Construction Waste） has caused socio-environmental concern as a result of the exploration of natural resources, clandestine disposal and proliferation of vector-borne diseases, for example. It now gives priority to non-generation, reduction and recycling of CCW. This study, therefore, seeks an alternative for CCW by comparing the physical and mechanical characteristics, both in laboratory and onsite, of the recycled CCW aggregate and natural aggregate （stone powder）, commonly used in the composition of compaction piles for improving soils in foundation works in the city of Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil. All results showed similar behaviours among the investigated samples （CCW recycled and natural）, confirming the satisfactory performance of the investigated CCW material.展开更多
Located downstream the Kupang Catchment in Indonesia,Pekalongan faces significant land subsidence issues,leading to severe coastal flooding.This study aimed to assess the impact of climate change on future flow regime...Located downstream the Kupang Catchment in Indonesia,Pekalongan faces significant land subsidence issues,leading to severe coastal flooding.This study aimed to assess the impact of climate change on future flow regimes and hydrological extremes to inform long-term water resources management strategies for the Kupang Catchment.Utilizing precipitation and air temperature data from general circulation models in the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project 6(CMIP6)and employing bias correction techniques,the Soil and Water Assessment Tool(SWAT)hydrological model was employed to analyze climate-induced changes in hydrological fluxes,specifically streamflow.Results indicated a consistent increase in monthly streamflow during the wet season,with a substantial rise of 22.8%,alongside a slight decrease of 18.0%during the dry season.Moreover,both the frequency and severity of extremely low and high flows were projected to intensify by approximately 50%and 70%,respectively,for a 20-year return period,suggesting heightened flood and drought risks in the future.The observed declining trend in low flow,by up to 11%,indicated the potential for long-term groundwater depletion exacerbating the threat of land subsidence and coastal flooding,especially in areas with inadequate surface water management policies and infrastructure.展开更多
Approximately 3.44 billion tons of copper mine tailings(MT)were produced globally in 2018 with an increase of 45%from 2010.Significant efforts are being made to manage these tailings through storage facilities,recycli...Approximately 3.44 billion tons of copper mine tailings(MT)were produced globally in 2018 with an increase of 45%from 2010.Significant efforts are being made to manage these tailings through storage facilities,recycling,and reuse in different industries.Currently,a large portion of tailings are managed through the tailing storage facilities(TSF)where these tailings undergo hydro-thermal-mechanical stresses with seasonal cycles which are not comprehensively understood.This study presents an investigative study to evaluate the performance of control and cement-stabilized copper MT under the influence of seasonal cycles,freeze-thaw(F-T)and wet-dry(W-D)conditions,representing the seasonal variability in the cold and arid regions.The control and cement-stabilized MT samples were subjected to a maximum of 12 F-T and 12 W-D cycles and corresponding micro-and-macro behavior was investigated through scanning electron microscope(SEM),volumetric strain(εvT,wet density(r),moisture content loss,and unconfined compressive strength(UCS)tests.The results indicated the vulnerability of Copper MT to 67%and 75%strength loss reaching residual states with 12 F-T and 8 W-D cycles,respectively.Whereas the stabilized MT retained 39%-55%and 16%-34%strength with F-T and W-D cycles,demonstrating increased durability.This research highlights the impact of seasonal cycles and corresponding strength-deformation characteristics of control and stabilized Copper MT in cold and arid regions.展开更多
Open caissons are widely used in foundation engineering because of their load-bearing efficiency and adaptability in diverse soil conditions.However,accurately predicting their undrained bearing capacity in layered so...Open caissons are widely used in foundation engineering because of their load-bearing efficiency and adaptability in diverse soil conditions.However,accurately predicting their undrained bearing capacity in layered soils remains a complex challenge.This study presents a novel application of five ensemble machine(ML)algorithms-random forest(RF),gradient boosting machine(GBM),extreme gradient boosting(XGBoost),adaptive boosting(AdaBoost),and categorical boosting(CatBoost)-to predict the undrained bearing capacity factor(Nc)of circular open caissons embedded in two-layered clay on the basis of results from finite element limit analysis(FELA).The input dataset consists of 1188 numerical simulations using the Tresca failure criterion,varying in geometrical and soil parameters.The FELA was performed via OptumG2 software with adaptive meshing techniques and verified against existing benchmark studies.The ML models were trained on 70% of the dataset and tested on the remaining 30%.Their performance was evaluated using six statistical metrics:coefficient of determination(R²),mean absolute error(MAE),root mean squared error(RMSE),index of scatter(IOS),RMSE-to-standard deviation ratio(RSR),and variance explained factor(VAF).The results indicate that all the models achieved high accuracy,with R²values exceeding 97.6%and RMSE values below 0.02.Among them,AdaBoost and CatBoost consistently outperformed the other methods across both the training and testing datasets,demonstrating superior generalizability and robustness.The proposed ML framework offers an efficient,accurate,and data-driven alternative to traditional methods for estimating caisson capacity in stratified soils.This approach can aid in reducing computational costs while improving reliability in the early stages of foundation design.展开更多
