FACULTY OF ENGINEERING

This research evaluates the efficacy and practical challenges of various corrosion prevention techniques applied to ship hulls, with a specific focus on identifying best-practice methods suited for the tropical marine environment of West Africa. Corrosion, accelerated by high temperatures, elevated salinity, and intense microbiological activity prevalent in these waters, significantly compromises vessel safety, operational efficiency, and necessitates substantial maintenance expenditure. The study employed a comprehensive literature review and comparative analysis across three primary defense strategies: Protective Coatings, Sacrificial Anode Cathodic Protection (SACP), and Impressed Current Cathodic Protection (ICCP). Findings confirm that an integrated protection system is mandatory, where high- performance multi-layer coatings serve as the primary barrier, and Cathodic Protection acts as the essential secondary defense against localized failure. Specifically, the combination of robust coatings with ICCP is determined to be the most durable and cost-effective long-term solution for large commercial vessels, while SACP is preferable for smaller coastal crafts due to its simplicity and low maintenance. Crucially, the analysis identifies significant regional challenges, including poor surface preparation standards, skill gaps among applicators, and limited access to certified tropical- grade materials, which collectively undermine the performance of advanced techniques. The research concludes with key recommendations centered on implementing standards, developing local corrosion models, and strengthening policy enforcement and technical training to ensure sustainable and effective hull preservation in the region

This project study presents the design and simulation of a solar water heater utilizing Fresnel reflectors to concentrate solar radiation. The system employs the principle of Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) to heat water for domestic use. The Fresnel reflector focuses sunlight onto a receiver tube, increasing the temperature of the water. The heated water is then stored in a tank for use. The system's performance was evaluated using a mathematical model that takes into account the solar irradiance, concentration ratio, and heat transfer fluid's properties. The results show that the system can generate up to 2.5 kW of thermal power, with an efficiency of 55%. The system's performance was also experimentally validated, showing good agreement with the theoretical results With the generated power, this system can provide enough hot water for: - A household of 4-6 people - A small restaurant or café - A guesthouse or small hotel - A small industrial process requiring hot water This study demonstrates the feasibility of using Fresnel reflectors in solar water heaters, offering a cost-effective and environmentally friendly solution for water heating applications

The need to reduce the increasing demand for crushed granite as coarse aggregate as well as the need to safeguard the environment from degradation has given rise to various researches on alternative materials that can serve the same purpose while minimizing environment hazard. The suitability of waste ceramic tiles as coarse aggregate in concrete and ascertain its strength against normal crushed granite were assessed. Crushed waste ceramic tiles was mixed with crushed granite stones as partial replacement for concrete. A mix ratio of 1: 2: 4, with attached mix design in appendix plate 1, for C20 concrete is produced with (0, 10, 20, 30, and 40) percent volume ceramic waste aggregate replacement for crushed granite at a constant water-cement ratio of 0.5. Concrete cubes of size 150mm x 150mm x 150mm were produced and tested for 7, 14 and 28 days for compressive strength, density and water absorption. The results obtained shows that the compressive strength of concrete reduced gradually for all ages with the increase in percentage replacement. Ceramic wastes from the construction sites and manufacturing industries could be recycled by breaking them into various coarse aggregate sizes and used in concrete mixes. However, a maximum content of 20% ceramic waste aggregate replacement in a mix is ideal to produce the required strength and durability of structural concrete. It was also observed that the percentage water absorption increased from 0% to 30%, it then dropped at 40% ceramic waste replacement of granite specimen. The increase in water absorption was probably due to relatively porous nature of the unpolished side of the ceramic waste as compared to the granite. It is therefore advised that coarse aggregate replacement must not exceed 20% since there was not much significant increase in water absorption up to this limit compared to the control. Meanwhile the density decreases with increase in percentage ceramic waste replacement, that is from 0% to 40%, for granite in the concrete produced. With no doubt, this mode of recycling ceramic waste could positively sustain the environment.

This research addressed the critical need for effective culvert design and associated energy dissipators in Nigeria, aiming to enhance flood resilience in the face of increasing urbanization and climate change. The study developed design methodologies tailored to Nigeria's unique hydrological conditions, focusing on sustainability and optimizing culvert performance. The research acknowledged that culverts are essential structures for ensuring drainage, managing storm-water runoff, and protecting road infrastructure. The methodology involved a comprehensive hydrologic analysis based on rainfall data using rational method to estimate peak flow rates for various storm events. Field data was collected in Kajola, Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos State. Hydraulic design principles were then applied to determine appropriate culvert sizes, shapes, and materials, considering both inlet and outlet control conditions. Energy dissipation techniques, such as stilling basins, were evaluated to manage water energy at culvert outlets and minimize erosion, all through manual calculations and established formulas. The hydrological analysis, revealed a peak flow rate of 3 m³/s. Based on these results, a culvert with a diameter of 1.4 meters and a headwall height of 1.43 m was designed, optimized to handle an outlet velocity of 10.6 m/s on a slope of 0.077, with inlet control. Values for the Froude number at its supercritical depth and mean velocity fell within ranges suitable for a USBR Type III stilling basin geometry. The study recommended implementing a USBR Type III stilling basin to mitigate downstream erosion. It was concluded that these optimized design approaches improve culvert functionality, reduce maintenance costs, enhance environmental protection, and contribute to the development of improved design guidelines for engineers and planners in flood-prone areas.

