Showing posts with label 55 PMA. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 55 PMA. Show all posts

Use of Municipal Wastewater in Plain Cement Concrete Construction Work

Book by Islam Ul-Haque from 55 PM Long Course 


Generally reuse of municipal wastewater is restricted for irrigation purposes only, whereas, the same can be used in plain cement concrete construction works without compromising the compressive strength. The main objectionable ingredient in municipal wastewater is the presence of sulfates which degrade concrete strength. In order to investigate the utility of municipal wastewater in concrete works, a study with the objectives of characterizing wastewater and its effects on plain cement concrete strength was designed at Faisalabad Pakistan, in the Laboratory. The sulfate constituents, found in the municipal waste water, is the major ingredients that affects the strength of concrete, i.e. 176 Kg / cm2 and 224 Kg / cm2 for municipal wastewater (MWW) and normal tap water respectively. The wide range of compressive strengths emanating from different combinations of municipal wastewater (MWW) provides its uses in different concrete construction activities of various strengths / loadings requirements. Basing on the results from the study, it can be envisaged that use of waste water in the construction industry can save up to 16 % the fresh water.

Publishing house: LAP LAMBERT Academic Publishing
ISBN-13: 978-3-8433-6234-4, ISBN-10: 3843362343, EAN: 9783843362344



Use of Municipal Wastewater in Plain Cement Concrete, Construction Works

Generally reuse of municipal wastewater is restricted for irrigation purposes only, whereas, the same can be used in plain cement concrete construction works without compromising the compressive strength. The main objectionable ingredient in municipal wastewater is the presence of sulfates which degrade concrete strength. In order to investigate the utility of municipal wastewater in concrete works, a study with the objectives of characterizing wastewater and its effects on plain cement concrete strength was designed at Faisalabad (FWO construction site laboratory).

Four categories of water samples (Tap water, Primary Treated wastewater, 50%Tap water + 50% municipal wastewater and municipal wastewater) only were used in the plain cement concrete cylinders which were tested for compressive strength, having 7, 21 and 28 days curing age. It was found that municipal wastewater after primary treatment, if used in the mixing process of plain cement concrete, provides compressive strength ranging from 204 to 210 Kg / cm2.
The comparison of compressive strength obtained through various trials envisages that the recommended minimum compressive strength of concrete is 210 Kg/cm2 (3000 psi ), and the compressive strength achieved by using primary treated water comes to be 216 Kg/ cm2 ( 28 days curing) which is more than the minimum required compressive strength.

The compressive strength achieved by using municipal wastewater (MWW) is 176 Kg/cm2 (28 days) which is less than the minimum requirement. The compressive strength achieved by using 50 % tap water and 50 %MWW is 209 Kg /cm2 (28 days), which is very near to the minimum required compressive strength.
The sulfate constituents, found in the municipal waste water, is the major ingredients that affects the strength of concrete, i.e. 176 Kg / cm2 and 224 Kg / cm2 for municipal wastewater (MWW) and normal tap water respectively. The wide range of compressive strengths emanating from different combinations of municipal wastewater (MWW) provides its uses in different concrete construction activities of various strengths / loadings requirements.

Basing on the preliminary results obtained from the study, it can be envisaged that the use of waste water in the construction industry can save upto 16 % the fresh water, which is otherwise being used in the construction works.

55 PMA Long Course comradeships

Since joining Pakistan Military Academy, 55 PMA Long Course has been doing best in all fields of army life – training, courses, comradeship, and above all services to the nation {remember Maj Gen Javed Sulatn} and in promotions to the higher ranks {remember recent promotion board in which four officers were promoted to the rank of lieutenant general}; rightly they are the men at their best {let me be ethnocentric}.


But this is not about service achievements. This is about mutual social relationships of the officers of 55 PMA Log Course. I feel that the relationships amongst the course mates have increased. There have been examples of intermarriages between the kids of the course mates. And as the time is passing, they love to meet each other as much as they can. Everyone tries to get together whenever they find (or create) an opportunities. This is best seen at the events of children’s marriages. Everyone is invited on marriages. These photographs were taken by Wahab (s/o Brig Jalal Hameed Bhatt) in Per Continental, Lahore on the occasion of marriage of Kalid Javed’s daughter. Long live this comradeship.


Change Has Come


Jalal Hameed Bhatti (of Jaho Jalal fame) keeps pointing to the changes that have come in all of us (55 PMA long Course Family). He has posted some thumbnails (color) of the members of 55 PMA Long Course who attended Course Annual Get Together at Rawal Dam on April 18, 2010. I have also extracted some of the thumbnails (black and white) from course website that were taken some 35 years back, precisely on April 17, 1975. Compare them if you have to and see the changes that have come. Can anyone name all of them?

Related: Celebrating the 35 Years of Association

The 55 PMA Long Course 33rd Commisioning Anniversary

Heartiest Congratulations
to
all members of 55 PMA Long Course
on the occasion of
33rd Commisioning Anniversary

(the anniversary is being celebrated in course Annual Get Together 2010 on April 18, 2010 (Sunday) at 1100 hrs at Rawal Dam Islamabad.)