This paper presents the partial results of a project in progress that aims to improve the teaching and learning of Graphic Geometry modules taught in Engineering and Civil Engineering courses at the Federal University...This paper presents the partial results of a project in progress that aims to improve the teaching and learning of Graphic Geometry modules taught in Engineering and Civil Engineering courses at the Federal University of Pernambuco through the development of education methodologies and content integration of these disciplines using computational technologies. This study covers and analyzes the contents of Tridimensional Graphic Geometry, Technical Drawing 3 and Descriptive Geometry in the BSc course in Civil Engineering, in order to create an integrated assessment model across these disciplines from the use of specific computer graphic softwares. It is proposed to use computer graphic for： （i） concept formation, （ii） completing and/or reviewing the content, （iii） creation of a database with virtual geometric models and their applications in Engineering and for the studies of their representations, geometric properties, etc., providing digital images of everyday forms and objects. In order to begin the diagnosis of the current situation, we gave an open questionnaire to 65 students from the 16 groups of three-dimensional graphical geometry, 20 students from the two courses in Technical Drawing 3 and 35 students from the three Descriptive Geometry classes. The analysis of the data suggests that students better understand the two-dimensional representations of three-dimensional models through their modeling with the computer graphics software used, and the association of abstract concepts with concrete content. From the analysis of the data we can verify that when our students enter the foundation Engineering courses, the main difficulty in the disciplines of drawing is the three-dimensional visualization. The hypothesis is that the student will better understand the two-dimensional representations of three-dimensional models through their modeling with the computer graphic software used and the association of abstract concepts with concrete content.展开更多
One of the pathways to attain NET ZERO is CO_(2)injection into deep saline aquifers(DSAs),which alters the saturation and pore pressure of the reservoir rocks,hence the effective stress,sʹ.This,in turn,would change th...One of the pathways to attain NET ZERO is CO_(2)injection into deep saline aquifers(DSAs),which alters the saturation and pore pressure of the reservoir rocks,hence the effective stress,sʹ.This,in turn,would change their geomechanical(i.e.peak deviatoric stress,elastic modulus,Poisson's ratio)and petrophysical(porosity and permeability)properties.Such a situation might trigger geo-hazards,like induced seismicity,ground deformation,caprock failure.Hence,reducing the risk of such hazards necessitates quantifying the spatial and temporal changes in sʹ,under specific CO_(2)and/or brine saturation,designated as S_(CO2)and S_(b),respectively,and resultant pore pressure.With this in view,a conceptual model depicting the reservoir,demarcated by five zones based on variations in saturation,pore-pressure,temperature,etc.,and the corresponding effective stress equations have been proposed based on the available literature.Furthermore,a critical review of literature has been carried out to decipher the limitations and contradictions associated with the findings from(i)laboratory studies to estimate S_(CO2)employing pwave velocity and electrical resistivity,(ii)analytical and numerical approaches for estimating the variation of pore-pressure in the reservoir rocks,and(iii)laboratory studies on variation in geomechanical and petrophysical properties under the conditions representative of the above-mentioned zones of the conceptual model.The authors consider that extensive experiments should be conducted on the rocks from different sources and tested under various conditions of the CO_(2)injection to validate the proposed model for the execution of risk-free CO_(2)storage in DSAs.展开更多
