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Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering

Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering

ISSN: 2165-784X

Open Access

Articles in press and Articles in process

    Research Article Pages: 1 - 5

    Influence of Soil Saturation and Seismic Load on Slope Behavior in Post-Landslide Jure Slope, Nepal

    Pradip Luitel*, RC Tiwari, P Makaju, P Panthi and S Lamsal

    Landslides in Nepal pose a significant threat due to the country's active tectonics, delicate geology, rugged topography, and uncertain climate. The Jure landslide that occurred on August 2, 2014, has garnered particular attention due to the unprecedented loss of life and properties. This paper investigates the influence of soil saturation and seismic load on slope behavior in the post-landslide jure slope, Nepal utilizing RocScience phase-2, finite element analysis software. The study is performed by geomechanical stimulation of the slope model using shear strength reduction method, appropriate boundary conditions and Mohr column and Hoek-Brown failure criteria. The results show that higher saturation levels lead to reduced shear strength and increased displacement, while positive horizontal seismic loads decrease the critical strength reduction factor, increasing susceptibility of the slope to failure. Remedial measures developed accordingly can protect the affected region from future landslides during heavy rainfall and earthquakes. By enhancing our understanding of slope behavior, this study helps to improve disaster preparedness and resilience in similar regions facing natural hazards.

    Research Article Pages: 1 - 6

    Existing Water Distribution Network Analysis for Endagebrial Subsystem, Mekelle City, Ethiopia

    Tsigabu Hailu*

    The efficient management of water distribution networks is crucial for ensuring reliable water supply in urban areas. This study focuses on the analysis of the existing water distribution network for the Endagebrial subsystem in Mekelle city, Ethiopia. The primary objective is to evaluate the current performance of the network and identify areas for improvement to meet the growing water demand. Using EPANET 2.0, widely used hydraulic simulation software, the study models the water distribution network to assess its hydraulic performance. Key parameters such as pressure, flow rate, and velocity are analyzed under various demand scenarios. The network’s ability to maintain adequate pressure and flow during peak demand periods is a critical aspect of the analysis. The results indicate that certain sections of the network experience low pressure, particularly during peak hours, which can lead to insufficient water supply to end-users. Additionally, the study identifies areas with high head loss, suggesting the need for pipe replacement or resizing to enhance the network’s efficiency. The analysis also highlights the impact of aging infrastructure on the network’s performance, emphasizing the importance of regular maintenance and upgrades. Recommendations for improving the water distribution network include the installation of pressure-regulating valves, upgrading undersized pipes, and implementing a more robust maintenance schedule. These measures are expected to enhance the overall reliability and efficiency of the water supply system, ensuring that it can meet the future demands of Mekelle city’s growing population. This study provides valuable insights into the current state of the Endagebrial subsystem’s water distribution network and offers practical solutions for its improvement. The findings can serve as a reference for urban planners and water utility managers in Mekelle city and other similar urban settings, contributing to the sustainable management of water resources.

    Research Article Pages: 1 - 5

    Fiber reinforced concrete fencing poles

    Kolli Bhava Sai Vaishnavi*, S Sharmila, T Lokesh, K Rajendra and Chava Srinivas

    The paper discusses the historical use of fencing poles constructed from diverse materials like timber, wood, stone, RCC and plastic. It highlights the drawbacks of certain materials, such as timber being susceptible to termites. In modern times, RCC (Reinforced Cement Concrete) fencing poles are extensively used, but they lack high flexural strength. The study proposes adding fibres (coconut and steel) to the concrete to enhance flexural strength, addressing the weakness of concrete in tension. The goal is to produce economical and eco-friendly concrete poles with improved properties compared to conventional ones. The research involves casting poles with different fibre types and volume fractions, conducting tests on compressive and flexural strength with M25 grade concrete. Overall, the study aims to provide a better alternative to traditional concrete poles by incorporating fibres and optimizing their proportions for enhanced strength and durability.

    Research Article Pages: 1 - 8

    To Measure the Absorption of Metals, from Soil Through the Process of Phytoremediation at Varying Levels of Concentrations

    Habib Ahmad Jan*

    The contamination of metals has an impact, on a considerable number of people worldwide particularly in developing nations. This occurs primarily because environmental policies are either lacking or rarely enforced leading to health related issues are abundant. To reduce the contamination levels in soils, various chemical, physical, and biological methods are utilized. Among biological methods a popular method is phytoremediation in which plants species are utilized that can absorb heavy metals from soil as part of the nutrition Intake. A recent study indicated that the removal capability of Typha latifolia, a plant species commonly used for phytoremediation, is related with concentration of heavy metals in the soil and/or irrigation water, but the study remained inconclusive regarding precise characterization of this effect, due to small sample size and lack of control on the contamination of heavy metals. In this study, the effect of concentration of lead, chromium, nickel, and copper on the extraction efficiency of Typha latifolia is characterized, following a careful regimen of irrigation to supply exact quantities of heavy metals. Several specimens of Typha latifolia were grown in pots under laboratory conditions and irrigated using predetermined quantity of clean water with added known concentrations of the four heavy metals, daily for a period of ninety days. Atomic absorption spectrometry was used to determine the amounts of the four heavy metals before and after the irrigation period to estimate the amounts of heavy metals absorbed by the plants. Concentration increased heavy metals extraction efficiency from the soil using Thypa latifolia specie. Also result shows a trend line between different heavy metals removal by plant species as we increased concentration the efficiency also increased. By finding the value of P our results were more than 99% in confidence interval and no result was obtained which proves our hypothesis incorrect. The equations and specifically the R2 value further strengthen our findings as indicator used for authenticity of calculated results. Overall result obtained for heavy metal removal was above 50%for low concentration and increased up to 80% with the increase in concentration of heavy metal in irrigation water.

