Estudio geotécnico in Cuenca

In the municipality of Cuenca, soils are predominantly composed of gypsum, anhydrite and salts, with a significant presence of limestones, dolomites and marbles, occasionally accompanied by sandstones and conglomerates. These materials, for the most part of low permeability, may host localised shallow aquifers. The frequent presence of gypsum and salts implies a risk of dissolution that can affect bearing capacity and creates the need to carefully assess possible problems of subsidence or changes in the foundation. It is essential to avoid concrete-supported foundations in sectors dominated by readily soluble materials and to take account of the variable nature of the strata in geotechnical design.

As regards geotechnical conditions, Cuenca exhibits moderate seismicity, with 40 events in the last 30 years and a maximum magnitude of 4.1, a factor that should be taken into account in the structural design of projects, even though it does not represent critical values. The existence of karst associated with the limestones and gypsum requires thorough verification before proceeding with any foundation, given the possible presence of cavities or subterranean dissolutions. The non-clayey substrate rules out the risk of expansive soils; accordingly, the presence of karst phenomena and the potential for dissolution are the most relevant factors conditioning the execution of geotechnical studies in this locality.