Al-Nahrain Journal for Engineering Sciences

Improvements in the thermo-physical properties of Phase Change Materials (PCM) caused by nanoparticle dissipation are critical for a wide range of technologies. The current study describes numerically the investigation of the charging and discharging process of paraffin wax dispersed with different concentrations (1%, 3%, 5%, 7%, and 10% ) of Alumina nanoparticles (Al2O3), in a Single Thermal Energy Storage (STES) system. For this study, a time-dependent, two-dimensional simulation of the solidification and melting process was performed numerically for different velocities. The study is realized using the CFD ANSYS FLUENT software package (Version 18) that employs the phase-change phenomenon using the enthalpy technique. The results show that adding alumina nanoparticles to paraffin wax reduces the melting and solidification process, and raising nanoparticle concentration accelerated the melting and solidification process even more when compared to pure paraffin wax. The greatest improvement was obtained with the maximum concentration of nanoparticles with total time saving between (12% - 11.76% ) in the charging process and between ( 15.71% - 19.60% ) in the discharging process depending on velocity. Furthermore, other important findings were that the presence of nanoparticles makes a little effect in the early stages of the solidification and melting processes, but as time passes, the rate of solidification and melting rises. Comparison with previous works gave good agreement of about 34%.

Basrah is the richest town and the economic capital of Iraq. It suffers from lack of drinking water. This project is a dream to supply drinking water to Basrah citizens within WHO standards. Water should pass sedimentation and filtration stages before interring reverse osmosis unit. The design is carried out using Lewaplus2 software. Several parameters should be selected in the design step membrane type, number of stages, number of element in each stage, and the recovery percentage. An optimization is carried out using Minitab ver. 18 for the acceptable limit of TDS and minimum cost and it was found that the optimum conditions were 52% for first stage, the numbers of vessels are 20 for both the first and second stage. In addition, results showed that the pressure and the total dissolved solid increase with increasing the recovery while parameters like the feed flow rate per vessel, the power, and the cost are decreasing with the recovery. Mathematical model described the cost was conducted and statistical study was also done to ensure the results.

The electrodes material plays an important role in the amount of electricity produced in microbial fuel cells (MFCs). Metal electrodes used in MFCs are subject to biological and concentration cell corrosion which leads to a decrease in the cell efficiency. In the present work, the corrosion behavior of three selected electrode materials, namely, stainless steel, copper, and zinc under different operating conditions was investigated and discussed. In anode chamber, the microorganism (MO) used was Saccharomyces cerevisiae (yeast) with sodium acetate as a substrate forming the microbial corrosive solution. In the cathode chamber, the corrosive solution is aerated water. The effects of different operating parameters on the corrosion rate (CR) of these electrodes were studied such as: microorganism concentration, aeration of cathode chamber, and flow velocity in cathode chamber. The potential of the each electrode was measured to understand the corrosion behavior of electrodes and the produced current was also investigated. It was found that the corrosion rate of the electrodes in both anode and cathode chambers increases with increasing MO concentration in anode chamber and with increasing agitation speed in cathode chamber. The bio-corrosion is an important part of the corrosion occurring in microorganism chamber. The stainless steel exhibited the lowest corrosion rate for the whole investigated range of operating parameters followed by copper. The zinc electrode was found to be poor as an electrode in MFC as its corrosion rate was very high in all conditions investigated. In addition, this study showed that the air pumping in water chamber causes an appreciable increase in the corrosion rate in both chambers and an increase in the produced current.

The design of heat exchangers using constructal design principles plays a crucial role in enhancing thermal performance and optimizing heat transfer density, with significant implications for industrial applications such as power plants, chemical processes, and heating and cooling systems. Improving the efficiency of heat exchangers can result in substantial energy savings and lower operational costs. By incorporating complex shapes like finned tubes or corrugated plates, the surface area available for heat exchange is increased without significantly enlarging the exchanger's size, thus enhancing heat transfer density. Additionally, a balanced design ensures uniform heat distribution, reducing hot and cold spots and promoting more effective heat transfer. The flexibility in design allows for adaptation to various applications, whether for cooling or heating, making the exchanger more adaptable to practical and spatial requirements. Overall, employing different shapes in heat exchanger design significantly boosts their efficiency and heat capacity, leading to improved system performance, reduced operational costs, and lower energy consumption.

