FACULTY OF ENGINEERING,

This project focused on the structural design of a 100 m³ elevated reinforced concrete (RC) water tank supported by a 20-meter-high tower. The objective was to ensure the structural safety, stability, and serviceability of all components including the raft foundation, tank base slab, beams, columns, and tank walls under combined actions of dead load, live load, hydrostatic pressure, wind, and seismic forces in compliance with BS 8110 and Eurocode 2 standards. The methodology involved manual structural design calculations for preliminary sizing and load estimation, followed by detailed structural analysis and modelling using ProtaStructure software. The structure consists of 300 mm × 300 mm reinforced concrete columns, 300 mm × 450 mm reinforced concrete beams, a 150 mm reinforced concrete raft foundation at ground level, and a 300 mm reinforced concrete tank base slab positioned at the top of the stanchions to safely support the water tank. The tank walls, which serve as the primary water-retaining elements, were designed as 250 mm thick reinforced concrete walls reinforced with high-yield steel bars (Grade 500) using 12 mm diameter bars spaced at 250 mm centres in both vertical and horizontal directions (H12-250) on both faces of the wall. The tank base slab was reinforced in orthogonal directions to resist bending moments and shear forces caused by hydrostatic pressure, self-weight, and wind effects. Beams supporting the platform and tank were subjected to maximum moments of 230.6 kN·m and axial loads of 191.1 kN, and were reinforced using T20 and T25 longitudinal bars together with T10 shear links. Columns carried maximum axial loads of 1443.6 kN and were reinforced with up to 4Y25 bars. The structural analysis revealed that the maximum lateral displacement of the structure was 9.87 mm at the top storey, which is within the allowable serviceability limit of H/500 according to Eurocode EN 1991-1-4 for a 20 m high structure. The slab deflections, beam moments, shear forces, and column forces were all within codespecified limits, indicating an efficient and stable structural system. The Bill of Engineering Measurement and Evaluation (BEME) estimated the total construction cost of the proposed elevated water tank and tower structure at approximately ₦19,114,573. The project concludes that the elevated reinforced concrete water tank and supporting tower satisfy all structural and serviceability requirements and that the integration of manual calculations with software analysis produced a safe, durable, and economical water storage structure suitable for practical implementation.

This project examined the environmental and health hazards from the disposal of liquid waste generated by industries, particularly those involved in beverage production in Nigeria. Increased urbanization and rapid industrialization have occasioned increased volumes of effluent being discharged, usually without proper treatment, into River Niger and other water bodies. This results in various forms of pollution, contaminating the organic and inorganic content, ultimately causing about 25% of all preventable diseases, including waterborne diseases. This research work aimed to study and upgrade the liquid waste disposal methods at the International Breweries Limited Onitsha, Anambra State. Specific objectives included establishing the physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of the effluent and also appraising the sustainability and efficiency of the existing effluent treatment and disposal processes with respect to compliance with WHO standards.The methodology used in this research involves a case study approach at the brewery plant. Effluent samples were collected from pre-treatment and post-treatment points during the month of August, at morning periods to capture peak production waste. Each sample size was 2 liters, preserved at 4°C, and conveyed to the laboratory within 4 hours. Physical parameters such as pH, temperature, turbidity, total suspended solids, and color were analyzed using calibrated instruments like pH meters and spectrophotometers. Chemical parameters for biochemical oxygen demand, chemical oxygen demand, heavy metals, and nutrients were analyzed by digestion followed by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Biological parameters-total heterotrophic bacteria, coliform counts, and E. coli-were determined by membrane filtration and incubation on selective media. Data analysis involved the use of descriptive statistics and comparison with WHO benchmarks. These results portrayed partial efficacy of the treatment. Physical parameters were improved, with turbidity falling from 1.0 NTU to 0.5 NTU; however, pH and total dissolved solids were still above WHO limits at 5.0 and 2829 mg/L, respectively. The chemical parameters were reduced-for instance, COD was reduced from 80.1 mg/L to 56.3 mg/L-but remained high, as were heavy metals (e.g., lead, 0.74 mg/L> 0.01 mg/L) and nutrients (ammonia, 8.74 mg/L> 0.5 mg/L); thus, offering a high risk for eutrophication and toxicity. Biological parameters were fully met, as coliform and E. coli counts were nil after treatment. -The study concluded that the brewery's treatment system was inefficient to achieve full compliance, with the need to invest in effective treatment technologies such as reverse osmosis and nutrient removal. Individuals should advocate for clean water practices, corporate organizations should invest in advanced treatment technologies, and government agencies should establish stricter monitoring and incentives for sustainable waste management.

he increasing reliance on sachet water as a primary source of drinking water among students in Ekosodin underscores the need for rigorous quality assessment. This study investigates the physicochemical and microbiological characteristics of various sachet water brands consumed in the region. Parameters such as pH, turbidity, total dissolved solids (TDS), and the presence of microbial contaminants were analyzed using standard laboratory techniques. The study aims to determine compliance with regulatory standards and assess potential health risks associated with these products

