Estudio Patológico a Estructura Elevada de Almacenamiento, en el Municipio de Nariño - Cundinamarca

Abstract

The storage and distribution of potable water is fundamental to community development, particularly in regions requiring gravity-fed systems. However, the absence of periodic maintenance in elevated storage structures compromises both hydraulic functionality and structural integrity. This study presents a pathological assessment of an elevated reinforced concrete water tank constructed in 1974 in the municipality of Nariño, Cundinamarca, currently decommissioned, with the objective of evaluating its degradation level and proposing suitable rehabilitation strategies. The applied methodology comprised a comprehensive visual inspection and the implementation of destructive and non-destructive testing techniques. These included rebound hammer testing, ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV) measurements, core sampling for compressive strength determination, carbonation depth profiling, crack pattern mapping, half-cell potential measurements for corrosion activity, and chloride ion concentration analysis. Test results indicated a significant reduction in mechanical performance, with a 53% loss of compressive strength in critical zones—mean values of 15 MPa versus the design strength of 28 MPa. Carbonation fronts surpassed 15 mm in most structural components, leading to depassivation of reinforcement steel. Chloride concentrations exceeded the corrosion threshold (≥ 0.4% by cement weight), while corrosion mapping revealed stirrup cross-sectional losses ranging from 60% to 70%. Crack mapping identified active fissures exceeding 1 mm in width on both columns and beams, indicative of ongoing structural distress. These findings reflect an advanced state of deterioration that compromises the stability and durability of the structure, justifying the need for this detailed study.