Current Trends in Civil Engineering and Engineering Sciences 2024, Vol 1

The findings of laboratory tests on the impact of matric suction on the compressibility of unsaturated gypsum sand soil under various percentages of adding Cement Kiln Dust (CKD) (1%, 3%, and 5%) are presented in this research. The soil samples were taken from Al-Najaf City in Iraq and had a 5% gypsum percentage. The results of the conducted tests depend on the saturation-unsaturation Oedometer device. In this paper, seven tests were performed. The first one was in saturated conditions and the second one was the Soil-Water Characteristic Curve (SWCC) to show the behavior of the wetting and drying paths. Then, depending on the initial matric suction that was calculated according to the field moisture content and the SWCC-wetting path, five unsaturated tests were done. The findings of these results are by increasing the matric suction, the volumetric strains are decreased, and the optimum percent of CKD material was 1%. This work could be used when dealing with such soil by using CKD materials as a west material.

The recent paper investigates the permeability of the washed sand soil and gypseous sand soil using a modified Oedometer cell. The gypseous sand soil sample is taken from a district in Al-Najaf city, Iraq. The soils are classified as “SP” according to the unified soil classification system. The gypsum content is 29% for gypseous sand soil. The samples are disturbed and remolded into the Oedometer cell with a density of 90% of the maximum Proctor dry density. The specific density samples are subjected to three different water heads: 0.80, 1.00, and 1.20 m. The first head (80 cm) is applied to the initial dry soil up to a saturated and steady state. While the other heads are subjected after the completion of the first one. Additional tests are performed on the nanoclay-treated soils with 5, 10, and 15%. The results of the permeability tests stated that there are a few differences in behavior between the two soils. The dry condition (first head) of the specimen is the longest duration of the test for both soils in the change from dry to saturated and then to steady condition. After adding 10% of the nanoclay, the permeability of the soil significantly decreases, and adding more is not worth it. In order to maintain the least amount of permeability reduction without interfering with the gypsum’s dissolving and washing processes in the soil, the water-head-to-specimen-thickness ratio must be less than 36.

Taiwan is located in the seismic zone of the Pacific Ring of Fire and typhoon pathways, so that its geological and hydrological environment unique and prone to disasters such as landslides, mudslides, and debris flows are very frequent. Consequently, Taiwan has implemented high-standard disaster prevention and control measures, complemented by software-based strategies. Among these, the rainfall-triggered landslide warning threshold plays a crucial role. Moreover, earthquakes have a significant impact on slope stability, leading to internal deformation and reduced strength. Therefore, the post-earthquake rainfall warning threshold should be set lower than that before the earthquake. The current adjustment method relies mainly on historical disaster events and empirical data, lacking a physically-based model. In this study, the numerical analysis is utilized to analyze variations in internal slope strength under different seismic scales for various slope gradients and soil properties. The aim is to establish an adaptive mechanism for adjusting rainfall warning thresholds under different scenarios. The research indicates that slopes composed of medium dense sandy soil exhibit the most significant strength reduction post-earthquake, suggesting a recommended adjustment of the warning threshold by more than 20% and potentially requiring more than six months to recover the strength.

Nowadays, oil is the world’s primary energy supply and plays a key role in stimulating economic expansion by meeting growing energy needs, particularly in industry and transport. However, the growing global demand for petroleum products is leading to a number of negative consequences. The extraction of crude oil and the occurrence of spills and leaks have the potential to contaminate soils and alter their physical, mechanical and chemical properties. This study involves the laboratory evaluation of the physical properties of clayey soils and the change in shear strength properties of soil samples obtained from 6 different sites within the Maysan Refinery in Iraq, which were affected by the crude oil spill. The six sites were selected for comparison based on their proximity to the refinery and the availability of clean, uncontaminated soil. The results of the research indicate that the release of crude oil into the surrounding environment had a significant impact on sites within a two-kilometer radius of the refinery. The geotechnical properties of the soil are significantly affected by the presence of oil, resulting in a reduction in undrained shear strength and bearing capacity. Negative effects on soil physical parameters, including bulk density and specific gravity, have been observed. This makes them unsuitable for various engineering purposes.

Gypseous soils suffer from settlement suddenly when subjected to flow of water because of the dissolution of gypsum salts, so all the buildings built on gypseous soil undergo significant deformations due to the soil’s ability to collapse. Nano-silica is now being used as an additive in geotechnical engineering to enhance the important properties of soils. This study provides a comprehensive review of the characteristics of nano-silica and its impact on the geotechnical properties of gypseous soil containing a high gypsum of 80.4%. The investigation evaluates the impact of several ratios of nano-silica (1, 2, 3, 4, and 5%) on the behavior of such soil. Nano-silica exerts a beneficial influence on the collapsibility and shear strength parameters of soil. According to test observations, the addition of nano-silica to gypseous soil increased significantly the shear strength parameters at percent (33–350%) and (14–72%) for cohesion and angle of internal friction, respectively. Also, the nano material leads to increase both the optimum water content (12–62%), and liquid limits (36–109%). At another hand, nano-silica contributed to decrease in the collapse index from 9.05 to 4.65%, maximum dry density, specific gravity, pH value, and gypsum content of the soil.

