Zainab Al-Khafaji

• MSc. Civil Engineering
• Lecturer at Liverpool John Moores University

This study aims to synthesize Nio film doped with Sn element at a ratio (2,4,8 and 16) % by using Physical Vapour Deposition RF Sputtering with annealing at 200, 300, 400, and 500. The results of XRD appear to be crystallizing of the thin film preparation at 500 ºC, and the annealing under this temperature will be amorphous. The SEM and AFM tests o...

In this research, a high-chromium white cast iron alloy was studied to improve the mechanical properties of wear-resistant wear. This is done by adding titanium as an alloying element during the casting process, forming an initial phase, titanium carbide. Titanium was added by (0 up to 2.595 Ti%) on six Hypoeutectic high-chromium cast iron alloys a...

The present work studied the amount of natural and anthropogenic radioactivity in 13 different imported legumes and grain specimens of various origins, which are part of the basket of foodstuffs provided by the government to the Iraqi people. These specimens were analyzed using Canberra's sodium iodide NaI (TI) detector gamma spectrometer systems....

Wind power became easy to access, clean, safe and cost-competitive among all renewable energy sources. It became one of the fastest-growing renewable energy resources in electricity generation. The wind power Horizontal axis wind turbine (HAWT) is proportional to the swept area. A multi-rotor can increase the area of the wind turbine in an array or...

An experimental and theoretical investigation was carried out to evaluate the effect of the flexural loads on the stress distribution oriented by "0, 45, 45,0" laminates of Kevlar-Epoxy composite. The mechanical response of a new advanced composite material was evaluated by comparing the measured and computed deflection values at the mid-point. The...

The engine's power stroke involves injecting LN2 into the cylinder at the top dead centre, allowing nitrogen and air gas to escape. This process, without combustion, overcomes engine friction losses, enabling intake, compression, and output power. Previous studies have focused on improving diesel engine efficiency by adding materials like hydrogen,...

The development of Aluminum-based composite metallic matrices (AMMCs) has become one of the main requirements for engineering applications due to their low weight, high strength, and superior mechanical characteristics. In this work, the effect of adding 1.25 wt% SiO2, 1.25 wt% Fe2O3, or a mixture of 1.25 wt% SiO2 and 1.25 wt% Fe2O3 hybrid particle...

Swirl flows, especially in decaying forms, have shown promise in enhancing thermal performance with minimal mechanical complexity, providing a practical alternative to traditional forced convection methods in annular geometries. The swirling flows are created by introducing tangential air inflow, which promotes mixing and disrupts thermal boundary...

Photovoltaics is one of the most widely employed clean energy sources on earth. However, when the temperature of the PV cell rises, its electrical power decreases, which makes it essential to find ways to develop the module's efficiency in high-temperature situations. One of the techniques used to raise efficiency and performance is cooling. Resear...

The evaluation of biomaterials in biological systems is crucial for the advancement of biomedical implants. Duplex Stainless Steel (DSS) alloys are widely utilized as biomaterials because of their notable features. Various surface coating processes are utilized to produce functional coatings on DSS alloy surfaces, enhancing their bioactivity and pr...

Al-7%Si) alloys are the most important of all aluminium-cast materials. They are suitable for all casting processes and have excellent casting. In this study, nanoparticles of Al2O3 and SiC have been added each separately as well as different heat treatment conditions (annealing, normalizing, quenching) have been used to study the effects on mechan...

To develop Titanium implants that are biocompatible, non-toxic and exhibit antibacterial properties, it is imperative to apply biomaterial coatings that meet the stringent standards required for biomedical applications. Hydroxyapatite (HA) is extensively used as a coating for bone implants due to its exceptional biocompatibility. However, Titanium'...

High-temperature oxidation has been an important scientific and technological subject for many years since it is a life-limiting factor in most equipment operating at high temps. Turbine blades used in Iraqi electrical gas power stations frequently require expensive maintenance by traditional processes. These blades are made of nickel superalloys s...

The “Vertical Drop” is a hydraulic structure widely utilized in irrigation and wastewater collection systems to equalize height differences between channel slopes and the natural terrain. Previous studies of vertical drops primarily focused on experimental investigations of their hydraulic properties. This study numerically analyzes the hydraulic f...

A multitude of industrial and residential customers have utilized heat transfer devices for heat conversion and recovery. For the last fifty years, engineers have diligently endeavored to refine a heat exchanger design that reduces energy use without compromising efficiency. Most techniques for enhancing heat transfer operate by either augmenting t...

