ROAD PAVEMENT FAILURE INDUCED BY POOR SOIL PROPERTIES ALONG GOMBI-BIU HIGHWAY, NIGERIA

Hijab Mahmoud¹, Zaynab A.  Belel¹ and Hadi A.  Abba²

Department of Civil Engineering, Modibbo Adama University of Technology, Yola

²Department of Civil Engineering, Kaduna Polytechnic, Kaduna State

E-mail: hijabmahmoud@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

This article investigates highway pavement failure on critical locations due to poor soil properties along Gombi – Biu Road. Visual observation of the affected areas revealed substantial structural failure. Laboratory test results of the disturbed soil samples collected from the failed sections of the road showed that the natural soil moisture ranged from 7.0% to 15.9%, the liquid limits and Plasticity Indexes did not conform to specification. The CBR values ranged from 5.1% to 31.1% indicating poor soil or strong reduction in the strength of the soil materials used in the construction of the road. Excess fines and very low liquid limit values combined with a very low CBR value to cause the failure of the pavement at this locality. The geotechnical properties indicated substandard paving properties for Nigerian roads. Therefore, soil stabilization is suggested to improve the strength of the soil and prolong the useful life and durability of the road.

Keywords: Pavement, Materials, Failure.

DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION AND EVALUATION OF A SMALL SCALE SOLAR DRYER

¹Onigbogi I.O, Sobowale, S. Sand Ezekoma, O.S

Department of Food Technology

Moshood Abiola polytechnic Abeokuta, Ogun State

E-mail: sunsam_2003@yahoo.co.uk

ABSTRACT

The solar drying system utilizes solar energy to heat up air and to dry any food substance loaded, which is beneficial in reducing wastage of agricultural product and helps in preservation of agricultural product. Based on the limitations of the natural sun drying e.g. exposure to direct sunlight, liability to pests and rodents lack of proper monitoring, and the escalated cost of the mechanical dryer, a solar is therefore developed to cater for this limitation. This project presents the design and construction of a domestic passive solar dryer.The dryer is composed of solar collector (air heater) and a solar drying chamber constraining rack of three cloth (net) trays both being integrated together. The air allowed in through air inlet is heated up in the solar collector and channeled through the drying chamber where it is utilized in drying. The design was based on the geographical location which is Abeokuta and meteorological data were obtained for proper design specification. The dimensions of the dryer is 94cm x 45cm x 101cm / 20cm (length x width x height). Locally available material were used for the construction, chiefly comprising of wood (gmelina), glass, aluminum metal sheet, copper and net cloth  for the trays. The optimum temperature of the dryer is 50.50^OC with a corresponding ambient temperature of 34.50^o C. The moisture content removal of 43.2% and 40.6% in maize and plantain respectively using the solar dryer was achieved as against 28.2% and 27.89% in maize and plantain using the sun drying method and indication 15.0% and 12.71% difference respectively, the rapid rate of drying in the dryer reveals its ability to dry food items reasonable rapidly to a safe moisture.

Keywords: Solar dryer, Moisture loss, Design and Construction, Maize and Plantain

APPLICATION OF PROJECT MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUES IN A CONSTRUCTION FIRM

A. O. Odior

Department of Production Engineering

University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria

E-mail: waddnis@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

An important aspect of life cycle management in construction project development is project planning and control. There are five elements in project planning techniques: project planning, monitoring, reporting, collection of statistics and re-planning. The study presents the techniques and strategy for planning and controlling project activities, development of the network diagram and determination of critical path using the critical path method. The probability of meeting up the stipulated time was 65 percent along the critical path and the sub-critical paths while the minimum project duration was 98 weeks.

Keywords: Life Cycle Management, Project Planning, Project Monitoring, Critical Path Method, Project Duration.

