Some things

Eurocode 7
doesnt say
Brian Simpson
Arup Geotechnics
BP188.1

UCL, 18 March 2013

Some things Eurocode 7 doesnt say

Things it doesnt say, but is sometimes accused of

Characteristic values are 5% fractiles of measured strengths

Calculations should use peak strengths of materials
DA1 Combinations 1 and 2 correspond to STR and GEO
Design values = k-values x partial factor (HYD - Eq 2.9)

Things it doesnt say, but I suggest it should

ULS design values not better than worst credible
Minimum earth pressures for retaining walls
Beware of permeability distributions (HYD)

Other things it doesnt say

Minimum surcharge for retaining walls
25% overstress allowance for wind loading
2

Some things Eurocode 7 doesnt say

Things it doesnt say, but is sometimes accused of

Characteristic values are 5% fractiles of measured strengths

Calculations should use peak strengths of materials
DA1 Combinations 1 and 2 correspond to STR and GEO
Design values = k-values x partial factor (HYD - Eq 2.9)

Things it doesnt say, but I suggest it should

ULS design values not better than worst credible
Minimum earth pressures for retaining walls
Beware of permeability distributions (HYD)

Other things it doesnt say

Minimum surcharge for retaining walls
25% overstress allowance for wind loading
3

EN 1990

3.3 Ultimate limit states

Serious failures involving risk of injury or major cost.

Must be rendered very unlikely. An unrealistic possibility.
4

EN1990

3.4 Serviceability limit states

Inconveniences, disappointments and more manageable costs.

Should be rare, but it might be uneconomic to eliminate them
completely.
5

Fundamental limit state requirement

Ed Rd
E{

Fd ; Xd ; ad} = Ed Rd = R{ Fd ; Xd ; ad}

E{F Frep; Xk/M; ad} = Ed Rd = R{F Frep; Xk/M; ad}

or E{F Frep; Xk/M; ad} = Ed Rd = Rk/R = RnfR (LRFD)
or

E Ek = Ed Rd = Rk/R

so in total

E E{F Frep; Xk/M; ad} = Ed Rd = R{F Frep; Xk/M; ad}/R

E = action effects

d = design (= factored)

F = actions (loads)

k = characteristic (= unfactored)

R = resistance (=capacity)

rep = representative

X = material properties
a = dimensions/geometry
6

Some things Eurocode 7 doesnt say

Things it doesnt say, but is sometimes accused of

Characteristic values are 5% fractiles of measured strengths

Calculations should use peak strengths of materials
DA1 Combinations 1 and 2 correspond to STR and GEO
Design values = k-values x partial factor (HYD - Eq 2.9)
ULS design water level must be at ground level

Things it doesnt say, but I suggest it should

ULS design values not better than worst credible
Minimum earth pressures for retaining walls
Beware of permeability distributions (HYD)

Other things it doesnt say

Minimum surcharge for retaining walls
25% overstress allowance for wind loading on foundations
7

Characteristic values in EC7

Characteristic values in EC7 definition (2.4.5.2)

Characteristic values in EC7

2.4.3(4) also mentions:

10

Characteristic values in EC7 zone of ground

Small building on estuarine beds near slope

11

Characteristic values in EC7 definition (2.4.5.2)

12

Characteristic values in EC7

NOT a fractile of the results of particular, specified laboratory tests on
specimens of material.
A cautious estimate of the value affecting the occurrence of the limit state
Take account of time effects, brittleness, soil fabric and structure, the effects
of construction processes and the extent of the body of ground involved in a
limit state
The designers expertise and understanding of the ground are all encapsulated
in the characteristic value

Consider both project-specific information and a wider body of geotechnical

knowledge and experience.
Characteristic = moderately conservative = representative (BS8002) = what
good designers have always done.
13

Some things Eurocode 7 doesnt say

Things it doesnt say, but is sometimes accused of

Characteristic values are 5% fractiles of measured strengths

Calculations should use peak strengths of materials
DA1 Combinations 1 and 2 correspond to STR and GEO
Design values = k-values x partial factor (HYD - Eq 2.9)

Things it doesnt say, but I suggest it should

ULS design values not better than worst credible
Minimum earth pressures for retaining walls
Beware of permeability distributions (HYD)

Other things it doesnt say

Minimum surcharge for retaining walls
25% overstress allowance for wind loading on foundations
14

Calculations should use peak strengths of materials?

Only one reference to peak strength in EC7:

15

Calculations should use peak strengths of materials?

