Arid Zone Journal of Engineering, Technology and Environment (AZOJETE)
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Optimization of Sandwich Bumper for Three Year Old Child Neck Injury Prevention
Get PDFImpact energy absorption vehicle components play an important role in reducing severity of injury in vehicle crashes. Children being delicate are most vulnerable in vehicular collisions. The neck is the major body region after head that experiences a high moment when deceleration is transmitted to it. Bumper is one of the vehicle’s frontal energy absorption components that reduce deceleration to the occupants. Sandwich bumper is an energy absorption component that could substitute a steel bumper. The geometry of the sandwich bumper affects its energy absorption capability on impact. This work applies an optimization technique to determine the sandwich bumper thicknesses that provides lower neck moments to child on impact at 48km/h in LS DYNA code. Finite element (FE) simulations using crash dummy models being the simplest method to reproduce accident was employed. The optimization results found the minimum neck moment of 25.4 Nm occurred at foam thickness of 68.76 mm and bumper thickness of 2 mm. The study provides designers with quantitative information on how the bumper performance affects child injury in vehicular frontal crashes. This will lead to design of safer vehicles for the children population
Effect of Harrowing Depth, Speed and Effective Cutting Width on Fuel Consumption Rate of a Tine Harrow on Clay Loam Soil in Abia State
Get PDFThis research was conducted to study the effect of harrowing depth, speed and effective cutting width on fuel consumption rate of a tine harrow on clay loam soil in Abia state to aid farmers to examine and choose the right harrowing implement based on the soil type for an effective and munificent production. The operational speed, effective working width and cutting depth were taken as factors for the study of the fuel consumption rate. The results revealed that the highest fuel consumption rate of 7.5l/ha was noted when the harrow worked at the cutting depth of 10 cm and a speed of 6 km·h–1 and width of 180cm (when working at full width) while the lowest fuel consumption rate of 6.5l/ha was achieved at a speed of 6 km·h–1, working width of 120cm and a cutting depth of 5 cm. The quadratic model was significant for the response (P < 0.05). The results indicated that the coefficient of determination (R2) was 0.98, which specified the high correlation among the factors. The predicted R² (0.97) was consistent with the adjusted R² of 0.95. The adequacy precision of 31.000 showed a suitable indicator and that the model could navigate the design space. The optimization process with the optimal operating factor of operational speed of 6.15 km/hr, working width of 180cm and tillage depth of 30cm and the optimum fuel consumption rate and the desirability of 7.17 l/ha and 0.697 were respectively obtained
Comparative Analysis of Cutting Fluids Developed from Groundnut Oil and used Engine Oil for Machining Operation
Get PDFThis research concentrates on the development of cutting fluid from spent engine oil used in motor vehicles (used engine oil) and groundnut oil, for the purpose of cooling the heat generated in the cutting zone during metal work. Cutting fluid are widely used in machining process such as turning, milling, grinding and forming manufacturing process. Four different soluble oil were developed using locally sourced material and applied as cutting fluids for turning operation in a lathe machine. Sample A comprises groundnut oil, emulsifying wax, potassium dichromate, 2-aphtol, Sulphur, Soap. Sample B comprises Groundnut oil, Liquid paraffin, Potassium dichromate, 2-Naphtol, Sulphur, Soap. Sample C comprises of Used Engine oil, Emulsifying wax, potassium dichromate, 2-Naphtol, Sulphur, Soap. Sample D comprises of used engine oil, liquid paraffin, potassium dichromate, 2-Naphtol, Sulphur soap. Determination of temperature, viscosity, PH values and percentage of free fatty acid (%FFA) were conducted on these samples. Viscosity and pH values of the samples were measured using Brookfield Synchro-electric Viscometer and pH meter, respectively. A straight-turning operation was carried out on a bar (workpiece) of 4mm diameter, using a lathe machine at a feed rate of 2 mm/min at a turning speed ranging from 58 to 370rpm. Using dry cutting, the cutting zone generated a temperature of 73°C. When applying the developed cutting fluids directly at the tool tip-work piece point of contact, determination of their ability to dissipate heat away from the cutting zone, using a thermocouple was conducted. It was observed that the turning operation conducted with sample D serving as cutting fluid (with a cutting zone temperature of 17.0°C and viscosity of 0.365) dissipated more heat (56°C) away from the cutting zone when compared to samples A, B and C, having temperature and viscosity of 32°C, 28°C, 20°C and 0.02, 0.235, 0.155 Nsm-2 respectively. Sample D has the lowest pH value of 3.78 making it more acidic and susceptible to corrosion. In conclusion, all the samples can be used for cutting fluid. 
