Strenght Tests of Two Reinforced Concrete Plinths of the Former Saint Gobain Factory in Caserta Dating Back to the 1960s

The article highlights the current status and the physical conditions in which they pour two reinforced concrete plinths, belonging to the foundations of the former glass factory Saint Gobain of Caserta (Italy). They are about half a century old and, thanks to the destructive and non-destructive analyzes carried out on the plinths, followed by structural tests in the laboratory, it was possible to establish how resistant the structural elements were and how much they affected environment and degradation factors on quality and relative durability of the same. The old structure is incorporated into the new one on the south side. The two examples of plinths: they are identical in constitution and material but the physical and chemical state in which they are found today is different. The old structure is often clearly visible, although it is based on in more than disastrous situations; the second, a few meters away, has always been left at the mercy of the passing of years, exposed to atmospheric and related agents, surrounded by rubble. The tests performed are: Pacometric; Sclerometric; Ultrasonic; No. 2 samples of cylindrical sample (coring); Test on compression on the extracted carrots. Furthermore, the sclerometric and ultrasonic tests were processed with the SONREB method, to obtain a more reliable estimate of the strength of the concrete on site. Comparing the values obtained and given the passage of time and the advanced age of the materials, it can be said that the result was surprising and unexpected.