16

f peak, critical state or residual?

The value that will prevent the exceedance of the limit state.
Caution about progressive loss of density or strength.
So caution about f>38.
Residual
Suggestion: The ULS design value of the shear strength should never be
greater than a cautious (ie characteristic) estimate of the critical state
strength of the material. (Should EC7 say this?)
Interfaces between structure and ground (wall friction, sliding etc) use
critical state value as characteristic value, and apply normal factors.

Some things Eurocode 7 doesnt say

Things it doesnt say, but is sometimes accused of

Characteristic values are 5% fractiles of measured strengths

Calculations should use peak strengths of materials
DA1 Combinations 1 and 2 correspond to STR and GEO
Design values = k-values x partial factor (HYD - Eq 2.9)

Things it doesnt say, but I suggest it should

ULS design values not better than worst credible
Minimum earth pressures for retaining walls
Beware of permeability distributions (HYD)

Other things it doesnt say

Minimum surcharge for retaining walls
25% overstress allowance for wind loading on foundations
18

Partial
factors
forrecommended
DA1 inUK
National
Annex
Values
of partial factors
EN1997-1
Annex A
Design approach 1
Combination 1--------------------Combination 2 ------------------------Combination 2 - piles & anchors
A1
M1
R1
A2
M2
R1
A2
M1 or ..M2
R4
Permanent
unfav
1,35
Actions
fav
Variable
unfav
1,5
1,3
1,3
1,25
1,25
tan f'
Soil
Effective cohesion
1,25
1,25
Undrained strength
1,4
1,4
Unconfined strength
1,4
1,4
Weight density
Bearing
Spread
Sliding
footings
Base
1,7/1.5
Driven
Shaft (compression)
1.5/1.3
piles
Total/combined
1.7/1.5
(compression)
Shaft in tension
2.0/1.7
Base
2.0/1.7
Bored
Shaft
(compression)
1.6/1.4
piles
Total/combined
2.0/1.7
(compression)
Shaft
in tension
2.0/1.7
Base
As
CFA
Shaft (compression)
for
piles
Total/combined
bored
(compression)
Shaft in tension
piles
1,1
Anchors Temporary
Permanent
1,1
Retaining Bearing capacity
Sliding resistance
walls
Earth resistance
Earth resistance
Slopes

indicates partial factor = 1.0

C:\BX\BX-C\EC7\[Factors.xls]

19

EC7
values
1,3
1,3
1,3
1.6
1,6
1,3
1.5
1.6
1.45
1.3
1.4
1.6
1,1
1,1

2.4.7 Ultimate Limit States

2.4.7.1 General
General
2.4.7.1
(1)P Where
Where relevant,
relevant, itit shall
shall be
be verified
verified that
that the
the following
following limit
limit states
states are
are not
not exceeded:
exceeded:
(1)P
loss
loss of
of equilibrium
equilibrium of
of the
the structure
structure or
or the
the ground,
ground, considered
considered as
as aa rigid
rigid body,
body, in
in which
which the
the

strengths of
of structural
structural materials
materials and
and the
the ground
ground are
are insignificant
insignificant in
in providing
providing resistance
resistance
strengths
(EQU);
(EQU);
internal
internal failure
failure or
or excessive
excessive deformation
deformation of
of the
the structure
structure or
or structural
structural elements,
elements, including
including

e.g. footings,
footings, piles
piles or
or basement
basement walls,
walls, in
in which
which the
the strength
strength of
of structural
structural materials
materials is
is
e.g.

significant in
in providing
providing resistance
resistance (STR);
(STR);
significant
failure
failure or
or excessive
excessive deformation
deformation of
of the
the ground,
ground, in
in which
which the
the strength
strength of
of soil
soil or
or rock
rock is
is

significant in
in providing
providing resistance
resistance (GEO);
(GEO);
significant
loss
loss of
of equilibrium
equilibrium of
of the
the structure
structure or
or the
the ground
ground due
due to
to uplift
uplift by
by water
water pressure
pressure (buoyancy)
(buoyancy)

or other
other vertical
vertical actions
actions (UPL);
(UPL);
or
hydraulic
hydraulic heave,
heave, internal
internal erosion
erosion and
and piping
piping in
in the
the ground
ground caused
caused by
by hydraulic
hydraulic gradients
gradients

(HYD).
(HYD).

20

DA1 Combinations 1 and 2 correspond to STR and GEO?