Gypseous soil is characterized by complex and irregular behavior, so it is classified as problematic soil, which are mainly concentrated in arid and semi-arid regions of the world. As for Iraq, gypseous soils covers about (30–35) % of the total area of Iraq, as this type of soil is found in the Western Desert and extends to the southern parts of the country. Gypseous soils are considered strong soils, but they are subject to sudden collapse when wet. To control the collapse of gypseous soils, one of the most common types of geotextile fabrics used to strengthen soils is geotextiles. Shear and collapse tests were conducted for natural and reinforced soil with geotextiles, and it was found that increasing the number of layers of geotextile leads to an increase in shear parameters and reduces soil collapse. This study also tests the potential benefits of woven geotextile in increasing the ultimate bearing capacity of foundations based on gypseous soils. The foundation is built from a strong 10 mm thick steel plate measuring 100 × 100 mm. In this study are the depth of the geotextile layer, which was placed at depths (0.1B, 0.2B, 0.4B, 0.8B and B) of the width of the foundation used. The results of the experiments showed that soil reinforced with geotextile materials can help increase the bearing capacity and reduce settlement of gypseous soil, as it was found that placing the geotextile at a depth of (0.8B-B) is the best-chosen depths.

Deep excavation is required for the construction of high-rise structures in urban contexts due to the proximity of many buildings. Nevertheless, substantial soil movement caused by these types of excavations can put surrounding buildings at risk. Soil stiffness and in situ, stress levels are two of the most important ground factors that affect the performance of deep excavation projects. As a retaining structure, secant pile walls are frequently used to sustain deep excavations, particularly in areas with a high water table. The purpose of this field study is to examine the behavior of full-scale, instrumented secant pile walls under different water levels. The data encompasses readings from pressure cells and wall movements and covers 300 days. In the analysis, different depths of water from 2 to 4.5 m below the ground surface are taken into account. The data analysis shows that the movements close to the wall bases were not enough to produce active pressures, and the measured earth pressures near the wall bases were in good agreement with the at-rest pressures. Changes in earth pressure were caused by variations in the water table level, and excavation activities reduced the lateral soil load on the walls by removing water. The result was a reduction in applied stresses and moments.

The increase in population demands new cities and buildings which can be affected by natural disasters like earthquakes. Researchers try to evaluate the earthquake’s influences on building foundations experimentally using manufactured devices like shaking tables and centrifuge equipment. Shallow foundations resting on dry and saturated cohesionless soils experienced excess settlement and bearing capacity failures during earthquakes due to liquefaction. Some researchers tried to use methods to improve the affected soils to mitigate the earthquake effects. Sandy soils of different relative densities were used in the tests besides various magnitudes and peak ground accelerations (PGA) of earthquakes. The paper’s objective is to demonstrate some of the experimental works on different soil sand relative densities and raft foundation models using various devices in types and sizes to examine the effect of earthquakes in addition to experimental methods to improve sand.

The findings of pile static and dynamic loading tests conducted at the New Mosque building sites in Astana, Kazakhstan, are presented in this study. In accordance with the Kazakhstan GOST standard, the static loading tests (SLT) were conducted. In compliance with ASTM guidelines, GOST conducted the dynamic loading tests (DLT) and the pile dynamic load test (Instrumentation PDA). Based on the DLT results of driven piles carried out by PDA and the SLT results, driven piles at the New Mosque building site in Astana had bearing capabilities of 1600 kN. These studies are crucial to comprehending the relationship between soil and structure, particularly with regard to driven piles measuring 30 by 30 cm in cross-section and 7.5 m in length at the New Mosque construction site in Astana, Kazakhstan.

When operating in tropical climates with clay shale formations, the construction industry faces obstacles. Due to changes in moisture content, tropical clay shale has unique geotechnical characteristics such as high plasticity, limited permeability, and vulnerability to cycles of swelling and shrinking. Furthermore, expanding clay minerals can cause ground movement, which could harm infrastructure. The cohesive structure of the soil makes excavation and earthmoving operations in tropical clay shale even more challenging, making it challenging to create solid slopes and stop erosion. Increased runoff and sedimentation at construction sites may affect project deadlines and environmental sustainability. These problems are made worse by the unpredictable nature of tropical weather, which includes high temperatures and lots of rainfall, calling for the use of adaptable building materials and techniques. The paper will conclude by highlighting several case studies that tropical clay shale presents for civil projects. A comprehensive strategy that includes environmental management and geotechnical engineering is needed to address these issues. To construct suited to tropical clay shale environment, research, and innovation in these fields are essential to understand more about the behaviour of clay shale.

Earthquakes are the most effective natural disasters affecting buildings and construction foundations. Geotechnical engineers and researchers try numerically to analyze and estimate the effects of earthquakes and to predict the settlement and bearing capacities for shallow foundations constructed on saturated and dry sandy soils. The earthquakes loading increase the pore water pressure in saturated sandy soils. The excessive pore water pressure in sandy soils leads to liquefaction which reduces bearing capacity and increases the amount of settlement with severe damage to foundations and buildings. This study may participate to reveal the effect of several factors and parameters on the soil and shallow foundations response to the seismic loading which thought to be never reviewed before. This paper intends to contribute the review numerical analysis studies to predict the influence of earthquakes on the sand. The use of a variety of developed software in numerical analysis became an interest for geotechnical engineers and researchers. The study attempted to include the most recent analytical studies especially those dependent on experimental works with a variety of topics and effective parameters.

