Crumb rubber concrete (CRC) offers an environmentally sustainable solution for recycling waste tires through their use as a partial replacement for natural aggregates. However, limited research has investigated the structural behavior of CRC beams reinforced with basalt fiber-reinforced polymer (BFRP) bars. This study experimentally evaluates the flexural performance of CRC beams reinforced with BFRP bars under four-point bending. Fifteen reinforced con- crete beams were tested to investigate the effects of crumb rubber (CR) replacement ratio (0%–20%), rubber particle size (5 mm and No. 20), rein- forcement type (steel and BFRP), and BFRP reinforcement ratio on cracking behavior, stiffness, load-carrying capacity, and failure mode. The results showed that increasing CR content reduced concrete density, compressive strength, flexural strength, cracking load, stiffness, and ultimate load, with the reduction becoming more pronounced when finer rubber particles were used. CRC beams exhibited more distributed cracking patterns and greater deforma- tion capacity than conventional concrete beams. Regardless of concrete type, BFRP-reinforced beams developed significantly higher ultimate loads than steel-reinforced beams due to the superior tensile strength of BFRP bars. Increasing the BFRP reinforcement ratio improved cracking resistance, post- cracking stiffness, and ultimate flexural capacity. Among the investigated mix- tures, CRC containing 5% replacement of 5 mm CR exhibited the most favor- able balance between sustainability and structural performance. Analytical predictions based on ACI 440.1R, CSA S806, AASHTO LRFD, Gb 50608, JSCE, SP295, and Eurocode-based formulations showed reasonable agreement with the experimental results. The findings demonstrate the feasibility of utilizing BFRP-reinforced CRC members as sustainable, lightweight, and corrosion- resistant structural elements for future infrastructure applications.
Recently, hybrid reinforcement by combining steel with fiber- reinforced polymer (FRP) bars has emerged as a new system in reinforced concrete (RC) constructions. This reinforcement system can effectively overcome the ductility and serviceability challenges of FRP-RC structures. A total of 11 full-scale bridge-deck slabs were constructed and tested. The test parameters were reinforce- ment type, ratio, arrangement, and slab thickness. Moreover, a comparison between the experimental and predicted deflections from design provisions was carried out to verify the efficiency of the models for hybrid RC sections. Based on test results, hybrid RC slabs exhibited ductility leading to an ample warning before failure rather than brittle shear failure observed for FRP-RC slabs. In addition, hybrid RC slabs displayed good stiffness, service- ability, and load-carrying capacity. Furthermore, test results give an average bond-dependent coefficient, kb, of 1.27, close to the 1.2 recommended by ACI CODE-440.11-22. In addition, some modifications were proposed to shear equations available in different design codes to be valid for hybrid RC members without shear reinforcement.
Online Applications Open for University Dormitories
The Center for Development of Management Information Systems at Assiut University announces the opening of online applications for new and returning students to reside in university dormitories for the 2026/2027 academic year.
🗓️ Application Dates:
Start Date: Friday, July 24, 2026
Closing Date: Tuesday, August 25, 2026
🔗 How to Apply:
You can easily register and complete the required information through one of the following two options:
Direct Link:
🔗 https://al-zahraa.mans.edu.eg/studentApplications
Or by scanning the QR code:
On behalf of the college administration, Professor Dr. Khaled Salah, Dean of the College, extends his sincere congratulations to all members of the college, including faculty members, the supporting staff, students, the administrative staff, and graduates, on the occasion of the 74th anniversary of the revolution of the twenty-third of July 1952... that revolution that restored the rule of Egypt to its people after thousands of years of rule by the occupiers, colonialists, and non-compatriots...
May God protect Egypt, its homeland, leadership and people from all harm.
The Faculty of Engineering at Assiut University showcases its students' graduation projects for the 2025/2026 academic year, supporting innovation and aligning education with labor market needs.
As part of Assiut University's commitment to fostering innovation and enhancing the practical application of the educational process, the Faculty of Engineering showcased its graduation projects for the 2025/2026 academic year. These projects reflected the outstanding level of the faculty's students and their ability to develop applied engineering solutions that meet the demands of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, contribute to sustainable development and digital transformation, and align educational outcomes with labor market needs.
The event was held under the patronage of Dr. Ahmed El-Menshawy, President of Assiut University, and under the supervision and in the presence of Dr. Ahmed Abdel-Mawla, Vice President for Education and Student Affairs. Also in attendance were Dr. Khaled Salah, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Dr. Mohamed Safwat, Vice Dean for Education and Student Affairs, department heads, special program coordinators, and faculty members.