Men at Their Best in Dhullah Bagh


Marriage of Col and Mrs Maqsood's daughter Tuba with Ali provided Men at Their best in Lahore to get together in Dulaha Bagh, last evening. Brig Zahir Khan, Nadir Mir, Col Athar, Ateeq Shah, Nauman Siddiqui, S A J Shirazi from 55 PMA and their families joined to share the occassion with Col and Mrs Maqsood. Big congratulation Maqsood and Mrs Maqsood.

Men At Their best Meet Again


Our course mates (55 PMA Long Course) always look for an excuse to get together (sometimes they meet without an excuse though). Last evening Brig (Retd) Muhammad Zahir Khan, Col (Retd) Athar, Col (Retd) Maqsood, Abbas Niazi, Waqar and Shirazi met at DeSOM. It was wonderful evening and open expanse of the club was very inviting.


What started as a casual chit chat turned out to be a meeting to discuss future get together, how to insure maximum participations and how to continue those collective good traditions that have become a hallmark of the 55 PMA. Also, it was decided that Zahir Khan will continue to be the President of the Lahore Chapter with Athar as a secretary and they will be assisted by Maqsood and Abbas. (Congratulations to these gentlemen who all are very energetic and go a very long way to keep the spirit of the course alive).

And yes, Lahore Chapter will be meeting soon after Eid ul Azha.

Good By Muhammad Zahir Khan

Lahore was sizzling on one of the hottest evening on June 27 when over 75 members of 55the PMA Long Course Lahore Chapter and their families were having a cool evening in a fabulous get together in an environment that is always characterized by emotions, passions, love, affiliations and cherished memories.

Evening started with greeting each other and usual “Oh, Hi, Long Time, Bohre Ho Gaie Ho, Bache Itne Bara ho Gaie Heian”. Everyone was updating each other. We all met Saqlain’s daughter, a wonderful young lady whos name is the best in the world, Khalid’s daughter who is leaving her marks in mass communication studies, Fazal’s son, a very cluefull young man, who has completed his 12th year of education and is looking for line of career (I think like his father he will settle for engineering). Then Qadri’s son who has graduated from Ghulam Ishaq Khan. He was escorting his father after major surgery. Like always I observed that seeing the course mates engrossed with each other, lady wives were surprised on ‘how these people act when they are together.”

Evening went well over sumptuous food. And at the end, Brig Muhammad Zahir Khan took the rostrum. Brig Zahir Khan is a wonderful man; passionate, full of conviction and emotions and completely in know of what is happening to men at their best who belong to 55 PMA. This being his last course event (he along with other brigadiers of 55 PMA is hanging his helmet on July 15, 2009), he updated about everything and also recapped what Lahore Chapter has been doing over past two years. His beautiful pictorial of previous occasions when we had gathered brought even more memories. Good by Muhammad Zahir Khan, you have knitted the 55 PMA family very well. We will remember each and every moment ever. But who says this was the last get together. We are going to meet again; soon. No? Stay tuned. Pitures of the evnt are coming.

55 PMA Long Course Get Together Abbottabad 2008


Abbottabad once again hared the footsteps of its very old residents, who in 1975 thumped the roads of Kakul and surrounding areas with lots of hufs and mufs. This time , however, it was a pleasant re-union with grown up kids and their kids, fathers and grand fathers and mothers and grand mothers. This being a special occasion since after April 2008, a few would be left on the active list, we are dedicating a separate page to cover the proceedings of this great get-together which was arranged courtesy Ghazanfar and associates.

It may be mentioned here that it was Ghazanfar, while serving in GHQ in 1991, who arranged the first course get-together as a mega event and since then it has become an annual feature. And the programme issued by him amply highlights his contribution towards the course and turning into a memorable occasion. And most certainly, this time he lived much above the expectations since the get together spread over two was so well organized that it will be remembered and cherished by all of us for all our lives.



Well for those who missed this grand show - which reminds me of the film "The Greatest Show on the Earth", I saw in my childhood, here is an eyewitness' account of those two unforgettable days that myself, my family and dozens of our course mates and their families enjoyed while in Abbottabad on 12-13 April 2008, just four days short of 31st passing out day anniversary of 55th PMA Long Course - indeed one of the best courses that ever passed out from PMA. Since there were so many activities arranged on each day, it would be unjustified on my part to sum up everything in just one page. And certainly it will not be able to compliment the efforts of Ghazanfar and his entire staff and those great recruits who made us the happiest of all human beings while celebrating our reunion. Therefore I have subdivided the activities in two segments - so sit back and read on to participate in what we all saw on 12-13th April 2008.


