BS 8004:1986
No clear distinction between ULS and
Serviceability Limit State (SLS) design.
Provide comprehensive guidance on design for Provides
experienced professionals.
Does not distinguish ULS from SLS explicitly, but Subdivides ULS requirements into 5 broad
goes through a whole list of design considerations categories
one by one.
EC7
Makes a clear distinction between ULS and
Serviceability Limit State (SLS) design.
1. ULS requirements are identified by EC7-11:
 Overall Stability
 Adequate Bearing Resistance
 Adequate Sliding Resistance
 Adequate Structural Capacity
 No Combined Failure of Ground and
Structure
2. While the list on SLS requirements includes
 No Excessive Settlement, both immediate
and delayed
 Design against Heave, both immediate and
delayed
 Design for Vibrating Loads
much advisory information, not
obligatory, and often refers readers to datasheets and
other publications.
1. EQU: “loss of equilibrium of the structure or
the ground, considered as a rigid body, in which
the strengths of structural materials and the
ground are insignificant in providing resistance”
2. STR: “internal failure or excessive deformation
of the structure or structural elements, including
footings, piles, basement walls, etc, in which the
structural material is significant in providing
resistance”
3. GEO: “failure or excessive deformation of the
ground, in which the strength of soil or rock is
significant in providing resistance”

Traditional “safety factor” approach which is to
apply an overall safety factor.
1. Partial FOS on Shaft (Fs) and Base (Fb)
- For shaft, use 1.5 (typical)
- For base, use 3.0 (typical)
2. Global FOS (Fg) on total capacity
- Use 2.0 (typical)
3. The lower allowable geotechnical capacity
from above will be adopted
Calculate ultimate pile geotechnical resistance
(Qsu, Qbu) using:
1. Semi-empirical method
- Extensively developed for:
1. Shaft Resistance
2. Base Resistance
- Relating to SPT N values from
Standard Penetration Test
2. Simplified soil mechanics method
(i.e. effective stress method)
- Classified into:
a) Cohesive Soils (eg. CLAY, SILT)
b) Cohesionless Soil (SAND,
GRAVEL)
4. UPL: “loss of equilibrium of the structure or the
ground due to uplift by water pressure
(buoyancy) or other vertical actions”
5. HYD: “hydraulic heave, internal erosion and
piping in the ground caused by hydraulic
gradients”
Adopts a concept of “partial factors of safety”
1. Approaches different in partial factors
between :
a) Actions
b) Material properties
c) Resistance
2. Introduces distinctive Design Approaches
(DAs)
 DA-1 Combination 1: A1 ‘+’ M1 ‘+’ R1,
essentially a STR Limit State approach
 DA-1 Combination 2: A2 ‘+’ M2 ‘+’ R1,
essentially a GEO Limit State approach
Calculate ultimate pile geotechnical resistance
using:
1. Results of static load tests
2. Empirical or analytical calculation methods
3. Results of dynamic load tests
4. Observed performance of a comparable pile
foundation
REFERENCES

Wang, J & Thusyanthan, Indrasenan. (2018). A Detailed Evaluation of Eurocode and ISO
Methodology on Earthquake-Resistant Geotechnical Designs.