EFFECTIVENESS OF MULTISTAGE FILTRATION SYSTEM OF WASTE REMOVAL FROM CREEK WATER USING SAND, SUPPORTED ACTIVATED CARBON

O.P. Folorunso

Department of Civil Engineering

University of Ado-Ekiti, Ado-Ekiti

ABSTRACT

There are number of methods of water filtration, each with varying degrees of effectiveness. The general purpose of water filtration is to improve the water’s hygiene and aesthetic qualities. The goal of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of multi-stage sand filtration to produce water fit for human consumption by passing it through a bed of sand filters to remove solids and further purifies the water by permitting additional impurities to be adsorbed to the surfaces of the sand particles, and the organic contaminants to be removed or absorbed by the activated carbon introduced into the filter. The filter was designed with a flow rate 50 and 120cm³/min and as a multi-stage filter that consists of sand particle ranging between 0.15 to 0.30mm in diameter to remove solids and micro-organisms, supported by a granular activated carbon filter to remove the organic contaminants.  Ureje creek is one of the sources of water for people of Ado Ekiti, the state capital of Ekiti State, Nigeria. Research was conducted by evaluating the physical, chemical and biological qualities of water samples from the creek. The results revealed high rate of contamination as compared to WHO standard, they were found to be higher than the tolerable limit.  Experiment was conducted by passing the water samples through the filter at the designed flow rates mentioned above. Some of the physical, chemical and biological parameters analyzed included; turbidity, dissolved solids, suspended solids, color, coliforms, and mineral content. However, there was a drastic reduction in the impurities after adopting both flow rates. The filter was found to reduce the concentration of suspended solids which aids the transport of micro pollutants by 96%.

MATHEMATICAL TIME-COST MODEL FOR INSTITUTIONAL BUILDING PROJECTS IN NIGERIA

Baba Shehu Waziri

Department of Civil and Water Resources Engineering

University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri, Nigeria

E-mail: shehuwaziri@yahoo.co.uk

ABSTRACT

The accurate prediction of construction time at the early project stage is essential to incorporate realistic project duration in the bid package. The study investigates the application of the Bromilow’s Time-Cost Model (BTC) to predict the construction duration of institutional building projects in Nigeria. Sixty (60) completed project data were used for the analysis. Linear regression was performed to explain the linear relationship between cost and time variables of the data. The result indicates a strong linear relationship between construction cost and construction duration with coefficients of correlation R= 0.808 and coefficient of determination R² = 0.670. Double log (log-log) regression was also employed in the form of the BTC model to determine the values of K and β which indicate general level of time performance and the sensitivity of the time performance affected by project size as measured by cost respectively. The low K value of 20.1 demonstrates that the time performance of the construction industry has improved compared to previous surveys while β value of 0.686 indicates a greater influence of project complexity on time prolongation. The model also showed a good fit to the data with R value of 0.845 and R² value of 0.716. The model showed a satisfactory prediction performance with MAPE of 13.6% over the test sample.

Keywords: Time-Cost, Cost, duration, Bromilow model, regression.

CHARACTERIZATION OF BREWERY EFFLUENT FLUID

¹U. E. Inyang, E. N. Bassey and J. D. Inyang

¹Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering

University of Uyo, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State

Email: uweminyang7@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

This paper reports on the characterization of effluent fluid from different sections of a brewing plant with respect to the constituents and their toxicity level for possible classification and reuse within the system. The results showed the effluent fluids had moderate Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) and Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) of 40.30 mg/l and 471mg/l respectively. The suspended solids were also found as 81mg/l. From the study, it was found that there was the possibility of re-use of the effluent from bottle washing section before discharging to the environment.

Key Words: Effluent Fluid, Biochemical Oxygen Demand, Chemical Oxygen Demand, Total Organic Carbon.      

THE APPLICATION OF NOMINAL GROUP TECHNIQUE AS A DECISION MAKING TOOL

¹Odu O. Godwin, and ²Okereke N.

