Geotechnical study in Castellar de Santiago

In Castellar de Santiago, the dominant geological substrate is made up of formations of limestones, dolomites and marbles, followed by slates and schists. These materials provide a generally competent foundation for shallow footings, although the presence of areas of slightly altered slates could limit the bearing capacity locally. Compact gravels and sands appear in a very isolated and rare manner and seldom represent a significant stratum for direct support. In this setting, shallow foundations on the firm bedrock available are usually selected, assessing on a case-by-case basis the depth and continuity of the load-bearing substrate.

The municipality’s seismicity is high, with more than 200 recorded events over three decades and a maximum magnitude of 5.1, which requires this parameter to be explicitly considered during structural and foundation design. Since the substrate is not clayey, there is no risk of expansivity that would condition the geotechnical works. The most decisive factor when approaching the geotechnical study in Castellar de Santiago will therefore be the analysis of the seismic response of the soils and the characterisation of the interface between the different rock formations, in order to ensure the safety and durability of the foundations.