Table of Contents

Effect of Radiation on Electromagnetic Waves

Hayatu, Abba Ibrahim, Nura Yakubu and Abba Babakura                                                     1 – 13   

Use of Geographic Information System (GIS) As a Tool for Process Reengineering in Delivering Road Construction Projects in Nigeria

Kabiru, Rogo Usman                                                                                                               14 – 49                       

Performance Evaluation of Charcoal Samples from Different Wood Species in Ibadan, Nigeria

Adepo S. Olusegun and Ijagbemi Christiana .O.                                                                      50 – 56

The pH Level and Alkaline Phosphate Activity in Crude Oil Contaminated Soil Bioremediated with Poultry Manure and Sawdust

Peters Akpoturi                                                                                                                        57– 61            

EPR Studies of the Hamiltonian Parameters of the Simultaneous Axial and Orthorhombic Jahn-Teller Spectra of Cu²⁺ in Cd₂(NH₄)₂(SO₄)₃ Single Crystals at Different Temperatures

J.B Yerima, A.B Dikko and D.K De                                                                                           62 – 71

Modification and Evaluation of a Pedal Driven Seed Drill

F. B. Akande, O. E. Ajiki, O. Adekoya and K.O. Oriola                                                              72 – 79

Managing Risk in Engineering Projects

Ashiru, M. Ashiru and Jacob, E. Sanni                                                                                      80 – 90

Transesterification of Hura crepitans Oil for Biodiesel Production

O.O. Oniya^*, F.B. Akande,A.A. Adedeji and O.L. Olukayode                                                    91 – 97

TRANSESTERIFICATION OF HURA CREPITANS OIL FOR BIODIESEL PRODUCTION

O.O. Oniya^*, F.B. Akande,A.A. Adedeji and O.L. Olukayode

Department of Agricultural Engineering,

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

E-mail: toyinprayer@yahoo.com 

ABSTRACT: This work focused on the transesterification of Hura crepitans oil and the determination of the suitability of the oil and its ethyl ester to power a diesel engine. Hura crepitans oil was transesterified in a two step transesterification process using ethanol and potassium hydroxide to produce ethyl ester (biodiesel). The fuel properties of Hura crepitans oil and its ethyl ester were determined and compared with that of Automotive Gas Oil (AGO). The results showed that the biodiesel yield was 80.5% after transesterification. The flash point, cloud point, pour point, specific gravity at 15 ^oC, viscosity at 40 ^oC, heating value, acid value, ash content, sulphur content, free fatty acid, peroxide value, iodine value and pH of the oil was obtained as 72.60 ^oC, 7.40 ^oC, 3.12 ^oC, 0.864, 2.870 mm²/s, 48.90 MJ/I, 19.074 MgKOH/g, 0.104%, 30.75%, 0.9588, 0.061 Meq/KOH, 0.940 wijis and 3.50 respectively. The fuel properties of Hura crepitans biodiesel were obtained as follows; specific gravity at 15 ^oC was 0.884, viscosity at 40 ^oC was 3.420 mm²/s, acid value was 6.732 mgKOH/g, peroxide value was 0.021 Meq/KOH, Sulphur content was 8.74%, cloud point was 75.10 ^oC, flash point was 94.60 ^oC, free fatty acid was 0.3304, pH was 3.30, heating value was 38.74 MJ/I. The result showed that Hura crepitans biodiesel can be used to power a compression ignition engine.

MANAGING RISK IN ENGINEERING PROJECTS

Ashiru, M. Ashiru and Jacob, E. Sanni

Civil Engineering Technology Department

The Federal Polytechnic, Nasarawa, Nasarawa state, Nigeria.

E-mail: ashiruashirum@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT: In order to guide management in making better decisions, decorous project decision-making require risk management and risk analysis techniques be applied. As a result of uncertainty as well as hazard there are risks inherent in all engineering projects. Decision making under uncertainty literally encompasses every aspect of engineering projects. No project is risk free. Risk can be managed, minimised, shared, transferred or accepted; it cannot be ignored (Sir Michael Latham, 1994). Risks are assessed against criteria defined before or during risk analysis and ranking. Once ranked, the risks are almost easily displayed on a likelihood impact-matrix that serves as a clear communication tool, allowing everyone to be able to understand the level of risk. Risk management processes described include risk planning, identification, analysis, response and monitoring. If implemented correctly, a successful risk mitigation strategy should reduce negative impacts. The purpose of this paper is to describe the risk management process and why it is important to determine and quantify the risk involved in any project or venture. Such that decisions can be made to counter or mitigate and make allowances for potential detrimental events.