In this study, polyethylene glycol (PEG) and natural dye were employed to make the liquid electrolyte media for solar cells. To prepare varied amounts of dye, the yellow dye of the flowers was extracted using diluted ethanol via ionized water. To produce a constant concentration of all polymer liquids, 10g of PEG dissolves in 1000 ml of solvents in...

Hybrid bilayer nano-heterojunction (NiPcTs) thin films, with a p-type active donor layer and n-type silicon (Si) acceptor, were manufactured at substrate temperatures of 300 K and 400 K. Using a thermal evaporation technique under vacuum conditions of 10⁻⁵ mbar and a deposition rate of 12 nm/min, these films were deposited onto two aluminum (Al) el...

Residual stresses significantly influence the integrity and performance of welded structures. Accurate measurement and understanding of these residual stresses are essential to ensure the reliability and safety of welded parts. There are several methods used to measure residual stresses in welds, including the Center Hole Drilling (CHD) technique,...

Vibration in pumps is a common problem and can lead to various problems that can affect the performance, reliability, and safety of the equipment. When pumps vibrate excessively, it can lead to decreased efficiency, increased wear, and premature failure of pump components. Therefore, it is essential to address pump vibration quickly and effectively...

Surface changes of biomaterials are essential for aligning with the biological system’s dynamics and enhancing the effectiveness of bioimplants. Customized surface alterations based on the material’s bonding ability, biocompatibility, and interactions with host cells may have a substantial impact. This investigation uses hydroxyapatite (HAp) with 0...

Adding reinforcement materials like carbon fibers with maleic anhydride improves the strength of polypropylene. The present work aimed to study the effect of adding maleic anhydride and carbon fibers on the mechanical properties of polypropylene enhanced by presenting carbon fibers. Carbon fibers added at different ratios (0, 2, 4, 6, and 8) % and...

Aim The effluent generated from wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) is a mixture of several chemicals, including, salts, chemical solvents, strong acidic, and alkaline so the study aimed to investigate the performance and characterization of the WWTP in a residential community to evaluate within the limits of the design of the plant. Methods For the...

Pure titanium and titanium alloys are the materials that are utilized the most often for the production of dental implants, and hydroxyapatite is the bioactive substance that is most frequently coated on titanium implants. Ceramics are a family of biomaterials that include hydroxyapatite. This substance has structural and chemical similarities with...

This review discusses the Arabic gum and gelatin-based films used in the food packaging industry. Gelatin is an essential biopolymer derivative of collagen. Various industries widely use it due to its technological and functional characteristics. Several constituents can be used as additives to recover their characteristics and requests. Antioxidan...

Hydroxyapatite (HAP) is a naturally occurring mineral that has received increasing attention as a biomaterial for use in biomedical applications. HAP is biocompatible and has excellent osteoconductivity and bone-bonding properties, making it a promising candidate for use in a range of medical applications, including bone regeneration, dental implan...

This research aims to modify the Ti alloy by anodic oxidation to enhance its surface properties, especially corrosion resistance for biomedical applications and DC sputtering plasma to close the porosity. Study the response to the plasma technique to deposit suitable coating layers of silver on a medical Ti alloy to enhance its surface properties f...

A gear is frequently employed in a wind turbine to increase the rotating speed from the low speed of the primary shaft to the shaft that links to the electrical generator. The stochastic, varying wind loads subject the gear of a wind turbine to severe cyclic stress. Consequently, the gear system is believed to have a higher failure rate than the ot...

MSE walls are deemed highly suitable for challenging foundation soil conditions characterised by anticipated differential settlements due to their inherent flexibility and mechanical redundancy. Typically, MSE retaining walls are composed of structural fill material reinforced with inclusions capable of withstanding tensile forces, which are interc...

The life cycle of the oil and gas transmission line consists of several critical stages: design, construction or installation, operation, and maintenance, and finally, repair. During the planning phase and before undertaking any work to build a new pipeline, there are several factors affecting the design process that must be taken into consideratio...

Biocompatibility and tribological issues with 316L stainless steel (SS) biomaterials reduce their service life. A metallic substrate made of stainless steel 316L (SS) was employed. After being subjected to a surface anodization process using sulfuric and nitric acids, it was coated with silver using a DC sputtering plasma method. The coating's crys...

