Geotechnical study in Santa Coloma de Cervelló

In Santa Coloma de Cervelló, soils of fine sands and silts predominate, followed by hard overconsolidated clays and marls, whereas materials such as slates, schists and limestones appear only in specific places. The characteristics of the gravel and compact sand layers indicate adequate levels of strength and permeability, which favours a good bearing capacity for shallow foundations. The predominant formations allow options for both isolated footings and raft foundations, without significant restrictions for the usual type of foundation.

The seismicity of the area is considered to be very low, with only one reported event in the last 30 years and a low maximum magnitude, so this factor does not represent a limitation for structural design. In addition, the absence of clayey strata eliminates the risk of expansive soils, making calculation and execution easier. The main constraint in Santa Coloma de Cervelló therefore lies in properly characterising the sand and silt layers to ensure homogeneity in the ground’s response.