39233 research outputs found
Sort by
Kickstart 2025 with Creative Classroom Innovations
Full text link2025 brings new opportunities for educators to explore more unique ways to appeal to our students by bringing in new innovations and technology in the class. In line with Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah (UMPSA) tagline, “Technology for Society”, this initiative is sure to resonate with our students, who are often regarded as digital natives. Here are some cutting-edge innovations for you to try in your classroom this year
An experimental investigation on the workability of eco-friendly self-compacting concrete using bamboo leaf ash as a partial cement replacement
Full text linkThis study investigates the use of bamboo leaf ash (BLA) as a partial replacement for cement in the development of self-compacting concrete (SCC) for sustainable development and construction practice. This study was conducted in Bangladesh, a country with vast bamboo resources. The study focuses on the assessment of the chemical properties of BLA, workability, environmental impact, and cost-effectiveness. The chemical analysis showed that BLA has a high silicon content of 84.81%, making it an excellent pozzolanic material. Concrete mixtures with BLA replacing cement at 0%, 2.5%, 5%, and 10% by weight were tested. The results showed that all mixes maintained acceptable workability within the EFNARC and ASTM recommended limits. Also, the environmental impact assessment demonstrated a 9.30% decrease in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and a 4.95% cost reduction in concrete production with a 10% BLA replacement, highlighting significant ecological and economic benefits. These results depict the viability of BLA as a sustainable building material and suggest its potential practical applications in the construction industry
An experimental investigation on the mechanical performance of sustainable asphalt pavement incorporating waste glass powder
Full text linkThe disposal of waste glass (WG) poses a challenge due to its non-decomposable nature. Recycling WG plays a key role in sustainability, given its significant contribution to the global waste stream. This study investigates the use of waste glass powder (WGP), with a maximum size of 0.15 mm, as an aggregate inclusion at varying percentages (4%, 7%, and 10%) by weight to asphalt mixtures to enhance pavement strength and promote sustainable waste management. Therefore, in this research, mechanical characteristics, including Marshall stability and resilient modulus tests of modified asphalt mixtures, were evaluated. The results show that incorporating 7% glass powder yields the best Marshall stability and resilient modulus compared to the control mix. Although the 10% WGP modification resulted in the highest bulk density and voids filled with asphalt (VFA), it significantly reduced the resilient modulus. Thus, adding proper amount of glass powder significantly improves the hardness, strength, and resistance to structural deformation like rutting and cracking, making it a valuable option for pavement construction
KOPUMPSA receives 350 Best Cooperatives in Malaysia Award
Full text linkKUANTAN, 25 January 2025 – Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah Cooperative Berhad (KOPUMPSA) proudly ranked among the recipients of the 350 Best Cooperatives in Malaysia Award recently
Breaking boundaries in biodegradable packaging: a comprehensive review on magnetic alignment of iron-cellulose in PLA
Full text linkThis review paper explores the transformative potential of incorporating iron-coated cellulose into polylactic acid (PLA) composite films, presenting a comprehensive analysis of the advancements, implications, and challenges associated with this innovative approach. The introduction establishes the context, emphasizing the growing significance of sustainable packaging and the unique properties offered by biopolymers. The subsequent sections delve into the synthesis and fabrication methods, emphasizing the pivotal role of iron-coated cellulose in enhancing the mechanical, magnetic, and barrier properties of PLA nanocomposites. The review discusses in detail the magnetic alignment techniques employed, elucidating their impact on particle distribution and alignment within the PLA matrix. The exploration of magnetic field application reveals intricate relationships with curing times, emphasizing the dynamic interplay between magnetic alignment, curing processes, and particle distribution. The mechanical properties section further underscores the positive influence of magnetic alignment on tensile strength, stiffness, and dimensional stability, offering promising avenues for oriented structures in structural and functional materials. Expanding the scope to water barrier properties, the review investigates the effects of iron-coated cellulose on moisture absorption, revealing nuanced interactions that enhance the water barrier characteristics of the nanocomposites. Contact angle measurements provide insights into the surface properties, with the study uncovering how magnetic alignment contributes to improved hydrophobicity, thereby resisting water absorption and enhancing the effectiveness of these materials in packaging applications. The implications for sustainable packaging constitute a critical aspect of the review, shedding light on the environmental benefits and challenges associated with implementing magnetic alignment on a larger scale. The optimized material usage, renewable nature of iron-coated cellulose, and potential reduction in waste align with sustainability goals. However, challenges such as specialized equipment requirements and disposal considerations are also discussed, providing a balanced perspective. The paper concludes by summarizing the key advancements achieved through the incorporation of iron-coated cellulose into PLA composite films. It highlights the potential of these nanocomposites for future sustainable packaging, emphasizing their robust mechanical properties, magnetic functionalities, and enhanced water barrier characteristics. The conclusions underscore the collaborative effects of cellulose and iron coating, envisioning a future where sustainable packaging not only meets but surpasses industry standards. In essence, this review paper serves as a comprehensive guide, consolidating knowledge and insights to pave the way for future research and industry practices in the realm of sustainable and enhanced biopolymer packaging
Comparison of different cooling strategies in achieving desired crystal size distribution for seeded potash alum crystallization process
