Department of

Civil Engineering
About the Department Facilities
Educational Programs Publication | M.Sc. Thesis
Academic Staff Address / Inquires

Faculty of Technology | Addis Ababa University | Other Links

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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1. About The Department

Department Chairman

Dr.-Ing. Girma Zerayohannes

technorth.aau@telecom.net.et

 

1.1    Brief History

 


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1.2 Objectives

The goals of the Department of Civil Engineering are rooted in the mission and goals of the Addis Ababa University. To that end, the program of the Department is committed to the following:
 

 

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1.3    Future plans

The Department has planned to expand the services of the Department by opening new graduate and undergraduate programmes. The opening of Mining Engineering in B.Sc. level, Construction Management and Sanitary Engineering in M.Sc level, upgrading the existing M.Sc programme in Structural Engineering to Ph.D level are among the plans of the Department. The Department's plan is very realistic and goes along with the objective of the University and demand of the nation.

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2.    Educational Programs

The Department provides a variety of courses which can be studied either full time (five years regular day program ) or part-time (nine years evening programs) leading to the award of Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) and Advanced Diploma in Civil Engineering, respectively. Moreover, the Department also offers a two-years full-time programme in post graduate leading to Master of Science (M.Sc.) Degree in Structural Engineering, Hydraulic Engineering, Construction Technology & Management, and Soil Mechanics & Foundation Engineering.

The Department has laboratories of soils testing, materials testing, hydraulics & hydrology, sanitary and surveying and use will be made of these wherever appropriate during course offerings. In addition, computer facility is also available to the students of the Department in the computer center of the Faculty where use can be made for appropriate courses.


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2.1 List of courses offered leading to B.Sc. in Civil Engineering


 A. Second Year  

First Semester   Second Semester  
Ceng 20 Eng. Mechanics Statics  
Meng 201 Technical Drawing		 3
3		 Math 232 Applied Mathematics  
CEng 202 Eng. Mechanics Dynamics  
Geol 100 Environmental Science  
CEng 206 Hydraulic I  
CEng 204 Strength of Materials  
EEng 212 Probability and Statistics		 4  
3  
3  
3  
4  
2

  B. Third Year

 

First Semester   Second Semester  
Math 331 Mathematics for Engineers
Geol 215 Engineering Geology
CEng 301 Surveying I  
CEng 303 Strength of Materials II 
CEng 305 Hydraulics II  
CEng 311 Construction Materials 		 4
2
3
3
3
3		 CEng 302 Surveying II  
CEng 304 Theory of Structure I  
CEng 306 Building Construction  
CEng 308 Soil Mechanics I  
CEng 310 Engineering Hydrology  
CEng 314 Computer Programming
CEng 316 Fundamentals of Architecture		 3
3
3
3
1
2
3
2

 C. Fourth Year

First Semester   Second Semester  
CEng 401 Reinforced Concrete I  
CEng 403 Soil Mechanics II  
CEng 405 Theory of Structures II  
CEng 407 Open Channel Hydraulics  
CEng 409 Technical Report Writing  
CEng 411 Water Supply and Sewerage
CEng 413 Numerical Methods		 3
3
4
3
1
3
2		 CEng 402 Reinforced Concrete II  
CEng 404 Foundation I  
CEng 406 Highway Engineering  
CEng 409 Hydraulic Structure I  
CEng 410 Water Treatment  
EEng 411 Basic Electricity and Installation  
CEng 416 Surveying Field Practice  
               (during inter semester break)		 3  
3  
3  
3  
3  
2  
1

 

D. Fifth Year
 

First Semester   Second Semester  
CEng 503 Design of Steel and Timber Structure  
CEng 505 Foundation II  
CEng 507 Highway Engineering II  
CEng 509 Hydraulic Structure II  
CEng 523 Sewage Treatment and Solid Waste Disposal  
CEng 525 Structural Design		 3

3
3
3

3
3		 CEng 502 Fundamental of Bridge Design  
CEng 506 Water Resources Dev. 
CEng 507 Engineering Management  
CEng 522 Construction Equipment  
CEng 524 Irrigation  
CEng 526 Contracts, Specification & Qty Surveying 
CEng Elective		 3
3
2
2
2

2
3

 

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2.2 List of courses leading to M.Sc.