To tackle the issue of notch frequency and center frequency drift of the L(0,1)mode guided wave in ultra⁃sonic guided wave⁃based stress monitoring of prestressed steel strands,a method using higher⁃order mode plateau ...To tackle the issue of notch frequency and center frequency drift of the L(0,1)mode guided wave in ultra⁃sonic guided wave⁃based stress monitoring of prestressed steel strands,a method using higher⁃order mode plateau fre⁃quencies is adopted.First,the correlation between group velocity peaks and phase velocities at these plateau frequen⁃cies is analyzed.This analysis establishes a quantitative rela⁃tionship between phase velocity and stress in the steel strand,providing a theoretical foundation for stress monitor⁃ing.Then the two⁃dimensional Fourier transform is em⁃ployed to separate wave modes.Dynamic programming techniques are applied in the frequency⁃velocity domain to extract higher⁃order modes.By identifying the group veloc⁃ity peaks of these separated higher⁃order modes,the plateau frequencies of guided waves are determined,enabling indi⁃rect measurement of stress in the steel strand.To validate this method,finite element simulations are conducted under three scenarios.Results show that the higher⁃order modes of transient signals from three different positions can be ac⁃curately extracted,leading to successful cable stress moni⁃toring.This approach effectively circumvents the issue of guided wave frequency drift and improves stress monitoring accuracy.Consequently,it significantly improves the appli⁃cation of ultrasonic guided wave technology in structural health monitoring.展开更多
This study investigates the innovative reuse of sewage sludge with eco-friendly alkaline solutes to improve clayey soil without conventional cementitious binders.The unconfined compressive strength(UCS)was the main cr...This study investigates the innovative reuse of sewage sludge with eco-friendly alkaline solutes to improve clayey soil without conventional cementitious binders.The unconfined compressive strength(UCS)was the main criterion to assess the quality and effectiveness of the proposed solutions,as this test was performed to measure the strength of the stabilized clay by varying binders’dosages and curing times.Moreover,the direct shear test(DST)was used to investigate the Mohr-Coulomb parameters of the treated soil.Microstructure observations of the natural and treated soil were conducted using scanning electron microscope(SEM),energy-dispersive spectroscopy(EDS),and FTIR.Furthermore,toxicity characteristic leaching procedure(TCLP)tests were performed on the treated soil to investigate the leachability of metals.According to the results,using 2.5%of sewage sludge activated by NaOH and Na_(2)SiO_(3)increases the UCS values from 176 kPa to 1.46 MPa after 7 d and 56 d of curing,respectively.The results of the DST indicate that sewage sludge as a precursor increases cohesion and enhances frictional resistance,thereby improving the Mohr-Coulomb parameters of the stabilized soil.The SEM micrographs show that alkali-activated sewage sludge increases the integrity and reduces the cavity volumes in the stabilized soil.Moreover,TCLP tests revealed that the solubility of metals in the treated soil alkaliactivated by sewage sludge significantly decreased.This study suggests that using sewage sludge can replace cement and lime in ground improvement,improve the circular economy,and reduce the carbon footprint of construction projects.展开更多
This paper investigated the use of magnesium phosphate cement (MPC) for solidifying sludge with different humic acid (HA) content (ranging from 0 to 4.5%) and explored the solidification mechanism. Fluidity, setting t...This paper investigated the use of magnesium phosphate cement (MPC) for solidifying sludge with different humic acid (HA) content (ranging from 0 to 4.5%) and explored the solidification mechanism. Fluidity, setting time, unconfined compressive strength (UCS), the strength formation mechanism, and the spontaneous imbibition process of solidified sludge (SS) were studied. The results indicate that MPC can be used as a low-alkalinity curing agent. As the HA content increases, fluidity and setting time also increase, while hydration temperature and strength decrease. Additionally, the failure mode of SS transitions from brittleness to ductility. The strength of SS is composed of the cementation strength provided by MPC hydration products, matric suction, osmotic suction, and the structural strength of the sludge. MPC reduces the structural strength caused by the shrinkage of pure sludge under the action of matric suction, but the incorporation of MPC significantly improved the strength when the sludge is eroded by water. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) show that the sludge and MPC can form a dense solid body, forming various hydration products, and synergistically improve the mechanical properties of the sludge.展开更多
基金the research funding provided by Ikatan Alumni Teknik Sipil(IATS)UnparUniversitas Katolik Parahyangan.
文摘This article presents an innovative method of bio-mediated soil improvement for increasing the shear strength of loose sand.The improvement is realized by mixing the loose sand with the inoculum of Rhizopus oligosporus,a kind of fungus widely used in food industry for making Indonesian tempeh.The objective of this article is to investigate the performance and mechanism of mixing tempeh inoculum as a binding agent of loose sand particles.The inoculum dosage,water content of loose sand,and curing time were examined for identifying the increment of unconfined compressive strength(q_u)of the samples.The results showed that q_u of the treated samples increased when the inoculum dosage was elevated.It shows that 5.24%inoculum could yield 68 kPa of q_u,and 5%water content and 3 d curing time produced the maximum q_u.Moreover,the mechanism of hypha and mycelium in binding the soil particles was clearly observed using a digital microscope and scanning electron microscope.
