Format:

Paperback

Published:

June 2006

ISBN:

0415304024

List Price:

$60.00

Taylor and Francis / Spon Press

Online Ordering at www.routledge-ny.com

Or call 1-800-634-7064

 

Examination Copy: http://www.routledge-ny.com/util/resources.asp?filename=examination_copy.htm

 

Front Matter / Table of Contents

 

What is meant by "The Environmental Perspective"

 

By definition, this book may be used in a first year course on geotechnical engineering at the undergraduate level, complete with problems and solutions. It also serves well as a reference to graduate students and practicing professionals. The environmental perspective is presented primarily as a means to understand real soil behavior. Geotechnical engineering has long relied on large factors of safety for designs. This margin of safety reflects shortcomings in our ability to truly understand the performance and failure mechanism in many geotechnical systems – most of which are evaluated on the basis of mechanical loading alone. In reality, the true soil behavior is the manifestation of electrical, thermal, magnetic, chemical, biologic and mechanical components. The Particle Energy Field Theory, described in the book, is a framework within which these components may be more fully evaluated in the future, through either empirical correction factors or more rigorous theoretical construct. Secondly, as populations increase and existing infrastructure continues to age, it is becoming more common to build where the soil properties are physically or chemically deficient. In particular, construction with soil that has been previously contaminated presents unique challenges that are better addressed with the benefit of this book.