Structural Factors that Cause Building Failures

Structural Factors that Cause Building Failures.

ABSTRACT

The persistent failure of building in Lagos State which is attributed or linked to some structural factors/problems affecting the structural components of the building has been a matter of concern to the government and the building industry at large.

This study is therefore designed to find out the structural factors that can cause building failure. The study adopted a survey research design.

A population of 220 respondents was used which is made up of 43 Architects, 66 Structural Engineers, and 111 Building Technicians who are all registered members of COREN and NIOB. Five research questions and hypotheses were raised and formulated respectively to guide the study.

Data collected were analysed using the mean and standard deviation for the research questions while ANOVA was used for the research hypotheses.

Result of the data analysis revealed that 58 structural factors can affect the structural components of a building and lead to building failure. Structural components were identified as; foundation, wall, floor, beams, columns and roof.

Based on the findings of this study, it is recommended that NIOB and NSE should investigate buildings under construction properly before construction, only qualified and registered builders, structural engineers and architects should be allowed to practise building construction in Nigeria.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title Page- – – – – – – – – – – ii
Approval Page – – – – – – – – – iii
Certification – – – – – – – – – – iv
Dedication – – – – – – – – – – v
Acknowledgement – – – – – – – – – vi
Table of Contents – – – – – – – – – ix
List of Tables – – – – – – – – – – x
Abstract – – – – – – – – – – xi

CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION – – – – – 1
Background of the Study – – – – – – – – 1
Statement of the Problem – – – – – – – – 4
Purpose of the Study – – – – – – – – – 6
Significance of the Study- – – – – – – – 6
Research Questions- – – – – – – – – 7
Research Hypothesis – – – – – – – – – 8
Delimitation of the Study- – – – – – – – 8

CHAPTER II REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE – – – 9
Conceptual Framework- – – – – – – – – 9
Structures in Building- – – – – – – – – 12
Failures in Building- – – – – – – – – 16
Structural Factors that Cause Foundation Failure- – – – – 20
Structural Factors that Cause Wall Failure- – – – – – 27
Structural Factors that Cause Floor Failure- – – – – – 34
Structural Factors that Cause Columns and Beams Failure– – – 39
Structural Factors that Cause Roof Failure- – – – – – 49
Theoretical Framework – – – – – – – – 55
Review of Related Empirical Studies- – – – – – – 62
Summary of Review of Related Literature- – – – – – 64

CHAPTER III METHODOLOGY — – – – – – 67
Design of the Study- – – – – – – – – 67
Area of the Study- – – – – – – – – 67
Population of the Study– – – – – – – – 67
Instrument for Data Collection– – – – – – – 68
Validation of the Instrument- – – – – – – – 68
Reliability of the Study- – – – – – – – – 68
Method of Data Collection – – – – – – – – 69
Method of Data Analysis- – – – – – – – 69

CHAPTER IV PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS OF DATA – – 70
Research Question 1- – – – – – – – – 70
Research Question 2- – – – – – – – – 71
Research Question 3- – – – – – – – – 72
Research Question 4- – – – – – – – – 73
Research Question 5- – – – – – — – – 75
Research Hypothesis 1- – – – – – – – – 75
Research Hypothesis 2- – – – – – – – – 76
Research Hypothesis 3- – – – – – – – – 77
Research Hypothesis 4- – – – – – – – – 78
Research Hypothesis 5- – – – – – – – – 79
Findings of the Study- – – – – – – – – 79
Discussion of Findings- – – – – – – – – 83

CHAPTER V SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS 89
Re-Statement of the Problem- – – – – – – – 89
Summary of Procedures Used- – – – – – – – 90
Major Findings- – – – – – – – – – 91
Implication of the Study- – – – – – – – – 92
Conclusion- – – – – – – – – – – 93
Recommendations- – – – – – – – – – 93
Suggestions for Further Studies- – – – – – – – 94
References- – – – – – – – – – – 95
Appendices – — – – – – – – – 98

INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study

The reoccurrence menace of building failure in Lagos State and its environs has been generating a lot of reactions from both the general public and stakeholders in the building construction industry. According to Oloko (2009), hardly will a year end without recording an incident of building failure in Lagos State.

When building failure occurs, the State Government reacts that such collapsed structure is forfeited to the government as punitive measure without taking further steps to sanction the professionals who approved such buildings.

Buildings serve as shelters for humans and their belongings. They must be properly planned, designed and erected to obtain desired satisfaction from the environment.

The factors to be observed in building construction include durability, adequate stability to prevent its failure or discomfort to the users, resistance to weather, fire outbreak and other forms of accidents.

The styles of building construction are constantly changing with the introduction of new materials and techniques of construction.

Consequently, the work involved in the design and construction stages of buildings are largely that of selecting materials, components and structures that will meet the expected building standards and aesthetics on economy basis.

References

Adam K. A. (1980). Building Failures: Design problems and Solutions Civ. Eng, (N.Y.), 54(6), 62-66.

Akbari, M. A. (1994). Deficiencies and Failures of Non-Load Bearing Masonry Walls in Riyadh, Journal of Performance of Constructed Facilities, May: 76-81.

Akbari,       T.      (2000).       Building      Design     and     Construction    Handbook.     London:     The McGraw-Hill Company.

Akers .J. David (2000). Building Design and Construction Handbook. London: The McGraw-Hill Company.

Al Abadi et al (2004). Modelling of Earthquake Induced  Overturning  of  Building Content: Proceedings of the Australian Structural  Engineering  Conference,  Mt. Gambier, south Australia, 5-7 October, 2004. Published by AEES. Paper no.10

Al Abadi H. (2005). A simple Displacement-Based Model for Predicting Seismically Induced Overturning; Journal of Earthquake Engineering, (submitted)