Caracterización de cambios de volumen en hormigones producidos en Cuba y sus aplicaciones

Abstract

Drying shrinkage is an inner phenomenon in concrete, which can generate tensile stresses in constructive elements constituted by this material and hence cracking. This paper deals with the characterization of this phenomenon in constructive works of the northern keys of Cuba. Research protocol conceived includes: characterization of existing cracks in buildings, study of materials, the experimental determination of the values of shrinkage deformations, comparison of the experimental values of deformation obtained with those provided by models of shrinkage prediction versus time, and their use in structural models of the buildings under study, to predict the structural effects of such deformations. Obtained results allow the conclusion that cracks in the studied buildings, can severely compromise the durability of the works. Comparison of the results with those provided by the theoretical models studied, lead to ensure that none of them is able to adequately reproduce the behaviour of the deformations obtained during the experimental process, showing the importance of the experimental determination of shrinkage deformation values. Although, the modelling of the effect of the shrinkage in structures shows tensile stresses surpassing those that concrete can resist, crack patterns determined by modelling coincide with the real ones that are reported in the studied buildings.