Final Internship Report 2011

FINAL INTERNSHIP REPORT 2011
INTRODUCTION
Engineering is the profession in which knowledge of the mathematical and natural

sciences, gained by experience and practice, and applied the efficient use of the materials and
forces of nature. In one way or another way, human life is not far from different types of
problems. These problems must be solved by scientific way; engineering is among the
solution of these problems. Engineering is central to understand the challenges and the
solution facing in the world. To respond, engineers require understanding the problems facing
the society and build up on existing resources and knowhow.
These problem solvers are trained personals with different engineering courses in
universities and colleges. The knowledge and ability of these engineers is more dependent on
the theoretical method of teaching in universities. But the responsibility of engineers is to
solve practical problems. So the new curriculum of Ethiopia for engineering and technology
students are developed to include sufficient practical knowledge together with theoretical
knowledge that learns in the classroom. Due to this, the ministry of education programmed a
fourth month internship program for engineering and technology students.
Based on the new curriculum, we were doing internship for one full semester at
YOTEK private limited company in Jimma university construction of conference and
research hall building. We have gained a lot of understanding and experiences on practical
application of construction in a well organized and effective manner. In our stay, we have got
several opportunities to visit project frequently to observe the progress and to see the related
activities. Besides this, with in a fourth month stay in this organization, we have spent ample
time with site engineers, office engineers, Forman’s and quantity surveys with sufficient
orientation and practical involvement on the site and office work.
In this report, we have included insights that we have gained during the internship time
both site and office work knowledge. Off course it is difficult to report all what we have seen,
though we have tried to highlight the main points.
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1. YOTEK PRIVATE LIMITED COMPANY
1.1 Brief history
Yotek construction PLC was established in 1991 EC. The owner of the company is
Yohanis Tekele. The name of the company is derived by taking the first two letters from the
owner name, i.e. YO from Johannes and taking three letters from his father, i.e, Tek from
Tekele . The combnition of Yo and Tek for the name Yotek.Before 1991, Yohanes Tekele
was a project manager of Satcon PLC. Yohanes Tekele was highly assisted by his brother to
establish his own company. During the first couple of starting years, the company was using
equipments and materials such as Form work panel, excavator, dozer, crane, etc from Satcon
PLC. But after years, the company owned a full range of equipments, materials, skilled
personnel and labourers.
Yotek has undertaken various projects in different parts of Ethiopia. It starts with
rural schools in Tigray regional state, particularity at Mekelle and Adawa, and health centre
in Afar regional state. From 1993-1995, the company had constructed Mekele University
buildings. During the starting time of establishment, the company also construct different
kind of buildings throughout the country. In addition to buildings, the company is now
constructing bridge structures and asphalt road.
Yotek PLC is currently a general class I contractor. Since its engagement in the
construction centre, the company has involved in a wide range of a wide range of civil
engineering construction such as high rise building, complex educational establishment, enter
urban asphalt road, machine foundation for factories and many other engineering
construction. During this time it has own experienced engineer, skilled labourers, different
equipments and more organized .
The company strives to continually implement a systematic organizational

development. In this respect, it regularly silicates management advice from professionals,
reviews its policies, procedurals and systems and undertakes human resource development
activities. Its fact growth in the sector and ability to gain high reputation is an indication of its
organization development effort. Recently the company carried out a strength, weakness,
opportunities, and threats analysis to improve its operations. The outcome of the analysis is
being used as input to the strategic planning process. The company intends to start in the near
future. The strategic plan will develop for the coming five years and will indicate the
direction of the company.
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1.2 Main products of the company
Yotek PLC has been constructing different structures for the last twelve years. The
company constructed buildings for educational purpose, institutional conference meeting hall,
residential purpose, multipurpose, etc. Recently it has constructed real state, roads in town
and bridges. Some of the executed projects by the company throughout Ethiopia are listed
below.
 In Tigray regional state:

Adwa high school, Adigrat TVET phase II projects, cost efficient regional office
complex building in Mekelle, many of Mekelle university projects, Mekelle asphalt
project, Shire school and Mekelle telle projet.
 In Amhara regional state:
Bahir Dar law faculty buildings
 In Oromia regional state:
Jimma university Kittofurdissa campus dormitory, Ambo university college phase II
project, Ambo town road project
 In Addis Ababa:
Expansion of Ethiopian civil service college, Sendafa police college expansion,
Akaki steel structure factory foundation.
 In South Nation Nationality People regional state (SNNP):
Yirgalem police college, MianTepi School, Welkite Industrial Engineering College
and Mizanteferi TVET phase II project.
 In Afar regional state:
Health centre and school
Currently, the company is undertaking different kind of construction projects

through out the country. Some of them are Jimma University Conference Hall building in
Jimma town, Bahir Dar University Law Faculty building phase Il project, Mekelle city
administration city building, Arbaminch University Business and economics Faculty,
Ambo University College Cafteria and sport field, Bahir Dar University Presedant office
building, Arteriel asphalt road project in Dilla town, Bahir Dar University Phase III
building project, Jimma University Library project, Transport Network service building in
Addis Ababa, Stadium in Ambo, Welisso University Cafeteria and Dormitory. Now days
the company is also competing with different company in order to taken up different
construction projects.
Some of the projects performed by Yotek PLC as a prime contractor on different

projects works at a similar nature and volume over the last five years are listed in the
following table. The tables contains a project name description, name of clients, place of
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the project, types of work to be performed, year of completion and value of contract in
birr.
Table 1.1 Work performed as prime contractor on works of a similar nature and volume
over the last five years.
Project name and Name of client Type of work value of contract

country and performed and year (in birr)
contract person of completion
Jimma university jimma university Construction of 10 blocks

kitto Tel: 057 11 14 of G + 4 dormitary
furdissa campus 57 buildings, Laundery and 113, 461, 011.75
Dormitory and site /59/ 60 site work
work jimma
Expansion of E.C.S.C. construction of two

Ethiopian civil P.O.BOX 5648 dormitories, one staff
service college Addis Abeba apartment, one gust 70, 158, 989.03
house, and one office
buildings, all are B + G
+ 4 building and site
works.
completions time –
March 2009
Yirgalem police S.N.N.P.R. State construction of

college Police administration , Library,
Commission Lecture hall,
Tel: 046 220 24 Multipurpose hall ,
07 Students dormitory,
Awassa students and staff
cafeteria, garage, work 85, 288, 868.34
shop, Men’s prison ,
women’s prisons, toilet
bath and laundry , clinic,
watch tower, guard
house, swimming pool,
transformer, entrance and
internal asphalt works.
ambo university Ambo University Construction of two G + 97, 406, 737.2

college project Lot ll college 4 dormitories, two G +
4
Tel: 011 236 20 4 staff apartments, and

17 oxidation pond.
Ambo
Project name and Name of client and type of work value of contract (in
country contruct person performed and year of birr)
completion
Cost efficient Government of Construction of 5

regional office national state of blocks of B + G + 4, 46, 515, 121.45
complex tigray UDC bureau B + G + 3, G + 3, G +
3 and G + 3 buildings
completion time June,
2010
Construction of 4
Sendfa police college Federal police stories, three
expansion commission apartment, Olympic 30, 100. 000.00
Tel: 251 11 551 47/ standard swimming
67 pool, access road and
Addis Abeba other faculty
buildings.
completion time
August, 2008
Ambo agricultural Construction of

