ARID ZONE JOURNAL OF ENGINEERING, TECHNOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENT

315-324

Authors: M. Shuwa, G. M. Ngala, A. M. El-jummah

This work presents a comparative analysis on the structural material of a blade used for the horizontal axis wind turbine, which was based on previously developed blade geometry. Two blades of the same parameter: 0.25 m chord lengths at 8 o angle of attack, but different structural materials were compared. This to identify an optimized blade structural material in terms of locally available, strength, cost effectiveness and environmental safety that will be suitable for Maiduguri’s weather condition. The ultimate flap - and edge - wise deflections and load conditions under minimum blade mass (6.8 kg) are determined. These investigations were carried out in two stages: predictions of the aerodynamic analysis using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) code (ANSYS Fluent CFD commercial tool) with Blade Element Momentum (BEM) theory, Finite Element Method (FEM) coded in MATLAB software for the structural analysis and experimental evaluations for the purpose of validation of predicted data obtained. These were employed in order to provide sufficient conclusions of the aerodynamic and structural data that will provide better performance of the blade. These data are expected to handle the design variables meant for the optimization of the blade based on the selected structural material. The blades of each material were divided into 15 elements along the blade span with each element assumed to have uniform cross sectional area. Pressure distribution within the computational domain and around the airfoil section in two dimensions (2D) was predicted. The validated results of the load to deflection showed good agreement and that each of the blade material were based on the structural strength. From the result obtained, it shows that the aluminium blade structure material has good reliability with better performance. These were significant between the maximum strength and the minimum blade mass for aerodynamic loadings, hence better blade structure than that developed from beach wood and most suitable under an ultimate wind speed of 30 m/s.

336-346

Authors: Y. U. Datti

A worrisome trend in the adoption of emerging technologies for competitive advantages and improved productivities by QSs have been observed in that there is overwhelming evidence that there is an increasing usage of IT in quantity surveying firms but little or no noticeable benefits on the practice. It however becomes pertinent to ask then, that despite the increases adoption of computing and telecommunication technologies, why isn’t there any noticeable change due to the impacts of IT in the Nigerian Construction Industry with particular reference to Quantity Surveying practices. The study appraised the requirement of IT in quantity surveying practice in Nigeria. It examined the position of IT in quantity surveying firms in terms of its requirement and analyzed IT requirements-based problem constraining quantity surveying firms. The study is a survey research designed to obtain information on information technology in QS firms. A self-administered questionnaire was employed to quantity surveyors in consulting firms for responses. Responses were returned and analyzed using severity index and later ranked in order of importance. The results indicate a high level of computerization of professional services among the firms with greater number of their computers being networked. However, despite high level of networking of available computers, sharing of printers and other scarce tools/technologies are not established. Compared to developed countries such as Canada, Australia, United Kingdom and USA, the position of IT requirements in QS firms in Nigeria can be said to be at basic level with organization possessing and applying basic IT tools and technologies (e.g. scanners, digital cameras, dvd/cd-rom, general purpose software, QS application software, chat programs etc.) in their daily operation and processes. While most firms are progressing toward intermediate level by possessing intermediate IT tools and technologies (e.g. teleconferencing, DBMS software, mobile data networks, voice output devices etc.) but these technologies are not currently utilized in their operation. Also, advanced technologies (e.g. data conferencing, digital information services, extranet, remote databases, white boarding, voice recognizers etc.) that would make QS firms reap the full benefit of IT and make difference in the industry are hardly available. It is recommended that for the quantity surveying firms in developing countries to maximize their returns on investments on IT, it must go beyond the possession of IT tools to harnessing same to reap the full benefit of technology.