COEM 6012

GEOTECHNICS IN CONSTRUCTION

Lecture 1
Eurocode 7: Geotechnical Design
 Eurocode
• Eurocode family of design standards
- EN 1990, Eurocode, Basis of structural design
- EN 1991, Eurocode 1, Actions on structures
- EN 1992, Eurocode 2, Design of concrete structures
- EN 1993, Eurocode 3, Design of steel structures
- EN 1994, Eurocode 4, Design of composite steel & concrete structures
- EN 1995, Eurocode 5, Design of timber structures
- EN 1996, Eurocode 6, Design of masonry structures
- EN 1997, Eurocode 7, Geotechnical design
Part 1- General rules, Part 2- Ground investigation and testing
- EN 1998, Eurocode 8, Design of structures for earthquake resistance
- EN 1999, Eurocode 9, Design of aluminium structures
(EN: European Standard)
 Eurocode 7
• Design requirements
(1) Eurocode design is based on Principles (general statements, analytical models &
requirements- where no alternative is permitted) & Application Rules (which, are
generally recognized rules that comply with the Principles & satisfy their
requirements)
(2) Geotechnical categories
 Examples of structures in Geotechnical Category 2 include: spread, raft, and pile
foundations; walls and other structures retaining or supporting soil or water;
excavations; bridge piers and abutments; embankments and earthworks; ground
anchors and other tie-back systems; and tunnels in hard, nonfractured rock and not
subjected to special water tightness or other requirements.
Examples of structures in Geotechnical Category 3 include: very large or unusual
structures; structures involving abnormal risks, or unusual or exceptionally difficult
ground or loading conditions; structures in highly seismic areas; and structures in
areas of probable site instability or persistent ground movements that require separate
investigation or special measures.
• Actions & design situations
• Limit states & Design by calculation
- Limit states: should be verified by one or a combination of : use of calculations,
application of prescriptive measures, experimental models & load tests, an
observational method

- Design by calculation
 Design at ULS
- Design at ULS using partial factors

γA: partial factors applied to the actions Q

γX: partial factors applied to material properties X
γR: partial factors applied to the resistance R
- Design approaches in EC7
(1) Design Approach 1 (DA1): (a) factoring actions only; (b) factoring
materials only.
(2) Design Approach 2 (DA2): factoring actions and resistances (but not
materials).
(3) Design Approach 3 (DA3): factoring structural actions only
(geotechnical actions from the soil are unfactored) and materials.
- Selection of partial factors (EC7)

- Partial factors on actions (EC7)

- Partial factors on material properties (EC7)

- Partial factors on resistance (EC7)

γR = 1.0 for sets R1 and R3
γR = 1.4 for set R2
• National choice of Design Approach for retaining walls

Ref: Bond (2013)

• Partial factors for Design Approach 1
• Partial factors for Design Approaches 2 & 3
Example 8.7
Example 8.8