Applied Mechanics and Materials Vol. 802

Abstract: Sustainable suitability analysis for landfill sites is an important and necessary issue for authorities of solid waste planning in the fast growing zones, due to the increasing complexity coming from dealing with various disciplines and requirement and the needy of satisfaction. A combination of geographic information systems including spatial analysis, and artificial neural network ANNs were employed in this study for decision-makers in the sustainable suitability analysis problems in Malaysia and GIS was used to manipulate and present spatial data. The GIS analysis reveals three distinct groupings based on actual conditions of the case study area, environmental factors, economic factors and social factors which are reflection of different factors contributing to the sustainable development. The result shown that ANNs has good information extraction and evaluation functions of the suitability value based on the exact relationship between the input criteria and the output landfill site data with high coefficient of determination (R²) which help decision-makers to analysis sustainable suitability for landfill sites.

Abstract: This study evaluates the potential of recyclable items and biodegradable wastes recovered from selected locations of night markets across Seberang Perai Selatan district, Penang. Three different sizes of night market covering 9 study locations were evaluated based on waste types and the amount generated. By using the coning and quartering technique, it was observed that bigger sizes of night market had higher recyclable items potential. In particular, 177.41 kg/day of wastes discarded which equivalent to RM 104.05 worth of recyclable items. Small night market size was found to only generate 21.1 kg/day of wastes and equivalent to RM 13.55 worth of recyclable items. In terms of organics recovered, about 587 kg of wastes identified as brown organics. Meanwhile, it was recorded that green organics made up about 235 kg out of 822 kg total biodegradable wastes. This study demonstrates that night market has the potential for recovery of recyclable items and organic composting which can reduce the amount of solid waste being disposed at the landfills.

Abstract: Bacteria are able to perform metabolic activities which promote the precipitation of calcium carbonate in the form of calcite. Bacillus Sphaericus was used in this study, which is an ureolytic bacteria that can precipitate calcium carbonate in its environment by the decomposition of urea into ammonium and carbonate. The bacterial degradation of urea basically increases the pH and promotes the microbial deposition of carbonate as calcium carbonate. In this research, the capability of bacteria to influence the formation of HCO₃^- by the production of urease enzyme was investigated. Results of growth rate and characteristics of bacteria showed that 20g/L of urea concentration was able to provide a good environment for bacteria with sufficient amount of nutrient to survive. The formation of HCO₃^- was parallel with NH₃ production where the formation of HCO₃^- increased slowly as the ammonia production decreased. Urea degradation with suitable concentration of urea by 20g/L may form high HCO₃^- compared to 25g/L urea concentration. The results from the experimental works indicated that the optimal urea concentration was 20g/L.

Abstract: Site surface characterization is an important factor to identify a suitable area for riverbank filtration (RBF) location. However, selecting the suitable area for RBF location using conventional methods is costly and time consuming, usually restricted to a small area. In this research, a site suitability for RBF location methodology was proposed using spatial data techniques to determine the site suitability of the potential RBF location in Kota Lama Kiri, Kuala Kangsar study area. A high resolution GeoEye-1 satellite imagery acquired in 2012 was classified using the supervised classification process for land cover. The classified image was further analyze using overlaying, buffering and Boolean analysis, to identify the suitable site for RBF based on location, distance from the river and distant from built-up area. In addition, the geology and hydrological data were extracted from published maps, which were then converted and integrated into GIS spatial database. The results show that the classified GeoEye-1 image produces the overall accuracies of 83.50% % with kappa statistic value of 0.806. The site suitability map for the potential RBF locations in the study area were produced confirms the location of an existing RBF well developed by Lembaga Air Perak (LAP). The methodology can be readily used to provide information of suitability area for RBF location in which can be used by water supply management to locate the RBF well for extraction purposes.

Abstract: Storage–yield–reliability (S–Y–R) relationship is useful in many areas of hydrology and water resources. With the availability of such a relationship, reservoir planning analysis can be implemented much more rapidly and at a much shorter time needed for sequential analysis applying time series data. Existing relationships have been developed mostly for over-year capacity without considering both reliability and vulnerability performance indices. Hence, in this study, streamflow data from Johor river was used to develop a predictive relationship for total (i.e. within-year plus over-year) storage capacity involving both reliability and vulnerability performance indices as for use during reservoir planning. The reservoir was analyzed using 1000 sequences of synthetic data having the same length as historical data involving both time-based reliability and vulnerability performance indices by modified SPA. The model was then calibrated based on the mean of 1000 simulation results. Subsequently, the performance of the model was observed by comparing the model’s results with simulation outcomes for study systems. It was found that the performance of the model was very good in reproducing, the total storage capacity.

