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Number 8, August 2011 IEM Registered on 1 May 1959
Majlis Bagi s esi 2011/2012 (ie M Coun C il s ession 2011/2012)
Yang D I p E rtua / p r ESIDE nt:
Ir. Chen Kim Kieong, Vincent
tI mbalan Yang D I p E rtua / D E put Y p r ESIDE nt:
Ir. Choo Kok Beng
n a I b Yang D I p E rtua / V I c E p r ESIDE nt S:
Ir. Prof. Dr Ruslan bin Hassan, Y.Bhg. Dato' Ir. Hj. Abdul Rashid bin Maidin, Ir. Lee Weng Onn,
Ir. P.E. Chong, Y.Bhg. Dato' Ir. Lim Chow Hock, Ir. Prof. Dr Wan Mahmood bin Wan Abdul Majid, Ir. Yim Hon Wa
S E t I au S aha K E hormat / h onorarY S Ecr E tarY:
Ir. Prof. Dr Lee Teang Shui
bE n Dahar I K E hormat / h onorarY t r Ea S ur E r:
Ir. Assoc. Prof. Dr Chiang Choong Luin, Jeffrey
Wa KI l aWa m / c IVI l rE pr ESE ntat IVE: Ir. Gunasagaran a/l Kristnan
Wa KI l mEK an IK al / mEchan I cal rE pr ESE ntat IVE: Y.Bhg. Dato' Lt. Gen. (R) Ir. Ismail bin Samion
Wa KI l El EK tr IK / El Ectr I cal rE pr ESE ntat IVE:
Ir. Mohd. Aman bin Hj. Idris
Wa KI l Stru K tur / Structural rE pr ESE ntat IVE:
Ir. Yam Teong Sian
Wa KI l K I m I a Dan D ISI pl I n l a I n / c h E m I cal a n D oth E r S rE pr ESE ntat IVE:
Ir. Razmahwata bin Mohamad Razalli
Wakil lain-lain displin / Rep R esentative to othe R disciplines:
Ir. Assoc. Prof. Dr Cheong Kuan Yee
Wa KI l m ult I m EDI a / m ult I m EDI a rE pr ESE ntat IVE:
Ir. Noor Iziddin Abdullah bin Hj. Ghazali
ahl I majl IS / c ounc I l mE mb E r S:
Ir. Prof. Dr Lee Sze Wei, Ir. Tuan Hj. Mohd. Ali bin Yusoff, Ir. Yee Yew Weng, Ir. Mah Soo, Ir. Dr Ahmad Anuar bin Othman, Ir. Kok Yen Kwan, Ir. Yau Chau Fong, Ir. Wong Chee Fui, Ir. Mohd. Khir bin Muhammad, Y.Bhg. Dato' Ir. Hj. Mohd. Isa bin Hj. Sarman, Ir. Assoc. Prof. Dr Marlinda binti Abd. Malek, Ir. Zainuddin bin Mohammad, Ir. Lai Kong Phooi, David, Y.Bhg. Dato' Ir. John Chee Shi Tong, Ir. Gopal Narian Kutty, Ir. Tan Yean Chin, Y.Bhg. Dato' Ir. Ahmad Murad bin Hj. Omar, Ir. Ng Shiu Yuen, David, Ir. Kim Kek Seong, Ir. Chong Chew Fan, Ir. Dr Tan Kuang Leong, Ir. Lau Yuk Ma, June, Ir. Dr Norlida binti Buniyamin, Ir. Ishak bin Abdul Rahman, Ir. Hoo Choon Sean, Y. Bhg. Dato Ir. Samsuddin bin Ismail ahli majlis / c ouncil m embe Rs (by a ppointment):
Dato' Ir. Hj. Mohamad bin Hj. Husin, Ir. Abdul Ghani bin Hashim, Ir. Abdullah bin Isnin
bEK a S Yang D I p E rtua tE ra K h I r / Imm EDI at E pa S t p r ESIDE nt:
Y.Bhg. Dato' Ir. Prof. Dr Chuah Hean Teik
b EK a S Yang DI p E rtua / pa S t p r ESIDE ntS:
Y.Bhg. Dato' Ir. Pang Leong Hoon, Y.Bhg. Dato' Ir. (Dr) Hj. Ahmad Zaidee bin Laidin, Ir. Dr Gue See Sew, Y.Bhg. Datuk Ir. Prof. Dr Ow Chee Sheng, Y.Bhg. Dato' Paduka Ir. Prof. (Dr) Keizrul bin Abdullah
p E ng E ru SI caWangan / branch cha I rman:
1. Pulau Pinang – Ir. Ng Sin Chie
2. Selatan – Ir. Mohd. Khir bin Muhammad
3. Perak – Ir. Assoc. Prof. Dr Md. Azlin bin Md. Said
5. Negeri Sembilan – Ir. Mohammed Noor bin Abu Hassan
6. Timur – Ir. Hj. Roslan bin Abdul Azis
7. Terengganu – Ir. Mohd. Azmi bin Ali
8. Melaka – Ir. Mohd. Khalid bin Nasir
9. Sarawak – Ir. Tan Khiok Chun, Alan
10. Sabah – Ir. Teo Chee Kong
11. Miri – Ir. Ting Kang Ngii, Peter
ahl I jaWatan Kua S a I n F orma SI Dan p E n E rb I tan / S tan DI ng comm I tt EE on I n F ormat I on an D publ I cat I on S 2011/2012: Pengerusi/Chairman cum Chief Editor: Y. Bhg. Dato' Ir. Hj. Abdul Rashid bin Maidin Naib Pengerusi/Vice Chairman: Ir. Prof. Dr Lee Sze Wei Setiausaha/Secretary: Ir. Lau Tai Onn Ketua Pengarang/Chief Editor: Ir. Prof. Dr Lee Sze Wei Pengarang Buletin/Bulletin Editor: Ir. Ong Guan Hock Pengarang (Jurnal)/Journal Editor: Ir. Assoc. Prof. Dr Marlinda binti Abdul Malek Pengerusi Perpustakaan/Library Chairman: Ir. CMM Aboobucker Ahli-Ahli/Committee Members: Ir. Yee Thien Seng, Ir. Tan Yean Chin, Ir. Chin Mee Poon, Engr. Abi Sofian bin Abdul Hamid, Ir. Prof. Dr Mohd. Saleh bin Jaafar, Ir. Hj. Look Keman bin Sahari, Ir. Mohd. Khir bin Muhammad, Ir. Yee Yew Weng, Y. Bhg. Datuk Ir. Prof. Dr Ow Chee Sheng, Ir. Cheong Loong Kwong, Allen, Ir. Prof. Dr Arazi bin Idrus, Ir. Tey Choo Yew, Calvin, Engr. Shuhairy bin Norhisham, Engr. Abul Aswal bin Abdul Latiff
IEM Secretariat: Nor Aziah Budin, Nurul Aida Mustafa
the institution of engineers, M alaysia Bangunan Ingenieur, Lots 60 & 62, Jalan 52/4, P.O.Box 223, (Jalan Sultan), 46720 Petaling Jaya, Selangor Darul Ehsan. Tel: 603-7968 4001/4002 Fax: 603-7957 7678
Scarcity of Water: reduce, reuse, recycle and rethink
by Ir. Ellias bin Saidin, Deputy Chairman, Water Resource Technical Division, IEM
“Water, water, everywhere nor any drop to drink “ - Ancient Mariner
the world’s freshwater resource amounts to 2.5% of the total amount of water on Earth. With almost all of this freshwater frozen in glaciers, permafrost and stored deep below ground, only 0.4% of the total amount of water on this Earth, in the form of surface and atmospheric water, is readily available for consumption. In Asia, 80% of the freshwater is used for agriculture while the balance is being used for industries and human consumption.
The world’s population is increasing exponentially from an estimated one billion in the 1800’s, to an estimated seven billion in October 2011 and has been projected to be as high as nine billion by 2050. However, the total amount of freshwater resource available in the world has remained unchanged. This means the amount of water available for mankind will be placed under tremendous pressure. Urban migration of the population has further aggravated the capacity of water supply authorities in towns and cities to meet the increasing demand for freshwater.
Presently, greater awareness on the scarcity of water resources has led to strong campaigns and practices towards a more sustainable utilisation of water. Within the home, fixtures and appliances are being manufactured and installed to restrict flowrates and reduce the domestic consumption of water.
There has also been a rethinking, or a paradigm shift, in seeking alternative sources of water apart from solely relying on treated piped-water by the local municipality. The age-old practice of harvesting rainwater is currently making a comeback in many developed cities. On 23 May 2011, a bylaw in the Malaysian UBBL was approved which makes it mandatory for the installation of RWH systems in semi-Ds, bungalows and government buildings.
In the MUDA irrigation schemes in Kedah, irrigation water for paddy fields is being successfully recycled back into the paddy fields. In addition, responsible manufacturers are beginning to discover ingenious ways to reuse their processed water, including cascading its use at each stage of the production as well as reusing water for cleaning and gardening before discharging it safely into the watercourses.
The former UN General Secretary, Kofi Annan, in 2001 was quoted as saying, " Fierce competition for fresh water may well become a source of conflict and wars in the future ”. Engineers in their daily practices shall now take the lead in the global challenge to conserve water and maintain the sustainability of water resources. n
reduce, reuse and recycle
Solid waste management programmes in Malaysia are beginning to gain momentum in recent times. From the campaign on the ban of plastic bag usage to the promotion of home composting, no effort has been spared to increase the public’s awareness on the need to reduce, reuse and recycle. In a recent interview, Dato’ Dr Nadzri bin Yahaya, Director-General of the National Solid Waste Management Department, talked about some of these programmes with JURUTERA.
He began by explaining that the Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Act 2007 (Act 672) is the parent legislation which provides all the enabling provision to manage solid waste and public cleansing in Malaysia. As such, for solid waste management programmes to achieve its respective targets, the details of the implementation must be spelt out in the regulations or by-laws enacted under the parent Act (Act 672).
Director-General of the National Solid Waste Management Department
Dato' Dr Nadzri bin Yahaya
He said, “The regulations or by-laws will be gradually formulated according to priorities. For instance, regulation to control the service providers must be put in place as soon as the Act comes into force. We also need the anti-litter, compounding, licensing and sorting at source regulations immediately. Without these regulations, the privatisation of solid waste management cannot be carried efficiently and the Act will be an empty shell.”
Back in March 2011, it was reported that landed properties in the country would soon be provided with 120-litre bins to dispose their household garbage. However, so far, these bins have yet to be distributed to the local community. Dato’ Dr Nadzri stated that this will only be done when the Government has decided to enforce the Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Act 2007 (Act 672) and implement the privatisation of solid waste collection. In this regard, the government has recently agreed to enforce Act 672 on 1 September 2011 in the Peninsula.
He said, “Under the Act, the government is planning to impose mandatory sorting at source. To support the implementation of the Act, the collection schedule under the new privatisation regime requires the concession company to collect the residual solid waste on different days from the collection of the recyclables.” He added that the residual waste (food waste and other non-recyclables) would be deposited into bins which will be collected by a lorry with a bin lifter and not manually handled. Thus, all bins have to be standardised to ensure smooth collection of the waste. According to experts, one of the major contributors to solid waste in Malaysia is plastic bags and goods which represent approximately 24% of the total waste. Society’s consumption rate of plastic bags is now estimated at well over 500 billion plastic bags annually, or almost 1 million per minute. So has the recent drive to reduce the usage of plastic bags by charging shoppers made any difference? Judging by the encouraging response as reported in the mass media, as well as the strong support from merchants and retailers, it would seem so. However, Dato’ Dr Nadzri feels that the issue should be viewed in a holistic manner.
He stated that although there has been an overall decrease in the usage of plastic bags, ultimately, it was more important to see a decrease in the amount of plastic waste that ends up in the landfills. Despite the programme’s apparent success, he has encountered some mixed signals on the matter. While the number of plastic bags being issued to customers has decreased, ironically, the sale of plastic bags has actually increased.
He said, “We did a quick survey on the attitude of some of these customers. Some bring their own bags each time they go shopping. Others just could not be bothered and would rather pay for the plastic bags. Some customers just put their goods into the trolley and push it to their cars. For those who stay near shopping complexes, some have admitted to pushing their trolleys as far as they can go, even all the way to their streets or homes.”
To counter the increase in plastic bag sales, Dato’ Dr Nadzri believes that more public awareness programmes must take place to educate the consumer. He said, “The important thing
is to ensure that these plastic bags do not end up in the landfill, or pollute the environment by clogging and choking up the river and drainage system.” He stressed that a plastic bag must be used and reused as many times as possible. When it is no longer usable, it must be segregated from other recyclables and not be mixed up in the bin with other residual waste (food waste, etc).
Beside plastic waste, the National Solid Waste Management Department is also turning its focus on food waste. Dato’ Dr Nadzri said, “At present, food waste constitutes the biggest portion in solid waste generation. Hence, we are going into high gear to address food waste. Although household composting is quite popular in many developed countries, the practice has not quite caught up with the Malaysian public in a big way especially in the urban areas.”
