Sharif Digital Repository

Free surface vortex and air entrainment are not favorable experiences in hydropower and pumping projects. While complete omission of vortex and air entrainment is not always cost effective, partially weakened free-surface vortex flow is more economical and practical. Hence, in this study, a comprehensive set of experiments were conducted to partially reduce vortex strength and air entrainment at vertical pipe intakes, using rectangular anti-vortex plates. This phenomenon results in increasing water discharge compared with a corresponding free-surface vortex for the same water depth, i.e. in cases of shaft spillway. The plates were used as singles and in pairs and placed symmetrically and... 

The study of air-water, two-phase flows in hydraulic structures such as pressurized flow tunnels, culverts, sewer pipes, junctions, and similar conduits is of great importance for design purposes. Air can be provided by vortices at water intakes, pumping stations, aerators, steep channels, etc. Under certain conditions, air may also be introduced into pressurized intake systems, which may form large bubbles in portions of the pipe. The bubbles may, in turn, cause an unstable slug flow, or other flow patterns, that leads to sever periodic transient pressure. In this paper, an experimental model (a circular and transparent pipeline, 90 mm in ID and 10 m in length) is used to predict pressure... 

A rectangular labyrinth weir has a very good flood release capacity as well as strong economical and structural advantages. In this study, combined analytical and experimental investigations were undertaken for a rectangular labyrinth weir. The analytical model is based on the synthesis of general weir equations and spatially varied flow dynamic equations. A comprehensive set of experiments led to characterisation of the flow behaviour for low and high heads over the weir and indicated the influences of weir geometry on the release capacity. The results show that this type of weir represents an effective weir alternative and could be five times more efficient than a corresponding traditional... 

In the present study, methods for improving the hydraulic performance of labyrinth side weirs in a rectangular channel are reported based on model experimentation. For this purpose different arrangements and configurations of groups of guide vane plates and piles in the side weir flow field were tested. Experiments were conducted on labyrinth side weirs of different lengths and sill heights fitted in the test section of a rectangular glass-walled channel. Depths of flow were measured in both longitudinal and crosswise directions at regular intervals and their profiles were studied. It was found that the discharge coefficient of the labyrinth side weirs under these conditions gave... 

A comprehensive set of experiments was performed on weirs placed obliquely in a rectangular open channel. The main objectives were to investigate the effect of the weir angle relative to the approach flow direction on the behaviour and the hydraulic flow characteristics and to examine methods such as using upstream guide vanes and inclined aprons to increase the effective oblique weir length. Results indicate that by increasing the oblique angle, the effective length of the oblique weir increases significantly. Relationships are provided for the threshold submergence and the effective length of the oblique weir. Design recommendations are also presented for the use of guide vanes and... 

The study of water hammer in air-water, two-phase flows in hydraulic structures such as pressurized pipelines and tunnels, siphons, culverts, and junctions is of great importance for design purposes. Water hammer if combined with a periodic slug flow would lead to severe periodic transient pressure fluctuations inside the conduit. Laboratory experiments have been conducted to investigate waterhammer pressure inside a horizontal rectangular conduit carrying a two-phase, air-water slug flow. Tests were performed in an experimental apparatus comprising a 6.8-m-long transparent pipeline 0.06 m wide and 0.1 m high. By rapidly closing a control gate at the end of the conduit, propagating pressure... 

Novel hydrogels based on zwitterionic monomer [3-(methacrylamido)propyl] dimethyl (3-sulfopropyl) ammonium hydroxide (MPDSAH) and a strong acid monomer (2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid, AMPS) were synthesized through solution polymerization under normal conditions to achieve nearly quantitative gel yield. The structure of the gels was confirmed using infrared spectroscopy. Thermal properties were simultaneously studied by differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis (DSC/TGA). The effects of the polymerization variables on the swelling capacity of the products were investigated. It was found that, in a certain range of the monomers mol ratio, increase of AMPS... 

Alcohol-specific superabsorbing gels (superalcogels) based on non-neutralized acrylic acid (AA, 60-94 mol%) and 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid (AMPS) were prepared via solution polymerization in water. Polyethylene glycol dimethacrylate and potassium persulfate were used as crosslinker and initiator, respectively. Characterization of samples was performed using FTIR, 1H-NMR and thermomechanical analyses. Glass transition temperature and modulus of dried samples were found to be directly changed with their AA content. The gels exhibited enormous ability for absorbing and retaining a variety of mono- and poly-hydric alcohols. For example, in lieu of one gram of a typical sample... 

The thermo-mechanical behavior of energy piles has been studied extensively in recent years. In the present study, a numerical model was adapted to study the effect of various parameters (e.g. heating/cooling temperature, head loading condition and soil stiffness) on the thermo-mechanical behavior of an energy pile installed in unsaturated sandstone. The results from the simulations were compared with measurements from a thermal response test on a prototype energy pile installed beneath a 1-story building at the US Air Force Academy (USAFA) in Colorado Springs, CO. A good agreement was achieved between the results obtained from the prototype and the numerical models. A parametric evaluation... 

