Eurocodice (EN 1997) > EN 1997 - 2 > Content of Eurocode 7-2 > General

2.1 Objectives

2.1.1 General

(1) P Geotechnical investigations shall be planned in such a way as to ensure that relevant geotechnical information and data are available at the various stages of the project.

(6) Before designing the investigation programme, the available information and documents should be evaluated in a desk study.

(7) Examples of information and documents that can be used are:

•geological maps and descriptions;

•previous investigations at the site and in the surroundings;

•aerial photos and previous photo interpretations;

•topographical maps;

2.1.2 Ground

(1) P Ground investigations shall provide a description of ground conditions relevant to the proposed works and establish a basis for the assessment of the geotechnical parameters relevant for all construction stages.

(2) The information obtained should enable assessment of the following aspects, if possible:

•the suitability of the site with respect to the proposed construction and the level of acceptable risks;

•the deformation of the ground caused by the structure or resulting from construction works, its spatial distribution and behaviour over time;

The information obtained should enable assessment of the following aspects, if possible (continued):

•the safety with respect to limit states (e.g. subsidence, ground heave, uplift, slippage of soil and rock masses, buckling of piles, etc.);

•the loads transmitted from the ground to the structure (e.g. lateral pressures on piles) and the extent to which they depend on its design and construction;

•the foundation methods (e.g. ground improvement, whether it is possible to excavate, driveability of piles, drainage);

•the sequence of foundation works;

•the effects of the structure and its use on the

surroundings;

(2)The information obtained should enable assessment of the following aspects, if possible (continued):

•any additional structural measures required (e.g. support of excavation, anchorage, sleeving of bored piles, removal of obstructions); the effects of construction work on the surroundings;

•the type and extent of ground contamination on, and in the vicinity of, the site;

•the effectiveness of measures taken to contain or

remedy contamination.

2.1.4 Ground water

(2)The information obtained should be sufficient to assess

the following aspects, where relevant:

•the scope for and nature of groundwater-lowering work;

•possible harmful effects of the groundwater on excavations or on slopes

•any measures necessary to protect the structure;

•the effects of groundwater lowering, desiccation, impounding etc. on the surroundings;

•the capacity of the ground to absorb water injected during construction work;

•whether it is possible to use local groundwater, given its chemical constitution, for construction purposes.

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