Geopolymer is a type of cementitious substance that can replace traditional Portland cement in certain geotechnical engineering uses, such as soil stabilization. It offers the benefits of significantly reduced hazardous emissions and energy consumption. To produce geopolymers, two essential conditions must be fulfilled: the presence of source material abundant in Silicon (Si) and Aluminium (Al), and the addition of an alkali activator, such as sodium/potassium hydroxide. Sodium hydroxide (NaOH) is commonly employed in geopolymer manufacture as a substitute for potassium hydroxide (KOH), together with a silicate solution, to enhance the dissolution process. The utilization of contemporary technologies to enhance the soil's ability to withstand external forces has led to the stabilization of diverse soil compositions.This study investigates the use of specific geopolymers as additives or stabilising agents to improve the soil's resistance properties, as analysed by geotechnical specialists. Studies have demonstrated that the incorporation of geopolymer materials, such as fly ash and slag, enhances many soil properties, including compaction, permeability, and resistance to deformation.

The literature shows that incorporating wastes into clay can considerably enhance its mechanical properties. This research has suggested alternative waste disposal methods that could offer economic and environmental advantages. This research paper investigates the effect of freeze-thaw (F-T) cycles on clay soil stabilization and the enhancement of soil strength. Waste chicken bone powder (CBP) mixed with Portland cement (C) was adopted as a soil stabilizer. To study the geotechnical properties of clayey soil for a range of F-T cycles, a series of consistency limits, and unconfined compression tests were performed. Through F-T cycles, the results indicated that the liquid limit (LL), plastic limit (PL), and plasticity index (PI) values decreased rapidly for treated samples in comparison to those cured at room temperature. The highest percentage reduction in LL was recorded as 27.37, 31, 34.02, and 37.37% for stabilized samples subjected to 3, 7, 17, and 28 cycles, respectively. Furthermore, the unconfined compressive strength (UCS) values of the CBP-C-stabilized soil were found to increase continuously with the increase in F-T cycles. The strength at 28th cycles reached 9.25 folds compared to the UCS of the untreated samples. The treated soil samples at room temperature exhibit brittle behavior through the UCS tests. On the other hand, significant decreases in modulus of elasticity (E50) occur with the F-T cycles but remain above the initial value of untreated soil. After the experimental analysis, the tested treated soil will tolerate much bigger deformation. The study suggests that clay soils can be stabilized with CBP and C even in cold seasons.

The current study investigated the behavior of Sscrew piles with holes in wings with various diameters installed by rotational torque in multi layer strata of sandy soil under the influnce axial static loads. The soil used was fine sand with gypsum content of 14.27% with different relative densities. A labratory physical model was manufactured locally to conduct tests.The total length of the screw piles was 50 cm and the helix spread from the tip of pile upward to a length of 40 cm which was the same as the pile insertion depth into the multi layered soil and the remaining 10 cm was above the surface of soil with a pile cap placed over it. The lower layer of soil was dense sand of relative density 70% and the upper layer was loose sand of relative density of 30%. The ultimate bearing capacty of screw piles with holes in wings was compared to the that of an ordinary pile. Furthermore, the failure criterion used for the ordinary pile was the load coressponding to settlement of 10% of the pile diameter, while the load coressponding to settlement of 20% of the helix diameter was utilized for the screw piles. The data recorded and plotted to illustrate the load-settlement curve shows that the ultimate bearing capacity of screw piles with holes are (3–5) times higher than that of the ordinary pile. The dominant factor to increase the bearing capacity of the screw pile with holes in wings was the helix diameter and not the increment number of helices in the case of different diameter shafts.

Gypseous soil is collapsible soil, it is widespread in arid and semi-arid areas of low rainfall intensity as a result of water evaporation. Gypseous soil is commonly formed in an unsaturated state with low dry density and moisture content. Naturally, gypseous soil can be found with a wide range of gypsum contents. Gypsum is a mineral rock formed by calcium sulfate dihydrate, (CaSO4.2H2O). The presence study investigates the compressibility and collapsibility characteristics of gypsified sandy soil. The pure gypsum is mixed carefully in dry conditions with the pure sandy soil as weight percentages. Series of laboratory Oedometer tests such as consolidation and single Oedometer collapse tests are carried out on gypsum-sand mixture with gypsum percentages of 0, 10, 20, 40, 60, 80, and 100%. The test results show that the coefficient of compressibility increased sharply up to a gypsum content of 40% and then decreased. While the coefficient of rebound remains almost constant and ranges between (0.01–0.02) for all gypsum contents. The coefficient of consolidation is difficult to calculate because the 50% consolidation point wasn’t clear on settlement-time curve. The gypsified soil samples with gypsum content above 40% exhibit collapsible behavior, the samples susceptible to significant volume reduction or settlement where their voids are compressed upon inundation. Below the gypsum content of 40%, negligible collapse deformation is observed. The collapse potential is proportionally increased with the increase of gypsum content and inundation time. The higher gypsum content generally leads to significant reduction in void ratio and settlement potential. Compacted gypsified samples can exhibit collapse deformation depending on the gypsum content, compaction effort, initial water content, collapse vertical stress and wetting interval.

