Engineering Commons^™

Assessment Of The Roadside Design And Safety Status In The Emirate Of Abu Dhabi, Dina Mustafa Muhammad Awadalla

Civil and Environmental Theses

Single-vehicle, run-off-road (SVROR) crashes account for a significant portion of all road-related injuries and fatalities worldwide. However, no previous study has neither examined to what extent roadside design guidelines have been applied, nor (and most importantly) investigated whether having a compliant roadside design has a positive impact on reducing the likelihood of fatal injuries. Thus, the objectives of this research are i) to examine the level of roadside design compliance within the studied area based on the selected benchmark and ii) to investigate whether roadside design compliance has a positive impact on reducing the likelihood of fatal injuries in SVROR …

Planar Corrugated Electrode Configuration For Manipulation Of Micro-Scale Entities In Dielectrophoretic Microfluidic Devices, Alia Mohammed Alblooshi

Mechanical Engineering Theses

This thesis conceptualizes the design of a planar electrode for employment in microfluidic devices to achieve dielectrophoretic focusing and separation of micro-scale entities. The planar electrode has corrugations with two such electrodes placed parallelly to form a pair and the electric field is generated between them; the presence of corrugations enhances the non-uniformity of the electric field. For purposes of 3D focusing, two pairs of electrodes are used with each pair on both sides of the microchannel. When the applied electric voltages are equal, the micro-scale entity is focused at the center of the microchannel and when the applied electric …

Bond Behavior Of Fabric Reinforced Geopolymeric Matrix-Concrete Joints, Feras Farid Abu Obaida

Civil and Environmental Theses

This research aimed to examine the potential use of a geopolymeric matrix as a sustainable alternative to commercial mortars in carbon fabric-reinforced matrix composites. Single-lap shear tests were conducted to examine the bond behavior at the fabric-matrix interface. Test parameters included the type of matrix (geopolymeric and cementitious matrices), the type of fabric (unidirectional and bidirectional) and the bonded length (50 to 300 mm). The geopolymeric matrix was a blend of fly ash/ground granulated blast furnace slag activated by an alkaline solution of sodium silicate and sodium hydroxide. The bond behavior of the geopolymeric-matrix specimens was characterized and compared to …

The Effect Of Carbonate Rock Wettability On The Performance Of Low Salinity Water Flooding: An Experimental Approach, Hildah Nantongo

Chemical and Petroleum Engineering Theses

The performance of low salinity waterflooding (LSWF) in different wettability environment is still unclear for the oil industry. The concessions among researchers are that low salinity does not work in water-wet carbonate oil reservoirs. In this project carbonate core flooding experiments on cores with different wettability’s conditions, including water-wet, oil-wet, and intermediate wettability were performed at reservoir conditions of pressure and temperature. Seawater was selected as a base water and its concentration & composition were modified through dilution and/or spiking with sulfate. The base water was diluted with water 10 and 50 times and spiked with sulfate to 2 and …

Three-Dimensional Design Of A Mimo System Based On Supershape Antenna, Ismail Abiola Shittu

Electrical Engineering Theses

In this thesis, a three-dimensional multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) antenna is designed for wireless applications. The MIMO consists of three antennas arranged around a triangular prismatic polystyrene foam that acts as a supporting block to form a tetrahedral configuration. This system has the capability of achieving multipath propagation; it also has the potential to improve the quality and reliability of radio signals, improve the channel capacity, and increase the communication speed and data rate. A circular microstrip patch antenna with regular spikes was designed based on the Superformula- a generic formula that describes naturally occurring shapes with six parameters. Afterward, bandwidth enhancement …

Growth Of Microalgae For Simultaneous Treatment Of Industrial Wastewater And Biodiesel Production, Mohammed Ahmad Abujayya

Chemical and Petroleum Engineering Theses

The treatment of industrial wastewater contaminated with phenols is among the main challenges in the chemical, and particularly the petrochemical industry. Phenols, which present in considerable amounts in industrial wastewater, are toxic even at low concentrations. Therefore, it is essential to reduce their concentrations in water to harmless levels before being discharged. On the other hand, the dependence on the conventional fossil sources of energy, which is non-renewable, is not sustainable and can cause harmful environmental impacts. Therefore, in this work, the dual utilization of microalgae as a cheap and efficient means to remove phenolic compounds commonly found in refinery …

