Browsing Faculty of Engineering and Technology by Author "Uziak, J."
Now showing items 1-13 of 13
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Acceptance of blackboard technology by mechanical engineering students at the University of BotswanaUziak, J. (Tempus Publications, NaN, 2009)[more][less]
Abstract: Technology-based teaching and learning is entering academic life at an amazing rate. It comes whether invited or not. Students and lecturers are confronted with new technologies. There are new teaching methods to accompany them, and new pressures to use them. E-learning is penetrating all areas of teaching and learning: academic institutions and corporate training alike. It has been generally accepted as a major and viable component of higher education. However, it is not clear how students accept the use of new technology. This paper deals with the question of acceptance by analysing the University of Botswana engineering students' reflection on Blackboard technology. URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10311/694 Files in this item: 1
Uziak_IJEE_2009.pdf (976.8Kb) -
Loukanov, I.A.; Uziak, J. (Akademiai Kiado, NaN, 2007)[more][less]
Abstract: The effect of enamel-coating on the draught performance of an animal-drawn mouldboard plough was studied. A single furrow swing mouldboard plough-Maun Series, and the same type enamel-coated plough both ox-drawn, are compared under similar working conditions such as soil moisture content, depth and width of cut and approximately constant speed of ploughing. It was found that the enamel-coating reduces both the plough draught and the specific draught. The percentage reduction of the plough draught for enamel-coated plough compared to uncoated plough varied from 12.7% at 25% soil moisture content to 18.1% at 32% soil moisture content (dry basis). It was also found that the percentage reduction of the specific draught achieved with the enamel-coated plough in comparison with the uncoated plough varied from 20.3% at 32% soil moisture content to 25.7% at 25% soil moisture content (dry basis). URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10311/632 Files in this item: 1
Loukanov_PAES_2007.pdf (692.2Kb) -
Oladiran, M.T.; Uziak, J. (http://www.ais.up.ac.za/digi/docs/oladiran_paper.pdf, NaN, 2009)[more][less]
Abstract: During the first semester of 2007/2008 academic session at the University of Botswana (UB), some mechanical engineering courses were delivered using a blended method i.e. online resource (eLearning) and traditional face to face approach. This paper presents results of a study to analyse students’ perception of the eLearning technology, namely WebCT/Blackboard. An electronic questionnaire was administered to a cohort of third year mechanical engineering students for the study. The questionnaire consisted of 92 items that covered such areas as facilities, resources, access, instruction and quality issues. An open ended section enabled students comment on other issues related to the course delivery. The results show that students were very receptive of ICT based course delivery. The paper discusses the challenges of using eLearning and proffers recommendations to ensure that maximum benefit is derived from technological investment and staff effort. URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10311/459 Files in this item: 1
Oladiran_AICT_2009.pdf (548.4Kb) -
Uziak, J.; Gizejowski, M. (University of Botswana, NaN, 2009)[more][less]
Abstract: A new design developed by the authors that gives an opportunity to account for the interaction of different modes of buckling is presented.Eurocode 3 model is used as the reference model, an equivalent geometric imperfection comprising of an initial bow being equal to the length divided by 500 is used.The model is based on the design criterion referred to the individual chord components. It allows to avoid the application of complicated procedure based on an explicitly given imperfection parameter. It is achieved by a treatment of a chord local buckling mode between lacing connections in the same way as the plate buckling of chord sectional elements.The buckling design of the compound number can therefore be carried out in the same wayas for a single element provided that the stiffness of lacing members is properly taken care of. URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10311/610 Files in this item: 1
Uziak_BJT_2009.pdf (1.086Mb) -
Loukanov, I. A.; Uziak, J.; Michalek, J. (Czech Academy of Agricultural Sciences http://agriculturejournals.cz/web/RAE.htm, NaN, 2005)[more][less]
Abstract: The power requirement of tillage implements is an important design consideration particularly for animal-drawn implements where the power is limited. The paper presents the possibility of reduction in the draught requirements of animal-drawn mouldboard plough by using enamel coating on the soil-engaged components such as the mouldboard, share and the landside. Trials were conducted to compare enamel-coated Maun Series single mouldboard plough (manufactured by Zimplow Limited, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe) with similar uncoated plough, both animal-drawn, under comparable working conditions. Experiments were done at 25% and 32% d.b. soil moisture content on a red clay soil in Zimbabwe. The parameters measured in evaluating the draught performance of both ploughs were the tractive effort(pull),speed of ploughing,depth and width of ploughing,and soil conditions(i.e.soil moisture content,soil bulk density and soil penetration resistance). It was found that for similar working conditions the enamel coating reduced the specific draught by 20 to 26% depending upon soil moisture content. URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10311/705 Files in this item: 1
Uziak_RAE_2005.pdf (504.4Kb) -
Uziak, J.; Loukanov, I. A. (Dalhousie University, NaN, 2009)[more][less]
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Uziak, J.; Foster, J.D.G. (University of Botswana, Faculty of Engineering and Technology, http://ajol.info/index.php/bjt, October NaN, 2001)[more][less]
Abstract: In this paper a method is presented which enables the solution of the equation of motion of the slider-crank mechanism. Expansion of functions into Fourier series is used in this method, whereby the solution of the equation of motion is also obtained in the form of Fourier series. This method enables also the determination of the coefficient of speed fluctuation of the slider-crank mechanism. The method creates the basis for an analysis of the influence of various factors, e.g. the working conditions or the construction parameters of the system, on the coefficient of speed fluctuation. URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10311/665 Files in this item: 1
Uziak_BJT_2001.pdf (2.257Mb) -
Uziak, J.; Foster, J.D.G. (University of Botswana, NaN, 2001)[more][less]