The traditional batch process for biogas production has been dominant, but it often leads to inefficiencies and inconsistent gas output. This project aims to address these issues by designing and producing a continuous household biogas digester, which promises a more stable and reliable method for generating renewable energy from organic waste. The development of the digester was guided by the design tree process, starting with feasibility studies and progressing through design specifications, conceptual designs, and detailed design phases. The fabrication involved constructing key components such as the inlet system, a 150-liter
steel digester tank, and the outlet system. Although most planned components were successfully incorporated, some were excluded due to unforeseen challenges.
The digester demonstrated the potential for continuous biogas production, though improvements are needed. The project concluded with recommendations for enhancing system efficiency and exploring alternative materials to reduce production costs, suggesting that with further refinement, this design could become a viable household solution for renewable energy production.

Pedestrian bridges are essential components of urban transportation systems, yet their structural safety is significantly threatened when exposed to fire hazards. Recent incidents and limited available research on the fire performance of pedestrian bridge girders have highlighted the need for systematic research into their thermal response and post-fire behavior. This study was therefore conducted to examine the temperature distribution, degradation patterns, and fire endurance of three common girder types; steel I-beams, concrete I-beams, and concrete rectangular sections; together with a real-world evaluation of the composite girder used in the University of Benin pedestrian bridge. The overall aim was to understand how these girder systems behave under fire exposure. A finite element modelling (FEM) framework was developed using Abaqus CAE, employing transient thermal analysis under the ISO 834 standard fire curve. Temperature-dependent material properties were defined according to Eurocode 2 and 3 provisions, and 2Dthermal models of each girder section were created for computational efficiency. Boundary conditions included convection and radiation on fire-exposed surfaces, with analysis conducted at 1200s, 2400 s, and 3600 s to capture progressive heat penetration. For the University of Benin case study, a composite girder was modelled to evaluate real structural behavior under elevated temperatures, focusing on heat migration, cracking zones, and the thermal protection offered by the concrete slab. Results showed that steel I-beams heated rapidly and reached critical temperatures earliest
due to high thermal conductivity, resulting in rapid loss of stiffness and structural stability. Concrete I-beams demonstrated moderate resistance, while rectangular concrete beams performed best, maintaining a cool core even at long exposure times. The composite girder exhibited heat concentration along its underside, with spalling and reinforcement weakening in exposed regions but retained strength in upper concrete zones.

Water-logged soils are a persistent challenge in geotechnical engineering, especially in tropical regions where high rainfall and poor drainage lead to saturated ground conditions. These soils typically exhibit low shear strength, high compressibility, and poor loadbearing capacity, making them unsuitable for construction without prior treatment. In this study, bamboo ash especially bamboo leaf ash (BLA) was assessed for its ability in improving soil strength, reducing permeability, and enhancing durability. Soil samples were collected from water-logged areas and classified using standard geotechnical tests. These soils fell under the category of high-plasticity clays or silts, which are prone to swelling, shrinkage, and settlement. Bamboo leaves were collected from a local source market. The bamboo ash was mixed with soil in varying proportions 2%, 4%, 6%, 8%, and 10% by weight. The mixture was thoroughly blended and compacted using standard procedures. Test that were carried out include; Atterberg Limits test to assess changes in plasticity and consistency; Compaction; tests to determine optimum moisture content (OMC) and maximum dry density (MDD); California Bearing Ratio (CBR) to evaluate load-bearing capacity. The results showed that bamboo ash significantly increases shear strength, especially at an optimal content of around 4% to 6%, The plasticity index decreases, indicating better dimensional stability and reduced swelling/shrinkage behavior; CBR values improved, making the soil more suitable for subgrade and foundation applications.

This study aimed to design and implement a low-cost microcontroller-based system for monitoring the energy consumption of individual workshop machines, addressing the limitations of conventional centralized metering systems that fail to provide machine- specific data. The literature review examined previous work on energy monitoring technologies, including commercial, open-source, and academic systems, highlighting the growing role of the Internet of Things (IoT) in enabling real-time data acquisition and remote monitoring. It emphasized the need for affordable, scalable, and educationally adaptable solutions for developing regions, where technical expertise and financial resources are limited. The research adopted an experimental design methodology involving hardware and software integration. The system was built using Arduino Nano and ESP32 microcontrollers, ZMPT101B voltage and SCT-013 current sensors, an LCD display, and a ThingSpeak IoT cloud interface. Mathematical modeling was applied to compute voltage, current, power, energy, and cost, while SolidWorks was used for casing design. Calibration and testing were conducted under varying load conditions to assess accuracy, response time, and data stability. Data were logged both locally on an SD card and remotely on the cloud for redundancy and analysis. Results indicated that the system achieved high accuracy within ±1% for voltage and ±5% for current, with an overall efficiency of 95% and IoT data transfer uptime of 98%. The developed prototype successfully provided real-time monitoring, stable performance, and reliable data transmission. The study concluded that the Arduino-based energy monitoring system is a cost-effective, scalable, and efficient solution suitable for educational, domestic,v and small-scale industrial applications. It recommended future enhancements in predictive analytics, multi-machine scalability, and integration with renewable energy management platforms.

