A

TECHNICAL REPORT ON

THE STUDENTS WORK EXPERIENCE PROGRAMME (SWEP II)

UNDERTAKEN AT

APOGEE ENGINEERING CONSULTING

BY

OLATUNJI, DAMILARE PAUL

(CVE/19/1253)

SUBMITTED TO

THE DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL AND ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING,

SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING AND ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY,

FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, AKURE.

IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENT FOR THE AWARD OF

BACHELOR DEGREE IN ENGINEERING AND ENGINEERING (B.ENG) DEGREE

IN CIVIL ENGINEERING

JUNE, 2023

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 CERTIFICATION

This is to certify that this report was written by OLATUNJI Damilare Paul (CVE/19/1253) of

the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, Federal University of Technology,

Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria in partial fulfilment of the requirement for the award of bachelor

degree in engineering and engineering (B.Eng.) in civil engineering.

…………………………… .….………………

OLATUNJI, DAMILARE PAUL Date

(Student)

…………………………… .….……………….

Prof. Pius Bamidele Mogaji Date

(SWEP Coordinator, SEET)

…………………………… .….……………….

DR (MRS) OJO Date

(SWEP Coordinator, CVE)

…………………………… .….……………….

PROF O.J. OYEDEPO Date

(Head of Department)

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 DEDICATION

This report is dedicated to Almighty God for being a true source through all times and for His

abundant guidance, mercies and protection so far in my undergraduate program.

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 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

My wholesome and sincere gratitude goes to God Almighty for His undeniable grace and favor

which I enjoyed while putting down this report. More also, I appreciate the entire Staff of the

department of Civil Engineering for their contributions and training I have received over the

years through their impacting teachings. My profound gratitude also goes to my parents, Dn.

and Mrs. Ebenezer Olatunji for their sacrificial support towards my life and likewise my

siblings. I appreciate my supervisors, Engr. Johnson, Engr. Emmanuel and Engr. ‘Tunde

Adefusi for their support and guidance while putting down this report, sincerely without them it

would have been something else.

Finally, I’d love to appreciate all the other engineers, technicians and workers on site for their

never-ending kindness and support. Thank you so much.

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 ABSTRACT

This report gives a detailed summary of my work experience on the Construction of a

residential development at 8, Mekunwen Road, Ikoyi, Eti-Osa Local Government Area, Lagos

state, Nigeria under the tutelage of APOGEE ENGINEERING CONSULTING. This report

discusses the testing of a particular pile in the foundation, processes of a pile foundation to the

Concrete Oversite (German floor). It also discussed the use of leveling Instrument.

The report also includes the challenges encountered in the course of the work experience

attachment, the solutions proffered and recommendations to help improve the program.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

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CERTIFICATION...........................................................................................................................2
DEDICATION.................................................................................................................................3
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT...............................................................................................................4
ABSTRACT....................................................................................................................................5
LIST OF FIGURES.........................................................................................................................7
LIST OF PLATES...........................................................................................................................8
CHAPTER ONE............................................................................................................................10
1.1 INTRODUCTION..........................................................................................................10
1.2 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF SWEP...........................................................................10
1.3 OBJECTIVES OF SWEP REPORT...............................................................................11
CHAPTER TWO...........................................................................................................................12
2.1 BRIEF HISTORY OF THE ORGANIZATION.............................................................12
2.3 ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE OF THE COMPANY.........................................13
2.4 EQUIPMENT, MACHINES AND MATERIALS USED ON SITE.............................14
CHAPTER 3..................................................................................................................................20
3.1 DESRIPTION OF ALL PROJECTS EXECUTED........................................................20
3.2 EXPERRIENCES GAINED...........................................................................................28
CHAPTER FOUR.........................................................................................................................29
4.1 PROBLEMS, CHALLENGES ENCOUNTERED AND SOLUTIONS PROFFERED 29
4.1.1 CHALLENGES ENCOUNTERED............................................................................29
4.1.2 PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED BY THE COMPANY AND SOLUTIONS
PROFERRED.........................................................................................................................29
CHAPTER FIVE...........................................................................................................................31
5.1 CONCLUSION...............................................................................................................31
5.2 RECOMMENDATIONS................................................................................................31

