Contributions to Géotechnique 1948–2008: Physical modelling

This paper reviews the major contributions to Géotechnique that relate to physical modelling, including developments in modelling technology, important experimental observations, and the resulting advances in geotechnical engineering. An increasing proportion of the papers published by this journal involve physical modelling, conducted either at 1g or in a geotechnical centrifuge. Over the 60 years since Géotechnique was first published, experimental techniques have advanced significantly, improving the realism of small-scale simulations, and raising the quality and detail of the measurements that can be made. These techniques are reviewed, and some of the consequent advances in relation to foundations, tunnels, retaining walls and slopes are highlighted, as reported in the pages of Géotechnique.