Geotechnical Engineering for the Preservation of Monuments and Historic Sites Bilotta, Flora, Lirer & Viggiani (eds)

) 2013 Taylor & Francis Group, London, ISBN 978-1-138-00055-1

Diagnostic of the colonial structure Palacio del Segundo Cabo inHavana, Cuba
S. Figueredo & Y. Gmez
INVESCONS, Havana, Cuba

R. Lorenzo, J. de la Rosa & R.P. da Cunha

University of Brasilia, Brasilia, Brazil

ABSTRACT: The Palacio del Segundo Cabo, was built at the end of 1790 in Havana, Cuba and has undergone several modifications. In recent years he has begun to have sharp deterioration in its structure. An investigation was conducted to determine the causes of the observed damages. The work was focused on analyzing the characteristics of the materials, monitoring and determining the structure of settlements occurred in the 222 years of existence. It was found that the main cause of the damage is related to the heterogeneity of the soil and foundation support. As a result the authors recommend using a micropile underpinning. The assumptions were validated by an analysis of the behavior of the structure based on the finite element method. 1 InTrodUction Important building were constructed in Havana during 1770, among the main plans was a civic center where the political and administrative activities of the colony gathered together. The Plaza de Armas, as the square was finally named, would house important buildings, among which were the infantry barracks, the customs, a municipal house with the Governor Generals residence, and the Post Office Management, which a few years later became the Palacio del Segundo Cabo. The Palacio del Segundo Cabo is a monumental building with Protection Grade I and, because of its antiquity and majesty is one of the main buildings of Old Havana. The edifice is located on the corner of Tacon and Orreily Sts and in its 222 years of existence has hosted dissimilar institutions undergoing major expansions, structural modifications and changes of use. Among the most important are the following: - 17901828. Post Office Management. - 18281900. Office of the General Sub-Inspection of the Army. - 19021911. Senate headquarters. - 1929. Supreme Court headquarters. - 19561960. Academies of History of Cuba, Geography, Fine Arts and Spanish Language. - 19601963. Academy of Sciences of Cuba.

Figure 1. Perspective of Palacio del Segundo Cabo in 1790.

- 19631965. Office of the deputy ministry of economy of the Ministry of Culture. - 19702005. Cuban Book Institute. Since its early decades some damage hasappearedthroughout the structure, resulting in imbalances that have been intensifying in recent years, somethingthat prompted the Office of Consulting & Design ofthe National Applied Research, INVESCONS to conduct an investigation. The work was conducted in 2011 and it was focused on the identification of major cracks and weaknesses in the structure, the characterization of materials involved and the evaluation of the causes of the deterioration. The work also focused on the structural security taking into account the existing damage from the existing to finally establish strategies for a complete repair.

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2 Development In order to achieve the proposed objectives of the research, a group of tasks was carried out as part of a methodological approach that brings together the following activities: - Study of the historical background, typologies and the employed construction techniques. - Performing architectural, structural and pathological surveys, to reproduce the geometry of the studied phenomenon with a high degree of accuracy. - Location, classification and quantification of damages. - Diagnostic and physical mechanic characterization of the materials to establish the parameters of constitutive models to be used to simulates their actual behavior. - Implementation of instrumentation systems for measuring the activity of the cracks and validation of numerical models. - Analysis and evaluation of the structural behavior to validate the hypothesis and define the engineering solutions for the total repair of the property. 2.1 Surveying A Geometric leveling was carried out to determine the difference of levels on the perimeter of the building, taking as reference the lines of the facades decorative elements and an arbitrary coordinate system. The results indicated differences between 0.038 m and 0.154 m, and the most significant were located on the facade on Tacon St, as shown in Figure2. It is considered that the slopes may have been caused by two fundamental elements, imperfections during its construction and the settlements of the structure due to its own weight. Taking into account the geometric dimensions of the building and the geotechnical characteristics of the materials on which it rests, it is estimated that these settlements could occur during the construction of the building. In the same way, the subsidence of each facade was determined, with values ranging from 30 to 130 mm, with the highest values on Tacon St once again. 2.2 Structures survey The original structure consists of load-bearing walls built of stones and rough stones with thicknesses ranging from 700 to 900 mm in the perimeter walls and between 500 and 800 mm in the interiors. The most common modifications are summarized

Figure 2. Results of the geometric leveling on the ground floor.

Figure 3. Subsidence on Orreily St seen from Tacon St.