No full textCrystallization process is governed by nucleation, growth and dissolution mechanisms that are supersaturation dependent. It is thus crucial for the cooling strategy to be capable of controlling these mechanisms. However, to properly control these mechanisms through one cooling strategy is a challenge as increasing supersaturation would increase both nucleation and growth rates, while reducing supersaturation may increase dissolution and nucleation rates. This would contribute to the problem of achieving crystal size distribution (CSD) with significant fines. The trade-off between these rates needs to be balanced and employing several cooling strategies to compare which strategy works well with the selected crystallization process is recommended. This paper aims to provide a performance comparison in terms of CSD for two established cooling strategies labelled I and II, against new strategy III in achieving large sized crystals with less fines for seeded potash alum crystallization process. Strategy I is linear cooling policy, strategy II is for maximizing CSD, and strategy III is for minimizing supersaturation. This comparison study is established by simulation via MATLAB software. Based on the simulation results, strategy I delivers the smallest size of CSD with high fines or small-sized crystals, while strategy II provides large CSD but with significant number of fines. Strategy III gave smaller size of grown seed crystals compared to strategy II but with insignificant fines. Overall, strategy III is considered the best trade-off strategy for seeded potash alum crystallization process in producing large size of crystals with the lowest number of fines
Review and prospects of organisational resilience research
Full text linkBased on a systematic review of existing literature, this paper first explores the definition and connotation of organisational resilience from various theoretical perspectives and summarises the factors influencing organisational resilience, including those at the individual, organisational, and network levels. Additionally, this paper offers an evaluative analysis of the dimensions used to measure organisational resilience. Building on the literature review, several directions for future research are proposed, including the collaborative mechanisms of multidimensional organisational resilience, differences in resilience-building across different types of organisations, processual studies on resilience formation, and the interactions between resilience factors at the individual, organisational, and network levels
Critical factors affecting workplace well-being at construction sites across countries with different income levels
Full text linkThis study aims to analyze the critical factors affecting workplace well-being at construction sites across countries with different income levels. Accordingly, this study’s objectives are to identify: critical factors affecting workplace well-being at construction sites in low-, lower-middle-, upper-middle- and high-income countries, overlapping critical factors across countries with different income levels and agreements on the critical factors across countries with different income levels. Design/methodology/approach: This study identified 19 factors affecting workplace well-being using a systematic literature review and interviews with construction industry professionals. Subsequently, the factors were inserted into a questionnaire survey and distributed among construction industry professionals across Yemen, Zimbabwe, Malaysia and Saudi Arabia, receiving 110, 169, 335 and 193 responses. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, including mean, normalized value, overlap analysis and agreement analysis. Findings: This study identified 16 critical factors across all income levels. From those, 3 critical factors overlap across all countries (communication between workers, general safety and health monitoring and timeline of salary payment). Also, 3 critical factors (salary package, working environment and working hours) overlap across low-, low-middle and upper-middle-income countries, and 1 critical factor (project leadership) overlaps across low-middle, upper-middle and high-income countries. The agreements are inclined to be compatible between low- and low-middle-income, and between low- and high-income countries. However, agreements are incompatible across the remaining countries. Practical implications: This study can serve as a standard for maintaining satisfactory workplace well-being at construction sites. Originality/value: To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first attempt to analyze factors affecting workplace well-being at construction sites across countries with different income levels
Development of lightweight engineered wood produced from derived sugarcane bagasse and coir fiber: Evaluation of the bending and thermal properties
Full text linkThis study aimed to investigate the bending and thermal properties of lightweight engineered wood produced from sugarcane bagasse and coir fiber as reinforcement, with a mixture of tapioca starch (TPS) and polyvinyl acetate (PVAc) as the matrix. Sugarcane bagasse and coir fibers were prepared with varying weight ratios (30:70, 70:30, and 50:50) and subsequently incorporated into the TPS/PVAc matrix via a molding technique, thus forming the lightweight engineered wood. The bending and thermal properties of the lightweight engineered wood were evaluated. The results demonstrate that increasing the proportion of coir fiber and the percentage of the matrix improves density, bending strength, thermal stability, and resistance. The lowest thermal conductivity, 0.062 W/mK, was observed in sample EW8, which also exhibited a density of 0.26 g/cm3. The engineered wood comprising a 30 wt% sugarcane bagasse and 70 wt% coir fiber mixture, with a TPS/PVAc matrix blend of 70 wt%, exhibited the highest bending modulus of rupture of 2.47 MPa. The study proposes the use of sugarcane bagasse and coir fibers as a potential alternative for building insulation materials in the form of engineered wood
Performance evaluation of porous asphalt mixture reinforced by lignin fiber
Full text linkThis study aims to investigate the performance evaluation of porous asphalt (PA) mixture reinforced by lignin fiber. A kind of pavement called porous asphalt is made to let water percolate through its surface, minimising runoff and enhancing water management. Because of the unique combination of aggregates and asphalt used in its construction, water can percolate through and be absorbed into the ground below. However, there is always room for improvement in terms of enhancing its mechanical properties and overall performance. In this research, lignin fiber is incorporated into Porous Asphalt to evaluate their influence on key performance indicators such as rutting resistance, fatigue life, cracking, and mechanical strength. The study includes laboratory tests and performance assessments to compare the modified PA with conventional PA. To achieve the research objectives, various proportions of lignin fiber additives are introduced into the PA mix design (0%, 1%, 2%, 3%, 4%). The modified asphalt mixtures are then prepared and subjected to comprehensive laboratory tests, including Marshall stability, Indirect tensile strength, Binder drain down test, LA abrasion loss, Softening point and Penetration test. The performance evaluation also involves rutting and fatigue tests to assess the resistance of the modified mixtures to permanent deformation and fatigue cracking under simulated traffic loading conditions. The results obtained from the experimental investigations are analyzed and compared with the performance characteristics of conventional LF. In conclusion, the addition of 2-3% of LF additives enhanced the performance of PA in terms of rutting resistance, fatigue life, moisture susceptibility, and mechanical strength