Optimisation of

Geotechnical
Design by Eurocode 7
Adriaan van Seters
Fugro GeoServices BV

March 18th 2014

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Contents Menu

Date

Optimisation of design using Eurocodes

Evaluation of existing structures
Determination of characteristic values
Conclusions

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Optimisation of design using EC7

Many options:
Take into account the design life period adjust
Extensive soils investigation
Pile foundations more CPTs reduction of -values
Pile/Anchor Load testing
Observational method
etc

Two (Dutch) possibilities are discussed:

Evaluation of existing structures ( - value)
Determination of characteristic values

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Existing structures in the Netherlands

Existing structures reduced probability of failure because:

Cost for increasing the safety level for existing structures much
higher than for new structures
Remaining design life for existing structures often less than 50
100 years
The behaviour of the structure is known (proven strength)

Codes NEN 8700 equivalent EN 1990

NEN 8707 equivalent EN 1997

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Safety Levels

For CC2-structures 3 safety levels are distinguished

New buildings = 3.8 (Probability of failure 0,7 * 10-4)
Rejection level, building must be restored = 2.5 (Probability of failure 0,6 * 10-2)
Safety level after restoration = 3.3 (Probability of failure 0,5 * 10-3)
Reference period of 15 years iso 50 years for variable Q-loads
Material and resistance factors unchanged to new buildings
In engineering terms loadfactors

Permanent loading
G

Variable loading
Q

Probability Index

New structures

1.35

1.5

3.8

Safety after
restoration

1.3

1.3

3.3

Minimum safety
level

1.2

1.15

2.5

Loadfactors
CC2-building

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Eurocode for existing structures - NEN 8700, 8707

Evaluation of existing buildings

Investigations
Historical
Inspection outside
Inspection inside, piles etc
Inspection periodically

Evaluation
Condition of foundation/piles
Cracks
Settlement velocity
Tilting etc

Back-calculation
Pile bearing capacity STR + GEO
Settlements

Building in Amsterdam ca 1600

Date

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Evaluation of piled foundations

Checking piles
- Penetration in wood
(Woodpecker 15 40 mm) - Back calculation bearing capacity

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Back-calculation Geotechnical bearing capacity

Pile tip 13 m

Pile head

236 mm

Pile tip

140 mm

Design bearing capacity

160 kN

Design load reduced loadfactors 89 kN

Calculation procedure conform new
buildings
Foundation is OK

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Check of deformations - rotations

Max tilt 1: 110

Measurement of measonry
- Horizontal alignment of bricks
Rotation

Damage

Scale

< 1:300

None

Nihil

1:300 to 1:200

Architectural

Small

1:200 to 1:100

Architectural

Medium

1:100 to 1:75

Structural

Large

> 1:75

Structural

Very Large

Criteria are under review

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New method determining state of foundation

Courtesy City of Rotterdam

Excitator in the street

Accelerator measurements on the houses
Good/bad foundation difference in response
Calibration with excavated foundation
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Existing buildings - summary

New Dutch codes for existing structures

NEN 8700 equivalent to EN 1990 Basis of Design
Reduction of
Partial load factors for rejection limit state and restoration limit state
Material and resistance factors unchanged to new buildings

NEN 8701 equivalent to EN 1991 - Loads

Adjusted wind and other loads
NEN 8707 equivalent to EN 1997 Geotechnics (in preparation)
Inspection
Observational method
Displacement criteria
Partial material factors for slopes and retaining structures
Proven strength

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Determination of characteristic value in NL

Various methods:
Only: CPT or volume weight
Eurocode 7.1/Dutch N.A. - Table 2b
Results Field and laboratory testing
Regional Database combined with local data

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TABLE 2b: Characteristic Value of a Soil Property

SOIL PROPERTY CHARACTERISTIC VALUE
SOIL TYPE
VOLUME
WEIGHT

SAT

GRAVEL

..

..

SAND

..

..

SILT

..

..

CLAY

..

..

PEAT

..

..