MODIFICATION AND EVALUATION OF A PEDAL DRIVEN SEED DRILL

F. B. Akande, O. E. Ajiki, O. Adekoya and K.O. Oriola*

Department of Agricultural Engineering,

Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Nigeria.

E-mail: kazzyoris@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT: An existing pedal driven seed drill was test run, the problem with the low level of performance was studied, and modifications were made on the existing pedal driven seed drill for better performance. The angle of repose was used to calculate the volume of the seed hopper, shaft design of the solid agitator, diameter of both the front and rear wheel and the length of chain were calculated. The newly fabricated seed drill was calibrated and tested on the field using paddy rice and sorghum. The results of the calibration shows a seed discharge rate of 43.24 kg/ha for paddy rice and 432.2 kg/ha for sorghum. The speed, theoretical and effective field capacity were calculated to be 1.89 km/h, 0.174 ha/h, and 0.086084 ha/hr. The efficiency of the machine was evaluated to be 49.5 %. The seed drill has a seeding rate of 43.24 kg/ha.

EPR STUDIES OF THE HAMILTONIAN PARAMETERS OF THE SIMULTANEOUS AXIAL AND ORTHORHOMBIC JAHN-TELLER SPECTRA OF Cu2+ IN Cd2(NH4)2(SO4)3 SINGLE CRYSTALS AT DIFFERENT TEMPERATURES

J.B Yerima¹, A.B Dikko^*1 and D.K De²

¹Department of Physics, Modibbo Adama University of Technology Yola, Nigeria.

²Department of Physics, Kaduna State University, Kaduna State, Nigeria.

 E-mail: abdikkozabi@gmail.com ABSTRACT: This paper presents the study of the effective Hamiltonian parameters (g₁, g₂, A₁, A₂) and the observed g and A tensors of the derivative axial and orthorhombic Jahn-Teller EPR spectra of Cu²⁺ in Cd₂(NH₄)₂(SO₄)₃ single crystals at different temperatures. The variations of these parameters with temperature in the three mutually perpendicular planes of the crystal confirm axial symmetry for T>T_c and orthorhombic symmetry for T<T_c in this system. The simultaneous axial and anisotropic symmetries of the spectra owe their origin to the behaviour of Cu²⁺ ions in the three JT potential wells because they can undergo reorientation from one well to another or quantum tunnelling among them which depends on temperature, burial height or thickness and energy of the ions. The results show that the components of the activation energy and Fermi-contact parameter increase with temperature while the decrease of the anisotropy parameter (u) is more than it compensates for the slight increase in the effective Hamiltonian parameters g₁ and g₂ with temperature

THE pH LEVEL AND ALKALINE PHOSPHATE ACTIVITY IN CRUDE OIL

CONTAMINATED SOIL BIOREMEDIATED WITH POULTRY MANURE AND SAWDUST

Peters Akpoturi

Department of Petroleum Engineering

Delta State University, Oleh Campus, Delta State, Nigeria.

E-mail: petersakpoturi1212@gmail.com

ABSTRACT: The analysis of soil pH level and alkaline phosphate activity in crude oil treated soil following remediation with poultry manure (PM) and sawdust (SD) were studied for four weeks using standard bioremediation techniques. The result showed a statistically significant increase in soil pH level after bioremediation (P>0.05) while the alkaline phosphatase activity in the soil increased upon crude oil contamination from 1.78±014IU/g to 1.89±0.114IU/g. Treatment of crude oil contaminated soil with sawdust reduced alkaline phosphatese activities to (1.65±0.132IU/g on the same day 0 (P>0.05). statistical analysis show that only the sawdust decreased alkaline phosphatase activity significantly (P<0.05 during bioremediation. The results of this study suggest that a combination of poultry manure and sawdust in bioremediation of crude oil contaminated soil is a solution to the menace of oil spillage in Niger Delta areas of Nigeria.

