Almohad Architecture: Koutoubia, Hassan Mosque & Giralda
Koutoubia Mosque, Marrakech
(Also known as the Mosque of the Booksellers)
Architectural Features
- Style: Almohad
- Arches: Pointed horseshoe arches are prevalent. The most elaborate, adjoining the qibla nave, are lambrequin (polylobed) arches. The arch of the axial nave is a slightly pointed horseshoe arch with a scalloped effect (similar to lambrequin arches).
- Decoration: Includes scalloping and tracery. Plaster decoration on the arch intrados features networks of diamonds (sebka).
- Mihrab: Inspired by the
Argentinian Agriculture: Climate, Soil, and Key Factors
Agricultural Processes Explained
Agricultural processes involve ordered, integrated steps taken to achieve a final product related to agriculture, forestry, fisheries, and livestock. This planning should aim for profitability and sustainability.
Stages of Agricultural Processes
- Production
- Distribution and use of agricultural resources (inputs)
- Collection, storage, preservation, packaging, and distribution of the primary product
- Industrial processing
- Storage, distribution, and marketing of the final product
INTA:
Read MoreFlood Defense Methods and Flood Management Strategies
Hard Flood Defense Structures
Hard solutions are engineered structures built to defend against floodwater.
How Hard Solutions Work
- Build flood banks: Walls are constructed on either side of the river to prevent water from overflowing.
- Increase river channel size: The river channel is widened and deepened so it can hold more water.
- Divert the river: The river’s course is moved away from vulnerable areas like city centers, making it surround the area instead of flowing through it.
- Increase drain size: Drains
Cosmic Journey: Galaxy Formation, Solar System, and Life’s Dawn
Components Within Galaxies
Galaxies contain various celestial bodies:
- Stars: Often accompanied by planets, satellites, and asteroids. The energy generated in a star comes from thermonuclear reactions that transform hydrogen into helium. When a star has exhausted its hydrogen and begins to consume helium, it can eventually become a white dwarf. A supernova is the massive explosion of a star, releasing large amounts of light and radiation, leading to the star’s disappearance.
- Nebulae: These are masses
Soil Compaction Principles, Testing, and Methods
Understanding Soil Compaction
Compaction decreases the void content of a soil mass, forcing solid particles into more intimate contact with each other.
Factors Influencing Soil Compaction
Several factors affect soil compaction:
- Water content (moisture)
- Soil type
- Shape and magnitude of the energy applied
- Compaction equipment
- Layer thickness
Optimum Moisture Content
The optimum moisture content is the moisture level at which the soil achieves its maximum density. It is a characteristic value for each soil and
Read MoreMasonry Construction Techniques and Standards
Masonry Fundamentals
Typical Installation Thicknesses
- Rope: 15 cm thickness.
- Wall: 30 cm thick.
- Tambourine: 6 to 7 cm.
- Wall (alternative): 30 cm thick with 15 cm spun joint.
Key Masonry Concepts & Terms
- Confined Masonry: Masonry built between reinforced concrete columns (pillars) and beams (chains).
- Reinforced Masonry (Armed Masonry): Masonry incorporating steel reinforcement (e.g., turnbuckles) within hollow bricks or joints.
- Spun Joint (Vertical Mortar Bed): The thickness of the vertical mortar joint,