Civil Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
trained through experience. Among other things you will learn how to do routine
designs using standard methods. One of the most important things to learn is how
to recognize when the problem has become so complex and difficult that you need to
consult a specialist.
I hope that some of you will be sufficiently excited by the challenges of soil mechanics
and geotechnical engineering to want to become a specialist called on to solve the
difficult ground engineering problems. In this case you will probably want to take a
higher degree in soil mechanics, geotechnical engineering, engineering geology or a
related subject. You will need to know very much more about soil mechanics than I
have been able to cover in this topic, but it will provide an introduction to these more
advanced studies.
The Mechanics of Soils and Foundations
will have succeeded in its aims if it conveys
to students and engineers the idea that there are relatively simple theories underlying
engineering soil behaviour and that form the basis of engineering design. I hope that
readers will be able to apply these theories to geotechnical design and use them to assess
critically the conventional, routine design methods conventionally used in practice.