Research
Design of a Pedestrian-Steel Bridge Crossing Auchi-Benin Expressway
This research study was to design a pedestrian steel bridge at Auchi Polytechnic Hostel Gate across Auchi-Benin Expressway so as to provide a safer and easy route for the users, especially students and also to reduce accident rate. The work involved the feasibility study of the chosen sections such as soil analysis, design of the structural components of the bridge,(beams, floorplate, column and foundation) which were designed to British Standard (BS 5400, BS 5950, BS 8110). Soil allowable bearing capacity of 233KN/m 2 was established. This was used for the design of the pad footings for the steel stanchions whose dimensions were 1300 mm * 1300 mm * 450 mm and also the specification for plate was 80 mm *2 mm, staircase beam; 254 *102 * 28UB beam for bracing; 127*76*46UB, walkway beam; 356*171*57UB, landing; 254*102*28UB, column; 203*203* 46UC and foundation reinforcements were found to be 6Y20mm@300c/c (As=1050mm 2 ) in each direction.
Analysis of Tensile Strength of Bamboo Reinforced Polyester Composite
Nigerian grown species of bamboo called bambusa vulgaris which was examined to analyze its tensile strength. The fibre characteristics and tensile strength were investigated at three different fibre lengths and fibre loadings i.e 10, 30,50mm and 10, 30, 50 wt.% respectively. Fibre length was varied in each fibre loading from 10mm to 50mm, the tensile strength of the three different series of composites varies from 28.32Mpa to 38.10Mpa. The predicted optimum tensile strength is 44.51Mpa. Generated results have been validated by the confirmation of experiments at three replications, when the control factors were set at 30mm and 30% wt or (level 2, level 2), using Taguchi’s design of experiments approach. It was observed from the analysis of variance of the samples that there is a variation in the increase of tensile strength of the bamboo that are dependent on the fibre length and fibre loading used. The percentage contributions of parameter according to the pooled ANOVA for signal-to- Noise ratio showed that the fibre length (36.61%) in controlling variation and mean strength is significantly smaller than the fibre loading (44.15%).
Design for a Sustainability of a Commercial Product: A Case Study of a Dynamic Loudspeaker
Sensitivity-based analysis carried out on the production of dynamic loudspeakers for client (A) and (B) showed that client (A) has reliability efficiency 0f 20.4% with 90% of Tp, 30%-Ep, 50%-Ecp, while client (B) has 30%-Tp, 90%-Ep and 50%-Ecp respectively. Sustainability of client (B) is higher than (A) with 0.06. It has 99% and 20.1% system and efficiency reliabilities. Client (B) has the flexibility of indoor and outdoor which Client (A) lacks. The overall simulation analysis shows that client (B) product is better than (A).
Combined Control Scheme for Monitoring Quality Characteristics
In the literature, the Exponentially Weighted Moving Average (EWMA) and Exponentially Weighted Moving Variance (EMWV) control schemes have been used separately to monitor the process average and process variability respectively. Here the two are combined and applied on simulated process with different level of variation. The control limit interval (CLI) and the average run length (ARL) were evaluated for the combined chart. The combined chart performed better than the two independently. Furthermore, an algorithm was developed for the two control charts and implemented on visual basic VB6.0. The obtained results show that the combined EWMA and EWMV control chart is very sensitive in detecting shift in production process and every shift in the process mean is always preceded by shift in the process variability.
Sensitivity-Based Modeling of Evaluating Surface Runoff and Sediment Load using Digital and Analog Mechanisms
Analyses of runoff- sediment measurement and evaluation using automated and convectional runoff-meters was carried out at Meteorological and Hydrological Station of Auchi Polytechnic, Auchi using two runoff plots (ABCDa and EFGHm) of area 2m2 each, depth 0.26 m and driven into the soil to the depth of 0.13m. Runoff depths and intensities were measured from each of the positioned runoff plot. Automated runoff-meter has a measuring accuracy of ±0.001l/±0.025 mm and rainfall depth-intensity was measured using tippingbucket rainguage during the period of 14-month of experimentation. Minimum and maximum rainfall depths of 1.2 and 190.3 mm correspond to measured runoff depths (MRo) of 0.0 mm for both measurement approaches and 60.4 mm and 48.9 mm respectively. Automated runoff-meter provides precise, accurate and instantaneous result over the convectional measurement of surface runoff. Runoff measuring accuracy for automated runoff-meter from the plot (ABCDa) produces R2 = 0.99; while R2 = 0.96 for manual evaluation in plot (EFGHm). WEPP and SWAT models were used to simulate the obtained hydrological variables from the applied measurement mechanisms. The outputs of sensitivity simulation analysis indicate that data from automated measuring systems gives a better modelling index and such could be used for running robust runoff-sediment predictive modelling technique under different reservoir sedimentation and water management scenarios.