Ambo agricultural college dormitory buildings ,
college Tel: 251 11 236 20 / 2 lecture hall and 24, 864, 306.97
17 other faculty buildings
completion time
February, 2009
Mizan teferi TVET Ministry of Construction of

phase ll agriculture dormitory , class 18, 100, 000.00
project Addis Abeba room, clinic, office
cafeteria and site work
Adigrat TVET phase Minstery of Construction of

ll project Education dormitory , class 11, 008, 757.97
Tel: 251 11 553 31 room, work shop and
site work
completion time July,
2006
Wolkite industrial SNNPRG Construction of class 22, 297, 739.83
Engineering college Education Bureau rooms and different
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2 Tel, O46 220 13 57 types of workshops.

completion time June,
2008
Table 1.2 summery sheet current contract commitments or works in the progress of the
company
Employers Project Date contact Percentage Expected

Project name contact amount signed of completion
address ( in birr) work excuted date
tel or fax to date
Bahir Dar Bahir Dar
university low university 73, 880, November 76.4% April
fuccality Tel: 058 20 322.22 2008 2011
building 01 43
Lot (ll) Bahir Dar
Mekelle city Mekelle city
administratio administration July June
n Mekelle 44, 774, 191. 2007 71% 2011
office 82
building
Arbaminch Arbaminch
university university April
businessand Tel: O46 881 142, 459, November 63.92% 2011
economics 00 97 817. 59 2008
faculity Arbaminch
Ambo Ambo
university university 23, 140, June 103.44% June
college college 940.32 2009 2011
cafeteria and Tel: 011 236
sport field 2017
Ambo
Bahir Dar Bahir Dar
university university 124, 236, July 43.91% November
presedant Tel: 058 20 448.56 2009 2011
office 01 43
building Bahir Dar
Areterial Gedio zone Feb urary
asphalt roads administration 67, 202, Feuberary 31.97% 2012
project in office 573.49 2008
dilla town Dilla town
Bhir Dar Bahir Dar
university low university 144, 793, May 23.72% October
fuculity Lot Tel: 058 20 063.4 2010 2011
(lll) 01 43
Bahir Dar
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Employers
Project name contact address Project Date contact Percentage Expected
tel or fax amount signed of completion
( in birr) work date
excuted
to date
Jimma Jimma December
university university 227, 919, May 17.68% 2011
conference Tel: 251 070. 43 2010
hall 47111458
building
Jimma Jimma May 2011
university university 51, 012, May 29.84%
liberary Tel: 251 398.97 2010
building 47111458
Transport Ethiopian April
network telle 34, 911, September 3.22% 2012
service communicatio 598.97 2008
building n
Addis Abeba
1.3 End users of its products
Yotek Construction PLC has constructed different kinds of construction projects

throughout the country. These are like Universities, colleges, Schools, Health centres, Roads,
etc. After completion of these projects, they will give a variety of services for different
bodies. The service to be provided from completion of these projects is for people, I.e directly
or indirectly the main customers or end users of the products are all people of the country.
Based on the direct service the end users can be generalised as:
 institutions Governmental
 Universities
 Colleges
 High schools and elementary schools
 Health centres
 Ethiopian road association
 Individuals
 Residential building
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 Investment like to construct industry factory

 Etc
When we see the services for governmental institutions like university constructions of class
rooms very important for students to learn without crudeness. In addition increase
construction of dormitory, will increase by increasing number of students so the construction
of educational buildings will give importance services for the teaching learning process.
Also in health centre construction, the number of patience’s will be treated by getting
service from it. This plays a great role to people by increasing health centre facilities in their
vicinity instead suffering from a long distance walk to get medication access.
Construction of roads is very important for the country to facilitate over all
economical development. The main end users of the roads are:
 Drivers
 Passengers
 Pedestrian
 Cyclist
Now a day’s residential buildings are one of the problems of the country, particularly
in Addis Ababa. In this regards, the company involvement in real estate construction has
importance in alleviating the problem. Ultimately, the inhabitants can benefit from accessing
residential houses.
1.4 Organizations of the company
The organizations of the company fulfils class I contractor rules. According to its
organization, it enjoys a remarkable reputation in the construction industry. Having started
with regular staff members, it has now been able to create job opportunity for many
permanent skilled personals and daily labourers.
The general manager has chief power among different employment. He controls all
activities in the company and makes decision in consultant with management and technical
advisors. The deputy general manager works under the general manager. Together with the
secretary and Legal advisors, the deputy general manager supervisors the work of the
following departments:
1. Engineering department
2. Finance department
3. Transport and Mechanical department
4. Procurement department
5. Administration department
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In each department, there are also organizational subdivisions which have their own
responsibility. The overall organizational set up of the organization is shown below:
General
Manager advisor Technical advisor
Deputy General
Manager
Secretary Legal advisour
1.
Engineering Finance Transport & Procurement Administration

Department Department mechanical Department Department
Budget & Department
Dispatch & Local purchase Human resource
Contract Disbursement Monitoring & General
administration Section Maintenance General Service section
Planning & Property
section Accounts Section Manager
controlling Project insurance
section
section Transportation
Projects & mech. section
follow up
Projects
Fig 1.1 organizational set up of yotek company
2. INTERNSHIP EXPERIANCE
2.1 Project description
YOTEK construction PLC is currently working on three projects in Jimma

universities. These are jimma university conference hall building, kitto furdissa dormitory
with site work and modern toilet in main campus. Among the three projects we were working
our internship program at conference hall buildings project.
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The project consists of basement + G + 2 building with car parking. The building is
designed by construction shear Design Company. It covers an area of about 10000 meter
square and takes a total cost of 227,919,070.43 birr with vat exclusive.
The building is a multipurpose building with main conference hall , sub conference
hall, offices, entertainment rooms, cafeterias , toilet bath rooms, store house, game house,
VIP parking and gives other accessories. The capacity of the main conference hall is above
5000 peoples and the two sub conference will have a capacity of 500 peoples each. The
ground floor mainly used for main conference hall and ticket offices. The first and second
floors also used for sub conference hall and other purposes. The conference hall building is
advanced in its arctectural and structural design together with its construction equipments
system. It has numerous structures like mat and isolated foundation, deep beam, sun breaker,
parapet, tie beam, shear wall, retaining wall, ramp, culvert, etc. It was estimated the building
will be completed December 2011, but due to materials problems like shortage of cement and
environmental effect like rainy seasons the schedule is likely is to be postponed.
Fig 1.1 the conference hall site work
2.2 Work flow
Work is very important for the project management of any site project. A good project
management will maximize efficient resource utilization, development of effective
communication and mechanization for resolving conflicts among participants and proper
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coordination and control the entire process. The organization set up of yotek company is
shown in the background of the company, but when it comes to the work flow at site i.e.
project management and administration it can be narrowed down to the following chart
Project manager
Secretary Coordinator
Office Engineer Construction Supply & Adm.&

Engineers purchase Finance Sec.
head Head
Chief Quantity Construction Purchasers & Accountants

Store Keepers & cashers
Surveyor Surveyor Foremen
Site
Engineers
Carpentry & Steel Structure& Masonry & Electrical Sanitary

Joinery Work Rebar preparation finishing works installation installations
Leader Work Leader team leader work leader work lead
Fig 2.2 project site set up
As presented from the figure engineering department is grouped in to office and

construction. As being part both departments its better to discuss each of their work flow
separately.
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Project manager
The project manager, in the broadest sense of the term, is the most important person for
the failure and success of the project. The project manager is responsible for planning,
organizing and controlling the project. In turn, the project manager receives authority from
the management of the organizational to mobilize the necessary resources to complete the
project. The project manager must be able to exert interpersonal influence in order to lead the
project team. He must possess leadership quality and the ability to handle intricate
interpersonal relationships effective within an organization.
Office engineer
The main responsibility of the office engineers are:-
1. Prepare material lists for the project and ensuring deployment

