Hybrid Energy Piles as a Smart and Sustainable Foundation

The disused factories’ areas represent a considerable part of the industrial archaeology of the city of Naples. In the last decades of the previous century, many of these factories were disused also because of the ban of asbestos production by the Italian law 257/1992. Of course, this was not the only problem that concurred to create a large amount of disused industrial areas. Often the simple delocalisation of manufactories in other countries contributed to this problem. The reuse of these areas requires polluted and contaminated land reclamation. The simple removal of the shallow soil layers is a widely used reclamation procedure. Furthermore, drilling operations either for piling or for tunnelling may incur in the same type of problem taking into account that this movement can be very expensive depending on the total volume of soil to be removed and to be taken to disposal. In this study a hybrid pile type is proposed as an environmentally friendly and a cheap solution. Hybrid piles are installed by a combination of pushing and augering technique. This installation method allows avoiding the removal and the subsequent disposal of shallow contaminated soil. The mechanical behaviour of three hybrid piles equipped with strain gauges along the shaft is investigated via three loading tests. In the framework of the design of a new mall in a disused industrial area, the opportunity to provide a fully sustainable foundation solution by equipping the piles with heat exchangers pipes is also investigated. Numerical simulations of the energy hybrid pile behaviour are presented outlining further benefits of the new hybrid installation technique and comparing two different configuration of the heat exchanger pipes. Doi: 10.28991/HEF-2021-02-03-010 Full Text: PDF

Production of Biodiesel from a Novel Combination of Raphia Africana Kernel Oil and Turtle Shell (Centrochelys Sulcata) Heterogenous Catalyst

This work investigated the viability of a non-edible oil obtained from raphia africana in the production of biodiesel using a novel heterogeneous catalyst derived from turtle shells (Centrochelys sulcata). The study also proposed the use of acetone as co-solvent to enhance the solubility of the reacting mixtures. The turtle shells were calcined at 900oC for 3hr, impregnated in KOH to improve its activity and then supported with activated carbon produced from cassava peels to increase its surface area. The influences of KOH concentration, catalyst loading, catalyst/carbon mix ratio and concentration of acetone/methanol on the yield of biodiesel were investigated. The results obtained revealed that maximum biodiesel yield of 93% was obtained from the bio-oil at KOH concentration of 30% (w/w), catalyst loading of 6.5%, solvent/methanol ratio of 0.4 and catalyst/carbon weight ratio of 1.25. The activated carbon supported turtle shell catalyst has been found to possess very high catalytic activity converting bio-oil with high saturated fatty acid content to biodiesel with excellent fuel properties having low saturated fatty acids profile. Doi: 10.28991/HEF-2021-02-03-07 Full Text: PDF

Investigation of Petrographic and Diagenetic Properties of Asmari Reservoir Cap Rock, SW Iran

Many problems in the production and development of oil fields lie in the correct and accurate assessment of the reservoir cap rock. Ramshir oil field is located 130 km southeast of Ahvaz and is one of the most important oil fields in the southwest of the country. To evaluate the petrographic and diagenetic properties, 300 thin microscopic sections were studied. According to petrographic studies, it was found that the cap rock in Ramshir oil field is composed of more evaporative sediments (mainly anhydrite with some gypsum) with some non-evaporative sediments (marl, carbonate and bituminous shale). The most important diagenetic processes in the study area were considered to be dolomitization, cementation, compaction, anhydrite, recrystallization and substitution. Petrographic and diagenetic studies suggest a swamp-swamp environment for this environment. Lithological changes are a sign of hot, humid, hot and dry weather during sedimentation of the cap rock of this field. Doi: 10.28991/HEF-2021-02-03-06 Full Text: PDF