Wind speed (WS) has played a vital role in local urban and sub-urban weather, agriculture, and ecosystem. Several meteorological parameters are influencing WS such as relative humidity (at 2 m, %), surface pressure (kPa), maximum temperature (at 2 m, °C), minimum temperature (at 2 m, °C), average temperature (at 2 m, °C), and all sky insolation inc...

This research is carried out to investigate and examine the critical benefits and significant contributions of integrating nanoparticles into the ETSC system to enhance the thermal efficiency, thermal performance, temperature out, and energy storage of the ETSC. The Simcenter STAR-CCM+ 2022.1 software package implemented numerical analysis and ther...

This research aims to improve thermal performance and compare the performance of two common crystalline PV panel types (Mono and poly). Modules with a back-cooling system were designed and numerically analyzed with SolidWorks and ANSYS-Fluent-2021-R2 for the simulation under Baghdad weather at noon. The cooling system used consists of a phase-chang...

Since building materials have been increasingly chosen based on their ecological attributes, contemporary development is strongly tied to preserving natural resources through avoiding environmental deterioration. Nevertheless, it was argued that concrete cannot be considered environmentally friendly because of its destructive, resource-consuming na...

The influence of crude oil (CRO) pollution on concrete compressive strength and durability performance is evaluated in this work. Due to CRO contamination on its compositions, concrete exposed to oil-prone areas may lead to considerable changes in its properties. Experimental work has been conducted, and several cubes of concrete with varying ratio...

Despite the increased usage of composite materials, high-strength aluminum alloys maintain significance in airframe construction. Aluminum's attributes of being lightweight, relatively low-cost, heat- treatable, and capable of withstanding high-stress levels contribute to its continued importance. These properties also reduce manufacturing and main...

This study aims to develop new ternary blend (TB) cement-free binder materials as an alternative to conventional cement by using Paper Sludge Ash (PSA) waste as the base material. During this research, the combined application of mechanical activation (grinding) and chemical activation by blending with pozzolanic: (silica fume; SF) and (rice husk a...

River flow (Qflow) is a hydrological process that considerably impacts the management and sustainability of water resources. The literature has shown great potential for nature-inspired optimized algorithms (NIOAs), like hybrid artificial intelligence (HAI) models, for Qflow modeling. Qflow forecasting needs to be accurate, robust, reliable, and ca...

Premature failure of hot mix asphalt (HMA) pavements in Iraq is typically caused by heavy loading, which requires frequent maintenance. Several approaches should be developed to prevent such failure and construct efficient and cost-effective pavements. In this study, a stone matrix asphalt (SMA) mixture is suggested as an alternative to reduce the...

Aluminum is a highly valuable structural metal utilized in various industrial sectors; particularly, it is utilized in considerable quantities in the nautical, aeronautical , and automotive industries. Aluminum is additionally utilized in small amounts in several other industrial sectors. The composite materials are now extensively utilized in vari...

The present investigation adopts a new method to recycle the oils. The used and recycled lubricants were compared to fresh oil. Accordingly, an investigation was carried out to evaluate the viscous shear of different oil grades at each certain temperature using the Walther formula of the viscosity-temperature relationship. The investigation indicat...

The steam turbine is the most effective and straightforward method of converting thermal energy into mechanical power. As steam expands, its velocity increases, exerting strong stresses on the turbine blades. The linear motion of the incoming steam with high temp and pressure is converted to rotation of the turbine shaft by the turbine blades. The...

Copper–base alloys are widely used in Marine industries and heat exchangers. Muntz Metal 60% Cu – 40% Zn is one of the critical Cu alloys used in decoration, tubing for heat exchangers, and Marine environments, but it is subject to dezincification and stress–correction cracking. This study employed alloying elements (Al, Sn, Ge) to achieve their pr...

Aluminium seems to be a highly valuable structural metal that is utilized in a variety of industrial sectors; especially, it is utilized in considerable quantities in the nautical, aeronautic, and automotive industries. Aluminium is additionally utilized in small amounts in several other industrial sectors. The composite materials are now extensive...

The impact of Nanoparticles of (2 3 and 3) particles on the features of cement mortar was explored in current research with a mean diameter of ~50nm, and 100nm in three various amounts of 1, 3, and 5% substitution by cement's weight as binary blending materials with fixed water/cement proportion 0.46. Cement mortar's mechanical and physical feature...

There is a scarcity of research regarding the efficacy of Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) confinement on low strength materials. This paper presents the findings of an experimental study that focuses on the behavior of concentrically loaded short concrete columns with high concrete strength, which are confined using CFRP wraps. A set of nine (9) squ...