Design of a Smart Solar Hybrid Egg Incubator for Small Scale Poultry Farmers
Get PDFIn this study, an electro-mechanical device (incubator) was designed to provide temperature and humidity for fertilization of eggs. A 132 capacity egg crates and medium density fiber board plywood (MDF-plywood) with a 15mm thickness for the incubation chamber were used. A 200AH lithium phosphate battery, 300W capacity solar panel and inverter were used to power the 200W electric bulb and other incubator components in the time of power shortages. Incubation temperature of 37.50C and average relative humidity of 45% were considered during the design. A 3D model of the designed incubator was produced using Solid works software package. The model provided some important information on the material properties of the proposed plywood for construction of the casing, the plastic egg crates and the egg turning tray. The required number of egg crates and egg turning trays were determined as 8 and 4 respectively with two plastic crates sitting on each tray. Heat generation and heat losses of the system were also determined as 139.482595W and-3.395925W respectively. The total power consumption of the designed incubator was 150.4159W. Design of a cost-effective solar hybrid eggs incubator (N940, 200), with a dimension of 1100mm for poultry farmers was successfully carried out with a hatching capacity of 1056eggs. 
Energy Conservation Potentials in University of Maiduguri: Case Study of Shettima Ali Monguno Hostel.
Get PDFThis paper presents the result of investigating the energy conservation potentials conducted at Shettima Ali Monguno (SAM) Sudents’ Hostel of University of Maiduguri. The aim of the study was to ascertain the energy consumption pattern and the amount of energy consumed, spot areas of waste and find measures to curb such waste. A walk-through audit and investigation through questionnaire and oral interviews were used to gather required data. Microsoft Excel software were used to analyse the data. The results show that fan element ranked top in energy consuming loads having 86 %, followed by lighting 73 %, resistant coil 25%, pressing iron 18% and electric hot plate 13%. And the aspect of cooking kerosene ranked up to the most used energy followed by charcoal. The annual energy and cost savings for replacement of conventional resistance electric regulator fans with electronic regulator fans is about 17MWh and N 1.1Million and that one for replacing incandescent light bulb is 13MWh and N0.9Million.The study recommends that Energy audit should be conducted for other parts of the institution, awareness on energy saving habits and their benefits should be created
Geospatial Assessment of Channel Planform and Migration in the Lower Reach of River Gongola, Adamawa State, Nigeria
Get PDFChannel migration is the process by which stream channels move and shape floodplains through time. The river channel of the lower reach of River Gongola between Kiri dam and the inlet to River Benue has been subjected to channel migration since the impoundment of Kiri reservoir in 1984. In this study, temporal changes in river channel parameters such as width, area, perimeter, sinuosity and channel bars, as well as the channel migration of the lower reach of River Gongola were assessed. Landsat MSS image of 1975 (nine years before the commissioning of Kiri reservior) and Google maps of 1975, 1984, 1989, 1999, 2009 and 2019 were aquired, processed and analyzed for the changes in channel parameters and migration in each of the six selected years. Overlay method in ArcGIS 10.5 sofware and appropriate formula were used to obtain the values of the channel parameters as well as that of channel migration. The result of the study reveals that all the channel parameters have been subjected to changes. The channel width was widest in 1975 when the dam was not constructed. The largest channel bars in 1989 recorded positive impact on the channel width, perimeter, length and sinuosity as all these parameters covered the highest land area in the same year. The sinuosity index ranged from 1.22 to 1.26 which fall within the “sinuous” class and hence, the channel is currently in sinuous stage. Areas covered by erosion were more prominent in the river channel than areas with deposition. The initial vertical incision before and shortly after the impoundment of the reservoir has changed to lateral erosion which leads to channel widening. It was recommended that geospatial techniques should be applied in the temporal monitoring of river channels for reliable and accurate data for monitoring of river channels.  
