Numerical safety and performance analysis of a multipurpose building’s structure: case study

Abstract

This report presents a case study of a multi-use building situated in Brasília-DF. The building's structural model is made up of elements of a spatial portico and four-knot plate, measuring 25.75 by 25.75 m with a height of 11.65 m. The structure is supported by rotating pillars at the base. The ground floor has a ceiling height of 3.25 m, while the other floors have a ceiling height of 2.80 m. The closure is made of bored brick masonry. In this article, numerical analyses were conducted using the SAP2000 structural software to verify the structure's displacement, deformation, and stress. The study followed the ultimate and in-use limit state criteria for the Brazilian standard of reinforced concrete (NBR 6118). The report also presents the building's structural pathologies, detected through visual inspection. The main structural elements and their respective pathologies are described, and numerical tests are shown. Due to the presence of various cracks and other pathologies in the building, an elastic instability analysis was conducted using the Rankine-Marchant analysis model to verify the collapse load factor. After approximately 17 years of use, the building is revisited to assess the durability and performance of the recovered structural components and procedures.