Journal of Studies in Civil Engineering

Comparative Analysis of Leakage Behavior in Continuous and Intermittent Water Distribution Systems

Kaywan Othman Ahmed — 2024-12-20

Leakage within a water distribution system (WDS) leads to significant water supply reductions due to pipeline malfunctions, operational inefficiencies, and physical disruptions. This study investigates the experimental work on identifying the difference between continuous and intermittent water distribution systems using equivalent and series pipeline systems. The (WDS) will be monitored digitally at an accurate rate, and the data will be stored in a real-time database as graphs. As a result, in continuous water distribution systems, higher flow rates are directly linked to increased leakage severity, which is further aggravated by system losses and valve issues, as evidenced by the declining trends in the graph. In contrast, intermittent systems exhibit consistent leakage behavior across different scenarios and valves. The uniformity in sensor responses supports the effectiveness of current monitoring strategies and highlights the necessity for tailored management approaches for each system type. Research findings indicate that leakages lead to a decrease in flow rates that intensify with higher flows, underscoring the critical need to preserve the integrity of the system. In continuous water distribution systems (CWD), leakages occur at higher rates compared to intermittent systems (IWD), with instances of single leaks (SL) proving more detrimental than multiple leaks (ML) due to their concentrated impact. Particularly, the second valve shows increased vulnerability in both systems and thus necessitates focused monitoring and preventive maintenance. Furthermore, a detailed analysis quantified the variations in leakage rates and discharge volumes between continuous and intermittent systems, as well as across single and multiple leakage scenarios within each system, highlighting key areas that require attention.

Effects of Using Waste Glass Granular and Lightweight Pumice Granular on the Abrasion Resistance of Pervious Concrete

Soran Abdrahman Ahmad — 2024-12-20

Pervious concrete is one of the concrete types that contain no or little fine aggregate to obtain the void between aggregate particles for permitting passage of water through and reducing the risk of flooding. This article deals with the preparation of two sets of sustainable pervious concrete by using waste glass granular, lightweight pumice aggregate as a partial replacement of single-size coarse aggregate with six different ratios, including 0, 5, 10, 20, 30, and 50%, for finding their effect on the mechanical properties, permeability, and abrasion resistance. The second group used waste glass granular as a partial replacement of coarse aggregate with the same rate of pumice aggregate to find their effect on the abrasion resistance ability of the previous concrete and compare them together. The obtained result showed that using lightweight aggregate as a partial replacement of coarse aggregate with a single size (9.5–12.5 mm) increased the mechanical properties and permeability of pervious concrete. The usage of LWA compared to the WGG in the previous concrete showed that LWA provided lower abrasion resistance ability (toughness) compared to the WGG.

Evaluating Consumer Preferences and Perceptions of Packaged Drinking Water

Ahsan Abdalkhaliq Taha — 2024-12-20

The global consumption of bottled water is increasing, particularly in developing countries. This study aims to evaluate the quality of packaged water and examine the level of awareness regarding its consumption among residents of Sulaimani City in the Kurdistan region of Iraq, using a structured questionnaire that covers demographics, water quality perceptions, reasons for preference, and satisfaction or grievances. The results reveal that demographic factors such as age, gender, education, and family size significantly affect perceptions. Younger and older individuals view packaged water as more convenient, while middle-aged respondents are less favorable. Higher education correlates with greater environmental awareness, and larger families find packaged water less practical. Shops, social media, and word of mouth are the primary information sources, with males generally expressing more favorable views. The study emphasizes the need to address demographic-specific concerns and raise awareness about environmental impacts. Policymakers and businesses should develop tailored strategies to enhance consumer satisfaction and promote sustainable consumption.

Behavior of Normal Reinforced Concrete Two-Way Slabs with Openings: A Review

Mohammed Hassan — 2024-12-20

The structural performance of two-way reinforced concrete slabs is significantly influenced by the presence of openings, which are frequently required for functional elements like staircases, lift shafts, and utility ducts. These apertures diminish slab stiffness and affect punching shear strength due to their size and placement. This review integrates experimental, analytical, and computational analyses to assess the influence of slab openings on structural performance. It discusses essential factors, including opening dimensions, configuration, positioning, and reinforcement techniques. The predicted reliability of design codes, such as ACI 318-19 (American Concrete Institute), Eurocode 2, and fib Model Code, is demonstrated, with an emphasis on their limitations in addressing opening effects. The results demonstrated that apertures adjacent to columns markedly reduce punching shear resistance by interrupting the critical shear perimeter and exacerbating stress concentrations. Nevertheless, the strategic positioning of reinforcements and the optimization of opening layouts alleviate these consequences. This literature review highlights the need for enhanced design specifications to guarantee safety and performance in reinforced concrete slab systems with apertures.

An Overview of the Impact of Fly Ash and Polypropylene Fiber on the Mechanical Properties of Foam Concrete

Soran Abdrahman Ahmad — 2024-12-20

Foam concrete is a significant engineering research topic considering its lightweight, high homogeneity, low cost, and low thermal conductivity (<0.5 W/mK). These reasons enhanced good property become an important achievement and modify the use of foamed concrete. This paper includes a review of the effect of added material to the foamed concrete (coarse fly ash, fine fly ash, and fiber reinforcement) on the elastic modulus of concrete. The results show that the addition of fly ash as a fine aggregate decreases the elastic modulus value (E-value) by 20% compared to specimens without fly ash, while reducing dry shrinkage by 35% when 30% of cement is replaced with fine fly ash of density equal to 1400 Kg/m3, also reducing the heat of hydration by adding 0.15 % polypropylene fiber, increasing the E-value by 14.41 % for a density of 1600 Kg/m3 and increasing the E-value by 65.6% for a density of 1800 Kg/m3. The E-value of foamed concrete is equal to about 0.25 of the E-value of normal weight concrete, and the value of static modulus of elasticity typically varies between 1000 and 8000 MPa in foamed concrete. Also, proposed models given in the literature to predict modulus of elasticity in different situations with different additional materials are given in this paper.