SETTLEMENTS OF SHALLOW FOUNDATIONS IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF SANTOS/SP

Abstract

Objective – This study investigates the correlation between historical, economic, geotechnical, and institutional factors that conditioned the widespread adoption of shallow foundations in buildings in the municipality of Santos/SP, as well as their implications for structural performance and pathological manifestations associated with differential settlements. Methodology – The methodology consisted of a literature review and documentary research in consolidated scientific databases (Google Scholar, SciELO, CAPES Journals, and Web of Science), complemented by the analysis of institutional documents. The sources were selected based on thematic adherence, technical-scientific relevance, and applicability to the context of the Baixada Santista region, prioritizing classic works and recent studies. The time frame encompassed productions between the 1950s and 2024, covering the evolution of geotechnical knowledge and approaches related to urban verticalization and pathological manifestations. Originality/Relevance – This work fills a theoretical gap by providing an integrated synthesis that transcends the purely technical analysis of leaning buildings, placing the phenomenon within the context of the "logic of immediate profit" and accelerated urban verticalization on highly compressible soils. Its academic and social relevance lies in understanding an urban liability involving 319 monitored buildings in Brazil's most verticalized city. Results – The evidence indicates that the maintenance of shallow foundations was driven by economic motivations, as they cost between 5% and 7% of the construction value, compared to 14% for deep foundations. This factor, combined with real estate pressure, led to the construction of buildings up to eighteen stories high on marine clays subject to centuries-old settlement, exceeding recommended technical limits. It was identified that soil-structure interaction and the overlapping of stress bulbs are the main drivers of inclinations, resulting in functional and pathological damage, but without an immediate risk of collapse recorded until 2023. Theoretical/methodological contributions – The study contributes to the area of ​​diagnostic engineering and urban planning by proposing an analysis model that correlates the angular distortion metric and soil-structure interaction with the evolution of regulatory instruments and economic constraints. Social and environmental contributions – The findings provide support for the improvement of public urban safety policies, such as the Building Self-Inspection Law and the PISA Program, assisting in risk management and raising awareness about the sustainable occupation of land with severe geotechnical limitations.