Estudio geotécnico in Archena

In Archena, soils formed by limestones, dolomites and marbles predominate, accompanied in importance by compact gravels and sands. This hard substrate, of fundamentally carbonate nature, shows a notable bearing capacity, which favours the use of shallow direct-type foundations in most cases. Sandy and conglomeratic formations, although less frequent, also provide good conditions for foundation design. The low percentage of clayey or marly soils limits issues related to compaction and differential settlement, offering additional guarantees for the stability of structures.

The seismic activity recorded in the municipality is very low, with only 7 events over 30 years and a maximum magnitude of 2.6, which minimises the requirement for specific measures in structural seismic design. However, the presence of carbonate formations implies the possibility of developing karst processes, so it is essential to carry out prior verification of cavities or conduits before carrying out any foundations to avoid stability and settlement problems. In addition, the non-clayey substrate rules out the risk of expansivity in the ground, so the karst factor is the main geotechnical constraint to consider in Archena.