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Elsevier

Books in Soil mechanics

  • Application of Geosynthetics in Waste Containment

    Long-Term Performance of Geosynthetics in Engineering Barrier Systems
    • 1st Edition
    • Haijian Xie + 2 more
    • English
    Application of Geosynthetics in Waste Containment: Long-Term Performance of Geosynthetics in Engineering Barrier Systems explains the transport mechanism and influencing factors of pollutants in geosynthetics. The book offers readers a better understanding of the advantages and disadvantages of geosynthetics and provides a theoretical basis for the development of new geosynthetic materials. It begins by examining the types, current applications, and development trends of commonly used geosynthetic materials in the fields of waste containment and environmental protection. The fundamental characteristics of geosynthetic materials and their roles in environmental protection are also introduced.Subsequen... it focuses on material durability and introduces new materials which are crucial considerations in environmental applications. Furthermore, the book provides detailed explanations of the application of geosynthetic materials in waste containment, drainage and filtration layers, cover systems, bottom liners, and vertical cut-off walls within engineering barriers.

  • Soil Reinforcement for Anchor Plates and Uplift Response

    • 1st Edition
    • Hamed Niroumand
    • English
    Soil Reinforcement for Anchor Plates and Uplift Response presents a comprehensive and rigorous review of the current knowledge in soil improvement for anchor plates, and is based on original research that includes experimental data on how to enhance uplift response of soil anchor plates by using several soil reinforcement methods. Divided into 6 chapters, the author makes an introduction to both Ancho Plates and Soil Reinforcement in chapter one, then providing a comprehensive literature review on the topic in chapter 2. Chapter 3 presents how the experiment was set up, the different types of geotextiles used, and the types of soil tested. Chapter 4 presents experimental data, along with data provided by simulation softwares, including Plaxis. Chapter 5 compares the experimental results to the numerical simulation data, providing researchers and geotechnical engineers with tools they can apply to their own projects. In chapter 6, the author presents his conclusions and recommendations on the usage of soil reinforcement to maximize uplift response to anchor plates. Researchers in geotechnical engineering can use the methods and experimental data presented in the book on their own projects, and practicing engineers will benefit from the comparisons between experimental and simulation data provided to make appropriate selection of soil reinforcement techniques that can be applied to their projects.

  • Soil Mechanics

    Calculations, Principles, and Methods
    • 1st Edition
    • Victor Kaliakin
    • English
    Soil Mechanics: Calculations, Principles, and Methods provides expert insights into the nature of soil mechanics through the use of calculation and problem-solving techniques. This informed reference begins with basic principles and calculations, illustrating physical meanings of the unit weight of soil, specific gravity, water content, void ratio, porosity, saturation, and their typical values. This is followed by calculations that illustrate the need for soil identification, classification, and ways to obtain soil particle size distribution, including sizes smaller than 0.075mm, performance, and the use of liquid and plastic limit tests. The book goes on to provide expert coverage regarding the use of soil identification and classification systems (both Unified Soil Classification System and AASHTO), and also includes applications concerning soil compaction and field applications, hydraulic conductivity and seepage, soil compressibility and field application, and shear strength and field application.

  • Stabilized Earth Roads

    • 1st Edition
    • A. Kézdi
    • English
    Developments in Geotechnical Engineering, Volume 19: Stabilized Earth Roads surveys soil stabilization theory and practice. This work is divided into nine chapters that discuss the physical, chemical, and soil mechanics principles of soil stabilization. The first chapter is an introduction to the history, methods, and importance of soil stabilization in road construction. The next chapters deal with the fundamental definitions of soil physics and the interactions of soil components, as well as the concept of mechanical soil stabilization. Considerable chapters examine soil stabilization with several materials, such as cement, lime, bitumen, and tar. The last chapters describe the soil-stabilization methods with various chemicals, including chlorides, phosphoric acid, and natural and synthetic polymers. These chapters also consider the design of stabilized earth roads. This book is of value to geologists and civil engineers.

  • Soil Dynamics and Liquefaction

    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 42
    • A.S. Cakmak
    • English
    Despite advances in the field of geotechnical earthquake engineering, earthquakes continue to cause loss of life and property in one part of the world or another. The Third International Conference on Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, USA, 22nd to 24th June 1987, provided an opportunity for participants from all over the world to share their expertise to enhance the role of mechanics and other disciplines as they relate to earthquake engineering. The edited proceedings of the conference are published in four volumes. This volume covers: Constitutive Relations in Soil Dynamics, Liquefaction of Soils, and Experimental Soil Dynamics. With its companion volumes, it is hoped that it will contribute to the further development of techniques, methods and innovative approaches in soil dynamics and earthquake engineering.

  • Soil-Structure Interaction

    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 43
    • A.S. Cakmak
    • English
    Despite advances in the field of geotechnical earthquake engineering, earthquakes continue to cause loss of life and property in one part of the world or another. The Third International Conference on Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, USA, 22nd to 24th June 1987, provided an opportunity for participants from all over the world to share their expertise to enhance the role of mechanics and other disciplines as they relate to earthquake engineering. The edited proceedings of the conference are published in four volumes. This volume covers: Soil Structure Interaction under Dynamic Loads, Vibration of Machine Foundations, and Base Isolation in Earthquake Engineering. With its companion volumes, it is hoped that it will contribute to the further development of techniques, methods and innovative approaches in soil dynamics and earthquake engineering.

