Abstract:

Geotechnical design in sands is largely base on empiricism, with a poor understanding of the underlying behaviour of these soils. The seminar will explore how and why empirical methods may lead to unsatisfactory design and, through a better understanding of their basic mechanics, more rational design approaches may be proposed.

Biography:

After his completing his first degree at Imperial College in 1981, Matthew spent two years designing offshore foundations for North Sea platforms, before starting his DPhil at Oxford on piles in clays under the supervision of Peter Wroth. He moved to City University in 1986, specialising in the laboratory testing of soils, particularly sands and weak rocks. He finally returned to Imperial College in 2000, and is now Professor of Experimental Soil Mechanics. He has been awarded the Institution of Civil Engineers� George Stephenson Medal, the Geotechnical Research Medal on two occasions, a Telford Prize and has twice won the annual prize of the British Geotechnical Association. He has been on the editorial panels of Geotechnique, Geotechnical Engineering, the Quarterly Journal of Engineering Geology and the Geotechnical Testing Journal as well as four technical committees of the International Society.