Calibration of Waterloss Impacts on Water Distribution and Accessibility in Akure, Nigeria
Safe drinking water is a necessity for life. Providing quality drinking water is a critical service that generates revenues for water utilities to sustain their operations. Population growth put an additional strain on the limited resources. The annual volume of water lost is an important indicator of water distribution efficiency, both in individual years, and as a trend over a period of years. Application of deterministic simulation model on public water supply variables reveals the volume of non-revenue water (NRW) and its cost effects have further created a complex system for the availability, distribution and affordability of the utility. Gradual annual increase in public water supply (AWS) from 9.0 *106m3 to 14.4 * 106m3 had negative effect on annual water accessed(AWA) with R2 = 0.096; and highly significant with annual water loss (AWL) with R2 = 0.99. This development indicates that water loss mainly through leakages and bursts is a function of public water supply. Hence, estimated volume and cost annual revenue water (NRW) in Akure is 6 million m3 and 15.6 million USD respectively. Critical analysis shows that the lost annual revenue could be used to provide education and health services for a period of 6-month in the region.
Evaluation of Waterloss Impacts on Water Distribution and Accessibility in Akure, Nigeria
Safe drinking water is a necessity for life. Providing quality drinking water is a critical service that generates revenues for water utilities to sustain their operations. Population growth put an additional strain on the limited resources. The annual volume of water lost is an important indicator of water distribution efficiency, both in individual years, and as a trend over a period of years. Application of deterministic simulation model on public water supply variables reveals the volume of non-revenue water (NRW) and its cost effects have further created a complex system for the availability, distribution and affordability of the utility. Gradual annual increase in public water supply (AWS) from 9.0 *106m3 to 14.4* 106m3 had negative effect on annual water accessed(AWA) with R2 = 0.096; and highly significant with annual water loss (AWL) with R2 = 0.99. This development indicates that water loss mainly through leakages and bursts is a function of public water supply. Hence, estimated volume and cost annual revenue water (NRW) in Akure is 6 million m3 and 15.6 million USD respectively. Critical analysis shows that the lost annual revenue could be used to provide education and health services for a period of 6-month in the region.
Computation Of Water-Stress Ratio In Western Nigeria
An increasing world population exerts a continually growing demand on usable freshwater resources. Access to water plays a key role in development; it supports human life in direct consumption, agricultural uses and industrial activities. Time and drudgery involved to access safe drinking water resulted to loss of human resources and capital, thus affecting nearly every household life. This paper focuses on the determination of water-stressed ratio using Integrated Water Measurement Tool (IWMT). Structured simple time analysis and Adjusted composite index approaches were employed to compute (IWMT) values in all the sampled areas. Variables such as access to safe water coverage, water availability and use of water were considered. IWMT values from the two approaches show that Ese-Odo is the most water-scarce region with least IWMT values of 14.1 (Adjusted composite index: ACI) and highest value of 2.6 minsl-1 (Structured simple time analysis: SSA), while Owo, Ondo-West and Ose local government areas experience fair distribution of protected water supply with IWMT values of 1.05 minsl-1, 20.8; 1.00 minsl-1, 17.2; and 0.55 minsl-1, 16.9 respectively.
Environmental Impacts of Polyethylene Generation And Disposal In Akure City, Nigeria
The environmental impact and seasonal variation of polyethylene (cellophane) generation and disposal in Akure City, Nigeria was investigated. Five daily markets, were randomly selected for data collection. In each market, two areas: one in the raw food section and the other in the processed food items section, each measuring 30 metres by 100 metres were demarcated for investigation. The result showed that polyethylene is generated more during the dry season months than the wet season months. The result also showed that table water sachet topped the list of cellophane wastes generated. This is because; it is cheap and consumed throughout the year with very little seasonal variation. Types of cellophane generation at home and market also displayed a very interesting pattern. The study showed that in the market, polyethylene for assorted items was the least (51,000), followed by biscuits (50,863), ice cream sachets (81,526) and table water sachets (96,853). On the other hand, the trend showed that, at home, polyethylene for assorted items was the highest (98,361kg), closely followed by biscuit wrapper (45,263), ice cream wrappers (35,514) and table water sachets (25,360). Cellophane waste poses various threats to public health and adversely affects flora and fauna as well as the environment especially when it is not appropriately collected and disposed. It is advocated that aggressive campaign and enlightenment of the masses on the threats posed by cellophane pollution should be carried out to prevent further damage to the environment.
Yield-Crop Water Use (Cwu) Evaluation For Pepper Production Under Irrigated Cultivation In Akure,Nigeria.
Three treatments of water application on NHVIA pepper were carried out at Department of Agricultural Engineering Teaching and Research Farm, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria. The study was conducted during the dry seasons of 2008 and 2009 respectively in order to determine the growth, yield; and evaluate water use of pepper. Relationship between crop water use and yield produced from pepper grown under micro- sprinkler irrigation system was established. NHV1A variety of pepper was nursed for six weeks and transplanted. It was subjected to three treatments based on 50% water requirement (WR) of pepper as low (treatment 1, T1), 75% WR as medium (T2) and 100% WR as high (T3) irrigation systems. Water applications were carried 3-day interval, volume of water applied in each treatment was technically monitored. Water balance parameters such as Soil Moisture Content (SMC) and evapotranspiration were measured using tensiometer and Water Balance Equation respectively. Agronomic parameters such as plant height stem diameter, fruit width, length, root depth, leaf area and leaf area index were measured on weekly interval. It was observed that T3 recorded highest yield of 20.101 ton/ha in 2008 and 21.062 ton/ha in 2009 seasons, while T1 with minimum yield of 14.886 ton/ha and 15.260 ton/ha for the two seasons, respectively. In addition, T3 recorded maximum crop water use of 821.07 mm in 2008 and 833.61 mm in 2009 seasons, respectively.
