Caracterización de suelos del centro histórico de la ciudad de Cuenca mediante métodos geofísicos

Abstract

One of the greatest challenges Civil Engineering has to face, with the urgent need for building works of all types and sizes for different functions, is to ensure the design and construction of such works on sufficiently stable terrain, considering that every civil work needs to be done on solid ground, to provide the necessary physical and mechanical characteristics so that building can be done on in the place where required.

With this objective, the characterization of ground is essential, because it allows us to determine the geotechnical parameters of land on which the building will be built.

In recent years, geophysical methods have been implemented, which have helped to make such studies in a faster way, with more accurate results in a shorter period of time. In developing countries such as Ecuador, these methods have become more popular recently; however, many of the builders in the country continue to use invasive methods, which combined with laboratory tests, can obtain geotechnical parameters of a type of soil, but in a longer period of time and for a higher amount of money. What this thesis project aims, is a geotechnical characterization of three places that are part of the Historic Center of Cuenca, by means of geophysical prospecting and seismic refraction. Taking into account the local geological characteristics of the materials that can be found in this part of the city, allows us to establish a detailed comparison between the obtained results using these modern methods with traditional studies previously conducted using geotechnical methods. Thus, we can establish the validity and accuracy of geophysical and seismic refraction when characterizing the different properties of land Being able to establish the foundation for the use of these modern methods in the analysis of all types of soils, our aim is to encourage professionals and students engaged in construction engineering and research in this broad field of Soil Mechanics, to continue using it in order to spread in the country.