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B2 The Role of EN 1990 PDF
B2 The Role of EN 1990 PDF
In this series:
Booklets
B1: The Eurocodes: Implementation and use
B2: The role of EN 1990: the key head Eurocode
B3: The Eurocodes and construction products
B4: The Eurocodes: Supporting EU policies and increasing competitiveness
B5: The Eurocodes: Use outside EU
B6: The Eurocodes and cooperation in the Euro-Mediterranean area
Leaflets
L1: The Eurocodes: What are they?
L2: The Eurocodes: Getting prepared
L3: The Eurocodes: Increasing competitiveness
L4: The Eurocodes: Opportunity to innovate
The Eurocodes are a set of European Standards (EN) for the design of A European
buildings and civil engineering works and construction products, Standard (EN) is
produced by the Comité Européen de Normalisation (CEN). published by one of
the European
They embody national experience and research output together with Standards
the expertise of CEN Technical Committee 250 (CEN/TC250) and of Organisations, i.e.
International Technical and Scientific Organisations and represent a CEN, CENELEC and
world-class standard for structural design. ETSI, and must be
adopted as an
The Eurocodes suite is made up by 10 European Standards for identical National
This booklet was produced by the JRC in the framework of structural design. Each Eurocode consists of a number of parts that Standard by the
cover particular technical aspects, e.g. fire, bridge design, etc. National Standards
the Administrative Arrangement Bodies.
between
the Enterprise and Industry Directorate General (DG ENTR)
and
the Joint Research Centre (JRC)
The EN Eurocodes
JRC 42743
The Eurocodes are a set of European Standards (EN) for the design of A European
buildings and civil engineering works and construction products, Standard (EN) is
produced by the Comité Européen de Normalisation (CEN). published by one of
the European
They embody national experience and research output together with Standards
the expertise of CEN Technical Committee 250 (CEN/TC250) and of Organisations, i.e.
International Technical and Scientific Organisations and represent a CEN, CENELEC and
world-class standard for structural design. ETSI, and must be
adopted as an
The Eurocodes suite is made up by 10 European Standards for identical National
This booklet was produced by the JRC in the framework of structural design. Each Eurocode consists of a number of parts that Standard by the
cover particular technical aspects, e.g. fire, bridge design, etc. National Standards
the Administrative Arrangement Bodies.
between
the Enterprise and Industry Directorate General (DG ENTR)
and
the Joint Research Centre (JRC)
The EN Eurocodes
JRC 42743
EN 1990 establishes for all the structural Eurocodes the Principles EN 1990: Eurocode – Basis of Structural Design provide principles and Member States
and Requirements for safety, serviceability and durability of rules for the design of whole structures, their components and implementing the
structures. construction products of both traditional and innovative nature. Eurocodes can alter
the recommended
It also provides the basis for the structural design and verification of EN 1990 is applicable to the structural design for the execution stage values for partial
buildings and civil engineering works and gives guidelines for related and for temporary or auxiliary structures. factors and other
aspects of structural reliability. Reliability is the reliability parameters
ability of a structure EN 1990 is applicable for the structural assessment of existing in order to obtain
2.2. Links with the other Eurocodes or a structural construction, in developing the design of repairs and alterations or in different reliability
member to fulfil the assessing changes of use. levels.
EN 1990 is intended to be used together with EN 1991: Eurocode 1 – specified
Actions on Structures and the design Eurocodes, EN 1992 to EN 1999, requirements for EN 1990 may be used, when relevant, as a guidance document for the
for the structural design of buildings and civil engineering works, which it has been design of structures outside the scope of EN 1991 to EN 1999 for:
including geotechnical aspects, structural fire design, situations designed. o assessing other actions and their combinations;
involving earthquakes, execution and temporary structures. o modelling material and structural behaviour;
o assessing numerical values of the reliability format.
2.4. Assumptions
EN 1990 establishes for all the structural Eurocodes the Principles EN 1990: Eurocode – Basis of Structural Design provide principles and Member States
and Requirements for safety, serviceability and durability of rules for the design of whole structures, their components and implementing the
structures. construction products of both traditional and innovative nature. Eurocodes can alter
the recommended
It also provides the basis for the structural design and verification of EN 1990 is applicable to the structural design for the execution stage values for partial
buildings and civil engineering works and gives guidelines for related and for temporary or auxiliary structures. factors and other
aspects of structural reliability. Reliability is the reliability parameters
ability of a structure EN 1990 is applicable for the structural assessment of existing in order to obtain
2.2. Links with the other Eurocodes or a structural construction, in developing the design of repairs and alterations or in different reliability
member to fulfil the assessing changes of use. levels.
EN 1990 is intended to be used together with EN 1991: Eurocode 1 – specified
Actions on Structures and the design Eurocodes, EN 1992 to EN 1999, requirements for EN 1990 may be used, when relevant, as a guidance document for the
for the structural design of buildings and civil engineering works, which it has been design of structures outside the scope of EN 1991 to EN 1999 for:
including geotechnical aspects, structural fire design, situations designed. o assessing other actions and their combinations;
involving earthquakes, execution and temporary structures. o modelling material and structural behaviour;
o assessing numerical values of the reliability format.
