GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING – FROM THE BEGINNING

NATURAL SLOPE – is what we now refer to as the ANGLE OF REPOSE

1.1 INTRODUCTION
Natural slopes of CLEAN DRY SAND AND ORDINARY EARTH were 31° and
SOIL – is defined as the uncemented aggregate of mineral grains and 45°, unit weights 18.1 kN/m3 and 13.4 kN/m3
decayed organic matter (solid particles) with liquid and gas in the empty
spaces between the solid particles - BERNARD FOREST DE BELIDOR published a book proposing a
theory for lateral earth pressure on retaining walls that was a
SOIL MECHANICS – is the branch of science that deals with the study of the follow-up to Gautier’s study. He also specified a soil classification
physical properties of soil and the behavior of soil masses subjected to system
various types of forces - FRANCIS GADROY conducted first laboratory model testing
retaining walls, also observed the existence of slip planes in the
SOIL ENGINEERING – is the application of the principles of soil mechanics to soil at failure
practical problems - J. J. MAYNIEL summarized Gadroy’s findings
- JEAN RODOLPHE PERRONET studied slope stability and
GEOTECHINICAL ENGINEERING – is the sub discipline of civil engineering that distinguished intact ground and fills
involves natural materials found close to the surface of the earth.
1.4 CLASSICAL SOIL MECHANICS – PHASE 1 (1776 – 1856)
1.2 GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING PRIOR TO THE 18th CENTURY
- CHARLES AUGUSTIN COULOMB used principles of calculus for maxima and
- First use of soil as a construction material is lost in antiquity minima to determine the true position of sliding surface in soil behind a
- Understanding of geotechnical engineering began in the early retaining wall, used laws of friction and cohesion
18th century - GASPARD CLAIRE MARIE RICHE DE BRONY published a textbook,
- Ancient Civilizations NOUVELLE ARCHITECTURE HYDRAULIQUE that included
- Lived on Rivers Coulomb’s theory
- Nile (Egypt) - JACQUES FREDERIC FRANCAIS & CLAUDE LOUIS MARIE HENRI
- Tigris and Euphrates (Mesopotamia) NAVIER studied special cases of Coulomb’s theory
- Huang Ho (Yellow River, China) - JEAN VICTOR PONCELET added a graphical method to Coulomb’s
- Indus (Indus) theory. He was the first to use the symbol φ for soil friction angle.
- Early Structures He provided the first ultimate bearing-capacity for shallow
- Dykes dating 2000 B.C. built in Indus to protect the foundations
town of Mohenjo Dara - ALEXANDRE COLLIN provided the details for deep slips in clay
- Dikes built for irrigation during the Chan Dynasty in slopes, cutting and embankments. He said that failure takes place
China (1120 B.C. – 249 B.C.) when mobilized cohesion exceeds the existing cohesion of the
- Isolated pad footings and strip-and-raft foundations soil. He observed that the actual failure surfaces could be
in Ancient Greek civilizations approximated as arcs of cycloids.
- Ancient pyramids used as tombs for Pharaohs and - This era of soil was ended by a book by WILLIAM JOHN MACQUORN
their consorts were built in Egypt (2700 B.C.) RANKINE. He provided a theory on earth pressure and equilibrium of earth
- Pagodas were during the Eastern Han dynasty, China masses. It is a simplification of Coulomb’s.
(68 A.D.)
- Notable Structures Facing Soil-Bearing Capacity Foundation Problems Prior 1.5 CLASSICAL SOIL MECHANICS – PHASE 2 (1856 – 1910)
18th Century
- Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy - This period involved many experiments on SAND
- Construction began in 1173 A.D. - HENRI PHILIBERT GASPARD DARCY published the permeability of
- Weighs 15,700 metric tons, circular base diameter of sand filters. Darcy defined the term, COEFFICIENT OF
20m PERMEABILITY (or HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY) of soil
- Tilted east, north, west and finally south - SIR GEORGE HOWARD DARWIN conducted tests determining the
- Weak clay layer underneath the overturning moment of a hinged wall retaining sand in loose and
foundation was the problem dense states of compaction
- Closed in 1990 due to fear of collapse - JOSEPH VALENTIN BOUSSINESQ developed the theory of stress
- 70 metric tons of earth removed, tower now leans 5 distribution
degrees - OSBORNE REYNOLDS demonstrated phenomenon of dilatency of
- Garisenda Tower and Asinelli Tower in Italy sand
- Garisenda Tower - JOHN CLIBBORN & JOHN STUART BERESFORD studied the flow of
- 48 meters high, 4210 metric tons water through sand bed and uplift pressure
- Tilted 4 degrees - Clibborn’s study was published in the TREATISE ON
- Asinelli Tower CIVIL ENGINEERING, VOL. 2: IRRIGATION WORK IN
- 97 meters high, 7300 metric tons INDIA, and TECHINICAL PAPER NO. 97
- Tilted 1.5 degrees - Beresford’s work on the uplift pressure on the Narora
- Scientists and Engineers saw the problem and began to address the Weir on the Ganges River was documented in
properties of soil TECHINCAL PAPER NO. 97
- From 1700 – 1927, geotechnical engineering can be split into 4 major
periods 1.6 MODERN SOIL MECHANICS (1910 – 1927)
- Preclassical (1700 – 1776 A.D.)
- Classical Soil Mechanics, Phase 1 (1776 – 1856 A.D.) - This period research of CLAY’s properties and parameters were published
- Classical Soil Mechanics, Phase 2 (1856 – 1910 A.D.) - ALBERT MAURITZ ATTERBERG defined CLAY-SIZE FRACTIONS as
- Modern Soil Mechanics (1910 – 1927 A.D.) the percentage by weight of particles smaller than 2 microns in
size
1.3 PRECLASSICAL PERIOD OF SOIL MECHANICS (1700 – 1776) - Realized the important role of clay in soil and the
plasticity
- Concentrated on NATURAL SLOPE AND UNIT WEIGHT OF TYPES OF SOILS - Explained consistency of soils by defining liquid,
- French engineer, HENRY GAUTIER studied the natural slopes of plastic and shrinkage limits
soils - Defined the plasticity index
 - JEAN FONTARD investigated the failure of a dam in Charmes,
France. Determined the shear strength parameters of clay.
- ARTHUR LANGLEY BELL developed relationships for lateral
pressure and resistance in clay as well as bearing capacity of
shallow foundations in clay
- WOLMAR FELLINUS developed the stability analysis of saturated
clay slopes. He established correct numerical solutions for the
STABILITY NUMBERS of circular slip surfaces passing through the
toe of the slope
- KARL TERZAGHI developed the theory of consolidation for clays.
It was published in the book ERDBAUMECHANIK

1.7 GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING AFTER 1927

- ERDBAUMECHANIK AUF BODENPHYSIKALISHER GRUNDLAGE by Karl

Terzaghi started this era in the development of soil mechanics
- Terzahgi was recognized as the leader of soil mechanics; he was the guiding
spirit for soil mechanics and geotechnical engineer for the next quarter-
century
- He attended the first INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY OF SOIL MECHANICS AND
FOUNDATION ENGINEERING (ISSMFE)
- In 1997 ISSMFE was changed to ISSMGE (INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY OF SOIL
MECHANICS AND GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING)

1.8 END OF AN ERA

- RALPH B. PECK was the last of the early giants of modern soil mechanics
- Died on February 18, 2008
- His last project was the Rion-Antirion Bridge in Greece
- Authored more than 250 technical publications