Browsing Research articles (Dept of Mechanical Engineering) by Title
Now showing items 1-20 of 48
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Acceptance of blackboard technology by mechanical engineering students at the University of Botswana
(Tempus Publications, 2009)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 ... -
Application of enamel-coating for draught reduction of a mouldboard plough
(Akademiai Kiado, 2007)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 ... -
Assessment of potential for biodiesel feedstock of selected wild plant oils indigenous to Botswana
(Canadian Center of Science and Education (CCSE), www.ccsenet.org/eer, 2011-12)Biodiesel is attracting increasing attention worldwide as a blending component or a direct replacement of petroleum diesel fuel in transport sector.vThe challenge to scientists and engineers is to identify appropriate ... -
Assessment of solar-coal hybrid electricity power generating systems
(David Publishing, http://www.davidpublishing.com/, 2012-01)Botswana currently depends on electricity generated from coal-based power plant or electricity supplied from the border in South Africa. The country has good reserves of coal and the solar radiation is sufficiently high ... -
Automobile pollution and the environment
(University of Botswana, 1999)It is widely recognised that air pollution caused by the global rapid increase of automobile traffic is a threat to the environment. With regard to automobiles there are three general areas of concern: urban pollution, ... -
Biodiesel for sustainable energy provision in developing countries
(Scientific Research Publishing, http://www.scirp.org/, 2011-09)Consumption of fossil fuel resources has been growing over the years and it is the kernel of economic development. However combustion which takes place principally in automobiles, power generation and industrial plants ... -
Blending cooking oil biodiesel with petroleum diesel: a comparative performance test on a variable ic engine
(Scientific Research Publishing, http://www.scirp.org/, 2011-05)Research in biodiesel production has been motivated by several reasons including consistant increase in prices of pe-troleum diesel, environmental advantages, security of fuel supply, and employment creation. This paper ... -
Chemical extraction and property analyses of marula nut oil for biodiesel production
(Scientific Research Publishing, http://www.scirp.org/, 2011-07)To identify and develop alternative and renewable sources of fuel for the transport sector is a present challenge for engineers and researchers. This work was carried out to assess yield of marula (Sclero carrya/birrea) ... -
Continuing professional development for practicing engineers in developing economies
(Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpl/RecentIssue.jsp?punumber=13, 1999-08)This paper presents the results of an investigation to determine the level of continuing professional development (CPD) for engineers in developing countries. Questionnaires were administered randomly to engineers of ... -
Coupled buckling design of steel laced columns
(University of Botswana, 2009)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 ... -
Cyclic plasticity of polycrystalline nickel under axial–torsional loading
(Elsevier, www.elsevier.com, 2010)The axial–torsional cyclic deformation behavior of polycrystalline nickel was investigated by performing fully reversed plastic strain amplitude controlled fatigue experiments at effective plastic strain amplitudes ranging ... -
Designing architect's brief for a Faculty of Engineering
(Trans Tech Publications http://www.scientific.net/AMR.62-64.551, 2009)A team of academics produced a Design Brief (DB) to assist architects design a scholarly physical environment for modern engineering education and research. The information gathered from external and internal sources was ... -
Domestic use of electrical energy from wind energy in Botswana
(University of Botswana, Faculty of Engineering and Technology, http://ajol.info/index.php/bjt, 1998-04)This paper presents an examination of the possibility of using wind turbines generating electricity for households in the remote rural areas of Botswana. On the basis of theoretical consideration of the wind system generating ... -
Draught requirements of enamel coated animal drawn mouldboard plough
(Czech Academy of Agricultural Sciences http://agriculturejournals.cz/web/RAE.htm, 2005)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 ... -
Energy and exergy analyses of energy consumptions in the industrial sector in South Africa
(Elsevier Science Ltd, http://www.elsevier.com/locate/apenergy, 2007)The energy-utilization over a 10-year period (1994–2003) has been analysed for the South African industrial sector, which consumes more primary energy than any other sector of the economy. Four principal sub-sectors, ... -
Energy and exergy analyses of energy consumptions in the industrial sector in South Africa
(Elsevier http://www.elsevier.com, 2007)The energy-utilization over a 10-year period (1994–2003) has been analysed for the South African industrial sector, which consumes more primary energy than any other sector of the economy. Four principal sub-sectors, ... -
Energy applications in Botswana
(Elsevier Science Ltd, http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/269/description#description, 1995)Botswana depends heavily on imported petroleum products for all premium applications. However, there is an abundant reserve of coal and other alternative sources of energy. This paper presents the energy trends and the ... -
Energy losses in a ram press machine for vegetable oil expression
(Dalhousie University, 2009) -
Engineering education in Botswana
(Tempus Publications http://www.ijee.ie/, 2002)The economy of Botswana has grown rapidly since it became independent in 1966, but the population is only 1.7 million. Engineering construction projects are of large scale. The University of Botswana offers engineering ... -
Experimental assessment of locomotive brake blocks-case studies of Botswana Railways
(University of Botswana, www.ub.bw, 2011)The brake blocks employed on Botswana Railways locomotives have been found to fail frequently resulting in increased maintenance and operational costs. The paper presents the metallurgical and mechanical properties of two ...