Seismic Rehabilitation of Sixteenth- and Seventeenth-Century Rammed Earth-Built Churches in the Andean Highlands: Field and Laboratory Study

In a Latin American context, few studies exist regarding the construction of churches during the colonial period using adobe and rammed-earth techniques. Investigations of their spatial characteristics, systems of construction, and structural behavior, therefore, are also scarce. This lack of research has led to poor results in restoration attempts for these kinds of churches, which has caused the loss of important Colombian architectural and historical heritage. Additionally, Colombia is at a high seismic risk, and adobe and rammed-earth buildings are particularly vulnerable during earthquakes. This paper presents the results of an investigation of these kinds of structures, developed by the investigative groups investigation group on materials and structures (GRIME) and Estructuras & Construcción (at Pontificia Universidad Javeriana) during the period 2002-2013. The investigation focuses on churches in the geographical area within the central Colombian highlands built during the 16th and 17th centuries. The study takes an architectural and historical approach coupled with structural laboratory work (involving shake table tests on 1:50 models), where the authors applied a reinforcement alternative with confinement wood elements to improve the seismic performance of the structural system of rammed-earth churches. According to these results, the use of confining wood elements as reinforcements reduces the relative displacement induced by earthquakes to doctrinal earth-built churches and diminishes the propagation of cracks.