Nigerian Journal of Science and Engineering Infrastructure

Concealed Beam in Reinforced Concrete Structures: A Performance-Based Analysis

2023-03-11T14:02:03+00:00

The use of hidden beams in reinforced concrete construction is seen as an effective method of reducing excessive deflection in large spans. However, despite its presumed advantages and growing usage, no mention of it in standard civil engineering literature, codes and standards. In this paper, performance-based analysis is carried out on three different cases of slab arrangement involving hidden beams using SAP2000. The process is performed under dead and live load combination and based on the design guidelines in BS8110. The result of the performance-based analysis shows a 4%, 2% and 11% decrease in deflection, stress distribution and area of bending steel reinforcement required for the case with hidden beam in comparison with the case without beam. This indicates that the presence of a hidden beam in a slab is significant. Thus, it is recommended for reducing excessive deflection in large spans, hidden beams can be introduced. However, further studies should be conducted to determine the optimum width of the hidden beam for the most effective utilization.

Isolation And Identification of Bacteria Associated With Bioelectricity Generation From Fruit Wastes And Gutter Sludge Using Microbial Fuel Cells (MFC) In Kano Metropolis, Kano State, Nigeria

2023-04-08T14:04:24+00:00

Bioelectricity generation is another environmentally friendly mean of waste management, commonly carried out using microbial fuel cell (MFC) technology. The present work aims to generate bioelectricity from the fruit wastes using microbial fuel cells (MFC) technology and to isolate and identify bacteria during bioelectricity production. Fruit samples of production from different fruit wastes of banana, lemon, orange, water melon and pawpaw wastes were collected from Na’ibawa-Yanlemo fruit market’s dump site in Kano metropolis, Kano State Nigeria. Physicochemical parameters such as biological oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), total carbon (TC), total nitrogen (TN), organic matter (OM), Temperature and pH of slurries of individual and mixed fruit wastes were determined. Biochemical tests such as voges-proskauer test, oxidase test, catalase test, citrate test and sugar fermentation (TSI) test was also carried out using standard procedures. Generation of bioelectricity was monitored and recorded within a constructed seven dual chambered microbial fuel cells (MFCs) with wasted fruit as readily available materials. Current, current density, power and power density produced from different waste samples for twenty days was also recorded as bioelectricity generated from microbial fuel cells. Bacterial counts at the beginning and end of bioelectricity generation was also recorded from different fruits waste samples for microbial fuel cells (MFCs). The result of pH mean value of slurries of individual fruits is recorded to be all acidic with lemon having the highest acidity recorded as 3.45±0.62. The pH mean value of the mixed fruit was recorded as ±0.23. Waste pawpaw fruit had 6±0.62 % the percentage of organic matter among all the individual waste fruits while the mixed fruit combined had 10±0.62 % mean value of percentage organic matter (OM). Two (2) bacterial genera were biochemically identified as Klebsiella pneumoniae and Esherichia coli. The highest generation of voltage (mV) from microbial fuel cells was achieved from gutter, mixed fruit and orange as 650, 400 and 390 mV respectively. The peak highest current produced was achieved from orange waste samples as 0.7mA/m² at day fourteen. Waste lemon had the highest colony count among all the fruits at the beginning and end of the bioelectricity generation of 2.2×10³ and 4.12×10² respectively. Mixed fruits had the colony count of 2.10×10⁵ and 7.20×10³ at the beginning and end respectively.

Keywords: Bioelectricity, Microbial Fuel Cells (MFC), Waste Fruit, Mixed Fruits, Current

Fractional Order and Numerical Solution of Application of Modeling to Manage Examination Misconducts

2023-03-11T21:35:02+00:00

The fractional order model of susceptible (honest) students, exposed (lightly involved in misconduct), infected (seriously involved in misconduct), and removed (quitters) students is taken into account. A non-negative unique solution within the domain was established by the stability analysis of the scheme. To estimate the solution of the system of nonlinear fractional differential equations, the Laplace-Adomian Decomposition Method is used. Infinite series are used to obtain at the solutions of fractional differential equations. The model's suggested series solution converges at its exact value. The obtained results correspond to the common scenario.

Movement-controlled street light system with minimal power consumption

2023-03-11T21:40:00+00:00

Energy consumption in the public lighting system represents the largest part of the energy usage of a community, while the maintenance and operation of the system are a considerable expense for every city. This paper focuses on products and innovative components for street lighting, proposing a consumption-reducing solution based on an intelligent system for remote measurements and control with dimming technologies for high-intensity discharge (HID) lamps. The results indicate that considerable energy savings are achieved and the service life of the lamps is extended. A movement-controlled street light system is controlled according to the specific mode. The modes are controlled by two sensors, which are the light-dependent resistor (LDR) and the infrared (IR) sensor. This system can automatically turn on and off the lights according to traffic flow. It operates at night, and the focus is only on the one-way road at a junction. The street light will be on when there is only one road user; otherwise, it will turn off. This design can save a great deal of electricity or energy consumption compared to conventional street lights that keep alight during the night. Moreover, the maintenance cost can be reduced, and the lifespan of the system will increase. As a result, the system has been successfully designed and implemented as a model system.

Mr. Wheat in Nigeria: A review and prospect with technological advancements

2023-03-11T21:43:11+00:00

Abstract

Purpose – This paper reviewed the history of wheat consumption, importation and the challenges of local production in Nigeria. It further suggests how the challenges can be overcome.

Design/Methodology/Approach – Review and analysis of general knowledge

Findings - The main issue affecting domestic wheat production in Nigeria is environmental incompatibility— the fact that wheat, being a tempered crop, requires cold climates during the growing season to thrive especially during the critical developmental stage between tillering and grain filling. This has limited the wheat growing season in Nigeria, to the cool harmattan period starting from November to March, and the wheat growing areas in Nigeria, along latitude 10°N to 14°N. Unfortunately, the harmattan period itself is also challenged by the absence of a rainy season, which typically starts after the period from April to September with unfavourable high temperature and humidity.

The peculiar situation is like in other tropical countries like Egypt, Ethiopia and the warm and humid Bangladesh. I recommend the adoption of molecular breeding technologies like Marker Assisted Selection, Genotyping, Phenotyping, Speed breeding e.t.c. to strengthen the breeding processes and shorten the seeds generation time.

Nigerian government policies over the years have centred on accelerating primary production (farming) instead of focusing on the addressing the main issue, through research and development of cultivars that will be adaptable in Nigeria’s heat-stressed growing environment, build more irrigation areas along the harmattan longitude, strengthen extension services to ensure farmers adherence to Good Agronomic Practices (GAPs) and ease farmers access to market for fair prices. As a result, the national average ton per hectare output is abysmally 1.3 MT, prepared irrigation area is less than 10% of planned area and a near-complete disconnect between farmers and the off-taking flour milling industry, who are currently fully reliant on imported wheat.