Figure 4. Subsidence of facades of Tacon St and the East side, seen from Orreily St.

in closing spaces, construction of partition walls made of bricks and the replacement of floors and roofs made of wooden beams with reinforced siporex type slabs. However, major structural changes took place in the early twentieth century in order

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load bearing walls of the building and arches. These damages are manifested through cracks and fissures in walls and arches and facades collapse. The most important crack cover a great part of the building, originating from the facade of Tacon St, through the one of the East side, as shown in Figure6. It is again the facade of Tacon St the one with the greatest damage, concentrated mainly in the extended area made during its construction and close to Orreilys portal, as shown in Figure. 7. In this facade major cracks go through the entire wall, in some cases with apertures of 30 mm evidencing previous repairs as is the case represented as (1) in Figure7. Most of these cracks are mainly associated to the movement of the structure, collapses and the effect of overloading. 2.4 Instrumentation and monitoring of the structure A monitoring system was created which continuously registered the movement of cracks and the environmental temperature through vibrant wires sensors.

Figure5. Palacio del Segundo Cabo after its restoration at the beginning of the twentieth century.

to convert the building into the headquarters of the National Senate. At that time, the first two bays on the first floor were drastically changed and a dome was built in the center of the main hall. 2.3 Pathological survey Based on the survey prepared by the participants in the first workshop given by the Association SistoMastrodicasa along with the San Geronimo University in Havana, an update was made to locate, classify and quantify the damages in the palace, so that problems can be identified to create an inventory of damage in each case. The detected damages in the structure are largely of structural origin, and then some damages as result of the degradation of the materials. For a better understanding the injuries are classified according to their origin into three categories: - Pathologies of the materials These damages are caused by the degradation of the constituent materials. The factors affecting them are mainly due to the environment and aging. These injuries usually do not have structural implications but in the aesthetic and they are seen through cracks, places where the plaster or panel has come off, efflorescence, corrosion of pipes and metal elements, presence of termites and rot in the wood elements of the mezzanines, etc. - Nonstructural pathologies They are related to the environment and human activity on the structure causing damages and its deterioration. In general terms there are damp patches, the presence of microorganisms and plants, leaks, etc. - Structural pathologies These pathologies are associated with the structural behavior and were detected in virtually all

Figure6. Scheme of the main crack.

Figure 7. Pathological survey. Facade of Tacon St. cracks detail (1).

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3.1 Geometry modeling Taking into account the surveys conducted by GEOCUBA (GeoCuba, 2009) and structural surveys made by the authors of this work, the latter created a three-dimensional model of the structure using bi-dimensional elements Shell style. With the use of the digital model the authors reproduced with great accuracy the geometry of the building. The foundation is very variable, both from the geometrical point of view and the materials used in its construction. In the model this is taken into account since the foundation width varies between 1.10m and 1.30 m. The foundation depth varies from 1.40 m to almost 1.60 m on Tacon Street. It ranges between 2.95 m and 3.25 on Orreily Street and between 3.75m and 4.00 m for the eastern faade. On the north side it is between 1.40 m and 2.50 m and the extended area constructed in the early twentieth century directly rests on the wall of the moat. 3.2 Materials modeling The characterization of the materials of a structure of this type is very complex. Ashlars walls have a very large variability throughout the structure; therefore different areas were identified based on drilling resistance and 7 samples taken in the walls. The mechanical property values are taken from tests performed to samples of the ashlars and studies conducted to similar buildings on Lombillo (2010). It is considered that ashlars have a perfect elasto-plastic behavior. The mechanical properties of the ashlars wall are show in Table1. As for the different soil layers, they are considered to have a behavior based on the Mohr-Coulomb criteria and the properties used are those obtained by the Geological Engineer Study, conducted by the UICHavana of the National Body of Applied Researches. This study identified the following geological-engineer elements.

Figure 8. Installed sensors and measurement system used.

This sensor allowed the assessment of the cracking activity in the building, which has later been served as a basis to calibrate the numerical models. It was found that all sensors showed a significant relationship between the temperature and the movement of the cracks. The results corroborated the instrumented cracking activity. 70% of the 13 installed sensors showed a slight tendency to remain stable or closed, while 30% tended to continue the opening process. The latter sensors were located in the main cracks represented in figure6. 3 Modeling the Problem To assess the structural behavior of the Palacio del Segundo Cabo and the possible causes behind the pathological phenomena in the structure and its influence on structural safety, the authors use mathematical simulation tools based on the Finite Element Method. The interpretation of results corroborates the hypotheses based on their correlation with the fissure system in the facility. Also the behavior of the recommended solutions to new conditions can be predicted. The finite element models are adjusted using the data obtained from the work field. Because of this, the involve aspects in the modeling process (geometry, applied loads, materials and support conditions) are well calibrated. As a result a three-dimensional model of the structure and another of the soil are created to estimate the settlements occurred in each of the load phases of the building. The combination of both models guaranteed the analysis of soil-structure interaction with the possibility of taking into account the influence of the foundation movements in the structural behavior.