PERFORMANCE EVALUATION OF CHARCOAL SAMPLES FROM DIFFERENT WOOD SPECIES IN IBADAN, NIGERIA

Adepo S. Olusegun^a and Ijagbemi Christiana .O.^b

^aDepartment of Mechanical Engineering Technology, Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, Nigeria.

^bDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria.

E-mail: adeposegun@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT: The performance evaluation of charcoal samples produced from wood offcuts of some selected tropical wood species (Iroko, Obeche, Oak, Afara, and Mahogany) was carried out. The woods offcuts were collected from different saw-mills in Ibadan metropolis, Nigeria, and were converted into charcoal using a portable steel kiln. In evaluating the performance of different tropical charcoal samples, three test conditions were considered: water boiling, burn rate of charcoal in cook stove and cooking duration tests. Values obtained as burn rates and water boiling durations were 0.51 kg/hr and 28minutes for Iroko specie, 0.58 kg/hr and 24 minutes for Obeche specie, 0.55 kg/hr and 26 minutes for Oak specie, 0.60 kg/hr and 22 minutes for Afara specie and 0.54 kg/hr and 28minutes for Mahogany specie. In a Comparative cooking test conducted with the different charcoal samples using beans as food item, the fastest cook time was recorded with Afara charcoal samples in cook stove; it spent 45 minutes to cook beans. Time spent using other charcoal samples in cook stove varied: Obeche specie spent 48 minutes to cook, Oak specie spent 52 minutes to cook and Mahogany specie spent 55 minutes to cook while Iroko charcoal sample took the longest time of 58 minutes to cook beans.

USE OF GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEM (GIS) AS A TOOL FOR PROCESS REENGINEERING IN DELIVERING ROAD CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS IN NIGERIA

Kabiru, Rogo Usman

Department of Civil Engineering Technology

Nuhu Bamalli Polytechnic Zaria, Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria.

E-mail: kbrogo@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT: Geographic Information System (GIS) has permeated virtually all fields of endeavour, its enhanced features was explored by the research with a view to reengineering road construction projects in Nigeria. Road construction is a sector with enormous untapped potentials for stakeholders, having received attention by the government as a means of delivering the dividends of democracy to its populace. The research sought the use of GIS in integrating road construction processes from planning stage to decommissioning as a means of sustaining enhanced efficiency, accountability, integrated processes and teams, waste elimination (Lean) and to ultimately achieve concurrency in the process by fast-tracking the phases. Redesigning’ road construction projects in Nigeria through ‘radical change’ by using GIS as a tool to achieve ‘dramatic’ improvements of the key project success criteria of quality, cost, time and speed, as identified by its guru, Michael Hammer. Questionnaires were employed to ascertain the level of awareness of CPR among construction professionals-notable of whom were Architects, Engineers, Project managers and Land surveyors, in addition to that, structured interviews targeted at other road construction industry value chain members was  conducted in order to capture vital information in grey areas not covered by the survey questions. Result indicated that even though most respondents are not aware of what CPR entails, yet they are optimistic that GIS could aid the reengineering of road projects, however, most of them acknowledged  peculiar challenges the proposed system may face in such a country where automation of processes is minimal. Inferred interview result suggested that there is need for an agency to serve as the provider/warehouse of GIS database (Geodatabase) – like ESRI couple with a level of standardization and enforcement by the government on all construction stakeholders to conduct their businesses using the GIS database.

EFFECT OF RADIATION ON ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVES

¹Hayatu, Abba Ibrahim, ²Nura Yakubu and ³Abba Babakura           

^1&2Department of Physics, University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria.

³Department of Physics, Kashim Ibrahim College of Education, Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria.

E-mail: hayatuabbaibrahim5@gmail.com

ABSTRACT: This project was carried out to know the physics and mechanism behind the effect of radiation on electromagnetic wave. A brief history of electromagnetic wave will be discuss thereby exposing the laws of electric and magnetic field etc, electromagnetic spectrum and the properties of atmosphere with respect to various parts of electromagnetic spectrum. The derivation of the four Maxwell equations both the integral and differential forms and the derivation of electric potential due to electric dipole antenna cause by the effect of radiation and the radiation resistance.