Geotechnical considerations for structure design include incorporating the possibility of an earthquake into design. Earthquake-resistant design involves modifying design right at the foundation. BS EN 1998-5 discusses the design of structures for earthquake resistance.
BS EN 1998-5 is the fifth part of the multi-series that establishes the requirements, criteria, and rules for the siting and foundation soil of structures for earthquake resistance. BS EN 1998-5 covers the design of different foundation systems, the design of earth retaining structures, and soil-structure interaction under seismic actions.
Note: BS EN 1998-5 complements Eurocode 7 which does not cover the special requirements of seismic design.
The provisions of BS EN 1998-5 apply to buildings (BS EN 1998-1), bridges (BS EN 1998-2), towers, masts and chimneys (BS EN 1998-6), silos, tanks, and pipelines (BS EN 1998-4).
BS EN 1998-5 also contains empirical charts for the simplified evaluation of liquefaction potential and gives a simplified procedure for seismic analysis of retaining structures.
BS EN 1998-5 on earthquake-resistant foundation design is useful for:
While no structure can be entirely immune to damage from earthquakes, the goal of earthquake-resistant construction is to erect structures that fare better during seismic activity than their conventional counterparts.
BS EN 1998-5 provides common structural design rules for everyday use for the design of whole structures and component products of both a traditional and innovative nature.
BS EN 1998-5 gives alternative procedures, values, and recommendations for classes with notes indicating where national choices may have to be made.
Requirements for siting and for foundation soils are described in BS EN 1998-5 to ensure that hazards of rupture, slope instability, liquefaction, and high densification susceptibility in the event of an earthquake are minimized.
BS EN 1998-5 helps you to build structures that perform better than their conventional equivalents during seismic activity.
The second generation of EN Eurocode standards is expected to be published between 2023 and 2026. These documents are being published as soon as they are available, to enable users to prepare for the transition from the first generation to second generation of Eurocodes. As set out in the National foreword of the BS EN second generation Eurocodes, UK adoptions of the first generation of Eurocodes will be withdrawn by BSI on 30 March 2028. That means there is a period of coexistence between 2023 and 2028 during which both first and second generation Eurocodes are available.
Until 30 March 2028, the first generation documents should be considered as the applicable standards for buildings and civil engineering works constructed in the UK unless otherwise specified by the relevant authority or in the specification for a particular project. While the use of provisions in second generation Eurocodes in conjunction with first generation Eurocodes is not precluded, it should be undertaken with care and should only be done when users are satisfied that it will not result in a lower level of reliability than the minimum level set in the first generation Eurocodes and associated UK National Annexes.
EN 1998-5:2004