COEFFICIENT OF
VARIATION

0,05

CONE
RESISTANCE

DEFORMATION
PARAMETERS

qc

Cs CC C E

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

0,25

STRENGTH
PARAMETERS
'

c'

cU

..

..

..

..

..

..

0,10

0,20

ENTRANCE
qC (v = 100 kPa)

EC7 Dutch N.A.

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1 Cone resistance is stress dependent convert to v = 100 kPa

Vert eff stress v [kPa]

0,5

1,0

1,5 1,8 2,0

2,5

100

200

Sand only

v ` 40 kPa
q c 6 MPa
q co 1,8 * 6 10,8 MPa

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Characteristic Values soil parameters

EC7 Dutch NA Table 2b

Hoofd- Bijmengsel
naam
grind

zwak siltig

Consistentie b

kN/m3

los
matig
vast
los
matig
vast
los
matig
vast

17
18
19
18
19
20
17
18
19

zwak siltig, kleiig

sterk siltig, kleiig
leem e zwak zandig
slap
matig
vast
sterk zandig
klei
schoon
slap
matig
vast
zwak zandig
slap
matig
vast
sterk zandig
organisch
slap
matig
veen
niet voorbelast
slap
matig voorbelast matig
variatiecofficint

18
18
19
20
21
19
14
17
19
15
18
20
18
13
15
10
12

sterk siltig

zand

schoon

sat

20

21

20
19
19

kN/m3
19
20
21
20
21
22
19
20
21

20
20
19
20
22 21
20 19
14
17
20 19
15
18
21 20
20 18
13
16 15
12 10
13 12
0,05

22

22,5

22
21
21

22
20

20

21
20
16
12
13

qc

d g

Cp

Cs

MPa
15
25
30
10
15
25
5
15
25

500
1000
1200
400
600
1000
200
600
1000

12
8
1
2
3
2
0,5
1,0
2,0
0,7
1,5
2,5
1,0
0,2
0,5
0,1
0,2

450
200
25
45
70
45
7
15
25
10
20
30
25
7,5
10
5
7,5

1400

1500

1500
650
400

100
70

30

50
140
15
7,5
10

Cc/(1 + e0)

Csw /(1 + e0)

E100

[-]

[-]

[-]

0,0046
0,0023
0,0019 0,0016
0,0058
0,0038
0,0023 0,0015
0,0115
0,0038
0,0023 0,0015

0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0

0,0015
0,0008
0,0006 0,0005
0,0019
0,0013
0,0008 0,0005
0,0038
0,0013
0,0008 0,0005

45
75
90
30
45
75
15
45
75

0,0017
0,0038
0,0307
0,0170
0,0110
0,0170
0,1095
0,0511
0,0307
0,0767
0,0383
0,0256
0,0307
0,1022
0,0767
0,1533
0,1022

35
15
2
3
5
3
1
2
4
1,5
3
5
2
0,5
1,0
0,2
0,5

0,0051 0,0035
0

0,0115 0,0058
0
650
0,0920
0,0037
1300
0,0511
0,0020
1900 2500 0,0329 0,0230 0,0013 0,0009
1300 2000 0.0511 0,0329 0,0020 0,0013
80
0,3286
0,0131
160
0,1533
0,0061
320 500 0,0920 0,0767 0,0037 0,0031
110
0,2300
0,0092
240
0,1150
0,0046
400 600 0,0767 0,0460 0,0031 0,0018
320 1680 0,0920 0,0164 0,0037 0,0007
30
0,3067
0,0153
40
60 0,2300 0,1533 0,0115 0,0077
20
30 0,4600 0,3067 0,0230 0,0153
30
40 0,3067 0,2300 0,0153 0,0115
0,25

MPa

0,0012
0,0019

0,0077
0,0110

0,0256

0,0153
0,0055
0,0511
0,1022
0,0767

105

110

110
50
30

Graden
32,5
35,0
37,5
30,0
32,5
35,0
30,0
32,5
35,0

27,0
25,0
27,5
27,5
7
27,5
5
27,5
17,5
17,5
10 17,5
22,5
22,5
10 22,5
5
27,5
15,0
2,0 15,0
0,5 15,0
1,0 15,0
0,10

40,0

40,0

40,0

cu

kPa

kPa

0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0

n.v.t.

n.v.t.

n.v.t.

