Geotechnical study in Sant Pere de Ribes

In Sant Pere de Ribes, substrates of limestones, dolomites and marbles predominate, with materials of high compactness and bearing capacity, which allows for shallow direct foundations in most cases. There are also areas with clays and hard marls, which provide some variability in the mechanical properties, but, being overconsolidated, they usually exhibit stable behaviour and low deformability, contributing favourably to the support safety of structures.

With regard to the geotechnical profile, seismic activity is moderate, with 45 recorded events over 30 years and a low maximum magnitude (Mmax) of 2.3, indicating reduced seismic incidence in structural design. The main constraint to take into account is the presence of karst in the carbonate formations, which is why it is essential to carry out a thorough verification of the existence of cavities or dissolution processes before defining the foundation. The non-clayey substrate dispenses with risks associated with expansivity, making robust and safe construction solutions easier to implement provided that the risk of karstification is assessed correctly.