La construcción de viviendas con el sistema Steel Framing en zonas de subsidencia: Pertinencia y Sustentabilidad

Abstract

The phenomenon of subsidence caused by the extraction of groundwater is a problem that occurs in different places around the world. Particularly in the Mexican Republic is a situation that affects several cities in at least eight states located in the central region. Given the particular nature of the subsoil that occurs in these regions affected, subsidence can generate cracks and fractures that are evident on the surface of the soil causing differential settlement affecting all types of construction causing considerable damage to the structural elements of the dwellings. The materials traditionally used for housing construction such as masonry and concrete among others, have stiffness characteristics that make them especially vulnerable to these effects. In contrast, steel is an excellent choice for use due to their structural characteristics, such as its high tensile strength, ductility, compressive good performance, high efficiency in weight — strength ratio, among other qualities. The cold formed thin-walled steel elements, are another type of very light profiles, although its use has been known for several decades, is in recent times that have extended their application, mainly in housing construction, and to a lesser scale commercial and industrial construction. The main advantage of this material is that it retains the mechanical properties of steel, but with a significant reduction in the weight of the items. The most common use of this type of profile is in the manufacture of structural frames as standard modules, the most common form it is assembly profile channel with rigid edge section and section profiles of single channel, with different dimensions and sizes. In full-scale testing and numerical simulation models, the system exhibits an excellent performance under differential displacements as those caused by subsidence, accepting considerable deformations without reaching the failure of structural elements. In the goodness of this behavior is observed thin-walled cold formed steel, first by its deformation without collapse and second for being a sustainable system that causes less harm to the environment compared to traditional buildings. Therefore exposure is considered that this system is an excellent choice for use in housing construction in areas with subsidence.