He added that the department has continuously carried out awareness campaigns to get more households to take up composting. He said, “Back in 2008, we undertook a composting project under the DANIDA programme with the Centre For Environment, Technology And Development Malaysia (CETDEM) and the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) to promote home composting to 46 households.” One of the findings of the project was that local authorities needed to carry out more outreach programmes since many people were still ignorant about the method.
To address this issue, he said, “We are now implementing programmes, either on our own or with the collaboration of NGOs, to educate more people to do home composting. We are working with the Ministry of Environment of Japan as well as the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fishery to launch a pilot project on composting as well as biomass town respectively. We are also undertaking a four-month study on food waste under the NKEA Initiative for Greater Kuala Lumpur or Klang Valley to address food waste issues in these two areas.”
According to press reports, the government plans to open nine sanitary landfills this year to process 17,000 tonnes of
garbage a day in the country. These sanitary landfills are being built under the 9th Malaysia Plan and another two under the first rolling plan of the 10th Malaysia Plan. They will be located in Johor (Pagoh, Pekan Nanas and Bukit Payong), Melaka (Sg. Udang), Negri Sembilan (Ladang Tanah Merah, Port Dickson), Perak (Teluk Mengkudu, Manjung and Lahat, Ipoh), Perlis (Rimba Emas), Terengganu (Tertak Batu, Bukit Jemalang) and Pahang (Temerloh).
Dato’ Dr Nadzri stated that, at present, there are about 166 landfills that are still operating, out of which only eight are sanitary landfills. He explained that the new landfills are not an addition to those that are currently operating, but will take over those landfills which will be closed soon because they have reached their full capacity and due to its unsuitable location.
However, the most important issue when it comes to opening a new sanitary landfill is the availability of a suitable site. Dato’ Dr Nadzri pointed out that, since land is a state matter, it is crucial for the National Solid Waste Management Department to work with the local authorities and the state government on the selection of a site. He said, “Quite often, the site that is provided for the location of a landfill is situated in a sensitive area such as in catchment areas, near water in-take point and so forth. In other instances, when a suitable site is identified, there is no existing access road or the landfill is situated away from the existing road. Hence, the department has to negotiate with the landowner for access.”
There were also instances when everything was in order, the department discovered that new development projects have been planned near the landfill site. In this case, the department has no choice but to withdraw the development’s proposal.
Although there is still much to do, Dato’ Dr Nadzri is confident that public awareness on solid waste management in Malaysia will catch up with those from developed countries in the next 10 or 20 years. He said, “We did a survey on the public’s awareness on 3R. The result was amazing as about 90% of those surveyed were aware of it. Unfortunately, only about 50% to 60% of them practiced 3R activities. Among the reasons given was that there were no infrastructure for them to send their recyclable items. Hence, to encourage the public to recycle and practise good solid waste management, the infrastructure must be there besides the ongoing public awareness programmes.” n
abu Dhabi’s rM18.1 Billion Commitment to aluminium Project in Sarawak
Abu Dhabi has committed RM18.1 billion to develop aluminiumrelated industries in Sarawak. The project, which is expected to create more than 40,000 skilled jobs, will be jointly developed by 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) and Abu Dhabi's Mubadala Development Company (Mubadala). This includes the development of a RM12.7 billion technologically advanced energy-efficient aluminium smelter. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak stated that Mubadala will also help 1MDB team up with other strategic partners to develop downstream industries valued at RM5.4 billion.
Another cooperation between both nations involved the development of the SK320 oil block with Petronas in Sarawak. He added that Abu Dhabi's RM1.2 billion investment in Iskandar Malaysia through Mubadala marked the beginning of its strong and long economic presence in the country. The latter also reiterated its commitment to set up the RM25 billion Kuala Lumpur International Financial District, a joint venture with 1MDB which is intended to tightly cluster banking and financial entities.
(Sourced from The Star)
Survey results for Geothermal Power Plant for Sabah Coming Soon
Datuk Masidi Manjun, State Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister, said SIRIM was currently conducting a qualitative and quantitative survey on the viability of setting up a geothermal power plant in Sabah, an idea which was mooted in 2009. He added that the state was not only looking at geothermal, but also alternative renewable energy such as wind, tidal and solar. The results of the survey will be presented to the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry soon. Back in March 2011, Deputy Natural Resources and Environment Minister, Tan Sri Joseph Kurup, said a feasibility study by the Mineral and Geosciences Department had indicated that a geothermal site in Apas, Tawau, has the potential to generate enough electricity to cater to the needs of the Tawau population .
(Sourced from BERNAMA)
Ge Supplying Kimanis Power Plant with Gas turbines
General Electric (GE) will be supplying three Frame 6FA gas turbines, associated generators and services for the 300-megawatt combined cycle gas-fired Kimanis power plant in Sabah. The gas turbines are expected to be shipped in the first quarter of next year, with commercial operation scheduled to begin in the fourth quarter of 2013. In a statement, GE said that the gas turbines are well-suited for combined-cycle, industrial and cogeneration applications
with its output range, high exhaust energy and robust design. More than 100 units have been installed worldwide and have completed more than three million hours of service, making the 6FA gas turbine one of the most extensively used gas turbines in its class.
(Sourced from BERNAMA)
rM673.9 Million Lrt extension Job awarded to CCu
CMC-Colas-Uniway (CCU) has received a letter of award by Syarikat Prasarana Negara Bhd to undertake works on the Kelana Jaya Line extension project worth RM673.9 million. In a statement, Prasarana stated that the Kelana Jaya Line will be extended from the Kelana Jaya station by another 17km and reach up to Putra Heights through 13 new stations. CCU is believed to be led by British firm, Colas with a local partner, CMC Engineering Sdn Bhd. Prasarana has awarded contracts worth RM1.7 billion for the first phase (Package A) of the RM7 billion LRT extension project involving the Kelana Jaya and Ampang lines since 2010. Package A of the Kelana Jaya line, valued at RM950 million, was awarded to Trans Resources Corp Bhd while UEM Builders Bhd and Intria Bina Sdn Bhd were jointly appointed the nominated sub-contractors for the fabrication and delivery of segmental box girder jobs worth RM93.16 million.
(Sourced from The Star)
alam Maritim eyeing rM500 Million Worth of Contracts
Alam Maritim Resources Bhd is bidding for contracts to build offshore support vessels (OSVs) and for offshore installation and construction (OIC) projects worth up to RM500 million. En. Azmi Ahmad, its Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, said the company was aggressively moving into the OIC sector by forming strategic alliances with Sabah Foundation, Swiber Group and Pacific Crest Pte Ltd. The company is also in discussion with a Saudi company to venture into Saudi Arabia.
The company's order book currently stood at around RM580 million, which included OSV and OIC projects. Although the current utilisation rate fell to 65% due to the softening of daily charter rates as experienced by the majority of OSV players worldwide, the company hopes to improve it to 70%75% by year end. Alam Maritim was also eyeing joint ventures with existing players such as Muhibbah or Labuan Shipyard on its ship repair facilities. The company has acquired 35 acres in Alor Gajah, Malacca, for RM10 million as part of its longterm plan to develop a base for its ship-repair and building operations. The cost to set up the facilities was estimated to be around RM20 million to RM30 million.
(Sourced from BERNAMA)
Fabrication Methods, Mechanical Properties and Industrial applications of Metal Matrix Composite Materials
1.0 INTRODUCTION
Metal matrix composite (MMC) materials are composed of an element or alloy matrix in which a second phase is embedded and distributed to achieve some property improvement. Based on the size, shape and amount of the second phase, the composite property varies. It has outstanding benefits due to the combined metallic and ceramic properties, thereby yielding improved physical and mechanical properties. In fact, it represents a new generation of engineering materials in which a strong ceramic reinforcement is incorporated into a metal matrix to improve its properties including specific strength, specific stiffness, wear resistance, corrosion resistance and elastic modulus. It combines the metallic properties of matrix alloys such as ductility and toughness with the ceramic properties of reinforcement such as high strength and high modulus, leads to greater strength in shear and compression, and higher service-temperature capabilities. Thus, they have significant scientific, technological and commercial importance.
In this paper, the fabrication methods, mechanical properties and industrial applications of different types of MMCs are discussed in a comprehensive manner. MMCs are materials that are attractive for a large range of engineering applications. They are a family of new materials, which are attracting considerable industrial interest and investment worldwide. The microstructure of the processed composites influences and has a great effect on the mechanical properties. Generally, increasing the weight fraction of the reinforcement phase in the matrix leads to increased stiffness, yield strength and ultimate tensile strength. However, the low ductility of particulate reinforced MMCs is a major drawback which prevents their usage as structural components in some applications [1].
MMCs are composites with a metal or alloy matrix. It has a higher elastic modulus, resistance to elevated temperatures, toughness and ductility. The limitations are higher density and a greater difficulty in processing parts. Because of their high specific stiffness, lightweight and high thermal conductivity, boron fibres in an aluminium matrix have been used for structural tubular supports in the space shuttle Orbiter. MMCs with silicon carbide fibres and a titanium matrix are being used for the skin, beams, stiffeners and frames of a hypersonic aircraft, which is under development. Other applications are in the form of bicycle frames and sporting goods. Composite
by Dr Thoguluva Raghavan Vijayaram
materials are continuously displacing traditional engineering materials because of their advantages of high stiffness and strength over homogeneous materials formulations [2].
2.0 FABRICATION METHODS
The fabrication of particulate and discontinuously reinforced aluminium based MMCs can be achieved by standard metallurgical processing methods such as powder metallurgy, direct casting, rolling, forging and extrusion, while the products can be shaped, machined and drilled by using conventional machining facilities. Composite materials are characterised by good mechanical properties over a wide range of temperature. The choice of the processing method depends on the property requirements, cost factor consideration and prospects of future applications. Composite materials with a metal or alloy matrix, which can be produced either by casting or powder metallurgy methods, are considered as potential material candidates for a wide variety of structural application in the transportation, automobile and sporting goods manufacturing industries due to the superior range of the mechanical properties they possess [3]. Conventional secondary fabrication methods can be used to produce a wide range of composite product forms, making them relatively inexpensive compared to other advanced composites reinforced with continuous filaments. The composite properties are enhanced in terms of increased strength, decreased weight, ability to withstand higher service temperature, improved wear resistance and higher modulus of elasticity. The main advantage of composites lies in the tailorability of their mechanical and physical properties to meet specific design criteria.
During the production of MMCs, several oxides are used as reinforcements, in the form of particulates, fibres or as whiskers. For example, alumina, zirconium oxide and thorium oxide particulates are used as reinforcements in aluminium, magnesium and other metallic matrices. Very few researchers have reported on the use of quartz as a secondary phase reinforcement particulate in an aluminium or aluminium alloy matrix due to its aggressive reactivity between these materials [4]. Preliminary studies have shown that the contact between molten aluminium and silica-based ceramic particulates completely destroyed the second phase microstructure due to the reduction reaction which provokes the infiltration of the liquid metal phase into the ceramic.
Previous works carried out using continuous silica fibres as reinforcement phases in the aluminium matrix has shown that even at temperatures nearer to 400ºC, silica and aluminium can react and produce a transformed layer on the original fibre surface as a result of solid diffusion between the phases and due to the aluminium-silicon liquid phase formation. In the processing of MMCs, one of the subjects of interest is to choose a suitable matrix and reinforcement material. In some cases, chemical reactions that occurred at the interface between the matrix and its reinforcement materials have been considered harmful to the final mechanical properties and are usually avoided. Sometimes, the interfacial reactions are intentionally induced, because the new layer formed at the interface acts as a strong bond between the phases [5].
3.0 ENHANCEMENT OF MECHANCIAL PROPERTIES IN COMPOSITES
MMC materials are defined as materials whose microstructures comprise a continuous metallic matrix phase into which a second phase, or phases, has been artificially introduced. This is in contrast to conventional alloys whose microstructures are produced during processing by naturally occurring phase transformations. MMCs are distinguished from the more extensively developed resin matrix composites by virtue of their metallic nature in terms of the physical and mechanical properties and by their ability to lend themselves to conventional metallurgical processing operations. Electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity and non-inflammability, matrix shear strength, ductility and abrasion resistance, ability to be coated, joined, formed and heat treated are just some of the properties that differentiate MMCs from resin matrix composites. They are a class of advanced materials which have been developed for weightcritical applications in the aerospace industry. Reinforced composites can be made with properties that are isotropic in three dimensions or in a plane [6].
4.0 THE ROLE OF MMCs IN AEROSPACE AND AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRIES
During the last decade, because of their improved properties, MMCs are being used extensively for high performance applications such as in aircraft engines and, more recently, in the automotive industries. Aluminium oxide and silicon carbide powders in the form of fibres and particulates are commonly used as reinforcements in MMCs and the addition of these reinforcements to aluminum alloys has been the subject of a considerable amount of research work. Aluminium oxide and silicon carbide reinforced aluminum alloy matrix composites are applied in the automotive and aircraft industries as engine pistons and cylinder heads, where the tribological properties of these materials are considered important. Therefore, the development of aluminum matrix composites is receiving considerable emphasis in meeting the requirements of various industries [7].