Major areas of studies are:

  • (1) Construction Technology and Management,
    (2) Hydraulic Engineering,
    (3) Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering, and
    (4) Structural Engineering- Design.
    •

    Note that the program is spread over four semesters. In addition to course work the preparation of a thesis is required for graduation.
     

    a)Common Courses Credit
    CEng 601 Advanced Mathematics for Engineers 
    CEng 603 Computer Programming 
    CEng 605 Numerical Methodsand Computer Techniques    		 3 
    1 
    3
    b)Structural Engineering-Design major
    CEng 602 Theory of Elasticity 
    CEng 604 Advanced Structural Analysis 
    CEng 606 Concrete Structure 
    CEng 607 Steel Structure 
    CEng 608 Plate and Shell Structure 
    CEng 609 Construction Technology and Management 
    CEng 611 Soil Mechanics and Foundation Design 
    CEng 613 Advanced Structural Dynamics    		 3 
    3 
    3  
    3 
    3 
    3 
    3 
    3
    c)Soil Mechanics and Foundation Majors
    CEng 602 Theory of Elasticity 
    CEng 623 Advanced Soil Mechanics 
    CEng 624 Field Exploration and Soil Testing 
    CEng 625 Advanced Foundation Engineering 
    CEng 626 Engineering Properties of Tropical Soils 
    CEng 627 Earth Retaining Structures 
    CEng 629 Engineering Geology    		 3 
    3 
    3 
    3 
    3 
    3 
    3
    Optional Courses(Take one Course)
    CEng 628 Rock Mechanics 
    CEng 630 Design and Analysis of Earth Dams 
    CEng 632 Soil Mechanics    		 3 
    3 
    3
    d)Hydraulic Majors
    CEng 614 Hydrodynamics 
    CEng 615 Applied Hydrology 
    CEng 616 Hydraulic Structures I 
    CEng 617 Hydraulic Structures II 
    CEng 618 Groundwater Hydrology 
    CEng 619 Water Power Development 
    CEng 620 Hydrometery and Hydraulic Laboratory Techniques 
    CEng 621 River Engineering 
    CEng 622 Water Resources System sand Management    		 3 
    3 
    3 
    3 
    2 
    3 
    1 
    3 
    3
    f)Construction Technology and management Majors
    CEng 633 Construction Materials 
    CEng 634 Concrete 
    CEng 635 Construction Techniques and Building 
    CEng 636 Building Industrialization and Prefabrication 
    CEng 637 Construction of Highways and Highways Bridges 
    CEng 638 Construction Machinery and Equipment 
    CEng 639 Labor Relations and Financial Management 
    CEng 640 Construction Planning    		 3 
    3 
    3 
    3 
    3 
    3 
    3 
    3

     

     

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    3.    Academic Staffs

    1. Dr. Bayou Chane, Assitsant Professor of Hydraulic Engineering, | Publications
    2. Dr. -Ing. Abebe Dinku, Associate Professor of Construction Management and Materials | Publications
    3. Dr. -Asnake Adamu, Assistant Professor of Structural Engineering | Publications
    4. Dr. -Ing Abdulkarim Hussien, Hydraulic Engineering | Publications
    5. Dr.-Ing. Adil Zekaria, Assistant Professor of Structural Engineering | Publications
    6. Dr. Laikeselassie Abebe, Assistant Professor of Sanitary Engineering | Publications
    7. Dr. Messele Haile, Assistant Professor of Geotechnical Engineering | Publications
    8. Dr. Yilma Sileshi, Assistant Professor of Water Resources Engineering | Publications
    9. Dr.-Ing. Girma Zerayohannes, Associate Professor of Structural Engineering | Publications
    10. Dr.-Ing. Girma Boled, Assistant Professor of Geotechnical Engineering | Publications
    11. Dr.-Ing. Girma Berhanu, Assistant Professor of Transportation Engineering | Publications
    12. Dr.Ing. Mesfin Leikun, Associate Professor of Geotechnical Engineering | Publications
    13. Dr.-Ing. Shiferaw Taye, Associate Professor of Structural Engineering | Publications
    14. Mr. Belete Lakew, Senior Lecturer of Sanitary Engineering | Publications
    15. Prof. Negussie Tebedge, Professor of Structural Engineering | Publications
    16. Ato Fekadu Melese, Lecturer of Structural Engineering | Publications
    17. Ato Muleneh Admas, Lecturer of Water Engineering | Publications
    18. Ato Dawit Haile, Assistant Lecturer
    19. W/t Tigist Getaneh, Assistant Lecturer
    20. Ato Tezera Firew, Assistant Lecturer
    21. Ato Riyad Ahmed, Graduate Assistant
    22. Ato Isayas G/Yohannes, Graduate Assistant
    23. Ato Genene Bezbeh, Graduate Assistant
    24. Ato Fitsum Teklu, Graduate Assistant

