Estudio del reforzamiento de mampostería de bloque mediante técnica de enchape, en sistemas estructurales mixtos acero-hormigón con uniones soldadas.

Abstract

The present work seeks to generate and test a method to reinforce and rehabilitate by the “veneer” technique, mixed portal frame structures whose columns are RCFT, the beams are IPE and have block masonry infill panels, forming a construction system that is becoming more and more common in Ecuador. The reinforcement by veneer consists of anchoring to both sides of the masonry an electrowelded mesh that is covered with mortar, the mesh must also have a connection with the portal frame system and upper and lower slab, that allows a complete stresses transmission. To evaluate the proposed reinforcement behavior, cyclic lateral load tests were performed on four different prototypes. The first test was performed in the linear range on an empty portal frame; the second was performed on a portal frame with an infill panel until moderate damage to the panel was generated; in the third test, a system formed by a portal frame with a reinforced infill panel without previous damage was taken to complete damage; and in the fourth test, the system formed by a portal frame with an infill panel, which has moderate damage but is reinforced by means of veneer technique, was taken to complete damage. The tests were used to determine, through the hysteresis curves obtained, parameters such as maximum resistance, maximum drifts, dissipated energy, and stiffness; and allowed observing the cracks distribution and yield of the steel elements in each prototype. Finally, the tests results are used to calibrate computational models in the SeismoStruct software, which allow the prediction of the lateral load behavior of a typical house that has been reinforced with veneer technique.