This project presents the design, material selection, fabrication, and performance testing of a diesel-powered vertical palm fruit digester aimed at supporting small- and medium-scale producers. The design offers a practical, affordable, and locally adaptable solution to enhance palm oil production in underserved regions. The machine achieved a digestion efficiency of 95.5% during performance testing, indicating its capability to effectively separate the mesocarp from the kernel

The traditional African rotational savings system, popularly known as Esusu, has long been a trusted model for communal financial support. However, the manual methods still commonly used, such as notebooks or physical record-keeping, were inefficient, prone to error, and lacked the transparency needed to prevent disputes and mismanagement. This project successfully developed a trust-preserved digital application using the MERN stack specifically designed for Esusu groups. The aim was to promote accountability, simplify group savings management, and maintain the cultural integrity of rotational contributions by replacing manual processes with a secure and intuitive digital solution. To achieve this, the following key features were successfully implemented: a digital platform solely for rotational group savings, enabling users to create or join existing groups with clearly defined schedules and Payout Numbers. The application incorporated the Dual Balance Display (Group Total and Individual Total Paid) and automated system functionalities, including in-app alerts for critical activities. All members within a group gained real-time access to the contribution history. A logic-based Integrity Alerts System was also implemented to monitor skipped contributions, automatically block suspicious payout claims, and transparently log all admin actions. The core finance mechanism was secured by the Automated Rotational Payout System integrated with the Paystack API. It is confirmed that a functional, user-friendly, and transparent digital platform for managing Esusu-style group savings was achieved. This justified the need for modernizing traditional savings systems in a way that preserved communal trust while drastically reducing the burden of manual tracking and strengthening administrator accountability through auditable logs. Ultimately, the implemented platform offered a secure, transparent, and culturally familiar solution that enhances the group savings culture in the digital age.

Flooding remains one of the most pressing environmental challenges in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria, where rapid urbanization, land degradation, and climate variability interact to intensify hydrological extremes. This study evaluates the combined impact of land use/land cover (LULC) changes and climate variability on flooding in the Lower Niger Region, focusing on Edo, Delta, Bayelsa, and Rivers States. An integrated methodological framework was developed using remote sensing (RS) and machine learning (ML) techniques implemented on the Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform. Rainfall and temperature datasets were obtained from multiple satellite products, CHIRPS, PERSIANN-CDR, PERSIANN-CCS, ERA5, and CPC, and validated against observations from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMET). LULC classification was conducted using Random Forest (RF) and Support Vector Machine (SVM) algorithms applied to Sentinel-2 and Landsat-8 imagery, generating five major land cover classes: water bodies, forest, barren land, vegetation, and built-up areas. Flood dynamics were assessed using multiple spectral indices, including AWEI, FWI, NDWI, MNDWI, WRI, and NDVI, evaluated across different temporal scales to capture hydrological variations. The results reveal significant interannual and seasonal rainfall variability, with the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) effectively identifying alternating wet and dry cycles, although long-term annual rainfall trends were largely non-significant. There is, however, evidence of increasing frequency of extreme rainfall events, particularly in Delta and Rivers States. Temperature analysis (1971–2023) indicates a statistically significant warming trend, with minimum temperatures rising faster than maximum temperatures—most notably during the dry season (DJF). LULC assessment confirmed the superior performance of the RF classifier over SVM and showed a consistent pattern of urban expansion at the expense of vegetation and wetlands. Flood analysis revealed a persistent hotspot occurring along river corridors, low-lying floodplains, and southeastern basins. Overall, the findings demonstrate that while climate variability influences hydrological extremes, LULC transformations, particularly urban encroachment into natural flood buffers, have been a more decisive factor driving flood vulnerability in the Lower Niger Region.

