DESIGN, FABRICATION AND EVALUATION OF DIGITAL TILT TEST DEVICE

Musa A. Idris; Musibaudeen O. Idris; Kehinde M. Adeleke; Olakunle Olukayode

Musa A. Idris Mining Engineering Department, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria.
Musibaudeen O. Idris Mechanical Engineering Department, Osun State University, Osogbo, Nigeria
Kehinde M. Adeleke Mechanical Engineering Department, Adeleke University, Ede, Nigeria
Olakunle Olukayode Mechanical Engineering Department, Osun State University, Osogbo, Nigeria

Keywords: : Basic friction angle, JRC, Tilt test device

Abstract

Due to the high and fluctuating exchange rate, obtaining devices and equipment for practical demonstration of theoretical contents of engineering and applied science courses in developing countries is becoming a herculean task. To sustain the practical aspect of these courses, some of the devices have to be locally manufactured. In this study, a digital tilt test device for determining the basic friction angle and joint roughness coefficient (JRC) of rock samples was designed and fabricated using majorly local materials. Comparing the device's results with those obtained from the Profilometer, there was a satisfactory correlation between the two results. The device is much cheaper to manufacture locally than the imported onesTherefore, it is recommended that the device be used for estimating the friction angle and JRC of rock samples. Similar devices with simple mechanisms should be manufactured locally in higher institutions to reduce dependency on foreign devices, which are expensive.