International Journal of Advances in Scientific Research and Engineering (IJASRE), ISSN:2454-8006, DOI: 10.31695/IJASRE

Experimental Study of M20 Grade Concrete Using Packing Density Method

P. R. Tambe — 2024-04-10

Packing density method of mix design of concrete is new method to design different types of concrete. The mix design obtained from the packing density method has suitable workability, maximum packing density and minimum voids ratio. The geometrical characteristics like shape, size and proportion of fine aggregate and coarse aggregate affect packing density. The objective of this research is to study the mix design of concrete using packing density method and develop the correlation between bulk density, packing density and voids ratio. In this work large number of trail to decide the proportion of aggregate for that optimum bulk density and packing density calculated for different varying proportion of 20 mm: 12.5 mm coarse aggregate (i.e. 90:10, 80:20,70:30, 65:35, 60:40 and 50:50) and for varying proportion coarse aggregate: fine aggregate (i.e. 90:10, 80:20, 70:30, 60:40, 55:45 and 50:50). To finalize the mix design using packing density method also varies the percentage of excess cement paste (i.e. 5%, 7%, 9%, 10%, 11% and 12%). Tests were performed for the properties of fresh concrete like workability test (Slump cone) and hardened concrete like compressive strength, split- tensile strength, pull-out test, rebound hammer and flexural Test etc. tests were determined at 7, 14 and 28 days. The obtained results for above mentioned test using packing density method at 9% of excess cement paste are satisfying the standard results.

Modelling Water Absorption Index and Compressive Strength of Paving Stone Composites with Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) as Total Binder Replacement

Kiridi, E. A K — 2024-04-10

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) wastes were melted and mixed with river sand to produce paving stone composites (PSCs) of mix ratio 1:3, labelled (PET: 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50%); and sand-cement mix of 1:3 labelled PET 0% (control). In a mold measuring 50 × 100 × 200mm, three replicates of PSCs of each mix ratio and control, were produced and cured in water at a room temperature of (27 ± 2ºC) for 28 days. The PSCs showed a better water absorption property as it ranges from 6.98 % to 3.59 % as against 11.11 % for the control. Significant compressive strengths were shown by the PSCs; PET 30% had the highest mean value of 20.59 N/mm², while the control had the lowest mean value of 8.63 N/mm². Using Design Expert tool in analyzing the laboratory data obtained for both water absorption index and compressive strength, the results show that the developed quadratic model for water absorption index (WAI) has an adjusted and predicted coefficient of regressions of 0.9851 and 0.9821 respectively, with an average precision of 98.62% within the research work, allowing for simulation of WAI outcomes at different PET contents. Also, the compressive strength model is a quadratic, with adjusted and predicted coefficients of regressions of 0.9623 and 0.9526 respectively, and shows reduced variation between actual and predicted values, making it useful for design space navigation. The research suggests that utilizing PET waste as a complete binder replacement in paver production is a cost-effective method for managing waste

Design and Development of Hybrid Microgrid Control System for Renewable Energy Generation

Faisal Abbas Ali Ahmad — 2024-04-10

Renewable energy sources are widely acknowledged as the optimal substitutes for conventional energy outlets globally. Countries are endowed with diverse renewable resources, including solar, wind, biomass, hydro, and tidal energy. Despite this abundance, there exists a substantial disparity between the demand and supply of electrical energy, with numerous regions still facing insufficient access to power. The integration of various renewable energy sources in remote and isolated locations forms a Microgrid (MG), catering adequately to local energy requirements. These microgrids have the capability to function seamlessly alongside conventional grids. Hybrid MG system, incorporating Photovoltaic (PV) with battery storage and a Wind Turbine (WT), emerges as a practical solution for electrifying remote areas in islanded mode. The WT’s installed capacity is chosen to meet critical load requirements during periods of non-availability of renewable sources. The battery's capacity is selected to cover the transition period between renewable sources or as a backup source, ensuring cost-effectiveness over WTs. The application of Adaptive Particle Swarm Optimization (APSO) has demonstrated favorable outcomes compared to existing PSO algorithms, enhancing control efficiency. In a grid-connected MG system, the integration of distributed PV generation has notably improved the voltage profile, reducing overall losses. Consequently, the presented MG systems provide both technically and economically viable solutions for ensuring continuous electricity supply in isolated and grid-connected systems. This approach not only mitigates pollution but also allows for the possibility of capacity addition, fostering sustainable growth in these regions.

Keywords - Renewable Energy, Microgrid, Optimization, Grid Control, Power Generation, Power Distribution

Performance and Adaptability of Common Bean-Released Cultivars at Three Agro-Ecological Zones in Tanzania

Shekinah Henday — 2024-04-10

This study focused on examining the genetic performance and stability of common bean genotypes across multiple environments in Tanzania using an alpha-lattice experimental design. The aim was to minimize environmental variability and maximize genetic expression. Three experimental sites were selected to represent the ecologies of the main bean growing areas of Tanzania, which are Tropical Savannah represented by TARI-Seliani, Tropical highlands represented by TARI-Uyole and semi-arid regions represented by Babati region. The sites were planted with are diverse of common bean genotypes, all of which were released for use in Tanzania. Agronomic practices, such as hand-hoe weeding and fertilizer application, were consistently applied. Key data collected included days to 50 percent flowering, growth habit, plant height, pod and seed count, yield per plot, and 100 seed weight. Advanced statistical analyses, including ANOVA, AMMI, and stability tests, were conducted using R software to evaluate yield and yield components. This paper findings discuss about the yield performance, stability, and the discriminating verses representative power across locations. In terms of yield, Babati was the leading site with mean yield of 1413.07 kilogram per hectare (kg/h) with Uyole 96 being the lead genotype (2845.567kg/h). Genotypes that were found to be stable and high-yielding in multiple locations include, Rojo, SUA Kalima, SAKILA, Fibea, and Nyeupe Uyole with the mean yields of 1045.83kg/h, 1023.73kg/h, 1003.33kg/h, 670.4kg/h and 544.77kg/h respectively. In discriminativeness and representativeness, Babati was the most discriminating site among the three locations while Seliani was the most representative among the three. These findings revealed significant variations and allowed the assessment of genotype performance and environmental interactions.