    Research Article Pages: 1 - 12

    Geo-Spatial Approach Urban Expansion Land Use Change and Prediction Using (QGIS) Plugin Model in Wukro, Tigray Region, Northern Ethiopia

    Fikre Hagos*, Daniel Teka, Mewcha Amha and Gebreyohanns Zenebe

    Urban expansion is a spatial phenomenon that was indicates population growth, economic expansion, the importance of life on town/city etc. The use of current and historical data in urban expansion analysis is necessary in urban spatially and temporally using remotely sensed data, GIS and statistical relative data’s. Four Landsat images (i.e. 1985, 1995, 2005, and 2015) TM, ETM+, and OLI sensors data used to determine urban expansion land use change The images were classified using ERDAS Imagen Maximum Likelihood supervised classification technique. The LULC classified into built-up area, cultivated lands, plantation, rivers and shrub land. The overall classification accuracy was 86.0% for 1985, 86.4% for 1995, 87.32% for 2005 and 89.32% for 2015. To demonstrate the reliability of the MOLUSEC QGIS model were implemented to analysis an urban expansion trends, urban expansion simulated process sand pattern in the study area. The obtained results provide a good rule for modeling urban expansion process, understanding urbanization contributing factors and predicting the future patterns. Furthermore, the resulting the current paper to be used for decision makers and urban planners to identify past and present urban expansion trends to prepared for the future urban demands. Finally, using the same model the urban expansion will simulated for 2025. Accordingly, the built-up area of town predicted to be 585 ha for 2025.

      Research Article Pages: 1 - 6

      Behaviour-Finite Elements Analysis-Modeling of Hyperbolic Cooling Towers under Static and Vortex Wind Forces

      Sumit Guha*

      Aim of this paper is software package utilized towards a practical application by considering problem of natural draught hyperbolic cooling towers. This paper deals with the study of hyperbolic cooling tower of 120 m high above ground level. This cooling tower has been analyzed for wind load using ANSYS by assuming fixity at the shell base. For this analysis a single case of the tower with alternative ‘I’ and ‘V’ supports is taken up. The wind load on this cooling towers has been calculated in the form of pressure by using the circumferentially distributed design wind pressure coefficients as given in IS: 11504-1985 code along with the design wind pressures at different levels as per IS: 875 (Part 3)-1987 code. The analysis has been carried out using and 4-noded shell element. The vertical distribution of membrane forces along and the circumferential distributions at base, throat and top levels have been studied for the cooling tower.

      Case Report Pages: 1 - 4

      Case Report on Stakeholders Management in a Construction Project in an Urban Environment

      Nancy Mittal, Diwakar Velu

      The continuing growth of population density in urban areas around the world has placed greater emphasis on the utilization and development of underground space to meet the increasing demands of the city. Due to limited land space available in downtown areas, many cities in the world are also embarking on integration of major construction projects of metro infrastructure, commercial developments and residential estates etc., to meet the growing demand of infrastructure. Construction project in an urban area necessitates the involvement of internal and external stakeholders in the planning phase of the project and requires managing the expectations of the stakeholders throughout the project. This paper will present a case study to depict the ways for managing the stakeholders affected due to the construction project in an urban environment. Stakeholder management in construction projects which are of national importance is even more challenging and complex than private projects. To make the project successful, it is very important to identify all the stakeholders and engage them in early phases of project. The very task of managing the different priorities and requirements of internal and external stakeholder groups at various stages of project is tedious in itself. This paper will describe the different strategies and present 2 case studies to manage the expectations of various stakeholders during the construction works in a densely populated area.

      Case Report Pages: 1 - 4

      Optimization Studies on E-waste for the Recovery of Zinc and Aluminium by Electro Deposition

      P Sivakumar*, D Prabhakaran and M Thirumarimurugan

      The world produces 50 million tons of electronic and electrical waste (e-waste) per year, according to a recent UN report, but only 20% is formally recycled. The rest ends up in landfill, or is recycled informally in developing nations. E-waste recycling market in India is predominantly controlled by unorganized sector due to absence of stringent laws and policy framework. Electronics products in the country are reaching their end of life sooner than expected, which has created immense pressure on the government to come up with appropriate laws to promote e-waste recycling and management. Most electronics that are improperly thrown away contain some form of harmful materials such as beryllium, cadmium, mercury and lead. These materials might be trace elements, but when added up in volume, the threat to the environment is significant. However electronic waste also contains fair percentage of precious metals like Cu, Ag, Au, Pt etc. These metals can be recovered from e-waste at cheaper cost than from the usual ores. Several techniques are used to recover precious metals like copper, silver and gold. This paper deals with the collection and segregation of precious metal rich e-waste scrap and leaches zinc and Aluminium effectively by adopting the technique namely Electrodeposition. The composition of Zinc and Aluminium present in the resultant leached product from each technique is analyzed by EDS. A manual comparison of purity, yield percentage, energy consumption will be tabulated and optimization for the three processes will be simulated using Response Surface Methods (RSM) in design-expert software v.11.

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