Analysis of the present condition and deterioration in the main dome over La Laguna cathedral

The assessment of an existing structure to determine its suitability for present and future use entails different sorts of problems than encountered when designing new structures. The differences revolve essentially around the nature of the information available. In existing structures, deteriorated or otherwise, the accuracy of the models used for such assessments can usually be improved by acquiring more data. The Spanish Technical Building Code defines a procedure for the evaluation of existing structures that includes the same verification format as normally applied for designing new structures, but in which the representative values for the variables and the partial factors may be modified on the basis of updated information. Tools intended for such modifications, developed for the safety assessment of existing sound and deteriorated concrete structures, are applied to the structural assessment of the main dome over La Laguna cathedral, Tenerife, Spain.