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Analysis of Copan Building Foundation Settlings, São Paulo, Brazil

Article  in  GSTF Journal of Engineering Technology · May 2013

DOI: 10.5176/2251-3701_2.1.40

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 GSTF International Journal of Engineering Technology (JET) Vol.2 No.1, May 2013

Analysis of Copan Building Foundation

Settlings, São Paulo, Brazil
Marcel Branco, Fabiana L. de Oliveira

Abstract— Copan Building has been one of the most important

constructed in the underground in order to attenuate the settling
works of the worldwide famous Brazilian architect Oscar
Niemeyer. Since its construction, differential settlings were
effects. Although their effectiveness cannot be totally refuted,
observed on its foundations and they are being monitored ever the strengthening procedures did not stop the settlings but
since. The identification and the development of studies about rather delayed it for some time.
those pathological manifestations are the focus of this paper.
By the last decade, the settlings seemed stabilized, but
around 2006 they started to rise again. This event cannot be
Index Terms—building structure, Copan building, foundation
settlings, Oscar Niemeyer
completely explained yet, but it is possible that variations of the
settling speed are related to construction works in the
neighborhood (i.e. subway construction works).
I. INTRODUCTION In Fig.3, based on IPT data, the medium settling is plotted. It
The Copan Building started to be constructed in 1956 and it is noticeable that little alteration can be seen in the settling
was concluded in 1961, in the downtown of the Brazilian city velocities after the strengthening structures were built. This
of São Paulo. It was the most important work designed by happens due to the display of medium values in the graphic, as
Oscar Niemeyer in the city on that decade. It consists in a big strengthening structures were not built in the whole building
residential building supposed to absorb the high housing ground projection and some areas took longer to stabilize. It is
demand in the fast developing process Sao Paulo went through also noticeable that there is a gap of one and a half decade after
at the time. A hotel building was designed in the same site, 1985, due to administration issues that prevented the
afterward substituted by a bank building (Fig. 1). measurements to be made. It is, though, estimated that abrupt
changes have not taken place in this period, leading IPT to
Copan has been home of many people since then, holding simplify the information, interpolating data and showing a
1.160 apartments in 32 floors [1]. The building is still continuous settling curve in some cases.
considered an expressive example of big reinforced concrete
structures. To overcome one of the hardest problems on such Nowadays, the settlings are expected to attenuate until they
long structures (Copan base has 140 meters in a straight practically stop. The evidences they left behind and the need to
measure), the building was constructed in four separate parts control every movement of the foundations, though, are
(Fig. 2). Hence, deformations due to temperature variation focused on this paper.
would not cause cracks in the structural parts. In addition, this
procedure would help to avoid unwanted restraining forces and
damages due to foundation settlings. However, settlings have II. OBJECTIVES
been observed in the building since its construction, mostly due
to the compressibility of soil layers in the ground. The objective of the present research is to map and organize
data about the problems in Copan Building’s foundation. That
Few years after the conclusion of the building construction, includes the actual panorama of the foundations and its settlings
in 1960s decade, several strengthening structures had to be and the process, which lead them to this situation. It is expected
to obtain information for a better diagnosis and identification of
the main structural consequences.
Certainly there are several limitations in the range of this
This work was partly supported by Foundation of Support to the Institute of research, which must be characterized as preliminary.
Technological Research of University of São Paulo (FIPT).
However, the results possibly will be able to highlight the main
Marcel Branco is an undergraduate student of the Faculty of Architecture
and Urbanism of University of São Paulo, SP, Brazil (e-mail: problems, also suggest solutions and new studies.
marcel.branco@usp.br).
Fabiana L. Oliveira is PhD Professor of the Technological Department,
Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism of University of São Paulo, SP, Brazil (e-
mail: floliveira@usp.br).

