Civil Engineering Association

Recommendations for Design and Analysis of Earth Structures using Geosynthetic Reinforcements – EBGEO

The 1997 edition of EBGEO presented the profession with recommendations for designing and analysing earth structures using geosynthetic reinforcements. It adopted the partial safety factor concept used in geotechnical standards, which was then still being developed, more or less in its entirety. The introduction of the 2005 edition of DIN 1054 as part of the body of legally binding building regulations and the associated European regulations made it necessary to revise EBGEO. In addition, unification of the various analysis approaches was necessary to keep pace with fundamental product developments and new applications.
These were implemented exhaustively by the members and guests of the German Geotechnical Society’s (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Geotechnik e. V. (DGGT)) Working Group AK 5.2 ‘Analysis and Dimensioning of Soil Structures using Geosynthetic Reinforcements’ in innumerable meetings comprising both small and large groups. We would like to take this opportunity to say many thanks to all involved!
In addition to a thorough revision of the existing sections, where both practical construction experience and the most recent national and international research results have been incorporated, new sections covering:
– Reinforced Earth Structures over Point or Linear Bearing Elements,
– Foundation Systems Using Geotextile-encased Columns,
– Bridging Subsidence and
– Dynamic Actions on Geosynthetic-reinforced Systems were included.
Positive experience was gathered on a number of construction projects during the Recommendations’ compilation phase and their applicability confirmed – including on international projects. The Working Group also regards this edition of EBGEO as an intermediate stage, because in many cases it is still only possible to design in terms of individual components, but not in terms of the actual ‘soil/geosynthetic’ composite construction material. However, the latter represents the primary objective, which will be pursued by way of more research and monitoring measures on active construction projects.
EBGEO follows the tradition of similar DGGT recommendations such as the EAB (Recommendations on Excavations) or the Recommendations of the Working Group on Piles, which now represent established best practice. The user is referred to the Notes for the User with regard to the compulsory nature of these Recommendations (see Page XXI, taken from EAB (2006), 4th edition, Ernst & Sohn).
The German Geotechnical Society’s (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Geotechnik e. V. (DGGT)) Working Group AK 5.2 ‘Analysis and Dimensioning of Soil Structures using Geosynthetic Reinforcements’ asks you to send any suggestions and correspondence concerning further development of the Recommendations to the Chairman of AK 5.2 (see Page IV for address).