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
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
 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)
 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
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
 Geotechnical categories
Factors to be Geotechnical Categories
Considered
GC1 GC2 GC3
Geotechnical Low Moderate High
Hazards/risk
Ground Known from comparable experience Ground conditions and properties Unusual or exceptionally difficult
conditions to be straightforward. Not involving can be determined from routine ground conditions requiring non
soft, loose or compressible soil, investigation and tests. routine investigations and tests.
loose fill or sloping ground.
Groundwater No excavations below water table, No risk of damage without prior High groundwater pressures and
situation except where experience indicates warning to structures due to exceptionally groundwater conditions,
this will not cause problems. groundwater lowering or drainage. e.g. multi-layered strata with variable
No exceptional water tightness permeability.
requirements
Regional Areas with no or vary low Moderate earthquake hazard Areas of high earthquake hazard
seismicity earthquake hazard where seismic design code (EC8)
may be used
Influence of the Negligible risk of problems due to Environmental factors covered Complex or difficult environmental
environment surface water, subsidence, routine design methods factors requiring special design
hazardous chemicals, etc methods
Vulnerability Low Moderate High
Natural and size Small and relatively simple Conventional types of structures Very large or unusual structures and
of the structure structures or construction. with no abnormal risks structures involving abnormal risks.
and its Insensitive structures in seismic Very sensitive structures in seismic
elements areas areas
Surroundings Negligible risk of damage to or from Possible risk of damage to High risk of damage to neighbouring
neighbouring structures or services neighbouring structures or services structures or services
and negligible risk of life due, for example, to excavation or
piling

Geotechnical Categories related to geotechnical hazard and vulnerability levels (Geotechnical Design to Eurocode 7; Orr & Farrell, 1999)
 Geotechnical categories
Geotechnical Categories
GC1 GC2 GC3
Expertise Person with appropriate comparable Experienced qualified person Experienced geotechnical specialist
required experience
Geotechnical Qualitative investigations including Routine investigations involving Additional more sophisticated investigations
Investigations trial pits borings, field and laboratory tests and laboratory tests
Design Prescriptive measures and simplified Routine calculations for stability More sophisticated analyses
procedures design procedures. E.g. design and deformations based on design
bearing pressure based on procedures in EC7
experience or published presumed
bearing pressures. Stability or
deformation calculations may not be
necessary
Examples of small and relatively simple structures Spread foundations; raft Infrastructure projects for rail and road
structures foundations; pile foundations; tunnels; utilities tunnels of more than 3 m
Landed housing on footings in firm bridge piers and abutments; in diameter; airport terminal buildings; port
residual soil; single storey sheds; embankments and earthworks; structures or major maritime structures;
linkways; roadside drain ground anchors and other tied- dam; dikes; foundation in limestone areas
back systems 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.

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

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

 Geotechnical investigations
EN 1997-1

EN 1997-2
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
 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
 Design investigations – No of BH
Structures Type Number of investigation points
recommended
Buildings –
Up to 10 stories high 15m to 40m grid, minimum 1 BH per block, and 3 BHs
per site
More than 10 stories high 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 designer’s discretion

Roads, railways, canals, pipelines, inland 1 BH every 20 to 200m

dikes
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 1 BH every 10 to 75m

Tunnelling in green field area 1 BH every 20 to 200m

Dam, costal dikes, weirs 1 BH every 25 to 75m along vertical sections

Road Bridges, tower stacks, heavy 2 to 6 BHs per foundation

machinery foundation
* From BCA advisory note
Design investigations – Depth of BH
Design investigations – Depth of BH
Design investigations – Depth of BH
Design investigations – Depth of BH
Design investigations – Depth of BH
Design investigations – Depth of BH

where

DF is the pile base diameter; and

bg 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
 Design investigations – Sampling
EN 1997-2
 Design investigations – Sampling
REFERENCE BS EN ISO 22475-1 Geotechnical investigation and testing – Sampling methods and groundwater measurements
DETERMINATION OF
GEOTECHNICAL PARAMETERS AND
CHARACTERISTIC VALUES
 GEOTECHNICAL PARAMETERS
From ground
investigations as
described earlier
Derived values
Characteristic
values
Design
values
 GEOTECHNICAL PARAMETERS
From ground
SPT N values
investigations as
described earlier
Derived values

cu=5N
Characteristic
values
Design
values
 GEOTECHNICAL PARAMETERS
From ground
SPT N values
investigations as
described earlier
Derived values

cu=5N
Characteristic

How to obtain
values

characteristic
values?
Design
values
 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”

APPLICABLE GEOTECHNICAL PARAMETERS

Applicable Geotechnical Parameters

tan j’ Effective angle of shearing resistance

c’ Effective cohesion value

cu Undrained shear strength

N 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.
 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

Most likely industry will

adopt this method!
Ck = characteristic value
mC = mean value
sX = standard deviation
n = number of samples
SCHNEIDER METHOD (EXAMPLE)
 STATISTICAL METHOD
Assuming homogenous soil, the characteristic mean value of a geotechnical
parameter is calculated using: (EC0 D7.2)
Ck = mC (1- knVX)

Ck = characteristic mean value at 95% reliable or 5%

fractile, depending on the kn input
mC = 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
 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
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?
 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
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BS & EC
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BS & EC
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BS & EC
Can we use derived values from non-EC7 GI?
Geotechnical GI availability Recommendation for characteristic values
Category
1 Based on available Schneider method could be adopted.
literature e.g. geological
map, published soil For geotechnical parameters where sample testing is
parameters, or SI of insufficient or where the values are obtained from
immediate neighbour the GI of a neighbouring plot, the determined
plots characteristic value should be reduced by a further
factor of 1.2.

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.

3 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
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
 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
 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
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
REFERENCES
REFERENCES
 REFERENCES

http://eurocodes.jrc.ec.europa.eu/
THANK YOU
Q&A