5.0 INDUSTRIAL APPLICATIONS OF MMCs
Graphite fibres embedded in copper matrix are used to fabricate electrical contacts and bearings. Boron fibres in aluminium are used in compressor blades and structural supports. The same fibres in magnesium are also used to make antenna structures. Titanium-boron fibre composites are used in jet-engine fan blades [8]. Molybdenum and tungsten fibres are dispersed in cobalt-base super alloy matrices to make high temperature engine components. Squeeze cast MMCs generally have much better reinforcement distribution than compo cast materials. This is because a ceramic preform is used to contain the desired weight fraction of reinforcement rigidly attached to one another so that movement is inhibited [9]. Consequently, clumping and dendritic segregation are eliminated. Porosity is also minimised since pressure is used to force the metal into interfibre channels, thus displacing the gases. Grain size and shape can vary throughout the infiltrated preform because of heat flow patterns. Secondary phases typically
Glass or carbon bubbles reinforced in aluminium Ultra light material
Cast carbon fibre reinforced magnesium fibre composites Tubular composites for space structures
thermal expansion, high temperature strength, good specific strength and specific stiffness.
Table 1: Special features and applications of MMCs materials [10]
Graphite reinforced in aluminium
Graphite reinforced in aluminium, silicon carbide reinforced in aluminium, aluminium oxide reinforced in aluminium
Zircon reinforced in aluminium-silicon alloy, aluminium silicate reinforced in aluminium Cutting tool, machine shrouds, impellers
form at the fibre-matrix interface since the lower freezing soluterich regions diffuse towards the fibre ahead of the solidifying matrix.
In recent years, the aerospace, military and automotive industries have been promoting the technological development of composite materials to achieve a good mechanical strength/ density and stiffness/density ratio. Modern fibre-reinforced or particulate reinforced MMCs are produced via casting techniques. A wide variety of applications due to the low cost of fabrication and achievable engineering properties are shown in Table 1 [10].
6.0 THE ROLE OF MMCs IN AEROSPACE AND AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRIES
During the last decade, because of their improved properties, MMCs are being used extensively for high performance applications such as in aircraft engines and, more recently, in the automotive industries. Aluminium oxide and silicon carbide powders in the form of fibres and particulates are commonly used as reinforcements in MMCs and the addition of these reinforcements to aluminum alloys has been the subject of a considerable amount of research work. Aluminium oxide and silicon carbide reinforced aluminum alloy matrix composites are applied in the automotive and aircraft industries as engine pistons and cylinder heads, where the tribological properties of these materials are considered important. Therefore, the development of aluminum matrix composites is receiving considerable emphasis in meeting the requirements of various industries [7].
Some of the properties are high longitudinal and transverse strengths at normal and elevated temperatures, near-zero coefficients of thermal expansion, good electrical and thermal conductivities, and excellent antifriction, anti abrasion, damping and machinability properties. The application of composites materials is well established in aircraft technology and these are now applied in fuselage-production technologies as well as in jet engine technologies. Application in car production technology is growing very fast, although it is still not as common as in aircraft technology [11]. Due to mechanical, electrical and heat resistant properties, their application in the electronics industries is also growing considerably. Composite material parts are also applied in electronic sub-assemblies, lasers and computer parts, which can work at a higher temperature and function with better efficiency when compared to conventional electronic materials.
The application of composites in the automotive, transportation and construction industries depends on the choice of cost affordable factor. Apart from the emerging and economical processing techniques that combine quality and ease of operation, researchers are turning to particulate-reinforced aluminium-metal matrix composites at the same time because of their relatively low cost and isotropic properties especially in applications that do not require extreme loading or restricted thermal conditions in the case of automotive components. The presence of aluminium alloys as matrix materials is due to its comparative advantages, including low cost and ease of handling. The space shuttle uses boron reinforced aluminium tubes to support its fuselage frame, which decreases the mass
of the space shuttle by more than 145kg. It has also reduced the thermal insulation requirements because of its lower thermal conductivity [12].
The mast of the Hubble telescope uses carbon-reinforced aluminium matrix composites. Precision components in missile guidance systems demand dimensional stability and the geometries of the components cannot change during usage. MMCs such as silicon carbide reinforced aluminium composite satisfy this requirement since they have high micro-yield strength. In addition, the weight fraction of silicon carbide can be varied to have a coefficient of thermal expansion that is compatible with other parts of the system assembly. MMCs are now used in automotive engines, which are lighter than their metal component parts. In addition, MMCs are the materials of choice for gas turbine engines due to their high strength and low weight. The range of MMC materials applications is very large. Some of the important MMC components are applied and used as insulation materials for electrical construction, support for circuit breakers and printed circuits, armours, boxes and covers, antennas, radomes, the top of television covers, cable tracks, windmills, housing cells, chimneys, concrete moulds, domes, windows, facade panels, partitions, doors and furniture.
It is also used in automotive engineering parts such as automotive body parts, wheels, shields, radiator grills, transmission shafts, suspension springs, chassis, suspension arms, casings, highway tankers, isothermal trucks, trailers, wagons, doors, seats, interior panels and ventilation housings. In marine transport, it is used to fabricate hovercrafts, rescue crafts, patrol boats, trawlers, landing gears, anti-mine ships, racing boats and canoes. In air transport, MMCs are used in passenger aircrafts, composite gliders, leading edges, ailerons, vertical stabilisers, helicopter blades, propellers, transmission shafts and aircraft brake discs.
For space transport, it is used to make rocket boosters, reservoirs, nozzles and shields for atmosphere re-entrance. Some of the general mechanical applications include gears, bearings, housing and casings, jack body, robot arms, flywheels, weaving machine rods, pipes, components for drawing table, compressed gas bottles, tubes for offshore platforms and pneumatics for radial frames. It is widely applied in sports and recreation industries to manufacture tennis and squash rackets, fishing poles, skis, poles used for jumping, sails, surfboards, roller skates, bows and arrows, javelins, protection helmets, bicycle frames, golf balls and golf sticks, and oars [13].
7.0 CONCLUSION
It is concluded that MMCs materials are continuously displacing traditional engineering materials because of their advantages of high stiffness and strength over homogeneous materials formulations. These tailored advanced materials have high potential properties engineered for various industrial applications. Composite
experts have carried out a detailed investigation on the strengthening mechanism of composites. They have found that the particle size and its weight fraction in MMCs influence the generation of dislocations due to thermal mismatch as well as the effect influenced by the developed residual and internal stresses. The researchers have predicted that the dislocation density is directly proportional to the weight fraction and is due to the amount of thermal mismatch. Consequently, this effect would be significant for fine particles and higher weight fractions.
8.0 ACkNOwLEDgEMENT
The author would like to express his gratitude to the Faculty of Engineering and Technology, Multimedia University, Melaka Campus, Malaysia. n
reFerenCeS:
[1] E.A.Feest. Metal Matrix Composites for Industrial Application, Materials and Design 1996; 7(2):58-64.
[2] Ivana K Patridge. Advanced Composites, Elsevier applied science, Elsevier Science Publishers Ltd, England, UK; 1989
[3] D.Holt. Materials Technology for Aerospace Applications. Materials and Design 1985; 6(1): 18-24.
[4] Donald R Askeland. The Science and Engineering of Materials. PWS Publishing Company, USA, Third edition; 1994.
[5] E.A.Almond. Hard Metals, Materials and Design, 1986; 7(6): 324-329.
[6] F.H.Froes. Aerospace Materials for the Twenty-First Century. Materials and Design, 1989; (109)3: 110-120.
[7] G.T.Murray. Handbook of Materials Selection for Engineering Applications. Marcel Dekker Inc, USA; 1997.
[8] G.W.Meetham. The Future of Composites in Gas Turbine Engines. Materials and Design 1989; 10(5): 231-234.
[9] H.L.Rizkalla and A. Abdulwahed. Some Mechanical Properties of Metal-nonmetal Al-SiO2 Particulate Composites. Journal of Materials Processing Technology, 1996; 56: 398403.
[10] I.J.Polmear. Light Alloys-Metallurgy of the Light Metals. Metallurgy and Materials Science Series, Edward Arnold (publishers) Ltd, London, UK; 1981.
[11] Ivana K Patridge. Advanced Composites. Elsevier Applied Science, Elsevier Science Publishers Ltd, England, UK; 1989.
[12] Thoguluva Raghavan Vijayaram. Processing and Properties Studies of Cast Particulate Reinforced Aluminium -11.8% Silicon Alloy Based Metal Matrix Composites, PhD Thesis in Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Putra Malaysia, UPM 43400 Serdang, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia 2003-2006.
[13] J.N.Fridlyander. Metal Matrix Composites, SovietAvanced Composites Technology Series, Chapman and Hall, London, UK; 1995.
High-Pressure Water Cleaning of Degraded Polymers in Preparation for recycling
1.0 IntroDuCtIon
In Malaysia the average rate of solid waste generation is 1kg per person and approximately 26 million kilograms of solid waste are produced every single day. Plastic waste is the most common waste that is generated in the country accounting for 7 to 12% by weight and 18 to 30% by volume. The plastic industry is one of the fastest growing sectors of the Malaysian economy and is expected to grow by 20% every year over the next five years [1]. The reason for the steady increase in demand for commodity polymers is due to their inherent properties which include low density, low thermal and electric conductivities, good mouldability, high corrosion resistance, high durability and low cost.
Polymers are composed completely of organic compounds; their main disadvantage is that their decaying process takes a very long time and making use of waste polymers is an important economic consideration. Since polymers take a long time to decay, recycling is one of good methods to overcome this problem. Feedstock recycling and mechanical recycling have been used to recycle polymers in develop countries such as in Europe and United States. However, in Malaysia it is still lacking because of the high capital investment involved. Currently, the waste management approach being employed is by landfill disposal, but due to rapid development and lack of space for new landfills, big cities in Malaysia are switching to incineration [2].
Incineration reduces the need for land filling of plastics waste; however, there are concerns that hazardous substances may be released into the atmosphere in the process. For example, PVC and halogenated additives are typically present in mixed plastic waste leading to the risk of dioxins, other polychlorinated biphenyls and furans being released into the environment [3]. Although there are several options of handling plastics waste, recycling is still the best strategy to implement in Malaysia due to the environmental issues related to disposal. Thus, preparation for recycling should not be taken lightly as it obviously contributes towards efficiency of polymer recycling.
Plastic or polymer degradation is a change in the properties such as tensile strength, colour, shape and many other factors. Most polymers degrade when used outdoors leading to molecular chain scission and/or cross-linking. Generally, the major hazard is ultraviolet irradiation, though some polymers are more vulnerable to this than others [4].
by
When polymers such as polyethylene and polypropylene are exposed to ultraviolet irradiation several changes occur in the molecular characteristics that influence the crystallinity and crystallisability of the material. During ultraviolet exposure, oxidation occurs predominantly in the non-crystalline phase because oxygen can diffuse through such regions relatively freely but is almost excluded from the crystalline regions. There are three principal changes: chain scission, cross linking and the formation of molecular defects such as the carbonyl group [4].
The main aim of this paper is to investigate whether degraded parts in polymer or plastics can be efficiently removed by spraying it with high pressure of water. This study is done as part of research in improving the efficiency of plastics recycling. Experiments started with exposing three different types of plastic bars under UV irradiation, and then all sample bars were sprayed with high pressure of water. Apart from this, crystallinity and weight measurements were also done. The purpose of crystallinity measurement of samples is to determine to what extent that the degraded layer has been efficiently removed while weighing machine is used to measure the percentage of degraded polymer weight successfully removed.
2.0 exPerImental
2.1 materials and Sample Preparation
For differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis, samples were cut using a single point cutter with fly cutting action by milling away material from exposed surface. Before milling operation was carried out, the bed was cleaned thoroughly and the chippings were collected at the end of each cutting pass. Samples were cut at different depths; from 0 to 0.1mm, 0.1 to 0.2mm and 0.2 to 0.3mm. For each DSC run, the sample was weighed on a Mettler AT261 and the amount used was around 10 mg. The weighing machine (Mettler AT261) balance could not read to 0.01mg, yielding an accuracy better than ±0.3% [5].
2.2 uV exposure
Ultraviolet exposures were carried out at a constant temperature room of 30±1o C using fluorescent tubes type UVA-340 as the UV radiation source. The tubes were chosen because their output in the UV range at wavelengths below about 360 nm coincided with the spectrum of solar radiation at the earth’s surface fairly
Engr. Mohd. Shahneel bin Sahanudin, Mr. Ian William Martin and Prof. Jim Reginald White
closely. One side of the bars was exposed for a range of times from 2 to 8 weeks before milling away the exposed surface. Exposures were conducted uninterrupted, 24 hours per day. Studies that have been done previously showed that very significant molecular degradation occurs within the chosen periods [2].
2.3 Water Spraying on Degraded Bars
Before water spraying was applied to the exposed surface, each of the bars was clamped at centre as shown below (Figure 3). A water blaster literally blasting water at high pressure was been chosen to carry out the task. The maximum pressure of the water was 95bar and the water flow was 360 l/hour. Further details on specification are shown in Table 1 below.
