Geotechnical study in Sollana

In Sollana, fine sands and silts predominate alongside formations of limestones, dolomites and marbles, providing an important variety in the near-surface soils. The sands and silts generally offer a bearing capacity that is moderate, although their compressibility may require underpinning in projects with high applied loads. Limestones and dolomites usually facilitate direct foundations, although the local presence of expansive white/soft clays makes it necessary to assess the uniformity of the ground carefully within the plot. The occasional presence of masses of water and areas of shallow aquifer may condition the foundation design and the management of the groundwater level.

Seismicity in Sollana is very low, with only 6 events over 30 years and a maximum magnitude of 2.7, so this factor does not influence the structural design. There is a karst potential associated with the limestones and dolomites, which requires the detailed verification of the stability and continuity of the ground before proceeding with any type of foundation, to rule out the presence of cavities or unexpected sinkholes. The non-clayey substrate eliminates the risk of expansive soils, so the main geotechnical constraint lies in the possible presence of karst and the behaviour of the near-surface hydrogeology.