Geotechnical study in Puebla de Sanabria

In Puebla de Sanabria, the dominant geological substrate is mainly composed of slates and schists, accounting for more than 95% of the municipality’s soils. These formations are generally compact and their bearing capacity is usually suitable for shallow foundations, provided that local weathering is verified. The near-testimonial presence of water bodies does not significantly affect the selection of the foundation type, whose design can be optimised due to the low probability of the occurrence of silts or compressible materials.

Seismic hazard in Puebla de Sanabria is very low, with only 4 recorded events over 30 years and a maximum magnitude (Mmax) of 2.1, which implies a minimal impact on structural design from the standpoint of seismic regulations. Additionally, since the substrate is non-clayey, the presence of expansivity-related problems is ruled out. Thus, the main limiting factor for the feasibility of foundations focuses on controlling the degree of surface alteration of the rock substrate.