Journals of Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM)
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Synthesis and Characterization of Al-SiO2 Composites
Get PDFThe paper presents studies aimed at producing aluminum matrix composites reinforced with amorphous silica particles. The possibility of producing composites of the Al-SiO2 (5 wt. %) system using intensive mixing casting and semi-solid metal casting methods has been established. Semi-solid metal casting followed by squeeze casting demonstrated the highest efficiency. The potential of using magnesium as a surface-active additive to remove oxygen from the surface of the dispersed particles and improve the mechanical properties of the composite material during heat treatment has been demonstrated. It has been found that the resulting composites exhibit a uniform distribution of dispersed silica particles throughout the metal volume. Furthermore, they possess hardness, corrosion resistance, and specific gravity values that exceed those of the original aluminum alloy. Composites produced using the developed technique may find application in various transportation engineering fields, as well as in aviation and aerospace industries
The Evolution of Metaheuristic Research: A Bibliometrics Analysis of Research Trends in Computer Sciences
Get PDFThe purpose of this paper is to examine the development of research trends and to propose potential future paths by conducting a bibliometric analysis of metaheuristic studies. Enhancing the sector\u27s importance and giving readers a clear understanding of its development. The research uses a bibliometric approach, collecting its information from the Scopus database. Articles published in academic journals on metaheuristic research between the years 2015 and 2023 will be analyzed for this study. Data is collected, analyzed, and interpreted so that conclusions can be drawn. Important insights into the development of metaheuristic studies emerge from the analysis. Global optimization, heuristic approaches, scheduling, genetic algorithms, evolutionary algorithms, and benchmarking are only a few of the overarching research issues that this study reveals. There is a growing interest in new fields of study, such as adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference, forecasting, feature selection, biomimetic, and the exploration-exploitation trade-off. The results shed light on where the field of metaheuristics is at the moment and where it needs to go in the future. The study\u27s dependence on Scopus data and its refusal to include data from other sources are two of its acknowledged drawbacks. It draws attention to the need for more study to address these limitations and recommends possible directions for future studies, such as adding different data and looking at different applications. This research appends to the frame of knowledge by providing a thorough bibliometric examination of how metaheuristic studies have developed. It emphasizes the value of metaheuristic algorithms as optimization instruments and their influence on resolving complex issues. Researchers, practitioners, and policymakers can all benefit from these findings, as they shed light on current and future paths in metaheuristics research
Urban Mobility, Tourism, and Liveability in Penang: Anticipated Benefits of the Proposed Light Rail Transit (LRT) System
Get PDFPenang Island, Malaysia, continues to grapple with persistent urban challenges, including severe traffic congestion, constrained public transport accessibility, and growing environmental concerns. In response, the Penang state government has proposed a Light Rail Transit (LRT) system under the Penang Transport Master Plan (PTMP) to address these critical issues. This conceptual paper examines the potential urban benefits of the proposed LRT project, with a particular emphasis on its capacity to reduce traffic congestion, strengthen the tourism sector, and enhance urban liveability. Through the analysis of secondary data, regional infrastructure trends, and comparative insights from established LRT systems in Southeast Asian cities, the study highlights the anticipated socio-economic, environmental, and mobility-related impacts of the project. The findings suggest that, if effectively planned and implemented, the Penang LRT system could play a transformative role in fostering a more sustainable, connected, and inclusive urban environment, contributing positively to the island’s long-term economic growth and quality of life
Development of Carbon Fiber Composite Material Blades for Vertical Axis Wind Turbines as an Alternative Energy Source for Street Lights for a Speed Range of 2-8 m/s
Get PDFGlobal warming causes weather anomalies in urban areas in Indonesia, causing wind speeds of 6-7 m/s, far above the normal average speed of 2-4 m/s, causing damage to the vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT) blades made from duralumin material, which is used to drive street lights in rural Bandung, West Java- Indonesia. So, it is necessary to use stronger blade material to anticipate the forces generated due to wind speed anomalies, besides that it must also be able to function at low wind speeds: and the composite material used in this research is carbon fiber material. This paper discusses the development of vertical axis wind turbine blades with blades made from carbon fiber composite materials and compares their durability duralumin blades. The research began with making carbon fiber composite material specimens to then be tested for impact strength and bending strength respectively according to ASTM D790-03 and ASTM D6110-08 standards. The VAWT models for both blade material variants were made at a scale of 1:3 and the durability performance was tested in the wind tunnel. The result is that the VAWT with carbon fiber blade material is able to withstand vibrations up to 50% compared to the duralumin blade VAWT at a wind speed of 8 m/s. The tensile strength of carbon fiber is 8.86% greater than the tensile strength of duralumin, and the impact strength of carbon fiber is 13.36% greater than duralumin, so that the use of carbon fiber composite material as a VAWT blade can be used for wind speed anomalies up to 8 m/s
Sustainable Reinforced Prestressed Alkali-Activated Concrete Beams Using Industrial Wastes: An Experimental Investigation
Get PDFIn an era where the sustainability of the construction industry is of prime importance, alternatives to cement are a matter of urgency. In today’s era, alkali-activated concrete (AAC) which is a widely researched area, offers a viable alternative to cement concrete; it has the potential to utilize industrial waste as source material. The current study delves into assessing the impact of prestressing force on both reinforced AAC and reinforced ordinary cement concrete (OPCC) beams. Industrial wastes that serve as primary constituents for AAC are slag and fly ash, which in the present investigation are activated using sodium-based activators. The concrete is developed using ambient curing with a compression value of 40 MPa to achieve sustainability. Analysis of deflection, load-carrying capacity, and failure characteristics was conducted on the reinforced concrete beams in unprestressed and prestressed states, encompassing both reinforced AAC and reinforced OPCC variety of beams. In comparison to reinforced AAC beams, OPCC beams had 18.9% higher strength in flexure, but the deflection was 53.3% higher for AAC beams with rebars. In prestressing conditions of beams, the reinforced OPCC beams had 22.5% more load-carrying capacity compared to reinforced prestressed AAC beams but had 26.2% more deflection compared to reinforced OPCC beams. Thus, sustainable reinforced concrete beams can be manufactured from industrial waste, having very good flexural behavior and load-carrying capacity.