Reactive Powder Concrete is a high-strength concrete with outstanding technical qualities. Cement production is seen as an environmentally unsustainable process. As a result, it is necessary to substitute cement in RPC manufacturing with an environmentally acceptable binder. Geopolymer seems to be a novel binder that can completely replace cement....

Pozzolanic materials, glass powder, and silica fume (SF) have all been used in concrete recently as a partial cement substitution to increase the strength of the concrete. The aim of this study is to analyze the impact of waste glass powder (WGP) and SF combination on high-strength concrete (HSC) characteristics. The working methodology of the curr...

Because it is essential to avoid toxicity and corrosion in order to enhance the steel components and their aesthetic magnitude used in our everyday life, there has been an increased interest in the electroless field, particularly with regard to the application of nickel-phosphor on steel substrates. In this work, electroless process by nickel low p...

The Muskingham method uses two formulas to describe the translation of flow surges in a river bed. The continuity formula is the first formula, while the relationship between the reach's storage, inflow, and outflow is the second formula (the discharge storage formula); these formulas are applied to a portion of the river between two river cross se...

It is well known that shape memory alloys are one of the most importance materials, especially when use a bio materials. The aim of this work is to study the effects of surface treatment by using ultrasonic waves on transition temperature. 51 wt.% Ni , 49 wt.% Ti and 55 wt.% Ni , 45 wt.% Ti were used prepared by PM , sintered at 850 °C for 7 hrs. ,...

The construction industry has witnessed a substantial increase in the demand for eco-friendly and sustainable materials. Eco-friendly concrete containing Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag (GGBFS) and Recycled Coarse Aggregate (RCA) is such a material, which can contribute to a reduction in waste and promote environmental sustainability. Compress...

Reinforced concrete (RC) flat slabs are widely employed in modern construction, and accurately predicting their load-carrying capacity is crucial for ensuring safety and reliability. Existing design methods and empirical equations still exhibit discrepancies in determining the ultimate load capacity of flat slabs. This study aims to develop a robus...

The problem of corrosion is quite risky and costly. There is always the possibility of bridges and buildings collapsing, oil pipelines bursting, chemical plants leaking, and bathroom flooding. Corroded medical implants might result in blood poisoning, corroded electrical connections could start fires and cause other problems, and worldwide air poll...

Sustainability and reducing environmental damage caused by CO2 emissions have become issues of interest to researchers in the construction sector around the world. Reducing the cement content in concrete by partially substituting it with by-products or waste falls within this field as the cement industry is responsible for 7% of global CO2 emission...

Climatic condition is triggering human health emergencies and earth’s surface changes. Anthropogenic activities, such as built‑up expansion, transportation development, industrial works, and some extreme phases, are the main reason for climate change and global warming. Air pollutants are increased gradually due to anthropogenic activities and trig...

This article presents a mathematical model developed using the M5P tree to predict the shear strength of steel-fiber-reinforced concrete (SFRC) for slender beams using soft computing techniques. This method is becoming increasingly popular for addressing complex technical problems. Other approaches, such as semi-empirical equations, can show known...

Stone columns have been extensively advocated as a traditional approach to increase the undrained bearing capacity and reduce the settlement of footings sitting on cohesive ground. However, due to the complex interaction between the soil and the stone columns, there currently needs to be a commonly acknowledged approach that can be used to precisel...

This study uses machine learning (ML) models for a high-resolution prediction (0.1°×0.1°) of air fine particular matter (PM2.5) concentration, the most harmful to human health, from meteorological and soil data. Iraq was considered the study area to implement the method. Different lags and the changing patterns of four European Reanalysis (ERA5) me...

This research was prepared as a preliminary laboratory study to achieve a moving hydraulic jump with controlled discharges. It is an initial part of the study that is being prepared to treat the salt tide occurring in the Shatt al-Arab due to the lack of water imports that were coming from the Karun and Karkheh rivers from Iranian territory, as thi...

In terms of understanding the many types of waste and disposal options, this paper discusses how to handle medical waste. Over the past two decades, medical waste issues have become a problem with detrimental effects on environmental health. As a result, experts in public health and environmental issues started researching this phenomenon in all it...

The performance of biomaterials in biological systems is of critical significance for advancing biomedical implants. Duplex Stainless Steel alloys are the major biomaterials due to their significant characteristics. Many functional coatings are deposited on DSS alloy surfaces utilizing numerous surface coating techniques to improve their bioactivit...