Dr. Ahmed El-Menshawy affirmed that the graduation projects at the Faculty of Engineering reflect the outstanding level of the university's students and their creative abilities and applied skills, which qualify them to provide innovative engineering solutions that meet the demands of the modern era. He pointed out that the university is keen to support innovation and link academic education with the needs of the labor market, especially in the fields of artificial intelligence, digital transformation, robotics, energy, and sustainability.
The academic supervision of the projects included; Dr. Khaled Ali Youssef, Head of the Department of Architectural Engineering; Dr. Mohamed Abdel-Basset Abdo, Head of the Department of Civil Engineering; Dr. Atef El-Sayed El-Naqeeb, Head of the Department of Mining and Metallurgical Engineering; Dr. Mohamed Abbas Abdel-Radi, Head of the Department of Electrical Engineering; Dr. Mahmoud El-Sherif, Head of the Department of Mechanical Design and Production Engineering; Dr. Othman Omran Othman, Head of the Department of Mechanical Power Engineering; and Dr. Omar Salah El-Din, Head of the Department of Mechatronics Engineering, along with the coordinators of the special programs: Dr. Walid Abu El-Wafa, Coordinator of the Construction Engineering and Project Management program; Dr. Essam Salah Saeed, Coordinator of the Interior Architecture program; Dr. Gamal Abdel-Nasser, Coordinator of the Mechatronics and Robotics Engineering program; and Dr. Abdel-Rahman Morsi, Coordinator of the Biomedical Engineering program.
Dr. Ahmed Abdel-Mawla emphasized that graduation projects represent a model for integrating academic knowledge with practical applications. They contribute to transforming students from passive recipients of knowledge into innovators capable of designing engineering solutions that serve society and strengthen the link between the university and the job market, particularly in the fields of artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, robotics, and modern technologies.
Dr. Khaled Salah explained that this year's projects reflect the Faculty of Engineering's commitment to supporting student creativity and aligning academic programs with future needs. He noted that students presented outstanding engineering models in various fields, including energy, artificial intelligence, infrastructure, and environmental sustainability, contributing to the development of competitive graduates.
In the Mechatronics Engineering Department, students presented several distinguished projects, including the Smart Aquaculture System, which integrates Internet of Things (IoT) technologies and smart sensors to enhance fish farming systems; the Smart Assembly Line, which utilizes artificial intelligence and IoT to achieve maximum production efficiency and minimize breakdowns and waste; a self-driving delivery robot equipped with a robotic arm; and the ACLR (Autonomous Construction Layout Robot) project, which uses autonomous robots to plan construction sites and bridges.
The Mechanical Power Engineering Department's projects included several engineering applications, such as a design analysis of various types of air conditioning systems/performance evaluation of units installed in an office and lecture hall, a project to upgrade and operate a low-speed wind tunnel unit for turbine blade testing, and a project to design an oil pipeline.
The Mining and Metallurgy Engineering Department's projects included an evaluation of limestone reserves in cement quarries and their impact on industry sustainability, a project on processing Egyptian phosphate ores and their industrial applications, and a project studying the recycling of electric arc furnace dust in certain engineering applications.
In the Electrical Engineering Department – Computer and Systems Division, students discussed several specialized projects, including the design and control of an autonomous waste collection vehicle, a framework for error injection in automotive software compliant with the ISO-26262 safety standard, traffic signal control using artificial intelligence, and research and development in machine learning using the C++ language.
The Communications Division of the Electrical Engineering Department also discussed a project to adapt and optimize the Vortex processor to be compatible with ASIC design, in collaboration with Silicon Arts. This project provides students with practical experience in custom integrated circuit design and converting open-source designs into manufacturable designs.
In the Civil Engineering Department, projects spanned various construction and infrastructure fields, including: Foundations on Problematic Soils (Regulation 2021), Foundations on Problematic Soils (Regulation 2004), Project Management (Regulation 2021), Project Management (Regulation 2004), Design of Reinforced Concrete Structures (Regulation 2021), Design of Reinforced Concrete Structures (Regulation 2004), Soil Engineering and Foundations (Regulation 2021), Sanitary and Environmental Engineering (Regulation 2004), and Roads and Traffic (Regulation 2004).