Abstract: In this paper a method is presented which enables the solution of the equation of motion of the slider-crank mechanism. Expansion of functions into Fourier series is used in this method, whereby the solution of the equation is also Fourier series. This method enables also the determination of the coefficient of speed fluctuation of the slider-crank mechanism. The methods create the basis for an analysis of the influence of various factors, e.g. the working conditions or the construction parameters of the system, on the coefficient of speed fluctuation. URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10311/702 Files in this item: 1
Uziak_BJT_2001.pdf (999.6Kb) -
Uziak, J.; Oladiran, M. T. (Tempus Publications http://www.ijee.ie/, NaN, 2009)[more][less]
Abstract: Complementary studies are fundamental for accreditation of engineering programmes in line with the Washington Accord. This paper presents the experiences of the University of Botswana in introducing General Education Courses (GECs) for the purpose of broadening the educational experience of all students, with particular reference to engineering students. Students registration data captured in the Integrated Tertiary Software (ITS) were analysed using Excel software. The five-year study period was from 2002 to 2007. Results indicate that engineering students mainly took GECs offered by the science and technology disciplines. It is concluded that GECs should be retained within the engineering programmes but the student advisory system should be improved and skills (e.g. IT competencies) that are important for professional development should be embedded in core courses instead of in general education. URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10311/700 Files in this item: 1
Uziak_IJEE2_2009.pdf (886.3Kb) -
Foster, J.D.G.; Uziak, J.; Loukanov, I.A. (Blackwell Publishing Ltd, http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1111/(ISSN)1475-1305, NaN, 2009)[more][less]
Abstract: This study presents the experimental setup and results of measurement of forces and moments in a manually operated ram press machine. Tests were conducted on a BP30 ram press using electrical resistance strain gauges to measure forces present in the machine under operating conditions. The forces were obtained by capturing data for the strains in six channels, using a digital instrument system, and later calculated by using the sensitivity factors. A method was proposed to estimate the tension force and bending moment in the connecting rods based on the sums and differences of measured strains. Results obtained were converted into spreadsheet data and presented in graphs versus the position angle of the operating lever. URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10311/633 Files in this item: 1
Foster_SIJEM_2009.pdf (460.1Kb) -
Uziak, J.; Loukanov, I. A. (CIGR Journal http://www.cigrjournal.org/, NaN, 2007)[more][less]
Abstract: The ram-press technology for oil expression has received a lot of attention in many African countries during the last two decades. The technology is based on manually operated mechanical presses, which employ a slider-crank mechanism in two different configurations. The original machine was invented by Karl Bielenberg in 1985 and since then continuous design improvements have been made to improve their performance and ease of operation. This paper deals with the performance of some commonly used ram press machines such as BP-35, BP-30 and FI-32, in order to establish their suitability for small rural oil expression technology. The available oil-seed processing techniques were discussed, including their suitability for locally grown sunflower varieties, and the characteristics of the ram press machines. The machines were tested by using three varieties of sunflower seeds, namely PNR 7225, PNR 7369, and Peredovik. The machines were compared by their outputs obtained when conducting a high production and high expression tests. Based on the above analysis the Camartec design (BP-30) was found to have the best performance. The machine had the highest efficiency and also the highest expression rate in comparison to CAPU design (BP-35) and RAM design (FI-32) machines. The FI-32 machine was found to be ineffective, having in the high expression test an expression rate below 20% irrespective of the type of seeds used. In terms of the speed of oil production the CAPU (BP-35) design performed better then the other machines. However in the high production test its performance was similar to that of Camartec machine. URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10311/697 Files in this item: 1
Uziak_AEI2_2007.pdf (989.2Kb) -
Kanyarusoke, K.E.; Uziak, J. (Wiley Periodicals Inc. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1002/(ISSN)1099-0542, NaN, 2009)[more][less]
Abstract: Formal Engineering Education has traditionally been delivered using the low technology—high touch lecturing method, in which the lecturer and student meet face to face. Distance education in this field has been quite slow to develop primarily because of difficulty in delivery of practical based instructions and problems on integrity of assessments. Developments in information technology and the increased demand for further education by people already in employment have however changed this even in developing countries. It puts extra demand on Lecturers to guide distance learners in handling numerical computations so prevalent in Engineering. At the campuses, computer based methods are available in the high touch—high tech lecture method. High level and efficient computer software is used to help the student to simulate and solve some problems. However, such software is expensive—and therefore—not readily available to the distant learner. Spreadsheets on the other hand are almost universal on today’s computers and they bridge the gap between hand calculations and high level programme computations. This paper therefore makes a case for the use of spreadsheets in Distance Engineering Education. An example in Spring Design, Selection and Adaptation is used to illustrate the simplification and other advantages of their use by practicing distance learners. URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10311/603 Files in this item: 1
Kanyarusoke_CAEE_2009.pdf (1.031Mb) -
Loukanov, I. A.; Uziak, J. (International Symposium on Theory of Machines and Mechanisms (IFToMM), NaN, 2001)[more][less]
Abstract: The single-stroke ram press machine is widely used for sunflower oil extraction in African countries. It is manually operated, low speed machine constructed on the basis of slider-crank mechanism. The paper presents a detailed theoritical analysis of the mechanism of the linkage system. The analysis is done for different positions of the driving lever (handle) nad other parameters, which influence the performance of the machine. Based on that analysis conclusions on the optimal performance of the mechanism are drawn. URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10311/667 Files in this item: 1
Loukanov_IFToMM_2001.pdf (993.1Kb)
Now showing items 1-13 of 13