Comparativo entre os métodos de reforço estrutural aplicados em pilares de concreto armado

Abstract

Many obsolete structures built in reinforced concrete are reaching the limit of their useful life, others, although recent, present pathological manifestations that are degrading their structural elements, in both cases, these structures need reinforcement to guarantee their performance and the safety of their users. The columns, for being fundamental elements and more requested in a structure, need special attention in case of deterioration, being of fundamental importance the accomplishment of a reinforcement to guarantee the stability of all the structural elements. The initial signs that a reinforced concrete structure is suffering degradation are the appearance of cracks, which can compromise the aesthetic aspect and the resistant capacity of the structural element. In recent years, there has been a great demand to reinforce and remedy the appearance of pathological manifestations, besides guaranteeing and extending the durability of reinforced concrete structures, requiring continuous improvement of reinforcement techniques for this purpose. Over the years, several reinforcement techniques have appeared, introducing new materials besides reinforced concrete, such as carbon fiber and metal sheets. The choice of the most adequate recovery technique should be made after a careful evaluation, analyzing the pathological problems presented by the structure, besides factors such as technological availability and cost/benefit ratio. Despite the constant improvement of the structural reinforcement techniques, the methods are still based on accumulated empirical experience, since each problem faced has its own characteristics. Besides showing the most recurrent types of pathological manifestations that can occur in reinforced concrete columns, this work will focus on these three types of interventions: structural reinforcement through the method of increasing the cross section with reinforced concrete, the gluing of carbon fiber blankets and metal sheets adhered with epoxy. As well as explaining how the executive process of these reinforcement methods works, as well as presenting a dimensioning model for each and at the end, carrying out a comparison of which reinforcement method is most suitable for each pathological manifestation observed and for each type of geometry of the column cross section that will receive the intervention. Keywords: Structural Reinforcement. Reinforced Concrete. Columns. Cracks. Pathological Manifestations.