Determination Of The Cost Optimum Passive Cooling Design Solutions For Residential Buildings In Uae: The Case Study Of Sharjah Governmental Villas, Raghad Azzam Ghazal

Theses

على مدى العقود الثلاثة الماضية، شهدت الإمارات العربية المتحدة تطور ا حضري ا سريعا ، وتم تصنيفها كأعلى نشاط بناء في العالم لكل كيلومتر مربع. قطاع البناء هو أكبر مستهلك للطاقة وأكبر مساهم في انبعاثات ثاني أكسيد الكربون في دولة الإمارات العربية المتحدة، حيث يستخدم حوالي 60 ٪ من إجمالي الكهرباء. يستهلك القطاع السكني حوالي 30 ٪ من إجمالي استهلاك الكهرباء )هيئة كهرباء ومياه دبي، 2017 (. الهدف من هذه الأطروحة هو تحديد أفضل الحلول المستدامة من حيث التكلفة الإجمالية للفلل السكنية في الإمارات العربية المتحدة. المنهجية المتبعة في هذه الأطروحة ستأخذ في عين الاعتبار الجوانب البيئية والاقتصادية لمرحلتي الإنشاء …

Calcium Phosphate/Ionic Liquid Ptfe Composite Membrane For Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell Applications, Ahmad Ibrahim Hasan Ka’Ki

Theses

The dependence on fossil fuels can be possibly reduced by the utilization of renewable energy sources. Fuel cells offer a promising alternative for renewable power generation. Among the various types of fuel cells, Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) is recently attracting attention due to its several advantages of high-power density, all solid structure, and silent operation. The diverse types of materials used in this type of fuel cell raised drawbacks related to fuel cell cost and durability. By far, Nafion of DuPont is still the current state-of-the-art membrane for PEMFCs. It is known for its high ionic conductivity and …

A New Green Composite Based On Polylactic Acid Mixed With Biomass From Uae Date Palm Waste For Cutlery And Food Packaging Applications, Noran Hussein Awad Elsayed Mousa

Theses

Petroleum-based plastic cutlery is widely used and due to its non-biodegradable properties, they cause serious threats to the environment. Therefore, there is a need to fabricate such products from biodegradable material. Date Palm Rachis (DPR) waste was used as a filler in three levels of 30 wt%, 40 wt% and 50 wt% for cost-performance optimization balance and to improve the thermal behaviours of the biodegradable Polylactic Acid (PLA). The preparation of biodegradable PLA/date palm waste composites was done using a melt mixing extruder at 180°C by varying parameters such as mixing time, the composition of date palm waste biomass, biomass …

Studying The Impact Of Urban Densification On Social Sustainability: The Case Of Bida Bin Ammar Neighborhood In Al Ain, Uae, Lubna Mohammad Ghaffar Shekfa

Theses

As cities are under the influence of rapid development, industrialization, modernization, and globalization, a key task for local authorities, urban planners, and residents are to understand what makes a neighbourhood socially sustainable. In Al Ain City in the UAE, urban sprawl has been a persistent sustainability problem caused by low urban density and has led to the heavy reliance on private cars. To overcome this problem, urban densification as a sustainable planning approach is recommended. Al Ain 2030 Plan has adopted this approach for the redevelopment of the Asharej District. This research aims at studying the application of urban densification …

Impact Of Different Environmental Conditions On The Thermo-Mechanical Characteristics Of Compacted And Non-Compacted Carbon/Epoxy Plain Weave Woven Laminated Composites, Maryam Hamad Helal Thabet Al Kuwaiti

Theses

Fibre-reinforced polymeric composites used for aerospace applications are subjected to different environmental conditions during their operational life, such as moisture and temperature, which can adversely affect their performance over time. On the other hand, the standard fabrication process of these composite aircraft components requires a certain level of in-process vacuum compaction during the composite lay-up process to ensure the escape of entrapped air between the composite layers to prevent the formation of voids, through the application of bleeders/breathers around the composite laminate known for creating a channel for air to escape through. The aim of this study is to evaluate …

The Effectiveness Of Working Memory Training Programs For Special Needs And Typically Developing Students In Arab Countries: A Meta-Analysis Study, Dr. Mohammad Sayed Soliman

