KUFA JOURNAL OF ENGINEERING

The research investigates the use of fins fastened to a solar panel's rear surface for passive cooling. The research compared solar modules with air cooling against modules with connected fins acting as a heat sink. The comparison was based on the former. The research studies the cooling of modules with fins using two different types of air: ventilation air and still air. By comparing the heat transmission by photovoltaic panels with and without fins, the research sought to analyses the effects of the environment and solar radiation on the performance of solar cells. The inquiry was done hypothetically. According to the findings, using fins for cooling reduced cell temperature and improved electrical and thermal efficiency. The estimated performance values of the PVT solar cell obtained by using the COMSOL program and the experimental measurements carried out during the daytime were reasonably in accord. The biggest reduction in cell temperature is (3.7ºC at noon), while the greatest increases in electrical and thermal efficiency are (16.54% and 58.3%, respectively). There is good agreement between experimental and numerical results.

In this thesis, the samples of dental zirconia were sintered to various temperatures (1250,1350, and 1450) °C, and subjected to friction between them in saliva at two different sliding speeds (200 and 400 revolutions per minute) and in various periods (10, 20, and 30 minutes) by using pin on disc wear testing machine, the wear rate was affected by several factors (sintering temperature, sliding speed, and sliding time). Where the rate of wear decreased by the increase of one of these factors with the stabilization of the other two factors.

In spite of the established literature-based evidence regarding the consequences of large truck accidents, limited body of research has been done on the characteristics and risk factors of such road accidents in Iraqi cities and governorates. According to national statistics, there has been a steady increase in the number of trucks and truck-related crashes over the past ten years. This paper aims to investigate the characteristics and risk factors associated with accidents involving large trucks in Al-Najaf governorate. A sample of 400 truck drivers were randomly selected and interviewed to collect the needed accident data. Four generalized linear models have been built; ordinal regression model for total injuries, binary logistic model for fatal accident occurrence, multinomial logit model for accident frequency, and ordinal regression model for accident cost. The analysis results revealed several influential predictors including truck driver age, education level, type of collision, truck speed, truck type, and street lighting condition. The obtained findings should be enlightening and helpful for government organizations looking to promote safety measures for sustainable freight truck transport.

The growing concern about environmental pollution and the depletion of resources has led to a focus on the use of more sustainable materials. In light of this, the recycling and use of agricultural wastes is highly advanced and sought-after in the concrete technology field. Yearly, an enormous quantity of date palm waste (DPW) is produced, putting stress on the ecosystem and necessitating an urgent disposing method. For this reason, many researchers are looking into the feasibility of incorporating DPW for cement composites in an effort to improve the performance and sustainability of concrete. The use of DPW in the design of concrete and mortar mixes has a significant effect on both the fresh and hardened properties of the resulting composites. This paper reviews the basic information on the types and characteristics of DPW used in previous studies. In addition, the potential inclusion of DPW and its effect on cement-concrete performance are reviewed. This study further highlights the areas that need additional investigation for adopting these waste materials. This will advance academic research and benefit the sustainability of the construction industry.

The escalation of emissions has emerged as a prominent issue in contemporary society, garnering global attention from many countries. The need to use sustainable buildings to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions has been underscored by several sustainability standards, such as LEED and BREAM, in order to promote environmental protection. The WELL standard is a notable standard that places emphasis on the attainment of human health and well-being through the design and construction of the built environment. This followed the emergence of sustainability principles that sought to include social and human considerations in the building's efficiency. The research dilemma emerged due to a limited comprehension of the correlation between WELL standards and their efficacy in mitigating the carbon footprint of both buildings and people. The present study posits that the use of WELL indicators has the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions inside the workplace. The study employed a descriptive analytical methodology to ascertain the findings and deductions that certain attributes within the WELL v2 standard have the potential to mitigate carbon emissions. Notably, the Well innovation feature emerged as a significant contributor, as it promotes the inclusion of greenhouse gas management within a comprehensive framework centered on health and well-being.