文摘Civil infrastructure is continuously subject to aging and deterioration due to multiple factors,which lead to a decline in performance and impact structural health.Accumulated damage on structures increases operational costs and poses significant risks to public safety.Effective maintenance,repair,and rehabilitation strategies are needed to ensure civil infrastructure’s overall safety and reliability.Non-Destructive Evaluation(NDE)methods are utilized to assess latent damage and provide decision-makers with real-time information for mitigating hazards.Within the last decade,there has been a significant increase in the research and development of innovative NDE techniques to improve data processing and promote efficient and accurate infrastructure assessment.This paper aims to review one of those methods,namely,Infrared Thermography(IRT),and its applications in civil infrastructure.A comprehensive review is presented by investigating numerous journal articles,research papers,and technical reports describing numerous IRT applications for bridges,buildings,and general civil structures made from different materials.The capability of IRT to identify and pinpoint anomalies,typically in the early stages of degradation,has excellent potential to improve the safety and shore up the dependability of civil infrastructures while reducing expenses tied to maintenance and rehabilitation.Furthermore,the non-invasive nature of IRT is beneficial in mitigating disturbances and downtime that may occur during various inspection procedures.It is highlighted that IRT is a highly versatile and effective tool for infrastructure condition assessment.With further advancement and fine-tuning of the available techniques,it is likely that IRT will continue to gain significant popularity in maintaining and monitoring civil infrastructure.
基金Funded by the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province(No.BK20220626)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.52078068)+2 种基金Science and Technology Innovation Foundation of NIT(No.KCTD006)Jiangsu Marine Structure Service Performance Improvement Engineering Research CenterKey Laboratory of Jiangsu"Marine Floating Wind Power Technology and Equipment"。
文摘We investigated the effects of fly ash(FA)content on the mechanical properties of recycled aggregate concrete(RAC)and its regeneration potential under freeze and thaw(F-T)cycles.The physical properties of second-generation recycled concrete aggregates(RCA)were used to analyze the regeneration potential of RAC after F-T cycles.Scanning electron microscopy was used to study the interfacial transition zone microstructure of RAC after F-T cycles.Results showed that adding 20%FA to RAC significantly enhanced its mechanical properties and frost resistance.Before the F-T cycles,the compressive strength of RAC with 20%FA reached 48.3 MPa,exceeding research strength target of 40 MPa.A majority of second-generation RCA with FA had been verified to attain class Ⅲ,which enabled their practical application in non-structural projects such as backfill trenches and road pavement.However,the second-generation RCA with 20%FA can achieve class Ⅱ,making it ideal for 40 MPa structural concrete.
基金financially supported by the National Science and Technology Major Project——Deep Earth Probe and Mineral Resources Exploration(No.2024ZD1003701)the National Key R&D Program of China(No.2022YFC2905004)。
文摘An image processing and deep learning method for identifying different types of rock images was proposed.Preprocessing,such as rock image acquisition,gray scaling,Gaussian blurring,and feature dimensionality reduction,was conducted to extract useful feature information and recognize and classify rock images using Tensor Flow-based convolutional neural network(CNN)and Py Qt5.A rock image dataset was established and separated into workouts,confirmation sets,and test sets.The framework was subsequently compiled and trained.The categorization approach was evaluated using image data from the validation and test datasets,and key metrics,such as accuracy,precision,and recall,were analyzed.Finally,the classification model conducted a probabilistic analysis of the measured data to determine the equivalent lithological type for each image.The experimental results indicated that the method combining deep learning,Tensor Flow-based CNN,and Py Qt5 to recognize and classify rock images has an accuracy rate of up to 98.8%,and can be successfully utilized for rock image recognition.The system can be extended to geological exploration,mine engineering,and other rock and mineral resource development to more efficiently and accurately recognize rock samples.Moreover,it can match them with the intelligent support design system to effectively improve the reliability and economy of the support scheme.The system can serve as a reference for supporting the design of other mining and underground space projects.
基金supported by the Program for New Century Talents in University(No.NCET-11-0951)from the Ministry of Education of ChinaKey Laboratory Project Fund of CAS(No.2005DP173065-2016-04).
