Abstracts of the Published Research Papers

During the Period(2010-2015)

  1. LEFM to Investigate the Impact of Deteriorated Particles in Composite Material.

ASME 2015 International Mechanical Engineering Congress and ExpositionVolume 14: Emerging Technologies; Safety Engineering and Risk Analysis;

Houston, Texas, USA, November 13–19, 2015, ISBN: 978-0-7918-5757-1

Abstract: Due to its distinguished properties especially being isotropic, particulate reinforced composite is considered as one of the attractive material for wide range of applications, where the relatively low manufacturing cost is a desirable advantage. In the present analysis, deteriorated particles embedded in particulate reinforced composite have been investigated. The impact of the fractured particles is studied through the principles of fracture mechanics using finite element method. Mainly the stiffness variation of the composite due to the presence of the fractured particles is mainly predicted, since it is considered as an important factor especially from the view point of the damage-tolerant design of composite structures. A representative volume element (RVE) has been selected to represent the particulate composite with different particle volume fractions. It is important to point out that based on a previous investigation and comparison between two and three dimensional finite element analysis for a particulate reinforced composite, two-dimensional, plane strain finite element analysis is used to estimate the stresses and deformation that taken place. Uniaxial tensile stress perpendicular to the crack face of the fractured particle has been applied to the representative volume element. Due to symmetry of the studied geometries, quarter of the representative volume element is modeled via finite element method with a consistent mesh as possible to maintain reliable results. Linear elastic fracture mechanics (LEFM) is adopted through estimating stress intensity factor (SIF) of the cracked particles. Basically, the investigation covers the assessment of fractured particles with different crack lengths, where the particle’s stiffness is considered as a substantial parameter in the analysis in combination with others. Moreover, various particles volume fractions are taken into account to figure out their influence on the effective Young’s modulus of the representative volume element chosen for the studied cases. Multiple point constraints (MPC) technique is adopted in the finite element model to calculate the effective stiffness of the fractured particle. In general, it has been shown that there is a considerable influence of the deteriorated particles on increasing stress intensity factor levels at the crack tip as long as the crack length increases with respect to the particle size, and this basically depends on the stiffness ratio of the matrix/particle considered in the analysis. In the other hand, it has been noticed that a significant reduction in the effective stiffness of the particulate composite which is calculated based on the modeled representative volume element as a function of the crack length.

  1. Precast Ferrocement Hollow Core Slab/Wall Panels.14th International Conference on Sustainable Energy Technologies – SET2015, 25th-27th of August 2015, Nottingham, UK.

Abstract: A total of five full scale ferrocement multi-cell box slab panel were constructed and tested under flexural loads. The main parameters considered in present work were number of wire mesh layers at top and bottom flanges and webs and the positions of intermediate diaphragms. The behavior was monitored by reading deflections at mid-span and by observing the crack patterns and mode of failure. From the results obtained, it was found that decreasing number of wire mesh layers at the bottom flanges tend to decrease the load capacity and increase the lateral deflections. It is concluded that the precast ferrocement multi-cell box slab/ wall panels developed in the present work can be used as building system and comparison of tests results with the standard design loads of buildings showed that the proposed system matches the design loads and can be used in construction of a wide range of buildings.

  1. Mechanical Properties of Nano-Cement Mortar: Compression and Tension.Proceedings of the 2015 International Conference on Industrial Engineering and Operations Management, Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), March 3-5, 2015. Published in Industrial and Operations Management (IEOM), 2015. Scopus Indexing.

Abstract: The present research examines the compressive and tension strength of nano cement mortar by using micro cement, micro sand, nano silica and nano clay in developing a nano-cement mortar which can lead to improvements in concrete construction. The results have shown an increase in both the compressive and tensile strength of mortar at early stages of hardening. For testing purpose, 50mm cubes and 250*50*10 mm prisms were cast and tested for determining the compressive and tensile strength of nano-cement mortar. The parameters that were taken consideration during the investigation were micro sand, micro cement, nano silica, developed nano clay and naphthalene sulphonate as super-plasticizers. It has been concluded that the measured results demonstrate significant increase in the tensile strength of the developed mortar. Accordingly, an empirical equation is formulated for tensile strength prediction.