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 1.5.1 Company’s Organogram…………………………………………………………13

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7|Page
 LIST OF PLATES

Plate 2.4.1 A Concrete Mixer………………………………………………………………14

Plate 2.4.2 A Bulldozer……………………………………………………….………..…...15

Plate 2.4.3 An Excavator………………………………………………………..……...…...16

Plate 2.4.4 A meter tape…………………………………………….……………………….16

Plate 2.4.5 A Poker Vibrator …………………………………...…………………………...17

Plate 2.4.6 Wooden Formwork………………………………………………………………17

Plate 2.4.7 A Total Station…………………………………………………………………..18

Plate 2.4.8 A Ranging Pole..………………………………………………………………...18

Plate 2.4.9 A Leveling Staff…………………………………………………………………19

Plate 2.4.10 A Dumpy Level…………………………………………………………………19

Plate 3.1.1 Mounting of the Pile Cap………………………………………………………..21

Plate 3.1.2 A mounted Pile Cap……….…………………………………………………….21

Plate 3.1.3 The Front view of a Kentledge Pile Setup……………………………………….22

Plate 3.1.4 The Underneath of a Kentledge Pile Setup………………………………………22

Plate 3.1.5 Mixing of the concrete for the blinding of the beam trench……………………..24

Plate 3.1.6 50mm Blinded Beam Trench………………..…………………………………..25

Plate 3.1.7 50mm Blinded Beam Trench…..………………………………………………..25

Plate 3.1.8 Mounted Columns………………………….……………………………………25

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Plate 3.1.9 Mounted Columns……………………………………………………………….25

Plate 3.1.10 Mounted Columns on the base of the Pile Caps..………………………………..25

Plate 3.1.11 Bending of the Column Rebars…….……………………………………………25

Plate 3.1.12 A bent stirrups……………………………………….…………………………..26

Plate 3.1.13 Bending of the beam Stirrups……………………………………………………26

Plate 3.1.14 Placing of the Beams……………………………………………………………26

Plate 3.1.15 Boarding of the Pile caps and Beams…………………………………………...27

Plate 3.1.16 Pouring of Concrete into the Pile Caps………………………………………. ..27

Plate 3.1.17 Mixing of the Concrete…………………………………………………………27

Plate 3.1.18 Cast Pile Caps and Beams………………………………………………………28

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 CHAPTER ONE

1.1 INTRODUCTION

The Students Work Experience Program (SWEP) is a program facilitated by the School of

Engineering and Engineering Technology. This program started in response to the mandate

given to the School, charging it with the responsibility of promoting and encouraging the

acquisition of skills in industry and commerce with the view to generating a pool of trained

indigenous sufficient engineers to meet the needs of the economy.

The program was introduced as a pre-requisite to the normal six months industrial training in

which students after the completion of their third year in the university are required to start

garnering work experience, and it has in all ways proven to expose students to what is expected

during the forth-coming industrial training

The Students Work Experience Program (SWEP) has facilitated practical skills among various

disciplines in engineering and it has the competence of building intervention for students of

tertiary institutions with a wide scope and variety of technical skills in the general stock

available for the industrial development of Nigeria. I undertook my SWEP 2 at Apogee

Engineering Consulting which is situated at Plot 58, Nureni Yusuf Road, Alagbado, Lagos

State, Nigeria from 8th of May, 2023 to 27th of May, 2023.

1.2 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF SWEP

These are the goals the SWEP program aims to achieve.

 To expose students to method, techniques, Equipment and machines that may not be

available in their institutions of learning.

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  To enable familiarity of student with various works and settings in their chosen

industry.

 To expose student and prepare them to real job situation and environment that they are

likely to meet after graduation.