The aim of the research work is to presents the result of experimental studies concerning the behaviour of different types of concrete beams. In this study, discus using different types of concrete for casting beams and record the effects on both mechanical properties and load versus deflection characteristics. The results shown that the maximum compressive strength is 107 MPa and the maximum splitting tensile 9 MPa of RPC comparison high and normal strength concrete. The result of the second part shown increased RPC reinforced concrete the firstcrack288 MPa and ultimate crack 380MPa comparison high and normal strength concrete and the mode of failure of RPC (flexural-shear).

In the field of engineering, 3D printers are indispensable due to their high precision. This study focuses on the construction and optimization of a 3D printer using aluminum T-slotted bars for the frame, Raspberry Pi 4 for control, and Lightburn software for image printing and machine control. After assembling the main components and programming with Marlin firmware, the machine was tested for vibration and noise reduction. The research compared the vibration of a diode laser and spindle during printing, revealing significantly lower vibration with the laser compared to the spindle. These findings demonstrate the effectiveness of the constructed 3D printer in reducing vibration and noise during operation.

The recent progress in integrated photonics has promoted microwave photonic filter (MPF) technologies to a supreme level to develop wireless, radar, and internet communication systems. Thus, the tiny size, low power consumption, and low cost of the MPF chip are its unique features. By choosing the appropriate spectral content and rejecting sideband signals, the MPF made use of numerous technologies that proved the value of wide frequency tuning and reconfiguration in addition to its tolerance to electromagnetic interference. This paper reviews recent techniques involved in microwave filter design on multiple platforms, which involve cascaded micro-ring resonator (MRR), ring-assisted Mach-Zehender Interferometer (MZI) coupler, Brillion-active waveguide, reflector-type MRR, and Bragg grating with phase shifts. In particular, the output characteristics are demonstrated for the MRR integrated with a MZI coupler technique. The reviewed work will highlight the significant technological constraints and major technical limitations. Additionally, it suggests potential future directions for enhancing and optimizing microwave photonics-based filter technologies, which could pave the way for the next generation of communication systems.

Super-hydrophobic is the tendency of a surface to spit out water droplets. Only a surface with high apparent contact angle (>1500), low contact angle hysteresis (<100), low sliding angle (<50), and strong Cassie model state stability is considered a super-hydrophobic surface. In an attempt to create highly hydrophobic synthetic surfaces suitable for a range of uses, attempts have been made to mimic the super-hydrophobicity found in natural materials (such as lotus leaves). Due to its wide range of applications including waterproof, anti-fog, anti-ice and anti-corrosion surface, the laser processing process achieved the use of process parameters which had a significant impact on the roughness factor. High roughness factor F. At constant values of p = 3 mW and ω = 10 μm, at scanning speeds of 6000 mm/s.

This study focused on the urban transformations resulting from the removal processes taking place in the urban fabric of sacred city centers, under the pretext of increasing urban capacity due to the density of use, which leads to the removal of important parts of the traditional urban fabric and adding them to the public urban space.
To determine the amount of usage densities that the area can accommodate represented by the case study, which is the center of the holy city of Najaf: the study was based on using a quantitative measurement approach to test the hypothesis using a multivariable density measurement tool. A space matrix capable of measuring densities, accessibility, and diversity in the fabric during three time periods, a historical period 1900, 1990, and the current time 2024, to know the amount of changes that have occurred in the fabric. A qualitative measurement tool, which is a random sample questionnaire, was used to measure perceived density to find out which fabrics within the city center are more accommodating of congestion. The research has found that high and advanced accessibility through an integrated fabric with high connectivity that makes the city spaces work as one space leads to an increase in flows. It works to reduce the momentum in the city center and thus preserve the traditional urban fabric that must be emptied for pedestrians, as it represents the only fabric with The human scale at the level of the city as a whole (i.e. a fabric that is comfortable for pedestrians) also represents the identity of the area, and to accommodate the densities, the percentage of building density must be increased outside the traditional fabric.