Keywords:Compressive, Tensile, Nano-cement, Nano-silica.

  1. Thermal Performance of Ferrocement Green Buildings System.Springer Proceedings in Energy, ICREGA’14- Renewable Energy: Generation and Applications. Chapter 21

Abstract: Urban development is a key consumer of energy, a structural system based on generic services facilities is introduced and prefabricated cavity walls/ and roofs within the structural system present a series of possibilities for the solution of building construction at maximum reduction of the electrical energy. The energy required to run the building using the proposed ferrocement construction system is determined and the possibility of using the renewable energy production rather than energy depleted is presented.

Keywords:Ferrocement, Thermal, Green building.

  1. Development of Engineered Material Arresting System to Protect Overrun Aircraft, International Research Journal on Engineering Vol. 2(4), pp.046-051, September,2014.

Abstract: Aircraft accidents are a serious of a challenge, the present work deals with developing an arresting system to protect the overrun aircraft to avoid the loss of life and property. The pilot may not be able to stop the aircraft on the runway at the exact location for several reasons, including a malfunction in the brake system, or as a result a failed landing or takeoff. Unfortunately, most of the airports do not have enough space to establish longer runways. This has promoted the development of GroundArrestor System (GAS). Currently, (GAS) has been deployed in few of the airports throughout the world and is called as Engineered Material Arrestor System(EMAS). EMAS is an extension of low compressive strength concrete so that when the plane enters into it with a certain speed, concrete will be crushed under the influence of the weight of the aircraft and that makes the wheels of the plane diving into the concrete and then scattering the kinetic energy of the aircraft until it stops completely. The research program examined the behavior of ultra-lightweight concrete with variation of chemical admixtures. Different concrete mixtures were batched and tested for fresh and hardened properties to develop the ultra-lightweight concrete that meet the requirements provided by FAA in advisory circular AC 150/5220-22A.

Keywords: Arrestor System, EMAS, Overrun Aircraft, Passive System.

  1. Performance of Ferrocement Eco-Housing System under Direct Fire. 13th International Conference on Sustainable Energy technologies (SET2014),25-28th August,2014, Geneva, Paper ID: SET2014-E40112

Abstract: The use of ferrocement in pre-fabricated buildings provides many advantages in terms of lightness of weight(since its thickness is usually between 10 and 50 mm), ease of handling, lowLabour cost in its production and a durable material requiring little maintenance. This would further lead to an “eco-friendly” low cost housing without any loss of structural integrity. A structural system based on generic services facilities is introduced by Al-Rifaie and prefabricated ferrocement cavity walls/ and roofs are adopted within the proposed system.The performance of the system under direct fire is discussed in the present work by means of erecting a full scale ferrocement room and fire was burnt inside the room for a period of 2½ hours with stand temperature up to 756̊ C. The behavior of ferrocement elements was monitored by reading the deflection and temperature for the roof at middle and two thirds points and by observing the crack patterns and spalling of the elements.

Keywords:Direct fire, Eco-housing, Ferrocement, Spalling, Temperature.

  1. Experimental Investigation of Nano-PolymercementComposite.Study of Civil Engineering and Architecture (SCEA) Volume ,2014.

Abstract: The present research program was carried out to develop a new composite material to be considered for different applications. Hence, the present work concern with the development of a very thin structural element to be used for example, strengthening or rehabilitation of pipe lines for pressurized pipes rather than using polymeric composite materials, construct poles for lighting and wind turbine, manufacturing of underwater turbine blades and even impellers, water tanks and anti-bullet protective panels or even anti—explosion sheets used in trucks. The development of Nano structural element may then be called “nano-polymercement”. The parameters considered during the investigation were micro sand, micro cement, Nano silica, Nano clay, naphthalene sulphonate and Nano polymer mesh. In addition, the influence of heating on the compressive strength of Nano cement mortar were discussed. It may be concluded that the ductility of nano-polymercement as developed in the present of Nano cement mortar and Nano polymer mesh enables a large deflection to take place with no cracks.

