Adriaan van Seters

EUROCODE Conference I Berlin I 24 May 2023

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Contents

1. EN1997-1: General Rules

2. EN1997-2: Ground Properties

3. EN1997-3: Geotechnical Structures

General: Many different soils/rocks in EU, many different traditions

EN1997 concentrates on safety, calculation models in Annex

Phase: All 3 Parts in drafting Phase for Formal Vote

Formal Vote: April-May 2024

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 Main changes in Eurocode 7
Old Eurocode (3 parts):
1. EN1990 – Basis of structural design
2. EC7 Part 1 – Geotechnical rules
3. EC7 Part 2 – Testing and derivation of parameters

New Eurocode (4 parts!):

1. EN1990 – Basis of design – also geotechnical!
2. EC7 Part 1 – General rules for all structures, safety,
characteristic values
3. EC7 Part 2 – Ground Properties and how to derive
them from tests Properties

4. EC7 Part 3 – Rules for specific geotechnical structures,

many calculation models in Annexes

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Geotechnical standards…

Toolbox for verification that your

Geotechnical structure is within the CUBE

EN
1990
EN
1997-1 EN
EN
1997-2 1997-3

ULS
Safety

Durable
Robust
Sustainable

Thanks to G. Franzen – Geoverkstan (SE), 2023

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 Eurocode 7 – Part 1
General Rules
(EN1997-1)

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Eurocode 7 Part 1 – Key Changes

 New Geotechnical Category: Consequence (CC)-class and

Ground Complexity (GCC)

 Representative value determination (by engineering judgement,

by statistics)

 Improved Safety concept EN 1990 / EN 1997

 Groundwater issues - design groundwater pressures

 Safety for Numerical methods

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Geotechnical categories

Geotechnical Category =

Consequence Class CC x
Geotechnical Complexity Class GCC

Consequence Geotechnical Complexity

Class (CC) Class (GCC)
Lower Normal Higher
(GCC1) (GCC2) (GCC3)
High (CC3) GC3
Medium (CC2) GC2
Low (CC1) GC1 EN1990 EN1997

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Representative values
 Representative value – 2 options:

 Nominal value – “cautious estimate”

 Characteristic value – 5 % lower bound value – Statistics

(Informative Annex – Student t-distribution)

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 Safety EN1990 – Factors on actions
Action or effect Partial factors γF and γE for Verification Cases 1 - 4
Type Group Symbol Resulting Structural Static equilibrium Geotechnical
effect and Uplift Design
Foundations Uplift - water Slopes Retaining
Raft/piled walls
VC1 VC2(a) VC2(b) VC3 VC4
Permanent All γG 1,35 KF 1,35 KF 1,0
Action (Gk) unfavourable
Water γG,w 1,2 KF 1,2 KF
/destabilising
GK is not
All γG,stb Not 1,15 Not
1,0 factored
stabilising used used
Water γG,w,stb 1,0
(All) γG,fav favourable 1,0 1,0 1,0
Variable All γQ 1,5 KF 1,5 KF 1,3 1,1
action (Qk) unfavourable (≈1.5/1.35)

Water γQ,w 1,35 KF 1,35 KF 1,15 1,0

(All) γQ,fav favourable 0
Effects-of- γE unfavourable Effects are not factored 1,35 KF
actions (E)
DIBt γE,favI Berlin I favourable
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Partial Material factors – Persistent and Transient (NDP)
Ground property Symbol M1 M2
Soil and Fill parameters
Shear strength - Effective stress γτf 1,0 1,25 KM Factor KM
Peak shear friction γtanϕ,p 1,0 1,25 KM CC-class KM

Peak cohesion γc,p 1,0 1,25 KM

CC1 0,9
Critical state/residual friction/cohesion γtanϕ,cs, γtanϕ,r, γc,r 1,0 1,1 KM CC2 1,0
Shear strength - Total stress γcu 1,0 1,4 KM CC3 1,1
Rock material and rock mass parameters
Shear/unconfined compressive strength γτf, γqu 1,0 1,4 KM
Rock discontinuities
Shear strength γτf,dis 1,0 1,25 KM
Coefficient of residual friction γtanϕ,dis,r 1,0 1,1 KM

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 Groundwater – New Clause 6 – EN 1997-1
Groundwater level measurements and groundwater pressures
Representative value of Groundwater pressure Gw;rep:
• Alternative 1: Upper or Lower value Gw;k;sup or Gw;k;inf (see figure)
• Alternative 2: Permanent mean Gw;k;mean + Variable Qw;rep (amplitude)
with variable Qw;rep = Qw;k ,Qw;comb, Qw;freq or Qw;qper
Design value:
• Direct Assessment (Nominal value)
• Apply an offset to the representative waterpressure / water level
• Apply a partial factor (see EN 1990)
0
Average recurrence interval [year]
0
-25 -25
-50 -50
Tref = 50 years
Groundw level [cm MSL]

