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Study of soil behavior in a more methodical manner in the area of geotechnical engineering started in

the early part of the 18th century, and last to 1927. The development of soil mechanics can be divided
into four phases, according to Skempton (1985):

1, Preclassical period (1700-1776); rough classification of soils;

2, Classical soil mechanics Phase I (1776-1856) started from French scientist Coulombs presentation on
determining the sliding surface in soil behind a retaining wall; ended by the publication of Rankines
paper on earth lateral pressure. Rankins theory is a simplification of Coulombs theory.

3, Classical soil mechanics Phase II (1856-1910) started from the publication of a paper on the
permeability of sand filters by French engineer Darcy in 1856.

4, Modern soil mechanics (1910-1927) marked by a series of important studies and publications related
to the mechanic behavior of clays, most noticeable, Atterberg (1911) on consistency of clayey soils, the
Atterberg limits; Bell (1915) on lateral pressure and resistance of clays; Terzaghi (1925) on theory of
consolidation for clays.

Pre-classical Period of Soil Mechanics (1700 1776)

Published a textbook for military and civil engineers in France. In the book, he proposed a
theory for lateral earth pressure on retaining walls
first laboratory model test results on a 76-mm-high ( 3 in.) retaining wall
Archeological finding of earth dwellings, burial sites , roads, canals, bridges and fortifications

This period concentrated on studies relating to natural slope and unit weights of various types of soils,
as well as the semi empirical earth pressure theories.

Henri Gautier (16601737) studied the natural slopes of soils when tipped in a heap for formulating
the design procedures of retaining walls.
Bernard Forest de Belidor (16711761) proposed a theory for lateral earth pressure on retaining walls
specified a soil classification system.

Francois Gadroy (17051759) observed the existence of slip planes in the soil at failure.

Classical Soil Mechanics


Classical Soil Mechanics began in 1773 with Charles Coulombs (a physicist, 17361806) introduction of
mechanics to soil problems. Using the laws of friction and cohesion to determine the true sliding surface
behind a retaining wall, Coulomb inadvertently defined failure criteria for soil. By combining Coulomb's
theory with Christian Otto Mohrs theory of a 2D stress state, the MohrCoulomb theory was developed.

Henry Darcy (18031858) defined the hydraulic conductivity.


Joseph Boussinesq, a mathematician and physicist (18421929), developed the theory of stress
distribution.

William Rankines (18201872) simplified Coulomb's earth pressure theory.

Osborne Reynolds (18421912) demonstrated the phenomenon of dilatency in sand.

Modern Soil Mechanics (1910 - 1927)


This period was marked by a series of important studies and publications related to the mechanic
behavior of clays:

Albert Atterberg (18461916), a Swedish chemist and soil scientist, explained the consistency of
cohesive soils by defining liquid, plastic, and shrinkage limits.
Arthur Bell (18741956), a civil engineer from England, developed relationships for lateral pressure and
resistance in clay as well as bearing capacity of shallow foundations in clay.

Wolmar Fellenius (18761957), an engineer from Sweden, developed the stability analysis of saturated
clay slopes.

Karl Terzaghi (18831963), a civil engineer and geologist from Austria, developed the theory of
consolidation for clays as we know today. 8 Geotechnical Engineering

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