Glycine exhibits a little piezoelectric response when poled, while lead-free alkaline niobate-based ceramics show much higher responses. This research investigates the synthesis of a dielectric composite from a combination of glycine and (K0.45Na0.51Li0.04) (Nb0.85Ta0.1Sb0.04) O3 (KNNLST) ceramics. The mixed oxide ceramics synthesis method was used to produce the ceramics, while glycine powder was commercially procured. The composition range of the shaped and heat-treated composites is from no ceramics to 100 wt.% ceramics content. X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), dielectric studies, and hysteresis measurements were used to characterize the samples. The obtained phases transformed from the monoclinic phase in glycine to a two-phase orthorhombic-tetragonal phase in the ceramics. The samples’ morphology revealed a dense microstructure with some cracks, large porosity, and smaller grain sizes. The dielectric properties showed increasing dielectric constant and loss values with increasing ceramics content, while the ac conductivity also increased with rising ceramics content. Improving the range of ceramics led to polarization hysteresis graphs indicating ferroelectricity in the samples. The properties of the composites show they can be used in electromechanical devices.

A bulk volume of waste tires, an underrated global resource, is disposed of in landfills worldwide. Extracting recycled steel fibers from these tires is an evolving trend nowadays. Reactive-Powder Concrete (RPC), the most recent generation of concrete produced in the early 1990s and possessing extremely high mechanical strength criteria, is a modified form of high-performance Concrete. This study looked into how the type and volume proportion of new and waste steel fibers affected the compressive, flexural, and impact strengths

of RPC when it was curried at high temperatures. Steel fibers (new and waste tire fibers) with volume fractions of 1%, 1.5%, and 2% were used to create RPC. It was clear that increasing the amount of steel fiber had a beneficial effect on compressive, flexural, and impact strengths. Also, the results showed that the outcomes of RPC having steel fibers sourced from end-of-life tires are similar to those of industrial steel fibers.

The process of additive manufacturing (AM), commonly known as 3D printing, is a method of constructing a component by progressively adding material in layers using digital 3D design information. As part of 'Industry 4.0,' many industrial technologies are rapidly increasing to thrive in the twenty-first century. This study goes over seven different types of additive manufacturing in great detail. These technologies make it possible to make complex, high-value parts quickly and in small quantities without using as much energy or material or making as many tools as subtractive manufacturing does. Besides, AM also possesses some particular challenges, like post-processing, material unavailability, software issues, etc. The application of AM is expanding rapidly from micro to macro-scale sectors. 3D printing technology will change industrial operations in the following years. Eventually, the elected technology will be closely related to the proposed function.

New Sustainable with no CO2 emission cold mix asphalt (CMA) for road and highways surfacing is successfully developed from wastewater sludge ash normally sent to landfills. The Paper reports; durability in terms of water sensitivity, aging and contamination levels of heavy metals of the new developed novel CMA containing upgraded fly and bottom ash secondary cementitious materials from United Utilities fly and bottom ashes. Road engineers currently restricted the use of conventional CMA containing conventional limestone fillers (LF) for use in walkways and light trafficked roads only, as these mixtures needs from 2 to 24 months for curing. Conventional CMA mixtures also have high voidage contents and thus low traffic bearing capacity. The durability of these mixes is low especially in the UK and European countries where the climate is predominantly wet and cold.
In Germany and France, ordinary Portland cement (OPC) replaced the filler used in traditional CMA. Although this allows the new CMA to be used in roads for light and heavy trafficked loads. The materials are not environmentally friendly, as one tone of cement releases approximately one tone of CO2 emission during their manufacturing process.

The results of the new developed CMA are satisfying the British and European codes of practices requirements. The new novel mixtures are also; highly cost-effective compared with the use of Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA), has no CO2 emission during mixing construction, and has no health and safety issues compared with the HMA manufacturing and application process.