2. Preparing payment certificates for sub contract works based on actual quantity
executed. Keeps records of payments certificates related to the sub contract works.
3. documentation
 keeping contract documents and drawing
 keeping proper documents of corresponding variables order
4. Under taking other responsibilities assigned by the project manager.
Working under the office engineer, the quantity surveyor has similar duties. But the
quantity surveyors work is approved by the office engineer. The data collectors assemble
different reports and compile them into weekly and monthly reports.
Construction engineer
A construction engineers that works together with the site engineers to supervise the
construction work. The construction engineers give solutions to practical problems that might
occur during the process of the work.
Site engineer
The site engineer has the foreman under him and he details of the work. In addition he
advises the foreman on the course of action. The site engineer also makes sure that the work
is done according to the design. During the course of construction, foreman and site engineer
will make decisions about work to be undertaken at particular times of the day based up on
the availability of the necessary resource of labourers, materials and equipments. Without
coordination among these necessary inputs, the construction process will be inefficient.
Forman
The main aims of the Forman is manages and supervise manual works. In this particular
site there are different foramens having their own skills. Each foreman have responsibility to
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done any work according to the site engineer order. Their work always checked by the site
engineer.
2.3 Work activities
To simplify work and to allocate responsibilities the works are grouped into two. These
are site and office work. This division of work is used to facilitate and to share
responsibilities.
In this report we would like to write the experience we gained both from the site and
office activities. Hereafter we have presented them subsequently for different kind of site
work as we have seen during the internship time.
2.3.1 Site work

Site work is a work which is the overall construction mainly managed by site engineer.
The Forman and gang chief are used to have direct contact with labours. They assigned
different kind of works to be done by each labour. In addition they control the speed of their
works.
Fig 2.3 under construction of conference hall
Site is a place where materials are integrated by skilled labours and equipments to
construct the intended structure, i.e., building or others.
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2.3.1.1 Foundation work
Under this heading, we have included both earth work and concrete work for the
constructions of both footing pad and foundation column.
Excavation
First of all, the site for construction will be surveyed, the boundaries’ for construction
will be marked and the site will be cleared. The clearance includes working areas (areas
beyond construction but necessary to construct construction works). The main aim of site
clearance is to facilitate excavation work and to avoid damages and injuries to equipments
and labourers.
After clearing the construction site, the next work is to excavate the soil. Soil
excavation involves removal of unwanted soil layer, excavates of pits, excavations of trench
for footing and walls. Based on the purpose of excavation it may be classified as bulk
excavation, pit excavation and trench excavation.
Actually, site clearance and excavation of the main project was completed before our
arrival to site work. However there was a new site around the main project area which gave
as an opportunity to learn foundational works.
Bulk excavation is the disposal of unwanted soil layer in order to create level surface
for construction purpose. The depth of excavation depends on the smoothness of natural
ground surface and the final elevations of either ground or basement floor.
Pit excavation involves excavation below level service and is mainly helps for the
construction of footing pads. The width and depth of pit excavation depends on the sites of
the footing to be constructed. The dimensions of footings are governed by soil type, i.e.,
bearing capacity. This mean the depth of pit is indirectly a function of soil strength. The
dimensions of pit to be excavated is also includes working areas beyond footings.
In our construction sites we observe isolated and combined type of footings. The
designer uses combined footing because of the retained wall at the opposite side limit
constructions of constructions of isolated footing.
Concrete work for pads
After having excavated pits, the next step is to construct footing pads. Footings are
reinforced concrete structures that are used to spread the road from super structure to the
underplaying soil strata safely. The steps to construct footings are spread lean concrete, form
work construction, reinforcement provision and concrete work. Lean concrete is a layer of
concrete spread under the pad. The depth of the lean concrete is mostly 5 mm. This is used to
protect the concrete of pad from mixing with the soil. The ratio of cement, sand and
aggregate in lean concrete is 1:5:7 respectively. The unit for cement is bag and sand and
aggregate is box. The class of lean concrete cement is C5.
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After setting the mixture, the form work pad will be constructed. This structure is
composed of panels and struts which are used to construct pad with the required dimension.
The surveyor mark corners points for pad construction and carpenters construct the form
works. Next, reinforcing bars will be provided as per the drawing which is designed by the
structural engineer. For isolated footing, bottom reinforcements are provided in both
directions. But for combine footing top reinforcements are also added in addition to bottom
reinforcements. Now the pad is ready for casting . but to have the required spacers are
provided and for the pad to have the required depth cabeleto is used. Cabeleto is a bended bar
used to separate the top mesh reinforcements. The bar will be bonded by considering the
depth of the pad and diameter of the reinforcement bars.
Then after the concrete is added to the pad, the viberator is used to cast the concrete by
compacting the concrete to avoid air voids in the concrete. The depth of the pad will be
maintained by making the points to which the concrete is to be casted.
Fig 2.4 casting of concrete pad
Foundation column
Alternatively it is called sub grade sub grade column to be differentiate it from

elevation column. Foundation column is a type of column which is totally underground and it
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is anchored to the pad/ footing. The reinforcement bars for foundations columns are bended
at their bottom end they are anchoring to the footing.
The construction of foundation column wills proceeds after casting of the pad. The
formwork will be constructed to construct foundation column having the required depth and
height. The only difference of columns from other RCC structures is that the formwork for
columns will be constructed after the bars are in their positions, but other structures like
beam, stair case, slab, etc the formwork will be constructed first and bares are placed over
them.
After having constructed the form column is ready for the next work which is concrete
work or casting. The concrete type for foundation column in the main site is C-30. But the
elevation column the concrete grade is C-25
Fig 2.5 foundation column and pads
After construction of the pad the foundation column, the pit excavated will be filled by
selected material. The type of soil is selected soil. The soil will be compacted every 20 cm
thick until it attains a minimum of 95% proctor density. The importance of compacting and
soil selection is to avoid settlement.
2.3.1.2 Grade beam, Shear wall and hardcore
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Grade beam is a type of beam which lied over the ground and supported through its
length. Grade beam has two functions. These are:-
 Used to support partition wall, but this is not always true when partion wall
is not provided on the floor.
 To brace columns, by bracing column, it used to avoid slenderness of the
foundation column. This is done by reducing its effective length.
Grade beams may be constructed either trench wall when at the edge of the building or on
lean concrete when it is internal grade beams.
Fig 2.6 grade beam and retaining wall of the basement floor
Shear wall is a structural wall which is used to resist loads mainly horizontal forces. For
this purpose it will be reinforced with steel bars. In addition to load resistance, it has another
function. It is strong and provides security of the building.
Hard core is a crushed stone layer underground floor slab or basement slab. Also it is
used to carry load imposed by concrete slab. Mostly the thickness of hard core in many
building site is 25 cm. The same is true for Yotek PLC construction for the conference hall.
2.3.1.3 Form works
Form is a structure which construct prior to carry fresh concrete and casting purpose. It
used to support both self weight of concrete and live load during construction. It also consists
of wooden and steel members to support the load. The plane horizontal surface called panel is
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used to give the required shape of concrete. Vertical posts constructed are used to transfer the
load from panel to the next load slab.
The spacing of this post is affected by the strength that have and the loading it will carry.
In our site, they use wooden members with a diameter of 10mm and a spacing of 60mm.
Horizontal bracing also used to keep the posts in their position and to transfer loads.
The form work that is used to cast concrete will not be removed before 21 days. But side
form work which is used to give shape for concrete cast can be removed after 16 days. This is
because they are not load bearing structures. Bar is used to shape the newly casting concrete.
Based on the type of material used to make a form work may be a steel or wooden. Both
posts and panels can be wooden or steel, but steel form works are expensive compared to
wooden. The fore steel materials are not commonly used for form work. In construction of
Jimma University conference hall project, both steel panels and wooden posts are used. For
staircase and other variable shape structures, only wooden form works are used. The height of
vertical post is a function of building height and the heads of posts will be clear room height
minus diameter of horizontal bracing at the top. Functions of form work can be generalized as
follows.
 To support the reinforced concrete structure till gives its strength.