The increasing complexity of modern programming environments has created a growing need for intelligent, real-time support systems capable of assisting students and developers in understanding, writing, and debugging code. This project presents the design and implementation of an AI-powered chatbot web application that leverages Large Language Model (LLM)- based Natural Language Processing (NLP) and Remote Code Execution APIs to address programming queries interactively. The system integrates Google’s Gemini API for natural language understanding and JDoodle API for live code execution within a secure, microservicebased architecture. The chatbot provides conversational assistance, real-time code validation, debugging support, and algorithmic explanations through a responsive web interface built with React, TypeScript, Tailwind CSS, and Vite. The backend is implemented using Node.js, Express.js, and MongoDB, with modular microservices for authentication, chatbot intelligence, and code execution, all orchestrated through an API Gateway. This architecture ensures scalability, maintainability, and independent service deployment, while also improving accessibility for users in resource-constrained environments. The system demonstrates how combining LLMs with execution APIs can create a more reliable and contextaware programming assistant than traditional static or rule-based systems. The outcome of this project is a robust, user-friendly, and intelligent chatbot that enhances learning efficiency, developer productivity, and accessibility to programming support, particularly for students in developing regions. It contributes to ongoing research in AI-driven education, NLP, and intelligent tutoring systems, offering a sustainable model for future AIintegrated learning platforms.

Most industrial heat exchanger devices, such as condensers, boilers, furnaces, and pipelines
generate a certain amount of heat waste due to temperature gradient in the fluid. Leading to
reduction of the efficiency, increased emissions, and higher fuel consumption.
Thermoelectric generator (TEG) technology offers a sustainable solution by utilising the
waste heat to generate electricity. This project focuses on the performance of the TEG
process using the counter-flow heat exchanger and process control mechanism to monitor the
results evaluated from the different thermal transfer conditions. The primary objective is to
recover electricity from heat waste from industrial pipelines or heat exchanger devices, and to
assess the feasibility and predict the performance of TEG for sustainable power generation.
The experiment components are aluminium heat exchanger tubes, thermal paste, TEG
modules (SP1848-27145), thermal paste, Arudino, Voltage and Current sensor, 16X2 LCD
display, and Multimeter. The setup of the experiment utilised two aluminium heat tubes: the
upper tubes flowed with Hot water, while the lower part circulated with cooling water. The
five series modules were mounted between the surfaces of both heat exchanger tubes using
thermal paste to ensure heat transfer. The reading of the voltage and current values was
displayed using a 16X2 LCD with Arduino Nano or a Multimeter.
Experimental results show that the system successfully converted a measurable fraction of
waste heat into electrical energy. While the power output and efficiency were relatively low
compared to the total heat transfer across the exchanger tubes, the system achieved a
maximum output of 9.28 V and 3.17 W, with an efficiency of 14.5%. Based on the empirical
model, 5000 thermoelectric modules (TEMs) could generate a maximum power output of
3.17 kW when properly installed, which can improve the overall efficiency in the industrial
application.

The fundamental geotechnical parameter for stability of all Civil Engineering structures, such as foundations and slopes, is soil shear strength, shear strength is governed by Mohr- Coulomb failure criterion. Current standard geotechnical practice often uses a limited and a conventional range of 100KN/m2, 205KN/m2 and 310KN/m2, Extrapolating the failure envelope obtained from this narrow, limited range to low or high in-situ stresses can introduce significant error into geotechnical design, leading to unsafe structure. This study investigates the shear strength characteristics of soil samples collected from Ogbowo, Ekosodin village, Edo State, Nigeria, through a comparative analysis of standard and extended cell pressure applications. Soil specimens were prepared from five different samples to get the accurate values of Angles of internal friction and cohesion by drawing the Mohr circle using the standard and extended cell pressure, to evaluate how extended cell pressure configurations influence the determination of soil shear strength compared to convention testing method. The analytical results reveal that the soil at the study site is predominantly fine-grained, characterized by critically low angles of internal friction, which indicates minimal frictional resistance and a reliance on cohesive bonding for shear strength. Comparative analysis consistently demonstrates that cohesion values derived from the standard triaxial testing approach (15,13,12,28 and 19kN/m2 respectively) are significantly higher than those obtained through the extended nine-cell pressure range (2,5,6.4,8,12kN/m2 respectively). While the extended pressure testing resulted in an increases in the angle of internal friction. for the standard cell pressure (0.57º, 4.15º,4.29º,1.43º,1º and those of the extended cell pressure 2.43º, 3.89º, 4.41º, 5.71º, 2.63º respectively). it simultaneously caused a substantial reduction in cohesive strength. Consequently, this research concludes that the standard geotechnical engineering cell pressure range provides a more reliable and higher estimation of soil shear strength for the studied site. The findings suggest that the use of extended cell pressures may underestimate the short-term stability of the soil, making the conventional standard triaxial method more appropriate for site-specific geotechnical design and analysis.