International Journal for Research in Education

Working memory training programs have attracted great interest, with claims that the training programs can have diverse beneficial effects. The purpose of this article was to examine near- and far-transfer effects following working-memory training and identify the significant moderators related to these effects. Twenty- three research articles were included in the meta-analysis. The results showed that near-transfer effects of verbal and visual-spatial working memory skills had effect sizes ranging from 3.22 to 2.99 respectively. Far-transfer effects of reading comprehension and academic achievement had effect sizes ranging from 3.17 to 2.43 respectively. Two significant moderators, namely, learner status (typically/special needs) and …

Housing Occupants’ Motivational Drivers For Energy-Savings In The United Arab Emirates: An Exploratory Study, Monaya Muhammed Syam

Theses

The fast urbanization in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) accounts for 70% of energy consumption with the residential sector leading the way, urgently calling for mitigating strategies. Energy-efficient housing in hot climates has been extensively researched in terms of design, building materials and systems. However, an energy performance gap subsides as a direct result of occupants’ behaviour, catalyzing focused research. Moreover, understanding the housing occupants’ behaviour, motivation, and impetus to save energy proved to significantly increase energy savings. Exploring this topic in the UAE is vital given its distinctive specifics; fast-growing economy, harsh hot climate, and heterogeneous population. The latter …

Investigating The Contribution Of Historic Site Interpretation Centers To Meaning Making: The Case Of Bahrain, May Jalal Al Saffar

Dissertations

This dissertation investigates the role and contribution of the Historic Site Interpretation Centers in the process of meaning-making from the historic site to the visitors, as well as their visiting experience and attendance at the same settings. The Historic Site Interpretation Centers exhibit a unique museum typology dedicated to sites of historical significance, offering a dual mode of interpretation, labeled as ‘in situ’ and ‘in context’. The objective was to evaluate the physical attributes and applied display strategies in conveying meaning from historic sites to visitors and, to explore the resulting stakeholders’ (i.e. service providers and visitors) perception and emotional …

Study The Effect Of Damping Change During The Dynamic Analysis Of A Reinforced Concrete Bridge With Neoprene Cushions, Mais Ghassoun

Emirates Journal for Engineering Research

The damping ratio has a important effect on the dynamic behavior of the bridges. and it is customary when designing to assume it as a predetermined fixed value independent of the response amplitude and frequency of the structure . A lot of experimental research worked on identifying them, but the dependence of damping and other dynamic characteristics of vibration amplitudes and their impact on responses and the results of the analysis need more scrutiny and simulation due to the difficulty of conducting vibration experiments for structures of realistic dimensions and large weights such as a RC bridge, which necessitated a …

Analysis And Design Of A Fully Soft Switched Two-Level Dc-Dc Boost Converter For Electric Vehicle Applications, Amin Mirzaei, Mahdi Rezvanyvardom, Ehsan Najafi

Emirates Journal for Engineering Research

In this paper, a fully soft switched two-level DC-DC Boost converter is proposed. The converter is used only one auxiliary cell to create the soft switching conditions for all semiconductor devices. The auxiliary cell contains one auxiliary switch, one resonant capacitor, one resonant inductor and one auxiliary diode. The auxiliary switch creates the soft switching conditions by control of resonant elements. Besides, the auxiliary cell is not located in the main power path and cannot decrease the converter efficiency. It has simple operation modes. Besides, the proposed soft-switched converter is highly efficient while the control circuit is simple and remains …

Occ Future And Obstacles Under 5g Requirements, Noor Jihad, Sinan Abdul Satar

Emirates Journal for Engineering Research

Telecommunications specifications of the fifth-generation (5 G) are being established to satisfy the rising demands of high-speed broadband networks (i.e., a few tens of Gigabits every second). The 5 G standard derives primarily from a rising number of subscribers and a multitude of various apps, commonly referred to as smart devices, communicating as part of Internet-of-Things (IoT) network For 5 G, a few possible developments such as millimeter waves, large multiple-input multiple-output, and small cell connectivity have appeared. While such technologies will meet 5 G specifications, attention is being given to a complementary potential wireless optical wireless communication (OWC) system. …

Developing A New Formula For Predicting Oil Recovery Factor In Water Flooded-Heterogeneous Reservoirs, Mohamed Khaled Aljifri

