Author(s)

Famous Ozabor^*, Douye Pere-Ere Wodu

Department of Geography and Environmental Management, University of Port-Harcourt, Port-Harcourt, Nigeria.

This study aimed at examining the impact of flooding on wheel-bearings and wheel-shaft in Abraka. The empirical and survey research designs were employed for the study. 42 checklists were dropped at the various mechanic workshops to collect data on the number of wheel-shaft and wheel-bearing changed weekly for five years and flood depths were measured for a period of five years. The simple linear regression was employed for data analysis. Findings include that: when the flood depth is at 0.10 feet in January the number of wheel-shaft and wheel-bearings changed is 396 and 220 pcs respectively. When flood depth is at 4.57 feet in August 3749 shafts and 1451 bearings were changed respectively. The regressions analysis showed that the relationship between wheel-shaft and flooding was r = 0.64, and the model was significant at p (0.00) < 0.05. Similarly, regressions analysis showed that the relationship between wheel-bearing and flooding was r = 0.62, and the model was significant at p (0.00) < 0.05. It therefore follows that impairment of wheel-shaft and wheel-bearing significantly depends on flooding events in Abraka. The following recommendations were made: construction of street side channels to drain of flood from the streets; checking the shafts and wheels hubs at regular intervals and re-grease when necessary etc.

Abraka, Impacts, Flood, Wheel-Shaft, Wheel-Bearing

Ozabor, F. and Wodu, D. (2016) Impact of Flooding on Wheel Shafts and Wheel Bearings in Abraka, and Way Forward. Journal of Geoscience and Environment Protection, 4, 124-131. doi: 10.4236/gep.2016.47013.