Alexander M. Puzrin – författare

The approach to plasticity theory developed here is firmly rooted in thermodynamics. Emphasis is placed on the use of potentials and the derivation of incremental response, necessary for numerical analysis. The derivation of constitutive models for irreversible behaviour entirely from two scalar potentials is shown.

The use of potentials allows models to be very simply defined, classified and, if necessary, developed and it permits dependent and independent variables to be interchanged, making possible different forms of a model for different applications.

The theory is extended to include treatment of rate-dependent materials and a powerful concept, in which a single plastic strain is replaced by a plastic strain function, allowing smooth transitions between elastic and plastic behaviour is introduced.

This monograph will benefit academic researchers in mechanics, civil engineering and geomechanics and practising geotechnical engineers; it will also interest numerical analysts in engineering mechanics.

Das vorliegende Buch ist bewusst kompakt gehalten und verzichtet weitgehend auf Doppelspurigkeiten und Redundanz. Die Gliederung ist übersichtlich und der Inhalt auf Anwendbarkeit angelegt, wobei Tabellen und ausgearbeitete Beispiele nützlich sind und der Kontrolle des Verständnisses des Lesers dienen sollen.

Bodenmechanik wird als die Wissenschaft vom (mechanischen) Verhalten der Lockergsteine verstanden, während Grundbau die darauf beruhenden baulichen Schlussfolgerungen des Ingenieurs  - und natürlich auch der Ingenieurin - subsummiert, die dem Problem angemessen erscheinen. Die Autoren vermeiden ganz bewusst jede weitere Trennung des Inhaltes in Bodenmechanik (schon gar ‘theoretische Bodenmechanik’ !) und Grundbau , weil eine solche Trennung weder sinnvoll noch zielführend ist, wenn es - wie in diesem Buch - um Praxis- und Anwendungs-orientierten Ausbildungskonzepte geht, die nicht nur für Studierende des Bauingenieurwesens angelegt , sondern auch in der Praxis des Tiefbaues gefragt sind. 

Die Autoren betrachten den Inhalt des Buches nach wie vor (und vor allem auch unabhängig von allen Veränderungen und Bezeichnungen der Studiengänge und -Abschlüsse) als die Basis, die jeder universitär gebildete Bauingenieur auf dem Gebiet Bodenmechanik/Grundbau beherrschen sollte und auf welche sich weiterführende Lehrveranstaltungen abstützen können.  Da Normen wenig zum Vertändnis des Sachgebietes beitragen können, ist das Buch weitgehend ‘normenfrei’. Deshalb kann das Buch in allen Ländern gebraucht werden.

Geotechnical failures, specially the catastrophic ones, are a stimulus to improve current understanding of phenomena and procedures and tools for analysis and prediction.

This unconventional approach to geomechanics is the essence of this book. In general, soil mechanics and geotechnical textbooks describe first the concepts and theoretical developments and then apply them to interpret or solve a particular applications. This book follows a different course. The case (a failure) is first described and then an explanation is sought. This requires a set of steps which can be summarized as follows: Identify the nature of the problem, develop a dedicated and specific formulation of the case, based on established basic concepts. In general, no single existing theory or procedure is available to solve the case at hand, provide a solution within an acceptable degree of complexity, extract the fundamental aspects of the problem and highlight its relevance.

The cases selected have been grouped into three main topics: Landslides, Embankments and Dams and Dynamics of Failures. Cases selected (Vaiont, Aznalcóllar, Brattas-St. Moritz) are unique and illustrate a number of relevant and to some extent controversial issues which are of wide interest, without claiming exhaustive treatment of the subject.

The book teaches how to build the necessary models to understand the failures. Well established soil mechanics concepts are the necessary background. But the cases analyzed require in general a step ahead which is specific for the case analyzed. Balance and equilibrium equations are often required as a starting point. They are formulated at different scales, which are selected having in mind the abstract representation of each case.

Various chapters illustrate also the coupled nature (flow-deformation-temperature) of geotechnical problems and the need to properly address these complexities in some cases. In fact, temperature effects, a subjectoften neglected in conventional analyses, are necessary to explain some catastrophic landslides (Vaiont). In some of the chapters, specific calculation tools, included in well known and widely available programs (Excel, Maple…) have been used. Details of the ad hoc programs developed have also been included in Appendices to help the readers to follow the details of the calculation.

Finite element methods have not been used. In the landslides analyzed (Vaiont and Brattas-St. Moritz) currently available commercial programs are of limited utility. In the remaining cases the analysis performed provides a sufficient insight and interpretation of field behaviour.

Chapters include also a short description of the changes in the original design and the mitigation measures which could have prevented the failure. Also, a summary section of lessons learned is provided in all chapters. Finally, selected topics and more advanced reading are suggested.

This book is associated with a Master/Doctorate course being offered at the Department of Geotechnical Engineering and Geosciences of UPC, Barcelona. Potential readers therefore include Graduate and Master students, faculty and professionals in the fields of Civil and Geotechnical Engineering.