Diagnosis methodology in concrete structures reinforced with braided cable

After the Spanish Civil War, lack of quality structural steel, especially as used in reinforcement bars, forced the use of alternative materials to substitute steel in housing construction and civil engineering. In this way, braided cables were frequently used for concrete slabs in cities near mining areas or seaports where those were easily available. This context explains why many Spanish buildings, erected during the 40's and 50's in cities where docks or mines were the main source of income, were constructed using these materials. This paper presents the preliminary studies and structural analysis applied to one of these buildings, halfway through a rehabilitation process as a residential building. In this case, the most remarkable issue is that the whole structure, including beams and pillars, had been constructed in braided cable. This paper may serve as a starting point for an analysis methodology proposal applicable to constructions using braided cable for reinforcement.