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Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment

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    Green roofs and stormwater runoff quality in the urban landscape in South Africa
    (National Research Council Canada, 2021-06-20) Sucheran, Arisha; Sucheran, Reshma
    A number of sustainable urban drainage systems (SuDS), such as green roofs, are being developed and implemented in cities around the world to help reduce stormwater runoff and improve stormwater runoff quality. This study compares the water quality of green roofs with that of conventional roofs in the eThekwini region, South Africa. Samples of stormwater runoff from the different green roof systems on the eThekwini Green Roof Pilot Project were collected to test their level of contaminants and pollutants. The tests focused on all physical, aesthetic, chemical, and microbiological determinants pertaining to stormwater runoff. For all tests, the level of contaminants and pollutants were measured against the South African Water Quality Guidelines Volume 7 for Aquatic Ecosystems. The data revealed significant variations in pollutant concentrations between the green roofs and the conventional roof. Moreover, runoff water quality varied across the various roof types, which may indicate that the substrate composition has the greatest impact on green roof performance regarding rainwater quality. Overall, the results suggest that these green roof systems do not have the ability to filter pollutants out of stormwater runoff, but rather increase their levels of concentration.
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    Optimizing the usage of fly ash in concrete mixes
    (2017) Zulu, Sabelo N. F.; Allopi, Dhiren
    Improving on our construction practices to promote sustainable development in engineering and to promote eco-friendly living is vital in the fight against global warming and associated problems. This study looked at one of the ways in which engineering can contribute to this fight through promoting the recycling of waste by-products such as fly ash (FA), on a larger scale in the cement and concrete industry, by utilizing the FA to the optimum. In this study concrete mixes of 25 MPa, 35 MPa and 50 MPa with FA partially substituting the cement at 30%, 40%, 50% and 60% were produced and numerous tests were performed to determine the optimum amount of FA that can be used and still obtain better or comparable concrete to ordinary concrete. Testing for concrete properties was conducted under laboratory conditions over a period of one year. In addition, a cost comparison between ordinary concrete and FA concrete was undertaken. The results obtained show that the increase in FA content influenced the rheological properties of fresh concrete favorable. The recorded slump increased with the increase of FA content. Increasing the FA content prolonged the setting of concrete, with the ordinary concrete taking 1 hour 45 min to set, compared to more than 2 hours for FA mixes. The FA increase had negligible effects on the air content of the concrete mixes. The drying shrinkage of concrete increased with the increase of FA content, with the strain ranging from 0,045% to 0,56%. The compressive strength results show that the control mixes with 30% FA content attained the highest compressive strength over a year. In some cases, the 40% FA strength was compatible to the 30% FA strength. The durability index results showed the control mix of 30% FA attaining better results for Oxygen Permeability Index and Sorptivity Index, with the 40% FA mix following closely. The higher FA content mixes (50% and 60%) attained better Chloride Conductivity results than the lower FA content mixes. Increasing the FA content does affect the performance of the concrete at early stages, however concrete with acceptable strength and good durability qualities can be produced even with 50% FA volume. Increasing the FA content can also significantly reduce the cost of producing and working with concrete. The practice of utilizing higher FA content in concrete can be beneficial for the South African cement and concrete industry without compromising the quality of the cement products concrete structures.
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    Analysis of temperature and rainfall trends in Vaal-Harts irrigation scheme, South Africa
    (AJER, 2014) Adeyemo, Josiah; Otieno, Fredrick Alfred O.; Ojo, Olumuyiwa I.
    Abstract: - Agriculture is crucially dependent on the timely availability of adequate amount of water and a conducive climate. Temperature and rainfall patterns impact the availability of water for agricultural uses. Therefore, temperature and rainfall are twin important environmental factors in agricultural activities such as tillage, planting, irrigation and mechanization. The characteristics of the Vaal-Harts temperature data for year 1996 to 2010 and rainfall data for year 1983 to 2010 were examined in this study using statistical techniques. Basic statistical properties of the data were determined using the mean, variance, coefficient of variation and Pearson’s correlation coefficient. Temperature and rainfall observations with the average of about 17.44 were used. The minimum and maximum temperatures recorded were 9.720C and 23.520C. The Coefficient of variation (CV) was found to be about 29.59. Variance is a measure of how far a set of numbers is spread out; and the variance of this set of observations is 26.625. The average yearly temperature increases insignificantly by a constant of about 0.117 (p = 0.163; 95% CI: -0.054 – 0.288), while rainfall shows decreasing trend annually which means that the dry season will be drier. The involvement of non-zero values in the serial correlation indicated the significance of the deterministic component in the data. The results of this analysis enhance our understanding of the characteristics of air temperature and rainfall in the study area for effective planning of farming operations.
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    Effects and benefits of using high content of fly ash in concrete
    (Thomson Reuters, 2016-01) Zulu, Sabelo; Allopi, Dhiren
    The usage of fly ash products by the South African cement and construction industries has saved the country over 6 million tons of harmful greenhouse gas emissions. The recycling of it as cement extenders provides an immediate benefit for the environment while still improving the quality of concrete, and increasing the amount used in concrete can promote sustainable development. This study evaluated properties of 35MPa/9,5mm concrete with fly ash substituted at 30%, 40%, 50% and 60%. Increasing the fly ash content can result in more workable and less permeable concrete. The compressive strength and durability index results showed that the fly ash content can be increased beyond 50% and still achieve the required strength and produce durable concrete. Substituting high volumes of cement with fly ash in concrete can provide good quality concrete and a relief to the environment without compromising the quality and cost of concrete.
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    Influence of high content fly ash on concrete durability
    (IJEIT, 2014-01) Allopi, Dhiren; Zulu, Sabelo
    Abstract - The use of fly ash products by the South African cement and construction industries has saved the country over 6 million tons of harmful greenhouse gas emissions. Fly ash is an industrial by-product that is normally consigned to landfills and the re-use of it as cement extenders provides an immediate benefit for the environment while still improving the quality of concrete. Fly ash blended cements in concrete perform better than pure cement in providing better concrete properties. Current specifications limit the use of fly ash in concrete to 30%, although an increase of this amount can be very beneficial in concrete structures, economically and environmentally. In South Africa the durability index of concrete is commonly determined by performing the Oxygen Permeability test, Water Sorptivity test and Chloride Conductivity test, developed by the Universities of Cape Town and the Witwatersrand. Performing these tests in this study, the results obtained showed that concrete mixes with fly ash content that is higher than the specification limit can result in concrete with acceptable good durability qualities, and with age, the durability qualities are improved due to pozzolanic reactions. Substituting high volumes of cement with fly ash in concrete can provide high quality concrete and a relief in the environment without compromising the quality of concrete.