10 Towards a Safer Environment：（7）How apatite minerals remediate Pb,Zn and Mn from wastewater？

To evaluate the effectiveness of apatite mineral in removing different contaminants from low quality water in the industrial city of abha,Asir region,southwestern of Saudi Arabia two phosphatic clay dominated by apatite mineral were selected.In situ remediation experiment proved that apatite mineral has the highest affinity for Pb and removed more than 94% from initial Pb concentration.The rest of contaminants followed the descending order of:Zn>Mn>Cu>Co>Ni.The sorption of Pb,Zn and Mn onto apatite mineral was well characterized by the Langmuir model.Ternary-metal addition induced competitive sorption among the three metals,with the interfering effect of Pb>Zn>Mn.During metal retention by apatite mineral calcium and phosphate were determined in equilibrium solution.Calcium increased and phosphate decreased with increasing metal disappearance.The greatest increase of calcium and the largest phosphate reduction were found with Pb+2 sorption. This is suggested that Pb+2 retention by apatite was through the dissolution of apatite which mean release of Ca and P into solution and formation of pyromorphite(lead phosphate)as consuming of P.Obtained results suggested that there are two general mechanisms for the ability of apatite mineral to take up Pb2+,Zn+2 and Mn+2.The first is (ion-ion exchange mechanism)concerned with adsorption of ions on the solid surface followed by their diffusion into apatite mineral and the release of cations originally contained within apatite.The second is (dissolution- precipitation mechanism)concerned to the dissolution of apatite in the aqueous solution containing Pb2+,Zn+2 and Mn+2 followed by the precipitation or coprecipitation.Pb+2 desorption responding to solution pH may indicate that not all the Pb+2 was chemisorbed and fraction of Pb+2 was weakly adsorbed or complexed on the surface of apatite mineral.     

A two-stage fuzzy logic controller for traffic signals

This paper presents the design and evaluation of a fuzzy logic traffic signal controller for an isolated intersection. The controller is designed to be responsive to real-time traffic demands. The fuzzy controller uses vehicle loop detectors, placed upstream of the intersection on each approach, to measure approach flows and estimate queues. These data are used to decide, at regular time intervals, whether to extend or terminate the current signal phase. These decisions are made using a two-stage fuzzy logic procedure. In the first stage, observed approach traffic flows are used to estimate relative traffic intensities in the competing approaches. These traffic intensities are then used in the second stage to determine whether the current signal phase should be extended or terminated. The performance of this controller is compared to that of a traffic-actuated controller for different traffic conditions on a simulated four-approach intersection.     

Unconventional USC intersection corridors: evaluation of potential implementation in Doha,Qatar

Unconventional intersection designs have been recently proposed as a new approach to deal with heavy left turns at signalized intersections. One of these unconventional schemes, the Upstream Signalized Crossover (USC) intersection, was shown to significantly reduce average vehicle delays; particularly when the volumes entering the intersection are relatively high. The Ministry of Public Works of Qatar is considering the implementation of the USC intersection on three signalized intersections along a major urban corridor in Doha. This paper investigates the potential improvements associated with the USC implementation. VISSIM was used to analyze the proposed USC intersections and the existing conventional intersections. Analyses were carried out for AM , Midday, and PM peak hours. The results showed that most of the travel time measurement sections experienced lower delays in the USC configuration for the three peak periods. As well, the total system delay, in hours, for the USC configuration was less than that of the conventional configuration by 19.4, 14.8, and 13.6% for the AM , Midday, and PM peaks, respectively. The average control delay for each single USC intersection was lower than its conventional counterpart by between 7.6 and 22.9%. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effectiveness of vehicle weight enforcement in a developing country using weigh-in-motion sorting system considering vehicle by-pass and enforcement capability

Vehicle overloading has been identified as one of the major contributors to road pavement damage in Malaysia. In this study, the weigh-in-motion (WIM) system has been used to function as a vehicle weight sorting tool to complement the exsiting static weigh bridge enforcement station. Data collected from the developed system is used to explore the effectiveness of using WIM system in terms of generating more accurate data for enforcement purposes and at the same time improving safety and reducing the number of vehicle weight violations on the roads. This study specifically focus on the effect of vehicle by-pass and static weigh station enforcement capability on the overall effectiveness of vehicle weight enforcement system in a developing country. Results from this study suggest that the WIM system will significantly enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of the current vehicle weight enforcement, thus generating substantial revenue that would greatly off-set the current road maintenance budget that comes from tax payers money. If there is substantial reduction in overloaded vehicles, the public will still gain through reduction in road maintenance budget, less accident risks involving heavy trucks, and lesser greenhouse gases (GHGs) emissions.     

