Análisis del reforzamiento estructural sismorresistente de una vivienda de la parroquia Daniel Córdova Toral del cantón Gualaceo

Abstract

This research addresses the structural vulnerability of a residential building located in the parish of Daniel Córdova Toral, in the Gualaceo canton, which presents severe seismic risks due to informal construction practices, lack of structural design, and differential settlement caused by weak soil conditions. The general objective was to analyze the seismic-resistant structural reinforcement of the building by comparing two retrofit proposals: one using structural steel profiles and another using reinforced concrete shear walls. The study employed a quantitative and experimental methodological approach, involving on-site concrete and soil characterization tests, 3D numerical modeling, spectral simulations, and drift analyses. The main findings revealed that the steel profile system met all code requirements, maintaining demand-to-capacity ratios below 60% in all structural elements, natural frequencies above 8 Hz, over 99% mass participation in the first ten vibration modes, and inter-nivel drifts within the 1% limit. In contrast, the shear wall system showed overstressed columns and exceeded dynamic drift limits in upper stories. The study concludes that structural reinforcement using steel profiles provides a more efficient and safer solution for improving the seismic performance of the evaluated dwelling, and represents a technically viable intervention strategy for similar self-built housing in seismic-prone areas.