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Prediction of load threshold of fibre-reinforced laminated composite panels subjected to low velocity drop-weight impact using efficient data filtering techniques
No full textThis work is concerned with physical testing of carbon fibrous laminated composite panels with low velocity drop-weight impacts from flat and round nose impactors. Eight, sixteen, and twenty-four ply panels were considered. Non-destructive damage inspections of tested specimens were conducted to approximate impact-induced damage. Recorded data were correlated to load-time, load-deflection, and energy-time history plots to interpret impact induced damage. Data filtering techniques were also applied to the noisy data that unavoidably generate due to limitations of testing and logging systems. Built-in, statistical, and numerical filters effectively predicted load thresholds for eight and sixteen ply laminates. However, flat nose impact of twenty-four ply laminates produced clipped data that can only be de-noised involving oscillatory algorithms. Data filtering and extrapolation of such data have received rare attention in the literature that needs to be investigated. The present work demonstrated filtering and extrapolation of the clipped data using Fast Fourier Convolution algorithm to predict load thresholds. Selected results were compared to the damage zones identified with C-scan and acceptable agreements have been observed. Based on the results it is proposed that use of advanced data filtering and analysis methods to data collected by the available resources has effectively enhanced data interpretations without resorting to additional resources. The methodology could be useful for efficient and reliable data analysis and impact-induced damage prediction of similar cases' data. (C) 2015 Published by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)
An assessment of the prevalence of and preparedness for obstetric emergencies: A case study of a private clinic in Lilongwe
No full textMaternal mortality in Malawi remains one of the highest in the world, at 675 per 100,000 live births, from 1,120 per 100,000 live births in 1990, (WHO, 2013). MDG 5A aims at reducing maternal mortality by 75 percent by 2015. The government of Malawi, through its development partners initiated various projects that focused on Thaddeus and Maine‟s „Three Delays Model‟ to help reduce the MMR. Despite this improvement, there is need to reduce the figures even lower. A descriptive study that used mixed methods to collect secondary and primary data through semi-structured interviews to assess the prevalence of and preparedness for obstetric emergencies at a private clinic in Lilongwe. A probabistic quota sampling method was used to select participants, these comprised of nurses, clinical officers and doctors who provide emergency obstetric care services.The findings revealed that hemorrhage, (38.1 percent), obstructed/prolonged labour, (41.6 percent) and pre/eclampsia, (ten percent) were the leading obstetric complications. Institutional policies, an enabling environment and support services were factors that facilitate access to quality emergency obstetric care services at the private clinic. A project that will formulate a standard and objective risk and quality management tool for BEmOC as well as CEmOC facilities would help to promote SBAs preparedness for obstetric emergencies
Effects of lack of consultation at the design stage in building projects : a case study of Nkhatabay District Hospital project
No full textIn Malawi, infrastructures are associated with poor quality works, high costs, time overruns, un user friendly structures and increased scopes of works due to lack of consultation at the design stage. Against these challenges and considering the significant impact that activities relating to building have on the nation’s social-economic, political, environmental and sustainable development, the study was conducted at Nkhatabay and Mulanje District Hospitals and Kamuzu Central Hospital to evaluate the attitudes and perceptions of health infrastructure users. The overall objective of the study was to find out the effects of lack of consultation at the design stage of projects The research design was based on survey strategy. Both primary and secondary data were collected. The primary data were collected using a questionnaire circulated to different hospitals targeting staff, clients, contractors and consultants and also through face to face interviews with the hospital staff. The secondary data were drawn from relevant previous published books, internet and journal articles. Data analysis was done using spreadsheet software to get descriptive results and identify trends.The study results show lack of consultation has led to construction of structures which users are uncomfortable to utilize and do not own, mostly due to lack of desired feature and poor ergonomics. Additionally, the results show that projects take longer to finish and are costly to due late phase feedback from customers unconfortability in using evaluated structures.The study recommends that the hospital staff should be involved in the briefing and design stages of any hospital construction project so as to bring on board all they want to have or be incorporated into the design as they are the ones who work in these environments all the time
The role of academic managers in workload and performance management of academic staff: a case study
No full textThis small-scale case study focused on academic managers to explore the ways in which they control the workload of academic staff and the extent to which they use the workload model in performance management of academic staff. The linkages that exist between the workload and performance management were explored to confirm or refute the conceptual dichotomy, identified from the literature, exist in practice. A conceptualisation derived from neoliberal ideology is described which uses new public management (NPM) as the anchor for the study. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with the three academic managers in each of the faculties and the transcripts analysed. The analysis of the responses confirmed that workload and performance management are not linked at the operational level, confirming the dichotomy in practice. Further research is suggested that would focus on the perceptions of academic staff directly affected by the workload and performance management processes
The Effects of Thermophysical Properties and Environmental Conditions on Fire Performance of Intumescent Coatings on Glass Fibre-Reinforced Epoxy Composites