Marine molluscs as biomonitors for heavy metal levels in the Gulf of Suez, Red Sea

Levels of the heavy metals Copper (Cu), Zinc (Zn), Lead (Pb), Cadmium (Cd), Chromium (Cr), Nickel (Ni), Iron (Fe) and Manganese (Mn) were determined in coastal water, sediments and soft tissues of the gastropod limpet, Patella caerulea, and the bivalve, Barbatus barbatus, from seven different stations in the western coast of the Gulf of Suez. The concentrations of heavy metals in water ranged between 3.37–4.78, 18.83–21.46, 2.75–3.17, 0.22–0.27, 0.99–1.21, 2.69–3.65, 3.75–4.56 μg L^− 1 and 23.82–32.78 mg g^− 1 for Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd, Cr, Ni, Mn and Fe, respectively. The corresponding concentration values in the sediments were 8.65–12.16, 51.78–58.06, 36.52–42.15, 3.23–3.98, 9.03–12.75, 34.31–49.63, 3.28–4.56 and 64.20–70.22 μg g^− 1 for Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd, Cr, Ni, Mn and Fe, respectively. The highest accumulated metals were Fe, Zn and Mn in both P. caerulea and B. barbatus, while the lowest one was Cd. The accumulation of metals was more pronounced in P. caerulea than B. barbatus. The highest concentrations of all metals in water, sediments and mollusca were recorded at Adabiya harbour north of the Gulf, while the lowest concentrations were recorded at Gabal El-Zeit and Hurghada. Land based activities and ships awaiting berth are the main source of metal pollution in the northern part of the Gulf.     

Linear Quadratic Gaussian Control of a Quarter-Car Suspension

This paper presents a method for designing linear multivariable controllers in the frequency-domain for an intelligent controlled suspension system for a quarter-car model. The design methodology uses singular value inequalities and optimal control theory. The vehicle system is augmented with additional dynamics in the form of an integrator to affect the loop shapes of the system. The measurements are assumed to be obtained in a noisy state, and the optimal control gain and the Kalman filter gain are derived using system dynamics and noise statistics. A combination of singular value analysis, eigenvalue analysis, time response, and power spectral densities of random response is used to describe the performance of the active suspension systems.     

Exploration of route choice behavior with advanced traveler information using neural network concepts

A model of driver's route choice behavior under advanced traveler information system (ATIS) is developed based on data collected from learning experiments using interactive computer simulation. The experiment subjected drivers to 32 simulated days in which they were to choose between the freeway or a side road. A neural network model is used as a convenient modeling technique in this initial phase of the analysis. The results indicated that most subjects made route choices based mainly on their recent experiences. It was also demonstrated that route choice behaviors are related to the personal characteristics as well as the characteristics of the respective routes. Travel experiences have less effect on the choice of the side road compared to the freeway and the results indicate that the prediction accuracy of the model, the acceptance rate of advice, and the quality of advice are closely correlated. The model developed here was for advice consistently provided at a level of 75 percent accuracy. The paper concludes with a discussion of experimental limitations and suggestions for future research.     

High temperature indentation test to improve constitutive model for welding simulation

The high temperature gradients experienced during fusion welding lead to a local dilatation and metallurgical transformations that generate inhomogeneous plastic deformation, residual stresses and distortions in the welded parts which can affect the service life of the structures. To predict such residual stresses and distortions, finite element analysis is nowadays widely used. This work reports a 3D finite element model for welding simulation. The proposed model is based on semi coupled thermo-mechanical analysis using a double ellipsoidal model of heat source. Firstly, a disk heated in its central zone is investigated. Secondly the validation concerns the simulation of a fully 3D two pass butt weld. The idea in this work concerns the calibration of the heat source parameters with the help of the inverse analysis to improve the heat flow predictions. For the stress analysis, an annealing temperature is introduced to force the material to lose its hardening memory above a given temperature. The predicted residual stresses as well as the predicted distortions are found to be sensitive to the annealing temperature.     

Ride Performance Potential of Active Fast Load Leveling Systems

The potential performance benefits of active high gain load levelers with specified configurations are investigated analytically using a quarter-car model. An analysis of the vehicle suspension systems is formulated for determining vehicle stability and response to body force and road disturbances. Both random and deterministic disturbances are considered

Optimally controlled active suspensions with and without a derivative constraint in the performance index are also investigated. Results pertaining to the two optimal systems are presented and evaluated. It is shown that the load leveler offers a viable mechanism for controlling vehicle attitude without the necessity of reducing the isolation qualities and road-holding ability of the suspension.     

Advanced Ground Vehicle Suspension Systems - A Classified Bibliography

This bibliographical list classifies the extensive literature related to the dynamic analysis and control design aspects of advanced ground vehicle suspension systems. It is restricted to the design of advanced suspensions for ride quality and safety. Brief generalized notices and definitions are presented.