DOI: 10.5176/2251-3701_2.1.40 100 © 2013 GSTF

 GSTF International Journal of Engineering Technology (JET) Vol.2 No.1, May 2013
III. METHOD
The present research method consisted in the analysis of the
information from different sources, confrontation and
correlation of the data and synthesis. The information sources
were the following:
A. IPT-USP [2]
Settling of the foundations has been measured and mapped
for many years – though not analyzed – by the Sao Paulo
Technological Research Institute (IPT-SP). The information
and some conclusions are organized in tables and graphics, by
showing individual data for every column.
B. Original design information [3]
Another information source is the original structural design
of the building. The drawings were available thanks to the
Copan’s manager, Mr. Affonso Oliveira. Although there are
several inconsistencies between the project and what was
actually built, these data showed to be very useful to understand
the structural concepts.
C. On site research
Whenever possible, another data source was the onsite
research, especially to compare the drawings to what is built.
Unfortunately, several elements are out of reach and so kept
undetermined.
Moreover, several bibliographic references were picked to
help us to understand Copan Building’s design and the
pathological manifestations that it shows, as well as the specific
information about the soil and the legislation in the region.
IV. RESULTS
It is well known from soil mechanics theory that soil
compaction process is usually faster in the beginning and turns
to a very low rate after a long time (theoretically the process
takes an infinite time to fully compact the soil). However, IPT’s
data about Copan Building does not show this behavior, as the
settling speed does not always be reduced, but rather oscillates.
It can be observed that there are two situations in which settling
speed has clearly increased for some time: around year 1975
and year 2006. Possibly this is related to the construction of
subway lines in the neighborhood (Fig. 4), although this is not a
confirmed conclusion. In the picture, the Red Line and Yellow
Line (as near subway lines are denominated) were in process of
construction around 1980 and 2007, respectively.
These data can be also rearranged to bring out different
views of the problem. In Fig. 5 and fig. 6, cuts were made along
the main building columns and respective foundations. The
results are shown in color grades, each one representing ten
years of settling. It can be seen how the settlings occurred along
the column alignments. The dashed line represent the levels in
1965, the year when strengthening procedures were made in
some column foundations. In Fig. 7, a map of isolines is plotted
[4]. In this map, every line represents 5 millimeters of settling
101
and the darker shades indicates deeper settlings.
Those two graphic organizations of data show an important
conclusion, which was confirmed by Milton Vargas [5], one of
the engineers responsible by the building design. One side of
the building (the big blue spot in the map) suffers with deeper
settlings. As pointed by Vargas, IPT had made measurements in
the area since before Copan’s construction and found out that
one side of the terrain was much more compressible than the
other, which might led to undesired settlings.
To prevent that from happen, several wooden piles were
driven into the ground so that the soil grains would be
compacted and further loadings should not result in great
settlings. The effectiveness of this proposal is questionable, as
soil layers might take longer time to be completely compacted,
depending on their characteristics and external loadings.
As time went on during construction and immediately after,
it became clear that foundation strengthening measures would
be necessary to reduce the settling process before the building
erection [6]. In 1965, nine big foundation strengthening
structures were built (Fig. 8).
The foundation strengthening has a very simple concept as
shown on Fig. 9. Forces that come from a column are
distributed aside to additional footages (hachured or stripped
areas in the figure) by means a concrete block.
Fig. 10 shows Copan’s deeper underground as it is today.
The space is used as a garage and the nine referred
strengthening blocks were built in some columns on parts 1, 2
and 3. The kind of foundation used in the construction is still
uncertain, but evidences show that the main columns are
supported by big footings (rectangles under the pillars), as
suggested by the size of the area they occupy [7]. There are
many other columns that reach the ground, which support
floors of the shops on street floor and the mezzanine upon the
garage level. For these structures, due to the high water line
present in the underground, it is supposed that caissons might
have been built under pressure.
However, the original structural strengthening design, as
could be seen in some drawings, was not so simple.
Strengthening structures were built in nine columns, probably
to contain the settlings that were already evidenced. By this
time, other areas should be considered as significant (or even
more significant) than the area where strengthening elements
were actually built. It is unknown why the decision was taken
this way. There are, thought, several documents yet to be
analyzed that may help to figure this out. The most probable
reason is that, due to the complexity of the works (e.g. special
deep piles to be jacked against the existing superstructure
members), the high financial resources were not affordable at
that time.
As the subway transportation company planned the line
through Ipiranga Avenue, Standard (soil) Penetration Test
(SPT) measurements were made in front of the building.
Although they were not exactly under the building, it is
possible to approximately know the soil layers profile, as
shown on Fig. 11. The horizontal location of the measurements
is shown on Fig. 7. The obtained data show that the water level
is located on an average of five meters below the ground (i.e.
© 2013 GSTF
 GSTF International Journal of Engineering Technology (JET) Vol.2 No.1, May 2013
above Copan’s underground level). There are several
interchanges of soils in the deep length, although there are
present only two main soil types. The sand soil is configured
into a big spot right in front Copan’s bigger settling area.
Moreover, it is emphasized that underground occupation by
infrastructure implementation – not only subway lines – is not a
matter of great consideration in Brazilian legislation nowadays.