The Mechanical Design and Production Engineering Department also presented several applied projects, including the design and fabrication of a compression mold for producing sealants, and a Smart Recycling Lab project: developing a scalable university-level model for converting plastic waste into practical products using 3D printing and injection molding.The college's specialized programs showcased several high-quality projects. The Mechatronics and Robotics Engineering program presented projects such as the Automatic Production Line for Manufacturing and Packaging Foam Plates, which utilizes industrial control, computer vision, and delta robotics to develop smart production lines; the Automated Vision-Guided Sorting, Grading, and Packaging Line for Pears (SAAT), a smart, solar-powered system for sorting and packaging pears using artificial intelligence; Trajectory Planning for KUKA Robot Arm, developing industrial robotics applications; and SAPRS (Smart Automated Plastic Recycling System) for recycling plastic waste.
The Biomedical Engineering program also presented innovative projects, including a smart baby incubator with advanced IoT features; a smart car accident avoidance system based on drivers' biometric data; a smart alert vest to prevent child sexual abuse; a below-elbow prosthetic arm controlled by deep learning-based surface electrical muscle signals; and the design and implementation of AI-powered visual aid glasses for the blind.
In the Construction Engineering and Project Management program, students discussed several projects, including the construction of a 36-km link between El Badari and the Hurghada road (structural planning and design), the design of reinforced concrete structures, and integrated project planning and construction management (preparing scope, time, and cost management plans).
Through these projects, the Faculty of Engineering affirms its commitment to preparing graduates who possess scientific knowledge and practical skills, enabling them to contribute to the development process, in line with the state's vision for digital transformation and building a knowledge-based and innovation-driven economy.
Assiut University Engineering Students Develop Smart Technology to Convert Plastic Waste into Sustainable Interlocking Paving Stones
With the support of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research for innovation and entrepreneurship, a student team from the Faculty of Engineering at Assiut University, under the auspices of the Academy of Scientific Research and Technology, has successfully designed and manufactured a smart machine to convert plastic waste into high-strength interlocking paving stones. This was achieved using artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, and applications of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
The project, named Eco Lock, is one of the outputs of the "Egypt Makes" alliance, supported by the "My Project, My Start" initiative. It aims to recycle plastic waste and transform it into a sustainable construction product, contributing to pollution reduction and maximizing resource utilization.
Initial tests have shown that the interlocking paving stones, made from recycled plastic, can withstand compressive loads of up to 8 tons, confirming their efficiency and potential for use in numerous applications.
This project reflects the success of the Academy of Scientific Research and Technology's programs in supporting innovative ideas, linking scientific research with industry, and transforming student projects into marketable applications that contribute to supporting the green economy and sustainable development.
The Assiut Motorsport team achieved fourth place globally and second place in the Middle East in the Concept Class category at the Formula Student UK 2026 competition in the United Kingdom.
The Assiut Motorsport team from the Faculty of Engineering at Assiut University achieved a remarkable accomplishment during their participation in the Concept Class category of the Formula Student UK 2026 competition, held at the Silverstone Circuit in the United Kingdom. The competition featured over 40 teams from universities around the world.
The team secured fourth place overall in the competition and second place among Middle Eastern teams participating in the Concept Class category. They also achieved several top rankings in the sub-competitions, including:
Second place in the LTS Event.
Fourth place in the Cost Event.
Seventh place in the Design Event.
Fourth Place (4th) in the Overall Competition
In this context, Professor Dr. Khaled Salah, Dean of the College, congratulates all team members on this outstanding achievement, which reflects the capabilities and skills of the college's students, who are capable of competing globally. He also extends his gratitude to the university administration, headed by Professor Dr. Ahmed El-Menshawy, University President, and Professor Dr. Ahmed Abdel-Mawla, Vice President for Education and Student Affairs, for their generous support and encouragement of student activities at the college, and for overcoming all obstacles to enable student participation. He further congratulates Professor Dr. Mohamed Safwat Abu-Rayah, Vice Dean for Education and Student Affairs and Supervisor of Student Activities, Dr. Gamal Abdel-Nasser, the team's academic supervisor, Mr. Hany Faragany, Assistant Lecturer in Production Engineering, and the team leader, student Mohamed Wael Fares.
The team comprises more than 80 students from various faculties and departments within the Faculty of Engineering. Five students from the Faculty of Engineering represented the team in the United Kingdom: Mohamed Wael, Sherif Gamal, Tarek Sherif, Abdelrahman Khaled, and Hala Hesham. They were accompanied by Eng. Ziad Yasser, a teaching assistant in the Mechanical Engineering Department, Mechatronics and Robotics specialization.
