In recent years, most cities have faced great demand for electricity supply due to rapid population growth and industrialization. Supplying sufficient electrical energy, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions, is one of the major concerns of policymakers and scientists all over the world. In Saudi Arabia, local authorities are increasingly aware of the necessity of reducing the environmental impact of nonrenewable energy by exploring alternative sustainable energy sources and improving buildings’ energy efficiency. Recently, building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) technology has been regarded as a promising technology for generating instantaneous sustainable energy for buildings. To achieve a substantial contribution regarding zero energy buildings, solar energy should be widely used in residential buildings within the urban context. This paper examines how to achieve an appropriate model for integrating photovoltaics on the rooftop of residential buildings in Hail city to provide alternative energy sources. The estimated rooftop areas in Hail city, utilizable for PV application were calculated. Using PV*SOL simulation software, the performance ratio and the system efficiency, as well as the annual energy output in several tilt angles, were determined and presented. The amount of energy expected when using all effective roof area in the city was also calculated. The amount of CO₂ emissions that could be reduced as a result of using a PV system was estimated. The results show a significant area of rooftop suitable for PV system in residential buildings in Hail city, which exceeds 9 million square meters. On the other hand, the performance ratio and the system efficiency are affected by the tilt angle of the PV module, where the efficiency increases with higher tilt angle, this is due to the PV module temperature, where, with the decrease in the PV module temperature its efficiency increases. The results indicate that the 30° tilt PV produced the highest amount of energy, whereas the 75° tilt PV records the smallest one although it achieves the best possible efficiency. There is a significant amount of energy produced from the use of all residential rooftops in Hail, and there is also a significant reduction in the amount of CO₂ emissions. It is expected that this research would develop innovative building design strategies and specifications allowing for better climate and energy efficiency as well.

The problem of metal-induced toxicity is proliferating with an increase in industrialization and urbanization. The buildup of metals results in severe environmental deterioration and harmful impacts on plant growth. In this study, we investigated the potential of two ornamental plants, Catharanthus roseus (L.) G.Don and Celosia argentea L., to tolerate and accumulate Ni, Cr, Cd, Pb, and Cu. These ornamental plants were grown in Hoagland’s nutrient solution containing metal loads (50 µM and 100 µM) alone and in combination with a synthetic chelator, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) (2.5 mM). Plant growth and metal tolerance varied in both plant species for Ni, Cr, Cd, Pb, and Cu. C. roseus growth was better in treatments without EDTA, particularly in Ni, Cr, and Pb treatments, and Pb content increased in all parts of the plant. In contrast, Cd content decreased with EDTA addition. In C. argentea, the addition of EDTA resulted in improved plant biomass at both doses of Cu. In contrast, plant biomass reduced significantly in the case of Ni. In C. argentea, without EDTA, root length in Cd and Cu treatments was significantly lower than the control and other treatments. However, the addition of EDTA resulted in improved growth at both doses for Pb and Cu. Metal accumulation in C. argentea enhanced significantly with EDTA addition at both doses of Cu and Cd. Hence, it can be concluded that EDTA addition resulted in improved growth and better metal uptake than treatments without EDTA. Metal accumulation increased with EDTA addition compared to treatments without EDTA, particularly for Pb in C. roseus and Cu and Cd in C. argentea. Based on the present results, C. roseus showed a better ability to phytostabilize Cu, Cd, and Ni, while C. argentea worked better for Ni, Cd, Cu, and Pb.

This paper presents the flexural analysis of functionally graded plates resting on elastic foundations using new two-dimensional (2D) and quasi-three-dimensional (quasi-3D) higher order shear deformation theories. The main interesting feature of this theory is that it proposes a new displacement field with undetermined integral variables which involves only five unknown functions, unlike other shear and normal deformation theories, hence making it easier to use. A parabolic transverse shear deformation shape function satisfying the zero shear stress conditions on the plate outer surfaces is considered. The elastic foundation follows the Pasternak mathematical model. The material properties change continuously across the thickness of the FG plate using different distributions: power law, exponential, and Mori–Tanaka models. The governing equations of FG plates subjected to sinusoidal and uniformly distributed loads are established through the principle of virtual works and then solved via Navier’s procedure. In this work, a detailed discussion on the influence of material composition, geometric parameters, stretching effect, and foundation parameters on the deflection, axial displacements, and stresses is given, and the obtained results are compared with those published in previous works to demonstrate the accuracy and the simplicity of the present formulations. The different obtained results were found to be in good agreement with the available solutions of other higher-order theories. The proposed model is able to represent the cross section warping in the deformed shape and to demonstrate the validity and efficiency of the approach, the findings reported herein prove that this theory is capable of predicting displacements and stresses more accurately than other theories, as its results are closer when compared to numerical methods reported in other literatures.

Worldwide, concrete is the most preferred construction material. The steam curing method is favored when there is a need for accelerating strength. This paper presents the study of the compressive and flexural tensile strength of concrete subjected to eight different steam cures. In addition, the stress-strain curve and the modulus of elasticity were determined at the age of 28 days. The compressive strength test results show that after treatment, strength increases with concrete maturity. A cycle with a pre-heating period gives better results than a cycle without a pre-heating period. The longer the duration of the maximum temperature period, the lower the strength drop compared to the control concrete. The best results were obtained for concrete treated according to the following cycle: a 3-hour pre-heating period at 20oC, a 2-hour increase of temperature from 20 to 70oC, and a 3 hour of maximum temperature of 70oC.

This paper presents a novel concept for significantly enhancing the strength and durability of ancient closed-box tombs. These tombs hold significant philosophical values, and their architecture serves as a valuable data source, providing insights into the cultural stage of the society in which it was constructed. Throughout medieval and modern times, clay bricks remained a prevalent material for tomb construction due to their affordability and design flexibility. However, these structures currently face neglect and weakening, requiring imperative intervention of protection to prevent them from potential deterioration or extinction. The key objective of this research is to explore the potential use of graphene oxide (GO), a novel nanomaterial, as a treatment method to enhance the durability of mud brick tombs in Aswan, Egypt. Samples of mud bricks were examined and characterized using various techniques, including SEM-EDX, TEM, PLM, XRF, XRD, and mechanical properties analysis. The results indicated that GO nanomaterials significantly improve the mechanical properties of mud brick tombs, allowing them to resist more compressive loading and ultimately resulting in more durable and long-lasting structures. By using these innovative materials, effective restoration and preservation of these ancient structures for future generations could be viable. This research has the potential to revolutionize the preservation of closed-box tombs, ensuring these historical landmarks stand longer the test of time.