Estudio geotécnico in Puente Viesgo

In Puente Viesgo, the most prominent geological substratum is made up of sandstones, conglomerates and flysch, accounting for almost 58% of the ground, followed by calcareous formations such as limestones, dolomites and marbles, and deposits of fine sands and silts. The predominance of hard materials with low deformability generally provides good bearing capacity, which facilitates direct foundation solutions in areas where no soft intercalations or significant silt levels are found. However, fine sands and silts may require a more thorough assessment to rule out possible non-uniform settlements and verify their suitability as a support.

From a seismic standpoint, activity in Puente Viesgo is considered notable, with 145 events in the last 30 years and a maximum magnitude of 4, although without reaching the threshold of relevant risk for structural design under the usual regulations. The possibility of karst presence in the calcareous formations indicates that it is essential to check for the existence of cavities before defining the foundation, as they could affect the overall or local stability of the ground. As the substratum is mostly non-clayey, the risk of expansivity is ruled out, with the main factors to assess being the possible development of karst and lithological heterogeneity.