文摘Photocatalytic oxygen reduction provides a sustainable method for on-site hydrogen peroxide(H_(2)O_(2))synthesis.However,most photocatalysts suffer from moderate kinetics due to sluggish electron transfer and inefficient oxygen adsorption and activation.Herein,sodium(Na)and potassium(K)are co-incorporated into graphitic carbon nitride(g-C_(3)N_(4))via a stepwise co-doping strategy combining sodium chloride-induced and molten salt-assisted polymerization.Experimental results and density functional theory calculations demonstrate that the synergistic interaction between intralayer Na+ions and interlayer K^(+)ions facilitates charge carrier separation and migration both within and between g-C_(3)N_(4)layers.Additionally,multiple heteroatom sites enhance surface charge polarization and introduce cyano groups,which synergistically promote oxygen molecule(O_(2))adsorption and elevate local proton coverage.Simultaneously,the energy barrier for H_(2)O_(2)desorption on the optimal photocatalyst(5Na/3.3K-CN)is lowered,thus improving H_(2)O_(2)production efficiency.Eventually,5Na/3.3K-CN exhibits an impressive H_(2)O_(2)yield of 2541.6μmol·g^(-1)·h^(-1) in an artificial reactor,which is 10.6 times higher than that of pure g-C_(3)N_(4)(240.2μmol·g^(-1)·h^(-1)).Under natural sunlight outdoors,5Na/3.3K-CN still maintains ultrahigh H_(2)O_(2)photosynthesis efficiency,achieving an H_(2)O_(2)photosynthesis rate of 2068.7μmol·g^(-1)·h^(-1).This work introduces a straightforward method to simultaneously optimize charge transfer and O_(2)activation for boosting H_(2)O_(2)photosynthesis,offering valuable insights toward the real-world deployment of g-C_(3)N_(4)-based photocatalysts in environmental protection and energy conversion.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.12402432)Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province of China(Grant No.BK20230936)Graduate Education and Teaching Reform Project of Nanjing University of Science and Technology(Grant No.KT2024_C14)。
文摘To elucidate the dispersion and explosion characteristics of multi-metal powder and liquid composite fuel formulations,high-energy metal powders(aluminum(Al),boron(B),and magnesium hydride(MgH_(2)))are incorporated into a liquid fuel primarily composed of diethyl ether(DEE)and isopropyl nitrate(IPN).The explosion characteristics of different solid-liquid fuel-air-explosive(FAE)under unconfined conditions are investigated using a high-speed camera,infrared thermal imaging,and a pressure measurement system.Results demonstrate that high-energy metal powders significantly enhance detonation energy dissipation,with aluminum exhibiting the most pronounced effect.Fuel 5#(45.4 wt%DEE,9.2 wt%IPN,29.5 wt%Al,9.1 wt%B,6.8 wt%MgH_(2))exhibits superior explosion performance,achieving higher values of overpressure,impulse,and thermal radiation damage during the detonation stage compared to other fuels.However,Fuel 5#also displays faster decay rates,attributed to accelerated heat release rates induced by B and MgH_(2)powders.This study reveals that different metal powders in solid-liquid FAE exhibit distinct enhancements in explosion performance,providing critical insights for optimizing composite fuel design.
文摘Semi-active dampers are used in base-isolation to reduce the seismic response of civil engineering structures. In the present study, a new semi-active damping system using variable amplification will be investigated for adaptive baseisolation. It uses a novel variable amplification device （VAD） connected in series with a passive damper. The VAD is capable of producing multiple amplification factors, each corresponding to a different amplification state. Forces from the damper are amplified to the structure according to the current amplification state, which is selected via a semi-active control algorithm specifically tailored to the system＇s tmique damping characteristics. To demonstrate the effectiveness of the VAD-damper system for adaptive base-isolation, numerical simulations are conducted for three and seven-story base-isolated buildings subject to both far and near-field ground motions. The results indicate that the system can achieve significant reductions in response compared to the base-isolated buildings with no damper. The proposed system is also found to perform well compared to a typical semi-active damper.
文摘Using the knowledge obtained from previous courses such as:soil mechanics,structural analysis,steel design,etc.,a team of seven students at California State University,Northridge(CSUN)designed a two-story residential steel house for their senior design course.The home was chosen to be located in the city of Pacific Palisades,California.The following paper outlines the design of the home ranging from the architectural plans to the beam,column,and foundation design.California is known to be seismically active,therefore,seismic loading played a large factor into the design of the house.Once the design of the house was completed,a cost estimate of the house was prepared using the estimating platform RSMeans.Additionally,a second estimate of the home was also completed with the addition of LEED(Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)features such as solar panels,LED lighting,and energy star appliances that make the home environmentally friendly and will give the owner a greater return on their investment in the future.
文摘Public construction project data were analyzed to develop models for the actual construction duration and actual cost. Based on 50 civil engineering projects in Libya from the database of the Great Man-Made River System 1992-2009, the models identified extension as a main factor that affecting both the actual duration and cost of a project, while considering the contract cost and contract duration as fixed for the project. The suitability of each model was confirmed by examining RMSE (root mean squared error), NSE (Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency), and MEF (modeling efficiency factor). The models were validated with data from 17 different projects. The validation of both models demonstrated that models are very practical and accurate. The models are very effective in capturing the uniqueness of Libyan construction industry practice.
