The construction industry is often critical of the growing number and complexity of regulations and standards, particularly in Europe. The structural Eurocodes are, however, a rather different case. Their first generation has provided a broadly stable design framework for more than twenty years. After such a long period of use, a revision was needed to reflect advances in engineering knowledge, extend the scope of application, and integrate feedback.
Recent nuclear projects in Europe have shown a marked increase in reinforcement quantities, often accompanied by severe reinforcement congestion and related constructability issues. This trend is not solely the consequence of more demanding safety requirements. Part of it may also be associated with the transition from former national standards to the first generation of Eurocodes, as well as with the application of general design rules to very large, heavily loaded and highly reinforced structures that lie outside the range of many conventional buildings.
The transition to a new generation of standards will inevitably require time and effort. Engineers will need to understand the revised mechanical models, reassess established design practices and adapt calculation tools. This investment should not, however, be regarded only as a compliance exercise. In several areas, the revised provisions offer a more consistent representation of structural behaviour and clarify rules that have sometimes proved difficult to apply to large concrete structures. They may therefore help limit unintended conservatism and improve constructability, without compromising the high level of safety and reliability required for nuclear facilities.
This talk discusses how the second generation of Eurocodes may help address some of the practical difficulties encountered in the design of nuclear civil-engineering structures. The focus is placed on provisions that can have a significant influence on reinforcement demand, structural dimensions and constructability, including imposed deformations, minimum reinforcement, crack control, large members and size effects, detailing, durability, precast concrete and new materials.
