Review
Polymer Science
Krzysztof Lewandowski, Katarzyna Skorczewska
Summary: This article provides a literature review on the recycling of PVC, including mechanical recycling and feedstock recycling methods. It also introduces the characteristics of PVC and its potential in the circular economy.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Scott Svadlenak, Sophie Wojcik, Oluwafemi Ogunlalu, Makayla Vu, Maoz Dor, Bryan W. Boudouris, Dorthe Wildenschild, Konstantinos A. Goulas
Summary: Converting polymer waste to marketable products is a promising method to incentivize waste upcycling. This study presents a method to upcycle PVC plastics by dechlorination and hydrogenation using a mixed amine-water system and a heterogeneous catalyst. The optimized conditions achieved high hydrocarbon wax yields with melt temperatures above 80 degrees C.
APPLIED CATALYSIS B-ENVIRONMENTAL
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Matteo Calosi, Marco Renon, Giada Belletti, Valentina Mazzanti, Francesco Mollica, Alessandro Massi, Monica Bertoldo
Summary: This study focuses on the depolymerization of rigid semi-Interpenetrated Polymer Network (semi-IPN) foam based on poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) and cross-linked polyurea/isocyanurate, aiming to separate and reuse the individual components. By optimizing the glycolysis conditions, the researchers successfully depolymerized the crosslinked portion and recovered PVC with minimal degradation.
Article
Engineering, Civil
Zhang Lanlan, Zhang Yingying, Song Wei, Xu Junhao, Xue Jigang
Summary: A simple and effective damage constitutive model for PVC-coated fabrics has been developed to predict the nonlinear mechanical response of membrane structures more accurately. The model, based on continuum damage mechanics theory, was verified to have good performance and correctness through simulations and experimental data validation. This model could be used for numerical calculations for membrane structures.
Article
Materials Science, Ceramics
Zhen Yang, Ying Li, Peihua Ma
Summary: In this study, a highly selective lithium-ion sieve was prepared via an antisolvent method, and its adsorption and cycling performance were investigated. The results showed that HTO-PVC-15 had higher adsorption capacity and lower dissolution rate, making it suitable for salt lake brine adsorption applications.
CERAMICS INTERNATIONAL
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
J. Zwirner, B. Ondruschka, M. Scholze, A. Thambyah, J. Workman, N. Hammer, J. A. Niestrawska
Summary: The human dura mater, which plays a role in mitigating brain tissue response under dynamic loading conditions, is often overlooked in computational and physical human head models due to a lack of load-deformation data. This study aimed to investigate the strain rate-dependent mechanical properties of the dura mater at different velocities and found that increasing the load application velocity increases stiffness and decreases tensile strength as well as straining potential. Therefore, the elastic modulus of the human dura mater should be adjusted in computational head impact simulations according to the respective velocities.
JOURNAL OF THE MECHANICAL BEHAVIOR OF BIOMEDICAL MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Babar Ali
Summary: The substitution of natural aggregates with recycled ones can mitigate the negative impact of concrete industry on the environment. This study aimed to enhance the ductility of recycled aggregate concrete (RAC) by introducing hybrid fibers. The results showed that RAC with hooked steel fibers (HSF) and hybrid HSF-polypropylene fibers (PPF) exhibited superior flexural behavior, tensile strength, and compressive strength compared to plain natural aggregate concrete (NAC). Hybrid fibers were found to be more efficient than singular HSF in improving the mechanical properties of both RAC and NAC. The addition of 0.85% HSF + 0.15% PPF improved the water impermeability of concrete and reduced the water absorption capacity of RAC by 6.4%.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Textiles
Changsheng Wang, Xifan Cao, Hongbei Shen
Summary: Through cyclic loading and unloading experiments and numerical simulations, the study demonstrates that the quadratic polynomial constitutive material model is suitable for coated and uncoated PA66 automobile airbag fabric, enabling accurate modeling of the material behavior of automobile airbag fabrics.
