Zonificación de suelos para fines de cimentación en un centro poblado de la Selva Alta del Huallaga, Perú

The population growth, access to services to achieve a better quality of life, access to employment, and other factors have caused rapid urbanization in unsuitable and overcrowded areas in Latin American countries. The 2030 agenda aims to achieve sustainable cities and communities that offer amenities and safety based on construction and planning requirements in line with regional and national development. This motivated the study of a populated area in the Peruvian jungle, conducting a geotechnical zoning of soils based on their chemical, physical, and mechanical properties. Twelve strategically distributed soil pits were excavated in the study area according to the technical requirements of Soil and Foundation standard E050, and this was complemented by six laboratory tests, the most important of which were the Direct Shear and Modified Proctor tests. Based on these, soil types were identified as low and high plasticity clay (CL and CH) and low and high plasticity silt (ML and MH). The Standard Proctor test determined that the maximum density is within the range of 1.598 to 1.933, and the Direct Shear test determined that they exceed the minimum regulatory value of 0.50kg/cm². Regarding the soluble salt analysis, a minimum percentage of salinity was found. Soil zoning maps were developed, and it was concluded that the study area in the Peruvian High Jungle is suitable for constructing buildings no taller than three floors. Additionally, due to its low salinity, the soil can be used as a material for construction using Portland Type I cement.