This thesis describes an investigation of the use of rice husk ash, in combination with cement and lime, as a stabilizing agent for lateritic soils in the manufacture of blocks for low cost housing. The effect of the rice husk ash on cement and lime stabilized soils were studied. In order to improve the strength and effect of moisture on the early ... Continue Reading
Liquid phase mixing and holdup are two important parameters required for the modelling and consequent evaluation of the performance of anaerobic fluidized bed bioreactors. Few papers have appeared in recent times, attempting to characterize liquid phase mixing and holdup in simulated biological reactors. But, the peculiar nature of biological syste... Continue Reading
Needs for aesthetics, protection of abutments, and safety requirements of greater speeds on highways, demand better alignment. In order to achieve these, skew bridges are frequently built. The analysis of such structures poses specific difficulties to bridge designers, for example, response to torsional motions when the skew angle is greater than ... Continue Reading
In this study, laboratory tests were conducted on some commonly used timber species (Alstonia boonei, Triplochiton Scleroxylon, Terminalia Ivorensis, Terminalia superba and Lophira Alata) in Nigeria. The tests were in accordance with, EN 408, EN 13153-1 and ASTM D-143). The test results were analysed in accordance with Eurocode 5. Eurocode 0, JCSS ... Continue Reading
There are two main phases to this work. The first dealt with the overlay thickness design while the second considered economic appraisal of overlay design strategies. Pavement overlay design on Kaduna - Abuja road was carried out based on elastic layer and traffic estimate theories, as well as field and -Laboratory observations. The road was statis... Continue Reading
Theoretical thermodynamic simulations (analyses) were carried out on the Extraction-System-Attached (ESA) Ammonia- Water Absorption Heat Pump cycles which were developed with the aim of improving the thermodynamic performance achievable with the conventional cycle. Theoretical simulation of the liquidliquid- equilibria (LLE) of amnion i a-water-3ol... Continue Reading
In a bid to develop local substitute for imported adhesives, seeing that the local consumption is high, an attempt was made to study the process of dextrin manufacture from starch and to design a converter vessel (Dextrinator) for the process. An experimental study was carried out to examine the effect of the various process variables on the produc... Continue Reading
In deciding which type of control to provide at an intersection, there should be some criteria used. A typical criterion used in some situations is to minimize the delay to vehicles. While there are established methods for estimating dalays at signal control, there does not seem to be any standard or well established method by which the delay to ve... Continue Reading
Size reduction is a basic food processing activity and commercial tomato-pepper mills for reducing vegetables and soaked grains are common in Nigeria. A survey of the types and operational problems of tomato-pepper mills in Sabon-Gari Local Government Area (LGA) revealed a neglect of the commercial tomato-pepper mill in terms of design improvement.... Continue Reading
A generalised kinetic model for sorption of metal ions by some sets of polymer resins from aqueous solutions has been developed. For this to be effectively done, one resin type (amberlite IRA 400 CI-, AD 54 OH-, and amberlite IR 45 OH-) was respectively chosen from each set having similar properties for the kinetic study. All attempts to conduct th... Continue Reading
This study entails an evaluation of the characteristics of worktrips of a model Nigerian municipality, Kaduna metropolis. It was found that, on the average, 20% of the monthly income of low income earners is expended on worktrips and the average length of travel is more among this group than for high income earners. Comparatively, the mean monthly ... Continue Reading
This study pertains to study of indigenous milk and 'Fura' making processes with aim of introducing technological interventions to upgrade the existing methods. Surveys were undertaken at Kano, Kaduna, Sokoto, Kebbi and Katsina States to find out what the existing practices are and various intricacies involved, studies were also conducted in the la... Continue Reading
A brief review of the trend in Fracture Mechanics studies was provided. Some solutions of elementary fracture mechanics problems were re-investigated. Many of those solutions were shown to have some limitations. These limitations were in the form of introducing some unrealistic stress and displacement distributions. The general applicability of the... Continue Reading
The quality of any building materials or structural unit cannot be over - emphasized as this is vital to the actual performance and durability of structures. This project is a study of the physical properties of sandcrete hollow blocks produced in Kogi State. Site survey covering the entire state was first carried out. About seventy block industrie... Continue Reading
The hydrological characteristics of this small catchment basin which is essentially an agricultural land are described and the available climatic data examined. One of the methods by which climatic picture may be created is by the averages of the several climatic elements particularly thost. on precipitation and temperature. This picture is present... Continue Reading