2.4. Assumptions
The structure and structural members should be designed, executed The design working life is the period for which a structure or part of it
and maintained in such a way that they meet the following principal is to be used for its intended purpose with anticipated maintenance Maintenance is a set
fundamental requirements: but without major repair being necessary. of activities performed
during the working
o Safety requirement – the structure during its intended life with life of the structure in
appropriate degrees of reliability and in an economic way, will order to enable it to
sustain all actions and influences likely to occur during execution fulfil the requirements
and use. for reliability.
o Serviceability requirement – the structure during its intended life Repair comprises the
with appropriate degrees of reliability and in an economic way, will activities to preserve
remain fit for the use for which it is required. or restore the function
of a structure that fall
o Robustness requirement – the structure will not be damaged by outside the definition
events such as explosion, impact or consequences of human of maintenance.
Indicative design working life
errors, to an extent disproportionate to the original cause.
The notion of design working life is useful for the:
o Fire requirement – the structural resistance shall be adequate for
o selection of design actions (e.g. wind, earthquake);
the required period of time. The general objective is to limit risks
o consideration of material property deterioration (e.g. fatigue, creep);
with respect to the individual and society, neighbouring property,
o evaluation of the life-cycle cost;
the environment, or directly exposed property.
o development of maintenance strategies.
3.2. Reliability management
3.4. Durability
The structure and structural members should be designed, executed The design working life is the period for which a structure or part of it
and maintained in such a way that they meet the following principal is to be used for its intended purpose with anticipated maintenance Maintenance is a set
fundamental requirements: but without major repair being necessary. of activities performed
during the working
o Safety requirement – the structure during its intended life with life of the structure in
appropriate degrees of reliability and in an economic way, will order to enable it to
sustain all actions and influences likely to occur during execution fulfil the requirements
and use. for reliability.
o Serviceability requirement – the structure during its intended life Repair comprises the
with appropriate degrees of reliability and in an economic way, will activities to preserve
remain fit for the use for which it is required. or restore the function
of a structure that fall
o Robustness requirement – the structure will not be damaged by outside the definition
events such as explosion, impact or consequences of human of maintenance.
Indicative design working life
errors, to an extent disproportionate to the original cause.
The notion of design working life is useful for the:
o Fire requirement – the structural resistance shall be adequate for
o selection of design actions (e.g. wind, earthquake);
the required period of time. The general objective is to limit risks
o consideration of material property deterioration (e.g. fatigue, creep);
with respect to the individual and society, neighbouring property,
o evaluation of the life-cycle cost;
the environment, or directly exposed property.
o development of maintenance strategies.
3.2. Reliability management
3.4. Durability
Eurocode – Basis of Structural Design is based on the limit state Design situations are sets of physical conditions representing the real
concept used in conjunction with the partial safety factor method. conditions occurring during the execution and use of the structure, for
which the design will demonstrate that relevant limit states are not
Limit states are the states beyond which the structure no longer fulfils exceeded.
the relevant design criteria. Two different types of limit states are Design criteria are
considered, namely Ultimate Limit State and Serviceability Limit quantitative EN 1990 covers the following design situations for Ultimate Limit State
State. formulations that verification:
describe for each limit o persistent situations, which refer to the conditions of normal use;
Based on the use of structural and load models, it is verified that no state the conditions to o transient situations, which refer to temporary conditions applicable
limit state is exceeded when relevant design values for actions, be fulfilled. to the structure, e.g. during execution or repair;
material and product properties, and geometrical data are used. This o accidental situations, which refer to exceptional conditions
is achieved by the partial factor method. applicable to the structure or to its exposure, e.g. to fire, explosion,
impact or the consequences of localised failure;
o seismic situations, which refer to conditions applicable to the
structure when subjected to seismic events.
Eurocode – Basis of Structural Design is based on the limit state Design situations are sets of physical conditions representing the real
concept used in conjunction with the partial safety factor method. conditions occurring during the execution and use of the structure, for
which the design will demonstrate that relevant limit states are not
Limit states are the states beyond which the structure no longer fulfils exceeded.
the relevant design criteria. Two different types of limit states are Design criteria are
considered, namely Ultimate Limit State and Serviceability Limit quantitative EN 1990 covers the following design situations for Ultimate Limit State
State. formulations that verification:
describe for each limit o persistent situations, which refer to the conditions of normal use;
Based on the use of structural and load models, it is verified that no state the conditions to o transient situations, which refer to temporary conditions applicable
limit state is exceeded when relevant design values for actions, be fulfilled. to the structure, e.g. during execution or repair;
material and product properties, and geometrical data are used. This o accidental situations, which refer to exceptional conditions
is achieved by the partial factor method. applicable to the structure or to its exposure, e.g. to fire, explosion,
impact or the consequences of localised failure;
o seismic situations, which refer to conditions applicable to the
structure when subjected to seismic events.