  1. An Approximate Method for the Design of Ferrocement Beams. International Journal of Engineering and Advanced Technology(IJEAT), ISSN:2249-8958, Volume-3, Issue-4, April 2014.

Abstract: A simple analytical model is proposed to design the ferrocement rectangular beam subjected to flexural loading. The predicted results of cross sectional resistance moment obtained using the proposed model is compared with ACI(trial and error) method. A parametric study was conducted to estimate the influence of volume fraction of reinforcement and the depth of the beam. The comparison between the proposed and ACI methods was quite satisfactory.

Keywords:Ferrocement, Pre-fabricated building, Moment, Eco-housing.

  1. Ferrocement in Eco-Housing System.International Journal of Renewable Energy Research, Vol.4, No.1, 2014.Scopus Indexing.

Abstract: Urban development is a key consumer of energy, a structural system based on generic services facilities is introduced by Al-Rifaie and prefabricated ferrocement cavity wall and roof panels within the proposed system present a series of possibilities for the solution of building construction at maximum reduction of the electrical energy. The energy required to run the building using the proposed ferrocement construction system and the use of traditional method of construction is determined. It may be concluded that the modern method (ferrocement eco-housing system) is able to produce very energy efficient dwellings.

Keywords:Eco-Housing, Ferrocement, Renewable energy.

  1. Experimental Investigation on Thin Ferrocement Dome Structures. International Journal of Engineering and Advanced Technology(IJEAT), ISSN:2249-8958, Volume-3, Issue-2, December 2013.

Abstract: The paper describes an experimental study for the effect of both skeletal reinforcement and thickness on the strength capacity and behavior of thin ferrocement dome structures under uniformly distributed load. Four ferrocementdomes of 4000 mm covered span were constructed and tested up to ultimate stage. It has been concluded that the construction technique developed in the present investigation reflects the most economic approach, which reduces the nominal cost of such complex structures during construction.

Index Terms:Ferrocement, Shell, Dome, Folded plate.

  1. Characterization of stiffened circumferentially cracked pipe with fiber reinforced polymer composite patch.Advanced Materials Letters, September 2013.

Scopus Indexing.

Abstract: In this work the fiber reinforced polymer FRP patch is utilized to restore damaged metallic pipe with outer part through circumferential crack. A circumferential patch was employed to cover the full surface of the pipe at the cracked area. Linear elastic fracture mechanics LEFM scheme and finite element method ware used to evaluate the stress intensity factor(SIF) and the crack opening displacement (COD) as characterizing parameters along the surface crack profile. ANSYS package was utilized in this study and 3D-20 nodes solid elements was adopted. Two loading conditions were investigated, that is, axial load and bending load. It was found that COD and hence the SIF reduced considerably in the vicinity of the crack tip using the stiffened technique.

Keywords: Circumferential crack, FRP composite patch, Pipes, SIF, COD.

  1. The Impact of Embedded Non-inclusion in Nanofiber Reinforced Composite. Physical Review & Research International 3(4):438-451, 2013.

