Análisis comparativo económico – estructural de la utilización de acero de refuerzo de alta resistencia Grado 80 frente a la utilización de acero de refuerzo convencional Grado 60 en un edificio de hormigón armado de 15 pisos para la ciudad de Quito.

Abstract

The focus of this work is to compare the structural behavior and the economic viability of a 15-storey reinforced concrete building, with a dual system, located in the city of Quito, under two design proposals: with conventional reinforcement steel, Grade 60 rebar, and with high- strength reinforcement steel, Grade 80 rebar. Under the regulations of the American Concrete Institute’s building code, ACI 318 – 19, and the provisions of the Ecuadorian Building Norms, NEC - 15, static - linear, dynamic - linear, and static - nonlinear analyses for the structure are performed. Once the blueprints for each design proposal have been made, it is possible to quantify the materials and perform the analysis of unit prices. The referential construction budgets can be obtained thereafter. The results of the structural designs and the construction budgets determine that the Grade 80 rebar allows obtaining smaller sections in elements, as well as a reduction of the diameter and quantity of bars used as reinforcement, producing less congestion of steel. Moreover, the structural behavior is not affected using the Grade 80 rebar. Consequently, the reduction of the material used in the structural elements of the second proposal generates a lower construction budget. Therefore, it can be considered as a more economical design, achieving an adequate level of structural performance.