Estudio geotécnico in Villar del Arzobispo

In Villar del Arzobispo, substrates of limestone, dolomite and marble predominate, occupying almost half of the territory, accompanied by sandstone and conglomerates in significant proportions. These rock formations, with dense structure and high strength, offer good bearing capacity for shallow foundations supporting moderate structural loads. However, the minor presence of gypsum, anhydrite and salts introduces potential risks of dissolution, while the low proportion of hard clays and the absence of extensive areas of muds or peats reduce unfavourable ground conditions for the foundation support.

With regard to geotechnical risks, local seismicity is moderate, with 27 events over 30 years and an Mmax of 3.4, which does not require special measures for seismic design. However, the karstic geology linked to limestones and dolomites makes it necessary to rule out cavities or instances of dissolution before proceeding with the foundation works, since the presence of karst can generate voids that may collapse under structural loading. In addition, the non-argillaceous ground rules out risks of expansiveness, making control and verification of the karst the main factor to address in the geotechnical studies for works in the area.