Structural degradation assessment of RC buildings: application of the method of assessment by integrity and safety—MAIS Method—in a heritage case study in Brasilia

The assessment of an existing structure is a complex activity that requires a realistic overview of the materials involved, the acting loads, environmental aggressiveness, and other factors to describe the correct functionality and adequately predict the level of structural safety. This paper proposes a probabilistic methodology that couples reliability analysis to a structural inspection and evaluation process: the Method of Assessment by Integrity and Safety—MAIS Method. The MAIS Method is an innovative approach used to quantify the integrity of existing buildings in reinforced concrete by identifying pathologies that may compromise their structural safety. This method is distinguished by its ease of applicability, which considers uncertainties in the data and, with parameterized inputs, facilitates the collection of variables required for the analysis. The approach streamlines the assessment process, integrating the two fundamental aspects of evaluating a structure: the identification of degradation phenomena and the assessment of the structure's resistance. The method employs probability theory to offer more accurate results, making it more reliable. The MAIS Method was applied to a building in the Asa Sul neighborhood of Brasilia, and with the aid of a risk matrix, was modeled to visualize the reliability of each element of the building. As a result, the structure presented a “medium–high” risk. Therefore, the MAIS Method presented a very satisfactory and consistent result with reality, effectively providing a kick-start to what can be a great contribution to the structural evaluation of assets and properties, and it has enormous potential for application and collaboration in the field of structural assessment. © 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.