Behavior of T-shaped reinforced concrete beams partially confined by structural steel

External confinement of reinforced concrete (R/C) members with structural steel sections or fiber reinforcing wraps is commonly used to improve the flexural behavior of structural members. Flexural strengthening of R/C beams by external steel members is among the most effective and convenient techniques. A study is presented in this paper investigating the flexural behavior of R/C beams having T cross-sections partially confined (P/C) by a combination of various steel members connected together by intermittent batten plates. Four R/C specimens, representing dropped beams in solid slabs, were tested. One control beam had no confinement whereas the three other beams had four steel angles simply wrapped and tied around the stem by batten plates, two angles at the bottom corners of the stem and the other two angles at the stem-flange junctions. Two plates were placed on the top surface of the flange and connected by studs to the two angles at the bottom of the flange. The resulting P/C beams are categorized as partial composite beams because no shear connectors were used between the R/C beam and the jacketing bottom-tension steel angles as in the case of conventional composite beams. All specimens were tested in positive bending under two points loading. Test results revealed an enhancement in the flexural behavior, particularly in the post-yield range of loading, and ductility due to the proposed strengthening and partial composite effect. The number and spacing of the intermittent battens played a significant role in the behavior of the strengthened specimens. Analytical values of loads and deformations at yield and ultimate loading showed good agreement with the measured values.     

Nonclassical features of entangled coherent states

Nonclassical features of entangled coherent states (two-mode superposition coherent states) based on two coherent states shifted in phase by π/2 are discussed. Analysis of Cauchy–Schwartz inequality, two-mode quadrature squeezing, oscillatory and sub-Poissonian photon statistics show that nonclassicality exists for these states. Furthermore, it is also observed that special states have remarkably strong nonclassical properties than the entangled coherent states based on famous even–odd coherent states.     

Reassessment of fenestration characteristics for residential buildings in hot climates: energy and economic analysis

This paper attempts to resolve the reported contradiction in the literature about the characteristics of high-performance/cost-effective fenestration of residential buildings, particularly in hot climates. The considered issues are the window glazing property (ten commercial glazing types), facade orientation (four main orientations), window-to-wall ratio (WWR) (0.2–0.8), and solar shading overhangs and side-fins (nine shading conditions). The results of the simulated runs reveal that the glazing quality has a superior effect over the other fenestration parameters and controls their effect on the energy consumption of residential buildings. Thus, using low-performance windows on buildings yields larger effects of WWR, facade orientation, and solar shading than high-performance windows. As the WWR increases from 0.2 to 0.8, the building energy consumption using the low-performance window increases 6.46 times than that using the high-performance window. The best facade orientation is changed from north to south according to the glazing properties. In addition, the solar shading need is correlated as a function of a window-glazing property and WWR. The cost analysis shows that the high-performance windows without solar shading are cost-effective as they have the largest net present cost compared to low-performance windows with or without solar shading. Accordingly, replacing low-performance windows with high-performance ones, in an existing residential building, saves about 12.7 MWh of electricity and 11.05 tons of CO₂ annually.     

Application of AHP and a mathematical index to estimate livability in tourist districts:The case of Al Qasba in Sharjah

Urban planners must ensure that urban public spaces are enjoyable to use to create a lively city that expresses their culture and traditions and welcomes social diversity. This study aims to develop a theoretical index for assessing the livability levels in tourist districts. Therefore, a survey-based study accompanied by a literature review is used to derive criteria for livability. In addition to using the analytic hierarchy process to develop an importancebased hierarchy of criteria, mathematical analysis is applied to derive the livability index. Furthermore, one of Sharjah’s well-known public spaces, Al Qasba Tourist District, is assessed as a case study. This study discussed the main concepts and factors of livability in urban public spaces to examine the livable extent of Qasba and the significance of criteria. Results show that the current livability level in Al Qasba is less than 50%, confirming its urgent need for further urban improvement. This study explores the livability assessment criteria and their influencing parameters. Using the suggested conceptual livability index enables decision makers to assess the livability level, analyze the influencing factors, and suggest solutions to improve the overall livability levels of open public spaces.     

Monitoring Trace Metals in Some Cultured Freshwater Fish Species in Saudi Arabia

Three species of freshwater fishes, Oreochromis niloticus, Clarias lazera and Cyprinus carpio, were collected in marketing size from some fish farms in Al-Kharj region, Riyadh area, Saudi Arabia and examined throughout the year 2012 for the following trace metals contents： chromium （Cr）, lead （Pb）, cobalt （Co）, nickel （Ni）, copper （Cu）, zinc （Zn）, iron （Fe） and cadmium （Cd）. The results showed no detection of Cd in all examined species, however, the mean values of other tested metals were within the standard permissible levels except for Pb which showed higher mean levels ranged from 2.05 ± 0.65 mg/kg to 5.30 ± 0.60 mg/kg in O. niloticus, 0.15 ± 0.13 mg/kg to 6.40 ± 0.10 mg/kg in C. lazera and 1.7 ± 0.20 mg/kg in C. carpio compared to the maximum permissible limits recorded by Saudi Arabia Standards Organization （SASO） for fish and shellfish. Consequently, from the public health point of view, efficient routine examination of cultured fishes to control trace metals during culture processes and before marketing is recommended.     