FIBERS AND POLYMERS
(2021)
Review
Engineering, Environmental
Lihui Lu, Weiming Li, Ying Cheng, Meng Liu
Summary: The extensive production and consumption of plastics has led to a significant amount of plastic waste and pollution. Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) waste, with its high chlorine content, is a major contributor to the plastic waste stream and can generate hazardous chlorinated organic pollutants if not properly treated. This review examines PVC synthesis, applications, and the challenges of managing PVC waste. Dechlorination is crucial for the chemical recycling of PVC waste and PVC-containing plastic waste. The review discusses dehydrochlorination and dechlorination mechanisms of PVC using thermal degradation and wet treatments, as well as recent advancements in chemical treatments and dechlorination principles. It provides a comprehensive analysis of chemical recycling technologies for PVC waste and PVC-containing plastic waste, aiming to transform them into chemicals, fuels, feedstock, and value-added polymers.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Shuangxin Lai, Chaofeng Cheng, Bin Yuan, Yi Liao, Xingrui Su, Shibing Bai
Summary: Waste NBR/PVC composites powders (WNPP) with high thermal stability and degree of reclaiming were prepared by solid-state shear milling technology (S3M). The reclaimed products via thermoplastic re-processing showed excellent mechanical properties, with an increase of 208.2% in stress and 269.4% in strain compared to the products made from virgin scraps. The molecular chains of the rubber phase would be close to each other during the reclamation process, enhancing the interaction among polar groups and the compatibility between the polar rubber and plastic phases.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Mohammad Salimi, Thomas Helmer Pedersen, Lasse Rosendahl
Summary: PVC waste is a challenging issue for environmental activists and industrial recyclers due to the corrosive decomposition products. The study used Response Surface Methodology to investigate PVC dechlorination and evaluate corrosion rate in SS-316 alloy. Experimental data suggests that dual-stage and Ni-assisted dechlorination methods show promising performances under optimal operating conditions.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Mechanics
Benoit Paermentier, Steven Cooreman, Patricia Verleysen, Sarath Chandran, Sam Coppieters, Reza Talemi
Summary: This study investigates the fracture behavior of high-pressure pipelines using a Dynamic Tensile Tear Test (DT3) method, which simulates the actual loading conditions. Experimental observations using high-speed camera imaging and scanning electron microscope analysis were complemented by numerical analysis, showing good correlation between the two.
ENGINEERING FRACTURE MECHANICS
(2022)
Article
Mechanics
Lulu Liu, Ming Cai, Gang Luo, Zhenhua Zhao, Wei Chen
Summary: The study conducted quasi-static/dynamic tensile tests and shear tests on multi-phases STF-Kevlar fabrics to accurately describe their dynamic response through macroscopic numerical simulation. The mechanical parameters of Kevlar fabric improved after STF treatment, showing increased peak load, elongation at break, and elastic modulus. The multi-phase STF treated fabrics exhibited strain rate effect, with significant increases in elastic modulus and peak stress with strain rate, indicating superior shear performance in dynamic response.
COMPOSITE STRUCTURES
(2021)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
D. Bompa, B. Xu, A. Y. Elghazouli
Summary: This study experimentally investigated the mechanical properties of cementitious composites containing recycled RPVC granules and fibers, showing that as the content of RPVC increases, the compressive and flexural strength decrease proportionally; however, it exhibits better ductility in compression and enhanced softening and post-cracking performance in flexure at the same time.
CONSTRUCTION AND BUILDING MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Meng Chen, Guangquan Wang, Tong Zhang, Mingyang Ma, Shubin Tang, Yao Zhang
Summary: This study investigates the feasibility of partially replacing polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) fibers with recycled tire steel (RTS) fibers in engineered cementitious composites (ECC) to improve their dynamic mechanical behavior and make use of recycled waste tires. Laboratory tests were conducted to evaluate the workability, elastic modulus, uniaxial tensile behavior, and dynamic splitting tensile behavior of ECC containing PVA and RTS fibers. The results show that replacing 0.25% PVA fibers with RTS fibers decreases the tensile strength by 0.85 MPa but significantly increases the first-crack strength. RTS fibers also contribute to maintaining specimen integrity under dynamic loading, resulting in increased dynamic splitting strength and dissipation energy compared to using PVA fibers. The predictions of the dynamic increase factor with strain rate match well with the experimental results.