    Staff on Study Leave

      1. Ato Dereje Hailu, M.Sc. Hydraulic Engineering
      2. Ato Zelalem Hailu, M.Sc. Hydraulic Engineering
      3. Ato Girma Boled, M.Sc. Geotechnics
      4. Ato Rabirra Garba, M.Sc. Highway Engineering
      5. Ato Girma Birhanu, M.Sc. Highway Engineering
      6. Ato Yonas Michael, Lecturer, Water Resources Engineering
      7. Ato Yonas Gebeyehu, Lecturer | Publications

     

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    4.    Laboratory/Workshop Facilities

    4.1 Materials and Concrete laboratories:

    The material laboratory is sufficient to accommodate a maximum of 20 students at a time. Few relatively modern testing machines (e.g. Universal Testing Machine) are installed and used to conduct tests for student demonstration, research work, and give consultancy services. One can do various physical and mechanical tests on different building materials such as concrete, brick, steel and timber. The laboratory is also equipped with a test machine to determine the properties of asphalt.

    4.2 Soils laboratory

     
    The capacity and facility of the soil laboratory are similar to materials and concrete laboratory, and are equipped with basic test machines to do research, student demonstration and consultancy services.

    4.3 Surveying laboratory

     
    The surveying laboratory is equipped with surveying instruments including levels, theodolites, and other equipment. Using these instruments, students get practical training in most areas of engineering surveying, which includes topographic surveys, traverse surveys and route location surveys. Some photograpmetric instruments are also available in the laboratory, which will enable demonstration of the interpretation and use of aerial photographs.


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    4.4 Sanitary laboratory

     

    To be put later.

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    4.5 Hydraulic and Hydrologic Laboratories


    A.  Hydraulic lab

    The Hydraulic laboratory was established to serve the needs of water-oriented education and research in Ethiopia. The laboratory is used to show the followings

    B. Hydrologic lab

    The hydrologic lab is found in the hydraulic laboratory demonstrations hall and contains the following apparatus:

    (1) Hydrology apparatus, it is used

  • (a) for experimenting rainfall-runoff relationships,
    (b) for investigation of flow from a well,
    (c) for determining mathematically the watershed divide, and
    (d) for demonstrating loose boundary hydraulics
    •

    (2) Permeability tank, it is used

  • (a) to determine seepage beneath a structure,
    (b) to demonstrate uplift pressure on a structure,
    (c) to demonstrate flow through an Earth dam,
    (d) for demonstrating seepage force under a sheet pill Wall, and
    (e) to demonstrate draw-down in horizontal flow.
    •

    Details of these apparatus can be found in Tecquipment Manual (1981) and Csongrady (1982).


    Space:

  • The hydraulic and hydrologic laboratory lies over the total area of about 363 m2. This includes: The testing facilities are accommodated in the Exercise Hall (9.7 x 19.5 m or 189 m2) and in the Demonstration Hall (7.05 x 15.25 or 108 m2). Furthermore, there is the third room (6.3x7.05 or 44 m2) for housing working models turbines for exercise in Hydraulic Machinery by Mechanical Engineering and two adjoining office rooms (14.6 and 7.6 m2). The space available is quite sufficient for the current laboratory exercises.
    •

    Supplies:

  • Most of the supplies such as water, electricity, and soil for hydrologic and hydraulic laboratories are locally available.
    •

    Safety precautions:

  • Generally it is safe to work in hydraulic and hydrologic laboratory with taking normal precautions.

