VARIABILITY OF THE COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH OF CONCRETES USED IN BUILDINGS OF HAVANA IN THE 20TH CENTURY

Abstract

Evaluating concrete structures is closely linked to the accurate estimation of concrete compressive strength. Most codes require this parameter to be determined through destructive and non-destructive tests on the structure. In some cases, this estimation can be complemented with default values based on the construction period of the structure under study. In Cuba, a country with a concrete heritage spanning more than 100 years, such data is currently unavailable. For this reason, this paper aims to characterize the concrete compressive strength of existing structures in Havana using a database of over 1,960 concrete cores extracted from more than 160 buildings constructed in the city during the 20th century. The characterization is presented in terms of mean values and coefficients of variation across six periods of the 20th century. Finally, the compressive strength values were approximated using normal and log-normal probability distributions, providing valuable information for the structural assessment of individual buildings and for conducting large-scale vulnerability evaluations of the city against natural phenomena such as earthquakes and hurricanes.