Water engineering problems are typically nonlinear, multivariable, and multimodal optimization problems. Accurate water engineering problem optimization helps predict these systems’ performance. This paper proposes a novel optimization algorithm named enhanced multioperator Runge–Kutta optimization (EMRUN) to accurately solve different types of wat...

Unconfined compressive strength (UCS) can be used to assess the applicability of geopolymer binders as ecologically friendly materials for geotechnical projects. Furthermore, soft computing technologies are necessary since experimental research is often challenging, expensive, and time-consuming. This article discusses the feasibility and the perfo...

Global warming is by far the most significant issue caused by climate change. Over the past few decades, heat stress has intensified into a serious issue that has a negative impact on crop production. Hence, it is crucial to modify cultivation systems to cope with this kind of stress, particularly in arid dry regions. In comparison to open-field cu...

Designing mixtures of asphalt with a porous structure to gain good trainability decreases both the propagation and generation of traffic noise. Porous asphalt (PA) mixtures use crushed stone, a small proportion of processing sand, admixtures, and asphalt binders. Therefore, this study aims to examine the impact of adding crumbed rubber into the mix...

Scholars have spent much time studying metal deposition procedures involving the deposition of electroless nickel, alloy, and composite coatings on various surfaces; the most current uses were feasible advantages of the coatings’ many good properties for achieving the final product innovation. Lately, these coatings have demonstrated intriguing wea...

The computer aided models have received much attention in the recent years for solving diverse civil engineering applications. In the current review, the applications of artificial intelligence (AI) methodologies in modeling beam shear strength are presented. The review is attempted to give an insightful version for AI models progression in modelin...

Growing environmental pollution worldwide is mostly caused by the accumulation of different types of liquid and solid wastes. Therefore, policies in developed countries seek to support the concept of waste recycling due to its significant impact on the environmental footprint. Hot-mix asphalt mixtures (HMA) with reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) hav...

Torsional strength is related with one of the most critical failure types for the design and assessment of reinforced concrete (RC) members due to the complexity of the associated stress state and low ductility. Previous studies have shown that reliable methods to predict the torsional strength of RC beams are still needed, namely for over-reinforc...

This study investigates the effect of cement and tire rubber on the dynamic behavior of clay (bentonite) by performing a series of repeated loading triaxial tests. The effect of cement in two percentages (1, and 2% by dry weight) on reinforced clay with different tire rubber (5, 10, and 15% by dry weight) was examined. Based on the results of the c...

The behavior of hollow-core columns composed of reactive powder concrete (RPC) contained by a circular carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) tube is investigated numerically in this work. This research used circular hollow core column samples with an outside diameter of 20.6 cm, an interior diameter of 9cm, and a height of 80cm. These examples hav...

This study investigated and prepared a coating for surgical implants by using hydroxyapatite (HA) empowers characteristic bone that developed at a medium for prosthetic the parts of the human body. HA is the generally manufactured from both Calcium (Ca) and Phosphate (P) to produce (Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2) that utilized as a base material for covering min...

Push-out-shear tests were used in this study to analyze lag screw connections in timber-concrete composite (TCC) slabs based on the embedment depth. The goal of this research is to look into the relationship between shear capacity and embedment depth in TCC, as well as to investigate the embedment strength of the wood. Experiments were carried out...

This investigation aimed to improve great early geopolymer mortar strengths under various parameters with various binder proportions to reduce the use of cement since the OPC production process leads to high emissions of CO2. Hence, to solve this problem, alternative materials were used. In this research, metakaolin (MK) and ground-granulated blast...

Construction cost estimation is one of the essential processes in construction management. Project cost is a complex engineering problem due to various factors affecting the construction industry. Accurate cost estimation is important in construction management and significantly impacts project performance. Artificial intelligence (AI) models have...

Air temperature (AT) prediction can play a significant role in studies related to climate change, radiation and heat flux estimation, and weather forecasting. This study applied and compared the outcomes of three advanced fuzzy inference models, i.e., dynamic evolving neural-fuzzy inference system (DENFIS), hybrid neural-fuzzy inference system (HyF...

Silica is considered one of the most prevalent components in the Earth’s shell and is synthesized for use in technological applications. Nevertheless, new methods for finding a better, cheaper, and more ecologically friendly supply of silica with less energy consumption are unavoidable. This study investigates whether nanopowders made from waste wi...