Estudio geotécnico in Santa Margarida de Montbui

In Santa Margarida de Montbui, white and soft expansive clays predominate, representing the majority of the near-surface soils, accompanied by sandstones, conglomerates and flysch with occasional occurrences of limestones, dolomites and marbles. These materials exhibit low permeability at the surface, although aquifers may exist at greater depth. The stratigraphic composition conditions the choice of foundation type; in particular, detailed characterisation of the substratum is especially relevant in order to determine its bearing capacity and control the possible settlements.

The area shows very low levels of seismicity, with only 5 events recorded in the last 30 years with a maximum magnitude of 1.8, which minimises concern about seismic forces in structural design. However, given the presence of limestones and dolomites, it is essential to verify the existence of karst before any foundation works, as the presence of cavities could seriously compromise stability. Thus, the main geotechnical precaution in Santa Margarida de Montbui is related to identifying potential karst-related phenomena.