 To expose students to life during industrial training before the industrial training proper.

 To expose student to the practical works that can develop their inbuilt skills on their

fields of studies and also reveal students to the task ahead of them in their various future

endeavors.

 To enable students, have a chance of practicing what they have been taught in class

before graduating from their institution and also discovering the best kind of jobs which can be

available for them after school

1.3 OBJECTIVES OF SWEP REPORT

 To help students gain experience in writing report in any discipline of study

works/project.

 To help the various institutions to access the practical knowledge gained by the students

during the training period.

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 CHAPTER TWO

PROFILE OF THE COMPANY

2.1 BRIEF HISTORY OF THE ORGANIZATION

Apogee Engineering Consulting is a consultancy company that specializes in Engineering &

Development Consulting, Project Management and Turnkey Solutions. It is situated at Plot 58,

Nureni Yusuf Road, Alagbado, Lagos State, Nigeria. The company was incorporated in

accordance with the companies and allied matters acts of 1990 and it is in operation in many

states of the federation like Lagos, Ogun and Osun States and has credit for good, quality and

timely completion of projects.

Over the years, the company has built-up an ever-increasing experience in most areas of

construction with wide range of assignments encompassing projects from financial institution,

government projects and rehabilitation works to urban renewal projects. Apogee Engineering

Consulting has recorded successful project management and supervision from inception to

completion of various projects.

The company has dynamic, well experienced and seasoned professional engineers as staff, who

are well focused to company’s commitment to high standard project execution as well as

originality. The company equally has long standing professional relationships with reputable

and highly motivated construction engineers, enabling the company to offer a fully

comprehensive professional package which we believe are equal to best of services obtainable

anywhere in the world.

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 2.2 MISSION STATEMENT

We are creative catalyst who join forces with our clients to do all it takes from thought to finish

and achieve positive and sufficient change.

2.3 ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE OF THE COMPANY

Below is the company’s organizational chart showing graphical relationship of one official to

another starting with the principal official which is the managing director.

Director

Site Engineer

Site Supervisor
I.T. Students

Artisans
(Labourers)

Figure 1.5.1: Company’s organogram

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 2.4 EQUIPMENT, MACHINES AND MATERIALS USED ON SITE

Construction materials and equipment are pivotal the successful completion of a structure

therefore construction materials or equipment of good quality are to be used on site so as to be

able to achieve a structure of desirable quality. Discussed below are some of those machines

and equipment used during the course of the project.

 CONCRETE MIXER: A concrete mixer is a batch plant mounted on tyres, has an

engine and the coarse aggregate (granite), fine aggregate (sharp sand), water and cement

according to the mixing ratio and poured into it and mixes automatically to uniform mixing and

to attain the maximum strength.

Plate 2.4.1: A Concrete Mixer

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  BULLDOZER: A bulldozer is a crawler (continuous tracked tractor) equipped with a

substantial metal plate (known as blade) used to push large quantities of soil, sand, rubble or

other such material during construction or conversion work and typically equipped at the rear

with a claw-like device (known as a ripper) to loosen densely compacted materials.

Plate 2.4.2: A Bulldozer

 EXCAVATOR (HYDRAULIC): Hydraulic excavators are heavy construction

equipment consisting of a boom, dipper (or stick), bucket and cab on a rotating platform known

as the “house”. The house sits atop an undercarriage with tracks or wheels. They are a natural

progression from the steam shovels and often mistakenly called power shovels. All movement

and functions of a hydraulic excavator are accomplished through the use of hydraulic fluid,

with hydraulic cylinders and hydraulic motors. The excavator was used in digging of trenches

and demolition o the site

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 Plate 2.4.3: An Excavator

 MEASURING TAPE: This measure both vertical and horizontal distances. The sizes

used are the 3.5m and 5m for measuring short distances and the 30m for measuring longer

distances.

Plate 2.4.4 A meter tape

 POKER VIBRATOR: It is used to ensure adequate compaction of concrete by

eliminating gross voids. This is also known as the immersion vibrator.