[8]. Many of the underground structures have virtually
unknown locations, due to the lack of a specific legislation that
collect this data. As a direct consequence, building new
elements underground can be tricky and resource spending,
including unexpected problems that might affect a great area.
This statement is especially applicable in downtown, old build
areas, in which Copan building is on.
V. CONCLUSIONS
As it can be seen all along the building, settlings are causing
undesirable effects, which may cause more complex and
dangerous pathological effects. For example, Fig. 12 shows
how a secondary column in the underground suffers from
geometry alteration and presents a large crack in its top. In Fig.
13, the division between structural parts 1 and 2 is shown as it
appears in the building roofing. The parts are spaced at least 15
centimeters, which is a very high value to a usual spacing
(spacing usually do not have more than few tenths of millimeter
[9]).
To prevent those pathological manifestations to take place
without being noticed, it is important to keep the structural
elements of the building under constant monitoring, especially
at the areas near foundations.
The limitations in this research, e.g. specifications about the
property of the materials and its geometry, are limiting in some
ways. However, it is possible to clarify the areas that need more
attention (i.e. deeper areas and the ones with highly differential
settlings, especially on the 4th part of the building).
As Copan building started its construction in 50s decade, it
is possible to affirm that almost all the other constructions (i.e.
above land and infrastructural) have taken place after Copan
was already there. Taking in consideration the lack of attention
given to the interference between those structures, it is very
possible that the development of the region has been
contributing to the foundation settlings in Copan over the years
(it is known that many other buildings in downtown São Paulo
suffer from the same foundation issue).
Structural inspection and maintenance of the Copan
building have been underestimated for a long time. The
building was constructed in different parts, which may help to
attenuate the pathological manifestations originated by settlings
and thermal deformations. However, those benefits are limited,
they are not able to avoid other serious damages. Geometric
and structural stability are affected, also unwanted cracks and
deformations might happen in many part of the building. A safe
diagnosis about the structural behavior of the building is not
available until now. The results of this preliminary analysis
emphasize the need of further studies to reach a high
information level as soon as possible, in order to establish a
rigorous plan of restoration.
102
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
To FIPT - Foundation to support the Sao Paulo
Technological Research Institute for the scholarship.
To the Engineer Wilson Shoji Iyomasa for his valuable
guidelines along the research.
To Mr. Affonso Celso Prazeres de Oliveira for allowing the
research to be carried out in the Copan, for the important
information provided for this work and for the encouragement
to research this building, which is of such great importance to
the city of São Paulo.
To the architect Walter José Ferreira Galvão for all the help
so kindly provided in this study.
REFERENCES
[1] GALVÃO, Walter José Ferreira. COPAN/SP: A trajetória de um mega
empreendimento, da concepção ao uso: estudo compreensivo do processo
com base na avaliação pós-ocupação. São Paulo. Dissertação de mestrado.
FAU/USP 2007.
[2] IPT-USP. Instituto de Pesquisas Tecnológicas da Universidade de São
Paulo. Copan settlings measurements. Consultation authorized by
Copan’s manager. 2011.
[3] Original projects from Copan Building administration. Consultation
authorized by Copan’s manager.2011.
[4] LANDIM, P. M. et al. Introdução à confecção de mapas pelo software
Surfer ®. Departamento de Geologia Aplicada IGCE. Laboratório de
Geomatemática. Texto didático 8. São Paulo, 2002.
[5] ORNSTEIN, Sheila W, GALVÃO, Walter F. Avaliação do desempenho
da ocupação dos ambientes residenciais. Diagnóstico e recomendações
para a habitação contemporânea com ênfase nas relações entre moradia e
trabalho. São Paulo. Milton Vargas interview given in November 2004.
[6] ZIMMERMAN, Cláudio C. et al. Recalques diferenciais monitorados
por meio de nivelamento geométrico de alta precisão: estudo de caso em
Florianópolis. VI Congresso Internacional Sobre Patologia e Recuperação
de Estruturas. Córdoba, 2010.
[7] ALVA, Gerson M. S. Concepção estrutural de edifícios em concreto
armado. Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Centro de Tecnologia.
Departamento de Estruturas e Construção Civil. Santa Maria, 2007.
[8] SERRATI, Ricardo C. Uso do espaço subterrâneo urbano: legislação e
impactos. Universidade Anhembi Morumbi, Trabalho de Conclusão de
Curso. São Paulo, 2006.
[9] GONILHA, José M. C. Juntas estruturais de edifícios grandes em planta.
Universidade Técnica de Lisboa. Instituto Superior Técnico. Dissertação
de mestrado. Lisboa, 2008.
Marcel Branco is a undergraduate student of Architecture and Urbanism in
University of São Paulo, Brazil.
Fabiana Lopes de Oliveira is a Ph.D. in Structures Engineering, Professor
of Civil Construction of Department of Architecture Technology, University of
São Paulo, Brazil.
© 2013 GSTF
 GSTF International Journal of Engineering Technology (JET) Vol.2 No.1, May 2013

Fig. 4. Copan neighborhood, including red and yellow subway lines.

Fig. 1. Copan building and Bradesco building nowadays.

Fig. 5. Cuts in Copan building’s ground.

Fig. 2. Independent structures of Copan building.

Fig. 3. Year x Average settling. [2]

103 © 2013 GSTF

 GSTF International Journal of Engineering Technology (JET) Vol.2 No.1, May 2013

Fig. 6. Settlings shown on cuts 1 and 2, respectively. Fig. 7. Isolines map and its relation to the neighborhood.

Fig. 8. Strengthening structure in a foundation.

104 © 2013 GSTF

 GSTF International Journal of Engineering Technology (JET) Vol.2 No.1, May 2013

Fig. 11. SPT measurements executed under Ipiranga Avenue by the subway
company in 2007.

Fig. 9. Strengthening beams and blocks projections

Fig. 12. Crack in a pillar in the underground levels due to the settlings in the
foundations.

Fig. 10. Copan building’s underground. [3]

Fig. 13. Distance between two structural parts in the building roof.

105 © 2013 GSTF

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