    Generally the maintenance and calibration of old test machines are very poor. There are machines, which were not used since there installments (20 years) due to mainly lack of trained technicians and failure to obtain a research fund.

    Materials required for routine laboratory demonstrations are not adequately available or purchased on time. The coordination between the Department and the purchasing body is so bureaucratic that one has to wait more than six months to buy. As a result, the teaching and learning processes are adversely affected, technicians working in the laboratory are often idle, and the machines are also under utilized.

    •

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    5. Publications

     

    Dr.-Ing Mesfin Leikun

    1. Quality of Concrete as Produced in Addis Ababa (1970)
    2. Moisture Variation in Black Cotton Soil (1972)
    3. Foundation Problems on Expansive Soils (1983)
    4. Basic Soil Mechanics for Civil Engineers (1984)
    5. Text Book on Soil Mechanics (Under Print)

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    Dr.-Ing Abebe Dinku, 

    1. Abebe Dinku, The Design of Pin-Ended Slender Column, MSc. thesis, University of Leeds, Department of Civil Engineering, 1987.
    2. Abebe Dinku, Influence of limestone aggregates and limestone fillers on the properties of concrete, AJST (African Journal of Science and Technology), Series A, Vol. 8, No. 1, April 1990, pp.36-43.
    3. Abebe Dinku, The Influence of Limestone Aggregates and Limestone Fillers on the Properties of Concrete, MPhil. thesis, University of Leeds, Department of Civil Engineering, 1991.
    4. Reinhardt, H.W. and Abebe Dinku, Effects of curing on the gas permeability of cover concrete, Proceedings of the NATO Advanced Research Workshop on the Modelling of Microstructure and its Potential for Studying Transport Properties and Durability, St, RJ my-lP s-Chevreuse, France, July 1994, ed. Jennings et al., Kluwer Academic Publisher, pp. 325-337, 1996.
    5. Abebe Dinku and Reinhardt, H.W., Concrete performance assessed by the gas permeability of concrete, Proceedings of the International Symposium on Non-Destructive Testing in Civil Engineering, Vol. II, Sept. 1995, Berlin, pp. 939-946.
    6. Abebe Dinku, Gasdurchlae ssigkeit als Mass fu r Dauerhaftigkeit, IWB Mitteilungen, 1995/3, pp. 21-24.
    7. Abebe Dinku, Gas Permeability as a means to assess the Performance Properties of Concrete, PhD. Thesis, University of Stuttgart, January 1996.
    8. Abebe Dinku and Reinhardt, H.W., The Influence of Storage Conditions on the Gas Permeability and Carbonation of Concrete, Proceedings of the International Congress. Concrete in the Service of Mankind: Concrete repair, Rehabilitation and Protection, ed. Dhir, R.K. et al., pp. 195-204, Dundee, June 1996.
    9. Reinhardt, H.W. and Abebe Dinku, Ermittlung der Gasdurchlae ssigkeit der Betonrandzone mit hohem o berdruck (Measuring the Gas Permeability of Cover Concrete by Means of High Overpressure), Journal of Concrete Precasting plant and Technology, Betonwerk+Fertigteil-Technik, BFT 11/1996, pp.86-93.
    10. Abebe Dinku and Reinhardt, H.W., Gas Permeability Coefficient of Cover Concrete as a Performance Control, Materials and Structures/ MatJ riaux et Construtions, Vol. 30, August-September 1997, pp. 387-393.
    11. Hans W. Reinhardt, Josko Ozbolt, Shilang Xu, and Abebe Dinku, Shear of Structural Concrete Members and Pure Mode II Testing, Advanced Cement Based Materials, Vol. 5, Numbers 3/4, April/May 1997, pp. 75-85.
    12. Abebe Dinku, Performance Criteria for Structural Concrete, Zede, Journal of Ethiopian Architect and Engineers Association, Vol. 14, 1997, pp. 8-16.
    13. Hans W. Reinhardt, Abebe Dinku and A Pfingstner, Vergleich der Wassereindringung nach DIN und ISO mit der Penetration von Kraftstoffen nach Richtlinie des DAfStb, ), Journal of Concrete Precasting plant and Technology, Betonwerk+Fertigteil-Technik, BFT 10/1997, pp.58-64.
    14. Abebe Dinku and Daniel Abebayehu, Properties of scoria structural concrete blocks, Construction Materials - Theory and Practice, Nov. 1999, ibidem, pp. 467-476.
    15. Abebe Dinku, Building Construction, Teaching Material, Addis Ababa University Printing Press, pp. 227, March 2000.
    16. Abebe Dinku, Insurance practices in Ethiopian Construction Industry, Zede, Journal of Ethiopian Architects and Engineers Association, (accepted for publication).
    17. Abebe Dinku and Daniel Abebayehu, .................(Submitted for publication)

