1 GENERAL

1.1 Scope

1.1.1 Scope of Eurocode 7

(1)P Eurocode 7 applies to the geotechnical aspects of the design of buildings and civil engineering works. It is subdivided into various separate parts. (see 1.1.2)

(2)P Eurocode 7 is concerned with the requirements for strength, stability, serviceability and durability of the structures. Other requirements, e.g. concerning thermal or sound insulation, are not considered.

(3)P Eurocode 7 shall be used in conjunction with ENV 1991-1 Eurocode 1 "Basis of Design and Actions on Structures". Part 1: "Basis of Design", which establishes the principles and requirements for safety and serviceability, describes the basis for design and verification and gives guidelines for related aspects of structural reliability.

(4)P Eurocode 7 gives the rules to calculate actions originating from the ground such as earth pressures. Numerical values of actions on buildings and civil engineering works to be taken into account in the design are provided in ENV 1991 Eurocode 1 "Basis of Design and Actions on Structures" applicable to the various types of construction.

(5)P In Eurocode 7 execution is covered to the extent that is necessary to indicate the quality of the construction materials and products which should be used and the standard of workmanship on site needed to comply with the assumptions of the design rules. Generally, the rules related to execution and workmanship are to be considered as minimum requirements which may have to be further developed for particular types of buildings or civil engineering works and methods of construction.

(6)P Eurocode 7 does not cover the special requirements of seismic design. Eurocode 8, "Design provisions for earthquake resistance of structures" provides additional rules for seismic design which complete or adapt the rules of this prestandard.

1.1.2 Scope of ENV 1997-3

(1)P In addition to ENV 1997-1 the scope of ENV 1997-3 is to provide for a number of commonly used field tests:

  • a) requirements for the equipment and test procedures;
  • b) requirements for the reporting and the presentation of test results;
  • c) interpretation of test results.

(2)P Part 3 shall serve as a link between the design requirements of Part 1 and the results of a number of field tests. Therefore part of the scope is to give:

  • d) examples on how to derive values of geotechnical parameters from the test results.

(3)P ENV 1997-3 shall be used in conjunction with ENV 1997-1.

1.1.3 Limitations

(1)P The derivation of parameter values is dedicated primarily to the design of pile and spread foundations as elaborated in the annexes B, C, D, and E of ENV 1997-1.

(2)P The scope of ENV 1997-3 does not cover the following:

  • the assessment of characteristic values;
  • environmental geotechnics, chemical investigations or the environmental impact of structures;
  • geohydrological tests e.g. pumping tests.

1.2 References

(1)P This European Prestandard incorporates by dated or undated reference, provisions from other standards. These normative references are cited at the appropriate places in the text and the publications are listed hereafter. For dated references, subsequent amendments to or revisions of any of these publications apply to this Prestandard only when incorporated in it by amendment or revision.

ENV 1991-1:1994 Eurocode 1 Basis of design and actions constructures Part 1 Basis of design

ENV 1997-1:1994 Eurocode 7 Geotechnical design Part 1 General rules

ENV 1997-2:1998 Eurocode 7 Geotechnical design Part 2 Design assisted by laboratory testing

ISO 3898:1997 Basis for design of structures. Notations. General symbols

1.3 Distinction between Principles and Application Rules

(1)P Depending on the character of the individual paragraphs, distinction is made in this prestandard between Principles and Application Rules.

(2)P The Principles comprise:

  • — general statements and definitions for which there is no alternative, as well as;
  • — requirements and analytical models for which no alternative is permitted unless specifically stated.

(3)P The Principles are preceded by the letter P.

(4)P The Application Rules are examples of generally recognised rules which follow the Principles and satisfy their requirements.

(5)P It is permissible to use alternative rules different from the Application Rules given in this Eurocode, provided it is shown that the alternative rules accord with the relevant Principles.

Eurocode 7 Geotechnical design — Part 3: Design assisted by fieldtesting