Theses

In this work, two sets of empirical correlations were developed for predicting the recovery factor (RF) in water-flooded layered oil reservoirs. The first set of these correlations encompasses four key parameters believed to have a significant impact on waterflooding performance, namely, reservoir heterogeneity (permeability variation coefficient), injected water viscosity, permeability anisotropy (ratio of vertical permeability to horizontal permeability), and water injection rate. This first set consists of two expanded forms, one for predicting the RF at water breakthrough time (BT) and the other for predicting the RF at the end of the project (EOP). Out of the aforementioned four key …

The Effect Of Climate Change On Groundwater Recharge In The United Arab Emirates, Yuliya Fadlallah Saade

Civil and Environmental Theses

Climate change is impacting ecosystems and the water resources by causing temperature variation. Evapotranspiration rates are increasing when the temperature is high whereas, precipitation amount and intensity are varying based on geographical locations.

This change in precipitation has an inevitable impact on the groundwater recharge. Quantification of groundwater recharge is a prerequisite for efficient and sustainable groundwater resources management in arid regions.

Although, both surface and groundwater resources in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are scarce; the anticipated climate change impacts could make these resources even scarcer. As such, the main aim of this thesis is to assess the potential …

Designing Metal-Organic Frameworks For Natural Gas Storage And Delivery, Labeeb Ali

Chemical and Petroleum Engineering Theses

Natural gas is major resource in UAE, constitute about 90% methane and as compared to other fossil fuels, it is more environmentally friendly. Energy demand from natural gas can be projected to exceed two hundred exajoules per year in 2040. In the UAE, many natural gas filling stations are already built for utilizing natural gas as a vehicle transportation fuel where these materials have potential applications to store and deliver this fuel. This research aims to study various kinds of Metal-Organic Frameworks, and to investigate adsorption properties for the storage of natural gas and its delivery. MOFs possess porous material …

Poly (Lactic Acid)/Nanoclay Nanocomposites For Packaging Applications, Maissa Akram Adi

Theses

With increasing stringent environmental regulations and attempts to reduce dependence on fossil fuels for polymer production, bio-based polymers are receiving appreciable global attention. In this context, bio-based poly (lactic acid) (PLA) is one of the most frequently used polymers in packaging applications. However, despite of its high versatility, this polymer is limited in packaging applications due to its low mechanical properties. The two-dimensional nanofillers such as nanoclay and graphene are well known for improving the thermo-mechanical properties of polymers at low concentrations. However, increasing higher filler concentration to improve barrier properties of polymers reduces their mechanical properties which is a …

Analysis And Design Of A Soft Switching Z-Source Boost Dc-Dc Converter, Mahdi Rezvanyvardom, Amin Mirzaei

Emirates Journal for Engineering Research

This paper proposes a high step-up fully soft switched Z-source Boost DC-DC converter, which uses two resonant paths to create soft switching conditions for switches and diodes and also increases the voltage gain. The proposed converter only has one switch, so it has a simple structure. Furthermore, its control circuit remains pulse width modulation. Since soft switching conditions are provided for all switching elements, the converter efficiency is very high. This converter also has all advantages of Z-source converters. The converter is analyzed and simulated in PSPICE software. The results confirm the aforementioned advantages and features of the proposed converter

Developing An Enhanced Adaptive Antenna Beamforming Algorithm For Telecommunication Applications, Mohammad Omar Tawfiq Abualhayja'a

Electrical Engineering Theses

As a key enabler for advanced wireless communication technologies, smart antennas have become an intense field of study. Smart antennas use adaptive beamforming algorithms which allow the antenna system to search for specific signals even in a background of noise and interference. Beamforming is a signal processing technique used to shape the antenna array pattern according to prescribed criteria.

In this thesis, a comparative study is presented for various adaptive antenna beamforming algorithms. Least mean square (LMS), normalized least mean square (NLMS), recursive least square (RLS), and sample matrix inversion (SMI) algorithms are studied and analyzed. The study also considers …

Study Of The Detection And The Emission Of Thz Waves In Mos₂Material, Ayah Masoud Ass’Ad Hijazi

Electrical Engineering Theses

Terahertz (THz) technology is receiving a wide interest nowadays, developing more researches worldwide to emerge new devices based on the THz regime and overcoming the challenge of the remarkable THz-gap. This thesis is concerned with studying and developing new emerging materials with new structures in terms of THz waves. The main objective of this thesis is to examine how the MoS₂ material in nanoribbons structure detect and emit THz waves theoretically and experimentally in contrast to Graphene nanoribbon material. The theoretical model was used alongside the experimental setup to fully understand the behavior of the materials and to have a …

