International Journal of Recent Technology and Applied Science (IJORTAS)

Investigating the Viability of Rubber Crumbs from Waste Tyres as Partial Replacement for Coarse Aggregates in Concrete

2024-09-26T01:28:05+00:00

The number of waste tyres is on the increase, because of the growing use of transport vehicles. Almost one trillion waste tyres are generated in the world annually. Established methods of disposal, recycling and re-use of waste tyres have failed to keep pace with generation, proven to be ineffective, cost-intensive and in some cases environmentally unsustainable. This study aims to investigate the effects of utilizing crumbs from discarded rubber as a partial replacement for coarse aggregates in concrete. Rubber crumbs of 10 – 20mm nominal size were produced manually from waste tyres. The rubber crumbs were used to replace 10%, 20% and 30% of coarse aggregates in design concrete of 20N/mm2 target compressive strength. The effects of this material on the slump, water absorption and compressive strength of concrete were examined. The inclusion of rubber crumbs resulted in a decline in the slump of concrete up to 10% relative to the control specimen. Water absorption increased marginally at 10% replacement compared to the control specimen and recorded a maximum value of 0.77% with 30% replacement after 28 days of curing. The compressive strength of the concrete was negatively affected by the rubber crumbs. The maximum value of 13.9N/mm2 was attained at 10% replacement after 28 days of curing. Rubberized concrete with 10% replacement of coarse aggregates can be used for non-structural concrete members such as roof slabs, non–load–bearing partition walls, and roadside barriers. Chemical treatment of rubber crumbs to improve surface adhesion properties should be encouraged.

Optimization of Optical Distribution Point Device Placement on Fiber Optic Cable Networks to Homes

2024-09-26T01:28:02+00:00

Competition in telecommunications technology places demands on companies to always innovate to release the latest services. Currently, the issue of optical distribution point (ODP) infrastructure has become important in fiber to the home (FTTH) network access. This research aims to optimize the placement path for ODP devices on PT BCV’s FTTH network using a traveling salesman problem (TSP) scheme with a hybrid genetic algorithm approach, testing is carried out using Matlab software. From the results obtained in this study, it was concluded that the hybrid genetic algorithm parameters for a population size of 100 with a number of iterations of 2000 by comparing the combination of cross probability parameters of (0.25), (0.5), and (1) and mutation probability of (0.050), (0.025) and (0.005) produces the best fitness value in the combination of Pcrossover = 0.25 and Pmutation = 0.005 and the worst fitness value in the combination of Pcrossover = 1.00 and Pmutation = 0.025. Therefore, researchers recommend a combination of genetic algorithm hybrid parameters with a combination of Pcrossover = 0.25 and Pmutation = 0.005 with a population of 100 and with a number of iterations of 2000.

Impregnation Effect of Synthesized Fe3O4 Nanoparticles on the Jabon Wood’s Physical Properties

2024-09-26T01:27:59+00:00

This study focused on characterizing synthetic magnetite (Fe₃O₄-NP) and evaluating the impregnated jabon wood’s physical properties. The co-precipitation method used for the synthesis of Fe₃O₄-NP, namely by mixing the iron solution (n/n Fe²⁺:Fe³⁺=1:2) with the strong base of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) (MG-S) and weak base of ammonium hydroxide (NH₄OH) (MG-W) as precursors. The impregnation stage uses parameters of a -0.5 bar vacuum for half an hour and 2 bar pressure for 2 hours with magnetite concentrations of 1; 2.5; 5% w/v in a demineralized water solvent. Scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX) and Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FTIR) confirmed the presence of Ferrum content and Fe-O functional group in both Fe₃O₄-NPs produced. The Fe₃O₄-NP size was also measured via the X-ray diffraction analysis, namely 34.54 nm for the MG-S and 39.24 nm for the MG-W. Magnetic strength obtained was 7.51 mT for the MG-S and 8.58 mT for the MG-W. The impregnated jabon wood’s physical properties also improved with indications of an increase in wood density, weight percent gain (WPG), bulking effect (BE), anti-swelling efficiency (ASE), and a decrease in water absorption (WA). The results showed the best treatments were MG-S 2.5% and MG-W 5%.

Implementation of Sugeno Fuzzy Logic Method as an Automatic Humidity and Moisture Control System in Terrarium

2024-09-26T01:27:55+00:00

A terrarium is a mini ecosystem that requires precise humidity control to ensure plant growth and the survival of animals within it. However, manual humidity control is difficult to implement consistently, especially if the external environment changes. This problem can be overcome by implementing an automatic system based on Sugeno fuzzy logic. This research aims to design and implement an automatic system that is able to control terrarium humidity dynamically using a fuzzy logic approach. This system is designed using humidity sensor data as input which is then processed through Sugeno fuzzy logic to determine appropriate control actions. The method used involves modeling input humidity and temperature sensors, determining fuzzy rules, and defuzzification using the Sugeno method to regulate the automatic irrigation system in the terrarium. Tests were conducted under several different environmental conditions to measure the system's response to changes in humidity and temperature. The research results show that the system is able to maintain terrarium humidity within optimal limits with a low error rate. The system is able to adjust control actions in real-time, produce consistent calculations, and provide humidity stability despite external changes.

Opportunities and Challenges of Blockchain Technology in Non-Crypto Sectors

2024-10-07T07:11:19+00:00

Blockchain technology has evolved into a foundational technology with transformative potential across various industries, extending beyond its initial application in cryptocurrencies. This research aims to explore the application of blockchain in logistics, healthcare, and banking sectors in California, focusing on the regulatory challenges and opportunities it presents. The primary research questions include: What are the practical applications and benefits of blockchain in these sectors? What regulatory barriers hinder its adoption? Employing a mixed-methods approach, this study combines qualitative case studies through semi-structured interviews with blockchain experts, industry practitioners, and policymakers, alongside quantitative analysis of market trends from the summer of 2023. The findings reveal that blockchain significantly enhances transparency and efficiency, with 75% of logistics participants acknowledging its benefits, a 50% adoption rate in banking, and 90% of stakeholders reporting increased transaction transparency. However, challenges remain, including fragmented regulations, high implementation costs, and scalability issues, particularly in healthcare, where adoption is low at 36%. Future research should focus on longitudinal studies to assess the long-term impacts of regulatory changes on blockchain adoption, as well as examining the effectiveness of collaborative frameworks among industry stakeholders to drive innovation. By addressing these challenges, this research contributes to the ongoing discourse on how blockchain can be effectively implemented and regulated across various sectors in the United States.