Estudio geotécnico in Monistrol de Montserrat

In Monistrol de Montserrat, sandstones, conglomerates and flysch predominate as geological substrate—materials with competent behaviour and an adequate bearing capacity for a range of shallow and deep foundation options. Horizons of fine sands and silts occur only in places, and their presence may require adjustments to the type of foundation if they are located at critical levels; on the other hand, white and soft expansive clays account for only a minor proportion and do not condition the overall behaviour of the ground, which is characterised by low expansivity and by very low permeability except in local, shallow aquifers.

The geological setting of Monistrol de Montserrat is characterised by the presence of karst; for this reason, it is essential to verify the existence of cavities or zones of dissolution before defining the foundation, in order to avoid stability problems or unforeseen differential settlements. Seismic activity in the municipality is very low (only one recorded event in 30 years, with a maximum magnitude of 1.5), so it does not constitute a relevant factor in structural design. The non-clayey subsoil rules out the risk of expansive soils as the main conditioning factor in the building field, with the possible presence of karst processes being the most relevant technical aspect to assess in the prior geotechnical study.