Geotechnical study in Enguera

The municipality of Enguera is characterised mainly by a substratum of limestones, dolomites and marbles, which account for the great majority of the soil present in the area. The high consolidation of these materials provides very good bearing capacity conditions for shallow foundations, although in localised areas gypsum, anhydrite and salts may occur, implying a potential risk of dissolution and subsidence in those sectors. Fine sands and silts, although scarce, may present compaction problems and must be assessed if they are located within the final foundation location area. The dominant permeability is low, so it is unlikely that leaching problems will exist, except in the presence of a locally saturated surface layer.

Seismic activity in Enguera is moderate, with 21 events in the last 30 years and a maximum magnitude of 2.7, indicating that seismicity is not a relevant design constraint. The non-clayey substratum rules out concern regarding ground expansiveness. However, karst development in the carbonate materials has been documented and can affect the stability of foundations; it is essential to carry out a detailed verification of the presence of cavities before carrying out any type of structural support, as this constitutes the main geotechnical constraint in the area.