In the last two decades Modern architecture of the 20th century has become a primary focus for numerous global organizations, researchers, and academics who aim to preserve and sustain it. The leading parties in this endeavor are UNESCO and the International DOCOMOMO. They recognize modern heritage as tangible, authentic, carrying exceptional features and modern characteristics that reflect values, shifts, and norms of its era. Therefore, Docomomo has identified key Modernist Merits as criteria to assess the authenticity of this heritage, while UNESCO has listed many modern buildings and sites on the World Heritage List. In this respect many Iraqi modernist buildings suffer from mishandling and poor interest. Numerous have been distorted, demolished, or are on the verge of disappearing. This reflects a lack of understanding their exceptional modernist values which are worthy of preservation, and thus inefficiency in managing this heritage. Given that Intervention in modernist heritage involves adhering to guidelines set by international organization, the vague connection between criteria of DOCOMOMO and those of UNESCO clouds the process. Therefore, this article focuses on addressing the relationship between the two organizations' sets of criteria and clarifying their connection. The authors also aimed to address the national Iraqi context by assessing selected cases of modernist heritage buildings by one of Iraq’s modernism pioneers, architect Qahtan Al-Madfai, against DOCOMOMO’s criteria for modernist merits, highlighting the originality of Iraqi modernist heritage.
Using a descriptive analytical approach, the theoretical sections of the paper begin by exploring the principles and characteristics of modern architecture, followed by identifying the exceptional values of modernist buildings, defined by DOCOMOMO as Modernist Merits and linking them to UNESCO's criteria. The practical part includes an experts’ survey to assess the Modernist Merits of the selected sample of Al- Madfaies’ buildings.
The research results showed that Qahtaan Al-Madfai’s architecture was distinguished by a high evaluation of two Merits (exceptional features): the technological feature and the artistic aesthetic feature. While the first was fairly preserved, the second feature was affected in some buildings as a result of the mismanagement of these buildings and the lack of awareness of their values.

Soil reinforcement techniques have been successfully used to improve the shear properties of weak soils in recent years. To improve the utilization of waste resources and promote sustainable development of infrastructure amid rapid urbanization, one potential option for reinforcement materials is human hair fibers (HHF). Because it is a natural fiber, there are risks to human and environmental health associated with the improper disposal of human hair fiber, an occurring waste product that does not decompose completely. This fabric is abundant, has a high reusability rate, and is ideal for use as a reinforcement to address waste management issues and make the most of inefficient or unnecessary manufacturing websites for long-term sustainability. The CBR test was executed on several samples with diverse fiber possibilities to evaluate the engineering properties of the randomly placed HHF in clayey soil samples using fibers whose average length was 50 mm and whose diameter ranged from 60 to 80 microns and compared the outcomes to those of unreinforced soil. The soil sample was treated with different percentages of Human Hair fiber (0%, 0.75%, 1.5%, 1.75% and 2.25%). The results showed that the value of CBR of the soil sample decrease at 0.75% of HHF and then increased up to 2.25% of HHF.

Lung cancer is the most common dangerous disease that, if treated late, can lead to death. It is more likely to be treated if successfully discovered at an early stage before it worsens. Distinguishing the size, shape, and location of lymphatic nodes can identify the spread of the disease around these nodes. Thus, identifying lung cancer at the early stage is remarkably helpful for doctors. Lung cancer can be diagnosed successfully by expert doctors; however, their limited experience may lead to misdiagnosis and cause medical issues in patients. In the line of computer-assisted systems, many methods and strategies can be used to predict the cancer malignancy level that plays a significant role to provide precise abnormality detection. In this paper, the use of modern learning machine-based approaches was explored. More than 70 state-of-the-art articles (from 2019 to 2024) were extensively explored to highlight the different machine learning and deep learning (DL) techniques of different models used for the detection, classification, and prediction of cancerous lung tumors. The efficient model of Tiny DL must be built to assist physicians who are working in rural medical centers for swift and rapid diagnosis of lung cancer. The combination of lightweight Convolutional Neural Networks and limited resources could produce a portable model with low computational cost that has the ability to substitute the skill and experience of doctors needed in urgent cases.

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

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

The process of increasing the heat transfer coefficient, resulting in enhancing system efficiency, is known as heat transfer enhancement. Enhancing heat transport is both economically beneficial and a considerable energy conservation problem. To improve heat transfer, many passive components are utilized within tubes, including wire plugs, enhanced surfaces, rough edges, twisted tape inserts, and liquid additives. This study evaluated twisted tape inserts, which are highly effective passive devices. Considering its numerous advantages, such as effortless maintenance, uncomplicated operation, and straightforward production. The twisted tape inserts within the tube generated a vortex and swirling flow. The interior convective heat transfer process is significantly improved. A summary of various twisting tape additives that can boost performance.