CONSTRUCTION AND BUILDING MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Isam Janajreh, Idowu Adeyemi, Sherien Elagroudy
Summary: This study investigates different pathways for hydrogen production and the influence of methane concentration in biogas sources on reforming metrics. Results indicate that methane concentration significantly impacts the resulting hydrogen concentration and overall reforming efficiency, highlighting the importance for sustainable bio-H-2 production.
BIOMASS CONVERSION AND BIOREFINERY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Isam Janajreh, Mohammed Hussain, Sherien Elagroudy, Konstantinos Moustakas
Summary: The use of scrap tire granulation for crumb rubber surfaces in hot climate regions may lead to rapid wear, reduced user safety, and potential early failure. Therefore, it is not recommended to use rubber granules for surfaces in hot regions, and seeking alternative recycling methods is strongly advised.
JOURNAL OF MATERIAL CYCLES AND WASTE MANAGEMENT
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Carlos D. Diaz-Marin, Lenan Zhang, Zhengmao Lu, Mohammed Alshrah, Jeffrey C. Grossman, Evelyn N. Wang
Summary: A generic framework of sorption kinetics for hygroscopic hydrogels has been developed, with liquid transport due to chemical potential gradient playing a key role in fast kinetics. The high water uptake is attributed to the hydrogel's expansion during liquid transport. Key design parameters governing the kinetics include initial porosity, hydrogel thickness, and shear modulus.
Article
Polymer Science
M. Alshrah, I. Adeyemi, I. Janajreh
Summary: This study focuses on the kinetic study of waste plastic pyrolysis. The results show that the main weight loss region with the highest conversion rate occurs between 450 and 480 degrees Celsius. The Si-XLPE used in this study exhibits similar behavior to LDPE.
JOURNAL OF POLYMER RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Marine
Hamid Hassan Khan, Didarul Islam, Yap Yit Fatt, Isam Janajreh, Mahbub Alam
Summary: This study numerically investigates the flow-induced vibration of two tandem cylinders of unequal diameters and finds that the vibration is highly sensitive to both the diameter ratio and spacing ratio, with intricate wake interference.
Article
Thermodynamics
Carlos D. Diaz-Marin, Lenan Zhang, Bachir El Fil, Zhengmao Lu, Mohammed Alshrah, Jeffrey C. Grossman, Evelyn N. Wang
Summary: This study develops a model for the simultaneous vapor, water, and heat transfer in hygroscopic hydrogels during sorption and desorption processes. The model accurately captures experimentally observed thermally-driven desorption rates in these hydrogels. The study also identifies key design parameters and demonstrates that varying these parameters can significantly increase the amount of water desorbed from the hydrogels.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HEAT AND MASS TRANSFER
(2022)
Article
Mechanics
Ussama Ali, Md Islam, Isam Janajreh
Summary: This work numerically studies the heat transfer and wake-induced vibrations of two identical cylinders in the wake of each other at a Reynolds number of 100. The study examines the effects of reduced velocities and spacing ratios on parameters such as lift and drag coefficients, vibrational amplitudes, Nusselt and Strouhal numbers, and vortex shedding patterns. The results indicate that the spacing ratio has a significant influence on the interaction between the cylinders, and a lock-in condition is observed at a reduced velocity of 8.
Article
Engineering, Marine
Ussama Ali, M. D. Islam, Isam Janajreh
Summary: The impact of heat transfer and cylinder rotation on induced forces due to vortex shedding is numerically studied, and the results are presented in this work.