Abstract: Modeling the duration of the critical period (CP) and hence the precise mode of behavior of a reservoir system prior to analysis is advantageous because then the input data interval can be selected to match the requirement. In this sense, over-year systems (CP > 1 year) can be adequately analyzed using annual time-series data, whereas for within-year systems (CP < 1 year), only the critical 12 months in the data record are needed to be considered. The current standard demand parameter method for prediction of the behavior of reservoirs is based only on demand and coefficient of variation of annual flows. However, performance measures such as reliability and vulnerability are also important in the critical period of reservoir systems. Hence, the objective of this study, is to develop a predictive relationship for critical period involving standard demand parameter and both reliability and vulnerability performance indices as for use during the reservoir planning stage. The Johor catchment was selected as the case study. The reservoir was analyzed using a Monte Carlo simulation technique by modified SPA. The critical period prediction model was then calibrated based on the simulation results. Subsequently, the performance of the model was observed by comparing the model’s results with simulation outcomes for study systems. It was found that the performance of the model was very good in reproducing the critical period. In conclusion, it is promising given that this is the first equation to model critical period involving performance measures in Johor catchment as best of the authors’ knowledge.

Abstract: This study mainly focused on the rainwater availability assessment in Turtle Islands Park, Sabah, Malaysia. Consisting of three small islands, this marine park is home to two endangered turtle species – Green and Hawkbills turtles. This special feature of the islands attracts tourist around the world, thus increasing the demand of freshwater supply for tourism development in the marine park. However, due to the shortage of freshwater from the ground due to salinity intrusion, rainwater is seen to be an alternative in fulfilling the freshwater demand. To evaluate the source of freshwater in these islands, information is obtained from the main users of the water source, which are the Sabah Park officers, the approved tour operator on the islands and the security forces. The rainwater tanks available on the islands are calculated to assess the storing capacity of rainwater. The water demand was estimated by multiplying the number of visitors with the average water usage per visitor. With the existing water tanks, this study found that the Turtle Islands Park has the ability to store 414 m³ of rainwater in Selingaan island, 3.2 m³ in Gulisaan island, and 102.1 m³ in Bakkungan Kechil island. However, the monthly water demand of each island exceeds the existing storage tanks, hence it is proposed that the number of rainwater tanks be increased to harvest as much rainfall as possible for the use of the islands’ inhabitants.

Abstract: The Gaza Strip suffers from complicated problems of water resources. Groundwater (GW) aquifer is the main source of water for drinking, industry, and agriculture purposes in this area. However, the quality of GW is unsuitable for drinking and other purposes. Wastewater is an environmental, social, and economic resource that needs to be managed appropriately. The treated effluent quality does not satisfy the guidelines for discharge and reuse options because of the overload of wastewater treatment plants. This study evaluated the public response toward water resource management and reuse. A study population with 300 hundred questionnaire interviews was prepared and collected. Only 7.3% of the interviewed people used municipal water for drinking, and the others used desalinated water and home filter units. Approximately 96% believed that water in the Gaza Strip is unsuitable for drinking. Meanwhile, 85% agreed for an additional increase in municipal water bill in exchange for good quality of water that is suitable for drinking and other purposes. The study also reported that 63% of the interviewed people disagreed to reuse the current treated wastewater for agriculture and 82.3% disagreed to consume agriculture products irrigated by the treated wastewater.

Abstract: Gravity Separator Tanks are Used to Separate Oil from Water in Treatment Units. Achieving the Best Flow Uniformity in a Separator Tank will Improve the Maximum Removal Efficiency of Oil Globules from Water. in this Study, the Effect on Hydraulic Performance of Different Inlet Baffle Height inside a Tank was Investigated. some Experimental Tests were Done for Verification the Velocity Profile with Numerical Results Using ADV (Acoustic Doppler Velocimeter). A CFD Programme, Flow 3D Ver.10 was Used in which Finite Volume Method is Used for Solution of Water Flow Equations and RNG Turbulent Model with the Navier-Stokes Equations. the Volume of Fluid (VOF) Method was Used for Tracking of Free Surface in Simulation Program. the Results of the Numerical Simulation Show that the Separation Tank Performance can Be Improved by Altering the Geometry of the Tank and the Effects of Inlet Baffle Height on the Efficiency of the Separation Tank are Investigated via Assessment of the Circulation Zone Volume Variations, and the Uniformity of Flow Values in each Case.

Abstract: This study aims to investigate the effect of using different roofing materials in office building on rainwater harvesting system annual energy savings and carbon dioxide (CO₂₎ emissions reduction which relates to the payback period. This paper includes modelling of different rain water harvesting concrete tank sizes for an office building which is used to supply water for toilet flushing and irrigation purposes. It is found that the optimized roof material for the catchment area is slate tiles with a 0.9 run-off coefficient. A total of 2870 MJ of energy can be saved and 830 kg of CO₂ can be reduced annually with a payback period of 20 years, using a 32 m³ concrete tank.