对于土工结构，人们认识到，仅使用标称材料参数和设计假设通常是不够的。此外，还应对设计假设和材料参数进行现场验证，评估施工方法和分析处理之间的相互关系，并进行验证测试（以确保在施工期间和施工后，符合基于土工结构设计和监测的项目规范）。由于需要从设计和分析到实际施工的连续性，本标准中包含了一个涉及检查、仪器和监测的章节，尽管本标准本身主要涉及设计和分析。 本标准的基本要素是:（1）用于形成最终散热器（水库）的土结构，包括水坝、堤坝和挡板；（2） 通常用于保护核电站现场免受极端水动力荷载的土结构，包括大坝、堤坝、防波堤、海堤和护岸；以及（3）用于维护现场轮廓、天然和路堑边坡、填料和挡土墙稳定性的土工结构。

For earth structures, it is recognized that the use of nominal material parameters and design assumption alone is often inadequate. Coupled with these should be site verification of design assumptions and materials parameters, evaluation of the interrelationship between construction methods and analytical treatment, and verification testing (to assure compliance with project specifications based on the design and monitoring of the earth structures--both during and subsequent to construction). Because of the need for continuity from design and analysis through actual construction, a section which deals with inspection, instrumentation and monitoring is included in this standard, although the standard itself is primarily concerned with design and analysis. The essential elements of this standard are: (1) Earth structures used to form the ultimate heat sink (reservoirs) including dams, dikes, and baffles; (2) earth structures normally used to protect the nuclear plant site from extreme hydrodynamic loads including dams, dikes, breakwaters, seawalls, and revetments; and (3) earth structures used to maintain site contours, the stability of natural and cut slopes, fills and retaining walls.