Article
Mechanics
Yuvraj Sarout, Md Islam, Yap Yit Fatt, Isam Janajreh
Summary: This study numerically investigates the flow-induced vibration (FIV) on two tandem cylinders with forced convection at a constant Reynolds number of 150. The effects of corner radii and spacing ratio on flow structure and FIV parameters are observed. The results show that the vibration amplitude and Nusselt number strongly depend on the corner radii and spacing ratio.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Isam Janajreh, Hongtao Zhang, Khadije El Kadi, Noreddine Ghaffour
Summary: Desalination techniques are crucial for regions lacking water resources, but the high energy cost has prompted the need for improved technologies. Freeze desalination (FD) offers a low-energy and corrosion-resistant alternative for freshwater production. This paper summarizes recent research on FD, covering configurations, pros and cons, experimental investigations on physics, and numerical modeling on brine freezing and salt diffusion. The findings indicate the advancement of both direct and indirect FD methods, highlighting the increasing use of the indirect approach for risk mitigation, while vacuum freezing and eutectic freezing face obstacles. Successful applications of LNG cold energy, combination with conventional desalination, and ultrasound-assisted freezing show promise for FD commercialization.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Tala El Samad, Idowu Adeyemi, Chaouki Ghenai, Isam Janajreh
Summary: The forecasted need for diesel fuel continues to rise, and the competitive biodiesel demand in the middle- to long-term future remains promising. Unfortunately, biodiesel production generates a significant amount of crude glycerol with the byproduct typically exceeding 10% of the biodiesel produced. The current glycerol market cannot accommodate the use of waste crude glycerol; therefore, an alternative solution is needed for the utilization of the crude glycerol and gasification is a potential pathway.
Article
Mechanics
Ussama Ali, Hussain Hassan, Isam Janajreh, Hamid Ait Abderrahmane
Summary: This study numerically and experimentally investigates the flow over a slitted (0.1D) cylinder at Re = 100 with varying slit angles (0 degrees - 90 degrees). The numerical solution solves the Unsteady Reynolds-Averaged-Navier-Stokes (URANS) equations and analyzes coefficients of lift (CL) & drag (CD), velocity, and vorticity. The experimental part visually validates the scalar data of the flow pattern using soap film and a high-speed camera. The study observes passive and active control of the slit's effects on lift, drag, and injection and blowing/suction modes.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF MECHANICS B-FLUIDS
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Marine
Yuvraj Sarout, Md Islam, Ussama Ali, Yap Yit Fatt, Isam Janajreh
Summary: In this study, the flow-induced vibration (FIV) of two heated cylinders in a tandem arrangement is numerically investigated. The effect of spacing ratio (L/D) and corner radius (r*) is studied, and it is found that the maximum vibrational amplitude is highest for square cylinders and lowest for circular cylinders. The lock-in phenomenon is observed at a specific reduced velocity (Ur) for both square and circular tandem cylinders, and the heat transfer rate is higher for circular cylinders while experiencing lower vibration compared to square cylinders.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Khadije El Kadi, Isam Janajreh, Sufian Abedrabbo, Mohamed Ibrahim Ali
Summary: Hypersaline brine production from desalination plants causes significant environmental stress, and the increasing desalination capacity is expected to further exacerbate the issue. Zero liquid discharge (ZLD) or minimal liquid discharge (MLD) systems offer a potential solution for sustainable brine management by maximizing water recovery and minimizing liquid waste. This study proposes a theoretical design for a ZLD/MLD system using reverse osmosis (RO) brine management, incorporating multistage freeze desalination (FD) and its hybridization with direct contact membrane distillation (DCMD) and eutectic freeze crystallization (EFC) technologies. The design is based on experimental assessment and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling. Results show that the proposed design can achieve water recovery between 40 and 93% with specific energy consumption (SEC) ranging from 28 to 114 kWh/m(3), while exceeding drinkable water standards.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Isam Janajreh, Sherien Elagroudy, Chaouki Ghenai, Syed Shabbar Raza, Idowu Adeyemi, Konstantinos Moustakas
Summary: This study evaluated the technical feasibility of SPL gasification and modeled the process using different treated SPL. The results suggest the potential and feasibility of gasifying treated SPL, especially in the high-fidelity model.