 To give the shape required for the concrete, for this purpose there are rectangular and
circular panels for casting concrete.
 To avoid loss of concrete file casting. The steel panels are used to retain concrete and
avoid wastage of concrete.
Fig 2.7 circular formwork of the column
At intersection of panels, there will be opening if its dimension is greater than 2 cm, the
loss will be higher due to this intersection of panels. Due to this intersections of panels must
not have holes of dimension greater than 2 cm. Every reinforced concrete structures needs to
have form work. Formwork also used in both structural and non structural members.
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In wooden form work construction, nail and black wire are used to have connection
between vertical posts and horizontal bracing. In steel form work construction, bolts can be
used to construct the form work structure.
Scaffolding
It is a structure constructed for free movement of labours like site engineers, Forman, day
labours, etc in the construction site. It may be a wooden or steel structure. They are
constructed for plastering and painting works. Scaffolding is also constructed to have
circulation between parts of structure.
2.3.1.4 Placing of reinforcements
In reinforced concrete structures steel bars are provided to resist stress due to flexure,
shear and tension. This is because concrete is weak in tension. Steel is jointly constructed
with concrete. The reinforcement bar will resist tension stress and the concrete will resist
compression stress.
Steel is preferable for its good in tension and compression resistance. However it is expensive
to use steel structures. In contrast, concrete is relatively economical but weak in tension
resistance. Due to this fact, to compromise the economy and strength, steel and concrete are
used as a composite material.
Fig 2.8 placing of reinforcements
Reinforcing bars are placed at a critical place in RCS structures so that it will carry the
tension stress in the RCS member. Based on the position of bars, they are called as negative
bars if placed at the top and positive when they are placed at the bottom. This is in beams,
slabs and stair case structure members. But in columns and other vertical structures, it is very
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difficult to classify bars that are positive and negative bars. Because of uncertainty of
direction of moments in columns, the numbers of bars in opposite sides are equal.
Based on the way in which the bar is provided, the reinforcing bars can also be classified
as stirrups or main reinforcements. Longitudinal reinforcements are provided to resist
bending or flexure in most structures but they may also be provided to resist compression in
double reinforced members. On the other side stirrups are used to resist shear stress and for
the purpose of tieing main bars.
Reinforcing bars have different strength class and they are available in different
diameters here in our host company. There are steel bars of diameter of 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18,
20, 24 and 30. All reinforcements have strength class between s-400.
For slabs of diameter 8, 10, and 12 bars are used with different spacing. The maximum
spacing of bars we have seen at the site on the slab is 200 mm. Bars having a diameter of 14
and greater than 14 are used in beams and columns. For stirrup they use diameters of 6,8 and
10 bars.
Bar cutting and lap strength
Bars are produced from factories industry with 12 m length. This 12 m length bar is also
curtailed into different pieces of required length. The length of bar for each structures is
calculated and the bars cutter will be used for other structure. This is bar cutting but the
required length of the bar is greater than the available bar length (12 m) then bars will be
lapped them each other. The length of lapping is a function of diameter of bars to be lapped.
Lapping in column and beam is mandatory. In beams positive bars will lap each other at the
support or near to the support. But negative bars will lap at the middle span at the beam. In
column beams, lapping will be at each floor level and in all cases the length lapping is equal
to 40 diameters (forty times the diameter of the bar).
On the other side bars which are not in use will be curtailed and used for other structural
member. In beams and slabs negative bars are curtailed at one third distance from the
support. But beams bars will be curtailed if the number of bars is greater than two. Positive
bars for slabs will be cuts at supports. But in columns the bars will not be curtailed in its
entire length or height. But all columns bars will have length equal to column height plus
lapping length.
Stirrups will be curtailed for length equal to perimeter of main reinforcements and extra
50mm both ends. Perimeter of main reinforcements is equal with depth or width of structural
member minus two times clear covers each side. Then perimeter equal to the sum of four
sides.
Important works in the reinforcements are bar cutting and bar bending. Cutting of bars
will be by bar cutter also stirrups and bars in stairs will bended by bar benders. Also bars at
the end of the beams and sometimes bares in slabs will be blended.
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2.3.1.5 Concrete work

Concrete is a mixture of cement, sand, aggregates d water. Sometimes admixture will
be added to enhance woke ability and setting of concrete. Currently concrete is used in most
civil engineering structures. Concrete is used in building construction, drainage and
reservoirs works, high ways, in flowers etc. This is due to the following reasons.
 It doesn’t require complex equipment and special skill.

 It is good compression and used as a complex material with steel.
 It is less costly.
In concrete cement is used to bind sand and aggregates and the binding properties of
cement is affected by type of cement used and the amount of water added. Sand is used as a
fill between aggregates and this avoids presence of voids between aggregate materials. Also
the presence of sand in concrete mix with a certain ratio is needed to reduce the quantity of
cement to be used. But excess sand will also result in consumption of much cement. Due to
this the amount of sand must be in compromise between the two aggregates in concrete are
the source of strength that concrete have for concrete to be strong the aggregates used must
have height strength and must be dust tree.
For the above reasons the strength of concrete is affected by quality of materials used,
ratio of components and water cement ratio used. Because of this fact concrete of different
ratio of components will be tested and the required ratio is the one that gives the intended
ratio.
At site from experience they know the strength of concrete from different ratio. About
strength test of concrete see the test procedures written in the next pages. In our test for
concrete of different structures the following ratio are used.
Lean concrete c-5 1:5:7
Foundation column concrete c-30 2:3:5 (box site 16)
Elevation concrete c-25 2:3:5 (box site 18)
For c-25 concrete 410kg of cement is used to have one cubic meter concrete. Concrete is
used in both structural and non structural members. In structural members like in slabs, stair,
beams, column concrete is used. Also in non structural members like sun breaker concrete is
used.
Casting of concrete:- Casting involves placing and compacting concrete in its final position
to have the desired shape and thickness.
Note:-concrete casting is done by considering installation conduits of electrical installation

will be placed in their position before concrete casting. Openings for mechanical installations
and for sewerage pipe installations are considered.
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Fig 2.9 casting of concrete
In general, we have observed the facts during casting: -
 Total height of column must be casted at the same time. This is due to the
weakness of construction joints and shear force is constant for columns for its
entire length.
 In the height of column is greater than 2.5m, the column will be casted by having
side shutter at its mid height. So the column will be casted for two different
heights. This is to avoid segregation of concrete.
 For slabs and beams it is not possible to cast the total length casting will be
stopped at one third distance from the support.
 This is because shear force is minimum at that point and moment is zero.
 Before casting concrete oil gas is applied paint over the panels. This is helps to
remove panels easily after the concrete gains its strength.
At construction joints (hard casting concrete and freshly casted concrete) the mixture of
cement and water is added and is use to enhance the bond between newly casted concrete and
the existing concrete.
Concrete tests
Concrete will be tested for its properties in order to know its quality and strength. We
have seen two types of concrete tests. These are:-
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1. Concrete strength test and
2. Slump test
1. Concrete strength test
Concrete needs to be checked for its flexural resistance, tensile and compression
strength. For compression strength test 150mm dimension of cubes are used. The number of
cubes is mostly six. Then the strength of two of cubes will be tested at the ends of 14 th day
and the remaining two at 28th day. Generally the strength of concrete will be affected by:-
 Cement type
 Quality of sand and aggregate used
 Mix ratio
 Water content
 Admixture
The strength of concrete at 28 th day is used for design strength and the test strength must
be greater than the minimum required strength. But if strength fails the structure must be
dismantled. But before dismantling hammer test will be taken. Hammer test is expansive and
it is to be used only is dismantling is much loss and the amount to be dismantled is high.
Slump test
Slump test can be conducted at site and in laboratory to cast concrete. Normally it is
workability test. At site place slump test is used if the need of knowing workability of
concrete. For example if the supervisor wants to know the workability of concrete at site he
will use slump test. Also it can be conducted in laboratory to determine water cement ratio to
have a workable concrete mix. Concrete said to have good workability if slump height does
not exceed 8 cm and minimum of 2cm slump height.
Curing of concrete
In a simple term curing is watering of concrete. Curing of concrete is necessary to have

