Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) Theses and Dissertations

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Browsing Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) Theses and Dissertations by Author "Antia Mfon Ekanem"

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    A study of defects in buildings along coastal areas of South-South, Nigeria
    (Department of Building, Faculty of Environmental Design an Management ,Obafemi Awolowo University,Ile IFe, 2023) Antia Mfon Ekanem
    The study assessed the environmental conditions in South-South Nigeria; examined the causes of defects in buildings; examined the signs and patterns of defects in buildings exposed to the environmental conditions; determined the failure rate of building components; assessed the integrity of buildings; and determined the relationship between environmental conditions and failure rate of building components in the study area. These were with a view to enhancing the integrity and reliability of buildings along the coastal area. Data for the study were gathered from four distinct sources: The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET), building users, physical inspection and measurements, and soil test. Both primary and secondary data were employed for the study. Primary data were collected through questionnaire, physical inspection and measurement as well as soil test. Sample for the study were selected from the five states that share boundary with the Atlantic Ocean. The study area was stratified into three sections (Zones A, B and C). Each of these sections covered a distance of 30 km, starting from the shoreline. In each zone, a town was purposively selected. Using the formula n = ᵶ2/4e2, 26 buildings were sampled in each zone. In other words a total of 390 buildings were sampled for the study. Secondary data spanning a ten-year period (2010 – 2019), that covered the specified environmental conditions were also collected for the study from NIMET and analysed using Relative Severity Index, ANOVA, Trend Analysis, and Weibull Analysis. Zone A, closest to the coast, faced the highest temperature (36.48°C), rainfall (41.76 mm), wind speed (10.33 m/s), and humidity (87.51%). Zone-specific challenges included exterior finish degradation (Zone A), structural cracks and metal corrosion(Zone B), and mould growth with wooden element decay (Zone C). Inland, concrete cracks and soil salinity decreased. Perceptions of environmental impacts varied across zones, with Zone A's top concerns being "Acid rain effect" (RSI: 0.740), "Effect of biological activities" (RSI: 0.704), and "Chemical Concentration in soil" (RSI: 0.636). Zone B's major concerns included "Chemical Concentration in soil" (RSI: 0.868), "Industrial Gas and Waste emission." In Zone C, "Effect of biological activities" led (RSI: 0.708), followed by "Acid rain effect" and "Chemical Concentration in soil”. Common defects in Zone A included "Fading of paint and finishes" (RFI: 0.760), "Mould and mildew growth on wall surface" (RFI: 0.652), and "Corrosion of metal components" (RFI: 0.440). In Zone B, prevalent issues were "Thermal expansion or contraction leading to structural cracks" (RFI: 0.788), "Corrosion of metal components" (RFI: 0.784), and "Fading of paint and finishes" (RFI: 0.684). Zone C exhibited "Mould and mildew growth on wall surfaces" (RFI: 0.876), followed by "Rot and decay of wooden elements" (RFI: 0.828) and "Fading of paint and finishes" (RFI: 0.800). Component characteristic lives increased from 40.45 years (Zone A) to 58.17 years (Zone C), reflecting a similar trend in walls, roofs, and reinforced concrete. The integrity of building components, like compressive strength, rose from 21.3564 N/mm² (Zone A) to 24.5140 N/mm² (Zone C). The study underscores the significant influence of environmental factors on building deterioration in South-South Nigeria's coastal regions. It emphasizes the need for tailored design, construction, and maintenance practices to address the specific environmental challenges of the area.