The Potential Use of Ground Ceramic Tile Waste as Partial Cement Replacement in Mortar
Get PDFIn line with sustainable development goals, waste generated from the construction industry that increases annually need to be well managed to ensure environmental sustainability. Ceramic waste is type of solid waste generated at construction site and disposed at landfill which contribute towards environmental pollution. The present research investigates the effect of ground ceramic tile as a partial cement replacement on properties of mortar. Six mixes consisting 0%, 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, and 50% of ceramic tile powder by weight of cement were tested. The mixes were subjected to setting time test, flow table test, compressive strength and water absorption test. Inclusion of tile powder up to 50% increases the final setting time, but not more than 6.5 hours. Upon blending 10% and 20% tile powder, the flowability value of mortar mixture reduced slightly from 190mm to 185mm and 180mm respectively. The inclusion of 20% tile powder produces mortar with compressive strength of 39.50MPa due to the pozzolanic reaction of the powder. Success in integrating ceramic tile waste as cement replacement would reduce quantity of waste disposed and promotes a cleaner environment
e-Government Towards Organizational Performance of Malaysia Local Authority: Mediating Effect Information Technology (IT) Capability
Get PDFThis study proposes electronic government (e-Government) conceptual model to determine the effect of e-Government toward local government performance while investigating the mediating roles of organizational IT capability. By examining the gaps from the prior research, this study intends to answer question about the association among electronic Government, organizational IT capability and organizational performance. The theory of Resources Based View (RBV) is used as a guiding theory to support the proposed conceptual framework. The model was tested using valid and reliable data gathered from a sample of 87 survey forms out of 149 survey forms was passed out to Local Authority in Malaysia. This study uses partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) to test and validate the research model and proposed hypotheses. Finding indicates that the organizational performance is not significantly influenced by e-Government. More importantly, the analysis revealed that IT capability plays a mediating role between variable e-Government and outcome variable organisation performance. It is anticipated that the results of this study will expand the body of knowledge in government studies
Influences on Motivation and Learning Outcomes in Home Economics: A Pathway to Enhanced TVET Competency Development
Get PDFTechnical-Vocational Education and Training (TVET) skills are embedded in the basic education curriculum, progressing spirally from basic competencies in elementary and common competencies in Junior High School (JHS) to a more specialized skills in Senior High School (SHS) and beyond. Early competency formation, particularly in Home Economics (HE) is crucial for preparing learners for advanced Technical-Vocational and Livelihood (TVL) specializations, national certification, and career development. As students move through this continuum, motivation becomes a key driver of how foundational skills are acquired and applied. Yet limited empirical research examines how motivation translates into real-life skill use and how this relationship varies across socio-demographic contexts which are essential for designing responsive and contextualized learning strategies. This study investigated the relationship between students’ motivation to learn HE and two outcome indicators: frequency of application (FOA) and self-reported competence (SRC) within the family setting. It also examined the moderating influence of students’ socio-demographic backgrounds. A validated quantitative survey was administered to 200 JHS students. Linear regression tested the associations, while moderation analyses identified contextual variations. Results showed that motivation significantly predicted HE outcomes, with family structure, birth order, family income, and TLE grades moderating the motivation–outcome link, whereas religion, gender, and parents’ occupation did not. These findings offer practical insights for strengthening HE curriculum in JHS by recognizing how motivation and learner contexts shape early competency formation which enhance students’ readiness for SHS TVL coursework and supports smoother progression into higher-level TVET programs and future technical-vocational pathways
Synthesis and characterization of a H-bonded charge-transfer complex formed between 1,10-phenanthroline monohydrate with some π-acceptors in different solvents
Get PDFThe charge-transfer complexes of the 1,10-phenanthroline monohydrate with m-dinitrobenzene, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, 3,5-dinitrosalicylic acid, and 3,5-dinitrobenzoic acid have been prepared and characterised by using different techniques like the 1H NMR, TGA-DTA, XRD, and FT-IR Fluorescence and Conductivity data indicate a charge-transfer interaction and as far as complexes are concerned, this interaction is associated with a H bonding and the transfer of H+ from the acceptor to the donor molecules. The FT-IR and 1H NMR spectroscopic data also indicated a charge-transfer interaction associated with a proton migration from the acceptor to the donor followed by intermolecular H bonding
Spatial Rainfall Interpolation and Evaluation for Seasonal Precipitation in Peninsular Malaysia
Get PDFRainfall, a major driving force in hydrology and water resources planning, poses challenges due to potential malfunctions in conventional rain gauges, necessitating effective methods for filling the data gap. This study focuses on assessing the efficacy of two spatial rainfall interpolation techniques, i.e., Local Polynomial Interpolation (LPI) and Inverse Distance Weighting (IDW) for seasonal rainfall estimation in Peninsular Malaysia. Interpolated values from both methods are compared to ground observations, and their performance is evaluated through cross-validation using statistical measures such as RMSE, MAE, and R2. Additionally, Geographically Weighted Regression (GWR) is employed to analyze the relationship between interpolated rainfall and ground elevation. The findings reveal that LPI outperforms IDW, demonstrating higher R2 values and lower MAE and RMSE, highlighting its superior accuracy in rainfall estimation and underscoring the importance of method selection in handling missing rainfall data