Abstract: Studying the influence of a Nano-inclusion embedded in Nanofiber reinforced composite alongside a Nanofiber is the objective of the present investigation. The analysis is done based on 2D, linear elastic finite element through using finite element package ANSYS/Mechanical to explore the impact of the Nano-inclusion on the mechanical behavior of the Nanocomposite. Mainly, two scenarios are the major outlines of the study, first whenever the presence of the Nano-inclusion is located at the longitudinal side of the Nanofiber, whereas in the second case, the Nano-inclusion is proposed to be along the transverse side of the Nanofiber. The levels of the interfacial stresses, normal and shear along the Nanofiber’s sided are estimated and discussed. The mechanical properties of the matrix and Nanofiber of the Nanocomposite are considered be similar to the traditional well known materials, while for the modeling purposes of the stiffness of the Nano-inclusion, is taken as 1/100 of the matrix stiffness. The Nanocomposite is subjected to uniaxial tensile stress which is the main stress applied. The implications of theexistence of the Nano-inclusion on the failure of the nanocomposite due to increase of the interfacial stresses in the Nanofiber/matrix line are discussed as well. It is shown through the analysis that the Nano-inclusion has a great influence on the increase of the interfacial stresses along the sided of the Nanofiber in a Nanocomposite in a different level and conditions according to the location of the Nano-inclusion, and this essentially is considered as one of the main reasons of the anticipated Nanocomposite failure.

  1. Development of Nano Cement Mortar as a Construction Material. Advanced Materials Research Vol.795(2013) pp684-691, Trans Tech Publications Switzerland.Scopus Indexing.

Abstract: The present research examined the compressive and flexural strength of Nano cement mortar by using micro cement, micro sand, Nano silica and Nano clay in developing Nano cement mortar which can lead to improvements in Ferrocement construction. The measured results demonstrate the increase in compressive and flexural strength of mortars at early stages of hardening. In addition, the influence of heating on compressive strength of cement mortar. General expressions to predict the compressive strength, modulus of rupture for the developed Nano cement mortar in the present work are proposed.

  1. Development Of Nano Polymer Mesh-Nano Cement Mortar Composite. IMS/7 International Conference On: Advances in Engineering Materials.

Abstract: The present research program was carried out to develop a Nano-structural material in manufacturing elements which can be used as a replacement to a material need it for different applications to reduce the pre-processes that must be done to make the shapes and the dimensions required. Hence, the work presents with the development of a very this structural element to be used for example, strengthening or rehabilitation of pipe lines for pressurized pipes rather than using polymeric composite materials, construct poles for lighting and wind turbine “ more description of applications”. Manufacturing under water turbine blades and even impellers, water tanks and anti-bullet protective panels or even anti explosion sheets used in trucks. The development of Nano structural element may then be called “Nano-polymercement”. The parameters considered during the investigation were micro sand, micro cement, Nano silica, Nano clay, naphthalene sulphonate and Nano polymer mesh. In addition, the influence of heating on the compressive strength of Nano cement mortar were discussed. It may be concluded that the ductility of Nano-polymercement as developed in the present of Nano cement mortar and Nano polymer mesh enables a large deflection to take place with no cracks.

  1. Structural Assessment via FEA of Bonded Steel Structures using Fiber Reinforced Epoxy Adhesive. International Journal of Material and Mechanical Engineering, 2012, 1:61-65.

Abstract: This paper presents a numerical study using FEM of adhesively bonded steel beams under three point bending. Previous studies done by Hashim had examined the behavior of pure adhesive layers experimentally and by FEM, and it was found that the FE analysis showed a good accuracy with respect to the experimental test which was adopted to minimize the efforts and the cost. Accordingly, in the present analysis using FEM was the major technique to investigate the possibility of improving the properties of the adhesive layers by enhancement using fillers like fiber reinforcements. Therefore, the authors focused on the improvement of the characteristics of reinforced adhesive layer in order to improve the mechanical response of the adhesively bonded beam. Toelucidate the effectiveness of the fiber reinforcement and its impact on the whole bonded structure behavior, interface coefficient for the adhesive layer was estimated for both stresses and deflections and compared for both bonded and solid beams (welded). Due to complication of studying the welded structures because of the residual and thermal stresses, a comparison by considering the welded beams as solid one for simplicity is proposed. The numerical simulations were compared with classical beam theory while sandwich theory was applied to the bonded beams as an analytical investigation. As a result of the study, it was found that by reinforcing the adhesive layer using fiber fillers, the flexural stiffness of the bonded beam increased, and as a consequence the bending and shear stresses are decreased.