The Impact of the Fourth Industrial Revolution on Ethical Leadership

Objectives: ethical leadership is a widely discussed topic, but so far there are still debates around this topic, even arguing that ethical leadership is just statements of right and wrong or that it is a style “leadership style”. Now, the impact of the fourth industrial revolution will make ethical leadership even more essential to improving leadership performance. Therefore, the aim of the study is to show the advantages and challenges of the fourth industrial revolution, these impacts on ethical leadership, so that the effects are useful to leadership performance. Focus on developing ethical leadership. Methods / Analysis: this study conducts analysis and evaluation from data sources on Science Direct, Web of Science, and Scopus, thereby showing the basic characteristics of leadership, ethics, ethical leadership, fourth industrial revolution, advantages and challenges, discussions on the impact of the fourth industrial revolution on ethical leadership. Findings: The findings of the study indicate that the ethical leadership qualities are quite stable, such as perseverance, service spirit, tolerance, power sharing, fairness, etc. The impact of the fourth technological revolution will make ethical leaders more effective in their roles, making it easier for leaders to overcome challenges, contributing to improving leadership performance. Novelty / Improvement: research shows that ethical leaders will be dedicated leaders, service-minded leaders, impacted by the fourth technological revolution, making leadership even more powerful. Virtue becomes more and more important. Therefore, in order to successfully implement the fourth industrial revolution, it is necessary to pay attention to developing ethical leadership. Doi: 10.28991/HEF-2021-02-03-05 Full Text: PDF

Theoretical Issues with Rayleigh Surface Waves and Geoelectrical Method Used for the Inversion of Near Surface Geophysical Structure

We numerically simulate the field measurements of Rayleigh surface waves and electrical resistivity in which the target depth is set to be less than 50-m. The Rayleigh surface waves are simulated in terms of fundamental mode group and phase velocities. The seismic field data is assumed to be collected through a conventional shot-gather. The group velocities are found from the application of the multiple filter technique in a single-station fashion while for the phase velocities the slant stacking, or linear radon transform are applied in fashion of multichannel analysis of surface waves (MASW). The average seismic structure from the source to the receiver (or geophone) is represented by the group velocity curve while the average seismic structure underneath the geophone array is represented by the phase velocity curve. The single-station group velocity curves are transformed into local group velocity curves by setting a linear system through grid points. The shear-wave velocity cross section underneath the examined area is constructed by inverting these local group velocity curves. The electrical resistivity structure of the underground is similarly studied. The field compilation of the resistivity data is assumed to be completed by the application of the multiple electrode Pole-Pole array. The actual resistivity assemble underneath the analyzed area is inverted by considering the apparent (measured) resistivity values. Unique forms such as ore body, cavity, sinkhole, melt, salt, and fluid within the Earth may be examined by joint interpretation of electrical resistivities and seismic velocities. These formations may be better outlined by following their distinct signs such as high/low resistivities and high/low seismic velocities. Doi: 10.28991/HEF-2021-02-03-01 Full Text: PDF

Analytical Solution of Unsteady-state Forchheimer Flow Problem in an Infinite Reservoir: The Boltzmann Transform Approach

For several decades, attempts had been made by several authors to develop models suitable for predicting the effects of Forchheimer flow on pressure transient in porous media. However, due to the complexity of the problem, they employed numerical and/or semi-analytical approach, which greatly affected the accuracy and range of applicability of their results. Therefore, in order to increase accuracy and range of applicability, a purely analytical approach to solving this problem is introduced and applied. Therefore, the objective of this paper is to develop a mathematical model suitable for quantifying the effects of turbulence on pressure transient in porous media by employing a purely analytical approach. The partial differential equation (PDE) that governs the unsteady-state flow in porous media under turbulent condition is obtained by combining the Forchheimer equation with the continuity equation and equations of state. The obtained partial differential equation (PDE) is then presented in dimensionless form (by defining appropriate dimensionless variables) in order to enhance more generalization in application and the method of Boltzmann Transform is employed to obtain an exact analytical solution of the dimensionless equation. Finally, the logarithms approximation (for larger times) of the analytical solution is derived. Moreover, after a rigorous mathematical modeling and analysis, a novel mathematical relationship between dimensionless time, dimensionless pressure, and dimensionless radius was obtained for an infinite reservoir dominated by turbulent flow. It was observed that this mathematical relationship bears some similarities with that of unsteady-state flow under laminar conditions. Their logarithm approximations also share some similarities. In addition, the results obtained show the efficiency and accuracy of the Boltzmann Transform approach in solving this kind of complex problem. Doi: 10.28991/HEF-2021-02-03-04 Full Text: PDF

Evaluation of Geology and Hydrogeology of the Water Leakage in Hammam-Grouz Dam, Algeria