     

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    Dr. Asnake Adamu

    1. The Minimum cost design of RC beams using COC (1994) Stutct. Opt, 7, 91-102.
    2. The minimum cost design of RC using DCOC. Part I: Beams with freely varying cross-sections. (1994) Stutct. Opt, 7, 237-251.
    3. The minimum cost design of RC using DCOC. Part II: Beams with freely varying cross-sections. (1994) Stutct. Opt, 7, 252-259.
    4. Minimum cost design of RC beams with segmentation using COC (1995), Stutct. Opt, 7, 237-251.
    5. Minimum cost design of RC frames using the DCOC method. Part I: Column under uniaxial bending action (1995) Stutct. Opt, 7, 16-32.
    6. The minimum cost design of RC frames using the DCOC method. Part II: Columns under biaxial bending action (1995) Stutct. Opt, 10, 33-39.
    7. Application of DCOC to optimum prestressed concrete beam design (1996) Eng. Opt Vol. 25, pp. 179-200.
    8. Minimum cost design of multi-span partially prestressed concrete beams using DCOC. (1996) Eng. Opt Vol. 25, pp. 35-59.
    9. Minimum cost design of multi-span partially prestressed concrete T-beams using DCOC. (1996) Struct. Opt 12, 75-86.
    10. Minimum cost design of RC Structures using methods based on Optimality Criteria, Ph.D Thesis, Asnake Adamu, March 1995 School of Civil and Mining Engineering.

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    Dr. Yilma Seleshi

    1. Yilma Seleshi & Gaston R.Demaree (1998). Identifying the major cause of the prevailing summer rainfall deficit over the north-central Ethiopian highlands since Mid-60s. Proceedings of the International Conference on "Tropical Climatology, Meteorology and Hydrology" in Memoriam Franz Bultot (1924-1995), 22-24, May 1996, Brussels, Belgium. Royal Institute of Belgium & Royal Academy of Overseas Sciences (Brussels), 516- 531.
    2. Yilma Seleshi (1996). Stochastic predication of summer rainfall amounts over the northeast African highlands and over India. Ph.D. dissertation, VUB Hydrology, 30, Vrije Universiteit Brussels, Belgium, 351 pp.
    3. Yilma Seleshi and Gaston R.Demaree (1995). Rainfall Variability in the Ethiopian and Eritrean Highlands and Their Link with the Southern Oscillation Index. Journal of Biogeography, 22, 945-952.
    4. Yilma Seleshi, Delleur, J.W., and Demaree G.R. (1994). Sunspot Numbers as possible indicator of annual Rainfall at Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Int. J.Climatol., 14, 911-923.
    5. Yilma Seleshi, Gaston R. Demaree and Stephane Vannitsem (1993). Statistical Analysis of Long-term Monthly and Annual Ethiopian Precipitation Series and their Relationship with ENSO Events. Proceedings of the International Workshop on Climate Variabilities (IWCV), 13-17 July 1992, Beijing, China; China Meteorological Press Foreign Language Book No. 11, 80-92.
    6. Yilma Seleshi and Gaston R.Demaree (1993). The Temporal Distribution of Ethiopian Meteorological Droughts in the 20th Century. Proceedings of the International Symposium on Biological Indicators of Global Change, 7-9 May 1992, Brussels, Belgium; Royal Academy of Overseas Sciences (Brussels), 77-91.

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    6. M.Sc. Thesis

    Adil Zekaria (1990). Analysis and design of reinforced concrete framed structure using PC. M.Sc. Thesis, School of Graduate Studies, Addis Ababa University. 90 p.

