Conference Agenda

Capillary absorption in masonry units is a determining phenomenon in the durability and hygrothermal performance of buildings. This study analyzed the capillary rise of water in different types of masonry bricks commonly used in construction, evaluating the time required for water to reach a height of 7 cm under controlled laboratory conditions. An experimental quantitative approach was employed, using equipment from the Concrete Laboratory of the Universidad Privada del Norte and under the supervision of a Fluid Mechanics professor. Tests were conducted on three types of bricks: artisanal, tambourine, and 18-hole King Kong bricks. Four specimens were tested for each type in order to obtain average values. The results showed that the artisanal brick reached the established height in an average time of 55.08 minutes, followed by the tambourine brick with 82.90 minutes, and the King Kong brick with 86.51 minutes. These differences highlight the influence of the physical characteristics of masonry units on capillary behavior and have relevant technical implications for the selection of construction materials in environments exposed to moisture.

The main objective of this research was to analyze the influence of crushed glass on capillarity, water absorption, and compressive strength of mortars produced in the city of Cajamarca, Peru, during the year 2025. The study was applicative in nature and was conducted under a quantitative approach. Mortar samples were prepared with partial replacements of natural sand by crushed glass in proportions of 2%, 4%, and 5%, in addition to a reference sample without any addition. The tests were carried out in accordance with current national technical standards and using university laboratory equipment. The results showed that increasing the crushed glass content produced a progressive reduction in water absorption and mortar capillarity. The conventional mortar recorded a capillarity value of 41.78 g/cm² and a water absorption of 2.90%, whereas the mortar with 5% glass achieved the lowest values, with 16.60 g/cm² and 1.88%, respectively, reflecting lower permeability and a more compact internal structure. Regarding compressive strength, a gradual decrease was observed as the percentage of glass increased, from 180.63 kg/cm² in the reference mortar to lower values in the modified mortars. In conclusion, the use of crushed glass improves mortar durability, although it moderately reduces mechanical strength, with a dosage between 4% and 6% being considered viable.

This research evaluated the incorporation of recycled materials such as waste tire rubber, discarded shoe soles, and recycled PET plastic into the design of asphalt mixtures, with the aim of analyzing their influence on the mechanical performance of flexible pavements and contributing to the sustainability of road infrastructure in the Cajamarca region. An experimental program was developed that included a control mixture with conventional asphalt and three modified mixtures, each with a 20% substitution of mineral aggregates by one recycled material, according to its particle-size characteristics.

The asphalt mixtures were designed and evaluated using the Marshall method, considering stability, flow, and mechanical resistance parameters, as well as complementary tests of permanent deformation, fatigue resistance, and durability. The results made it possible to analyze the structural behavior of the modified mixtures in comparison with the conventional pavement, identifying the potential of recycled materials to improve certain mechanical properties and to reduce the environmental impact associated with road construction.

The findings indicate that the incorporation of recycled materials—particularly waste tire rubber—allows the production of asphalt mixtures with suitable mechanical performance for flexible pavements, representing a technically feasible and environmentally sustainable alternative.

The primary objective of this research was to analyze and determine the influence of cassava starch as an organic stabilizing agent on the axial compressive and flexural performance of compacted adobe blocks, based on the classification of soils suitable for the manufacture of such units. Soil classification tests identified a granulometrically suitable material for the proper production of this composite, to which cassava starch was incorporated as a particle stabilizer in proportions of 6%, 8%, and 10% by weight of the block.

The specimens were compacted using the BRICK BLOCK machine (an electromechanical system enhanced by Mr. Juan Montoya) in order to evaluate the effects of the additive on axial compressive strength in comparison with the values established by standards E.080 (MVCS, 2021) and UNE 41410 (2008), which specify minimum strengths of 10.2 kg/cm² and 13.26 kg/cm², respectively. Additionally, axial compressive and flexural strengths were compared with those obtained from conventional earth adobe blocks compacted under identical conditions using the same machine, which exhibited an average compressive strength of 33.09 kg/cm².

Specifically, values of 20.02 kg/cm², 32.62 kg/cm², and 37.37 kg/cm² were recorded for the 6%, 8%, and 10% additions, respectively. These results exceed the minimum requirements prescribed by the standards by up to threefold and represent an increase of approximately 10% relative to conventional earth adobe compacted using the BRICK BLOCK machine. Furthermore, flexural strength results for specimens containing 10% cassava starch were also superior, reaching 5.10 kg/cm², compared to 4.88 kg/cm² for conventional earth adobe.

The availability, cost, regulatory framework, logistics, and storage of construction materials, as well as global environment, are critical factors in the planning and execution of construction projects. These critical factors are especially relevant in island territories where access to raw materials is limited. This study analyses the issue of scarcity and rising costs of construction materials in Puerto Rico. It examines the complexity of the construction industry in Puerto Rico by performing a literature review and conducting semi-structured interviews to contractors working on different sectors of the construction industry and in various regions throughout the island. The results of the study show that dependence on external supply chains, regulatory restrictions, market volatility, and logistical and storage limitations increases the construction industry's vulnerability to external factors and global disruptive events such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the Ukraine war. This dependence creates bottlenecks that lead to delays, substantial changes in planning practices, and cost overruns. Therefore, the results indicate that advance planning, supplier diversification, and logistics strategies can achieve a balance between financial efficiency and supply security to strengthen the industry's resilience.

Chimbote suffers from a significant deficit in higher technical education infrastructure. Despite having over 250,000 inhabitants, there are only seven institutes that barely meet 17.9% of the student demand. This deficiency limits access to professional training in sectors such as industry, construction, and services, and contributes to unemployment, informal employment, and educational migration. In response to this situation, this research proposes architectural design guidelines for a Specialized Technological Higher Education Institute, applying Flexible Architecture principles. A qualitative and project-based methodology was employed, employing a comparative analysis of four reference cases, an urban diagnosis of the intervention area, a review of regulations, and a study of the target population. As a result, spatial, functional, and structural strategies were defined, such as the use of movable partitions, forms adapted to the slope, ventilated facades with adjustable panels, pedestrian bridges, and radial circulation. These solutions comprise the guidelines that promote the project's adaptability, efficiency, and sustainability, improving educational quality and strengthening the social and economic development of Chimbote