Feasibility of Quantitative Method for Analysis of the State of Degradation of Underground Buildings: Tunnel 7 - segment 2 of the Former Ritter Brewery - Pelotas / RS

Abstract

Pelotas is an important city with great historical and cultural representativeness, presenting several imposing eclectic buildings, date back to the architecture period. However, these buildings routinely need actions for their preservation. The assessment of the historic building’s degradation requires a careful evaluation to understand their degradation characteristics. Non-destructive methods are indispensable tools for historic buildings preservation, considering their degradation state assessment without damage the buildings, considering the non-invasive nature of them. In this context, this article aimed to assess the degradation state of tunnel 7 - segment 2 of former Ritter Brewery located in Pelotas/RS, a 117-year-old building. Initially, non-destructive visual inspection to assess the building damage was carried out for subsequent damage map construction. Thus, a historical, visual, and photographic evaluation was carried out, a damage map was prepared, and finally, the Degradation Measurement Method (MMD) was adapted and applied. The most representative pathological manifestations in tunnel 7 - segment 2 are patches of moisture, mould and mildew, paint detachment, plaster detachment and cracks, from the improper presence of water in the building. A total damage factor (FDt) of 29.81% on face A, 68.71% on face B, 57.41% on face C, and 90.95% on face D was obtained using the MMD. In general, tunnel 7 - segment 2 - presented FDt of 76.50%. In this context, the study demonstrated how the non-destructive tests use combined with the application of the quantitative methods is extremely important for the state of degradation of buildings assessment.