文摘The present researched topic was conceived from a senior design course for Civil Engineering students at CSUN (California State University), Northridge. In this work, experimental trials were performed and compared to establish theoretical values of the discharge coefficient. The discharge coefficient is a dimensionless number used to characterize the flow and pressure loss behavior of nozzles and orifices in fluid systems. A group of low-income undergraduate students with diverse backgrounds designed multiple 3D printed orifices where each 3D printed orifice had a specific shape. Utilizing the methods of technical problem solving, the undergraduates found experimental discharge coefficient values for the following orifices: borda, short-tubed, and sharp-edged. Implementing ethics of engineering practice and utilizing university resources, this study is a representation of the collaborative work of minorities and females that want to expand their knowledge within their respective discipline of Civil Engineering.
文摘One of the big problems of the urban centres of the cities in Brazil is the growth of the generation of the Civil Construction Waste （CCW）. A disturbing concern for the public and private sectors is to find proper disposal of Urban Solid Waste （USW） in large cities, since suitable dumping sites for this waste are increasingly scarce due to the spread and development of large urban centres. In general, recycling is currently one of the procedures most studied by researchers for disposal of such waste. In this context and aiming a new application for recycled CCW aggregates, the research characterized the physical properties of the material to use in fill compaction piles in soil improvement. The analysis shows results from laboratorial tests executed in CCW recycled samples, which came from works in different construction stages from Recife-PE, and natural aggregate, adopted as a reference. Characterization tests were performed with samples CCW recycled CLue aggregates and samples of natural fine aggregate （stone powder）. The results of characterization tests showed similarities between the CCW samples tested and the reference samples, indicating that the civil construction wastes has potcntial use as material for consolidation piles in foundation works.
文摘The vast production of CCW （Civil Construction Waste） has caused socio-environmental concern as a result of the exploration of natural resources, clandestine disposal and proliferation of vector-borne diseases, for example. It now gives priority to non-generation, reduction and recycling of CCW. This study, therefore, seeks an alternative for CCW by comparing the physical and mechanical characteristics, both in laboratory and onsite, of the recycled CCW aggregate and natural aggregate （stone powder）, commonly used in the composition of compaction piles for improving soils in foundation works in the city of Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil. All results showed similar behaviours among the investigated samples （CCW recycled and natural）, confirming the satisfactory performance of the investigated CCW material.
基金supported by the funding Riset Unggulan Daerah 2022 of the Bureau of Development Planning and Research in Central Java Province(BAPPEDA Provinsi Jawa Tengah).
文摘Located downstream the Kupang Catchment in Indonesia,Pekalongan faces significant land subsidence issues,leading to severe coastal flooding.This study aimed to assess the impact of climate change on future flow regimes and hydrological extremes to inform long-term water resources management strategies for the Kupang Catchment.Utilizing precipitation and air temperature data from general circulation models in the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project 6(CMIP6)and employing bias correction techniques,the Soil and Water Assessment Tool(SWAT)hydrological model was employed to analyze climate-induced changes in hydrological fluxes,specifically streamflow.Results indicated a consistent increase in monthly streamflow during the wet season,with a substantial rise of 22.8%,alongside a slight decrease of 18.0%during the dry season.Moreover,both the frequency and severity of extremely low and high flows were projected to intensify by approximately 50%and 70%,respectively,for a 20-year return period,suggesting heightened flood and drought risks in the future.The observed declining trend in low flow,by up to 11%,indicated the potential for long-term groundwater depletion exacerbating the threat of land subsidence and coastal flooding,especially in areas with inadequate surface water management policies and infrastructure.
基金the W.M.Keck Center for Nano-Scale Imaging in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at the University of Arizona(Grant No.RRID:SCR_022884),with funding from the W.M.Keck Foundation Grant.