SN APPLIED SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Gabriele Bernardini, Tiago Miguel Ferreira, Pilar Baquedano Julia, Rafael Ramirez Eudave, Enrico Quagliarini
Summary: This research offers a methodology for combined spatiotemporal flood risk assessment, considering hazard, physical vulnerability, user exposure, and vulnerability. It adopts a mesoscale approach and investigates indoor and outdoor users' exposure and vulnerability, using the Analytical Hierarchy Process to combine risk factors.
SUSTAINABLE CITIES AND SOCIETY
(2024)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Ying Liu, Chunli Chu, Ruijun Zhang, Shaoqing Chen, Chao Xu, Dongliang Zhao, Chunchun Meng, Meiting Ju, Zhi Cao
Summary: This study investigates the effects of increasing road, wall, and roof albedo on mitigating the urban heat island (UHI) effect in different areas of Tianjin. The results reveal that increasing road albedo is more effective in fringe areas, while increasing wall and roof albedo is more effective in central areas. The temperature changes induced by albedo changes also show seasonal characteristics.
SUSTAINABLE CITIES AND SOCIETY
(2024)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Xisheng Lin, Yunfei Fu, Daniel Z. Peng, Chun-Ho Liu, Mengyuan Chu, Zengshun Chen, Fan Yang, Tim K. T. Tse, Cruz Y. Li, Xinxin Feng
Summary: This study employed computational fluid dynamics and neural network models to investigate and predict pollutant dispersion in urban environments, providing valuable insights for designing effective strategies to mitigate the impacts of hazardous pollutants.
SUSTAINABLE CITIES AND SOCIETY
(2024)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Dipanjan Nag, Arkopal Kishore Goswami
Summary: Future-oriented urban planning should continue to focus on the principles of accessible and walkable cities. The perception of people is crucial for developing better urban walking infrastructure, but current evaluation tools often neglect the "perceived" features of the walking network. This study used conjoint analysis to evaluate users' perception of link and network attributes, revealing the importance of considering both in improving the walking environment.
SUSTAINABLE CITIES AND SOCIETY
(2024)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Yongxin Su, Tao Zhang, Mengyao Xu, Mao Tan, Yuzhou Zhang, Rui Wang, Ling Wang
Summary: This study proposes an optimization method for household integrated demand response (HIDR) by combining rough knowledge and a dueling deep Q-network (DDQN), aiming to address uncertainties in a household multi-energy system (HMES). The simulation results demonstrate that the proposed method outperforms rule-based methods and DDQN in terms of energy cost savings.
SUSTAINABLE CITIES AND SOCIETY
(2024)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Sijia Sun, S. F. A. Batista, Monica Menendez, Yuanqing Wang, Shuang Zhang
Summary: This paper comprehensively analyzes the energy consumption characteristics of electric buses (EBs) and diesel buses (DBs) on different bus lane configurations and operational conditions. The study shows that EBs consume less energy in suburban areas when using regular lanes, while both EBs and DBs save substantial energy when operating on dedicated bus lanes in downtown areas. Notably, shared-use bus lanes have the highest energy consumption.
SUSTAINABLE CITIES AND SOCIETY
(2024)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Shangshang Shen, Dan Yan, Xiaojie Liu
Summary: This study developed a comprehensive theoretical framework for evaluating, diagnosing, and optimizing multi-functional urban agriculture. The framework was applied in Xiamen, China to identify the obstacles that impede its coordinated development and propose optimized modes for its development. Results showed that urban agriculture in Xiamen exhibits sound social function, moderate economic function, and poor ecological function.