Ultimate Limit States concern the safety of people and/or the safety of Serviceability Limit States concern the functioning of the structure or
structures and, in special circumstances, the protection of the structural members under normal use, the comfort of people and the
contents. They are associated with collapse or with other similar forms appearance of the construction work. In the context of
of structural failure. serviceability, the
Serviceability Limit States correspond to conditions beyond which term “appearance” is
The following Ultimate Limit States are verified, where relevant: specified service requirements for a structure or structural member concerned with such
are no longer met. criteria as high
o EQU. Loss of static equilibrium of the structure or any part of it deflection and
considered as a rigid body, where: The verification of Serviceability Limit States is based on criteria extensive cracking,
- minor variations in the value or the spatial distribution of pertaining to: rather than
actions from a single source are significant; o deformations that affect the appearance, comfort of users or aesthetics.
- the strengths of construction materials or ground are generally Strength is a functioning of the structure (including machines and services);
not governing. mechanical property o vibrations that cause discomfort to people or limit the functional
of a material effectiveness of the structure;
o STR. Internal failure or excessive deformation of the structure or indicating its ability o damage that is likely to affect the appearance, durability, or
structural members, including footings, piles, basement walls, etc., to resist actions, functioning of the structure.
where the strength of construction materials of the structure usually given in units
governs. of stress. The following combinations of actions are taken into account:
o characteristic combination, for function and damage to structural
o GEO. Failure or excessive deformation of the ground where the and non-structural elements;
strengths of soil or rock are significant in providing resistance. o frequent combination, for comfort to user, use of machinery, etc;
o quasi-permanent combination, for long-term effects and the
o FAT. Fatigue failure of the structure or structural members. appearance of the structure.
Ed ≤ Rd
where Ed is the design value of the effect of actions and Rd is the
design value of the corresponding resistance.
Specific rules for FAT limit states are given in EN 1991 for actions, as
well as in the design Eurocodes, EN 1992 to EN 1999.
5. VERIFICATION OF LIMIT STATES
Ultimate Limit States concern the safety of people and/or the safety of Serviceability Limit States concern the functioning of the structure or
structures and, in special circumstances, the protection of the structural members under normal use, the comfort of people and the
contents. They are associated with collapse or with other similar forms appearance of the construction work. In the context of
of structural failure. serviceability, the
Serviceability Limit States correspond to conditions beyond which term “appearance” is
The following Ultimate Limit States are verified, where relevant: specified service requirements for a structure or structural member concerned with such
are no longer met. criteria as high
o EQU. Loss of static equilibrium of the structure or any part of it deflection and
considered as a rigid body, where: The verification of Serviceability Limit States is based on criteria extensive cracking,
- minor variations in the value or the spatial distribution of pertaining to: rather than
actions from a single source are significant; o deformations that affect the appearance, comfort of users or aesthetics.
- the strengths of construction materials or ground are generally Strength is a functioning of the structure (including machines and services);
not governing. mechanical property o vibrations that cause discomfort to people or limit the functional
of a material effectiveness of the structure;
o STR. Internal failure or excessive deformation of the structure or indicating its ability o damage that is likely to affect the appearance, durability, or
structural members, including footings, piles, basement walls, etc., to resist actions, functioning of the structure.
where the strength of construction materials of the structure usually given in units
governs. of stress. The following combinations of actions are taken into account:
o characteristic combination, for function and damage to structural
o GEO. Failure or excessive deformation of the ground where the and non-structural elements;
strengths of soil or rock are significant in providing resistance. o frequent combination, for comfort to user, use of machinery, etc;
o quasi-permanent combination, for long-term effects and the
o FAT. Fatigue failure of the structure or structural members. appearance of the structure.
Ed ≤ Rd
where Ed is the design value of the effect of actions and Rd is the
design value of the corresponding resistance.
Specific rules for FAT limit states are given in EN 1991 for actions, as
well as in the design Eurocodes, EN 1992 to EN 1999.
The mission of the Joint Research Centre is to provide customer-driven scientific and technical
support for the conception, development, implementation and monitoring of EU policies. As a
service of the European Commission, the JRC functions as a reference centre of science and
technology for the Union. Close to the policy-making process, it serves the common interest of
the Member States, while being independent of special interests, whether private or national.
In this series:
Booklets
B1: The Eurocodes: Implementation and use
B2: The role of EN 1990: the key head Eurocode
B3: The Eurocodes and construction products
B4: The Eurocodes: Supporting EU policies and increasing competitiveness
B5: The Eurocodes: Use outside EU
B6: The Eurocodes and cooperation in the Euro-Mediterranean area
Leaflets
L1: The Eurocodes: What are they?
L2: The Eurocodes: Getting prepared
L3: The Eurocodes: Increasing competitiveness
L4: The Eurocodes: Opportunity to innovate