Table 1: Specifications of the high pressure water washer
Model No.
Electric/Petrol Electric
Material Plastic and Metal
Size Small
Category Pressure Washers and Sprayers
Water Flow (L/H) 360
Max Pressure Rating (BAR Pressure) 95
Category Frequent Use Pressure Washers
By using the high-pressure water washer, exposed bars were sprayed using high-pressure water to remove the degraded polymers and dried for three days before successive layers were removed. The degraded layers from the experimental samples were removed using a milling machine with the single fly cutting action method. This method was applied because it produced less heat during cutting. The heat produced during cutting may influence the degree of crystallinity value of the specimen.
2.4 Characterisation
Crystallisation measurements were made by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Differential scanning calorimetry or DSC is a thermoanalytical technique in which the difference in the amount of heat required to increase the temperature of a sample and reference is measured as a function of temperature. Generally, the temperature program for a DSC analysis is designed so that the sample holder temperature increases linearly as a function of time.
The reference sample should have a well-defined heat capacity over the range of temperatures to be scanned. All measurements that have been carried out were made under flowing nitrogen with a Mettler FP F90 controller connected to a FP85 Heat Flux cell. The equipment was calibrated for temperature and calorimetric sensitivities of the cell with indium to ensure precise measurement of crystallinity. Experiments were carried out under nitrogen flow (of 50ml/ min) to avoid thermal degradation during measurements and also to displace atmospheric oxygen to prevent undesired oxidation of the sample.
A heating rate of 13oC/min was used within the range 40oC to 210oC for all three types of polymers chosen and the thermogram recorded. This heating thermogram characterises the material in the form that existed at the end of UV exposure. The crystallisation endotherms obtained in the heating runs were used to estimate the crystallinity. The peak areas were obtained between chosen limits for each sample. The temperature limits chosen are presented in Table 2. Heat of fusion is an important parameter for crystallinity measurements. The polyethylene crystal phase was taken to be 292.5kJ/kg while for PPCO was taken to be 267kJ/kg [5].
2: Temperature limit
1 High density polyethylene (HDPE) 70 to 160 2 Lower density polyethylene (LDPE) 65 to 140
3 Polypropylene co-polymer (PPCO) 90 to 200
3.0
reSultS
3.1 General observation
The thermogram with different depths from an unexposed sample is given as a reference in Figure 5. The dashed line represents 0 to 0.1mm, dotted line represents 0.1 to 0.2mm and solid line represents sample from 0.2 to 0.3 mm.
The crystallinity values were found to be slightly higher towards the centre and the highest crystallinity was recorded from 0.2 to 0.3mm depth. This observation applied for all samples at all conditions whether they were exposed or unexposed to UV radiation.
The thermogram shown in the figure is likely to be seen in all three samples discussed here. The highest crystal melting point in the thermogram for the sample obtained from the exposed surface (0 to 0.1mm) is likely to be displaced significantly towards lower temperature.
Figure 1: Single fly cutting action
Figure 2: Chipping or swarfs
Figure 3: Degraded bar is clamped Figure 4: Water spray is applied to bar Table
Table 3: Results
8
Crystallinity values and weight removal after water sprays applied
4.0 ConCluSIon
All samples that have been sprayed with high pressure of water undergo slight mass loss due to the high pressure applied even though the amount removed differs. For HDPE samples, the highest degraded polymer removed is 0.6% which occurred at bars after two weeks of UV exposure.
For 4 and 8 weeks exposure, the percentage of mass reduced is 0.11% and 0.01% respectively. In terms of the crystallinity values, the percentage decreased significantly after the water spray was applied. In contrast with LDPE and PPCO, the crystallinity values recorded were slightly higher after water spray and this is due to the fact that new layer appeared as a result of degraded parts that have been efficiently removed. Both LDPE and PPCO samples have shown the same pattern of results where crystallinity increased as well as consistency in degraded parts removed. In summary, high pressure of water for cleaning degraded parts is proven to be workable however the correlation between crystallinity and percentage of weight removal may need further investigation especially test on other samples.
5.0 aCknoWleDGement
This research project was conducted during a research programme on polymer recycling at the School of Chemical Engineering and Advanced Materials, Newcastle University. The research was carried out by M.S Saharudin under the supervision of Prof. J.R. White. n
referenCeS:
[1] Agarwal, S., Solid Waste Recycling – The Malaysian Perspective 2007 [cited 2011 31/3]; Available from: http://www.frost.com/ prod/servlet/market-insight-top.pag?docid=92830160.
[2] Kathirvale, M.N.M.Y., Kamaruzzaman Sopian and Abdul Halim Samsuddin, Energy Potential from Municipal Solid Waste in Malaysia. Renewable Energy, 2004. 29(4): p. 559-567.
[3] J. Hopewell, R.D.a.E.K. Plastics Recycling: Challenges and Opportunities. Biological sciences 2009 [cited 2011 31 March 2011].
[4] D.Campbell, R.A.P. and J.R.White, Polymer Characterization 2000: Stanley Thornes Ltd.
[5] I.H. Craig, J.R.W. and Phua Chai Kin, Crystallization and Chemicrystallization of Recycled Photo-degraded Polypropylene. Polymer, 2005. 46: p. 505-512.
1Sudoku Centerpiece "1" by
Fill in the remaining 80 squares with single digits 1-9 such that there is no repeat of the digit in every Row, Column and Block. The number at the top left hand corner of the dotted cage indicates the total for the digits that the cage encompasses.
for tips on solving, visit www.1sudoku.com.my Twin Tree Publishing (Solution is on page 34 of this issue.)
Figure 5: DSC thermogram obtained from different depths within a HDPE (unexposed) sample
The Use of Polymer Modified Bitumen in road Paving
For several decades, it was widely accepted that the empirical method of blending different types of unmodified bitumens was the only way to improve the binder characteristics [1]. However, in recent years, the increase in traffic levels as well as tyre pressure, and the introduction of larger and heavier trucks, and new axle designs have added to the already severe demand of load and environment on the highway system, resulting in the need to enhance the performance of existing bituminous material [2]. These factors contribute to structural failures of road pavements such as rutting, cracking and potholes (Figure 1).
In Malaysia, these distresses have caused the Government millions of ringgit to repair and maintain the roads. Furthermore, a better understanding of the behaviours and characteristics of bitumen, coupled with greater development in technology, have allowed researchers and practitioners to examine the benefits of introducing additives and modifiers. As a result, modifiers such as fillers, extenders, polymers (natural and synthetic), fibres, oxidants and anti-oxidants, anti stripping agents and hydrocarbons, among others, are introduced to be mixed with bitumen [3].
Among them, polymer modified bitumen, normally abbreviated as PMB, is the most popular modifier used to improve the fundamental characteristics of unmodified bitumen as its characteristics are related to the performance of asphalt mixtures (or hot mix asphalt or asphaltic concrete). PMB is produced by mixing bitumen
and polymer using a low or high shear mixer. Developing countries are using PMBs to build their infrastructures while developed countries are using them for maintenance. Their usage is continuously receiving great attention particularly in countries such as Europe, the United States, Canada and Australia.
PMB was first used in Malaysia for the runways and taxiways of the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) in 1996 to 1998. In addition, it was also used on selected sections of several federal roads on a trial basis. However, the local demand for it is less than 30,000 tonnes, which represents less than 1% of the total binders used in the country. This number is really low compared to other Asian countries which have a recorded usage of between 5% and 10% [4]. PMBs have made an important contribution to asphalt technology particularly in helping to promote mixtures with a better performance and increased life [5].
PMBs that have been used in road paving are usually divided into two groups, namely, elastomeric and plastomeric substances (Table 1). Approximately 75% of the PMBs used are classified as elastomeric modifiers, 15% as plastomeric modifiers while the remaining 10% being either rubber or miscellaneous modifiers. It is worth noting that elastomeric SBS PMB is the most widely used in road construction [2]. This particular PMB has received great attention due to its tremendous ability to improve the overall performance of the pavement. Their usage is expected to have a resistance to traffic at least four times greater compared to unmodified bitumens and extreme climatic conditions [6].
by En. Nur Izzi bin Md. Yusoff, Assoc. Prof. Dr Mohd Rosli bin Hainin and Prof. Gordon D. Airey
Figure 1: (a) Rutting, (b) Cracking and (c) Pothole deformations
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The history, usage, test methods and specifications, as well as benefits of PMBs have been widely discussed by many researchers. In general, PMB provides better rheological or mechanical properties over a wide range of temperatures and loading frequency. The stiffness modulus and elasticity values of modified binders are significantly increased. Hence, they are more resistant to rutting, abrasion, cracking, fatigue, stripping, bleeding and ageing at high temperatures and brittle fracture at low temperatures [7]. However, a brittle failure is not particularly relevant in our country's climate. A stronger impact on these properties could be observed at intermediate temperatures. Figure 2 shows a comparison between unmodified bitumen and the PMB used in road construction. It is clearly observed that the latter provides better resistance to cracking deformation [8].
Recently, waste or recycled PMB is used to reduce modification cost, lower energy consumption and solve environmental problems. For instance, it is roughly estimated that over 2.8 million or approximately 57,391 tonnes of scrap tyres are generated each year in Malaysia. Of these, over 60% are unused and being placed in stockpiles [9]. Crumb rubber-modified bitumen (CRMB) therefore offers a beneficial solution to this problem. Clemson University had conducted a study which showed that between 500 to 2,000 scrap tyres can be used in each lane mile (1 mile = 1.609km) of pavement depending on the application selected. This means that for a one-mile section of a four-lane highway, between 2,000 and 8,000 tyres can be recycled to create a longer lasting road [8].
It is well known that the biggest culprit to a pavement's failure is water. The News Straits Times [4] reported that a high annual rainfall of more than 2,000mm per year in our country often results in flood. Water allows moisture to seep through and saturate the gravel base, leaving the pavement vulnerable to heavier vehicles. As a result, roads tend to deteriorate faster. Therefore, the use of PMB in an asphalt mixture can improve durability by improving its resistance to water damage.
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Today, different types of polymers are commercially available; however, there is no universal type of polymers and the selection should be made according to the specific needs [10]. The level of modification depends on factors such as polymer characteristics, polymer content or percentage, and the nature of unmodified bitumens. PMBs with a similar polymer content and prepared with identical penetration grade bitumens but obtained from different sources can yield different microstructures and characteristics. Studies conducted by many researchers deduced that the use of PMBs improves the deficiencies and overall performance of a flexible pavement.
Despite such achievements, many challenges remain. A major concern that is related to PMBs is their proverbial lack of morphological stability during long storage. For example, separation between the polymer-rich phase and asphaltene-rich phase occurs in the elastomeric substances (e.g. SBS, SBR) compared to the plastomeric substances (e.g. EVA) [11]. A considerable effort has been undertaken to improve its storage stability and compatibility including the use of phosphorous and polyphosphorous acid, carbon black, anhydride (maleic and succinic), sulphur, various straight chain dicarboxylic acids, stabilisers and reactive polymers.
The blending process of the polymeric substance with bitumens can be destroyed by very high temperature during mixing, or by being kept at a high temperature for a long period of time after mixing. The binder storage times should be kept as short as possible, otherwise, deterioration of the polymer may take place. The ideal mixing process would involve the lowest possible temperature for the shortest possible time (compatible with a complete incorporation of the polymer into the bitumen) both from an economic standpoint and to minimise any changes in the bitumen and/or polymer resulting from thermal effects. The incorporation of the polymer also means the mixing tank operation for bitumens need to be altered to fulfil its special requirements.
Even though these modifiers can improve a binder's performance, they can also increase the cost of a binder between 30% and 100% and boost the overall cost of the asphalt mixture between 10% and 40% [12]. Ponniah and Kennepohl [13] showed that the lifecycle cost is ineffective if its cost is more than 100% of unmodified bitumens. The initial higher cost needs to be overcome even though it is widely understood that it lasts longer and saves on repair costs. Studies showed that the use of PMB could result in net savings of up to 20% over a 20-year period. This savings could possibly increase up to 45% if user costs and accidents are taken into account [6].
In summary, the advantages of PMBs outnumber its disadvantages. Quality roads will tremendously reduce the rate of fatality or accidents. Moreover, the government could save millions of ringgit on maintenance and rehabilitation works. Perceptively, the employment of sustainable materials including PMBs in road paving is becoming essential because every road user deserves and needs better roads for numerous purposes. n
reFerenceS:
[1] Reubush, S.D. “Effects of Storage on the Linear Viscoelastic Response of Polymer Modified Asphalt at Intermediate to High Temperature”, MSc thesis, the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Virginia, 1999.
[2] G.D. Airey. “Rheological Properties of Styrene Butadiene Styrene Polymer Modified Road Bitumens.” Fuel, vol. 82, pp. 1709–1719. 2003.
[3] J. Read and D. Whiteoak. The Shell Bitumen Handbook 5th Edition. London: Thomas Telford Ltd, 2003, pp. 61–90.
