Comparative Cost Analysis Between Hydraform Interlocking Brick and Sandcrete Block as Walling Materials for Low-Cost Housing Development in Nigeria

This study analyzed the cost of production and construction of 225mm hollow sandcrete blocks and hydraform interlocking bricks and walls to compare the findings of the results. The study was conducted in Auchi, Estako West Local Government Area of Edo State, Nigeria. The study compared the construction of two models of 225mm hollow sandcrete blocks and hydraform interlocking bricks, materials employed for wall construction for the study are; clay, cement, sand, water and mould. The result of the study indicates that unit cost of 225mm hollow sandcrete block and hydraform interlocking bricks are ₦168.57 and ₦57.85 respectively. While the cost per square metre of 225mm hollow sandcrete block wall and hydraform interlocking brick wall are ₦3,199.40 and ₦3,079.52 respectively. The study also revealed that it is more costly to apply finishes to sandcrete block wall when compared with hydraform interlocking brick wall. Sandcrete block wall requires rendering or plastering to both faces of the walls, while hyraform interlocking wall requires rendering of not more than 300mm girth to vertical external corners of the brick wall. The study, therefore, recommends the use of hydraform interlocking bricks for low-cost housing to reduce the housing deficit in Nigeria. Keywords: Sandcrete block; hydraform interlocking brick; walling; cost analysis; Auchi; DOI: 10.7176/JNSR/11-22-07 Publication date: November 30th 202

Vehicle Body Shape Analysis of Tricycles for Reduction in Fuel Consumption

Growing concern about environmental protection and energy conservation has led a number of studies to increase fuel economy and reduction in emissions. From theoretical studies one of the major factors influencing fuel consumption is air resistance and developing ways to reduce this influencing factor could be achieved by designing vehicle body shape to have a low coefficient of air resistance. This paper focuses on the comparative analysis of fuel consumption of one of an existing tricycles and NASENI TP1 with reference to their body shapes. Solid models for these two different tricycles were done and simulated using Solidworks flowxpress. Mathematical models were applied to compare the rate of fuel consumption between the simulated models. The result of simulation shows that there is a 2% reduction in coefficient of drag (Cd) and 17.34% reduction in fuel consumption for NASENI TP1 as compared to the referenced tricycle

Sustainable affordable housing strategies for solving low-income earners housing challenges in Nigeria

Globally, several studies have affirmed that the population of those who are displaced with respect to housing is on the rise. Developing nations in the continent of Africa to include Nigeria are reportedly not spared of this development. Similarly, the low-income earners have been reported as the worst hit of this global menace. Shanty dwellings, squatter settlements and informal settlements have similarly been reported to be homes to low-income earners who constitute over 90% of the population of Nigeria. This study therefore presented sustainable affordable housing strategies as an emerging concept through which low-income earners housing challenges in Nigeria can be eliminated. The study relied on a systematic review of literature to arrive at its findings. Findings from the study revealed that sustainable affordable housing strategies through which Nigerian low-income earners housing challenges can be addressed can best be explored from the social, economic, environmental, institutional and technological components of sustainable affordable housing. The study calls on the government, stakeholders, policy makers as well as private developers to adopt sustainable affordable housing strategies for low-income housing provision in Nigeria. The study’s outcome will contribute to existing body of knowledge in that it will provide useful information with respect to low-income housing provision and equally re-direct research interest on low-income housing in Nigeria and other developing nations

Domestic Wind Energy Planning for Deprived Communities in the Tropics: A Case Study of Nigeria

Despite the notable inventions in solar energy, it is still too high for standalone users from developing countries. For example, it cost $2200 to provide power for a two-bedroom apartment while the average citizen lives below the country’s poverty line of$381.75 per year. The use of fossil fuel generators remains cheaper, except there is an affordable energy option for the average populace. The objective of this study is to investigate the wind energy potential for domestic or standalone use in Nigeria. It is proposed that the domestic wind turbine will be relatively cheap for adoption. Hence, there is the need to wholistic examine the prospects of wind energy generation in Nigeria. Though previous studies had been carried out, none has been wholistic as presented in this research work. Forty years wind speed and wind direction dataset, i.e., 1980-2020, was obtained from the Modern-Era Retrospective analysis for Research and Applications (MERRA). The analysis of the wind energy potential across the research locations was considered using five sampling techniques, i.e., considering the general statistics of the forty years dataset; considering ten years in an evenly distributed pattern and accruable wind energy across the nation. It was observed that the early wet season (MAM) is the most unstable among the seasons. Also, sudden multi-directionality of the wind vectorization within forty years was observed. This event is ascribed to evidence of climate change to wind energy generation. Wind energy generation prospect was seen to be generally sustainable and reliable with SON, MAM, DJF and JJA having energy distribution of 325-950 kWh, 539-1700 kWh, 161-650 kWh and 761-3650 kWh respectively. Despite the variation of energy generation over the years within all seasons over Nigeria, it was found that it is predictable and can be optimized using various technological solutions