The low bearing capacity of soil can cause the foundation to settle or even collapse due to weak or soft soil, and inadequate compaction, or compressible materials like clay. Therefore, it is crucial to research soil enhancement methods to prevent such issues. This paper's purpose is to investigate the impact of various dimensions of reinforced foundations on the bearing capacity characteristics. The study evaluated various parameters, such as displacements, stresses, strains, and failure mechanisms, which are critical for understanding the performance of foundations. Numerical analysis has been utilized to simulate the response of reinforced soil-foundation systems under different loading and boundary conditions. A set of conditions was examined by varying several parameters related to the geogrid reinforcement. These parameters involved the depth of the initial reinforcing layer, the perpendicular distance between layers, the number of layers, and the width of geogrid layers. The study's findings demonstrate that the addition of soil reinforcing improved the performance of the strip footing. Findings regarding the optimal parameters for geogrid reinforcement (geogrid width = 2B, depth of the top geogrid layer = (0.33 to 0.5)B, vertical distance between reinforcement layers = (0.25 to 0.33)B, number of layers = (3 to 4). Additionally, the efficient depth of the geogrid reinforcement, approximately determined (1.5B).

This study aims to demonstrate how glass powder (GP) particles of varying sizes gain functionality during the fine-grained soil improvement process. The study investigates the geotechnical properties and stability of soil samples treated with waste GP at 2.5%, 5%, 7.5%, and 10% proportions to the natural low-plasticity (CL) clayey soil sample along with 5% of hydrated lime (HL). Additionally, this study investigates the effect of freezing and thawing (F-T) cycles on the mechanical behavior of treated clay soil. The geotechnical behavior of the treated samples indicated that 7.5% GP resulted in higher strength at 28 days of room temperature curing. Atterberg limits values were improved with the increment of the GP content. The results revealed that the unconfined compressive strength (UCS) values of soil samples treated with finer particles of GP (FGP) were higher than those treated with coarser particles of GP (CGP). The strength improvement was 166.14% and 190.89% for samples treated with 5%HL + 7.5% of CGP and FGP respectively. Moreover, after 28 F-T cycles, soil samples treated with CGP and FGP exhibited higher UCS values compared to samples cured at intermediate temperatures. A significant increase in UCS, with the highest percentage increment recorded as 1141.59% for the sample treated with 5%HL + 7.5%FGP and 1011.17% for the sample treated with 5%HL + 7.5%CGP after 28 cycles. A significant decrease in LL values was observed for all 4 F-T cycles for the 5%HL + 7.5%GP soil mixtures. Due to the large particle surface area at the smaller size, finer GP particles can significantly impact the physical and geotechnical behaviors and engineering characteristics of soil. The study results will assist in developing a sustainable and cost-effective soil stabilization manner.

This study is focused on analyzing factors that affect liquefaction and which intensity and time duration will cause liquefaction in the soil in Iraq, especially in Baghdad. This work is concerned with assessing Baghdad soil liquefaction potential under actual earthquakes in Iraq with high-intensity effects when the intensity and period change. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the intensity of earthquakes globally is not increasing. Also, the apparent increase in earthquake numbers is due to more seismic instruments being able to record more earthquakes, not because more earthquakes are happening. Human activities can indeed influence seismic activity and potentially trigger earthquakes. While these events are generally less potent than natural earthquakes, they can still be significant. Mining, dam building, and hydraulic fracturing (fracking) have been associated with induced seismicity. In the Baghdad region, the earthquake hazard is classified as medium, meaning there is a 10% chance of potentially damaging earthquake shaking within the next 50 years. However, it’s important to consider that various factors can affect seismic risk, including urban development, infrastructure resilience, and potential human-induced seismicity. In this study, the most extended software, PLAXIS 2D version 20, was used to assess the liquefaction potential of soil deposits under seismic loads. The analysis covered a comprehensive dataset of borehole sample test results, and information was gathered from various public and commercial entities throughout Baghdad. The main results showed that the soil of Baghdad is at risk of liquefaction of its soil and that the pore water pressure ratio will be equal to 1 at an intensity of 6 Ml and a time of 33 s.

Soil stabilization is an effective method to amend clayey soils. This study investigates the potential of using silica sand (SS), and hydrated lime (HL) to stabilize clayey soil. The samples were examined for unconfined compression, direct shear, and 1D-consolidation experiments. Unconfined compression test was carried out for 2.5%, 5%, 7.5%, and 10% SS that were subjected to 0, 7, 14, 28, and 90-day curing periods. The chemical composition of the used materials’ was found utilizing X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) investigation. The stabilization process increases the samples’ unconfined compressive strength (UCS) that contain 5%HL and 7.5%SS (after 90 days of curing) by more than 4-fold (418.9%) compared to the non-amended samples. Also, a greater increase in shear strength parameters for the samples that contained 5%HL and 7.5%SS (cured for 28 days) compared to the non-amended samples. The coefficients of consolidation and expansion index reduced due to the addition of 5%HL, and 7.5%SS. These compounds were considered as the optimal amounts and showed the highest mechanical strength in direct shear and consolidation tests. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) results revealed that clay fabric modification was caused by the particle interaction with HL and SS, resulting in bonding formations and hardening. The best-obtained mixture of 5%HL and 7.5% SS can be successfully used to stabilize clayey soils, which might be a viable alternative to cement.