Activated Carbon Nanofibers From Renewable (Lignin) And Waste Resources (Recycled Pet) And Their Adsorption Capacity Of Refractory Sulfur Compounds From Fossil Fuels, Efstratios Svinterikos

Dissertations

The development of advanced engineering materials such as carbon nanofibers from low-cost, renewable and/or waste resources is a key aspect of sustainability. In addition, escalating concerns related to the presence of noxious sulfur compounds in commercial fuels are driving the need to develop more efficient desulfurization technologies. In this PhD dissertation research, activated carbon nanofibers were produced from a blend of lignin with recycled poly(ethylene terephthalate) (r-PET) and they were successfully tested for the adsorption of refractory sulfur compounds from a model diesel fuel. Starting from different lignin/r-PET mass ratios, precursor nanofibers of different morphologies were initially prepared using the …

Piezoelectric Energy Harvesting Suspension System For A Half Car Model: Analytical And Experimental Study, Doaa Ali Nasser Al-Yafeai

Mechanical Engineering Theses

One of the essential techniques for energy harvesting is the clean energy collection from ambient vibration. Recently, piezoelectric energy harvesting systems became a hot topic and attracted many researchers. This is due to their simple structure, relatively high output power among the other mechanisms (electromagnetic and electrostatic), compatibility with MEMS, and operation in a wide frequency range. The main objective of the current work is to develop a mathematical model to evaluate the potential of harvesting power from the car suspension system. Quarter and half car models with a built-in piezoelectric stack were modeled mathematically using Laplace transformation and simulated …

Electrical Characterization And Detection Of Blood Cells And Stones In Urine, Nida Nasir

Dissertations

Urine contains an immense amount of information related to its physical, chemical, and biological components; hence, it is a promising tool in detecting various diseases. Available methods for detecting hematuria (blood in the urine) are not accurate. Results are influenced by many factors, such as, health and vitals of the patients, settings of the equipment and laboratories, which leads to false positive or false negative outputs. This necessitates the development of new, accurate, and easy-access methods that save time and effort. This study demonstrates a label-free and accurate method for detecting the presence of red and white blood cells (RBCs …

Development Of A Composite Sustainability Index For Roadway Intersecttion Design Alternatives In The Uae, Maryam Juma Al-Kaabi

Theses

Many studies had been carried out to evaluate the sustainability of transportation systems, but little attention was given in these studies to the design of roadway intersections. The objective of this study was to define a framework to assess intersection sustainability from a road-user perspective and to develop a visual tool that helps decision-makers to support a more sustainable design of roadway intersections. Suitable sustainability indicators that would serve as elements in the built framework at the strategic and early planning level were extracted from the literature. The extracted indicators were utilized with relative weights to develop basic dimensional indices …

Enhanced Label Free Normal And Cancer Cells Classification Using Combined Parametric Modeling And Optical Techniques, Ayshathul Fouzia Abdul Gani

Dissertations

The development of label-free methods for cell classifications has been driven by the importance of early detection and identification of cancer disease. The future point-of-care (POC) treatment methods require rapid and real-time cancer screening techniques. As the labelled methods of cell classification are time-consuming processes and require a large amount of sample preparation along with skilled persons, they do not appear to be suitable for POC treatment methods. This necessitates the importance of such development. The label-free methods incorporate the biophysical properties of cells instead of biomarkers. The optical properties of cells have been frequently utilized for cell classification. This …

Assessment Of Different Seismic Retrofit Systems Of Rc Buildings For Earthquake Risk Mitigation, Aya Ragab Mohamed Abou Ei-Hamd

Theses

Many existing Reinforced Concrete (RC) structures were designed and constructed at a time when design codes were insufficient according to current standards. This class of structures is at risk of damage when subjected to strong earthquake loading. Therefore, several seismic retrofit techniques have been investigated experimentally to increase the earthquake resistance and damage-control potential of pre-seismic code structures using different methods such as quasi-static and pseudo-dynamic testing. However, a limited number of studies have focused on investigating the overall seismic performance of retrofitted RC structures using shake table testing. The first task of this study assesses analytically and experimentally the …