[4] News Straits Times. “Better and Safer Road for All”. pp. 15, June 22, 2010.
[5] R. Taylor and G.D. Airey. “Polymer Modified Bitumens Part One: Background and History”. Asphalt Professional. Issue 34, pp. 11–16, 2008.
[6] C. Lenoble and N.C. Nahas. “Dynamic Rheology and Hot Mix Performance of Polymer Modified Asphalt.” Journal of the Association of Asphalt Paving Technologists, vol. 63, pp. 450–480, 1994.
[7] F. Bonemazzi, V. Braga, R. Corrieri, C. Giavarini and F. Sartori. “Characteristics of Polymers and Polymer-Modified Binders.” Transportation Research Record, vol. 1535, pp. 36–47, 1996.
[9] S.K. Thiruvangodan. “Waste Tyre Management in Malaysia.” PhD thesis, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Malaysia, 2006.
[10] X. Lu, U. Isacsson and J. Ekblad. “Rheological Characteristics of SEBS, EVA, and EBA Polymer Modified Bitumens”. Materials and Structures, vol. 32, pp 131–139, 1999.
[11] Asphalt Academy. Technical Guideline: The Use of Modified Bituminous Binders in Road Construction (TG 1), 2nd Edition. South Africa, 2007.
[12] T. Kuennen. “Polymer Modified Asphalt Comes of Age.” Better Roads, vol. 75, 2005.
[13] J. Ponniah and G. Kennepohl. “Polymer-Modified Asphalt Pavements in Ontario: Performance and Cost-Effectiveness.” Transportation Research Record, vol. 1545, pp. 151–160, 1996.
Career talk at tunku Kurshiah College, Seremban
Sub-COmmittee On WOmen engineerS
On the morning of 2 November 2010, we made our way to Seremban for a career talk at Tunku Kurshiah College (TKC). Ir. Lau Yuk Ma, June, Chairperson of the Sub-Committee on Women Engineers, together with Ir. Magdalene Tan Lee and Ir. Ruzitah binti Supinyeh, were joined by Ir. Sharifah Azlina binti Raja Kamal Pasmah, En. Ahmad Tarmizi from the Welfare Secretariat and the author.
We arrived at TKC in good time for the talk which started at 9.00 a.m. The programme was organised by the Guidance and Counselling Unit and PIBG of TKC. The third and fourth formers were divided into six groups. In addition, booths were set up to house six different professional groups. The professions that were represented included engineering, medicine, geophysics, accountancy, architecture and property valuation. As the alumnae of TKC have made their mark in virtually every profession, most of the representatives for this programme were former TKCians.
We were warmly greeted by Datin Dr Zailinawati Abu Hassan, the programme coordinator, the teachers and the cheerful expressions of the students as we headed
towards our booth. Datin Dr Zailinawati briefed us on the organisation of the programme in which we were requested to give three one-hour talks whereby each talk would be attended by a group of students.
Ir. Lau, a 'pro' at ice-breaking sessions, started each talk by introducing the representatives from the SubCommittee on Women Engineers and giving a brief overview of the engineering profession. The objective of the talk was to encourage female students to pursue engineering as their profession of choice. The talk also included an introduction to the various engineering fields.
Ir. Lau, Ir. Sharifah Azlina and Ir. Ruzitah (who outnumbered representatives from the other fields of engineering) gave a brilliant description of the civil engineering profession. The students were also inspired after listening to Ir. Tan’s vast experience in the field of electrical engineering. In addition, the author gave an overview of the many areas of mechanical engineering and briefly introduced the other engineering fields.
The talk also covered topics such as career opportunities, the engineering achievements in Malaysia and what would be expected from the engineers of tomorrow. The question and answer sessions were indeed lively. There were quite a number of questions from the students on the academic requirements for pursuing a degree and postgraduate studies in engineering. Being an academician, the author had the pleasure of explaining to the students the current requirements of the undergraduate as well as postgraduate programmes offered locally and abroad. Some of the students were also interested to know the expectations and challenges of being a female engineer. The lady engineers were only too happy to share their valuable experiences in dealing with delicate situations in a predominantly male environment and in transforming obstacles into opportunities.
The programme ended at lunchtime, but not without a memorable photography session. The speakers were treated to a good lunch at the dining hall where they had the opportunity to mingle with the teachers and other speakers. Overall, it was another successful activity for the IEM Sub-Committee on Women Engineers. Ir. Sharifah Azlina’s effort in the organisation of the activity and En. Ahmad Tarmizi’s valuable assistance played an important role in the success of the TKC trip. We hope that the talk has made an impact on the students and that they are inspired to pursue a career in engineering. n
by Ir. Assoc. Prof. Hayati binti Abdullah
The nasi lemak corner
A photo session with the organisers
It is all about engineering
Sweet memories
enhancing engineering Student Learning through research
Many of our engineering students do not get much exposure to research-based activities, especially through experiential learning. This is probably due to the academic intensiveness of the engineering programs in Malaysia. UCSI however is one educational institution that has decided to adopt a slightly different approach. Engineering students at UCSI are exposed to research-based activities where opportunities for creating and patenting new products and designs are made available through additional learning lessons.
The purpose of this is to enable students to utilise their own knowledge about products that are relevant to the engineering industry. Eng. Dr Mok Vee Hoong, Jimmy, recently shared with us his experience on this topic. He is currently the Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Architecture and Built Environment, School of Engineering, UCSI. His background is in the area of electrical engineering. He was formerly the Head of the Research Excellence Centre at UCSI and has thus far filed five patents in Malaysia.
In his talk, Dr Mok shared his experience on the way this learning experience is implemented at UCSI. It is generally achieved through after-class informal meetings between the students and faculty members. In order to build interest, understanding and communication amongst these students, several phases are laid out. In the first phase, students are coached or rather “indoctrinated” to have a broader perspective of engineering, i.e. by looking at engineering beyond the textbooks.
This is followed by the development of their social skills. This typically includes having drinks at a coffee shop or by celebrating birthdays together. This is crucial to build understanding, friendship and camaraderie among the team members. Once these phases are completed, the students are taught how to build a sense of commitment towards their projects and team mates.
This is followed by the exposure phase where students are encouraged to not only take part in design competitions but also tackle questions by the judges and visitors. The final phase is to mould them to become leaders by giving them the responsibility to put their findings down on paper and to submit the paper to either a conference or journal as the first author. In general, the students who take part in these research-based activities end up acquiring additional skills and capabilities, especially in building their self-confidence when dealing with technical issues. n
advertisements on ieM Portal
The IEM Web portal now accepts image or banner advertising and announcements of events. Details of charges are as follows: -
1) image/Banner advertisements
A fee of RM350 per month for IEM members and RM500 per month for non-members is applicable for a six-month promotional period. The Committee will review the charges after the six-month period.
2) Notification of Events
A fee of RM100 per month for IEM members and RM200 per month for non-members is applicable for a standard event announcement which would include the title, venue, date and time.
For more information, kindly login into IEM Web portal www.myiem.org.my or email to pub@iem.org.my for booking arrangement. Payment should be made to “The Institution of Engineers, Malaysia” account.
by Ir. Assoc. Prof. Dr Faris Tarlochan
enhancing Self Value through High Self awareness
Sub-cOmmittee On wOmen engineerS
On 10 November 2010, Ms. Choy Boon Ling conducted an evening talk entitled “Enhancing Self Value through High Self Awareness”. Ms. Choy is the General Manager of Clove and Clive Sdn Bhd, and has been a corporate trainer for the past 15 years. She specialises in the area of train-the-trainer, communication, interpersonal skills, self development, competency development and curriculum development.
The session started with a simple left and right hand exercise. The hand exercise looked simple until the participants attempted it. Most participants had fun and laughed at themselves while attempting the exercise. The essence of the exercise, which is part of the Brain Gym, is to promote interaction between the left and right brain. This enables a person to use the entire brain instead of predominantly using the preferred side of the brain.
Ms. Choy delivered an interesting two-hour session that tickled our senses. The participants were actively involved as they were “hungry” for ideas on enhancing self value.
Most of us have a clear definition on self value and the many roles an individual play in their daily life. However, although we understand that our self value and roles are interconnected and thus affect one another, we hardly question the need to enhance our self value. With the help of Ms. Choy, the participants began to realise that cultivating a high self value leads to a life that is lived more joyfully and with wisdom. This, in turn, leads us to play our role more proactively.
Very often, we live our life feeling inadequate, and most of the time, we play our roles so automatically that we do not question much about why we are reacting to our experiences the same way all the time. This leads us to become less creative, preferring to remain within the status quo. We tend to solve problems and react to people in the same old ways. As this pattern becomes our norm, it inhibits us from living life to the fullest, from being open to new ideas, from trying new methods of doing things, from voicing an opinion, etc. Hence, this induces low self esteem or low self value. By nature, everyone wants to be happy, effective and enthusiastic about life, but we cannot do so without knowing what is powering our lives. We are easily engulfed by the daily stresses of life and our old patterns.
By being aware and developing high self awareness, we are empowering our life. Through this practise of knowing and being aware of what is happening to us as it is happening in a non judgemental way, we are actually collecting data about how our life is being lived daily. With this awareness, we can then determine what we need to change in our life. Our thoughts, feelings, behaviour and speech are just like the tip of an iceberg. What is really powering our lives are the ideas, perception and intentions that we have which governs how we react to any situation that we encounter.
We specialize in the design, manufacture and supply of….
• Biomass Boiler
• Heat Recovery Steam Generator (HRSG)
• Oil/Gas Fired Packaged Boiler with auxiliary equipment to enhance boiler performance and efficiency
• Grate : Vibrating, Reciprocating
• Boiler Feedwater Economiser
• Air Preheater
mackenzie industries Sdn Bhd
by Ir. Lau Yuk Ma, June
Session Chairman of the talk giving away a token of appreciation to Ms. Choy Boon Ling
By observing our thoughts, feelings, behaviour and speech, we are giving a moment to ourselves, a space in our mind that will reduce our tendency to react hastily. Having this space will give our mind more clarity, alertness and oxygen to the brain cells, thus cultivating the ability to respond with wisdom instead of reacting automatically. In short, when we start being observant of ourselves, we start to discover the causes (ideas, perception and intentions) that are constantly running our lives.
Ms. Choy introduced the concept of ROAR which consists of four steps to develop high self awareness. The first step is Relax; for us to be able to observe the mind and body, we need to be in a relaxed mode. She also guided us through a simple exercise of switching our breathing to abdomen breathing and observing what is happening around us throughout the breathing exercise. This exercise is fascinating because, as we practise it, we immediately have a sense of curiosity about ourselves and our surroundings.
Ms. Choy also guided us through a short body scan session, which is another method of relaxing our body and calming ourselves. These exercises allow us to switch to the observation mode anytime and anywhere, even in front of our bosses. This exercise allows a space to be created
in our mind for us to respond to situations instead of merely reacting to it all the time.
Next, Ms. Choy introduced the second step which is to Observe our thoughts and feelings. While it is easy to do the latter, it is difficult to separate the two. We know when we are experiencing a feeling because we feel a movement or sensation in our body and we know when a thought comes into our mind in the form of pictures, words, dialogue or sound. Thus our thought is the determinant of our feelings.
The third step is about Asking questions, and this can only happen when we continue to observe ourselves to gain an understanding of the patterns of our thoughts and feelings. We then ask ourselves, “How is this affecting me?”, “Is it affecting me negatively or positively?” and “Is it necessary to continue with this pattern?”. From this line of questioning, we can Respond with wisdom, which is the fourth step.
In summary, once we develop high self awareness, we are constantly in the process of understanding ourselves and this, in turn, allows us to constantly operate from wisdom. The result is that we empower and enrich our life while cultivating a high self value. n
IIEC 2011
a Course on essential project management
a two-day course entitled “Essential Project Management” was organised by the Project Management Technical Division (PMTD) of IEM from 2 to 3 December 2010 at Wisma IEM, Petaling Jaya. The course was conducted by Ir. Lee Boon Chong. A total of 44 participants consisting both corporate members and graduate members of IEM from various industries attended the course.
Projects are employed as an important means of achieving an organisation’s business goals. Adopting a structured and integrated approach to project management has proven to be critical to the success of a project as well as the organisation. The course contents were closely referenced to PMBOK Guide, 4th edition of the Project Management Institute (PMI). The course first presented the fundamental concept and framework as well as project business link before moving on to the five project management process groups, namely, initiation, planning, execution, monitoring and controlling, and closing.
Fundamental ConCepts and Framework
The section on fundamental concepts and framework is intended to provide participants with the basic context and foundation to understand the structured processes and detailed building blocks in subsequent sections. It covered the following:
• Definition of project and project management.
• Differentiation between project and operations.
• Definition of programme management and portfolio management.
• Definition, roles and configuration of the project management office.
• Project lifecycle, project management lifecycle and product lifecycle.
• Project constraints including triple constraints and hexagonal constraints.
