Doctoral Degrees (Mechanical Engineering)
Recent Submissions
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Combustion studies of hybrid nanoadditive doped waste cooking oil biodiesel and its blends in compression ignition engine.
(2021)South Africa, among the developing nations in sub-Saharan Africa lacks technologies for converting crude biooil into biodiesel to run fuel CI engines. The country has also struggled to identify a suitable feedstock that ... -
The impact of disruptive technology on the manufacturing process, and productivity, in an advanced manufacturing environment.
(2022)Disruptive technology plays a critical role in the performance of mechatronic systems in an advanced manufacturing environment. Robots were used to perform pick and place task in a virtual manufacturing environment. ... -
Studying the feasibility of hydroprocessing used cooking oil into hydrogenation derived renewable diesel from local feedstock and catalyst.
(2021)Identifying and developing heterogeneous catalysts capable of mild-cracking used cooking oil (UCO) into hydrogenation-derived renewable diesel (HDRD) or green diesel production has posed a considerable challenge to ... -
Development and fabrication of functionally graded aluminium metal matrix composite for automobile component applications.
(2021)In recent times, interest in aluminium matrix composites (AMCs) have garnered traction over conventional aluminium alloys as the material of choice in the manufacturing of components for various engineering applications. ... -
Effect of flexible supports on the frequencies of nanobeams with tip mass and axial load for applications in atomic force microscopy (AFM)
(2020)This aim of this investigation is to describe the mechanical performance of a beam (probe) used in dynamic atomic force microscopy (dAFM) which can be utilized in scanning the topographical features of biological samples ... -
Effects of pyrolyzed municipal solid waste feedstocks as energy sources for non-road diesel engine, combustion, performance and emissions characteristics using biodiesel blended ratios.
(2021)Biodiesel oil blending is not a new concept in the study of biofuels and production. Blending is a chemical process of two or more different feedstocks comingled in varying proportions in the production of a new oil or ... -
Research, development and testing of brake pad materials from biomass-based nanocomposites.
(2021)Many variables affect braking systems in the automotive industry, including component geometry, brake materials, component interactions, and various operating conditions. The current research trend in the automotive industry ... -
Design and testing of a composite material for modelling wind turbine blade structures in tropical region.
(2018)Currently large wind turbine blades have been installed in several offshore and onshore wind farms around the world, particularly in the desert areas of North East Africa where wind turbine blades and nacelles are affected ... -
Structural characterisation and response modelling of paraffin-based hybrid rocket motor fuel grains.
(2020)Abstract available in PDF. -
Coupled heat and mass transfer in solar-powered liquid desiccant adiabatic dehumidifier and regenerator for air conditioning applications.
(2020)Abstract available in PDF. -
Numerical and experimental investigations of optimal fatty acid methyl ester hybrid for enhanced engine performance and emission mitigation in the conventional compression ignition strategy.
(2020)The utilization of petroleum-based diesel fuel to power compression ignition (CI) engines has been hampered by inefficient combustion process resulting in unsatisfactory engine performance and emission of hazardous gases. ... -
Production, evaluation and testing of bioethanol from matooke peels species as an alternative fuel for spark ignition engine: a case study of Uganda.
(2020)Conversion of new lignocellulose biomass (LCB) waste to energy is an innovative technique for waste valorization and management which reduces environmental pollutions and offers socioeconomic benefits. This has made the ... -
Investigation of the thermophysical properties of coconut fibre based green nanofluid for heat transfer applications.
(2018)Significant resources are being channelled toward research on carbon nanomaterials obtained from biomass precursors because of their overall environmental acceptability, stability, low toxicity and simplistic use. Due ... -
Production of jet fuel from microalgae biomass cultivated in saline domestic wastewater.
(2018)Jet fuel from crude petroleum oil is known as the most efficient energy carrier for the aviation sector. Environmental concerns and economic pressure drive major industries to adapt to current global revolution towards ... -
Development of a decision support system for decision-based part/fixture assignment and fixture flow control = Ukusungulwa kohlelo lokuxhaswa kwezinqumo mayelana nokwabiwa kwezingxenye ezakhiwayo kanye nokuhanjiswa kwazo.
(2018)ABSTRACT: An intense competition in a dynamic situation has increased the requirements that must be considered in the current manufacturing systems. Among those factors, fixtures are one of the major problematic components. ... -
Optimisation of welding parameters to mitigate the effect of residual stress on the fatigue life of nozzle–shell welded joints in cylindrical pressure vessels.
(2017)The process of welding steel structures inadvertently causes residual stress as a result of thermal cycles that the material is subjected to. These welding-induced residual stresses have been shown to be responsible for ... -
Fabrication and characterization of metal oxide nanostructured thin film for photovoltaic application.
(2018)This study focused on fabrication and characterization of nanostructured metal oxide heterojunction solar cells for photovoltaic application. The study involved experimental fabrication of the device and modelling and ...