    Asnake Adamu (1988). Design of reinforced concrete poles for electric transmission lines. M.Sc. Thesis, School of Graduate Studies, Addis Ababa University. 121 p.

    Asrat Worku (1989) Slope stability analysis with PC. M.Sc. Thesis, School of Graduate Studies, Addis Ababa University. 70 p.

    Bedilu Habte (1988). A computer program for the elastic analysis of plane structures. M.Sc. Thesis, School of Graduate Studies, Addis Ababa University. 77 p.

    Dellelegne Teshome (1982). Bridge building practice in Ethiopia, a critical appraisal of historical and modern practices. M.Sc. Thesis, School of Graduate Studies, Addis Ababa University. 188p.

    Dereje Hailu (1992). A soil moisture modelling approach towards a solution of salinization problem in Amibara. M.Sc. Thesis, School of Graduate Studies, Addis Ababa University. 41 p. + 5 Appedices.

    Elias Habtegiorgis (1997). Geographical Distribution and Geotechnical Properties of Expansive Soils in Central Ethiopia. M.Sc. Thesis, School of Graduate Studies, Addis Ababa University. 77 p.

    Ephraime Tewolde (1989). Investigation on improving the geothechnical properties of "Black Cotton" soils by blending with red clay soil. M.Sc. Thesis, School of Graduate Studies, Addis Ababa University. 82 p.

    Girma Boled (1993). Cpmparative study of three dimensional batter piles analysis. M.Sc. Thesis, School of Graduate Studies, Addis Ababa University. 107 p.

    Girma Zerayohannes (1982). Concrete made with basaltic gravel and coarse scoria aggregate. M.Sc. Thesis, School of Graduate Studies, Addis Ababa University. 70 p.

    Hailemariam Abzo (1992). Investigation into shear strength characteristics of red clay soil of Addis Ababa. M.Sc. Thesis, School of Graduate Studies, Addis Ababa University. 177 p.

    Mekonen Masresha (1990). Structural aspects of low cost housing. M.Sc. Thesis, School of Graduate Studies, Addis Ababa University. 229 p.

    Mekuria Tessema (1997). Evaluations and Improvement of the Geotechnical Properties of the Clay Soils Used in the Traditional Ethiopian Housing Construction. M.Sc. Thesis, School of Graduate Studies, Addis Ababa University. 114 pp.

    Messele Hailu (1989). A status of aseismic design of structures in Ethiopia. M.Sc. Thesis, School of Graduate Studies, Addis Ababa University. 106 p.

    Michael Teferra (1997). Channel Stabilization of Kulfo River, Ethiopia. M.Sc. Thesis, School of Graduate Studies, Addis Ababa University. 71 plus Appendices.

    Samuel Tadesse (1989). Investigation into some of the engineering properties of Addis Ababa red clay soils. M.Sc. Thesis, School of Graduate Studies, Addis Ababa University. 106 p.

    Solomon Taye (1990). A comparative study of undrained shear strength of red clay soils as determined by in situe and laboratory tests. M.Sc. Thesis, School of Graduate Studies, Addis Ababa University. 64 p.

    Solomon Yohannes (1982). Case studies of building damage due to expansive soils in Addids Ababa. M.Sc. Thesis, School of Graduate Studies, Addis Ababa University. 122 p.

    Surafel Ketema (1989). Accelerated durability study of structural and roofing materials reinforced with natural fibers. M.Sc. Thesis, School of Graduate Studies, Addis Ababa University. 112 p.

    Tesfaye Bullo (1990). Dynamic analysis of framed structures with specified emphasis on alternating excitations. M.Sc. Thesis, School of Graduate Studies, Addis Ababa University. 116p.

    Zelalem Hailu (1992). Micro-hydropower under Ethiopian conditions. M.Sc. Thesis, School of Graduate Studies, Addis Ababa University. 86 p.

     

     

     

     

     

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    Address / Inquiries

     All inquiries should be addressed to: 

    Department of Civil Engineering , Faculty of Technology, AAU

    P.O.Box 385, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

    Tel.:      +251-1-12 45 72;   Fax :      +251-1-55 26 01 

    e-mail   :     technorth.aau@telecom.net.et 

     

    2000, Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Technology, AAU