Influence of Rubber Crumbs on the Structural Efficiency of Concrete Made from Ceramic Tile Aggregates
Get PDFThe indiscriminate dumping of used tyres and construction waste like ceramic tiles has contributed to the present unclean environment. As part of the efforts in the recycling of these waste materials, they were both introduced to concrete, and the effect of these two materials on the structural properties of concrete was studied in this work. Crushed ceramic tiles were used to totally replace granite as the coarse aggregate, while crushed tyre rubber crumbs replaced sand as fine aggregate (0%, 5% and 10%), designated as C0, C5 and C10 respectively. The mix ratio was 1:2:2 for cement, fine and coarse aggregates at 0.5 water/cement ratio, concrete was cured for 7 and 28 days. 100 x 100 x 100 mm concrete cubes were used for the compressive and 100 x 100 x 750 mm beam was used for the flexural strength tests. The results obtained from both compressive and flexural tests showed a general reduction in strength, this was due to the ceramic tiles that absorbed excess water into the concrete. The ACI 209R-92 equations for the prediction of concrete strength were used to determine the one-year strength of the concrete samples. Statistical analysis showed that the R2 of the strength within one year was 0.83 and 0.77 for the C0 and C5 samples respectively. The presence of rubber crumbs served as fillers, especially in the C5 samples. It was concluded that crushed ceramic tiles and rubber crumbs could be used in structural concrete, but should not exceed 5% of rubber crumbs. 
Impact of Soil Compaction and Mulching on Growth and Yield of Cowpea in Ile-Ife, Nigeria
Get PDFAgricultural vehicle traffic is one of the principal factors responsible for the compaction of surface and subsurface horizons of soil under field conditions. To control this, a field experiment was conducted to examine the response of tractor wheel passes and mulching on the growth and yield of cowpeas. A tillage model can simulate the effect of different components that contribute to the formation of yields and can facilitate the design of alternative agricultural systems.
High bulk density was obtained using the core sampler method within the ploughed layer and the active portion of the crop root zone (10-30 cm), while there were increasing trends in bulk density from planting to crop maturity. A model to predict the crop yield as a function of the degree of compaction and extent of mulching was developed. The model summary was significant at a 5 % probability level (p < 0.005). Moreover, interactions between compaction and mulching on cowpea yield showed that the least (0.21 tha-1) and highest (0.51 tha-1) cowpea grain yield occurred at the point when treatment was 4 tractor passes and no mulch and 0 passes with 60 kg mulch, respectively. Mulch with no compaction performed better in growth and yields as well as yield-related parameters compared to compaction only without mulch. This gives the best soil management practice that will result in good growth and maximum productivity of cowpeas. 
Sensitivity analysis of the effects of load magnitude on pavement strains using load spectra
Get PDFThe purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of wheel loads on linear responses by sensitivity analysis on an elastic linear analysis. Sensitivity analysis of traffic factors was carried out on the failure parameters, where the impact of each of the wheel load magnitude for each axle type and its relationship with the pavement response outputs was evaluated. The reference central value (mean) of the ALS on both the southbound axis and northbound axis of the selected route, Kaduna-Zaria roadway, were either increased or reduced by 0% to 50%, and also, 100% and 500%, to see how the pavement will respond to a constant pavement configuration and material properties applied to all cases. The results obtained from KENLAYER runs were used to determine the relationship between the axle load groups and the pavement responses. The effect of load magnitude on pavement responses, was evaluated in respect of the tensile strains and compressive strains. The findings of the study revealed that: Development of comprehensive data base was accomplished from the local traffic data that meets the requirements of M-E design procedure. Wheel load group relationship for each axle type to vertical strains on top of the subgrade soils are linear, while the tensile strain at the bottom of the asphalt concrete is about 50%.  
Effect of Chemical Fertilizers on Groundwater Quality in an Unconfined Aquifer
Get PDFThe use of fertilizer on soil to improve agricultural yield has been practiced for years. While fertilizers and manures greatly improve crop yield, it is also important to consider their corresponding and devastating effects. In this study, the fertilizers application rate was varied and their effects on groundwater quality with soil depths of 30 cm and 60 cm were observed. Two fabricated lysimeters were used to collect soil samples undisturbed and taken to the laboratory for analyses. The samples in the lysimeters were made saturated and varying quantities of fertilizers from 87.37 g, 100 g. and 120 g were applied. The saturation of the samples was done through an improvised rainfall simulator which was set up in such a way that a constant discharge was adopted. Water samples were collected at 30 cm and 60 cm depths and analyzed for fertilizer residues and physico-chemical characteristics such as temperature, pH, total chloride, total dissolved solids, dissolved oxygen, conductivity, free ammonia, total phosphate, urea, zinc and iron were also analysed. The results showed that the more the quantities of fertilizers applied on the soil, the more it affects the physico-chemical properties of the water and renders it toxic and unsuitable for drinking purposes except treated. The results, however revealed that the concentrations of the fertilizers in the groundwater decreases with soil depths. It is therefore recommended that any groundwater being explored for domestic use close to soil surface in areas prone to fertilizer pollution should be well treated before consumption, most especially for people using shallow wells.