• Definition of project stakeholders.
proJeCt Business link
A project is normally conceptualised from an organisation’s strategic or business viewpoint. It must be proven to be feasible as well as financially viable before start-up or initiation. This section covered the following:
• Strategic business alignment of a project.
• Project business case.
• Project feasibility.
• Project investment appraisal.
• Project brief and start-up decision.
proJeCt initiation and mandate
Obtain the mandate and clear terms of reference. A project must first be initiated legitimately as only a proper mandate will give the project manager the authority to start a project and commit organisational resources. This section covered the following:
• Project start-up meeting.
• Project statement of works.
• Project charter and its development.
• Project objectives and SMART criteria.
• Project manager and sub-project manager selection criteria and job function.
• Project management team and overall project team.
• Influence of the organisation structure.
• Stakeholder identification, analysis and register.
proJeCt planning and preparation
Plan the project work according to the project charter. This is done by establishing the total project scope, defining and refining the project objectives, and developing the course of action required to achieve the objectives. An integrated project management plan, together with the project documents, is the most important requisite in preparing for project execution and determines the success of project implementation. This section covered the following:
• Project planning kick-off meeting.
• Project management plan, together with the three performance baselines, the major component plans, as well as the integrative content.
• Project scope management planning and its related processes
proJeCt management teChniCal division
by Ir. Lee Boon Chong
• Project time management planning and its related processes.
• Project cost management planning and its related processes.
• Project risk management planning and its related processes.
• Project quality management planning.
• Project human resource planning.
• Project communications planning.
• Project procurement management planning.
• Summary of project management planning –integrated project plan.
proJeCt exeCution and aCtion
Execute the project plan. Project objectives, outputs and deliverables are obtained by performing and integrating the work that is defined in a project management plan. This is done by obtaining, coordinating and managing people and other project resources. During project execution, a large portion of the project budget is expended; and changes ensue, necessitating a detailed analysis and appropriate responses such as planning updates and baseline modification. This section covered the following:
• Directing and managing project execution.
• Performing project quality assurance and quality audit.
• Acquiring, developing and managing the project team.
• Acquiring and managing other project resources.
• Motivation and leadership theories and issues.
• Conflict resolution, problem solving and decision-making.
• Distributing project information.
• Managing effective project meetings.
• Managing stakeholder expectations.
• Enhancing project communications and personal effectiveness.
• Conducting procurement – bidder conference and proposal evaluation.
proJeCt monitoring and Control
Track progress and control changes. It is critical to monitor and measure a project’s progress and performance against the project’s plans and objectives, identify and analyse changes to the plan, and initiate corresponding actions to quickly return to the reference project management plan if it gets off base. This section covered the following:
• Monitoring and controlling project work.
• Performing integrated change control.
• Verifying and controlling the scope.
• Controlling project schedule.
• Controlling project costs.
• Earned value management (EVM).
• Performing project quality control and related tools and techniques.
• Reporting project performance.
• Monitoring and controlling risks.
• Administering procurement.
proJeCt
Closing and termination
Completing all project work does not, by itself, end the project; but rather forms the basis for closing the project. Proper project closure is a prerequisite to formally complete the project. This section covered the following:
• Closing project or phase.
• Closing procurements.
• Types of closures.
Under the five project management process groups are 42 project management processes mapped into nine knowledge areas, namely, project integration management, project scope management, project time management, project cost management, project quality management, project human resource management, project communications management, project risk management and project procurement management. Important concepts, inputs, outputs, tools and techniques pertaining to each and every process were explained. This was supplemented with working examples, useful exercises, real-life case studies and hands-on applications.
The course was intensive but practical and interactive. Each participant played an active part in the entire learning process, showing keen interest and inquisitiveness in various subject areas. They synergised by sharing and cross-fertilising their respective experiences and expertise. Feedback from the participants was very positive and reassuring indeed. They learned the structured and integrated approaches, processes, tools and techniques applicable to managing each phase of the project lifecycle. In summary, this course covered the essence of project management, especially suitable for those who intend to gain a fundamental but solid grounding on project management. It is hoped that more of this and other courses could be organised to promote the art and science of project management. n
iem readership survey 2010/2011
The Readership Survey 2010/2011 form is now available. Please refer to the IEM Web portal as well as in pages 51-52 of this August 2011 issue to take part in the survey.
two-Day Seminar on Forensic engineering and Collapse Investigations: technical and Legal Issues
the Institution of Engineers, Malaysia (IEM) jointly organised a two-day seminar on forensic engineering and collapse investigation with the National University of Singapore (NUS) from 13 to 14 January 2011. The event was held at Holiday Inn Kuala Lumpur, located at Glenmarie, Shah Alam, Selangor.
The seminar was attended by 108 participants – many of them were senior engineers and managers of established local consultants and authorities. This was not surprising as forensic engineering is gaining prominence especially in light of a number of structural failures involving the collapse of buildings and infrastructures. Legal issues relating to litigation and arbitration are also on the rise and are increasingly being faced by the senior management of private engineering firms.
This was the second time the IEM Civil and Structural Engineering Technical Division had taken the initiative to co-organise a similar seminar with the Department of Civil Engineering of National University of Singapore (NUS). The last seminar was held at IEM in mid-2008.
The three prominent speakers for the event were Er. Prof. Dr Leung Chun Fai, Er. Prof. Dr Richard Liew JY (both from NUS) and Er. Prof. Dr Fred SH Ng (who hails from Hong Kong University and Davis Langdon and Seah Consultant, Singapore).
On the first day of the seminar, Dr Ng started off his lecture with a basic introduction to forensic engineering; from the handling of forensic cases, conducting proper investigations, careful analysis and ethical issues, up to the writing of a full and convincing report – which can (To be continued on page 44)
IIEC 2011
The Institution of Engineers, Malaysia (IEM) and The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) - Malaysia Energy Conference 2011 10th-12th October 2011
Plenary Speakers
by Ir. Assoc. Prof. Dr Chiang Choong Luin, Jeffrey
then be used as key evidence in the courts and tribunals. In the later part of the morning and afternoon sessions, Dr Ng continued his lectures on the importance and origin of expert evidence, as well as the qualifications and duties of an expert witness. He gave a detailed account on the steps and procedures in presenting an expert witness and how the latter’s role and conduct can have an impact on the outcome of a case. He also addressed in great depth issues revolving liabilities and professional fees.
The next speaker was Dr Leung who delivered his lecture on cases and problems associated with failures and investigation into geotechnical engineering. He identified the common causes, and outlined the design and construction steps with the view of implementing preventive measures so as to minimise the chances of soil and/or soil-structure interaction failures. Remedial measures were also mentioned to address soil failures which had occurred, and how future precautions can be put in place. Dr Leung ended the first day of the seminar with an intense question and answer session where many queries were raised by the participants.
On the second day, Dr Leung resumed his momentum on the case studies of geotechnical failure. He briefly related his first experience as an appointed expert witness in a court case. It was an enlightening experience for him as he took on the role and responsibility of an expert witness. The lessons learnt from such case studies were presented in a clear manner, and Dr Leung ended his lecture just in time for the morning tea break.
For the second half of the morning session, Dr Liew took over as the third speaker. His lectures focused on the failures in structural steel components and buildings. The common causes of failures in structures were highlighted, such as inadequate bracing, instability of joints and mistakes made during structural modelling. The procedures of forensic investigation were presented, which were similar to those portrayed in the CSI television series. Dr Liew also emphasised on the design, construction and monitoring of structures, particularly on structural integrity and robustness, in light of the Ronan Point gas explosion incident in the United Kingdom – which had the profession learning the hard way on the importance of structural dependence and the interaction of its many components.
After the lunch break, Dr Liew commenced the afternoon session by delving into the collapse investigation of a structural roof and the implication of lateral ties requirements. The lack of such ties had led to the separation of the wall and roof connections at the eves. He provided some pointers on the problems associated with bolted connections and weld defects. Stability issues relating to cantilever structures were also addressed, particularly at the construction stage.
In the later part of the afternoon, Dr Liew focused on the case studies of investigations which he was personally involved in as an expert witness from two different angles. In the Nicholl highway collapse (due to deep sheet pile failure), he was an expert witness in the successful prosecution team. In the case of the Fusionpolis collapse, he was also on the winning side, but as an expert witness on the defense team.
Overall, the seminar proved to be very enlightening and useful for engineers involved in forensic investigations or involved in court hearings related to engineering failures and arbitration cases. n
Er. Prof. Dr Richard Liew JY Er. Prof. Dr Leung Chun Fai Er. Prof. Dr Fred SH Ng
hiking trip to Sungai Chilling
t he first hiking trip organised by the HTETD was attended by 31 participants. Some of the participants were as young as four years old while others were past their retirement age. A group of IEM members and friends gathered at Wisma IEM in the early morning of 27 February 2011. From there, they met up with another group in Rawang. A convoy of six cars then headed toward Fraser’s Hill, passing by the imposing Sungai Selangor Dam along the way.
Sungai Chilling is a fish sanctuary for the masheer or kelah. It is about 200m away from the scenic Sg. Selangor reservoir. Just as we parked our cars, the two shutterbugs among us started to click away. After a brief group photo session at the entrance, we took a short walk to the park office to register.
After making payment for the park permit, the participants gathered into groups of four to take turns walking across a suspension bridge. There were a total of six river crossings, the first was by means of a suspension bridge. The remainder five crossings had to be made by wading across the river. The trail initially took us across an open grassland. The path was wet with small streams of running water. After 15 minutes of walking, the trail ran along the bank of the river with a lush tree canopy overhead.
highway and tranSportation engineering teChniCal diviSion
by Ir. Siew Yaw Jen
Never too young to start hiking
Pitcher plant along the trail
At the park’s entrance
Wading across the river
At the second river crossing, we waded through knee-deep water. Forming a human chain, we assisted the kids to cross the river. About 45 minutes later and after four more similar river crossings, we arrived at the waterfall area. Although the hike was tiring, the sight of the waterfall made the journey well worth the effort. We were in a pristine rest area with a stunning view of water gushing down from two different levels. A guide led our two budding photographers to higher ground for even more scenic shots.
After an hour of enjoying the water and food that we had brought along, it was time to pack up and head back, albeit reluctantly. Once we reached the park office, some headed to the changing room while others took another dip at the nearby river. Overall, it was a fun-filled morning, a time for family bonding and for making new friends. Hopefully, there will be more hiking trips like this in the near future. n
Nomination papers for the Election of Council Members for Session 2012/2013 will be posted on the IEM website (http//www.myiem.org.my) and made available at the IEM Secretariat office by 23 November 2011. The closing date for nominations is on 21 December 2011.
Thank you.
dato’ pang leong hoon Election Officer, IEM
The cartoons appearing in Shaiky’s View are now available in a professionally designed, 28 x 22 cm hard cover coffee table copy titled “The Engineer”. This limited edition contains more than 180 cartoons dealing with engineering and construction.
“The Engineer” can be purchased through IEM for rM125, of which RM20 will be donated by the author to IEM funds. Please add delivery and handling costs of RM20** for Peninsular Malaysia and RM30** for Sabah and Sarawak.
Please make your cheque payable to “the institution of engineers, Malaysia” and mail it to IEM Headquarters. For further enquiries, please write to pub@iem.org.my
(** Note: Cost is subject to the destination)
The first river crossing
Another river crossing
Shutterbugs clicking away
Going over an obstacle
Shaiky'S view Cartoon book
HTETD Chairman taking a plunge in the water CounCil
applications of Plastic Pipes in the Plumbing Industry
a one-day course on “Applications of Plastic Pipes in the Plumbing Industry” was organised by IEM in collaboration with Azeeta Pipe System Sdn Bhd. Held on 22 March 2011 in conjunction with Engineering Week, the course attracted 17 participants from the plumbing industry. The course also included a tour of the manufacturing process of ABS pipes.
It has often been said that Malaysia has “First Class Infrastructure, Third Class Maintenance”. However, this statement was challenged by Ir. Gary Lim from the perspective of the plumbing industry. He insisted that this statement is only true when it has been ascertained that the design, installation and commissioning of the plumbing works have been carried out correctly by a competent engineer.
In his talk, Ir. Lim touched on the Fundamentals of Fluid Laws covering the Continuity Equation and Bernoulli’s Theorem, both of which are essential in sizing the pump and pipe size. To determine the frictional loss of pipe, he advocated the use of the Hazen William formula instead of the Thomas Box formula which assumes an “f” value of 0.007.
A list of all plastic pipes used in plumbing was compiled with the corresponding MS colour. Hence, participants can now identify the different type of plastics used at project sites with ease.
Also presented was a case study which compared the frictional loss of the various types of pipes including metal pipes. Some of the participants were surprised with the significant differences among the different types of pipes. Water hammer in the pipeline is a key problem in many plumbing installations and could be addressed at the design stage in various ways such as by using a bigger pipe size, variable speed drive, surge tanks, or water hammer arrestor or by slow closing of valves to minimise the impact.
The afternoon session conducted by Engr. Ung touched on actual site problems with regards to installation. Various photographs were shown to highlight the various shortcomings of installations found in the industry which could cause pipes to burst or crack. This could result in property damage even during the project liability period. However, many might mistakenly blame the defect on poor maintenance. A properly designed plastic piping system operating within its parameters is said to be able to last for 50 years.
