Estudio geotécnico in Vilafranca/Villafranca del Cid

In Vilafranca/Villafranca del Cid, soils formed by limestones, dolomites and marbles predominate by a wide margin, occurring in more than 90% of the municipality. These materials, which are generally competent in nature and have high strength, provide a suitable foundation for shallow or semi-deep foundations, although they require a detailed verification of the degree of fracturing and the possible presence of voids resulting from karst processes. The secondary presence of sandstones and conglomerates is merely indicative and very rarely significantly conditions the bearing capacity, which is usually high thanks to the good quality of the dominant rock mass and the permeability of the aquifers.

As regards geotechnical risks, seismicity in the area is very low, with only 2 events recorded in 30 years and a low maximum magnitude (Mmax 1.7), so it very rarely represents a constraint for structural design. The absence of an underlying clay substrate eliminates the risks of expansiveness. However, due to the predominance of carbonate rocks, the existence and hazards of karst phenomena must be carefully verified before proceeding with any foundation, as the presence of cavities can entail a significant structural risk and is the main geotechnical constraint in this setting.