No full textIntumescent coatings are commonly used as passive fire protection systems for steel structures. The purpose of this work is to explore whether these can also be used effectively on glass fibre-reinforced epoxy (GRE) composites, considering the flammability of the composites compared to non-flammable steel substrate. The thermal barrier and reaction-to-fire properties of three commercial intumescent coatings on GRE composites have been studied using a cone calorimeter. Their thermophysical properties in terms of heating rate and/or temperature dependent char expansion ratios and thermal conductivities have been measured and correlated. It has been suggested that these two parameters can be used to design coatings to protect composite laminates of defined thicknesses for specified periods of time. The durability of the coatings to water absorption, peeling, impact, and flexural loading were also studied. A strong adhesion between all types of coatings and the substrate was observed. Water soaking had a little effect on the fire performance of epoxy based coatings. All types of 1 mm thick coatings on GRE helped in retaining ~90% of the flexural property after 2 min exposure to 50 kW/m2 heat flux whereas the uncoated laminate underwent severe delamination and loss in structural integrity after 1 min
An investigation into the impact of autonomy on the effective and efficient performance and service delivery in water utility organisations : the case of Lilongwe Water Board
No full textThe study sets out to investigate the impact which has been brought forth with the emergence of New Public Management (NPM) and public sector reforms in the governance of public agencies. The study looks into the Malawian public reforms in the water sector, particularly the reforms that led to the creation of Water Boards as autonomous public agencies with an aim of investigating the impact of autonomy on the effectiveness and efficiency of performance and service delivery of these utilities; holding Lilongwe Water Board as a case study.The study which falls under the governance study, will contribute empirical data on impact the impact of autonomy on performance and service delivery. The study spring boards from a hypothetical stance that the effective institutionalization of autonomy in public agencies has an impact on the level of efficiency and effectiveness on performance and service delivery. The research findings reveal that the water utility organisations in Malawi, though in principle autonomous, are in practice not fully autonomous since central government still exerts too much control on their planning, operations and management. This has ripple effects of their performance and service delivery. As the research findings reveal, political interference and fiscal dependence, poor performance management and stakeholder involvement all contribute to service delivery of the water utilities being floundered. Customer dissatisfaction is wide spread.The study recommends creation of an independent water utilities regulator, enhanced stakeholder participation and alternative service delivery modes as some of the measure to help improve performance and service delivery. The study adds to the knowledge gap with regards to impact of autonomy on the performance of public agencies in the water sector in Malawi
Assessing the role of modern supply chain management practices in fish farming towards availability of farmed fish in Lilongwe City (Malawi).
No full textThe purpose of this study was to explore supply chain management aspects in Fish Farming, by assessing the role of contemporary supply chain management practises towards increased availability of farmed fish in Lilongwe city. The objective of this study was to assess how adoption of contemporary supply chain management practises in fish farming would lead to increased availability of farmed fish through effective production and distribution of farmed fish. .This study was important because it gives an insight into different supply chain management techniques which can be used by the fish farmers in ensuring effective distribution of fish which will reduce costs and improve services delivery.Through a survey that was carried out with fish farmers, it was established that the post-harvest section of fish farming is still under developed which leads into substantial losses especially during the rainy season. Predominant causes aredue to inability to preserve fish stocks, and lack of key equipment suitable for controlling temperature considering the perishability of fish as well as lack of market orientation which led to failure in identifying stable and reliable markets.The study recommends that the Government and private sector stakeholder groups need to to create a centre which will be responsible for coordinating the fish farmers and the customers. The above mentioned centre will be responsible for market research so that the farmers find reliable and stable fish markets.It also recommends that establishment of farmers association will also help in availability of farmed fish through consolidation of fish quantities at club level and selling them in bulk. This will be particularly important in such a way that it will give the association greater negotiation power when selling their fish products hence more bargaining power on determining fish prices
We can make anything - should we?
No full textWhat limitations are we willing to accept on our development of new technologies? The shared sense among a great many of the idealistic supporters of our ever-growing range of tools and abilities is that the acquisition of knowledge is always a positive gain for the entirety of humanity, and that therefore there should be no (or few) restrictions on continued technology research. This mythology, which descends from the arrival of exclusive Humanism from the Enlightenment onwards, has become one of the greatest moral and prudential threats to human existence because it removes the possibility of accurately assessing the moral implications of our technology. Against this prevailing ethos of unbounded technological incrementalism, this essay uses the pejorative term cyberfetish to mark our dependence upon, and inability to accurately assess, our technolog
Critical factors inhibiting performance of small - and medium-scale contractors in sub-Saharan region: a case for Malawi
No full textThe construction industry is dominated by small- and medium-scale contractors (SMCs) who face an emerging trend of unique challenges in the implementation of projects. he study was aimed at examining inhibiting factors that influence performance of SMCs in terms of “quality of work,” “tender estimation,” “tender preparation,” and “timely completion of construction projects” in Malawi. A survey questionnaire was administered to 370 players in the construction industry which included public sector clients, contractors, consultants, and construction resource trainers in order to elicit data from 118 variables that were identified through a careful literature review. The inhibiting factors were generally dominated by economic issues, which was an emerging trend to what has been previously reported in the sub-Saharan region. The first highest ranked inhibiting factors were high lending interest regimes offered by financial institutions; stringent conditions to access capital; fluctuation of currency; stringent requirements for obtaining bonds; and high taxes. The research lays the foundation for further understanding of inhibitors on performance of SMCs in an evolving world which is being impacted by global factors and punctuated by sudden changes