文摘Approximately 3.44 billion tons of copper mine tailings(MT)were produced globally in 2018 with an increase of 45%from 2010.Significant efforts are being made to manage these tailings through storage facilities,recycling,and reuse in different industries.Currently,a large portion of tailings are managed through the tailing storage facilities(TSF)where these tailings undergo hydro-thermal-mechanical stresses with seasonal cycles which are not comprehensively understood.This study presents an investigative study to evaluate the performance of control and cement-stabilized copper MT under the influence of seasonal cycles,freeze-thaw(F-T)and wet-dry(W-D)conditions,representing the seasonal variability in the cold and arid regions.The control and cement-stabilized MT samples were subjected to a maximum of 12 F-T and 12 W-D cycles and corresponding micro-and-macro behavior was investigated through scanning electron microscope(SEM),volumetric strain(εvT,wet density(r),moisture content loss,and unconfined compressive strength(UCS)tests.The results indicated the vulnerability of Copper MT to 67%and 75%strength loss reaching residual states with 12 F-T and 8 W-D cycles,respectively.Whereas the stabilized MT retained 39%-55%and 16%-34%strength with F-T and W-D cycles,demonstrating increased durability.This research highlights the impact of seasonal cycles and corresponding strength-deformation characteristics of control and stabilized Copper MT in cold and arid regions.
文摘Open caissons are widely used in foundation engineering because of their load-bearing efficiency and adaptability in diverse soil conditions.However,accurately predicting their undrained bearing capacity in layered soils remains a complex challenge.This study presents a novel application of five ensemble machine(ML)algorithms-random forest(RF),gradient boosting machine(GBM),extreme gradient boosting(XGBoost),adaptive boosting(AdaBoost),and categorical boosting(CatBoost)-to predict the undrained bearing capacity factor(Nc)of circular open caissons embedded in two-layered clay on the basis of results from finite element limit analysis(FELA).The input dataset consists of 1188 numerical simulations using the Tresca failure criterion,varying in geometrical and soil parameters.The FELA was performed via OptumG2 software with adaptive meshing techniques and verified against existing benchmark studies.The ML models were trained on 70% of the dataset and tested on the remaining 30%.Their performance was evaluated using six statistical metrics:coefficient of determination(R²),mean absolute error(MAE),root mean squared error(RMSE),index of scatter(IOS),RMSE-to-standard deviation ratio(RSR),and variance explained factor(VAF).The results indicate that all the models achieved high accuracy,with R²values exceeding 97.6%and RMSE values below 0.02.Among them,AdaBoost and CatBoost consistently outperformed the other methods across both the training and testing datasets,demonstrating superior generalizability and robustness.The proposed ML framework offers an efficient,accurate,and data-driven alternative to traditional methods for estimating caisson capacity in stratified soils.This approach can aid in reducing computational costs while improving reliability in the early stages of foundation design.
文摘This paper presents the partial results of a project in progress that aims to improve the teaching and learning of Graphic Geometry modules taught in Engineering and Civil Engineering courses at the Federal University of Pernambuco through the development of education methodologies and content integration of these disciplines using computational technologies. This study covers and analyzes the contents of Tridimensional Graphic Geometry, Technical Drawing 3 and Descriptive Geometry in the BSc course in Civil Engineering, in order to create an integrated assessment model across these disciplines from the use of specific computer graphic softwares. It is proposed to use computer graphic for： （i） concept formation, （ii） completing and/or reviewing the content, （iii） creation of a database with virtual geometric models and their applications in Engineering and for the studies of their representations, geometric properties, etc., providing digital images of everyday forms and objects. In order to begin the diagnosis of the current situation, we gave an open questionnaire to 65 students from the 16 groups of three-dimensional graphical geometry, 20 students from the two courses in Technical Drawing 3 and 35 students from the three Descriptive Geometry classes. The analysis of the data suggests that students better understand the two-dimensional representations of three-dimensional models through their modeling with the computer graphics software used, and the association of abstract concepts with concrete content. From the analysis of the data we can verify that when our students enter the foundation Engineering courses, the main difficulty in the disciplines of drawing is the three-dimensional visualization. The hypothesis is that the student will better understand the two-dimensional representations of three-dimensional models through their modeling with the computer graphic software used and the association of abstract concepts with concrete content.
基金The authors would like to acknowledge the grant of fellowship(DST/TMD/EWO/2K21/ACT/2021/02(G))under Project SHARP,received from the Department of Science and Technology,Government of India.