Figure9. Geometric pattern.

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Table1. Mechanical properties adopted for the walls. d (kN/m3) 16.00 u (MPa) 1.56 Esec (MPa) 3488 e (MPa) 0.50 0.33

- Element # 5: Plastic clay with firm to hard consistency, yellowish brown color with yellow, red and green streaks. This material appears in all vertical coves of 7.35 m from 9.60 m. The water table was found in all the coves drilled to a depth between 3.55 m and 4.90 m, while the water level in the moat of the Castillo de la Real Fuerza is approximately 4.00 m above the ground level. 3.3 Loads modeling All the different load states and combinations for which the structure has passed through have been considered. The authors have also analyzed the loads proposed in the project based on the new use of the facilities. It was considered the following five load steps: - Weight of the structure (PP). - Permanent load of filling. (Roof =35cm, First Floor=30cm, Ground floor=15cm) (CP). - Use loading (Roof with rainwater downpipes; Mezzanines estimated depending on use) (CU). - Daily thermal variation load (CT). - Differential settlements (CD). Environmental loads are not taken into account in the analysis as the authors considered it has a negligible influence on this type of rigid structure. 3.4 Load combinations The following table defines the most unfavorable combinations that may arise during the life of the structure: 3.5 Modeling the boundary conditions In the structural model it is considered that the union among the different walls is continuous. The slabs are modeled to work supported on two edges and to be articulated at their junctions with the walls. The support of the walls on the ground has been considered as articulated because of the underdesigned foundation underneath, which is unable to transmit moments to the soil.
Table3. Most critical load combinations. # 1 2 3 4 5 Loads combination 1.2 PP + 1.2 CP 1.2 PP + 1.2 CP + 1.6 CU 1.0 PP + 1.0 CP + 1.0 CU 1.2 PP + 1.2 CT 1.0 PP + 1.0 CD Limits ULS ULS ULS ULS SLS

d: specific weight. u: ultimate compression strength. Esec: secant modulus of deformation. e: stress elastic limit. Table2. Physical-mechanical properties of soils involved in the behavior of the foundations. Description Heterogeneous filling Calcareous gravel Organogeneous limestone Clayey sand Plastic clay cu d E (kN/m3) (kPa) () (kPa) 17.00 18.00 16.68 20.00 17.00 0 0 80 50 80 25 28 31 25 0 Rc (MPa)

4500 12500 160000 9.74 5000 3000

cu: undrained shear resistance. : internal friction angle. E: modulus of deformation. Rc: simple compression strength.

- Element # 1: Heterogeneous fill with low to medium compactness, consisting of a sandy material with shells, glass, pottery and coal. There are also calcareous gravels with irregular shape and size and limestone fragments, sometimes it is muddy. The gravel is dark brown to yellowish brown, sometimes it is dark gray to black, sometimes gray-white to yellow with red intercalations. Its thickness varies from 1.95 m to 4.00 m. - Element # 2: Sandy and muddy calcareous gravel wrapped in a muddy and clayey matrix of low to high compactness and colored in yellowish to bluish white. Fragments ranging from 12 cm, although in some places they are 7 cm with angular shape. The power of this element varies from 2.40 m to 3.95 m. - Element # 3: Organogeneous limestone in yellowish white color with red, orange and green streaks, soft resistance, porous, with cavities up to 2 cm deep and stained with brown clay. It is seen from between 4.80 m and 6.80 m minimum depth and between 1.70 m and 3.50 m thick. - Element # 4: Half-compact clayey sand with small limestone fragments in yellowish white color. It only appears in Cove 2, of 7.00 m to 8.75m followed by limestone with 1.75 m thick. The fact of been below the limestone with so little thickness no physical nor mechanical properties were determined.

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In the soil model, the assumed boundaries were placed at a reasonable distance from the foundation to avoid any influence in its behavior. 4 Settlements estimation Authors estimated settlements for three phases of analysis, whose results are shown below: - First stage The stresses generated in the soil by the weight and all permanents loads of the building. Under this state there are settlements that reach between 3 and 13 cm. It is considered that these depressions are not the cause of the damage observed in the building, as the materials of the ground and the foundation have the property of accommodating very quickly, almost instantly. For this reason the authors state that some adjustment must have occurred during the construction of the building and its magnitudes are consistent with the results of the geometric leveling previously done. - Second phase Based on the state of stresses imposed in the first phase other stresses generated by the temporal loads have acted on the ground, during the various uses to which the building has been subjected. This analysis allows the calculation of the absolute and differential settlements that caused the current state of the building, which are estimated at a magnitude ranging between 0.16 and 0.64cm. Clearly, the magnitudes are very small, but the influence of these movements in the behavior of the superstructure causes tension states which exceed the tensile strength of the wall.

