28/11/2014

GEOSS-BCA EC7 BRIEFING

ON GROUND INVESTIGATION AND
DETERMINATION OF CHARACTERISTIC VALUES
19 Nov 2014
Dr T G Ng
President GeoSS

GeoSS
GEOTECHNICAL SOCIETY
OF SINGAPORE

SCOPE OF PRESENTATION
1. Introduction
2. Geotechnical investigation to EC7
3. Geotechnical parameters and characteristic
values in EC7
4. Geotechnical Design Report
5. Q&A

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INTRODUCTION

Introduction: Distinction between

Principles and Application Rules
C1.4(1) Distinction is made between Principles and
Application Rules, depending on the character of
the individual clauses
C1.4(2) The Principles comprises:
General statements and definitions for which there is
no alternative
Requirements and analytical models for which no
alternative is permitted unless specifically stated

C1.4(3) The Principles are preceded by the Letter P

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Introduction: Distinction between

Principles and Application Rules
C1.4(4) The Application Rules are examples of
generally recognised rules, which follow the
Principles and satisfy their requirements.
C1.4(5) It is permissible to use alternatives to the
Application Rules given in this standard, provided
it is shown that the alternative rules accord with
relevant Principles and are at least equivalent
with regard to the structural safety, serviceability
and durability, which would be expected when
using the Eurocodes.

Distinction between Principles and

Application Rules (SS EN 1997-1: 2010)

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Distinction between Principles and

Application Rules (SS EN 1997-2: 2010)

Eurocode 7 : Geotechnical design

Designers are responsible to ensure structural safety,
serviceability and durability of the designs.
Designers are responsible for the planning of the
geotechnical investigation
Designers are accountable for their decisions, i.e.
specification of field and laboratory tests,
determination geotechnical design parameters and
characteristic values etc.
This briefing/dialogue aims to raise awareness to the
designers on key aspects on geotechnical
investigations and recommendations on how to
determinate characteristic values

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GEOTECHNICAL INVESTIGATIONS
TO EC7

Geotechnical categories
EN 1997-1 C2.1(8) to C2.1(21)
To establish geotechnical design, structures are
classified into Geotechnical Categories 1, 2 or 3
according to:
- complexity of the structure,
- complexity of the ground conditions
- complexity of the loading
- level of risk that is acceptable for the purpose of
the structure

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Geotechnical categories
Factors to be
Considered
Geotechnical
Hazards/risk
Ground
conditions

Groundwater
situation

Geotechnical Categories
GC1

GC2

GC3

Low

Moderate

High

Known from comparable experience

to be straightforward. Not involving
soft, loose or compressible soil,
loose fill or sloping ground.
No excavations below water table,
except where experience indicates
this will not cause problems.

Regional
seismicity

Areas with no or vary low

earthquake hazard

Influence of the
environment

Negligible risk of problems due to

surface water, subsidence,
hazardous chemicals, etc
Low
Small and relatively simple
structures or construction.
Insensitive structures in seismic
areas
Negligible risk of damage to or from
neighbouring structures or services
and negligible risk of life

Vulnerability
Natural and size
of the structure
and its
elements
Surroundings

Ground conditions and properties

can be determined from routine
investigation and tests.

Unusual or exceptionally difficult

ground conditions requiring non
routine investigations and tests.

No risk of damage without prior

warning to structures due to
groundwater lowering or drainage.
No exceptional water tightness
requirements
Moderate earthquake hazard
where seismic design code (EC8)
may be used
Environmental factors covered
routine design methods

High groundwater pressures and

exceptionally groundwater conditions,
e.g. multi-layered strata with variable
permeability.

