Fundamentals of Ground Engineering

John Atkinson is senior principal at Coffey Geotechnics, and emeritus professor of soil mechanics at City University, London. He is the author of several textbooks, including The Mechanics of Soils and Foundations (2nd ed) also published by Taylor & Francis.

"… Professor John Atkinson takes readers on a journey of discovery – or rediscovery – of what geotechnical engineering is about. Although this is indeed another book covering common aspects of ground engineering, the approach used by Atkinson contrasts very noticeably from that adopted in the vast majority of other similarly themed works. … Those relatively new to ground engineering will find this book a useful and easily tapped into source of background information on the subject… more seasoned ground engineering practitioners will find this a refreshing book, in appearance simple but going to the heart of the various elements of geotechnical engineering. Colleagues in construction related occupations will also find this a useful tool to gain an initial appreciation of many of the geotechnical engineering aspects of construction projects. In short, Fundamentals of Ground Engineering is an interesting addition to almost any construction professional’s technical library.—Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers"The book covers, in a concise and easily readable form, the basics of geological and ground investigation, physics, and mechanics, and then applies these principles to the fundamentals of soil mechanics. It also discusses how basic soil mechanics are applied to a range of common geotechnical problems. In addition to outlining these problems, the concluding chapter sets out how the topics covered in the book can be applied to practical design. This is a critical chapter which many current texts fail to treat adequately, if at all."—Harry Poulos, Coffey Geotechnics/University of Sydney, Australia"I like the book so much because it covers the complete range of geotechnical engineering … from underlying principles to the design of all major geotechnical constructions. … This book is a perfect companion for those learning the subject for the first time as B.Sc and M.Sc students, and also a nice tool for practical engineers looking to refresh their knowledge. It contains the classical content as well as addresses current subjects. It offers chapter summaries and also suggests relevant literature for further study."—Tom Schanz, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Germany

• What is Geotechnical Engineering? Part A Discovering the Ground. Formation of Soils and Rocks. Description and Classification of Soils. Ground Investigations. Part B Essential Physics and Mechanics. Basic Mechanics. Behaviour of Materials. Water Pressure and Seepage. Part C Soil Mechanics. Pore Pressure and Effective Stress. Soil Behaviour Observed in Tests on Samples. Soil Deformation. Soil Strength. State and State Parameters. Cam Clay and Numerical Modelling. Soil Parameters for Design. Part D Geotechnical Engineering. Routine Analyses of Geotechnical Structures. Stability of Slopes. Foundations. Retaining Walls. Unsaturated, Improved and Difficult Soils. Principles of Geotechnical Design.