The participants then toured the manufacturing plant and were shown the various quality assurance steps taken at various stages to ensure the finished pipe complies with the MS 1419 Specifications and Installation Guides of ABS Pressure Piping System.
A number of the participants attempted the joining of ABS pipes using solvent cement and was amazed that the joint could withstand the impact and a hydrostatic test pressure as high as 48 bars.
The course was indeed a very informative one for the participants. Thanks to the detailed information provided by Azeeta Pipe System, the course participants now have a better understanding of plastic piping systems used in the plumbing industry. n
BuIldIng servIces technIcal dIvIsIon
by Ir. Gary Lim and Ir. Ung Ah Hock
One-Day Seminar on “Precast Concrete Structures: Connections, Stability, Wall Panel Systems, Lifting and handling Solutions”
IeM SOuthern BranCh
the IEM Southern Branch recently invited Assoc. Prof. Dr Ahmad Baharuddin Abd. Rahman from the Faculty of Civil Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Skudai, Johor, and Mr. John Zhang, Managing Director of J&P Building Systems Pte Ltd, Singapore, to present a one-day seminar on precast concrete structures and Industrialised Building Systems (IBS) on 23 April 2011 at The Puteri Pacific Hotel, Johor Bahru. Chaired by Ir. Dr John Eow, the talk was attended by more than 50 participants.
In the first session, Assoc. Prof. Dr Ahmad Baharuddin provided informative descriptions of the analysis and design of structural systems utilising precast concrete structure elements. Precast concrete structures have advantages over the construction of conventional reinforced concrete frames, as the latter requires more formwork, cast in-situ concrete and involves higher labour costs.
In Malaysia, precast concrete structures have gained increasing popularity ever since the Government introduced component-based construction known as IBS. Precast concrete structures have been used in many projects in Malaysia such as Sekolah Kebangsaan Brickfields 2, Jusco Tebrau City Shopping Complex, CIQ Building Johor Bahru and Persada Johor Convention Centre.
Assoc. Prof. Dr Ahmad Baharuddin also addressed the issues and methods for designing precast concrete structures by highlighting the structural systems, connection systems and ties for structural integrity to ensure that the designed frames are stable and robust when subjected to external forces and loads. Since precast concrete components are prefabricated, there are many possible methods of joining the loose components together. Therefore, issues of pinned, semi-rigid or rigid connections, stability, and integrity of frames would always need to be examined.
In the afternoon session, Mr. Zhang deliberated on the cast-in, lifting and connecting systems for precast components and elements. These include reliable lifting anchor systems and smart connection systems for precast components. Mr. Zhang also explained the design guidelines and the German Safety Regulations for lifting anchors and lifting anchor systems for precast concrete units (ZH 1/17). Figure 1 shows some of the good lifting anchor systems available in the market.
In a Wire Loop Connection System, the transverse force, parallel and vertical to the joint and tensile force are as shown in Figure 2, which is helpful information for designers, contractors and precasters.
Figure 1: Examples of good lifting anchor systems
by Ir. Dr Eow John Son
Figure 2: Transverse force and tensile force in a wire loop connection system
Figure 3 shows the steel bearing connection for a precast beam or slab. The fixing system is used for the connection between the precast beam and the main beam. This method comes with lower costs and is time saving as there is no requirement for concrete curing time and assembly support once the connection is ready.
The seminar allowed the participants to gain a better understanding of the entire range of precast lifting and connecting systems available in the market. Lifting and handling are of the utmost importance in planning the design and use of precast concrete. It is, therefore, vital that all aspects of these operations are carefully considered and detailed at all times so that subsequent activities may be performed by others in the safest possible manner without the risk of failure or accident.
The IEM Southern Branch extends its gratitude to Assoc. Prof. Dr Ahmad Baharuddin and Mr. Zhang for their invaluable contribution to the knowledge of local practising engineers in the field of Industrial Building Systems (IBS). As a token of appreciation, the speakers were thanked and presented with IEM souvenirs by Ir. Mohd. Khir bin Muhammad, the Chairman of IEM Southern Branch. For more technical information and applications of precast concrete structures, Assoc. Prof. Dr Ahmad Baharuddin and Mr. Zhang can be contacted at baharfka@utm.my and john_zhang@jnp.com.sg respectively. n
ChIneSe traveL BOOk
A travel book by Ir. Chin Mee Poon, in Mandarin, entitled “Europe and Asia by Train in 102 Days” has been published in a professionally designed 20 x 20cm soft cover limited edition.
The 494-page book is now available at rm48.00 per copy, and can be purchased through the IEM office at 03-7968 4001/2, or email to pub@iem. org.my. Payment can be made by cheque to “The Institution of Engineers, Malaysia”. Part of the proceeds of every book purchased from the IEM will be channelled to the IEM Building Fund.
Please add delivery and handling costs of RM12.00* for Peninsular Malaysia and RM22.00* for Sabah and Sarawak.
(*Note: Cost is subject to destination rate by Pos Malaysia)
Figure 3: Steel bearing connection for precast beam or slab
evening talk on reactive Powder Concrete
the evening talk on Reactive Powder Concrete (RPC) organised by the Civil and Structural Engineering Technical Division was held at Wisma IEM on 17 August 2010. The event attracted over 50 participants.
The speaker, Engr. Dr Voo Yen Lei, one of the pioneer researchers involved in the development of RPC, also known as Ultra High Performance Concrete (UHPC), holds a PhD degree from the University of New South Wales (UNSW), Australia. While completing his PhD thesis on this cutting edge material, he worked closely with the team of experts that was responsible for commercialising RPC in Australia.
After having accrued 10 years of experience working with RPC, Dr Voo returned to Malaysia and created DURA®, the first Malaysian formulation of RPC, and also founded Dura Technology Sdn Bhd. He has since designed and built the world’s first RPC portal frame building, Wilson Hall in Chemor, Perak, using DURA® and is presently developing RPC bridge girders for JKR. Dr Voo, together with Professor Steven Foster from the UNSW, recently authored the book “Reactive Powder Concrete – Analysis and Design of RPC Girders”.
The speaker began by taking the participants through the developmental history of RPC. He explained how the material had evolved over the years through research and development. He then proceeded to elaborate on the properties of RPC, which has the characteristics of both
concrete and steel. Next, he clarified the definition of RPC (UHPC) in contrast with that of High Performance Concrete (HPC).
Dr Voo highlighted the efficacy of structural designs in RPC and the simplicity of the design approach as a result of the homogeneity of the material. Participants were then shown photographs of structures that had been built using RPC from various parts of the world including Europe, the United States and Japan. He also provided the participants with an insight into the potential applications of RPC as well as a preview of several upcoming local projects.
The speaker emphasised on the exceptional durability of RPC and how its attributes could lead to a lower lifecycle cost of the structures and a reduction in the consumption and extraction of fuel and materials for sustainable construction. In so doing, RPC promises to be the “green” building material of the future. To further illustrate this, Dr Voo compared the embedded energy, CO2 footprint and Global Warming Potential calculations for three structurally equivalent beams from Reinforced Concrete, Structural Steel and RPC.
Having gained insight into the new material, the audience actively participated in the Q&A session, posing many questions to the speaker. At the close of the session, the Chairman, Ir. WC Hooi, presented Dr Voo with a token of appreciation from IEM. In return, he received, on behalf of the IEM CESTD, Dr Voo’s gift of a copy of his book. n
On 21 June 2011, IEM Deputy President Ir. Choo Kok Beng attended a briefing on the Customs Appeal Tribunal and was thoroughly impressed with the pro-active attitude of the Tribunal in assisting business organisations appeal against the Royal Malaysian Customs on duty related matters.
Members of IEM in the course of their careers may have encountered issues with the duty imposed by the Customs. An awareness of how the Tribunal can assist to sort out such matters, guidance on the way to go about registering an appeal and how to deal with the outcome will be very useful.
A leaflet distributed by the Custom Appeal Tribunal provides the following information: objective of Customs appeal tribunal
1) Provide an appeal system which is fair, transparent and speedy for any person aggrieved by the decision of the Director General of Customs.
2) Enhance the efficiency of the tax administration appeal system to make it more business and client friendly.
Who Can appeal?
Any person aggrieved with the decision of the Director General of Customs under the Customs Act 1967, Excise Act 1976, Sales Tax Act 1972 and the Service Tax Act 1975, except for matters relating to the compound and subsection 128 (3) of the Customs Act 1967.
It should be noted that notwithstanding its name, the Tribunal which was established in 2007 is not part of the Royal Malaysian Customs Department and acts as an independent judicial body. The decision of the Tribunal is final and binding on all parties.
For more information, their portal is http://tribunalkastam.treasury.gov.my
CIvIl and StruCtural engIneerIng teChnICal dIvISIon
by Ir. WC Hooi
the CuStomS aPPeal trIbunal
a rare encounter with two Giants
It was the middle of October when my wife and I arrived at Puerto Lopez. This is a pleasant little fishing town set in a beautiful horseshoe bay on the Pacific coast of Ecuador. From the bus terminal, a “taximoto” took us up a small hill to Hosteria La Terraza, a guest house run by a German couple. We chose this guest house for its exquisite location overlooking Puerto Lopez and the Pacific Ocean. A chalet with two beds, ensuite facilities and a balcony to take in the views only cost us US$24 a night.
Many foreign tourists come to Puerto Lopez between June and September for a spot of whale-watching. The town is also a gateway to Parque Nacional Machalilla which includes, among other attractions, Isla de la Plata, popularly known as the poor man’s alternative to the Galapagos.
In the morning after our second night in Puerto Lopez, we boarded a boat for Isla de la Plata. There were three other couples in the group, each of a different nationality.
On the way to the island, we had a close encounter with what most tourists came to see – a humpback whale! We had thought that since we came here after the whale-watching season, our likelihood of seeing any whale would be very slim indeed. So it was a really pleasant surprise for all of us to see a humpback whale up close, and not just one, but a pair of them!
by Ir. Chin Mee Poon
We spent a good 40 minutes with the humpback whales. It was a most exhilarating and memorable experience!
They were swimming, blowing, slapping and diving together. I thought it was a mother-and-cub pair, but our guide said both were adults. As humpback whales are normally solitary creatures in nature, this pair must be in courtship. What a rare treat! I managed to capture a pretty clear shot of the pair’s tail flukes together as they dived. Tail flukes are the fingerprints of whales. Scientists identify individual whales by the shape, colour, marking and scars of their tail flukes.
Back to Isla de la Plata, it is about 24km offshore. There were nesting colonies of waved albatross, frigate birds and three species of boobies on the island. During our walk, we came across a large number of frigate birds, blue-footed boobies, Nasca boobies, red-footed boobies, waved albatross, red-billed tropic birds, black vultures and turkey vultures. Many blue-footed boobies were hatching eggs in the middle of the trail. A few pairs were doing their mating dance.
If the Galapagos is not in your itinerary because of time or financial constraints, Isla de la Plata is certainly a good alternative. n
The closing date for MIDA 2011 Competition will be 15 August 2011. Kindly contact the IPDM Secretariat at +603 26915607/4345 or email to info@ipdm.org.my for further information.
To All Members,
Date: 11 July 2011
CaNDIDateS aPPrOVeD tO SIt FOr Year 2011 PrOFeSSIONaL INterVIeW
The following candidates have been approved to sit for the Professional Interview for 2011.
In accordance with Bylaws 3.9, the undermentioned names are published as having applied for membership of the Institution, subject to passing the year 2011 Professional Interview.
If any Corporate Member of the Institution has any reason as to why any of the candidates is not a fit and proper person for election, he should communicate in writing to the Honorary Secretary. Such communication should be lodged within a month from the date of this publication.