32,5
0
n.v.t.
30,0
0
n.v.t.
30,0 0
50
32,5 1
100
35,0 2,5 3,8 200 300
35,0 0
1
50 100
0
25
5
50
25,0 13 15 100 200
0
40
5
80
27,5 13 15 120 170
32,5 0
1
0
10
0
1
10
0
1
25
30
1 2,5 10
20
2,5 5
20
30
0,20

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Dutch NA Characteristic value from tests

Characteristic value for the average

Xaverage;char = Zn;v * Xaverage, where Zn;v = (1 t*v*(1/n))

Student t - distribution
n

Zn;v
v = 0,05

v = 0,10

v = 0,15

v = 0,20

v = 0,25

0,84

0,72

0,64

0,50

0,42

0,88

0,77

0,67

0,58

0,50

0,92

0,83

0,75

0,66

0,58

0,94

0,88

0,82

0,76

0,71

0,96

0,92

0,88

0,84

0,79

10

0,97

0,94

0,91

0,88

0,86

cu, c

E, Cc, C
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Characteristic value from testdata

Xaverage;char = Zn;v * Xaverage

Number of Xaverage
tests

Variation coefficient

= X1

From table 2b

= (X1 + X2)/2

From testdata,
value of Table 2b

Xi
i 1

From testdata,
If less than Table 2b,
Otherwise Table 2b

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Data bases CUR-report 2008-2

Use of databases:

Regional database is available

Useful in case of very limited local testdata and a
large variability
Be careful with spacial variation
Table 2b EC7 Dutch N.A.can be considered as
general and area independent database.
[Schneider, H. 1999]

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Determination of soil parameters: Bayesian approach

Combination of regional
database and local testdata

Local testdata

a-priori
knowledge

Regional
Database, e.g.
Dutch NA
- Table 2b

Bayesian analysis

a-posteriori
knowledge

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3 Example - combining local testdat and Table 2b, Dutch N.A.

See: CUR 2008-2
Standard analysis of characteristic value according to EC7 Dutch NA
8 vane field tests with determination of undrained shearstrength
Average cu;ave;2 = 26 kPa
Variationcofficint V2 = 0,34 characteristic value cu;char;2 = 20 kPa
Table 2b variation cofficint V2 = 0,2 characteristic value cu;char;2 = 22,5 kPa

Table 2b directly clay, clean, soft cu;char = 25 kPa

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Characteristic Values soil parameters

EC7 Dutch NA Table 2b
Hoofd- Bijmengsel
naam
grind

zwak siltig

Consistentie b

kN/m3

los
matig
vast
los
matig
vast
los
matig
vast

17
18
19
18
19
20
17
18
19

zwak siltig, kleiig

sterk siltig, kleiig
leem e zwak zandig
slap
matig
vast
sterk zandig
klei
schoon
slap
matig
vast
zwak zandig
slap
matig
vast
sterk zandig
organisch
slap
matig
veen
niet voorbelast
slap
matig voorbelast matig
variatiecofficint

18
18
19
20
21
19
14
17
19
15
18
20
18
13
15
10
12

sterk siltig

zand

schoon

sat

20

21

20
19
19

kN/m3
19
20
21
20
21
22
19
20
21

20
20
19
20
22 21
20 19
14
17
20 19
15
18
21 20
20 18
13
16 15
12 10
13 12
0,05

22

22,5

22
21
21

22
20

20

21
20
16
12
13

qc

d g

Cp

Cs

MPa
15
25
30
10
15
25
5
15
25

500
1000
1200
400
600
1000
200
600
1000

12
8
1
2
3
2
0,5
1,0
2,0
0,7
1,5
2,5
1,0
0,2
0,5
0,1
0,2

450
200
25
45
70
45
7
15
25
10
20
30
25
7,5
10
5
7,5

1400

1500

1500
650
400

100
70

30

50
140
15
7,5
10

Cc/(1 + e0)