strong concrete. If the concrete is cured to 21 days it will be strong enough the loads. But if it
is not properly cured it will create and loss its strength.
Curing is important of the completion of reaction in the concrete is exothermic and

releases heat. This released heat will evaporate the moisture in the concrete. But if water is
lost the binding property of cement will be lost. This resulting cracking of concrete and the
concrete will be weak. To avoid this effect the concrete should be cured 21 days. In footings
the pad will be then soil to be filled will be moist soil and the concrete will be absorb
moisture from the soil.
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2.3.1.6 Plastering
Plastering is the processing of covering surfaces of structures with a plastic material
such as cement mortar. This is used to obtain an even smooth, regular, clear and durable
surface. Plastering conceals inferior quality materials and defective workers. Also provides a
protective coat against atmospheric effects and base for receiving other decorative finishes
such as painting and white washing.
The major materials used for plastering are binder and sand. The binder can be
hydrated lime, gypsum, cement, etc. the only aggregate used for plastering is sand. The sand
particle should be so graded that the binder can act as an adhesive. The sand also used to
reduce the shrinkage of the binders. It is also free from organic matter or other harmful
impurities. The durability of plastering depends on:-
 Properties of the mixture

 Adhesion with the back ground
To increase the adhesion between mortar and background the surface will be chiselled.
Plastering consists of three coats. These are:- first coat plastering, second coat plastering and
third coat plastering
1. First coat plastering
It applied to provide a good bond with a surface to which is applied. The mortar to be
used for this first coat has a mix ratio of 1:3.
2. Second coat plasterin
The second coat plastering is applied to provide the required depth of plastering and
smooth surface. The mortar to be used for this first coat has a mix ratio of 1:2.
3. Third coat of plastering
The third coat is applied to provide to prepare the second coating surface to be smooth
in order to ready for painting purpose. The mix ratio of for this type of coat is 1:1.
2.3.1.7 Equipments use in construction site works
1. Mixer
Mixer is used to have uniform mix concrete. The mixer has a part on which the
components have to add. Then they adding to rotating drum and the rotating drum mix the
concrete. The quality of mix depends on the numbers of revolutions which the drum rotates to
the mix concrete. For the purpose of operating the mixer, there will be a mixer operator. The
operator control operations of the mixer, workability of concrete by controlling volume of
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water to check the workability of concrete. We observe also this concrete test when concrete
mix out from the mixer.
Fig 2.10 mixer equipments
2. Crane
The concrete mix produced from the mixer needs to be placed at its final place of
casting. This placing of concrete to its final position can be manually or using equipments.
Crane is a type of equipment used to transport concrete mix and other material from the
mixer to the casting place or final position. Crane is also used to lift concrete to higher
elevation especially high rising building. Due to this, most of the time crane is use only for
multi story buildings.
Fig 2.11 crane equipments
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3. Vibrator
Fig 2.12 vibrator equipment
Vibrator is used to compact concrete mix and to avoid air voids in the concrete mix.
The presence of air voids in the concrete reduces the strength of concrete and when dry it will
create cracks. In this regard, vibrators are the essential equipment for every concrete casting.
4. Dumper
Dumper is used to transport building materials like cement, concrete, sand and others at
the construction site.
5. Loader
It is multi functional equipment which is used to avoid unwanted materials, to execute

and transport materials in the site.
6. Roller
It is a type of equipments used to compact selected fill to the required density.
7. Plate compactor
It is like roller but very small and used to compact small areas like ground and basement
floor selected fill, foundation pad selected fill, etc.
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2.3.2 Office works
We have got knowledge and experience above some of office works like break down,
take off, methodology of work. And we have involved in some works like break down.
Hereafter we have tried to list some of them.
2.3.2.1 Methodology of work
Engineers have schedule or plan of work to be executed by the time they want. The
contractor has signed to complete the work with a given within a given period of time and
every construction works at site are to complete before the time they agreed to complete. The
contractor will not precede all works as he want but if the quality of work and methodology is
not approved he will not precede the construction. But the contractor will report to the
amount of materials, number of equipments and skill labours used to complete. A certain
work over a certain period of time. This report is called methodology of work. The report has
its own form and office engineers will report to the consultant office.
For example to cast a certain volume of concrete work, the methodology will show
positions of mixer, crane, volume of work, period of time to complete the work, skilled
labours, etc. Position of sand and aggregate will be shown in the drawing. Then the
supervisors examine the methodology and he takes the availability of materials and
equipments. Also any possible problem that may occur will be considered. If there is any
possible problem, he will not approve the work. For example if the mixture to be used is old
and if there is any standby mixer, he will not approve it. The contractor will arrange the
required positions when the approved positions and solve the problem. Then the contractor
will approve and construction will proceed.
In our site for example they prepare methodology by taking the position of crane to be at
the road but the constant disagreed with the position of crane. There was no any choice for
that reason they talk to the client and the client permits that the crane can be at the road. After
that he approves the methodology and they continue to construct.
By the time at which the work is to be done the supervisor will visit all the materials and
equipments if they are as per the methodology. This is called inspection. By the time of
inspection if there is any fault he will ordered them to correct any faults. After that they
proceed to construct.
2.3.2.2 Take off

Take off means calculation of the amount of work volumes which executed in
construction site. For this purpose there is take off sheet which has its own forms. In our
hosting company the talk of sheet has four columns. The firs t column is for serial number,
the second for dimension, the third for volume of work payment will be based on this report.
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Take off can be prepared for earth work, masonry work, concrete work, form work, steel
work, etc.
Take off is prepared by office engineers and submitted to the supervisor from the
consultant side. It always common in construction sites. Because every construction work
must be talk take off activities. The quantities of the work also measured in unit forms.
Unit for works
Units are used to quantity the amount of work and they are basic in construction. They are
used to communicate they are used to ask payments for different types of works especially
take off and break down works. As we stayed the forth month intern, we observed some of
unit types with their executed work listed on the following table.
Table 2.1 Some of unit types of executed works.
Type of work Units