Internal erosion is a major concern to the design and operation of earth structures when seepage occurs through or beneath these structures. An essential part of the design process is to select adequate engineered fill that can resist the internal erosion. One of the materials that is available in large quantities, yet with poor engineering properties, is sediments drudged from river streams. In this research, a simple apparatus was developed to evaluate the internal erosion of sediment materials drudged from the Euphrates River after treatment with cement and polypropylene fibers. The apparatus designed to conduct the hole erosion test (HET) on specimens treated with cement at 0.5, 0.75, 1, 2, and 4% and specimens treated with cement and polypropylene fibers (PPF) at 0.5%. The results indicated that the untreated soil cannot be used for earth structures that are exposed to erosion because of the high degree of erodibility. However, adding cement to the soil highly increased the internal erosion resistance and decreased the flow rate. Furthermore, when the PPF was added to the cement-sand mixtures, additional resistance to erosion was observed. As discussed herein, as far as internal erosion is a concern in earth structures, dredged sediments stabilized with cement and PPF can be used as engineered to provide high resistance to internal erosion.

The poor properties of river-sand soil (RS) (uniform and poorly particle size distribution, less cohesion, and its unsuitability for compaction) are prone to limiting its applications in engineering projects. Water treatment sludge (WTS)- based geopolymer was adopted as a sustainable alternative to conventional methods to improve this soil type. The study exhibited the potential use of WTS as a geopolymer for RS soil stabilization. Different WTS to RS ratios were chosen by weight (0, 20, and 40%) with an alkaline activator (AA) solution of varied sodium hydroxide (SH) (8M) to sodium silicate (SS). The study utilized different AA (SH: SS) ratios, which were (0, 0.75, and 1.5%). AS SH: SS were at various polymerization temperatures of 30, 45, and 60 °C for 48 h. The study investigated the effectiveness of using the unconfined compressive strength (UCS) test to evaluate soil strength improvement. The findings revealed that the optimal mixing ratio for WTS is 20%. When mixed with RS soil, this ratio increases the unconfined compressive strength two times. For WTS: RS mixture ratios of 0%, the best AA0% ratio (SH: SS 0:100) and the UCS value increased by 3% and 9% compared to AA ratios of 0.75 and 1.5%, respectively. The UCS value at WTS: RS 20% and AA0% was enhanced by 1.9% and 9% compared to AA ratios of 0.75 and 1.5%, respectively. However, for mixture ratios of 40% and AA0%, the UCS decreased to 1.6% and 2%, respectively, due to an excess of Si/Al ratio.

The Geographic Information System (GIS) is an extremely effective tool for displaying large amounts of data and creating a real representation of subsurface parameters and information in the form of three-dimensional (3D) scenarios that geotechnical engineers may use to construct foundations and footings. This study dealt with the production of digital geotechnical maps of geotechnical parameters that can be widely used in the initial stages of constructing buildings and foundations. This paper included part of the governorate, which is the city of Baqubah, the center of Diyala Governorate, which is located on the Diyala River, 50 km northeast of the capital, Baghdad, where it was collected and classified. Approximately 228 wells for the entire Diyala Governorate were collected in an Excel sheet and used as data in creating maps. The results showed that GIS is a brilliant tool for depicting digital information and placing it in a geographically specific manner. The system also proved its prowess in guessing values that were not present in laboratory tests.

One of the most important problems in geotechnical aspects is sudden failures and cracks in any buildings on the site. Furthermore, it is known in the construction field that clay is a difficult soil and possible explanations for this phenomenon include low strength, high compressibility, large volumetric changes, and a high tendency to swelling and swelling of soil particle size. Chemical and physical characteristics are what control the properties of clay soil and the changes that occur when it comes into contact with water. When faced with the situation, the sample is examined based on the microstructure of the clay. Thus, the study highlights the importance of physicochemical and morphological characterization and the shape and size of soil particles by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) in identifying problematic field soils for buildings with cracks at the project site in the city of Kirkuk, Iraq. Soil samples were collected from the field at a depth of 2 m, where various experimental tests were applied to determine the various soil properties, demonstrate the structure of the soil, and examine the main causes of such defects in the building. SEM imaging of the inspected sample objects indicated that the texture of the soil included lots of hollows, and this means that the soil has many not regular apertures. In addition, TEM results emphasized substantial disparities in the coherence of the particles, ranging between 2 – 20 µm. Aside from that, results of the XRD examination also confirmed that this soil has a high proportion of quartz and calcium compared to other minerals. This study revealed that there is an extremely high density of calcium sulfate carbonates which are exceeding the recommended standards. As the result of the study, the researchers detected that the allowable sulfate had been exceeded.

In order to control the operation and performance of wastewater treatment plants, it is vital to develop a stable model. This control reduces errors and maintenance c and maintains environmental balance. This research is concerned with applying an artificial neural network model to predict the outputs of Karbala- Iraq’s main wastewater treatment plant. The data collected from station records weekly for 3 years consists of the main parameters entering and leaving the station’s performance by predicting the influencing values affecting effluent of the station, such as biological oxygen demand, chemical oxygen demand, and the amount suspended. The mode performance was evaluated using the root mean square error and the correlation coefficient. The results showed that the inputs explain about 85% of the biological oxygen demand, chemical oxygen demand, and 16% of the amount suspended and that the error rate between the predicted and real data was 1.6 on average error. The artificial neural network was determined successfully in the treatment plant's performance simulation.

