Estudio geotécnico in Villatorres

In Villatorres, a rocky substrate predominates, composed mainly of limestones, dolomites and marbles, forming approximately 73% of the ground. This type of material usually provides a notable bearing capacity for structures, although certain areas include sandstones and conglomerates of more sporadic occurrence, as well as compact gravels present residually. The presence of formations that are generally impermeable implies that, although superficial aquifers may exist in specific locations, infiltration is limited, which benefits the stability of the foundation provided that the absence of interbedded soft layers—capable of reducing the bearing capacity—is verified.

From the seismic standpoint, Villatorres lies in an area with high activity, with 200 recorded events over the last three decades and a maximum magnitude close to 4.4; although the value of Mmax does not require special seismic design under the regulations, seismic recurrence is an aspect to take into account in relevant structural projects. In addition, the presence of karst processes is significant, so it is essential to check for voids or cavities in the substrate before defining the final foundation. The main factor conditioning the geotechnical study is identifying and verifying the risk of karstification, together with assessing the recorded seismicity.