Compressive strength and workability of laterized quarry sand concrete

This paper presents an experimental study on workability and compressive strength of concrete using various combinations of lateritic sand and quarry sand as complete replacement for conventional river sand fine aggregate. Quantity of lateritic sand varied from 0 to 50% against quarry dust at interval of 10%. Concrete cubes were prepared for two mix ratios: 1:1.5:3 and 1:2:4 and three water/cement ratios: 0.5, 0.6 and 0.7 and were cured and tested in the laboratory for compressive strength. Slump tests were also carried out for each mix. For each mix and water/cement ratios, control samples were also prepared using river sand as fine aggregate. The resulting concrete cubes fall within the range for normal weight concrete and although laterized quarry dust concrete had poorer workability, their compressive strength compare favourably with those of conventional concrete. The use of laterized quarry sand concrete for structural members is therefore recommended when laterite content is not more than 50%.Keywords: Compressive Strength, Concrete, Lateritic Sand, Quarry Sand, Workabilit

FACTORS INFLUENCING STUDENTS UNREST IN INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING AND ITS IMPLICATIONS ON THE ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF STUDENTS IN UNIVERSITY OF UYO, AKWA IBOM STATE, NIGERIA

Nigerians have for some time been disturbed by the alarming rate at which students' unrest in Nigerian institutions of higher learning have led to destruction of lives and property and untimely interruption of the planned academic programmes. On the basis of the above exposition, the project examined the concept of students’ unrest, factors that influence students’ unrest and its implication on the academic performance of students. A survey research design was adopted and a fifteen items questionnaire entitled "Factors Influencing Students’ Unrest in Institution of Higher Learning Questionnaire" (FISUIHLQ), was used to collect the data needed for analysis. Percentage, frequency count, and mean model were used to analyze the data collected. Items that fall between 0.50-1.49 mean score were considered Very Low, items that fall between 1.50-2.49 mean score were considered Low, items that fall between 2.50-3.49 mean score were considered Moderate, Items that fall between 3.50-4.49 mean score were considered High, while items that fall between mean scores of 4.50-5.00 were considered Very High. The study, therefore, discovered that breaking of rules and regulations, lack of social amenities and students involvement in cultism were seen as 'high' with mean scores of 2.60, 3.71 and 4.16 respectively, that is, they are serious factors that can influence students unrest in institutions of higher learning. While effective students’ union body and periodic strike by staff of the institution were seen as 'Low' with mean score of 2.21 and 1.96 respectively, that is, they are less serious factors that can influence students’ unrest. Also, it was discovered that disrupts of academic programmes, closure of schools, lecturers not unable to cover syllabus, and brain drain syndrome are the implications of students unrest with mean scores of 3.70,2.84,4.06,2.96 respectively were seen as ‘High’, that is, they are serious implication of students’ unrest. The best practices that should be observed by school authorities for effective control of students unrest were the use of dialogue, training of school administrators on crisis management, and presence of adequate infrastructure on campuses. Institutional heads would find the proposed recommendations as effective antidotes for effective control of students’ unrest in Nigerian institutions of higher learning