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 Plate 2.4.5: A Poker Vibrator

 FORMWORK: Formwork is the term given to either temporary or permanent molds

into which concrete or similar materials are poured. The formwork determines the shape of the

concrete. In all the construction works we embarked on, traditional timber formworks were

used. The formworks were made of steel due to the nature of the project.

Plate 2.4.6: Wooden Formwork

 TOTAL STATION: A total station or total station theodolite is an electronic/optical

instrument used for surveying and building construction. It is an electronic transit theodolite

integrated with electronic distance measurement (EDM) to measure both vertical and horizontal

angles and the slope distance from the instrument to a particular point.

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 Plate 2.4.7: A total station

 RANGING POLE: A ranging pole is a surveying instrument used for marking the

position of stations, and for sightings of those station, as well as for ranging straight lines.

Plate 2.4.8: A Ranging Pole

 LEVELING STAFF: This is a graduated Aluminum rod used alongside a levelling

instrument such as dumpy level etc to find the discrepancy in height between points.

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 Plate 2.4.9: A leveling Staff

 DUMPY LEVEL: This is an optical instrument used to locate points in same horizontal

plane.

Plate 2.4.10: A Dumpy level

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 CHAPTER 3

3.1 DESRIPTION OF ALL PROJECTS EXECUTED

During the period of my industrial training I was involved majorly in the construction of a four

storey residential building involving a pile foundation. I was involved basically in studying of

the drawing plan for the foundation and ensuring the artisans on site follow the dimensions on

the drawing plan accordingly.

During my stay on site, the following were achieved:

 Bending and mounting of pile caps on the excavated pile cap trenches.

 Fixing of the side bars of the pile caps.

 Testing of the pile.

 Excavation of the beam trenches and blinding with 50mm concrete.

 Leveling of the beam trenches with levelling staff and dumpy level.

 Cutting, bending and mounting of the column rebars.

 Use of line to align the columns.

 Bending of beam stirrups and placing of the beam on the trenches.

 Boarding of the pile caps and beams with wooden formworks.

 Casting of some of the pile caps and beams with concrete mix ratio 1:2:3.

3.1.1 BENDING AND MOUNTING OF PILE CAP

During Pile foundation, after the piles have been dug, the next stage is mounting of the pile

caps to serve as the cover for the piles. The height of the pile caps is two times the diameter of

the pile plus 100. The pile Cap were in different forms based on the drawing plan. Some were

rectangular while some have the shape of a polygon. The pile caps were bent and mounted by

the Iron benders following the dimensions according to the drawing plan.
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 Plate 3.1.1: Mounting of the pile cap Plate 3.1.2: A mounted pile cap

3.1.2 TESTING OF THE PILE

Static Compressive load test measures the response of a pile under an applied load and are the

most accurate method for determining pile capacity. It can also determine the ultimate failure

load of a foundation pile and determine its capacity to support the load without excessive or

continuous displacement.

This test was done on a pile on the site using Kentledge Routine Pile load test. The following

equipment and machinery used for the test were:

 Tipper (for transportation of material).

 Welding Machine.

 Hydraulic jack.

 Hydraulic pump.

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  Calibrated pressure gauge.

 Calibrated dial gauges or reflectometer (it’s used to measure the degree of settlement)

 Spirit level.

 Reinforcement bars.

 Steel Plates

Materials used for the test was 100 tonnes of sand.

Plate 3.1.3: Kentledge Pile load test up Plate 3.1.4: The underneath of the set up

Procedures for carrying out the test were:

1. Applied a minimum seating load and release it before starting the actual load test with

the hydraulic pump to ensure proper functioning of the hydraulic jacks and load test kentledge.

2. Fixed required number of dial gauges in two positions along the same line.

3. Ensure the dial gauges are in equilibrium by using a spirit level.

4. The dial gauges were recorded without applying any load.

5. 25% of the designed load was applied on the pile i.e 168KN.