Moderate
Conventional types of structures
with no abnormal risks

Possible risk of damage to

neighbouring structures or services
due, for example, to excavation or
piling

Areas of high earthquake hazard

Complex or difficult environmental

factors requiring special design
methods
High
Very large or unusual structures and
structures involving abnormal risks.
Very sensitive structures in seismic
areas
High risk of damage to neighbouring
structures or services

Geotechnical Categories related to geotechnical hazard and vulnerability levels (Geotechnical Design to Eurocode 7; Orr & Farrell, 1999)

Geotechnical categories
Geotechnical Categories
GC1
Expertise
required
Geotechnical
Investigations
Design
procedures

Examples of
structures

Person with appropriate comparable

experience
Qualitative investigations including
trial pits
Prescriptive measures and simplified
design procedures. E.g. design
bearing pressure based on
experience or published presumed
bearing pressures. Stability or
deformation calculations may not be
necessary
small and relatively simple structures
Landed housing on footings in firm
residual soil; single storey sheds;
linkways; roadside drain

GC2

GC3

Experienced qualified person

Experienced geotechnical specialist

Routine investigations involving

borings, field and laboratory tests
Routine calculations for stability
and deformations based on design
procedures in EC7

Additional more sophisticated investigations

and laboratory tests
More sophisticated analyses

Infrastructure projects for rail and road

tunnels; utilities tunnels of more than 3 m
in diameter; airport terminal buildings; port
structures or major maritime structures;
dam; dikes; foundation in limestone areas
for mid to high density development;
foundation for highrise of more than 10
Canal; shallow; walls and other
storey on reclaimed land, or soft soils with
structures retaining or supporting combined thickness of soft soils of more
soil or water < 6m height;
than 10 m; foundation for buildings of 30
excavations < 6m depth; tunnels in storey or more; deep basement
hard, non-fractured rock/
excavation 6m depth; retaining wall of
competent soils.
more than 6 m height.
Spread foundations; raft
foundations; pile foundations;
bridge piers and abutments;
embankments and earthworks;
ground anchors and other tiedback systems

Geotechnical Categories related to geotechnical hazard and vulnerability levels (Geotechnical Design to Eurocode 7; Orr & Farrell, 1999)

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Geotechnical categories

Designers guide to Eurocode 7: Geotechnical Design (Frank et al. 2013)

Geotechnical investigations
EN 1997-1

EN 1997-2

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Geotechnical investigations
EC7-1 Section 3: Geotechnical Data
EC7-2 Section 2: Planning of ground investigations
Gathering of all relevant information about the site
Groundwater investigation
Ground investigation
Preliminary investigation (conceptual design) desk
studies & site inspection
Design investigation (detailed design) specify
relevant investigation methods i.e. field tests/ lab tests
to justify choice of foundations, geotechnical works
Control investigation (construction stage) - Verification
of choice of foundation method and design procedure,
control of ground improvement works and stability
during construction

Preliminary investigations
EN 1997-2 C2.3

Assess suitability of site in comparison with

alternative sites
Assess suitable positioning of structure
Evaluate the possible effects of the proposed works
on surroundings, such as neighbouring buildings,
structures and sites
Walk-over surveys, desk studies of previous site
investigations
Plan the design and control investigations

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Design investigations
EN 1997-2 C2.4

To provide all the information required for the design of temporary and
permanent works
Identify any difficulties that may arise during construction
Include drilling, field tests, laboratory tests, groundwater measurement

Design investigations
EN 1997-2 C2.4

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Design investigations No of BH
Structures Type
Buildings
Up to 10 stories high
More than 10 stories high

Number of investigation points

recommended
15m to 40m grid, minimum 1 BH per block, and 3 BHs
per site
10m to 30m grid, 1 BH per 300sqm, minimum 2 BHs per
block, and 3 BHs per site

Large area

60 m grid per BH, at designers discretion

Roads, railways, canals, pipelines, inland

dikes

1 BH every 20 to 200m

ERSS, retaining wall < 6m high

1 BH every 15 to 40m

ERSS, retaining wall >= 6m high

1 BH every 10 to 30m

Tunnelling in built-up area

Tunnelling in green field area

1 BH every 10 to 75m
1 BH every 20 to 200m

Dam, costal dikes, weirs

1 BH every 25 to 75m along vertical sections

Road Bridges, tower stacks, heavy

machinery foundation

2 to 6 BHs per foundation

* From BCA advisory note

Design investigations Depth of BH

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Design investigations Depth of BH

Design investigations Depth of BH

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Design investigations Depth of BH

Design investigations Depth of BH

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Design investigations Depth of BH

where
DF
bg

is the pile base diameter; and

is the smaller side of the rectangle
circumscribing the group of piles
forming the foundation at the level
of the pile base