STR

GEO

No differentiation between STR and GEO

21

Eurocode case study: High speed rail station, Florence, Italy

22

454m long, 52m wide and 27 to 32m deep

1.2 to 1.6m thick diaphragm walls

Three levels of temporary strutting.

Florence Station comparison of bending moments

ULS design
bending moments
FREW analyses

Prop and excavation levels

Stage 1
2

45

40

Level (m)

35

30
25
20
15
10

5
-6,000

-4,000

-2,000

2,000

4,000

6,000

8,000

Bending Moment (kNm/m)

C1

C1

C2, factors all stages

C2, factors all stages
C2,factoring stages separately

23

C1
C1
C2, factors all stages
C2, factors all stages
C2, factoring stages separately

Some things Eurocode 7 doesnt say

Things it doesnt say, but is sometimes accused of

Characteristic values are 5% fractiles of measured strengths

Calculations should use peak strengths of materials
DA1 Combinations 1 and 2 correspond to STR and GEO
Design values = k-values x partial factor (HYD - Eq 2.9)

Things it doesnt say, but I suggest it should

ULS design values not better than worst credible
Minimum earth pressures for retaining walls
Beware of permeability distributions (HYD)

Other things it doesnt say

Minimum surcharge for retaining walls
25% overstress allowance for wind loading on foundations
24

G S

EC7 {2.4.7.5(1)P} states: When considering a limit state of failure due to heave
by seepage of water in the ground (HYD, see 10.3), it shall be verified, for every
relevant soil column, that the design value of the destabilising total pore water
pressure (udst;d ) at the bottom of the column, or the design value of the seepage
force (Sdst;d) in the column is less than or equal to the stabilising total vertical
stress (stb;d) at the bottom of the column, or the submerged weight (Gstb;d) of the
same column:
udst;d stb;d (2.9a) total stress (at the bottom of the column)
Sdst;d Gstb;d (2.9b) effective weight (within the column)

25

G S

Annex A of EC7 provides values for partial factors to be used for HYD, G;dst = 1.35
and G;stb = 0.9. But the code does not state what quantities are to be factored.
EC7 {2.4.7.5(1)P} states: When considering a limit state of failure due to heave
Maybe:
water
in the (2.9a)
ground (HYD, see 10.3), it shall be verified, for every
by
udst;k of
G;stb
stb;k
G;dstseepage
and
relevant soil column, that the design value of the destabilising total pore water
pressure
dst;d
G;stb) at
Gstb;k
(2.9b)
the bottom
of the column, or the design value of the seepage
G;dst Sdst;k (u
force (Sdst;d) in the column is less than or equal to the stabilising total vertical
In
this (format,
areofapplied
to different
inweight
2.9 a and
stress
stb;d) atthe
thefactors
bottom
the column,
or thequantities
submerged
(Gb.
stb;d) of the
same column:
udst;d stb;d (2.9a) total stress (at the bottom of the column)
Sdst;d Gstb;d (2.9b) effective weight (within the column)
26

Fundamental limit state requirement

Ed Rd
E{

Fd ; Xd ; ad} = Ed Rd = R{ Fd ; Xd ; ad}

E{F Frep; Xk/M; ad} = Ed Rd = R{F Frep; Xk/M; ad}

or E{F Frep; Xk/M; ad} = Ed Rd = Rk/R = RnfR (LRFD)
or

E Ek = Ed Rd = Rk/R

so in total

E E{F Frep; Xk/M; ad} = Ed Rd = R{F Frep; Xk/M; ad}/R

E = action effects

d = design (= factored)

F = actions (loads)

k = characteristic (= unfactored)

R = resistance (=capacity)

rep = representative

X = material properties
a = dimensions/geometry
27

Some things Eurocode 7 doesnt say

Things it doesnt say, but is sometimes accused of

Characteristic values are 5% fractiles of measured strengths

Calculations should use peak strengths of materials
DA1 Combinations 1 and 2 correspond to STR and GEO
Design values = k-values x partial factor (HYD - Eq 2.9)
ULS design water level must be at ground level

Things it doesnt say, but I suggest it should

ULS design values not better than worst credible
Minimum earth pressures for retaining walls
Beware of permeability distributions (HYD)

Other things it doesnt say

Minimum surcharge for retaining walls
25% overstress allowance for wind loading on foundations
28

Some things Eurocode 7 doesnt say

Things it doesnt say, but is sometimes accused of

Characteristic values are 5% fractiles of measured strengths

Calculations should use peak strengths of materials
DA1 Combinations 1 and 2 correspond to STR and GEO
Design values = k-values x partial factor (HYD - Eq 2.9)
ULS design water level must be at ground level

Things it doesnt say, but I suggest it should

ULS design values not better than worst credible
- Applies to ULS factored design values.

