Soils can rarely be described as ideally elastic or perfectly plastic and yet simple elastic and plastic models form the basis for the most traditional geotechnical engineering calculations. With the advent of cheap powerful computers the possibility of performing analyses based on more realistic models has become widely available. One of the aims of this book is to describe the basic ingredients of a family of simple elastic-plastic models of soil behaviour and to demonstrate how such models can be used in numerical analyses. Such numerical analyses are often regarded as mysterious black boxes but a proper appreciation of their worth requires an understanding of the numerical models on which they are based. Though the models on which this book concentrates are simple, understanding of these will indicate the ways in which more sophisticated models will perform.

Soil Behaviour and Critical State Soil Mechanics

Earth construction is widespread in desert and rural areas because of its abundance and cheap labour and could be an alternative construction material for low cost housing in Algeria. However, earth construction suffers from shrinkage cracking, low strength and lack of durability. This paper reports on the Algerian experience on earth construction in housing and gives an extended review of an experimental study to investigate a stabilised soil by either mechanical means such as compaction and vibration and/or chemical stabilisation by cement. Soil used was characterised by its grading curve and chemical composition. Compaction was either applied statically or dynamically by a drop weight method. A mixture of sand and cement was also tried. The effect of each method of stabilisation on shrinkage, compressive strength, splitting tensile strength and water resistance are briefly reported. The experimental results showed that the best method of stabilisation of the soil investigated, which gives a good compressive strength and a better durability at a reasonable cost, could be a combination of a mechanical compaction and chemical stabilisation by cement or sand and cement up to a certain level.

Performance of compacted cement-stabilised soil

http://ssi.civil.ntua.gr/downloads/journals/2006-SDEE_Footings%20under%20seismic%20loading_Analysis%20and%20design%20issues%20with%20emphasis%20on%20bridge%20foundations.pdf

Footings under seismic loading: Analysis and design issues with emphasis on bridge foundations

Interpreting Soil Test Results

The underlying mechanisms governing the behaviour of displacement piles in sand are not well understood, leading to unreliability in design methods. A series of plane-strain calibration chamber tes...

/pdf/displacement-and-strain-paths-during-plane-strain-model-pile-59grldv29m.pdf

Displacement and strain paths during plane-strain model pile installation in sand

1 Subsurface Explorations and Sampling.- 2 Sampling and Preparation of Marine Sediments.- 3 Soil Technology and Engineering Properties of Soils Hans.- 4 Bearing Capacity of Shallow Foundations.- 5 Stress Distribution and Settlement of Shallow Foundations.- 6 Earth Pressures.- 7 Dewatering and Groundwater Control.- 8 Compacted Fill.- 9 Soil Stabilization and Grouting.- 10 Stability of Earth Slopes.- 11 Landslides.- 12 Retaining Structures and Excavations.- 13 Pile Foundations.- 14 Drilled Shaft Foundations.- 15 Foundation Vibrations.- 16 Earthquake Effects on Soil-Foundation Systems.- 17 Foundation Problems in Earthquake Regions.- 18 Offshore Structure Foundations.- 19 Foundations in Cold Regions.- 20 Geotechnics of Hazardous Waste Control Systems.- 21 Reinforced Earth.- 22 Geosynthetics in Geotechnical Engineering.- 23 Deep Compaction of Granular Soils.- 24 Stabilization of Soil With Lime Columns.- 25 Durability and Protection of Foundations.- 26 Ground Anchors and Soil Nails in Retaining Structures.

edited by Hans F. Winterkorn Hsai-Yang Fang

Papers

Foundation Engineering Handbook