CASE STUDY: PATHOLOGICAL MANIFESTATIONS IN THE UENF WORKSHOP BUILDING

Abstract

This article aims to analyze the pathological manifestations in the workshop building of the Science and Technology Center of the State University of Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro (CCT/UENF), identifying their main causes and evaluating their structural impacts. The pathology of constructions is an essential field of civil engineering that investigates structural failures and their origins, aiming to understand degradation mechanisms to prevent technical and economic losses. These anomalies may result from design flaws, execution errors, improper use of materials, or lack of preventive maintenance, as well as environmental factors such as humidity and thermal variations, which accelerate the deterioration of buildings. To assess the structural condition of the building, a detailed building inspection was carried out, combined with the application of the GUT method (Severity, Urgency and Trend) to classify the damage, and some in loco tests were also carried out, such as sclerometry, carbonation and water absorption of the concrete. The results indicated that rising humidity was the predominant pathology, followed by infiltrations and cracks. The sclerometry revealed that there are no statistically significant differences in the compressive strength of the columns, while the carbonation test confirmed the presence of this phenomenon in all analyzed samples. Furthermore, the water absorption demonstrated that, despite the observed pathologies, the building's concrete has adequate durability. As a main contribution, this study reinforces the importance of building inspection and continuous monitoring of structures to ensure the safety and durability of buildings, as well as enabling the adoption of preventive measures that minimize the impacts of construction pathologies.