Verification of ultimate limit states in geotechnical design by Eurocode 7 in France and Germany

ABSTRACT This paper describes the three design approaches (DA 1, DA 2 and DA 3) offered by Eurocode 7 on “Geotechnical design” for verifying ultimate limit states in persistent or transient design situations (i.e. under fundamental combinations). They are applied and compared in the case of a strip footing under eccentric and inclined loading. Both in France and in Germany, DA 2 has been selected for most geotechnical structures, though with some differences between the two countries for a limited number of cases. The principles and the choices made for the selection of the design approach, as well as of the values for the partial factors of safety, are explained for the two countries.