Design investigations Sampling

EN 1997-2

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Design investigations Sampling

EN 1997-2

Design investigations Sampling

REFERENCE BS EN ISO 22475-1 Geotechnical investigation and testing Sampling methods and groundwater measurements

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DETERMINATION OF
GEOTECHNICAL PARAMETERS AND
CHARACTERISTIC VALUES

GEOTECHNICAL PARAMETERS

Design
values

Characteristic
values

Derived values

From ground
investigations as
described earlier

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GEOTECHNICAL PARAMETERS
From ground
investigations as
described earlier

cu=5N

Design
values

Characteristic
values

Derived values

SPT N values

GEOTECHNICAL PARAMETERS
From ground
investigations as
described earlier

cu=5N

How to obtain
characteristic
values?

Design
values

Characteristic
values

Derived values

SPT N values

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WHAT IS CHARACTERISTIC VALUE?

EN 1997-1 C2.4.5.2(2)P defines the characteristic value as being
selected as cautious estimate of the value affecting the occurrence
of the limit state
Each word and phrase in this clause is important:
Selected emphasizes the importance of engineering
judgement
Cautious estimate some conservatism is required
Limit state the selected value must relate to the limit state
(failure mechanism)
For most limit state cases where the soil volume involved is large,
the characteristic value should be derived such that a cautious
estimate of the mean value is a selection of the mean value of the
limited set of geotechnical parameter values, with a confidence
level of 95% (moderately conservative parameters); where local
failure is concerned, a cautious estimate of the low value is a 5%
fractile (worst credible parameters).

APPLICATION OF CHARACTERISTIC VALUE

Applicable for
predominantly end bearing
piles in non-competent layer,
where shaft resistance
contributed < 70% of total
pile resistance

Pile design using alternative method

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APPLICABLE GEOTECHNICAL PARAMETERS

Applicable Geotechnical Parameters
tan

Effective angle of shearing resistance

Effective cohesion value

cu

Undrained shear strength

SPT N values

qc

CPT qc values

HOW TO OBTAIN CHAR VALUES FROM DERIVED VALUES?

EC7 only mentions characteristic values could be

obtained by statistical methods but did not provide
details. cl.2.4.5.2

If other methods are used e.g. direct estimate by

comparable experience, designer must be able to
justify his slection of characteristic values.

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HOW TO OBTAIN CHAR VALUES FROM DERIVED VALUES?

Two common methods of obtaining characteristics values:
1. Schneider(1999) method
2. Statistical method

Schneider
Or statistical

SCHNEIDER METHOD
Schneider(1999) Method
This method would be applicable across all geotechnical
categories.
Xk = mx - 0.5sX
(upper bound equivalent to 95% mean reliable)
Xk = mx - sX
(lower bound equivalent to low value 5% fractile)
where

k = characteristic value
m = mean value
sX = standard deviation
n = number of samples

Most likely industry will

adopt this method!

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SCHNEIDER METHOD (EXAMPLE)

STATISTICAL METHOD
Assuming homogenous soil, the characteristic mean value of a geotechnical
parameter is calculated using: (EC0 D7.2)
k = m (1 knVX)
k =

characteristic mean value at 95% reliable or 5%

fractile, depending on the kn input
m =
mean value
kn =
coefficient for 95% reliable or 5% fractile mean
value, a function of n, number of samples
VX =
coefficient of variation of parameter X,
for Vx unknown, VX = sX/mx

sX = standard variation
Hence
Xk

= mx (1- kn VX)
= mx - kn sX

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STATISTICAL METHOD
Values of the coefficient kn for the assessment of a characteristic value as a 5%
fractile value

Reference SS EN 1997-0

STATISTICAL METHOD
Values of the coefficient kn for the assessment of a characteristic value as a
95% reliable mean value

NOT FOUND IN EUROCODE!

From EC7 designer handbook

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STATISTICAL METHOD (EXAMPLE)

Use of existing SI data

Can I use existing site investigation data
from on BS Standard after Apr 2015?
Can we use derived values from non-EC7
GI to derive Characteristic value for EC7
design?