-75 -75
-89
-100 -100
-125 -125
-150 -150
-175 -175
-200 -200
-225
-203
-225
-250 -250
-275 -275
22.02.2008 18.11.2010 14.08.2013 10.05.2016 04.02.2019 0,001 0,1 10 1000 100000
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ULS for Numerical Methods – Clause 8.2
γ
m
Two possibilities:
A – Input factoring
Displacement
• Factors on actions γF from Verification Case 3
Input
• Factors on material properties γM from Set M2 Geotechnical
factoring ULS
AND – Output factoring:
• Factors on effect-of-actions γE from Verification Case 4 Output Structural
• Material properties γM from Set M1 (= 1,0) factoring ULS

• No resistance factors Moment

B – Output factoring only:

• Factors on effect-of-actions γE from Verification Case 4
• Factors on resistance γR according to EN1997-3
• Material properties γM from Set M1 (= 1,0)

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 Eurocode 7 – Part 2
Ground properties
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(EN1997-2) 13 of 33
Key changes to EN1997-2 EN 1997-2: 2007 Ground investigation and testing
1. General 3. Soil and rock sampling D. Cone and piezocone
2. Planning of ground and groundwater penetration test
investigations measurements E. Pressuremeter test
6. Ground investigation 4. Field tests in soil and F. Standard penetration
Complete reorganisation of EN1997-2 report rock test
5. Laboratory tests on soil G. Dynamic probing test
and rock H. Weight sounding test
I. Field vane test
J. Flat dilatometer test
Focus on DESIGN instead of K. Plate loading test

GROUND INVESTIGATION General

Properties Calculation models
rules

EN 1997-2: 202x EN 1997-3: 202x

Calculation models in Old Annexes Geotechnical structures
Groundinvestigation
Ground Properties
 PART 3 4. Ground model 7. Physical and chemical A. Slopes, cuttings, and
5. Planning ground properties embankments
investigations 8. Strength properties B. Spread foundations
6. Ground investigation 9. Stiffness properties C. Piled foundations
methods 10. Mechanical response to D. Retaining structures
ROCK is included 13. Reporting dynamic loads etc.
11. Groundwater and
E. Anchors
F. Reinforced soil
hydraulic connectivity structures
12. Thermal properties G. Ground improvement

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Ground model
Definition: EN 1997-1, 3.1.6.6 EN 1997-2, 4.1(1) EN 1997-2, 4.1(4)
Site specific outline of the A Ground Model shall comprise the The Ground Model shall be
disposition and character of the geological, hydrogeological, and progressively developed and
ground and groundwater based on geotechnical conditions at the site, updated based on potential new
results from ground investigations based on the ground investigation information.
and other available data. results.

Ground Model

Thanks to G. Franzen – Geoverkstan (SE), 2023

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Derivation of ground parameters

Methods for parameter derivation:

 Physical, chemical and “state properties”
(Clause 7)
 Strength parameters (Clause 8, Annex E)
 Stiffness and consolidation properties
(Clause 9, Annex F)
 Cyclic, Dynamic en Seismic properties
(Clause 10, Annex G)
 Geohydraulical properties (Clause 11)
 Thermal properties (Clause 12)

All Clauses have same layout:

Direct determination – from field/lab tests
Indirect determination – through correlations
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Eurocode 7 – Part 3
Geotechnical structures
(EN1997-3)

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Overview of EN1997-3

New Structures:
 Pile groups and pile rafts (Clause 6)
 Reinforced fill structures (Clause 9)
 Soil nailed structures (Clause 10)
 Ground Improvement (Clause 11)
 Ground water control (Clause 12)
 Rock bolts and surface support (Clause 13)

Existing, but completely updated clauses

 Slopes (Clause 4)
 Spread foundations (Clause 5)
 Piled foundations (Clause 6)
 Retaining structures (Clause 7)
 Anchors (Clause 8)

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4. Slopes
Slopes in Soils and Rock –
Ultimate Limit State:
 Material Factoring Approach: partial
factors on material properties, VC3
(Harmonisation – 1 method)
Clause 4 is basis for:
 Spread foundation on a slope (5)
 Anchors (8)
 Reinforced fill structures (9)
 Soil nailed structures (10)
 Rock bolts (13)

