Estudio geotécnico in Real de Gandia, the

In the municipality of Real de Gandia, the geotechnical ground is dominated by fine sands and silts. These materials provide an intermediate bearing capacity and require careful assessment of consolidation and possible differential settlement. The minority presence of limestones, dolomites and marbles may create locally good-support zones, but the low proportion of these materials significantly limits their overall influence on foundation design. In addition, the relative impermeability of most strata implies poor drainage of groundwater and favours the occasional presence of shallow aquifers—essential considerations when setting out support levels for extensive or deep foundations.

Local seismicity is moderate, with 27 recorded events in the last 30 years and a maximum magnitude of 3.4, which does not entail major requirements in terms of seismic reinforcement, although it does recommend considering this in structural calculation. It is crucial to verify karstification conditions given the record of karst-related processes associated with the limestone formations, and possible voids must be ruled out before founding. The non-clayey substrate eliminates the risk of expansiveness, so the main constraint for future projects will be investigation and prevention of karst processes in combination with the behaviour of the predominant sands and silts.