The Karbala-Al-Muwahid Water Treatment Plant (Aoun Road) is the main plant feeding Karbala Governorate by drinking water. It distributes water through three lines: Aoun, Al-Husseiniyah, and Al-Markaz. Therefore, studying this plant is necessary to improve the quantity and quality of water and avoid problems that occur in the present and future resulting from the increase in the population in recent years due to immigration, as well as the large number of million visits there, as it is a religious province that visitors come from everywhere, which leads to increasing demand for water. In this study, the performance efficiency of the Karbala-Al-Muwahid water treatment plant was evaluated, and the plant’s operational problems. This study covered the period from 1/1/2023 to 1/11/2023. The monthly laboratory tests of quality parameters (turbidity, alkalinity, hardness, T.D.S, Mg+2, Cl-1, Na+1, K+1, E.C, and pH) for influent and effluent water, the water discharges leaving the plant for each month, and the corresponding temperatures were collected for the above period. The finding showed that the plant has a high removal efficiency of 95%, and the water quality was within the Iraqi standard specifications.

This study examines the subsurface dam site selection methods and the importance of these structures in preserving groundwater supplies and augmenting the water resources with regulation. The challenge of water scarcity in arid and semi-arid regions is addressed by exploring efficient site selection for subsurface dams. A literature review examined various site selection methods, including Risk-Based Optimization and Multiple Criteria Decision-Making approaches like AHP and ANP. Integrating these methods with geotechnical, hydrogeological, and socio-economic studies is highlighted. This study concludes with an emphasis on the pivotal role subsurface dams play in sustainable water management and the need for the combining of logical models with spatial and field data, integrated with spatial hydrological models to provide the main parameters required for decision-makers and stakeholders to achieve successful site selection for subsurface dams.

Forecasting water demand is considered essential for managing water resources to achieve sustainable development. This research analyzes 50 research papers focusing on different aspects of water demand forecasting. Various methodologies were used in this review, including traditional statistical models (regression model, time series analysis), Artificial intelligence models are represented by (artificial neural networks (ANN), Support Vector Machines (SVM)), or hybrid models that use a combination of different methods to improve prediction accuracy. In addition to Exploring machine learning algorithms that allow the computer to learn and train from previous data without the need for explicit programming. In general, this review provides a comprehensive overview of previous research trends and methodologies used to forecast water demand and what challenges researchers faced in arriving at the results of their studies. It is considered a valuable resource for those entering the field of water resources management and planning.

The high groundwater table due to inundation considered as a real threat and may increase the probability of potential damages for the infrastructures of the structures such as foundations and the materials beneath the ground surface, road and bridges. Besides bad and severe weather may have an adverse effect on such infrastructures. For that purpose, a laboratory model was constructed to measure and study the effect of different heights of groundwater level on an old bricks’ foundation in a silty clay soil (ordinary soil) and on a concrete foundation. Two parameters were taken in the consideration which were the height of groundwater level and the type of foundation materials. The results showed that there was a slight effect on the compressive load on old brick in silty clay soil between 0.8–1.3% while the decrease in compressive load was between 0.5–1.3% in concrete sample in same soil.

Climate change is raising the global temperature which affects the hydrologic cycle, the dry seasons are drier and the wet seasons are wetter. Climate change sometimes is manifested through heavy rains and storms, and sometimes causes serious production losses through long-term droughts. The saline water from agriculture drains or saline surface and groundwater was increased according to climate changes, especially in arid and semi-arid zones. Many scientists have applied and developed different methodologies in the context of sustainable water for agricultural uses. The main goal of this study is to assess the strategies for sustainable water management in agriculture practices throughout the last three decades. In this context, thoroughly examined 50 scientifically significant publications to obtain the most precise conclusions from those investigations. This study showed that 22% of researchers focused on groundwater agriculture for water sustainability, while 34% focused on saline water sustainability based on specific criteria. Additionally, 26% studied rainwater harvesting as a method for sustainable agriculture. The remaining 18% explored modern irrigation methods in this field. The study concluded that utilizing saline water in agriculture is necessary for effective water management. Many models were constructed to optimize saline water use in irrigation.

Hydrogeology is concerned with and focuses on the distribution of water in the Earth’s crust, its geological interaction within aquifers, its movement, and its presence in different environments. One of the parts of the hydrological cycle is groundwater, which is considered an integral part of it. It is part of a complex system and its distribution is more ambiguous on Earth. Injana aquifer is considered to be the important aquifer in this area for adequate quantity and quality of groundwater. Rainfall water is considered the most important source for groundwater aquifer recharge. The methods in the study area used for pumping test analysis are the Cooper-Jacob Method (CJM) for an unconfined aquifer and the Neuman Solution Method (NSM) was adopted in conducting pumping tests and recovery tests for three wells. The transmissivity values ranged from 109–121.7 m2/day. This range lies in high-transmissivity classification. Hydraulic conductivity was ranged from 2.18–2.029 m/day. This range is classified as low permeability. For specific yield values which ranged from 0.01–0.02, it is classified as an unconfined aquifer. There are no remarkable differences in the results of hydraulic parameters within the Injana aquifer because the unconfined values are convergent values.

