This book is one of the best-known and most respected books in geotechnical engineering. In its third edition, it presents both theoretical and practical knowledge of soil mechanics in engineering. It features expanded coverage of vibration problems, mechanics of drainage, passive earth pressure, and consolidation.

This book has the purpose of developing an understanding of the factors determining and influencing the shear behavior of soils, with emphasis on composite soils, as they are the most encountered materials in geological and geotechnical engineering in mountainous areas. This objective is reached by examining the soil compressibility, structure of shear zone and its evolution, and water content of shear zone and shear mode of soils together with analyses of the influences of intrinsic properties, e.g. Atterberg limits, particle size distribution, particle shape, and testing conditions, e.g. normal stress and shearing rate. An in-depth review is presented in an approximately chronological order and covers almost all the factors that are believed to influence the mechanical behavior of soils. The equipment and test techniques for shear strength of soils are detailed. The residual shear behavior of composite soil is investigated by means of a systematic laboratory testing program using a large ring shear apparatus and an intermediate direct shear box. The Fast Fourier Transform is employed for the first time to analyze the fluctuations of measured shearstress and discovers the close relationships with both intrinsic properties of soils and testing conditions. Although the book is aimed primarily at researchers in geological and geotechnical engineering, it contains material of interest to students of geology and soil science and also should be a useful reference for practicing engineers faced with composite soils.

Um die Auswirkungen von Erdbeben auf Gebäude, Brücken und andere empfindliche Konstruktionen zu mildern, wurden im Laufe der Jahre zahlreiche Technologien entwickelt. Eine der neueren hiervon ist die seismische Isolation: Sie beinhaltet den Einbau von Mechanismen, die das Gebäude von den Bewegungen des Untergrunds entkoppeln. Der Erfolg dieser Technik übertrifft den aller vorher bekannten Verfahren - ein Grund für Ingenieure und Architekten, sich genauer zu informieren. Dazu sei dieses Buch empfohlen. (04/99)

Soils, rocks and concrete are the principal materials a civil engineer encounters in practice. This book deals with the material analogies, their implications in property characterization, giving attention to similar as well as dissimilar methods in respect of each of these three materials. It provides an integrated, systematic approach for realistic assessment of engineering properties of soils, rocks and concrete. Geotechnical engineers, civil engineers and materials scientists will be interested in this volume.

Site characterization is a fundamental step towards the proper design, construction and long term performance of all types of geotechnical projects, ranging from foundation, excavation, earth dams, embankments, seismic hazards, environmental issues, tunnels, near and offshore structures. Geotechnical and Geophysical Site Characterization 4 provides practical applications of novel and innovative technologies in geotechnical and geophysical engineering, and is of interest to academics, engineers and professionals involved in Geotechnical Engineering.

These proceedings are a continuation of the series of International Conferences in Germany entitled "Mechanics of Unsaturated Soils." The objective is to discuss and understand unsaturated soil behaviour, so that engineered activities are improved in terms of judgement and quality. In addition to knowledge of classical concepts, it is a challenge to adapt convincing new concepts and present them in such a way that they can be used in engineering practices.