Early Geotech: 1926 to 1947

The Early Geotech era extends from about 1926 to about 1947.  This era saw further development of basic geotechnical principles, such as the theory of consolidation.  The gradual establishment of these geotechnical fundamentals slowly began to unite the previously separate disciplines of soil mechanics and foundation engineering.   The era also saw the First International …

Proto-Geotechnics: 1856 to 1925

The Proto-Geotechnics era extends from about 1856 to about 1925.  The era began with the work of Darcy on permeability of water through sands and of Rankine on lateral earth pressure.  It continued with an increasing number of textbooks during the late 19th and early 20th centuries devoted either partially or totally to soil mechanics …

Age of Revolution Soil Mechanics: 1776 to 1855

The Age of Revolution Soil Mechanics extends from about 1776 to about 1855.  While countries such as the United States and France went through one or more political revolutions, similarly sweeping developments were occurring in soil mechanics.  In France, Coulomb developed the first modern expression of soil shear strength, and Collin conducted early tests to …

Enlightenment Soil Mechanics: 1701 to 1775

The Enlightenment Soil Mechanics era extends from about 1701 to about 1775.  It encompasses most of the 18th century, during which early attempts were made at rationally studying friction angles and earth pressures.  Skempton (1985) reviewed a number of these studies in his “History of Soil Properties, 1717-1927”.  However, many of these works are in …

Ancient Foundations: Prehistoric Times to 1700

The Ancient Foundations era extends from prehistoric times to about 1700.  It includes the practical foundation and drainage work performed by ancient civilizations such as the Babylonians, Egyptians, Incas, Greeks, and Romans.  The era also encompasses the great construction projects of the Medieval period and the Renaissance.  Many of the original texts on foundations from …