ANÁLISE DAS MANIFESTAÇÕES PATOLÓGICAS EM RESERVATÓRIOS ELEVADOS NA CIDADE DE PELOTAS/RS Analysis of Pathological manifestations in Reservoirs High in the city of Pelotas/RS

Elevated tanks are buildings designed to receive water treatment plants through pipelines or supported bulk tanks or buried and distribute it to the points of consumption. This structure has the main function condition and equalize the pressures in the areas of highest topographic dimensions that can not be supplied by the main reservoir. This paper reports a study of the pathological manifestations of elevated tanks executed in reinforced concrete in the urban area of Pelotas, Brazil. The diagnostic stage was made by visual analysis with photographic record and after comparison with structural design given by the agency responsible for the project. Through the study it was possible to identify pathological manifestations like: cracks, dirt, spalling, corrosion of armor and leaching. The results of the analysis of pathological manifestations have shown that in addition to lack of maintenance, design specifications, referring to the stirrups of pillars and beams, were instrumental in the spread of corrosion of armor, which are exposed due to the occurrence coatings at odds with the current criteria of ISO-6118 standard (design of reinforced concrete structures). The study concluded that the indifference of the government to establish appropriate maintenance processes accelerated the degradation of the structure and thus causing a failure in supply operation in the districts using these reservoirs. Thus, this work contributed to the government to start the study process of maintaining these buildings stage in order to promote the community.