Faculty of Technical Education
Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://ir.aamusted.edu.gh/handle/123456789/118
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Item Natural durability of Acacia mangium wood(2024) OLAGA, Thomas Tetteh; ANTWI, Kwaku; BIH, Francis Kofi; DONKOR, Mark BrightExpanding the base of wood resources, adoption, and effective use of wood species depend primarily on the knowledge of the properties of the wood and the source from which the wood was obtained. The Acacia mangium wood, whose natural durability was determined to establish its practical uses, was extracted from Ada Technical Institute's compound in the Ada East District of the Greater Accra Region of Ghana. The study adopted an experimental research design. The natural durability test was done using the accelerated laboratory method based on standard. Seventy-two (72) samples were taken from the six billets (base, middle, and top). The analyses were carried out within each section, established from portions of the trees close to the pith or cascade. The resistance values indicated that the wood studied has a high resistance to rot. In this way, this wood can be used for various uses that require high resistance to interference, such as using parts in direct contact with the ground.Item characterization of Wood cellular structure of Plantation Grown Anogeissus leiocarpa and Eucalyptus camaldulensis in the savannah Ecological Zone, Ghana(2024-12-28) Tampori, Enoch Gbapenuo; Bih, Francis Kofi; Appiah-Kubi, Emmanuel; Chakurah, Issah; Awotwe-Mensah, Michael; Donkoh, Mark BrightThe decreasing availability of economic hardwood timber species throughout tropical countries has necessitated the need to adopt plantation grown exotic timber species into the mainstream of raw materials in the furniture and wood manufacturing industries. However, published research on the material properties of most of these exotic timber species grown in the Savannah Ecological Zone of Ghana is limited. The wood properties of these species when known could result in their optimal utilization and broad acceptance in the wood industries as an alternative for the extinct tropical t imber species. This study determines the anatomical properties of plantation grown Anogeissus leiocarpa and Eucalyptus camaldulensis trees grown in the Savannah Ecological Zone of Ghana. Wood discs were obtained from three stem heights (butt, mid and top) from which cubes measuring 40 mm x 20 mm x 20 mm were produced for the microtome sections and macerated tissues, viewed under a microscope with Motic Image Plus software. Descriptions of wood anatomy followed IAWA's microscopic characteristics. It was observed that in the sapwood, there were more vessels than in heartwood, though the vessels were smaller in diameters, suggesting resistance to sap conduction which gives wood high aesthetic value and dimensional stability during drying. The species vessel diameter fell within the medium category and large vessels, demonstrating that wood will possess a greater mechanical strength since it will be denser, consequently possessing significant mechanical strength that can be compared favorably to other commercial timber species. This might be a major breakthrough in the production of quality and durable furniture as well as other wood products by using the exotic plantation grown timber species.Item Physical And Mechanical Properties Of Wood Of Plantation Grown Albizia Lebbeck In The Savannah Ecological Zone, Ghana(2024-06-07) Tampori, Enoch Gbapenuo; Bih, Francis Kofi; Antwi, Kwaku; Chakurah, IssahThe increasing scarcity of major commercial tropical hardwood species has necessitated the utilization of plantation grown exotic timber species as a potential means of maintaining Ghana's foundation of timber resources. To better consider Albizia lebbeck as a substitute for wood species which are being seriously over-exploited to the point of commercial extinction, its wood properties were characterized to expatiate its utilization potentials. Three mature plantation grown Albizia lebbeck trees with diameters 45-50 cm at breast height were purposively selected and sampled at four stem height levels of tree height. The samples were sawn into the required sizes in accordance with the British standard, BS 373 (1957) for testing. The heartwood and sapwood proportions were evaluated and the samples were examined for hardness, bending strength (MOE and MOR), compression strength parallel to grain, shear strength parallel to grain, and air-dry density. All trees had a significantly higher heartwood than sapwood percentage. The air-dry density values at 12% MC were 868 kg/m3, 806 kg/m3, 695 kg/m3 and 564 kg/m3 for four sections of the stem (heights 0-25%, 26-50%, 51-75% and 76-100%). In general, the plantation grown Albizia lebbeck exhibited favourable strength values, suggesting that it is endowed with adequate