Geotechnical Characterization of Quito’s North-Central Zone as Applied to Deep Excavation in the Urban Setting

This paper describes an in-depth soil characterization study in the La Carolina financial district of Quito (Ecuador). As there was very little information available on geotechnical structure Quito’s volcanic soil, particularly this area, where large-scale property development has taken place, aim to provide parameters engineers working large and civil engineering projects based results a thorough comprehensive such properties. A series field tests were performed at three different sites, thin-walled tube samples collected for lab testing estimate index properties mechanical parameters. These then combined with conventional two-way drainage oedometer stress-path triaxial evaluate compressibility, stiffness strength. The subsoil found be partly composed slightly overconsolidated soils. X-ray Diffraction (XRD) Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) analyses also conducted determine mineralogical microstructural features their influence behavior soil. type research is frequently applied landslides urban environments, it essential understand failure mechanisms, especially slopes generated by construction important works. Therefore, study, subsequently determined Mohr–Coulomb (MC), Hardening Soil (HS), Small-Strain Stiffness (HSsmall) constitutive models, these numerical Nailing system five-level underground car parking building located north-central sector city Quito. It verified that HSsmall HS models better reproduce structure. Finally, multiple significantly contribute analysis structures type.