Excavation and earthwork works In meter cube
Concrete works In meter cube
All plastering work In meter square
Formwork work In meter square
Form work In meter square
Steel work, etc In kilogram, etc
2.3.2.3 Break down
Break down is used to calculate the profit gained or the amount lost to complete a
certain work. The costs for materials, equipments and man power to accomplish a certain
work are summed up. This will be expense and the volume of work will be multiplied by rate
to calculate income. Then the different of the two (income and expense) will be profit/loss.
In Yotek construction plc the cost is calculated by taking equipments as rental, and 30%
over head costs. The amount of cost for skilled labourers, materials and equipments will be
added and is called direct cost. 30% of direct cost is taken to be over head cost to account
employees at head office and other engineers. Finally direct cost and over head cost are
summed to give total cost. The profit is calculated by subtracting total cost from income.
Unlike the takeoff break down is prepared by the contractor company and uses for it only,
this is because one of the aim of the breakdown is to know the loss and profit of the company.
Due to this, the company will not submit it to the supervisor simply they will file it.
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2.4 Construction challenge
Challenges are common to occur during the engineering works. In our internship
program we have seen both office work challenges and site work challenges.
When we see construction challenge, the work on site has faced number of challenge that
restrained the progress of the work. As we explained, the capacity of the conference hall
building is above 5000 peoples. When the designer design these 5000 seats without tables
and air phone (which help to change one language to another language when somebody talk).
When the project started and construct all foundation works together with basement floor
column, the university wants the seats to have tables and air phone for ground floor seats.
Due to this redesign of seats of buildings with electrical installation system was done. Some
arctectural and structural modification of seats were provided. Site engineers and office
engineers have subjected to study new design of seats and prepared new document
concerning about it.
Failure of two concrete columns was also one of challenge during construction.
Normally construction of concrete mix was not made according to the mix ratio design. The
mix ratio was 1:2:3 cement, sand and aggregate respectively. But without knowing the site
engineer and foreman the daily labourers insert more aggregate and sand into the mixer
machine equipments. After cast the column and eliminate the form work, the columns have
not uniform shape , more air void create so the consultant engineer decided break two
columns and new cast of concrete was very necessary.
Another challenge occur during the construction work was construction of ramp. Rump is
one of structural member of the conference hall building which is like stair case structure but
have not tread and head. Normally it is used to move up and down disabled peoples from one
floor to another floor of the building. The conference hall has number of rumps. Among these
the design of one rump is not correct i.e., its slope is above 12 percent. But according to
EBCS the maximum slope of rump is 12 percent. During this time the site engineer and
consultant engineer were reach agreements to design the design error of rump. Due to this
error they report to the design office at Addis Ababa. So the slope of the rump was decreased
and new dimensional modification of rump was made.
The usual mistakes and challenges in engineering office around data keeping and
computing the exact amount of work executed. As explained before one of the role of office
engineer is to be responsible for payment certificates of sub contract workers. This payment
certificate is based on the actual quantity work executed and when dealing with earth work
excavation. It is very difficult to estimate the exact amount. This caused disputes between the
office engineer and site engineer. To deal with this type of problems it was essential to be
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careful in data keeping in order eliminating gross errors. The measurements are taken jointely
with the office engineer and site engineer.
Generally during the internship we have get the above main challenges and small
challenges that we have not write in this report. We have tried to the office engineer, site
engineer and consultant engineer, how to know construction challenges and how to find
engineering solutions for it. Also we have tried to relate different engineering courses that we
learnt the last seven semesters just to solve construction challenges. And also we were
performed all works from the internship both office and site works.
Fig 2.13 Construction of the ground floor seats of the conference hall
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3. INTERNSHIP BENEFITS
The internship time has been the most educating and challengeable time we believe
that every intern had their own expectation about working in actual construction site. we all
understand how well we have understood the literatures, theories and formulas but when it
comes to the actual construction, it was hard to for tell how compitent we can be. It very
understandable that parallel to the writings, experience is very important in construction.
Being familiar with the work flow is a key to understand ones role properly and be able to
make competent decisions.
Generally the benefit of the internship can be deal with from different perspectives.
This are in improving practical and theoretical skills, interpersonal communicating skills,
team playing skills and work ethics.
3.1 Practical skill and theoretical knowledge
The noticeable thing on site is the engineers, Forman and other workers do not worry
much about the theories and principles behind the work that they perform. They are so used
to the repeated work that they know exactly what to do when faced with a setback. Working
with such kind of peoples is constructive in improving practical skills. there are short and
long term solutions to most construction problems that have been developed through
experience. Being civil engineer students it is almost very high interest to explain and relate
each action with theories. This advances not only practical skills but also theoretical skills.
During the four month of the internship, we have learned a lot about the process of
construction. Basically we have more benefited on the following theoretical and practical
experiences.
3.1.1 Reading drawings
We have experience to understand drawings of different type construction drawings are

the main ways of communication. The architect produce architectural drawings, the structural
engineer also provide reinforcement detailing of different structural members electrical
installation for buildings.
 In our site we have seen different kinds of drawings. Some of are elevation, cross
section, foundation, different type of column and beam reinforcements, root
drawings, electrical installation plumping, slap reinforcement, contour map, etc
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Engineers at construction site will read the drawings and contract the building as
per the provided drawings. This way they are used as a means of communication
between engineers.
 In our internship we understood how drawings said and how to change
engineering drawings to practical works.
3.1.2 Material tests
Every materials used for construction must be tested before using it for construction.
Also the materials quality must pass the standard and specification requirements. The most
common materials are sand, aggregate, selected fill, water. Etc. Here after we have list some
of basic tests used to know the qualities of the above materials
A. basic tests for sand are:-
 Silt content test:- not more than 5 %

 Soundness test
 Gradation test:- as per ASTM/BS standard
 Chloride content test
 Sulphate content test
B. basic tests for aggregates
 Graduation test:-size 01, 02, 03, 04, 00.

 Soundness test
 Losangeles abrasion test
 Aggregate crushing value test
 Aggregate impact value test
 Chloride/sulphate content test
 Water absorption test
C. basic selected fill material test
 Swelling test
 Gradation test
 Density test
3.1.3 Controlling quality of works

The main responsibility of engineers are to check, the work progress, check quality of
works and manage labourers. The work progress will be conducted in a scientific way. Any
possible problem must be measure to avoid the probability problem to occur. The engineers
also responsible to check the quality of works that constructed. The works include like form
work, reinforcements, concrete, mix and material quality and quantity to accomplish the
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work. During our internship period we have observe how the above works quality checked
and list some of them.
Formwork
 Size, shape, location of opening for pouring concrete

 Rigidity, bracing detail, method of fixing, detail at joint
 Cleanness of starter bar from any cement phase
 Test results of reinforcement (tensile, yield and elongation)
 Cleanness of reinforcement
 Diameter, number, location, spacing, length and shape of bar
 Overlap location and length
 Spacer type, shape and dimension
 Alignment of columns along the axis
 Cleanness and smoothness for surface of forms to be used
Concrete
 Rechecking the level, Cleanness and smoothness of formwork
 Expansion joint
 Provision of PVC pipes
Reinforcement
 Conformity with approved formwork design

 Test result of reinforcement
 Type of material
Fig 3.1 placement of reinforcements for culvert
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Aggregate
 Sufficient for different size of aggregate

 Sufficient of aggregate protected from contamination
 Provision for adequate drainage for the piled aggregate
Cement
 Type of cement
 Stored separately from other items
 Protected from dampness, due to weather or ground condition
 Stored in a safe place
 Age of cement
Water
 Contaminated /protected from/
Mix
 Size of gauging box

