Abstract

GONZALEZ TRUJILLO, Mayelin; BEIRA FONTAINE, Eduardo; ALVAREZ RODRIGUEZ, Odalys  and  LOPEZ ARIAS, Elsi María. Environmental variables and capillarity-deterioration relationship: colonial buildings of the historic centre of Santiago de Cuba. Arquitectura y Urbanismo [online]. 2013, vol.34, n.3, pp. 49-66. ISSN 1815-5898.

This research was conducted in the historic centre of Santiago de Cuba city; this area presents an appropriate environmental condition to investigate the capillary-deterioration phenomena in building. The general aim focused in determine the influence of environmental variables that modulate the relationship capillarity - deterioration in buildings through a tool to study and monitoring, taking as an example the colonial houses. We applied theoretical and empirical methods, and was introduced as a new modeling method on a geographical information system. As a main result it was found that the depth of the water table is conclusive demonstration of capillary-deterioration relationship, being effective to a depth of 3m. This variable is associated with soil type, concluding that fine soils are the most harmful. The results allowed to show also other contributing factors such as the geographical orientation of the façade and the modular type of construction material.

Keywords : environmental variables; capillary- deterioration relationship; colonial buildings; historic centre.

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