SUSTAINABLE CITIES AND SOCIETY
(2024)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Oluwafemi E. Adeyeri, Akinleye H. Folorunsho, Kayode I. Ayegbusi, Vishal Bobde, Tolulope E. Adeliyi, Christopher E. Ndehedehe, Akintomide A. Akinsanola
Summary: This study examines the impact of land cover, vegetation health, climatic forcings, elevation heat loads, and terrain characteristics on land surface temperature distribution over West Africa. The random forest model performs the best in downscaling predictands. The southern regions consistently exhibit healthy vegetation, while areas with unhealthy vegetation coincide with hot land surface temperature clusters. Positive Normalized Difference Vegetation Index trends in the Sahel highlight rainfall recovery and subsequent greening. Southwest winds cause the upwelling of cold waters, resulting in low land surface temperatures in southern West Africa. Considering LVCET factors is crucial for prioritizing greening initiatives and urban planning.
SUSTAINABLE CITIES AND SOCIETY
(2024)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Yuchi Cao, Yan Li, Shouyun Shen, Weiwei Wang, Xiao Peng, Jiaao Chen, Jingpeng Liao, Xinyi Lv, Yifan Liu, Lehan Ma, Guodian Hu, Jinghuan Jiang, Dan Sun, Qingchu Jiang, Qiulin Liao
Summary: The study reveals significant disparities in urban green equity, with high property price areas having better access to green spaces than low property price areas. Landscape and greening have the most significant impact on urban green space differentiation.
SUSTAINABLE CITIES AND SOCIETY
(2024)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Shaobo Sun, Kui Shan, Shengwei Wang
Summary: Economizer control is an important measure for energy savings in air-conditioning systems during moderate seasons. Humidity measurement uncertainties have a significant impact on enthalpy-based economizer control, and an uncertainty-tolerant control strategy is proposed to mitigate these effects.
SUSTAINABLE CITIES AND SOCIETY
(2024)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Ding Mao, Peng Wang, Yi-Ping Fang, Long Ni
Summary: This study analyzes the structure, function, operation, and failure characteristics of district heating networks (DHNs) and proposes vulnerability analysis methods. The effectiveness of these methods is validated through application to a DHN in a Chinese city. The study finds that the heat source connectivity efficiency loss rate effectively characterizes topological and functional vulnerability. It also reveals that controllable DHNs have higher functional vulnerability under large area failure scenarios.
SUSTAINABLE CITIES AND SOCIETY
(2024)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Hamid Karimi, Saeed Hasanzadeh, Hedayat Saboori
Summary: This paper presents a stochastic and cooperative approach for the operation of a cluster of interconnected multi-energy systems. The proposed model investigates the interaction among energy systems and integrates hydrogen and water systems into the overall energy structure. The model studies the performance of energy system agents in decentralized and cooperative scheduling.
SUSTAINABLE CITIES AND SOCIETY
(2024)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Zhiyu Yan, Xiaogang Guo, Zilong Zhao, Luliang Tang
Summary: This study proposes a novel framework for fine-grained information extraction and dynamic spatial-temporal awareness in disaster-stricken areas based on social media data. The framework utilizes deep learning modules to extract location and water depth information from text and images, and analyzes the spatio-temporal distribution characteristics. The results show that the fusion of text and image-based information can enhance the perception of flood processes.
SUSTAINABLE CITIES AND SOCIETY
(2024)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
M. A. Pans, G. Claudio, P. C. Eames
Summary: This study simulated and optimized a speculative district heating system in an existing urban area in Loughborough, UK. The system used only renewable heat sources and thermal energy storage to address the mismatch between heat generation and demand. The study assessed the impact of long-term storage volume and charging temperature on system cost and energy efficiency.
SUSTAINABLE CITIES AND SOCIETY
(2024)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Jianmei Zhong, Wei Zhang, Xiaoli Wang, Jinsheng Zhan, Tao Xia, Lingzhi Xie, Xiding Zeng, Kun Yang, Zhangyu Li, Ruiwen Zou, Zepu Bai, Qing Wang, Chenyang Zhang
Summary: This study aims to propose a suitable air distribution design and reduce the energy consumption of the BSL-4 laboratory. It analyzes the diffusion characteristics of aerosols, infection risk under different air distributions, and ventilation parameters. The results show that the proposed energy-saving operation strategy can reduce the energy consumption of the laboratory by 15-30%.
SUSTAINABLE CITIES AND SOCIETY
(2024)