 Capacity of mixer
 Availability of number of mixer
 Cleanness of mixer
 Availability of aggregate, cement and equipments for mix
 Maximum size of aggregate allowed in the mixer
 Moisture content of the mix
 Water cement ratio
 Workability
 Care during heavy rain and hot weather
3.2.4 Special building elements
Here we would like to write some of the building elements which are not common in
every structure. For this reason we call them special building elements. Here in our site the
following special building elements are constructed.
A. Mat foundation
Mat is a type of foundation used in soils of low quality and higher building load. Due to
this they are not common in all building constructions. Because of the soil is specifically in
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Jimma in our site the mat is used to transfer the load from super structure to the under lying
strata. The dimension for the constructed mat foundation is 13mx88m.
3.2 Fig construction of mat foundation of the conference hall
B. Culvert
Culvert is a drainage ditch in which water or waste flows. There was a small ditch that
passes through the middle of the building. It was impossible to divert the flow of the water
out of the building because of excess cost or uneconomical. Due to this the designer provided
the culvert under the basement level.
Fig 3.3 culvert structure
C. Basement
Basements are under ground floor below the ground floor .they are constructed by
excavating the soil and creating a room. Usually they are used for store, cafeteria, game
house and other purposes. In our site the basement also provides different purpose.
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D. Sun breaker
Sun breakers are special structure in our site provided for only protection from sun light
and for architectural purpose. They are not load resist from the other structures.
Fig 3.4 sunbraker structure
E. Seats
Seats are special structures which are not common in all buildings. In our since the
building is a conference hall seats are provided a ground floor and first floor. They are like
stair having riser and tread. The riser is 10cm and tread has 90cm.
F. Shear wall
Shear wall is a reinforced wall which can resist lateral loads. This is not common in other
buildings but in our site it provided for safety VIP (parking vehicle of guests) protection
G. Ramp
The building that is being constructed must be give service for both disabled and normal
persons. The disables which use wheelchair cannot use stair for their movement to the
different parts of the buildings. Due to this reason ramp is provided for them. Ramp is an
inclined surface used for disabled persons. This has a slop will not greater than 12%. This
helps the wheelchair from overturning while moving down and easily climb while moving
up.
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3.1.5 Terms used at construction site
At construction site we were contact to the labourers and we understand that the use of
italic names for most of the works. Knowing these terms is basic to communicate at the site
workers. Based on this we have noted the following terms.
Cristi: is a vertical member made up of wooden or steel material which is used to support the
new casted beam.
Ponti: it is a vertical member under slab panels that takes he load from self weight of the slab
and live loads while construction.
Modini: it is a horizontal member used to brace posts.
Ponda: it is a panel used to under beam or bottom form work.
Sponda: it is a side form work of beams which helps to keep the dimensions of the beam.
Crasher: It is a wooden strut used to support column form work or panels.
Penci: It is a small hole between form work panels. Its dimension is greater than two
centimetre units. This hole need to be covered to protect wastage of concrete.
Tumbi: This is used to check verticality of column formwork and also used in masonry
works. Sometimes it is called plumb rule.
Shuka: It is a flat tool used to lift and spread mortar in masonry works. It is called trowel.
Barela: This is wooden supported flat plate used to transport concrete works like cement,
aggregate, sand etc.
Terms used to differentiate
In construction most of the works are repeated. This is because the structural members
are the same at each floor levels. The construction method used to construct the first floor
level will be used for other stories. But structures under and above the plinths have their own
name even if there function is the same. The following lists are some of the terms used to
differentiate.
Grade beam versus vs beam
Grade beam is a type of beam constructed over lean concrete or masonry. It is supported
at its end by foundation column. It is not suspended but slab beam, alternatively floor beam,
is suspended beam which is used to transfer load from slab to columns.
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Elevation column and foundation column
Foundation column is constructed underground and the height of foundation column is

smaller relative to elevation column. Elevation column are columns in the supper structures
above foundation column.
Ground slab VS suspended slab
Ground slabs are supported by hard core whereas suspended slabs are supported by
beams. Ground slab is always constructed for the basement or ground floor. But the
suspended floor is always constructed above super structure.
Sub structure VS super structure
Sub structures are structures constructed below the ground level and they are indirect
contact with the soil over which they are constructed. This includes footing, foundation
column, grade beam and other structures. Super structures are structures above ground level.
This includes suspended slab, slab beams, elevation column, stair case, roof, and other special
structure.
3.2 Communication skills
Participants in the process of planning, designing, financing, constructing and operating

physical facilities has a different perspective on project management for construction.
Specialized knowledge can be very beneficial, particularly in large and complicated projects,
since experts in various specialities can provide valuable services. However it is
advantageous to understand how the different parts of the process fit together. Effective cost
and delays can result from poor coordination and communication among specialists.
Asking is a vital part of understanding. Regard to this communicating with every staff
member is unavoidable. We had to ask and work with different people who had different
levels of skills and expectations.
When working in a large and complex project coming across associates that have
different duties and expectations is unavoidable. So in order to perform any activities one
should communicate wisely and effectively. Development of effective communications and
mechanisms for resolving conflicts among the various participants will be handy. Even
within a single profession such a civil engineering, there are quite distinct groups of
specialities in planning, design management, construction and other sub-specialties. Good
communication and coordination among these participants is essential to accomplish the
overall goals of the project.
The fundamental challenge is to enhance communications among individuals, groups

and organizations so that obstacles in the way of improving interpersonal relations may be
removed. It was challenging to be liberated enough to ask questions and observe the practical
part of the process. But after few weeks the environment was familiar and we work hard in
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our communication capability. We believe that going into a new working environment would
not be difficult after this experience.
3.3 Team playing skills
Besides communication, team playing is a vital part of work flow. During our stay in
YOTEK Company, we made every effort to be as cooperative as we can. We have assisted
the data collector, the quantity surveyor, and the Forman, the site and office engineer. We are
also knowledgeable about the labour force employed in construction. In this regard we have
experienced a team work culture and improve our communication skill. With these
experiences we believe that we will be enthusiasm to work within in our future.
3.4 Work ethics and leadership skill
Work ethics is also the other thing that we learned. Respecting working hours and
protocols is very important. Even when there is no urgent work that needs to be done, every
staff members respect their hours and aim of making themselves valuable in their department.
Being an intern student, we have experienced leadership skills. We have understood

that in order to manage a project, one must possess leadership quality and ability to handle
intricate interpersonal relationships effectively within an organization.
The important factor is loyalty to the company and the project. We learned to expand
our energy in the direction most advantageous to the project not our benefits. Therefore, no
one should talk it for guaranteed that a project team will not work together harmoniously just
because its members are placed physically together in one location. On the contrary there
should be a good communication together with a good ethical behaviour.
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Recommendation
The ultimate test of education and experience in construction lie in the ability to apply
fundamental principle to solve problems in the new and unfamiliar situation which have
become the characteristics of the changing environment in the construction industry.
As we tried to research on the factors affecting the quality of performance in a construction

