Ceramic-reinforced slabs were widely used in Spain during the second half of the 20th century, especially for industrial buildings. This solution was popular due to the lack of materials at that time, as it requires almost no concrete and low ratios of reinforcement. In this study, we present and discuss the results of a real load-bearing test of a real ceramic-reinforced slab, which was loaded and reloaded cyclically for a duration of one week in order to describe any damage under a high-demand loading series. Due to the design of these slabs, the structural response is based more on shear than on bending due to the low levels of concrete and the geometry and location of re-bars. The low ratio of concrete makes these slabs ideal for short-span structures, mainly combined with steel or RC frames. The slab which was analyzed in this study covers a span of 4.88 m between two steel I-beams (IPN400), and corresponds to a building from the mid-1960s in the city of Igualada (Barcelona, Spain). A load-bearing test was carried out up to 7.50 kN/m² by using two-story sacks full of sand. The supporting steel beams were propped up in order to avoid any interference in the results of the test; without the shoring of the steel structure, deflections would come from the combination of the ceramic slab together with the steel profiles. A process of loading and unloading was repeated for a duration of six days in order to describe the cyclic response of the slab under high levels of loading. Finally, vibration analysis of the slab was also done; the higher the load applied, the higher the fundamental frequency of the cross section, which is more comfortable in terms of serviceability.

In a new construction of a seventeen-storey building, it is necessary to remove a prop on the second floor, which has made it possible to complete the structure of the building. In the drafting of the executive project, no security measures were described, because it was understood that they were not necessary. In the construction phase, the need to monitor the process was raised, and to be able to stop it, or reverse it if necessary. It is a reinforced concrete structure, with metal elements and composite elements, with a torsional behavior of the cores making the slabs serve as horizontal diaphragms, so the final behavior could be different from what was expected. To make this process possible, two pairs of four metallic cantilevers were introduced into which four Hydraulic pistons were inserted. Before starting the process, they were loaded to be sure that they would not fail. Strain gauges were also placed to control the stresses and how the situation changed during the unshoring process. The process of cutting the provisional pillar was a success, obtaining less deformations than expected, having a complementary safety.

Twenty years after its construction, the Agbar Tower remains one of the most recognizable landmarks in Barcelona’s skyline. This article analyzes the dome that serves as its roof. The design of this element required a year of development, during which more than ten iterations were analyzed, resulting in the final design. There was no similar precedent published, as it is a 30 m high dome with significant wind exposure. This study offers an analytical review of the design process and the dome’s enclosure, providing a reference for similar architectural construction projects. This research focuses on describing the elementary loading hypotheses and obtaining numerical models for structural calculations, comparing the results of the five most representative models of the process. Various factors are considered, such as shape, enclosure, structural frequency, deformations obtained, fire protection, and cost. The conclusion focuses on explaining how a form that remains unchanged throughout the process slightly varies the structural solution while respecting the project, to adjust to all the final regulations, construction requirements, cost requirements, and project requirements.

Tras más dos décadas transcurridas desde las primeras rehabilitaciones realizadas en edificios reales con miras a mejorar su eficiencia energética, resulta ya imprescindible recopilar y analizar los datos que estas experiencias aportan para poder aprender de ellas y abordar con mayor conocimiento de causa las próximas intervenciones de rehabilitación energética. El presente artículo analiza el consumo energético real, de un periodo de 10 años, de un edificio rehabilitado durante los años 2007 -2008. Pasados más de 15 años de su rehabilitación se revisa cuáles han sido los consumos energéticos reales, a y qué aprendizajes se pueden aplicar a las nuevas rehabilitaciones. Con los datos reales de consumo energético acumulados durante estos años se advierten ya algunos aspectos relevantes que inciden en la eficiencia energética del edificio y que los modelos de simulación aún no incorporan. Los datos subministrados por los contadores de energía se contrastan con fuentes reconocidas y se comparan con la previsión de consumos de la certificación energética, demostrando diferencias sustanciales entre estos valores y la realidad. También se aprecian otros fenómenos que habrá que tener en cuenta en el futuro inmediato.

This article presents the design process and structural analysis for Halls 3, 4, and 6 commissioned by Fira de la Gran Vía in Barcelona. Its objective is to document the complete development of a real structure—from the initial briefing to final execution—highlighting key decisions related to cost, quality, construction speed, and standardization. Rather than simply describing the finished building, the article compares alternative solutions considered at each stage and explains the rationale behind the choices made. Close collaboration between the architectural and structural teams has resulted in a cost-effective solution that has remained relevant twenty-five years after completion. Each structural component is examined in detail, considering its behavior, preliminary sizing, fabrication, transportation, and rapid on-site assembly, all essential under the client’s demanding schedule. It also describes how specific structural details were resolved under project constraints, including instances that required unconventional approaches. Finally, it discusses the role of prestressed longitudinal frames as a strategy for reducing steel consumption. This article underscores the value of integrated architectural and structural thinking in shaping the building from the ground up.

El texto describe el proceso de diseño y cálculo de una estructura metálica ligera que soporta otra estructura aún más ligera: el esqueleto de una ballena. Una pieza que ha sido conservada durante más de 150 años. Se encuentra suspendida de otra estructura metálica bidireccional y singular, que resuelve grandes luces: el techo del edificio Fòrum 2004 de Barcelona. Para encontrar la solución más adecuada se ha utilizado un programa de cálculo no lineal. Gracias a un diseño eficiente y a un exhaustivo análisis se ha conseguido que la estructura principal trabaje a tracción, eliminando la posibilidad de pandeo, reduciendo así la sección resultante a la necesaria para trabajar a flexo-tracción, por lo que la estructura ha podido quedar oculta dentro del esqueleto. Durante la fase de diseño se hicieron propuestas adecuadas para poder transportar las piezas y soldarlas o ensamblarlas fácilmente. Finalmente se describe la puesta en obra de la estructura, que se realizó en un fin de semana, para poder sostener a uno de los iconos más queridos por los niños de Barcelona: «La balena Brava».