- Third phase Because of the new use of the facilities, new temporary loads will arise. The stresses generated by these last ones at the foundation base are imposed to the ground. The behavior is similar to the second phase, therefore it is considered that no significant changes in the behavior of the foundations should be introduced. It is considered that these differential settlements are due to the great heterogeneity existing in both the foundation structure and the soil support. 5 Interpretation of the resUlts Based on these studies, the authors elaborated several hypotheses regarding the main causes that led to cracks appearing in the building. The stresses states generated in each load combinations may be calculated with the use of numerical modelling. As a result it could be infered the direction of the fissures and thus verified if they match those in the facilities. This would confirm the hypotheses regarding the causes of the appearance of cracks or fissures. Hypothesis 1. The main cracks in the facade on Tacon St (1) (Fig.7) are generated by the combination of two deteriorating effects: the application and distribution of the loads and the occurrence of small quantities of displacement as a result of the effect of live loads of long duration. The formation of this crack is complex, it had to be analyzed in two steps to find the causes of it. The main stresses appearing in the facade when analyzing the complete combination of gravity loads, which is permanents loads plus live loads, cause main tensile stresses coinciding with the area where the crack appears on the parapet. The values of these tensile stresses are capable of exceeding the strength of the material the wall it is made of.

Figure 10. Estimated settlements for long term use loads. (Units 103 m).

Figure 11. Differential settlements imposed to the structure.

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- In general terms, there is a perfect relationship between the variation of the temperature and the opening and closing cycles of the cracks and fissures. - The activity of the implemented cracks were corroborated. 70% of the sensors showed a slight tendency to remain stable or closed, while 30% tended to continue opening. 7 Research recommendations The rehabilitation work should be focused on:
Figure12. Main tensile stresses on Tacon St caused by differential settlements.

The development of the crack to the corner of the window has been caused by another phenomenon. In assessing the response of the structure to the differential settlements that have been calculated for the live load, tensile stress states arise in the area near the window with a direction that could cause cracks like this one until it joins the fissures created by the effect of load distribution. Regarding this crack it could be concluded that it has been caused by two phenomena, i.e., the change in the loads direction and differential settlements. Hence, corroborating the stated hypothesis. 6 Research Findings 6.1 Regarding the structural pathologies - The causes that have led to the state of cracking of the structure (walls) are directly linked to three factors. - The heterogeneity of the foundation and the supporting soil. - The application procedure and distribution of the loads on floors and roof. - The inadequate geometry of the arches and lack of rigidity in the supports. - The cracks are associated mainly to three causes. - High slenderness of the walls. - Lack of bracing in the elements of the mezzanine and the roof. - Pressure of the arcs. 6.2 Regarding the structural behaviour - Despite deterioration levels of the structure and the eccentricity of the load due to the slenderness of the walls, the building meets the safety requirements in the ultimate limit state for the evaluated load combinations.

- Remove the heterogeneity of the foundation and the supporting soil by improving it with an underpinning. - Strengthen the structure of the arcs through tensioners that eliminate the horizontal thrusts they generate. - Restitution of the structural continuity in the cracked walls with metal staples. - Implement conventional treatments with injections to the remaining cracks in walls and arches. 8 MITIGATION Strategies Key aspects are focused on underpinning the foundation with micropiles based on the following criteria: - Respect the original dimensions of the structure. - Eliminate the causes of deterioration. - Structural efficiency. - Optimal structural safety-cost relation. - Proper execution of the solution. - Geotechnical design of the micropiles. The geotechnical design of micropiles has been addressed by several researchers, among which Lizzi (1985) and Bustamante (1986) stand out. These authors developed calculation methods that are widely used. It is also common to consider the design methods developed for piles. From the physical point of view, the ultimate bearing capacity of a micropile will depend on two key factors: the friction generated between the ground and the shaft and the sinking of the tip. However, the influence of the tip is usually neglected due to its small diameter and above all because in many cases it can not develop due to its slenderness. Its behaviour is similar to the piles and therefore has the same design uncertainties. When determining the load capacity through different methods a great variability is achieved, so that their design needs to be adjusted by loading tests on the job site.

