Evaluation earthquake resistant of adobe stepped stone walls

Abstract

A large part of the American people are buildings that have used mud in the form of muddy walls and adobe, as a cultural legacy left by the old world men and our ancestors. A sample of this constructive legacy is found in the municipalities of Oirón, Barichara, San Gil and Matanza, among others, located in the department of Santander, being able to arouse a great interest at national and even international level for its historical and cultural value. This would be justified, on the one hand, considering the tourist exploitation of these buildings, and on the other, that there would be no human losses in the event of earthquakes of any importance.

This work presents a methodological alternative to evaluate seismically the historical buildings that allow its conservation, built by the system and characteristics of the stepped wall and the use of adobe. Government and non-governmental agencies will then be able to create preservation and structural reinforcement plans to improve the conditions of these buildings and strengthen the tourism industry in our department.

The methodology of evaluation earthquake resistant is a first approximation for the restoration and rehabilitation of historical buildings. A second stage will be to develop field studies that allow for its calibration and adjustment, which requires an interdisciplinary work involving historians, architects, engineers and in general all those interested in the preservation and conservation of the historical heritage.