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5. Spread Foundations

Analytical Bearing models

 Bearing failure and overturning
(Brinch Hansen/Vesic – all EU-states):

 Drained and undrained

 Sliding failure

 Serviceability / Settlements (methods in

Annex B)

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5. Spread foundations – partial factors
Partial factor on Material factor approach Resistance factor approach
(a) (b) (c) (d) (e)
Spread 2 checks: (a) and (b) H / V < 0.2
foundations
Actions/effects γF, γE VC1 VC3 VC1 VC1 VC4
γG = 1.35 KF γG = 1.0 γG = 1.35 KF γG = 1.35 KF γE = 1.35 KF
γQ = 1.5 KF γQ = 1.3 KF γQ = 1.5 KF γQ = 1.5 KF γQ = 1.1
Ground properties γM M1 M2 M2 Not factored
γtanϕ = 1.0 γtanϕ = 1.25 KM γtanϕ = 1.25 KM
γcu = 1.0 γcu = 1.4 KM γcu = 1.4 KM
Bearing resistance γRv Not factored 1.4
Sliding resistance γRh Not factored 1.1

Different Verification cases

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6. Piled foundations
 Pile classification system (Examples in Annex)  Partial Factors
Pile type Description Class
Displacement pile Pile installed in the ground Full displacement
without excavation of material
Partial displacement
Replacement pile Pile installed in the ground after Replacement
the excavation of material
Pile not listed --- Unclassified
above

 Axial loading – single piles; only Resistance Factoring (RFA)

 Transverse loading: only Material Factoring (MFA)
 Ground model method (averaging ground parameters over site)
 Model pile method (averaging calculated capacities over site)
 Correlation factors (depend on number of load tests/ground investigation
and variation of results)

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6. Piled Foundations – pile groups
Pile groups and piled rafts

ULS verification:
 Axially loaded: MFA and RFA
 Transverse loads: MFA

Annex: models for group bearing

capacity – tension/compression

Annex: model for negative shaft

friction

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7. Retaining structures
 Analytical (spring) and
continuum models

 Maximum active and passive

pressures

 Material factoring MFA or:

 Resistance factoring RFA

(Effect of actions)

 Observational Method!

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8. Anchors

Anchors with free length

Design based on tests or comparable
experience

3 Types of tests:
 Investigation test (failure, lost anchor)

 Suitability test (anchor in project)

 Acceptance test (control test, all anchors)

ULS-verification only by testing

(acceptance test)

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9. Reinforced fill

Reinforced Fill

 Reinforced fill

 Embankment bases

 Veneer stability

Annex F – Design methods Veneer stability

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10. Soil nailed structures

Clause 10 includes:
 soil nails (see figure)

 sprayed concrete

 wire mesh

 facing elements.

ULS –
Material factoring
Resistance factoring
Design by testing

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11. Ground Improvement

Diffused methods:
 compaction
 replacement
 grouting
 deep mixing (figure)

Discrete methods:
 stone/sand columns (figure)
 jetgrouting
 deep mixing
 steel/concrete columns

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12. Groundwater control
Groundwater control:
 Grouting

 Drainage systems and pumping

 Vertical barriers

For hydraulic conductivity check:

 Serviceability Limit State governs!

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13. Rock Bolts and Surface support

Clause 13 includes:
 rock bolts

 sprayed concrete

 wire mesh

ULS –
Resistance factoring
Design by testing
Prescriptive measures!

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CONCLUSION: a New Generation Eurocode 7

Update your toolbox!

And stay inside the CUBE!

EN
1990
EN
1997-1 EN
EN
1997-2 1997-3

ULS
Safety

Durable
Robust
Sustainable

Thanks to G. Franzen – Geoverkstan (SE), 2023

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Further information on EN1997

Webinars with NEN, ISSMGE:

Period Topic
24 mei-23 (!) Ground model, characteristic values, reliability
sep-23 Slopes, reinforced fill, soil nails, rock bolts + traffic loading See: NEN-website, events
dec-23 Part 2: Ground Properties
feb-24 Ground improvement
mei-24 Rock engineering
sep-24 Spread foundations, retaining structures, anchors
dec-24 Dynamic ground properties and seismic design (with EN1998)

JRC-Guidelines, written by SC7, published in 2024:

 From Derived to Design material properties
 Ground Model
 Reliability-based verification with EN1997
 Implementation of design in Execution phase
 Design examples
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 Thank you for listening
Presented by
Adriaan van Seters
Chair CEN/TC 250/SC 7 – Geotechnical Design

Organisation
FUGRO
The Netherlands
Email: [email protected]
www.fugro.com

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