Flow felid and heat transfer enhancement investigations by using a combination of corrugated tubes with a twisted tape within 3D circular tube based on different dimple configurations

Different dimple geometrical configurations with a combination of corrugated tubes and twisted tape are numerically investigated. Water is used as a working fluid for constant heat flux heat transfer conditions at the pipe wall. The dimensionless diameter of the dimples (d/D) used in this study is 0.09, 0.18, 0.27, and 0.36. However, the corrugation configuration diameter is 1 mm. The numerical simulations are carried out at the Reynolds number in the range of 1500–14,000. The outcomes reveal that the friction factor (f) and Nu number are augmented as the dimple diameter increases. The Nu number ratio of 1.25 is found for a dimple pipe tube with a diameter of 4 mm. The numerical outcome presented more mixing, secondary, and vortex produced in the main flow direction and near the pipe wall to the rotating flow induced by twisted tape. Moreover, mixed, secondary vortices and rotational flow originate behind and near the dimple, twisted tape, and corrugation surfaces. These rotational and vortices can promote mixing in flow between the thermal boundary layer and velocity boundary flow layer. So, increase the heat transfer enhancement. The improved pipes with different dimple diameters produce a maximum performance evaluation factor of is more than 1.25.     

Parametric studies on drill-string motions

Experimental and numerical investigations are conducted into drill-string motions. The numerical efforts are carried out by using a reduced-order model with attention to stick–slip interactions between a drill string and an outer shell. These efforts are complemented by experimental studies conducted with a unique, laboratory scale model. Qualitative and quantitative changes in the system behavior are studied with respect to the rotation speed and mass imbalance. Comparisons are made between the numerical findings and the corresponding experimental results. In addition, the influence of contact conditions between the drill string and the outer shell on the drill-string dynamics is also examined. The findings of the work suggest that small changes in the system rotation speed can have a significant influence on the nature of drill-string motions and they also provide guidelines for steering the system out of regions of undesirable dynamics and maintaining drill-string motions close to the center of a borehole.     

Zirconia modified by Cs cationic exchange: Physico-chemical and catalytic evidences of basicity enhancement

Zirconia promoted with Cs was prepared by cationic exchange of zirconium hydroxide with Cs, then calcined at 550 °C, and refluxed in ethanol to remove weakly bonded Cs species. The promotion with Cs stabilized the ZrO₂ tetragonal phase and has significantly increased the amount and the strength of the basic sites titrated by microcalorimetry of CO₂ adsorption. XPS gave evidence of an electronic enrichment of Zr and O atoms and an enhanced amount of superficial carbonates over ZrOCs. In vegetable oil transesterification, TOFs higher than those of ZrO₂, MgAl-HDT, and NaOH were achieved over ZrOCs, demonstrating the potential of this novel solid base.     

The effects of hydrogen on aluminum-induced crystallization of sputtered hydrogenated amorphous silicon

The effects of hydrogen on aluminum-induced crystallization (AIC) of sputtered hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) were investigated by controlling the hydrogen content of a-SiH films. Nonhydrogenated (a-Si) and hydrogenated (a-Si:H) samples were deposited by sputtering and plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD). All aluminum films were deposited by sputtering. Hydrogen was introduced into the sputter-deposited a-Si films during the deposition. After deposition, the samples were annealed at temperatures from 200°C to 400°C for different periods of time. X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns were used to confirm the presence and degree of crystallization in the a-Si:H films. For nonhydrogenated films, crystallization initiates at a temperature of 350°C. The crystallization of sputter-deposited a-Si:H initiates at 225°C when 14% hydrogen is present in the film. As the hydrogen content is decreased, the crystallization temperature increases. On the other hand, the crystallization initiation temperature for PECVD a-Si:H containing 11at.%H is 200°C. Further study revealed that the crystallization initiation temperature is a function, not only of the total atomic percent hydrogen in the film, but also a function of the way in which the hydrogen is bonded in the film. Models are developed for crystallization initiation temperature dependence on hydrogen concentration in a-Si:H thin films.     

Flexible,Highly Graphitized Carbon Aerogels Based on Bacterial Cellulose/Lignin: Catalyst‐Free Synthesis and its Application in Energy Storage Devices

Currently, most carbon aerogels are based on carbon nanotubes (CNTs) or graphene, which are produced through a catalyst‐assisted chemical vapor deposition method. Biomass based organic aerogels and carbon aerogels, featuring low cost, high scalability, and small environmental footprint, represent an important new research direction in (carbon) aerogel development. Cellulose and lignin are the two most abundant natural polymers in the world, and the aerogels based on them are very promising. Classic silicon aerogels and available organic resorcinol–formaldehyde (RF) or lignin–resorcinol–formaldehyde (LRF) aerogels are brittle and fragile; toughening of the aerogels is highly desired to expand their applications. This study reports the first attempt to toughen the intrinsically brittle LRF aerogel and carbon aerogel using bacterial cellulose. The facile process is catalyst‐free and cost‐effective. The toughened carbon aerogels, consisting of blackberry‐like, core–shell structured, and highly graphitized carbon nanofibers, are able to undergo at least 20% reversible compressive deformation. Due to their unique nanostructure and large mesopore population, the carbon materials exhibit an areal capacitance higher than most of the reported values in the literature. This property makes them suitable candidates for flexible solid‐state energy storage devices. Besides energy storage, the conductive interconnected nanoporous structure can also find applications in oil/water separation, catalyst supports, sensors, and so forth.