“Vulnerabilidad Física en Asentamientos Informales de Hormigón: Cumplimiento de la Norma Ecuatoriana de la Construcción en el Barrio Zaracay de Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas”

Abstract

Housing is to provide shelter to people. In Ecuador, there are several construction techniques, among them concrete. This research consists of exposing the vulnerability levels of concrete buildings in informal settlements, taking the Zaracay neighborhood as a reference, through a quick visual evaluation of the structures, by analyzing the variables of masonry configuration, structural configuration, construction joints, environmental exposure conditions, and concrete resistance. Criteria are analyzed, such as a minimum thickness of joints, regularity and confinement of masonry, vertical continuity of structural elements, regularity in a plan and elevation, construction joints, erosion, humidity, fungus, and concrete resistance of structural elements. Then, expose each house's vulnerability level based on compliance with the Ecuadorian Construction Standard. Based on the results, prevention and improvement measures are proposed, according to the parameters established by the NEC (by its Spanish acronym).