properties for being an alternative species to supply the wood industry.Item Combustion, Physical And Mechanical Characteristics Of Briquettes Produced From Coconut Residues By Three Companies In Ghana(2024) TETTEH, Clara Lily Korkor; ANTWI, Kwaku; DONKOR, Mark Bright; ZAKARIA, JosephConverting biomass into a product that can be utilised efficiently for energy production is vital for its proper use. During briquetting, agricultural waste is turned into a product that is easily transportable, easy to handle, and easy to handle, as well as solid blocks that are more beneficial than raw biomass. Because of their makeup and natural differences, it is essential to be aware of the ideal techniques that must be adopted for more durable and lasting fuel from individual biomass compacted into briquettes. The physical, mechanical, and combustion characteristics of the bio-briquettes samples were examined in this study. The moisture content, volatile matter, fixed carbon, density, ash content, calorific value, and compressive strength were analysed with existing standards and compared with the values from the other studies. Results revealed that the briquettes samples have a mean value of moisture content (7.02 - 8.76%), volatile matter (46.11- 61:03%), fixed carbon (41.64 - 26.26%), briquette density (1.16 -1.33g/cm³) ash content (55 - 63.8%), calorific value (22.35 - 21.45MJ/kg) and compressive strength in cleft (0.43-1.25N/mm²)-suitable for domestic use, packaging, storage and transportation. This study has revealed that durable and quality briquettes can be achieved with better combustion, physical and mechanical properties can be produced with coconut husk and shell with cassava starch as a binder and can serve as another way of accessing energy and controlling waste.Item Determination Of Anatomical Features, Physical And Mechanical Properties Of Cashew Wood (Anacardium Occidentale L) From Semi Deciduous Forest, Ghana(2024) ASARE, Frederick Kwadwo; ANTWI, Kwaku; BIH, Francis KofiThis study investigates the anatomical, physical and mechanical properties of cashew wood (Anacardium occidentale) sourced from a semi-deciduous forest in Ghana, addressing its potential as an alternative to threatened tropical hardwoods. Wood remains a crucial material for construction and furniture due to its versatility and sustainability. The research focuses on the anatomical, mechanical, and physical properties of A. occidentale to assess its potential for various applications, in the context of challenges regarding the raw material scarcity and ecosystem degradation. The study is based on a destructive testing method on two mature trees, revealing significant fibre characteristics and mechanical properties variations between trees. Results indicated that, the anatomical, mechanical, and physical properties revealed significant variations between tree 1 and tree 2, underscoring the species' versatility for interior design applications, emphasising the need for sustainable forestry practices.Item The Factors Contributing to the Challenges with Apprenticeship in Ghana: Trainees’ Perspective(Journal of Education and Practice, 2021) Danso, Humphrey; Osei, Richard KwadwoApprenticeship has been the method of training the youth in acquiring employable skills in most developing countries. It provides an avenue for school dropouts to acquire skills leading to employment for sustainable livelihood. Apprenticeship plays a significant role in providing a skilled workforce and produces entrepreneurs, however, it is confronted with many challenges. This study, therefore, assessed the factors contributing to the challenges with an apprenticeship in Ghana, specifically from the trainees’ perspective. A descriptive survey was employed with a stratified random sampling technique used to select 1200 participants for data collection using a questionnaire. The study identified ten key or extremely challenging factors such as; the quality of the training is controlled by masters, masters provide training schedule, the training involves only practical activities, the training includes entrepreneurial skills, the training includes customer care, the training involves the use of modern technology, the training included financial management skills, there are policies governing the duration of the training, equipment and tools used are modern, and policies governing the duration training. Six components were found to be the factors contributing to the challenges, including; training structure-related factors, contemporary technological-related factors, aid-related factors, recognition-related factors, funding-related factors and perception-related factors; and these factors correlate positively and significantly. It is recommended that the government of Ghana should help in providing training structure and resources to promote skills training for the youth to acquire sustainable employment