Traditionally, flexural testing of prismatic beams is used to characterize the strength and behavior in post - cracking regime of fiber - reinforced concretes (FRC). These tests exhibit a high dispersion in their results, and therefore invalidate the use of such tests for the systematic control of FRCs works. Also, they have the disadvantage of being complex tests, which require heavy specimens and highly qualified staff. The use of other standard tests of direct and indirect tensile strength has also been intended, which have proved very complex to implement and also have high dispersion. Aiming to solve this set of problems, an indirect tensile test based on the configuration of double punching test, called the Barcelona test, has been proposed to control tensile behavior of FRC. This test requires smaller specimens, with a high specific surface of fracture, allowing to obtain values representative of strength and toughness of materials, with considerably less dispersion than other experimental methodologies. This paper presents the results of different experimental campaigns, which validate the use of Barcelona test as a suitable methodology to systematic characterization FRC in works.

Rev. ing. constr. [online]. 2009, vol.24, n.2, pp. 119-140. ISSN 0718-5073.  http://dx.doi.org/10.4067/S0718-50732009000200001

Alkali-silica reactions (ASR) are one of the causes of chemical degradation of concrete with natural aggregates (CNA) that compromise its durability. The introduction of recycled aggregates (RA) in concrete creates changes in their properties and differences in the results of the evaluation tests of ASR. Existing bibliography emphasizes special care in the evaluation of RA and concrete with recycled aggregate (CRA) for ASR and changes are proposed to the existing test methods. There are proposals to change the accelerated test of mortar and concrete with RA to accelerate the reactions and recommendations to prevent changes in the characteristics of the RA, during the preparation of samples. Some articles recommend the pre-saturation of the AR, due to its absorption of water, to avoid significant variations in the results of expansion of concrete samples from early ages. This article aims to briefly describe the characteristics of CRA and ASR presenting comments from existing bibliography to the evaluation methods of ASR in CRA and CNA.

Rev. ing. constr. [online]. 2009, vol.24, n.2, pp. 141-152. ISSN 0718-5073.  http://dx.doi.org/10.4067/S0718-50732009000200002

At the present time a world tendency exists to the use of the natural fibers as reinforcement material in composite materials. In such a sense presently work you to carry out an analogical and experimental analysis to determine the behaviour of the mechanical properties of the bamboo fibers and in specific the resistance to the rupture, the module of Elasticity and the poisson coefficient. Moreover, it is evaluate the influence of the temperature, the pressure and the time on the percent of humidity lost and about the thickness of the bamboo mat board. Finally one has that for their properties and characteristic the bamboo fiber is a natural fiber that may be an employee as reinforcement in Composite materials.

Rev. ing. constr. [online]. 2009, vol.24, n.2, pp. 153-166. ISSN 0718-5073.  http://dx.doi.org/10.4067/S0718-50732009000200003

The use of prefabrication in construction apparently is not a economic alternative if compared with more labor intensive construction methods in developing countries. This work presents a comparison study between two choices of roofing systems for massively housing construction in southeast Mexico. The traditional labor intensive roofing construction and the prefabricated roofing construction system coded L-18 were modeled using the computer program EzStrobe simulation software. A technical and economical analysis was performed on both construction methods, comparing the relationship between resources, direct cost, and indirect administrative cost. In reference to the direct cost, the prefabricated construction method cost was higher than the traditional method; however, the prefabricated system is capable of adjusting its selling price in the production factory according to a given construction volume.

Rev. ing. constr. [online]. 2009, vol.24, n.2, pp. 167-180. ISSN 0718-5073.  http://dx.doi.org/10.4067/S0718-50732009000200004

The international construction practice reports a remarkable use and development of high performance concretes, with excellent results in the durability properties, associated with a very dense cement matrix, defined from the use of high volumes of very fine minerals additions, such as, fly ash, silica fume, metakaolin and other fine powders. For the developing countries, among others Cuba, the use of these pozzolanic additions are relatively expensive, given for the high import prices of these pozzolanic materials, thus, the utility of using the national available pozzolanic sources with proven reactivity, as a partial substitute of the Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) contents in the concrete mixtures without its properties are affected. The present paper shows the results of the study on the influence of substitution level of Ordinary Portland Cement contents by lime - pozzolan binder in combination with chemical admixture, in the behavior of the compression strength and the durability properties of a concrete. Several levels of OPC substitution are evaluated, using zeolite as pozzolan. The results obtained prove the possibility to carry out the partial replacement of high volumes of OPC by lime - zeolite binder, without affecting the values of compression strength required and their behavior before action of the chloride ion penetration and the carbonation.

Rev. ing. constr. [online]. 2009, vol.24, n.2, pp. 181-194. ISSN 0718-5073.  http://dx.doi.org/10.4067/S0718-50732009000200005

The paper presents the evolution of the resilient modulus, permanent deformation and strength under monotonic loading of a dense hot mixture due to long term exposure to the environment in the city of Bogota D.C. (Colombia). The mixtures were made using two asphalt cements (AC) and modified asphalt cement (MAC) with ethil-vinil-acetate: AC 80-100, AC 60-70 and MAC 20-40 respectively. The mechanical properties have been evaluated every three months over a period of 20 months for the AC 80-100 and AC 60-70, and 10 months for MAC 20-40. The results show differences depending on the type of cement. All mixtures increase the modulus with time due to aging of the asphalt cement.

Rev. ing. constr. [online]. 2009, vol.24, n.2, pp. 195-207. ISSN 0718-5073.  http://dx.doi.org/10.4067/S0718-50732009000200006