6. The settlement was recorded with the dial gauges after 1, 5, 5, 5, and 15 minutes.

7. Increased the applied load on the pile to 50% of the designed load i.e 336KN

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 8. The settlement was also recorded from the dial gauges after 1, 5, 5, 5 and 15 minutes.

9. Also, increased the applied load on the pile to 504KN

10. Recorded the settlement after 1, 5, 5, 5 and 15 minutes

11. Increased the applied load on the pile to 100% of the designed load i.e 672KN

12. Recorded the settlement after 1, 5, 5, 5, 15, 30, 60, 60, 60, 60 and 60 minutes.

13. The applied load was reduced back to 504KN

14. The settlement was recorded for 1, 5 and 5 minutes.

15. The applied load was also reduced to 336KN

16. The settlement was recorded for 1, 5 and 5 minutes.

17. The applied load was reduced again to 168KN.

18. The settlement was recorded for 1, 5 and 5 minutes.

19. The Load was totally removed and the settlement was recorded for 1, 5, 10, 15 minutes.

20. The load was increased to 672KN and the settlement was recorded for 1, 5, 5 and 15

minutes.

21. The load was increased to 125% of the designed load (i.e 840kN) and the settlement

was recorded for 1, 5, 5, 5 and 15 minutes.

22. The load was also increased to 868kN and the settlement was recorded for 1, 5, 5, 5, 15,

30, 60, 60, 60, 60, 60, 60, 60, 60, 60, 60, 60 and 60 minutes.

The working principle of the Kentledge Routine Pile load test is that the sand which is serving

as the dead load i.e 100 tonnes is transferred to the secondary beam after which it is transferred

to primary beam. From the primary beam, the load is transferred to the hydraulic jack and to the

pile cap. The pile cap then transfers the total load to the pile.

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 3.1.3 EXCAVATION OF BEAM TRENCHES WITH BLINDING OF 50MM

CONCRETE

According to the drawing plan, the portion for the for the various beam was marked out for the

excavators to dig and they dug accordingly by the excavators. After the digging, the trenches

were levelled using the levelling Instrument (levelling staff and Dumpy level) so as to ascertain

that the trenches are all in the same elevation.

Afterwards, the areas that need further excavation were excavated and those areas that need

compaction were compacted.

Plate 3.1.5 Mixing of the concrete for blinding

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 Plate 3.1.6 A blinded beam trench Plate 3.1.7 A blinded beam trench

3.1.4 CUTTING, BENDING AND MOUNTING OF COLUMN REBARS

The Iron bars were cut into 3m and bent at a length of 300mm by the Iron bars. Afterwards, the

stirrups were bent according to the drawing plan and mounted on the base of their respective

pile cap. It was bounded together with binding wire.

Plate 3.1.8: A mounted column Plate 3.1.9: A mounted column

Plate 3.1.10: A mounted column Plate 3.1.11 Bending of the column rebars

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 3.1.5 BENDING OF THE BEAM STIRRUPS AND PLACING OF THE BEAM ON

THE BLINDED TRENCHES

The beam stirrups were bent 170mm x 670mm because the beams designed were 250mm x

750mm having a concrete cover of 40mm. The rebars for the beams were straightened, cut and

passed into the pile cap as designed on the drawing plan by the Iron benders. Afterwards, the

stirrups were placed and bounded with the rebars.

Plate 3.1.12 A bent stirrups Plate 3.1.13 Bending of the stirrups

Plate 3.1.14 A mounted beam

3.1.6 BOARDING OF THE PILE CAPS AND BEAMS WITH FORMWORKS

The pile caps and beams were boarded with wooden formworks giving an allowance for

concrete cover of 40mm by the carpenters. The formworks were braced with 2x3 woods and

binding wire was also used to prevent the budging of the woods during casting.