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Use of existing SI data

Can I use existing site investigation data
from on BS Standard after Apr 2015?
Can we use derived values from non-EC7
GI to derive Characteristic value for EC7
design?
Yes, but designer should be aware of the
difference between BS and EC7 soil
description.

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BS & EC

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DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BS & EC

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BS & EC

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DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BS & EC

Can we use derived values from non-EC7 GI?

Geotechnical
GI availability
Category
1
Based on available
literature e.g. geological
map, published soil
parameters, or SI of
immediate neighbour
plots

Recommendation for characteristic values

Schneider method could be adopted.
For geotechnical parameters where sample testing is
insufficient or where the values are obtained from
the GI of a neighbouring plot, the determined
characteristic value should be reduced by a further
factor of 1.2.

Available SI based on BS Schneider or Statistical method

and/or new SI to EC stds
Additional GI should be conducted for geotechnical
parameters where sample testing is insufficient.

Available SI based on BS Schneider or Statistical method, the latter is

and/or new SI to EC stds recommended if >10 sets of data is available

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GEOTECHNICAL DESIGN REPORT

GEOTECHNICAL DESIGN REPORT

EN 1997-1 C2.8(1)P The assumptions, data, methods of calculation and

results of the verification of safety and serviceability shall be recorded in
the Geotechnical Design Report
GDR should include:
Ground Investigation Report
Presentation of all available geotechnical information
Geotechnical evaluation of the information, stating the
assumptions made in the interpretation of the test results
Description of the site and surroundings
Description of the ground conditions
Description of the proposed construction, including actions
Design values of soil and rock properties
Statement on codes and standards applied
Statement on suitability of the site
Geotechnical design calculations and drawings
Foundation design recommendations
Items to be checked during construction or requiring maintenance or
monitoring

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GEOTECHNICAL DESIGN REPORT

EN 1997-1 C2.8(4)P The GDR shall include a plan of
supervision and monitoring, as appropriate.
Item which require checking during construction or,
which require maintenance after construction shall
be clearly identified.
When the required checks have been carried out
during construction, they shall be recorded in an
addendum to the Report

GEOTECHNICAL DESIGN REPORT

Deliverables specified by EC7:
Ground Investigation report (GIR)
Current practice - Site Investigation Factual Reports etc

Geotechnical Design Report (GDR) & Final Design Report

Current practice - Impact assessment due to geotechnical works,
Geotechnical Interpretation Report, design calculations and drawings
submission to BCA etc

Program for inspection, supervision and monitoring

Current practice Advisory 01/09, Qualified Site Supervisors regime as
required by BC regulations, pile load tests as required by CP4,
instrumentation and monitoring plans etc

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GEOTECHNICAL DESIGN REPORT

Deliverables specified by EC7:
Ground Investigation report (GIR)
Current practice - Site Investigation Factual Reports etc

Geotechnical Design Report (GDR) & Final Design Report

Current practice - Impact assessment due to geotechnical works,
Geotechnical Interpretation Report, design calculations and drawings
submission to BCA etc

Program for inspection, supervision and monitoring

Current practice Advisory 01/09, Qualified Site Supervisors regime as
required by BC regulations, pile load tests as required by CP4,
instrumentation and monitoring plans etc

Current practices and regulations in-line with EC7 principles

DELIVERABLES

EC7-2 B.1 Stages of ground investigations in geotechnical design, execution of works and exploitation of the structure

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CONCLUSIONS

CONCLUSIONS
The 1st Principle - Designers are responsible to ensure
structural safety, serviceability and durability of the designs for
the structures. Structures are classified into Geotechnical
Categories 1, 2 or 3.
To fulfil the 1st Principle, Designers are responsible for the
planning of the geotechnical investigation which include
Preliminary, Design and Control Investigations
Guidelines and recommendations in Informative Annexes are
available in EC7-1 and EC7-2 for reference by Designers to
decide on specifications of field and laboratory tests, no of BH,
field and lab tests etc
Characteristic values shall be determined from derived values
for design purposes.
A comprehensive Geotechnical Design Report should be
submitted to document the entire design process

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REFERENCES

REFERENCES

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REFERENCES

http://eurocodes.jrc.ec.europa.eu/

THANK YOU

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Q&A

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