GPR evaluation of the damage found in the reinforced concrete base of a block of flats: A case study

Ground-penetrating radar (GPR) is a non-destructive geophysical technique that is used to analyse soils and structures by providing continuous images of the interior of the media being analysed. In this paper, we present the methodology and results of a study of the reinforced concrete base of a large block of flats, where flow water and flooding are common in the wet and dry seasons. There are also a large number of cracks and fissures in the soil under the base. The damaged building is located in Valencia (Spain). The measurements were taken during two different seasons to include a period when flooding occurred and a period without flooding. The aim of the study was to determine whether the base would remain watertight in future and to analyse the depth of the damage observed on the surface. The results provided us with a detailed map of the damage and the zones that require more detailed analysis. Such damage affects the whole concrete slab. In addition to this analysis, several measurements were carried out to determine the possible causes of the inundations by locating potential wet areas and zones with high water content. A water table and a well were detected, which could be the cause of the humidity damage.