¹Department of Mechanical & Production Engineering, Delta State University, Abraka, Oleh   

 ²Department of Mechanical & Production Engineering, Delta State University, Abraka, Oleh   

E-mail:odugodwin@gmail.com, ndububa.okereke@yahoo.co.uk

ABSTRACT

Decision-making has always been a problem to decision makers. Though the problem of relative importance of issues or criteria has been a major concern. In practice, it is difficult even for an individual as a decision maker to arrive at a consensus. Similar in format to a focus group, the nominal group technique is essentially an organized discussion with a small group of participants. This paper describes and demonstrates how nominal group technique can be adopted as a decision tool in solving problems relating to relative importance of issues. The benefits associated with it were equally discussed.

Keywords: Nominal group technique, Team, Decision-making, Group discussion, Ideas

        Ranking, prioritized.

LOW COST SOLAR POWERED ULTRA VIOLET PURIFICATION SYSTEM FOR RURAL COMMUNITIES

¹Omitade, O, ²Ajani, O.O, and ³Akanbi, R.A Ogedengbe S.

¹School of Engineering, Durham University, Durham, England

²Department of Physics and Solar Energy, Bowen University, Iwo, Nigeria

³Department of Physics, The polytechnic, Ibadan, Nigeria

E-mail: aj_ani2000@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

Identification of the need to solve the acute problem of affordable and efficient water purification system in most rural communities in developing countries prompted the research into the use of solar powered ultra violet purification system. Nigeria, a country in west Africa is used as a case study with an abundant solar radiation estimated to be an average of about 3.5Kwh/m²  daily. Nigeria is faced with a lot of environmental issues with majority occurring in the Niger delta area as a result of oil spillage and other contaminations. Review of existing water purification systems was carried out and its various limitations identified. The advantages and possibilities of providing safe and potable water through the use of a locally designed model of a solar powered ultra violet water purification system was carried out.Results from the model shows in addition to its efficiency, a highly reduced and affordable cost, thereby making its adoption cost effective.

Keywords: Water purification, Ultra violet, Oil spillage, rural communities, Niger                     Delta. Potable water and Solar radiation

THE STUDY OF A CHARCOAL STOVE

 ¹F.E. Ukrakpor  ²P.A Kuale

¹ Department of Mechanical Engineering Delta State University, Oleh Campus

² Department of Electrical Engineering Delta state University, Oleh Campus

ABSTRACT

This paper investigates Charcoal stoves. Many types are looked at and examined in search for systematic design method leading to a more accurate method for producing and forming the templates. It is predicted that, with growing charcoal production and use, the use of charcoal stove in the average low income home may grow. Besides as long as trees’ planting is made law and obeyed, charcoal as a source of energy will perhaps be one of the most reliable and renewable energy source (other than solar energy) in Nature, on which a nation can rely for part of energy requirements if necessary balance of reforestation and deforestation is maintained.

DETERMINATION OF ENERGY PRODUCTION POTENTIAL OF WIND RESOURCES IN LAUTECH OGBOMOSO, NIGERIA

Sanusi Y.K. and Adedokun O.

Department of Pure and Applied Physics

 Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Ogbomoso. Oyo State. Nigeria.

E-mail adedokunoluwaseun@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

This work presents a study of wind resources in Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso Area. The experimental measurement of wind speed and wind direction data were collected from Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NIMET) Oshodi, Lagos for a period of four years, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009. The annual mean wind speed of LAUTECH, Ogbomoso located on (Latitude 8^o 5′ S and Longitude 4^o 12′ W), was estimated to be 37.99m/s through the monthly wind speed and wind direction data collected. The annual energy capture potential of 1081.79MJ is obtained for a single wind power system applying the power law equation with MS visual basic programming Language. The obtained equivalent power potential of 123.99kW is a considerable amount when compared with power consumption of 1200kW utilized in Lautech Ogbomoso. It is then realized that the energy capture potential for a single wind turbine is 10.33% of the power consumption in Lautech through conventional energy source. Thus, we suggest that power potential from wind resources can be used to supplement the power potential of conventional energy in Lautech.

Keywords: Energy potential, power potential, Wind speed, Power law equation, wind turbine