This research investigates the flexural behavior of a polymer concrete beam/pile encased with carbon fiber sleeve. The mechanical properties of carbon fiber sleeves in tension and cement and polymer concrete in compression were determined. Polymer concrete beams were tested in flexure to determine the bending moment capacity. Then, the test results were compared to the theoretical model results. Finally, a parametric study was conducted to determine the influence of beam/pile parameters on the capacity of the element. Based on the investigation, carbon fiber sleeve filled with polymer concrete exhibits outstanding structural performance including ductility and bending capacity. © 2017 Taylor... 

This research investigates the flexural behavior of a polymer concrete beam/pile encased with carbon fiber sleeve. The mechanical properties of carbon fiber sleeves in tension and cement and polymer concrete in compression were determined. Polymer concrete beams were tested in flexure to determine the bending moment capacity. Then, the test results were compared to the theoretical model results. Finally, a parametric study was conducted to determine the influence of beam/pile parameters on the capacity of the element. Based on the investigation, carbon fiber sleeve filled with polymer concrete exhibits outstanding structural performance including ductility and bending capacity  

Air-water two-phase flow usually occurs during a sudden rise in water level at a tunnel or during the falling of the water level at an upstream reservoir while entering the conduit. When this happens, different flow patterns are generated, due to the hydraulics of flow and fluid properties. An analytical/numerical model, based on the assumption of a rigid incompressible water column and a compressible air bubble, is derived, to simulate pressure fluctuation, void fraction, air/water flow rate and water velocity in a closed conduit, including water depth at the upper reservoir, due to air bubbles becoming trapped in the water, for the highest possible number of flow patterns. It is a... 

Air in water flow is a frequent phenomenon in hydraulic structures. The main reason for air entrainment is vortices at water intakes, pumping stations, tunnel inlets, and so on. The accumulated air, in a conduit, can evolve to a different flow pattern, from stratified to pressurized. Among different patterns, slug is most complex with extreme pressure variations. Due to lack of firm relations between pressure and influential parameters, study of slug flow is very important. Based on an experimental model, pressure fluctuations inside a circular, horizontal, and inclined pipe (90 mm inside diameter and 10 m long) carrying tow-phase air-water slug flow has been studied. Pressure fluctuations... 

Porous nanocomposite hydrogels were prepared using CaCO3 particles as solid porogens. The hydrogels were prepared by polymerization and grafting of acrylamide and 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid onto the starch in the presence of CaCO3 and graphene oxide. CaCO3 solid porogens were then removed by washing with acid and porous structures were obtained. The prepared hydrogels were used as adsorbents for methylene blue as a model cationic dye; and a very high adsorption capacity, up to 714.29 mg g-1, was obtained. Kinetics and isotherms of adsorption and the effect of porosity of hydrogel as well as other experimental conditions were also investigated. The prepared adsorbents were... 

Despite various applications of hydrogels, they have poor gel strength and low resistance against crack propagation which lead to the limitation of their applications. For overcoming this inherent weakness, the current study has focused on the simultaneous utilization of interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) structure and nanocomposite hydrogels. It is known that IPN and nanocomposite gels can improve gel strength. The combination of IPN and nanocomposite structure was developed in hydrogels for improving gel strength. For this purpose, bentonite was successfully modified with a cationic surfactant, (3-methacrylamidopropyl) trimethyl ammonium chloride (MAPTAC), as intercalate, and... 

Despite the various uses of hydrogels, one of their weaknesses is the poor gel strength. To overcome this restriction, the current study has focused on simultaneously employing an interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) structure and nanocomposite hydrogels. Through this approach, the influence of nanofiller in the single network and IPN hydrogel properties was also studied in detail. For this purpose, a novel full interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) hydrogel nanocomposite based on 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid (AMPS)/acrylic acid (AA)–sodium acrylate (AANa) was synthesized in two steps through a facile solution polymerization with incorporation of modified bentonite (MBE) as... 

A new method for the robust estimation of target orientation using measured radar cross section is proposed. The method is based on a Generalized Regression Neural Network (GRNN) scheme. The network is trained by the FFT modulus of bistatic radar cross section data sampled at the receiver positions. The target value to be trained is the angle between a defined target orientation and the incident wave. Results based on actual measurements are presented  

We present a new method for the robust estimation of a two-dimensional conducting target orientation using measured radar cross-section data. The method is based on a Generalized Regression Neural Network (GRNN) scheme, which belongs to the family of radial basis neural networks  

An experimental investigation has been carried out to verify characteristics of pressure fluctuations inside a circular, horizontal and inclined pipeline (90mm inside diameter and 10 m long) carrying two-phase air-water flow in a controlled manner (operating at room temperature and normal pressure). The pressure fluctuation was considered to be due to interaction between the fluid and air bubble compressibility in the pipe. The fluctuating pressure was studied in detail while the flow pattern was mainly slug, wavy or stratified flow. The tests were carried out varying with time, space, water flow rate/air flow rate ratio and pipe inclination. The pressure fluctuations were measured...