Thank you.
ir. prof. Dr lee teang shui Honorary Secretary, The Institution of Engineers, Malaysia
NeW aPPLICaNtS
Name Qualifications
aerOSPaCe eNGINeerING
CHE ZAID BIN ZAKARIA BE HONS (USM) (AEROSPACE, 2006)
CIVIL eNGINeerING
AISAH SANAI BE HONS (PLYMOUTH) (CIVIL, 1998)
FADZLI BIN MOHD PAUZI BE HONS (UiTM) (CIVIL, 2006)
LEONG SOO YAENG, JASMINE BE HONS (UNITEN) (CIVIL, 2003)
TAY CHONG KUI BSc (SOUTH DAKOTA STATE) (CIVIL, 1999)
WAN IKRAM WAJDEE BIN WAN AHMAD KAMAL BE HONS (UTM) (CIVIL, 2004)
WONG SHAN TOM BE (NUS) (CIVIL, 2005)
SYED RAJAH HUSSAIN SHAIB BIN BE HONS (BOLTON INSTITUTE OF A.H. MOHD HANIF HIGHER EDUCATION, CNAA) (CIVIL, 1991)
eLeCtrICaL eNGINeerING
EDWINA BINTI HAMZAH BE HONS (UNITEN) (ELECTRICAL & ELECTRONIC, 2001)
PUNGUT BIN IBRAHIM BE HONS (UTM) (ELECTRICAL, 1987)
YUSNIZAH BINTI CHE ROS BE HONS (UM) (ELECTRICAL, 2006)
eLeCtrONIC eNGINeerING
CHANG KENG CHAI BE (CANTERBURY) (ELECTRICAL & ELECTRONIC, 1994)
MeCHaNICaL eNGINeerING
DHARAMARAJAH A/L V. TAHAMLY RAJAH BE HONS (CITY) (MECHANICAL, 1995)
EZZARHAN BIN ABDULLAH BE HONS (UITM) (MECHANICAL 2000)
RM1,747,783.70 from ieM Members and Committees
NeW aPPLICaNtS Name Qualifications
MUHAMMAD HAFIZ BIN AFRAIZAL BE HONS (UTHM) (MECHANICAL, 2006)
NOORAZMAN BIN SOUD BE HONS (UTM) (MECH, 93) PIONG YEE HWONG BE HONS (GLASGOW) (MECHANICAL, 1991)
SAYUTI BIN NASHIR BE HONS (UITM) (MECHANICAL, 2006)
TAJUL SALMAN HASAN BE HONS (UKM) (MECHANICAL, 2006)
traNSFer aPPLICaNtS
Mem No. Name Qualifications
aerONautICaL eNGINeerING
27500 ABDUL KADIR BIN MOHD NOR BE (NATIONAL INST. FOR ACADEMIC DEGREES, JAPAN) (AERONAUTICAL, 1997)
aerOSPaCe eNGINeerING
46791 MOHD SALLEH BIN MOHD TAHIR BE HONS (USM) (AEROSPACE, 2007)
CIVIL eNGINeerING
06196 ANG EK KOON BSc (MANITOBA) (CIVIL, 1982)
24911 CHRISTOPHER ANAK BE HONS (USM) (CIVIL, 1998) GEORGE
08312 KONG SIN KOOI BE HONS (MONASH) (CIVIL, 1984)
20450 LEE CHIN HUI BE HONS (UNIMAS) (CIVIL, 2001)
12425 LIM SIEW HOWE BE HONS (LIVERPOOL) (CIVIL, 1989)
10740 MOHD ROSLI BIN DAUD BE HONS (UTM) (CIVIL, 1982)
27993 SHUHAIMI BIN ISMAIL BE HONS (UTM) (CIVIL, 2005)
traNSFer aPPLICaNtS
Mem No. Name Qualifications
20520 TAN SU MING, DANIEL BSc (ARKANSAS) (CIVIL, 1999)
28409 TEO LI KIAT, DESMOND BE HONS (UM) (CIVIL, 2007)
27660 THIEN TZE VUI BE HONS (UMS) (CIVIL, 2002)
43852 VICKNESH A/L RAGHUNATHAN BE HONS (USM) (CIVIL, 2005)
22091 ZAINAHAIZA BINTI ZAINON BE HONS (UTHM) (CIVIL, 2005)
eLeCtrICaL eNGINeerING
17363 HAROLD MUDI BE HONS (NOTTINGHAM) (ELECTRICAL & ELECTRONIC, 1993)
30598 NASRUL HISHAM BIN BE HONS (UTM) (ELECTRICAL, 2003) ABDUL HALIM
30640 YONG POH HING, HENRY BE HONS (UTM) (ELECTRICAL, 2007) (ELECTRICAL & ELECTRONIC, 1995)
eLeCtrONIC eNGINeerING
46773 LIM CHOT HUN BE HONS (MMU) (ELECTRONICSTELECOMMUNICATIONS, 2003) 30591 MUHAMMAD FIRDAUS BIN BE HONS (UTM) KAMARUDDIN (ELECTRICAL - MECHATRONICS, 2005)
MeCHaNICaL eNGINeerING
23652 KHAIRUDIN BIN MOHAMED BE HONS (UiTM) (MECHANICAL, 2006) ATIULLAH
25188 ONG CHIEW PING BE HONS (SOUTH AUSTRALIA) (MECHANICAL & MANUFACTURING, 2004)
33818 TAN PEY HWAN BSc (MICHIGAN) (MECHANICAL, 1997)
43932 TIAN FOON HOWE BE HONS (UM) (MECHANICAL, 2006) 15123 ZAINOL ARIFEN BIN SAID BE HONS (UTM) (MECHANCAIL, 1991)
total RM2,319,285.70 (aNotheR RM9,830,714.30 is Needed) CONtrIbutIONS tO WISMa IeM buILDING FuND
RM571,502.00 from Private organisations
ieM wishes to take this opportunity to thank all members who have contributed and would like to appeal for support from members who have not yet contributed Help Us to proviDe Better serviCes to YoU anD to tHe fUtUre Generation (The donation list to the Wisma IEM Building Fund is published on page 50)
aDMISSION / eLeCtION / traNSFer aPPLICaNtS
The IEM Council, at its 377th meeting on 16 april 2011 approved the admission / election / transfer of a total of 547 members, consisting the following
Aeronautical
Aerospace
Agricultural
Automotive
Biochemical
Biomedical
Biotechnology
Building Services
CAD/CAM
Chemical
Civil Communication
Computer
Computer Systems
Computer and Communication
Control System
Electrical and Electronic
Electrical
Electronic
Electronic and Instrumentation System
Electromechanical
Energy
Environmental
Food and Process
Geotechnical
Highway
Industrial
Information System
Information Technology
Instrumentation
Instrumentation and Control
Manufacturing
Manufacturing System
Marine
Materials
Metallurgy
Mechanical
Mechatronic
Microelectronic
Mineral
Mineral Resources
Mining
Naval
Petroleum
The Members’ names and qualifications are detailed on page 49. The Institution congratulates the members on their admission / election / transfer
Thank you.
ir. prof. Dr lee teang shui
Honorary Secretary, The Institution of Engineers, Malaysia DISCIPLINeS
47605 GOH CHIA CHUAN, JASON B.E.HONS.(MALAYA)(MECHANICAL,07)
47577 GUAN SHAN LI B.E.HONS.(UNITEN)(MECHANICAL,07)
47638 IRFAN BIN ABD. RAHIM B.E.HONS.(KUiTTHO)(MECHANICAL,03) MSc(UPM)(AEROSPACE,06)
47603 KHAIRUL FAIZI BIN MOHAMED B.E.HONS.(UNITEN)(MECHANICAL,09)
47567
MOHD AIDIL SHAH BIN ABDUL RAHIM B.E.HONS.(UPM) (MECHANICAL-SYSTEM,99) MSc(UTP)(M'FACTURING,09)
47579 MOHD FERDAUS EFFENDY B.E.HONS.(USM)(MECHANICAL,06) BIN SABUDIN
47569 MOHD NADZRI BIN YAHAYA B.E.HONS.(UNITEN)(MECHANICAL,09) 47604 MOHD NASHRI BIN ABDUL GHANI B.E.HONS.(UiTM)(MECHANICAL,08) 47639 MOHD NASIR BIN MAT SAAD B.E.HONS.(USM)(MECHANICAL,06)
47643 NOR ZAIAZMIN BIN YAHAYA B.SC.HONS(IOWA)(MECHANICAL,00)
47614 LEE WENG JIN B.E.HONS.(LOUGHBOROUGH) (CHEMICAL,10)
PaSS
DONatION LISt tO tHe WISMa IeM buILDING FuND
39th Announcement
The Institution would like to thank all contributors for donating towards the Wisma IEM Building Fund. Members and readers who wish to donate can do so by downloading the form from the IEM website at http://www.MyIEM.org my or contact the IEM Secretariat at +603-7968 4001/5518 for more information. The list of the contributors as at 30 June 2011 are shown as in table below.
IeM DIarY OF eVeNtS
Kindly note that the scheduled events below are subject to change. Please visit the IEM website at www.MyIEM.org. my for more information on the upcoming events.
Sub-Committee on Women Engineers
9-10 september 2011
2 DaY w orks H op on proje C tin G a professional an D C onfi D ent C orporate i M a G e
Time: 9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m.
Venue: Tan Sri Prof. Chin Fung Kee Auditorium 3rd Floor, Wisma IEM
Speaker: Ms. Wendy Lee
Fees: IEM Member- RM660 Non IEM Member - RM825 (Invitation to register)
agricultural and food engineering technical Division
24 september 2011
t e CH ni C al visit to "M o D ipal M en G ineerin G s D n BHD"
Time: 9.00 a.m.
Venue: Modipalm Engineering Sdn Bhd, Lot 3 & 4, Jalan Waja 15, Kawasan Perusahaan Telok Panglima Garang, 42500 Kuala Langat, Selangor (Limited to 30 participants by 19 September 2011)
6-7 october 2011
2 DaY C o U rse on "a pra C ti C al approa CH to B oiler operation, M aintenan C e an D M ana G e M ent"
Time: 9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m.
Venue: Tiara Intan, Mezzanine Floor, Singgahsana Hotel Petaling Jaya Persiaran Barat, Off Jalan Sultan, PJ
Speaker: Mr. R. C. Raj
Fees: IEM Member- RM1650 Non IEM Member - RM2200 (Invitation to register)
ie M Major e vents
10-12 october 2011
iie C 2011: sU staina B le s olU tions for e ner GY U tilisation
(Call for paper by 15 July 2011)
Venue: Palace of the Golden Horses, Selangor Email: sec@iem.org.my
12-13 june 2012
11t H C on C et i nternational Conferen C e on
Con C rete e n G ineein G an D t e CH nolo GY
(Call for paper)
Venue: Kuala Lumpur
Email: sec@iem.org.my
O
t H er e V e N t S
For more information, kindly contact the organiser accordingly.
6-7 october 2011
international ConferenCe on GeoteCHniCs for sUstainaBle DevelopMent
Venue: Hanoi, Vietnam
Tel: (84-4)6.269.0481/82
Fax: (84-4)6.269.0484
Email: secretariat@geotechn2011.vn
Website: www.geotechn2011.vn (Invitation to register)
27-30 november 2011
29tH ConferenCe of asean feDeration of enGineerinG orGanisations on sUstainaBle UrBanisation: enGineerinG CHallenGes anD OppOrtunitiES (CAFEO 29)
Venue: The Rizqun International Hotel, Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei
Tel: +673 238 4021
Fax: +673 238 4021
Email: cafeo29.brunei@gmail.com
Website: www.puja-brunei.org (Invitation to register)
Who is in Charge?
the most common answer is “the boss”. However, in an organisation, we must have a person responsible for coordinating and leading the safety management programme. I call him or her the Person-in-Charge. It is my firm believe that every company should assign a person to coordinate the implementation of the safety management programme within each company.
The title of the Person-in-Charge can either be the Vice President, Director, Lead, Manager, Officer, Specialist, Coordinator, or so on. The title will depend on the organisational structure and business complexity. Whether the Person-in-Charge takes this as an additional responsibility (in a small organisation), or as a full time job (in a large organisation) also depends on the regulatory requirements.
We can set up the best system or have the greatest commitment by the senior management, however, without a dedicated person to drive it, the programme will not run properly. It is also prudent to have a single point of contact to avoid the ambiguity of the “who to go to” syndrome when we need to consult a functional expert.
Safety and Health Officer is the legal title of the Person-in-Charge regardless of the organisational title. Under the Occupational Safety and Health (Safety and Health Officer) Order 1997, certain classes of industries must have Safety and Health Officers:
(a) Total contract price of the project exceeding RM20 million for:
i) Any building operation; and
ii) Any engineering construction work.
(b) More than 100 employees for:
i) Any shipbuilding activity at the peak of work;
ii) Any gas processing activity or petrochemical industries;
iii) Any chemical or allied industry;
iv) Any boiler or pressure vessel manufacturing activity;
by Ir. Shum Keng Yan
v) Any metal industry where there is canning or stamping or blanking or shearing or bending operations;
vi) Any wood working industry where there is cutting or sawing or planning or moulding or sanding or peeling or any combination of the above; and
vii) Any cement manufacturing activity.
(c) More than 500 employees for any other manufacturing activity other than those listed in (b).
The duties of the Safety and Health Officer are listed in the Occupational Safety and Health (Safety and Health Officer) Regulations 1997. This includes advising employers on safety requirements, conducting inspections, conducting trainings and promotions, acting as the secretary to the Workplace Safety and Health Committee, conducting accident investigations, and updating information and records pertaining to safety. The list of duties is not exhaustive. Basically, the role of a Safety and Health Officer is to drive safety within the organisation. The regulation also stipulates the qualifications for becoming one.
A copy of the regulation can be downloaded at: http://www.dosh.gov.my/doshV2/index. php?option=com_phocadownload&view=category&i d=6%3Aregulations-under-occupational-safety-andhealth-act-1994-act-514&Itemid=99&lang=en
Share with us your experiences in driving safety organisational change at pub@iem.org.my. n
There is no harm in having a Safety and Health Officer even if your organisation does not come under any of the above categories. Selamat Hari Raya Puasa and have a safe journey home! Last but not least, Selamat Hari Merdeka!
