Estudio geotécnico in El Pla de Santa Maria

In El Pla de Santa Maria, soils formed by sandstones, conglomerates and flysch predominate; these materials often provide good bearing capacity for shallow foundations. Their low permeability limits infiltration, although localised shallow aquifers may be found that must be assessed in detail in geotechnical studies, particularly in the initial phases of the project and when selecting the most suitable foundation solution.

The municipality’s seismic activity is moderate, with 30 events in the last 30 years and a maximum magnitude of 2.5, which implies a low risk that rarely requires special considerations in structural design. As the subsoil is not clayey, the presence of expansiveness problems is ruled out. Thus, the main focus of the geotechnical study should be on the local heterogeneity of the materials and the verification of the specific bearing capacity in the area of the works.