Right from the moment we moved in - we were nothing but impressed. Rushing from Rawalpindi after attending Naeem Anwar Butt's daughter's marriage, the first impression was great. We were received with a very efficient reception committee who received us with warm and open arms. A motorcyclist guide was there to take every guest to his guest room and like everyone, I too was taken up on the Baloch Mess in Zarhoon VIP room. We hurriedly changed clothes and rushed back to the Piffers Mess main dinning hall, which was already hustling and bustling with course mates, families and their children. And let me confess what a grand dinner was laid out for us. The clattering of Piffer Mess silvery cutlery and giggles and laughers of course mates and their families made such beautiful music that could not have ever been written. Ghazanfar and his better half were busy greeting and looking after the guests with a big smile on their faces.

After the great dinner, everyone was taken to the Piffers stadium for an impressive Tattoo Show - something which has unfortunately fading out of of our traditional fanfare and most certainly for many, even the grown ups, it was the first show. For me it reminded me of my childhood when I witnessed the Tattoo Show during the once famous Horse and Cattle Show in Lahore cantonment as far back as 1964. The show was organized into two segments: the first comprised of recruits carrying the covered candles who performed various beautiful combinations and feasts. But the actual performance and applause came when some hundred recruits of the Piffers Centre marched in from three corners holding burning torches - the actual Tattoo Show. It drew much applause when the first arranged to WELCOME the spectators, followed by 55th PMA LONG COURSE. Everyone jumped from the seats to give them a big hand. later the performed a number of breath taking combinations which were both breath taking and spectacular.

After the spectacular Tattoo Show, all of us were taken to the Piffers auditorium for musical evening. First of all the Piffers brass band played some of the finest melodies. The narration-cum-band melodies of folk lore "Sassi" was simply impressive. The shinning instruments of the brass band add further luster to the show.

After the band display, it came as a nice surprise to me when I was requested to come over the stage and introduce my website to the audience. The VPS was specially placed with some of the sections of the site downloaded from internet. While explained the website, I drew tremendous support and applause from everyone - which really moved me. Some had seen the site for the first time and everyone vowed to see it direct from the internet once the went back. For this I specially thank Ghazanfar Ali for providing me an opportunity to introduce the site to the audience.

After the band show, we had a grand music night, which later turned out to be a musical morning since it ended around three in the morning. A local talent Rabia, though physically handicapped but with a beautiful voice, was invited who sang on non stop to the invitations of everyone. From soft melodies to thrilling songs, making many to jump into the arena and dance to the beat. Those who actively participated included Azhar ali Shah, Zahir, Badar, Saleem Sawar, Iqbal, Munir, Saeed, Akram, Tony and others. Saleem Sarwar's dance was very interesting and his shaking of the beard added fun for the audiance. Besides, Tony and Haider also came on the stage and moved the audience with Tony's peculiar style, while Haider recited verses from his beautifully written poetry - a facet of him we had never known before.

The proceeding of the day included a 9-Holes match for the golfers, putting competition for the ladies and children, a power-gliding demo, band display, folk dances by recruits of the Piffers Centre, mouth watering brunch, lots of laughers and photos.

After the golfers, the first to enter was the smartly dressed brass band of the Piffers Centre. The marched into the ground and came close to the specially allocated space for them to occupy it for the day.

While the golf match was in progress and the ladies were busy in the putting competition, there appeared a lone power glider right in front of the arena and attracted every one's attention. The glider circled the arena and came very close before pulling up and finally landed into the lush green patch in front of the visitors' stand which was cordoned off on both side by equi-spaced over hundred years old towering cedar trees. Children and officers both went to the glider and congratulated him for his superb gliding ability while the glider answered various questions put forth by the inquisitive children.

Then, while the officers formed into various groups to chat and share old memories, there was a musical chair for the ladies. It was well contested competition with lots of pushes, finally wives of Jalal and Najeeb remained to contest the final. It was well contested by both competitors and ultimately Mrs. Jalal won it.

Then the finally awaited brunch was served with delicious Halwa Poori combination and of course our national bird chicken wasn't forgotten. After the brunch, the Piffers Centre recruits presented superb folk dances and everyone joined in to dance to the typical Pushto beat of the famous songs. Qadri, besides other was prominent in dancing to the melodious tunes, adding more joy to the event. Interestingly, Khatak was rather reluctant to dance - a mystery perhaps.

The prize distribution ceremony was the last event to award prizes ladies-children and male golfers and participants of musical chair. More photographs will be added as and when received from Ghazanfar and other course mates. No award for the winning tug of war team as Qadri - the sports sergeant of Tariq company made it more of a fun game rather than a competition. We all enjoyed it - though.

The proceedings of the ended with a thank-you from Azhar Ali Shah to Ghazanfar Ali, his tem and the Piffers Centre and a hip hip hurray for them. Then as a good will gesture, everyone threw Ghazanfar in the air three times. Then slowly and gradually every one started to leave - embracing each other with a hope to meet again next year - INSHALLAH. and so came to an a two days mega event - laid out very well painstakingly by the organizers - certainly this get together was the best so far held and its beautiful memories would be cherished as long as we are. THANK YOU GHAZANFAR and everyone who made it to Abbottabad.

PS: Big thanks to Jalal Bhatti for recording this for next generation.