Estudio geotécnico in La Cabrera

In the municipality of La Cabrera, soils formed by gypsum, anhydrite and salts predominate, which implies particular conditions for any foundation project. These materials, in addition to their ease of dissolving in the presence of water, have a variable bearing capacity and may cause instability if the local aquifers are not adequately identified; their permeability and production regimes are moderate but extensive. It is essential to avoid shallow foundations on areas where dissolution processes could compromise the stability of the structure, and a detailed investigation of the stratigraphic profile and the precise location of the aquifers is therefore recommended before defining the support systems.

Seismicity in La Cabrera is considered very low, with only 5 events in the last 30 years and a recorded maximum magnitude (Mmax) of 3; therefore, this factor has little influence on structural design. Nevertheless, the presence of karst formations means that it is necessary to verify in detail the existence of voids and subsurface dissolutions before proceeding with the foundation. Although expansive clays are subordinate or occur in climatic zones that are not very sensitive, the main geotechnical constraint to analyse will be the risk of dissolution from the soluble materials and the existence of karst phenomena.