Structural Pathology and Seismic Vulnerability in Community Infrastructure: The Case of the Women’s Social Center

Resumen

This paper assesses the structural condition and vulnerability of the Women’s Social Center, a single-story building with about 208 m² of floor area in Cota, Cundinamarca. The research, conducted under Contract SIOP-CM-006-2023, tries to determine the building's condition and to verify whether vertical expansion is technically feasible, in accordance with the Colombian Code for Seismic-Resistant Construction (NSR-10). The methodology comprised three phases during the first half of 2025: a direct visual inspection of the building and its surroundings; detailed photographic documentation and mapping of structural defects, damage, and deficiencies; and an experimental campaign using non-destructive and semi-destructive methods such as rebar scanning, concrete core sampling, trenching, foundation excavation, and geotechnical testing. Field data from mechanical and historical assessments informed mathematical modeling of the structure. Consolidating these results produced an etiological diagnosis that provides the basis and criteria for designing repairs, reinforcements, or modifications to safeguard the community infrastructure.

Palabras clave

Vulnerabilidad sísmica; patología estructural; ensayos no destructivos; NSR-10; reforzamiento estructural; mantenimiento de infraestructura