Author: Mezie Ethelbert

Reading Time: 4 minutes Slope stability analysis can be carried out manually by a number of METHODS. Manual analysis of slope stability is usually a very tedious and time-consuming process. Presently, there are a number of software that can be used to model and analyse a slope. Softwares such as Geoslope, Plaxis, etc. can effectively and efficiently model and analyse a slope. The primary essence of slope stability analysis is to determine the factor of safety against failure. It is possible to analyse a slope manually within a shorter period of time using the iterative processes available in Tekla Tedds software. The software has…

Reading Time: 10 minutes Signal control of junctions is one of the effective means to control conflicting traffic at junctions. Traffic signals work on the basis of allocating separate time periods to conflicting traffic movements at a highway intersection so that the available carriageway space is utilised as efficiently and safely as possible. Priority of movement of the traffic can be varied with time through the cycle of the signals. Within urban areas in particular, in situations where a road has a number of intersections along its entire length, signal linking, which is an aspect of the operations of the signal-controlled junctions can be…

Reading Time: 3 minutes Development of wells means the stabilization of the walls of a well adjacent to the screen, by processes which remove the fine particles from the formation immediately surrounding the well screen, leaving the coarser particles to contact and surround the screen. Development of walls is necessary in all gravel packed wells and other screened wells, except when the screen is made of fine wire mesh or coir or other closely knot filters, located in a highly permeable aquifer. The basic principle of well development is to cause reversals of flow through the screen openings, that will rearrange the aquifer particles…

Reading Time: 6 minutes Layered flexible bituminous pavement has been identified as the most common type of pavement used for urban and rural roads around the world. During the design process of these roads, certain design period (identified as structural design period – SDP) is applicable. The design period is defined as the period during which the road is expected to carry traffic at a satisfactory level of service, without requiring major rehabilitation or repair work (though certain maintenance may be carried out during the period to keep the road in good service condition). The design period is often chosen while considering individual wheel…

Reading Time: 2 minutes Excessive noise within the vicinity of buildings is very undesirable because, in addition to the normal discomfort that it causes, it can lead to a range of health issues such as anxiety, depression, high blood pressure, heart disease, hearing loss, etc. This is often the reason why commercial and industrial hubs are usually located at appreciable distances away from residential areas. Noise is usually measured in decibels (dB) which is used to express the level of hearing. The threshold of hearing falls within 0 dB upwards while 130 dB upwards is identified as the threshold of pain. This implies that…

Reading Time: 3 minutes U-values, R-values, and K-values are known as thermal coefficients in buildings. To insulate the interior of buildings against high external temperatures, it is necessary to ensure that the materials used in making the heat transmitting mediums in buildings such as walls, windows, doors, plasters, partitions etc. are well insulated. This insulation is more important at this critical stage where the world is experiencing global warming which is due to large amounts of entrapped heat on the earth’s surface due to large concentrations of greenhouse gases on the surface. The insulation capacities or heat transfer capacities of exposed elements of building…

Reading Time: 3 minutes Step 1: Determination of Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT) The first step to determine the design traffic loading over the design life of a pavement is to determine the baseline traffic flows. The estimate of the baseline traffic flows should be the Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT) or Average Daily Traffic (ADT) currently using the ruote (if an existing ruote), or expected to use the route on opening to traffic (if a new ruote), classified into vehicle categories (See FHWA vehicle categories): Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Vehicle Classes Motorcycles Passenger Cars 4 – Tyre Trucks Buses 2 – Axle 6-Tyre…

Reading Time: 2 minutes Statically determinate frames are analysed in the same manner as ordinary beams. The support reactions are determined from three equations of static equilibrium. For three hinged frames, an additional equation which gives the summation of the moments of the hinge is zero is utilized. The bending moments which cause tension on the internal side of the frame shall be regarded as positive and the graph is plotted on the tensile side of the frame. The graph of the +ve shears are plotted on the exterior side while the -ve shears are plotted on the interior side. Procedure for Analysis Draw…