This paper proposed a method to implement the EC-7 framework in the calculation of shallow foundations on rock and rock slope stability problems. Previously a revision of the usual methods currently used is made.
Eurocode 7 (EC-7) is the European reference document to design the geotechnical aspects of building and civil engineering projects. EC-7, named "Geotechnical design", has two parts: Part 1 "General rules" was approved by Normalization European Committee (CEN) in April 2004 and Part 2 "Ground investigation and testing" was approved in January 2007.
This document deals with almost all the geotechnical works: spread and pile foundations, anchorages, retaining structures, embankments, overall stability and hydraulic failures without any distinction between soil and rocks, although the aspects related to soils are quite more relevant. This is the reason why the Subcommittee SC-7 of CEN-TC 250, responsible of writing EC-7, created a working group devoted to emphasize the role of Rock Mechanics inside EC-7.
The aim of this paper is to help that committee in its task as it makes a proposal to performthe calculation of spread foundations on rocks and the stability analysis of rock slopes in the EC-7 framework.
According to EC-7 framework, the calculation of any ultimate limit state basically involves the verification of the following expression:
Ed<Rd (1)
The design value of effect of actions (Ed) is calculated from the characteristic values of effects of actions, affected by the partial factor on effect of actions (γE) whose values, proposed by EC-7, are shown in the following table.