This study aimed to design and implement a low-cost microcontroller-based system for monitoring the energy consumption of individual workshop machines, addressing the limitations of conventional centralized metering systems that fail to provide machine- specific data. The literature review examined previous work on energy monitoring technologies, including commercial, open-source, and academic systems, highlighting the growing role of the Internet of Things (IoT) in enabling real-time data acquisition and remote monitoring. It emphasized the need for affordable, scalable, and educationally adaptable solutions for developing regions, where technical expertise and financial resources are limited. The research adopted an experimental design methodology involving hardware and software integration. The system was built using Arduino Nano and ESP32 microcontrollers, ZMPT101B voltage and SCT-013 current sensors, an LCD display, and a ThingSpeak IoT cloud interface. Mathematical modeling was applied to compute voltage, current, power, energy, and cost, while SolidWorks was used for casing design. Calibration and testing were conducted under varying load conditions to assess accuracy, response time, and data stability. Data were logged both locally on an SD card and remotely on the cloud for redundancy and analysis. Results indicated that the system achieved high accuracy within ±1% for voltage and ±5% for current, with an overall efficiency of 95% and IoT data transfer uptime of 98%. The developed prototype successfully provided real-time monitoring, stable performance, and reliable data transmission. The study concluded that the Arduino-based energy monitoring system is a cost-effective, scalable, and efficient solution suitable for educational, domestic,

The study was carried out to analyze the settlement behaviors of fine-grained soils-that is, clayey soils-in Benin City, Nigeria, with a view to understanding their geotechnical
characteristics and compressibility under loads. Justification for this research lies in the
frequent structural failures and foundation instabilities observed in clayey sub-soils
across the region Various soil samples collected from the University of Benin and environs were tested for their physical and engineering properties in the laboratory. Standard tests such as moisture content, specific gravity, particle size distribution, Atterberg limits, and
consolidation, in line with ASTM and BS standards, were carried out to study soils' compressibility and settlement behaviors under applied loads. The natural moisture content of the soils varied between 18.6% and 22.4%, while the average specific gravity was 2.57. In addition, the Atterberg limits gave a liquid limit of 38-42%, plastic limit of 22-23%, and plasticity index of 16-19%, classifying the soils as
inorganic clays of low to medium plasticity CL under the USCS and A-7-6 under
AASHTO. More than 50% of soil particles passed the 0.075 mm sieve, which confirms
fine-grained, cohesive soils that are characteristic of the Benin Formation. The results of
the consolidation (oedometer) test show that settlement increases with applied pressure
between 12.5 kPa and 250 kPa, whereas the coefficient of volume compressibility, Mv, decreases from 0.1× 10 −3 and 1.0× 10 −3 m2 /kN, indicating moderate to high compressibility. Generally, these soils are characterized by moderate plasticity, low permeability, and high settlement potential; hence, foundation designs should consider soil stabilization, preloading, or raft and pile foundations, with adequate drainage control to ensure long-term stability

The marine ecosystem in Delta State, Nigeria, plays a crucial role in supporting biodiversity, fisheries, and the livelihoods of coastal communities. However, this ecosystem is increasingly threatened by pollution from various human activities. This study explores the major pollutants affecting the marine
environment in Delta State, aiming to identify their sources, types, and impacts. This study will adopt a single method approach. This design is chosen because it allows for a
comprehensive understanding of the problem by quantitative data on the physical presence of pollutants. Quantitative Component That involves the systematic collection and statistical analysis of water and sediment samples to quantify the concentration of specific pollutants. Measurement of pollutant levels in water and sediment samples. Key pollutants identified include crude oil and petroleum products, heavy metals such as lead and mercury, plastic waste, agricultural runoff containing fertilizers and pesticides, and untreated sewage. These pollutants orignate mainly from oil exploration, industrial discharge, poor waste disposal practices, and agricultural activities.The research highlights how these pollutants harm aquatic life, reduce water quality, and disrupt the ecological balance. Fish kills, habitat destruction, and the accumulation of toxins in marine organisms are among the observed effects. The study also considers the social and economic consequences for communities that rely on fishing and marine resources. To address these challenges, the study recommends stronger environmental regulations, improved waste management systems, and community involvement in conservation efforts. Protecting the marine ecosystem in Delta State is essential for sustainable development and the well-being of future generations