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 Plate 3.1.15: Pile caps and beams boarded with formworks

3.1.7 CASTING OF THE PILE CAPS AND BEAMS

The pile caps and beams were cast with the concrete mixing ratio of 1:2:3 which means one bag

of cement, four head pans of fine aggregate i.e fine sand and 6 head pans of coarse aggregate i.e

granite. Due to the fact of the season during the construction (i.e rainy season), the water in the

pile cap trenches was pumped out first before casting proceeds to avoid the strength of concrete

being affected.

Plate 3.1.16 Pouring of concrete into the pile cap Plate 3.1.17: Mixing of the concrete

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 Plate 3.1.18 Cast pile caps and beams

3.2 EXPERIENCES GAINED

In the course of the training I was able to gather some knowledge pertaining to the projects

carried out on the field, below are the experiences gained;

 Practical knowledge of the use of leveling Instrument.

 Practical knowledge of application of structural drawings on site.

 Use of measuring tape

 Knowledge of basic term in structures.

 General knowledge on how pile foundation is done.

 Relation of theoretical knowledge to practical

 Site management

 Supervision of artisans working on site for job execution.

 Knowledge on the reasons for the dimensions of the pile caps and slabs.

 Use of line for alignment on site.

 Use of Spirit level.

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 CHAPTER FOUR

4.1 PROBLEMS, CHALLENGES ENCOUNTERED AND SOLUTIONS PROFFERED

4.1.1 CHALLENGES ENCOUNTERED

In the course of the training, the following problems were what I encountered

 Lack of safety materials on site.

 Lack of proper shed against adverse weather condition.

 Lack of toilet system.

 Lack of enough equipment for easier and accurate job execution.

4.1.2 PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED BY THE COMPANY AND SOLUTIONS

PROFERRED

 Incomplete Construction Materials: At a particular period during the course of the

project, the work had to slow down for a while due to lack of wooden formworks to board the

pile caps and beams.

The solution proffered by the company was to report this to the Client Representative

and provisions of wooden formworks from other sites was organized by the Contractor.

 Lack of Enough Space for Construction Materials: Due to lack of space on the site,

it was impossible to deliver all construction materials like sand, granite etc on site which slow

down the pile testing and the casting of the pile caps and beams.

The solution proffered was to order for the materials before it finishes on site but there was still

delay in the project due to late delivery.

 Lack of equipment on site: Due to lack of equipment such as line, spirit level on

site by the contractor, the alignment of the columns and beam was affected which delayed the

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 project because the alignment had to be done after all the columns have been mounted on the

base of the pile caps and some columns have to be removed and mounted again.

The solution proffered was to raise complaint to the contractor about deficiencies of equipment

on site and the importance of the equipment.

 Lack of early and low payment of the labourers: Due to the delay and low

payment of the labourers’ wages, the smooth running of the job was affected and it slowed the

pace of the job execution.

The solution proffered was to raise complaint to the contractor about the demands of the

labourers on site.

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 CHAPTER FIVE

5.1 CONCLUSION

The training program undergone at Apogee Engineering Consulting afforded me an in-depth

exposure to some of the practical aspects of civil engineering profession. It has given me a

broader view to the importance and relevance of Civil Engineers in the immediate society and

the world as a whole, as I now look forward to impacting it positively after graduation.

Furthermore, an awareness of the general work place has been developed in me and I have been

able to improve my communication skills and exposure as a student to the Civil Engineers’

responsibility and ethics.

5.2 RECOMMENDATIONS

Although the Students Works Experience Program (SWEP) did achieve quite a lot of its stated

objectives, nevertheless, the following recommendations are suggested to improve the

qualitative context of the program.

 There should be proper supervision of the students concerned by the SWEP officials.

 The program coordinator from the university and the faculty should ensure that the

students concerned are placed in the relevant department in these organizations.

 Allowance, no matter how little should be given to students at the beginning of their

training because it will be useful for them.

 The companies should put in place all the necessary facilities needed to enhance the

knowledge of the students in industrial attachment.

 Students should make the experience and knowledge to be gained their utmost priority

and not the monetary aspect of it, in their search for placement.

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