Developments in Understanding Soil Behaviour

A review is made of developments in understanding and characterising soil properties that covers five main topics: (i) effective stress, (ii) compressibility and soil structure, (iii) shear strength of stiff clays, (iv) shear strength and yielding of soft clays and (v) stiffness characteristics. It is shown that substantial progress has been made recently in each area. Improvements in ground investigation and material characterisation offer information on soil properties that was previously unobtainable. Empirical approaches, which had been necessary for any progress to be made in early soil mechanics, are gradually being challenged and replaced by more analytical procedures. However, important questions that remain unresolved are also highlighted. The review is limited to the areas in which Skempton made seminal contributions and, following his lead, the practical implications and benefits of the developments described are illustrated by referring to recent practical case histories and field research.

• 1. Introduction

• 2. Effective stress

• 3. Compressibility and soil structure

• 4. Shear strength of stiff clays

• 5. Shear strength and yielding of soft clays

• 6. Stiffness characteristics

• 7. Summary and conclusions

• Acknowledgements

• Nomenclature

• References