Csw /(1 + e0)

E100

[-]

[-]

[-]

0,0046
0,0023
0,0019 0,0016
0,0058
0,0038
0,0023 0,0015
0,0115
0,0038
0,0023 0,0015

0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0

0,0015
0,0008
0,0006 0,0005
0,0019
0,0013
0,0008 0,0005
0,0038
0,0013
0,0008 0,0005

45
75
90
30
45
75
15
45
75

0,0017
0,0038
0,0307
0,0170
0,0110
0,0170
0,1095
0,0511
0,0307
0,0767
0,0383
0,0256
0,0307
0,1022
0,0767
0,1533
0,1022

35
15
2
3
5
3
1
2
4
1,5
3
5
2
0,5
1,0
0,2
0,5

0,0051 0,0035
0

0,0115 0,0058
0
650
0,0920
0,0037
1300
0,0511
0,0020
1900 2500 0,0329 0,0230 0,0013 0,0009
1300 2000 0.0511 0,0329 0,0020 0,0013
80
0,3286
0,0131
160
0,1533
0,0061
320 500 0,0920 0,0767 0,0037 0,0031
110
0,2300
0,0092
240
0,1150
0,0046
400 600 0,0767 0,0460 0,0031 0,0018
320 1680 0,0920 0,0164 0,0037 0,0007
30
0,3067
0,0153
40
60 0,2300 0,1533 0,0115 0,0077
20
30 0,4600 0,3067 0,0230 0,0153
30
40 0,3067 0,2300 0,0153 0,0115
0,25

MPa

0,0012
0,0019

0,0077
0,0110

0,0256

0,0153
0,0055
0,0511
0,1022
0,0767

105

110

110
50
30

Graden
32,5
35,0
37,5
30,0
32,5
35,0
30,0
32,5
35,0

27,0
25,0
27,5
27,5
7
27,5
5
27,5
17,5
17,5
10 17,5
22,5
22,5
10 22,5
5
27,5
15,0
2,0 15,0
0,5 15,0
1,0 15,0
0,10

40,0

40,0

40,0

cu

kPa

kPa

0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0

n.v.t.

n.v.t.

n.v.t.

32,5
0
n.v.t.
30,0
0
n.v.t.
30,0 0
50
32,5 1
100
35,0 2,5 3,8 200 300
35,0 0
1
50 100
0
25
5
50
25,0 13 15 100 200
0
40
5
80
27,5 13 15 120 170
32,5 0
1
0
10
0
1
10
0
1
25
30
1 2,5 10
20
2,5 5
20
30
0,20

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Example - combining local S.I. with NL-database/ Table 2b

Alternative
Tabel 2b is a priori information:
cu;char;1 = 25 kPa, V1 = 0,2 cu;average;1 = 37,2 kPa, st deviation s1 = 7,4 kPa
From tests:
cu;average;2 = 26 kPa, V2 = 0,34, st deviation s2 = 8,8 kPa, n = 8

cu ;average;1 2

s22
c1 c2 s12
n

s22
2
s1
n

2
saverage
;1 2

s22
s
n

s22
2
s1
n
2
1

From this: cu;ave;1+2 = 28 kPa, sgem;1+2 = 3 kPa, cu;repr;1+2 = 23 kPa > 20 kPa!
Conclusion of example:
Combination testdata and Table 2b gives here values (cu = 23 kPa)
higher than from tests only (20 kPa) , but lower than Table 2b (25 kPa)
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Conclusions databases

Soils investigation always gives a limited view of reality

Therefore cautious estimate of characteristic value or 5 %
lower or upper limit
In NL table with conservative characteristic values
Better option local soils investigation
Combination with regional databases may reduce the
variation, but caution is required (spacial extend).

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Thank You
a.vseters@fugro.nl

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