Micro Hydro Power Plant for Sustainable Energy in Rural Electrification: A Case Study in Cameroon

The state of Cameroon, faced with the situation the electricity deficits, is promoting the development of renewable energies in general and to meet rural electrification needs in particular. The purpose of this work is to study the feasibility of the MHP of Batcheu, to show its contribution to sustainable development in this locality and to prove that it is a profitable project. After study, it appears that the waterfall of Batcheu is favourable to the establishment of a MHP with an installed power of 260 kW with an operating diagram corresponding to a Francis turbine. Given that it is a renewable energy that can supply more than 800 households in rural areas, its contribution to sustainable development is obvious. Its investment cost is estimated at 171,465,396 FCFA. It is a profitable project with a payback time of 7 years and 2 months.

Mechanical Characterization of Rhecktophyllum Camerunense (RC) Fiber Reinforced Concrete

This work presents the development and mechanical characterization of a concrete reinforced with plant fiber extracted from Rhecktophyllum Camerunense (RC), a plant found in the regions of Center and South Cameroon. A comparative study between ordinary concrete and concrete reinforced with RC fiber at different percentages (0.1%, 0.2% and 0.3%) was carried out. The mechanical characterization of the material consisted in studying the flexural, compressive and splitting tensile strength by using cylindrical specimens of dimensions 160 × 320 in accordance with standards EN 12390-3 and EN 12390-6. The study of the mechanical properties was completed by the three-point bending test using prismatic test specimens of dimension 40 × 40 × 160 made according to the EN 196 standard. It emerges from this work that the addition of RC fiber improves the mechanical properties of concrete up to 0.2% with a peak at 0.1% of fiber corresponding to respective increases of 9%, 16% and 6% of the values of mechanical resistance to compression, flexion and tension after 28 days. From 0.3% of fiber, the values of the mechanical characteristics of the composite drop to values lower than those of ordinary concrete. The density reduction rate at 28 days is about 10% compared to the mass of ordinary concrete. These results allow us to conclude that the RC fiber could be valorized for the production of lightweight concrete.

Mechanical Characterization of Rhecktophyllum Camerunense (RC) Fiber Reinforced Concrete

This work presents the development and mechanical characterization of a concrete reinforced with plant fiber extracted from Rhecktophyllum Camerunense (RC), a plant found in the regions of Center and South Cameroon. A comparative study between ordinary concrete and concrete reinforced with RC fiber at different percentages (0.1%, 0.2% and 0.3%) was carried out. The mechanical characterization of the material consisted in studying the flexural, compressive and splitting tensile strength by using cylindrical specimens of dimensions 160 × 320 in accordance with standards EN 12390-3 and EN 12390-6. The study of the mechanical properties was completed by the three-point bending test using prismatic test specimens of dimension 40 × 40 × 160 made according to the EN 196 standard. It emerges from this work that the addition of RC fiber improves the mechanical properties of concrete up to 0.2% with a peak at 0.1% of fiber corresponding to respective increases of 9%, 16% and 6% of the values of mechanical resistance to compression, flexion and tension after 28 days. From 0.3% of fiber, the values of the mechanical characteristics of the composite drop to values lower than those of ordinary concrete. The density reduction rate at 28 days is about 10% compared to the mass of ordinary concrete. These results allow us to conclude that the RC fiber could be valorized for the production of lightweight concrete.

Characteristics and Mechanicals Potentials of Wood Adhesives Manufactured with Grasses’ Lignins

In order to manufacture environmentally friendly particle boards and enhance local resources, the lignins of Sorghum bicolor and Andropogon gayanus characterized using RMN 13C and MALDI TOF have the same structures. They contents Guaiacyl (G), Syringyl (S), p-hydroxyphenylpropane (H) and functional groups of phenols, flavonoids and secondary alcohols. The total phenol content determinated using Folin-Ciocalteu reagent is respectively 20.97 and 15.42 mg eqgallic acid/g of extract. The power of their adhesives is different. The Internal Bond (IB) of particleboards manufactured with these adhesives are respectively 0.37 MPa and 0.41 MPa. These lignins can be used as antioxydants.

Experimental Study and Numerical Simulation Using Extended Finite Element Method (XFEM) Combined with Cohesive Zone Model (CZM), of Crack Growth Induced by Non-Explosive Expansive Material on Two Neighboring Circular Holes of A Gneiss Rock

The Non-explosive expansion material (NEEM) is a method more environmentally friendly than the harmful conventional rock fracturing techniques. However, it is slower and very costly. Thus, any means of economizing their use is very desirable. This paper investigates the crack growth between two neighboring holes of a gneiss rock internally pressurized by NEEM mixed with water with the aim to evaluate the influence of holes spacing (center-to-center distance), on the initiation and growth of cracks. Field experimental results reveal that crack starts earlier and grows faster with increasing ambient temperature. But when the ambient temperature is above 28°C, the NEEM is “blown out” of the holes. At these ambient temperatures, the surrounding rocks are hot and cannot dissipate efficiently the heat generated by the hydration reaction. The best filling time was found to be in the evening when the daily hot temperature has drooped. The time to first crack increases as hole diameter decreases. The 3D numerical modeling and simulation of crack growth between two neighboring holes internally pressurized by NEEM using ABAQUS (XFEM/CZM) software shows a good agreement with the theoretical and experimental results.