Water has been known since antiquity as the catalyst and survival of mankind. Therefore, hydraulic structures have been constructed to resolve various hydraulic problems which are exposed such as: pollution, eutrophication, accelerated siltation, intense evaporation and water leakage. In Algeria, the problem of water leaks has appeared in many dams, among them the Hammam Grouz dam in the north-east of the country. Indeed, the hydro-technical work is considered as the most threatened in the country by this thorny problem. During the period between 1984-1987, there is a lack of suitable site for dam construction in this area led the services concerned to build this infrastructure in a cluse composed of limestone (Cenomanian) moderately karstic which are characterized by dissolutions concentrated along the joints. This site was consolidated and sealed during the construction of the dyke dam that allows its exploitation before a real test. However, it should be noted that the water level rose above the normal reservoir level for the first time (January 26, 2003) showed that this site can no longer withstand the strong pressure forces caused by the coastline water. In fact, significant water leaks have appeared at the lower gallery and downstream foot of the right bank. The following variation of water leaks over time, it can be observed that a convergence of stability of the level of the water level in the bowl to levels not exceeding 718 m which is the equivalent of less than 1/3 of the original storage capacity of the dam. The appearance of significant water leaks at the Hammam Grouz dam as soon as the spill was first discharged indicated that the sealing works carried out during the construction of the dyke had either lost their effectiveness or they were not perfect. The settlement works carried out today at the level of the basin and the banks of this hydraulic infrastructure. Despite having minimized the flow of the resurgences that appeared downstream of the dike, they did not solve the problem definitively. This may result in the appearance of a place of water leaks. Indeed, during the hydrological year 2007/2008, the appearance of a vortex in November 2007 within the lake rendering the dam of Hammam Grouz useless because it was empty during the first three months of the year 2008, in addition to the water loss that threaten them. This phenomenon floods the lower gallery of the dyke with each rise of the level of water beyond a limit threshold. Hence, it is impossible to perform some monitoring related to stability control. The harmful effects of the problem of water leakage, the stability of the dike and the quantity of water stored, especially with water scarcity in this semi-arid region, require treatment of this phenomenon. The most adapted techniques are the use of sealing materials. Having the same characteristics as the places to be waterproofed and which adapt sufficiently to their geological formations, the allocation of sealing works to a highly qualified co-contractor, are of great importance in order to provide satisfactory sealing results to make it watertight in order to operate it properly. Doi: 10.28991/HEF-2021-02-03-08 Full Text: PDF

Introducing a Model for Infrastructure Improvement to Develop Intelligent Schools

Intelligent schools have faced many challenges and little research has been conducted to review the challenges of developing these schools. There are models for solving the challenges and barriers to the implementation and development of such schools, but still the challenge of infrastructure is considered as the most fundamental challenge in the development of intelligent schools. In this paper, a model is proposed to solve the problem of infrastructure in the development of intelligent schools by identifying important features based on the existing features regarding the creation of intelligent schools. This model was evaluated by ten experts in the implementation of intelligent schools. The proposed model can be used to improve the problems of infrastructure in the process of creation and implementation of intelligent schools. Doi: 10.28991/HEF-2021-02-03-03 Full Text: PDF

Water Table Effects on the Behaviors of the Reinforced Marine Soil-footing System

This study evaluates the effects of a water table on the behaviors of a geogrid reinforced soil-footing system on marine soft soil layers in Qeshm Island, Iran. The main aim of this research is to recommend the optimum specification of the reinforced soil-footing system. A series of geotechnical tests were adopted to measure the properties of the soil profile. The impacts of the water table and the geogrid layer specifications were evaluated by the finite element analysis to investigate the system’s behaviors. Finally, the optimal reinforced soil-footing is suggested. Doi: 10.28991/HEF-2021-02-03-09 Full Text: PDF

Innovation toward the Reinvigoration of the Plant Extracts Industry in Developing Countries

Smaller countries with economies that are fossil fuel based, face the challenge of diversifying their economies, with an ideal emphasis on clean technologies. In this case study approach, we undertook a techno-feasibility study to evaluate the potential for constructing and operating a supercritical fluid extraction plant in Trinidad and Tobago to produce the oils and oleoresins of turmeric. This approach was based on the premise of the importance of data derived from laboratory-scale analysis for informing commercialization decisions. In our case, the laboratory study identified that the optimal extraction approach was an innovative two-stage extraction technique (25 °C and 65 bar for 60 minutes, followed by 50 °C and 350 bar for a further 120 minutes). This optimal method had a conservatively projected extraction yield of 7%. We then evaluated a commercial operation guided by the laboratory study. Over a period of 10 years at a discount rate of 10%, our calculations showed an internal rate of return of 19% with a net present value of US$1.878 million. Based on our results, we conclude that this project may be a viable avenue for the sustainable development of Trinidad and Tobago and could be further explored. Doi: 10.28991/HEF-2021-02-03-02 Full Text: PDF