Two-Phase flow in stepped spillway is one of the most important criteria that must be investigated during the preparation of designs, as this characteristic is very important to avoid cavition in the stepped surface. The Bastor dam in the region of Iraqi Kurdistan,is one of the newly constructed dams. A mathematical model was made a full scale model using CFD to investigate the hydraulic conditions of the dam spillway for diffrent values of discharges. Mesh independnt solution is adopted to minimized the error. Volume of fraction is used to described the air water intrface. The mixing point of air and water was investigated and also the most at-risk areas for cavitation were identified. it can be noted that there is a negative pressure at the edge of firstly steps but cavitation does not occur due to low velocity which is lead to low dynamic forces. Also the location of the inception point of water starts at the steps number 17 and the percentage of air concentration reaches 90% starting from this point. Based on velocity distribution, cavitation level is variation on steppes number from (Steps 5 to 72), (Step1 to 22), (Step 1 to10) for flow rate 150, 250, and 313.15 m3/s, respectively. Based on cavitation index, cavitation level is variation on steppes number from (Step 26 to 72), (Step 13 to 33), (Step 5 to 14) for flow rate 150, 250, and 313.15 m3/s, respectively.

Urban land uses are characterized by dynamism and rapid and continuous change, and the speed of their change and continuity are related to the nature of society and its requirements. Baghdad, like most cities in the world, suffers from problems in the distribution of land uses. This research came to study the reality of these uses in the Karrada area, and evaluate them regarding the basic design specified for them and the standards adopted in city planning and whether they are in the right direction and the extent of their impact on the emergence of the problem of traffic congestion in the transport sector, which negatively affects the breathing of the capital, Baghdad. The Karrada area was selected because it represents a large urban center in Baghdad, inhabited by about one million people distributed over an area of about 72 km2. The GIS capabilities were used in data entry, storage, processing, and output in the form of maps and tables. The questionnaire was also used as a tool to find out the respondents' opinions about traffic jams and what are the uses whose accumulation in the study area had an effect in exacerbating the problem of traffic congestion. The results proved that there is a big difference between them and the basic design specified for them and the standards adopted in city planning, and proved that the overcrowding of service institutions, whether governmental or educational, led to the exacerbation of the problem of traffic congestion. The study recommended the need for comprehensive, integrated, and sustainable planning for these uses and adherence to land use planning standards to achieve spatial justice in the distribution of those uses and benefit from the experiences and strategies of countries in the field of land and the transport sector and the need for integration between them and encourage investment.

Nasty smell, view, contamination of soil and water, air pollution, gas emission, disease propagation, gatherings insects/animals and nearing to residential and other industrial and commercial sectors are chief negative points for the present Erbil Landfill Site [ELS]. Consequently, closing this municipal solid waste [MSW] burring location and opening a new site is essential for Erbil City. The current research aimed to study the existing ELS, and the selection of the best sustainable site for a new ELS using remote sensing [RS], geographic information system [GIS], and analytical hierarchy process [AHP] methods. A number of parameters such as urban, roads, distance to stream, slope, oil field and elevation were studied for assortment the optimum location for new ELS. Lastly, an appropriate site was selected using aforementioned parameters via applying RS, GIS and AHP techniques.

Rapid growth in computer graphics to enhance user experience in almost every sector like e-commerce, education, healthcare, agricultures; calls for 3D representation unlike 2D representations a few years back. There are many techniques for producing a 3D model from images, and there are also many programs that use images to produce the model with the finest details. In this research, we relied on two different technologies (SFM, NERF) within two different programs (Agi, KIRI) and the comparison between them was made visually and statistically. Through the results shown by the research, it was concluded that the model produced from the free Kiri program contains more accurate details and faster also does not require computer specifications or time-consuming processing. Therefore, we recommend using this mobile application for many purposes, for example cultural documentation.

Presently, the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction sectors have been significantly affected by sustainability concerns. Sustainable construction is regarded as one of the critical and essential decisions that aids in minimizing building environmental impacts and energy consumption, and consequently, enhancing overall building sustainability levels. This research attempts to account for contemporary considerations towards sustainability and higher environmental performance of buildings, and aims to investigate the impact of applying smart glass in building envelop on building environmental performance, explore the capabilities of BIM in building sustainability and environmental performance assessments, and develop an integrated framework for sustainable building design with enhanced environmental performance. For this purpose, a building with large glazing area envelops was chosen in Erbil as case study. Building modeling is generated using Autodesk Revit and sustainability assessments are performed using Insight for Revit. Results indicate that smart glass consideration for building envelopes greatly influences the building design in terms of building energy consumption and overall building environmental performance.