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Table4. Load capacity for nominal diameter of 100 mm. Design methods * (mm) ** G.S.F Qu (t) (mm) *** 3 3 3 3 2 1.6 Qt (t)

100 , 100 C-, , Caquot100 Kerisel Lizzi (1985) 100 Bustamante 100 (1996) M.E.F 100 Working load (t)

1.5 150 1.5 150 1.5 150 1.5 150 1.5 150 1.5 150

38.0 12.6 20.1 6.7 120.0 40.2 63.6 21.2 25.0 12.4 34.0 21.0 15.00 Figure13. Schematic section of the micropiles.

* Nominal diameter. ** Calculation diameter. *** Global safety factor. Qt: design load capacity. Qu: ultimate load capacy.

The execution technique of the micropiles itself generates a difference between the diameter of the perforation (nominal diameter) and the diameter of the micropiles performed after the injection (calculation diameter). This calculation diameter is estimated through a coefficient that takes into account the type of soil and increase of the nominal diameter. The following table summarizes the results of the geotechnical design of micropiles by different methods. It is considered a nominal diameter or drill diameters of 100mm. The value of working capacity does not take into account the Caquot-Kerisel method (Caquot-Kerisel, 1953) as it was considered abnormal. This is in agree with the results presented in Lyamin et. al. (2007) about the higher values obtained by this method. 8.1 Structural design of micropiles The structural reinforcement of the micropiles is carried out with a metal pipe of TM-70 60.35.5 mm placed inside the bore. The adhesion between the micropiles and the head is assured with bars welded to the head pipe. 8.1.1 Distribution of micropiles Based on the structural analysis, the solicitations of the foundation for the load combination PP+CP+CU were determined and based on these values there were established four working ranges for the micropiles distribution. In each of the walls part of the supporting system of the building was established. It was adopted a length of 10.50 m for micropiles in order to reduce the amount of perforations. Micropiles will be place in quincunx, it means, alternately on both sides of the wall, as an underpinning recuperation process.

Figure 14. Load distribution in the foundation level and micropiles spacing.

Figure15.Underpin scheme.

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The load transfer between the wall and the micropiles is expected to be through a transition element or head with a level of rigidity to ensure uniform function of the micropiles. The heads are interconnected by means of a metal tensor that goes through the wall and confines it in such a way that the load on the wall can be distributed to the heads and on to the micropiles. 9 ConclUsions The evaluations of old story building needs the combinations of different techniques as instrumentations, numerical analysis and construction technology. In this study the analysis of different possibilities and hypothesis of the actual state of deterioration of a century building was done. The current conditions of the Palacio del Segundo Cabo urges its underpinning with 429 micropiles of 100 mm nominal diameter and 10.50 m depth to ensure the elimination of the heterogeneity of the foundation and supporting soil. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The authors acknowledge the fruitful cooperation between Cujae and Braslia Universities in regard to studying numerical models to be applied to problems similar to the one referenced herein, and also thank the Ministry from Cuba to allow the study, analysis and presentation of this case history.

REFERENCES
Bustamante, M. 1986. A method for calculating the anchors and injected micropiles. CEDEX No. 174. May-June and July-August, 323. Caquot, A. & Kerisel, J. (1953). Sur le terme de surface dans le calcul des fondations en milieu pulverent. Proc. 3rd Int. Conf. Soil Mech. Found. Engng, Zurich 1, 336337. GeoCuba. 2009. Levantamiento Topogrfico del Palacio del 2do. Cabo. Havana. p. 20. Group of authors. 2010. We save the salvageable Associazione Sisto Mastrodicasa and Office of the Historian of Havana City. Havana, p. 25. Lizzi, F. 1985. Paliradice (root piles) and reticulated paliradice, Micropiling Cap. 4 and 5 of underpinning. EdS. Thorburn and J.F. HUTCHINSON Surrey University Press Glascow and London. pp. 84151 and 152159. Lombillo, I. 2010. Theoretical and experimental research on slightly destructive testing (MDT) used for in situ mechanical characterization of the structures of built heritage. Director: Luis M. Villegas. Doctoral Thesis, University of Cantabria. Santander. Lyamin, A.V. et. al. (2007). Two and three-dimensional bearing capacity of footings in sand. Gotechnique, 57, No. 8, 647662. Roman, M. 2003. Micropiles. Use in Underpinning. Conference on Underpinning Course II, Inclusions, Injections and Jet-Grouting STMR organized by the School of Civil Engineering of Valencia. Salas, J., Jimenez, A., Just Alpaes, J.L. & Serrano, A.A. 1981. Geotechnical and foundation. Tomo I to III. 2nd Edition. Editorial Rueda. Madrid.

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