29

Some things Eurocode 7 doesnt say

Things it doesnt say, but is sometimes accused of

Characteristic values are 5% fractiles of measured strengths

Calculations should use peak strengths of materials
DA1 Combinations 1 and 2 correspond to STR and GEO
Design values = k-values x partial factor (HYD - Eq 2.9)
ULS design water level must be at ground level

Things it doesnt say, but I suggest it should

ULS design values not better than worst credible
- Applies to ULS factored design values.
(EN 1990)

30

Some things Eurocode 7 doesnt say

Things it doesnt say, but is sometimes accused of

Characteristic values are 5% fractiles of measured strengths

Calculations should use peak strengths of materials
DA1 Combinations 1 and 2 correspond to STR and GEO
Design values = k-values x partial factor (HYD - Eq 2.9)
ULS design water level must be at ground level

Things it doesnt say, but I suggest it should

ULS design values not better than worst credible
- Applies to ULS factored design values.
(EN 1990)

31

DA1C2 design j characteristic jcrit

Some things Eurocode 7 doesnt say

Things it doesnt say, but is sometimes accused of

Characteristic values are 5% fractiles of measured strengths

Calculations should use peak strengths of materials
DA1 Combinations 1 and 2 correspond to STR and GEO
Design values = k-values x partial factor (HYD - Eq 2.9)
ULS design water level must be at ground level

Things it doesnt say, but I suggest it should

ULS design values not better than worst credible
Minimum earth pressures for retaining walls
Beware of permeability distributions (HYD)

Other things it doesnt say

Minimum surcharge for retaining walls
25% overstress allowance for wind loading on foundations
32

Some things Eurocode 7 doesnt say

Things it doesnt say, but is sometimes accused of

Characteristic values are 5% fractiles of measured strengths

Calculations should use peak strengths of materials
DA1 Combinations 1 and 2 correspond to STR and GEO
Design values = k-values x partial factor (HYD - Eq 2.9)
ULS design water level must be at ground level

Things it doesnt say, but I suggest it should

ULS design values not better than worst credible
Minimum earth pressures for retaining walls
Beware of permeability distributions (HYD)

Other things it doesnt say

Minimum surcharge for retaining walls
25% overstress allowance for wind loading on foundations
33

G S

EC7 {2.4.7.5(1)P} states: When considering a limit state of failure due to heave
by seepage of water in the ground (HYD, see 10.3), it shall be verified, for every
relevant soil column, that the design value of the destabilising total pore water
pressure (udst;d ) at the bottom of the column, or the design value of the seepage
force (Sdst;d) in the column is less than or equal to the stabilising total vertical
stress (stb;d) at the bottom of the column, or the submerged weight (Gstb;d) of the
same column:
udst;d stb;d (2.9a) total stress (at the bottom of the column)
Sdst;d Gstb;d (2.9b) effective weight (within the column)

34

5
Isotropic

13
Low k layer
5:1

35

Anisotropic
5:1

Some things Eurocode 7 doesnt say

Things it doesnt say, but is sometimes accused of

Characteristic values are 5% fractiles of measured strengths

Calculations should use peak strengths of materials
DA1 Combinations 1 and 2 correspond to STR and GEO
Design values = k-values x partial factor (HYD - Eq 2.9)
ULS design water level must be at ground level

Things it doesnt say, but I suggest it should

ULS design values not better than worst credible
Minimum earth pressures for retaining walls
Beware of permeability distributions (HYD)

Other things it doesnt say

Minimum surcharge for retaining walls
25% overstress allowance for wind loading on foundations
36

Some things Eurocode 7 doesnt say

Things it doesnt say, but is sometimes accused of

Characteristic values are 5% fractiles of measured strengths

Calculations should use peak strengths of materials
DA1 Combinations 1 and 2 correspond to STR and GEO
Design values = k-values x partial factor (HYD - Eq 2.9)
ULS design water level must be at ground level

Things it doesnt say, but I suggest it should

ULS design values not better than worst credible
Minimum earth pressures for retaining walls
Beware of permeability distributions (HYD)

Other things it doesnt say

Minimum surcharge for retaining walls
25% overstress allowance for wind loading on foundations
37

Some things
Eurocode 7
doesnt say
Brian Simpson
Arup Geotechnics
BP188.1

38

UCL, 18 March 2013