Geotechnical study in Les Cabanyes

In Les Cabanyes, the predominant substrate is made up almost exclusively of granite, gneiss and other igneous rocks, which provides a high-competence foundation and notable mechanical properties for the design and execution of foundations. These stony materials offer a higher bearing capacity and low deformability, enabling the arrangement of shallow or direct foundations in most cases, provided that the excavation level does not reveal incoherent alterations. Permeability is required, generally being low, although discontinuous aquifers may occur in fractures or in altered surfaces of the bedrock.

The local seismicity of Les Cabanyes is very low, with barely 5 events in 30 years and a maximum magnitude of 1.6, a factor that does not represent any relevant structural constraint in geotechnical design. As the substrate is non-clayey, the risk of ground expansivity is ruled out. The main challenge to be assessed lies in identifying any potential fractured or altered zones within the bedrock mass, given their influence on bearing capacity and the suitability of a direct foundation.