project, it stretches out more than just having the knowledge and experience. The success of
every project by a larger part gives account to the planning and management process.
As we stayed the forth month internship program, we have tried to recommend the following
main points for both the company and the university:
 First of all, when we consider and understand the design of the conference hall
building based a very high safety. Due to this, the designer provided much
reinforcement without consider the safety limit. Therefore, this is totally
uneconomical and also one of the roles a civil engineer is design buildings to be
economical with in a limit safety.
 On the mix concrete the ratio of cement, sand, aggregate and addition of water are
high sometimes doesn’t properly done based on the needs design provided.
Accordingly, the consultant and site engineer should test the strength of the mix
before cast.
 The company doesn’t pay the salary to the workers at the planned time and creates
conflict between the company manager and the workers.
 We also observed that some workers provided with less spacer on the casting
reinforcement bar. This affects the exact dimensions of the clear cover and the
consultant should check every reinforcement bar before casting concrete mix.
 It is observed that the reinforcement bars were not positioned as planned.
 In most concrete work, labours does not give consideration on segregation and mortar
laws, thereby the contractor must give grade consideration and control every works.
 Most of site worker, particularly site engineers and daily labourers do not have safety
closes like safety shoes, helpmates, etc to protect them from sudden injuries. Due to
this problem, they are exposed to different injuries while working. The fore we
recommend the company to arrange safety tools for site workers.
 The company reuses some materials such as wood and niles which have economical
importance to the company. However reuses of such staff have difficulty for workers
and delays the works.
Furthermore we recommend the university to improve the overall internship program make it
good and knowledgeable for the next generation.
40
 When we join the company, we didn’t have enough orientation about internship
program. Therefore we recommend the university to arrange a strong orientation
program.
 The supervision and assistant from the department was not sufficient. Therefore we
suggest the department to arrange more frequent contact time between the university
advisors and the intern student.
 During intern time, we have faced financial problem as the ongoing inflation outpaced
the allocated budget. Therefore we recommend the budget allocation inconsideration
with the broad economical instability.
 The department arrange internship program students to know not only one project.
But as much as possible two month like building projects and the remaining month on
highway, hydraulic structure, or water supply projects.
In general, we found the intern very helpful program for engineering student to get
acquainted with practical experience. Therefore we suggest the department to give its great
effort on the continuation of this program.
Limitation
Effectiveness and efficiency of our work was affected to some extent b different problems
that we face while doing our work. The problems were:
 Financial problem: The pocket money which was allocated for us from the department
was not enough to cover the costs required to cover the living expenses. This is
because the pocket money budget was planned based on the 2000 EC.
 Since Yotek PLC is a contractor, it constructs different projects rather than design
them. Due to this, when we join the company for intern purpose, we found hard to get
the design concepts as much as we need.
 The department programmed the contact time between the university advisors and
intern students only with two month interval. However, this poses difficult for us to
easily recognize by the high officials of the company.
 Time constraint: The effective time that we had to work on the internship program
was much excess. For a civil engineer student only two month effective work of
internship program, enough on building project. Since our company is contractor site,
most of the works are repeated. Therefore this makes us to work without motivation
during the final time.
 Computer and internet: There was no computer access to write monthly report from
the company. In addition, we hadn’t have internet access to access relevant
information in line with intern subject. If we had internet access, we could able to
gain new and detail concepts on the construction area.
41
Conclusion
Construction is currently the fastest growing sector in Ethiopia. Being competent

among the difference organization and professional’s calls for knowledge, experience
management skills and so much more. Engineers who are creative in engineering design are
often innovative in planning and management since both types of activities involve
problems solving. In fact, they can reinforce each other if both are included in the education
process, provided that creativity and innovation instead of routine practice are emphasized.
Being a part of such a remarkable innovative work is motivating is remarkable.
Generally working in yotek company has been very educating. It enjoys a remarkable
reputation in the construction industry. This company wants to continually develop in this
fast growing sector. As it is a class l contractor that has been performing various projects
in Ethiopia. In this company we have seen a lot of things about civil engineering work
during the intern. Especially it gave us an insight into the professional side of
construction. We performed various tasks in the building construction both at the
contractor side and some of the consultant side.
On the contractor side:-
 How to relate drawing with site activities

 How we use surveying for building activities
 How we should if we face construction problem and find the solutions
 How to manage the overall activities of the work
 How to control every site activities
 How we do the payment of any construction activity like break down, take
off, etc
On the consultant side:-
 How we can check the quality of materials used at the particular construction
site
 How we check any contractor work according to the drawing provided by the
designer or not.
 How we check both the office and site work
Generally we got satisfactory knowledge and more benefited at intern. This internship
program is real, necessary and important for engineering students. Practical programs used to
develop theoretical principles. We have seen what we are going to do and well informed
about construction sites. In addition we develop good communication and this is central thing
in dealing with activities in the site.
Overall, we have been very interested to know very important aspect of this
internship. It was educational and knowledgeable.
42
Reference:
Civil engineering hand book
Construction laboratory manual prepared by jimma university civil engineering department
EBCS
Material testing manual
43
Appendix
Cabeleto:- is a bended bar used to separate the top mesh reinforcements. The bar will be
bonded by considering the depth of the pad and diameter of the reinforcement bars.
Deep beam:- it is a type of beam which has larger depth relative to its length. That is
according to Ethiopian building code of standard the ratio of depth to length is more than 1.5.
Dump proof:- it is applied to avoid leakage of water this will be applied places where ground
water table is near to the ground surface. In our site dump proof is provided at the back of
retaining wall. The dump proof is applied at the back of retaining wall of the basement.
Retaining walls:- is a type of wall which is constructed to retain soil so as to avoid failure of
backfill. Retaining walls create free area on one side, so it designed based on the load to
resist the soil and other loads.
Scaffolding:- it is a temporary structure constructed for free movement of labours like site
engineers, Forman, day labours, etc at the construction site.
Shear wall:- is a structural wall which is used to resist loads mainly horizontal forces. For this
purpose it will be reinforced with steel bars
Tie beam:- is the top most beams that support the roof load and always to construct the last
column of the building.
Trench wall:- is a wall constructed under a grade beam and it is relatively in small in height
than retaining wall.
44
45

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FINAL INTERNSHIP REPORT 2011

Engineering is the profession in which knowledge of the mathematical and natural

1. YOTEK PRIVATE LIMITED COMPANY

1.1 Brief history

The company strives to continually implement a systematic organizational

1.2 Main products of the company

 In Tigray regional state:

Currently, the company is undertaking different kind of construction projects

Some of the projects performed by Yotek PLC as a prime contractor on different

Project name and Name of client Type of work value of contract

Jimma university jimma university Construction of 10 blocks

Expansion of E.C.S.C. construction of two

Yirgalem police S.N.N.P.R. State construction of

ambo university Ambo University Construction of two G + 97, 406, 737.2

Tel: 011 236 20 4 staff apartments, and

Cost efficient Government of Construction of 5

Ambo agricultural Construction of

Mizan teferi TVET Ministry of Construction of

Adigrat TVET phase Minstery of Construction of

2 Tel, O46 220 13 57 types of workshops.

Employers Project Date contact Percentage Expected

1.3 End users of its products

Yotek Construction PLC has constructed different kinds of construction projects

 Investment like to construct industry factory

1.4 Organizations of the company

Manager advisor Technical advisor

Engineering Finance Transport & Procurement Administration

Fig 1.1 organizational set up of yotek company

2.1 Project description

YOTEK construction PLC is currently working on three projects in Jimma

Fig 1.1 the conference hall site work

2.2 Work flow

Office Engineer Construction Supply & Adm.&

Chief Quantity Construction Purchasers & Accountants

Carpentry & Steel Structure& Masonry & Electrical Sanitary

Fig 2.2 project site set up

As presented from the figure engineering department is grouped in to office and

The main responsibility of the office engineers are:-

1. Prepare material lists for the project and ensuring deployment

2.3 Work activities

2.3.1 Site work

Fig 2.3 under construction of conference hall

2.3.1.1 Foundation work

Concrete work for pads

Fig 2.4 casting of concrete pad

Alternatively it is called sub grade sub grade column to be differentiate it from

Fig 2.5 foundation column and pads

2.3.1.2 Grade beam, Shear wall and hardcore

2.3.1.3 Form works

 To support the reinforced concrete structure till gives its strength.

Fig 2.7 circular formwork of the column

2.3.1.4 Placing of reinforcements

Fig 2.8 placing of reinforcements

Bar cutting and lap strength

2.3.1.5 Concrete work

 It doesn’t require complex equipment and special skill.

Lean concrete c-5 1:5:7

Foundation column concrete c-30 2:3:5 (box site 16)

Elevation concrete c-25 2:3:5 (box site 18)

Note:-concrete casting is done by considering installation conduits of electrical installation

Fig 2.9 casting of concrete

In general, we have observed the facts during casting: -