The need to recover from the negative effects of the industrial revolution on the environment drives us to increase the demand for sustainable development concepts, among which is the architecture and construction industry (AEC). These new concepts added to the architecture and construction industry, such as sustainable development, require adding new dimensions to the project model, which leads to the importance of building simulation and modeling in the construction industry. The large number of elements involved in building design and the complexity resulting from their interactions with themselves and the environment are the reasons for the emergence of building simulation and computer-aided modeling products that facilitate understanding the design and its process and improve its efficiency without sacrificing additional time and cost. Building Information Modeling (BIM) technology is one of the most important of these products, as it enables energy saving and sustainable development in projects and becomes part of the architecture and construction industry. The research focused on its role in supporting and evaluating sustainability in the projects of students of the Department of Architecture. The design stage is one of the important stages in creating the basic requirements and making sustainable decisions for the building and applying BIM methods by verifying the possibilities of practical application in testing projects at different stages of the building life cycle, especially in the early stages. Because it forms the basis for making the critical decision for the building and thus determining the extent of its impact on the environment in the future. The research aims to enable students to test their projects in the design phase after including energy modeling techniques and tools in sustainability courses as an applied aspect of the theoretical concepts of sustainability. The research addressed one of the outstanding projects of students in the early stages, creating an energy model for it, then analyzing it with the INSIGHT360 tool to get a future reading of its impact on the environment and modifying the designer’s options to reach a sustainable building. As a result, the research reached recommendations that include a mandatory section for environmental plans for student projects within the application and should be part of the rating system to retain talented architects who contribute to a sustainable built environment. Based on the results of the analysis, the annual energy cost ($/m2/year) as well as the life cycle cost ($/m2/year) of the proposed project is $36/m2/year. Life cycle energy: Annual electricity consumption, 636 kWh/m2 (121 kWh/m2/year) HVAC systems as the highest percentage of the annual end use of electricity and a very small amount of the end use of fuel.

Quality is a concept and a global goal in all different fields, including architecture. It is one of the important and influential concepts in the architectural design process and ensuring its achievement is a necessity of life. Quality is usually linked to performance and standard aspects. It is determined by certain criteria and standards and grants meeting quality at its optimum level. The current research aims to study the characteristics of elegant quality that give architectural product a beneficial, aesthetic, and symbolic moral value. It aims to clarify the standard characteristics of elegant quality and interactive quality characteristics that raise architecture in order to increase its beneficial, aesthetic, moral, and symbolic value, thus increasing the acceptability of the building. Quality is linked to moral action. Quality is the result of moral action and one of its goals. It includes the meanings of charity, sincerity, and mastery. The study shows that elegant quality is affected by the nature of the physical composition of architectural product. It is achieved through three main levels: the level of performance quality, the level of aesthetic quality and the level of temporal quality. Elegant quality is achieved gradually and progressively, and this is done through a deductive analytical approach based on providing a comprehensive knowledge framework, then building a theoretical framework and identifying the characteristics of elegant quality to ensure their achievement in architectural product.

This comprehensive review examines the intricate aging processes occurring in sanitary landfills, synthesizing insights from eight key studies. It illuminates the nuanced aspects of aging by delving into the physical, chemical, and mechanical changes within landfills. The results from these studies emphasize the dynamic nature of these alterations, providing valuable guidance for future waste management strategies. This analysis represents a significant stride towards fostering an environmentally sustainable future. Globally, municipal solid waste (MSW) landfills serve as primary solutions for MSW disposal. However, characterizing the geotechnical properties of MSW presents a challenge due to its diverse composition, varying particle sizes, and continuous degradation. A profound comprehension of these geotechnical attributes is crucial for the planning and functioning of landfill facilities. Regrettably, detailed information on the geotechnical characteristics of MSW in landfills is limited. The selection of appropriate MSW material properties stands as a pivotal aspect of landfill design. This research underscores the imperative need for innovative methods to comprehensively assess landfill aging, recognizing the multifaceted nature of physical, chemical, and mechanical transformations. The incorporation of technology is pivotal, with studies advocating the utilization of advanced tools like remote sensing and geospatial analysis for effective monitoring and management of aging landfills. Embracing such a progressive approach is essential to tackle the challenges posed by landfill aging and to advance sustainable waste management in the future.

In developing countries, sewer system problems are frequently encountered with wide variation of severity. Usually, the real cost of losses due to these problems is neither calculated with the consideration of all losses neither declared. Frequently, it is easy to observe that the initial cost of project plus the real and comprehensive cost of the damages caused by the frequently encountered malfunctions is likely to add up to a number that may be even higher than the cost of similar projects executed of the highest standards. This insight should motivate developing nations to enhance the execution quality of sewer system projects by allocating a more generous budget. It is advisable to promote the incorporation of advanced technology in construction, operation, and maintenance. The research delves into the prevalent issues and root causes associated with sewer systems in developing countries, alongside the introduction of relatively more cost-effective advanced technologies. Then, the difficulties encountered in adapting such technologies are presented and discussed with proposed solutions.

Due to the development of civilization, the use of single-use food containers has increased, which causes a risk resulting from the release of toxic and harmful heavy metals during daily use. This study aims to estimate the concentrations of heavy metals from the leachate at different temperatures (40, 70 and 100 ℃): zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), cobalt (Co). Lead (Pb), iron (Fe), and copper (Cu), and an assessment of the health risks resulting from three polymeric materials to children, adolescents, and youth (Aliphatic polymer, polymeric aromatics, and polystyrene). Concentrations of heavy metals were observed at 40 ℃, and they increased as it rose to 100 ℃. The concentrations were arranged, the highest concentrations were for nickel and Lead, and the lowest concentrations were for chromium. It was found that the hazard quotient (HQ) for all values is less than 1, which means there are non-cancer risks from metals that may not occur, the results of the excess lifetime cancer risk (ELCR) that Nickel and lead, for aliphatic polymer leachate and Nickel for polystyrene leachate, for young people at 100 ℃ considered the most exposure to cancer risk than aromatic polymer, so that aromatic polymer containers are safer than others containers, especially at high temperatures for adolescents and young people. This requires increasing awareness about the use of disposable food containers, in addition to conducting more research about the impact of Poly fluorochemicals, bisphenol A (BPA), and others on human health.