文摘One of the pathways to attain NET ZERO is CO_(2)injection into deep saline aquifers(DSAs),which alters the saturation and pore pressure of the reservoir rocks,hence the effective stress,sʹ.This,in turn,would change their geomechanical(i.e.peak deviatoric stress,elastic modulus,Poisson's ratio)and petrophysical(porosity and permeability)properties.Such a situation might trigger geo-hazards,like induced seismicity,ground deformation,caprock failure.Hence,reducing the risk of such hazards necessitates quantifying the spatial and temporal changes in sʹ,under specific CO_(2)and/or brine saturation,designated as S_(CO2)and S_(b),respectively,and resultant pore pressure.With this in view,a conceptual model depicting the reservoir,demarcated by five zones based on variations in saturation,pore-pressure,temperature,etc.,and the corresponding effective stress equations have been proposed based on the available literature.Furthermore,a critical review of literature has been carried out to decipher the limitations and contradictions associated with the findings from(i)laboratory studies to estimate S_(CO2)employing pwave velocity and electrical resistivity,(ii)analytical and numerical approaches for estimating the variation of pore-pressure in the reservoir rocks,and(iii)laboratory studies on variation in geomechanical and petrophysical properties under the conditions representative of the above-mentioned zones of the conceptual model.The authors consider that extensive experiments should be conducted on the rocks from different sources and tested under various conditions of the CO_(2)injection to validate the proposed model for the execution of risk-free CO_(2)storage in DSAs.
基金The National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.52278303).
文摘To tackle the issue of notch frequency and center frequency drift of the L(0,1)mode guided wave in ultra⁃sonic guided wave⁃based stress monitoring of prestressed steel strands,a method using higher⁃order mode plateau fre⁃quencies is adopted.First,the correlation between group velocity peaks and phase velocities at these plateau frequen⁃cies is analyzed.This analysis establishes a quantitative rela⁃tionship between phase velocity and stress in the steel strand,providing a theoretical foundation for stress monitor⁃ing.Then the two⁃dimensional Fourier transform is em⁃ployed to separate wave modes.Dynamic programming techniques are applied in the frequency⁃velocity domain to extract higher⁃order modes.By identifying the group veloc⁃ity peaks of these separated higher⁃order modes,the plateau frequencies of guided waves are determined,enabling indi⁃rect measurement of stress in the steel strand.To validate this method,finite element simulations are conducted under three scenarios.Results show that the higher⁃order modes of transient signals from three different positions can be ac⁃curately extracted,leading to successful cable stress moni⁃toring.This approach effectively circumvents the issue of guided wave frequency drift and improves stress monitoring accuracy.Consequently,it significantly improves the appli⁃cation of ultrasonic guided wave technology in structural health monitoring.
文摘This study investigates the innovative reuse of sewage sludge with eco-friendly alkaline solutes to improve clayey soil without conventional cementitious binders.The unconfined compressive strength(UCS)was the main criterion to assess the quality and effectiveness of the proposed solutions,as this test was performed to measure the strength of the stabilized clay by varying binders’dosages and curing times.Moreover,the direct shear test(DST)was used to investigate the Mohr-Coulomb parameters of the treated soil.Microstructure observations of the natural and treated soil were conducted using scanning electron microscope(SEM),energy-dispersive spectroscopy(EDS),and FTIR.Furthermore,toxicity characteristic leaching procedure(TCLP)tests were performed on the treated soil to investigate the leachability of metals.According to the results,using 2.5%of sewage sludge activated by NaOH and Na_(2)SiO_(3)increases the UCS values from 176 kPa to 1.46 MPa after 7 d and 56 d of curing,respectively.The results of the DST indicate that sewage sludge as a precursor increases cohesion and enhances frictional resistance,thereby improving the Mohr-Coulomb parameters of the stabilized soil.The SEM micrographs show that alkali-activated sewage sludge increases the integrity and reduces the cavity volumes in the stabilized soil.Moreover,TCLP tests revealed that the solubility of metals in the treated soil alkaliactivated by sewage sludge significantly decreased.This study suggests that using sewage sludge can replace cement and lime in ground improvement,improve the circular economy,and reduce the carbon footprint of construction projects.
基金This research work was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.51972209).
文摘This paper investigated the use of magnesium phosphate cement (MPC) for solidifying sludge with different humic acid (HA) content (ranging from 0 to 4.5%) and explored the solidification mechanism. Fluidity, setting time, unconfined compressive strength (UCS), the strength formation mechanism, and the spontaneous imbibition process of solidified sludge (SS) were studied. The results indicate that MPC can be used as a low-alkalinity curing agent. As the HA content increases, fluidity and setting time also increase, while hydration temperature and strength decrease. Additionally, the failure mode of SS transitions from brittleness to ductility. The strength of SS is composed of the cementation strength provided by MPC hydration products, matric suction, osmotic suction, and the structural strength of the sludge. MPC reduces the structural strength caused by the shrinkage of pure sludge under the action of matric suction, but the incorporation of MPC significantly improved the strength when the sludge is eroded by water. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) show that the sludge and MPC can form a dense solid body, forming various hydration products, and synergistically improve the mechanical properties of the sludge.