  • Soil Mechanics of Earthworks, Foundations and Highway Engineering

    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 3
    • Bozzano G Luisa
    • English
    This is the third volume of a handbook which covers the whole field of soil mechanics, discussing deterministic and stochastic theories and methods, and showing how they can be used in conjunction with one another. The first volume discusses soil physics, while the second deals with the determination of physical characteristics of the soil. Australian Mining wrote of the Handbook ``a valuable addition to the extensive literature on the topic and will be found to be more useful than most.''The main objective of the third volume is to present solutions to the problems of engineering practice. It deals with the most important theoretical and practical problems of soil mechanics, discussing the following in detail: stability of earthworks, load-bearing capacity and settlement of shallow foundations, design of pile foundations, soil mechanics in road construction, improving the physical properties of soils, the characteristics of soil dynamics, foundations for machines and soil behaviour as affected by earthquakes. The book not only presents up-to-date deterministic methods, but also discusses solutions of probability theory in the fields of design and safety.The book is divided into six chapters covering the stability of slopes, landslides, load-bearing capacity and settlement of shallow foundations and pile foundations, soil mechanics in road construction, and the improvement of the physical characteristics of soil with special emphasis on machine foundations and earthquakes, giving detailed treatment of each subject. For example, the first chapter deals not only with the stability of slopes, but also discusses the natural and artificial effects, slope protection, filter design, stresses in embankments, and the time factor. In this way, the book gives a clear and comprehensive picture of the special fields of soil mechanics and its subjects. It is therefore emminently suitable for postgraduate engineers, and engineers working in the fields of geotechnics, earthworks, foundations, road construction, engineering geology and statistics, and the design of structures.

  • Stresses and Displacements for Shallow Foundations

    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 70
    • D. Milovic
    • English
    This monograph presents the results of the theoretical analyses of stresses and displacements for shallow foundations subjected to various types of loads. In these analyses not only the classical models but more complex models of soils have been used, such as two-layer half-space, homogenous compressible layer of finite thickness, two-layer compressible layer of finite thickness, anisotropic compressible layer. Contact stresses, settlements, vertical stress distribution, bending moments and shear forces have been determined for foundations of any rigidity. Numerous values of the dimensionless coefficients "I" are tabulated, which can be of use in the solution of practical engineering problems.

  • Stress in Subsoil and Methods of Final Settlement Calculation

    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 18
    • J. Feda
    • English
    Developments in Geotechnical Engineering, Volume 18: Stress in Subsoil and Methods of Final Settlement Calculation reviews the method of settlement calculations based on stresses in the subsoil. This book is divided into three chapters. Chapter 1 deals with in situ stresses in the subsoil, while Chapter 2 focuses on the state of stress produced in the subsoil by external loads. The last chapter discusses the methods of calculating the final settlement, including remarks on the selection of deformation parameters. This publication also discusses the horizontal geostatic stress, surface loading of a half-space, method of oedometric compression, and finite element and allied methods. This volume is recommended for researchers and specialists of disciplines related to geotechnical engineering.

  • Soil Physics

    Selected Topics
    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 25
    • A. Kézdi
    • English
    Soil Physics: Selected Topics covers the results in the research field of soil physics, soil mechanics, and the behavior of real soils. This book is divided into six chapters and begins with an introduction to the study of the physical characteristics of soil and the complexity of superstructure of soil mechanics. The next chapter deals with the distribution of coarse grains according to their volume and the distribution of pore sizes in fine-grained materials. This chapter also describes the properties of granular mixtures and the compatibility of transition soils. The discussion then shifts to investigation of soil strength, particularly the strength of sand and transition soils, the tensile and shear strengths of cohesive soils, and brittle failure of soils. The remaining chapters consider the classification of soil phase movement phenomena. This book is intended primarily for practicing civil engineers.

  • Elastic Analysis of Soil-Foundation Interaction

    • 1st Edition
    • A.P.S. Selvadurai
    • English
    Developments in Geotechnical Engineering, Vol. 17: Elastic Analysis of Soil-Foundation Interaction focuses on the analysis of the interaction between structural foundations and supporting soil media. The publication first elaborates on soil-foundation interaction problems; idealized soil response models for the analysis of soil-foundation interaction; and plane-strain analysis of an infinite plate and an infinitely long beam. Discussions focus on three-dimensional effects in the infinite beam problem, elastic models of soil behavior, foundation and interface behavior, and elastic-plastic and time-dependent behavior of soil masses. The manuscript then ponders on the analysis of beams of finite length, axisymmetric three-dimensional problem of an infinite plate, and analysis of finite plates. Concerns cover axisymmetric loading of a circular plate, analysis of rectangular plates, axisymmetric three-dimensional problem of the infinite plate, modifications of the thin plate theory, finite beams on a two-parameter elastic medium, and finite beams on an elastic solid medium. The book tackles the determination of soil parameters, experimental investigations and field studies, as well as experimental investigations and field studies and measurement and interpretation of parameters encountered in the idealized soil models in relation to soil-foundation behavior. The publication is a valuable reference for researchers interested in the elastic analysis of soil-foundation interaction.

  • Limit Analysis and Soil Plasticity

    • 1st Edition
    • Wai-Fah Chen
    • English
    Developments in Geotechnical Engineering, Volume 7: Limit Analysis and Soil Plasticity covers the theory and applications of limit analysis as applied to soil mechanics. Organized into 12 chapters, the book presents an introduction to the modern development of theory of soil plasticity and includes rock-like material. The first four chapters of the book describe the technique of limit analysis, beginning with the historical review of the subject and the assumptions on which it is based, and then covering various aspects of available techniques of limit analysis. The subsequent chapters deal with the applications of limit analysis to what may be termed “classical soil mechanics problems” that include bearing capacity of footings, lateral earth pressure problems, and stability of slopes. In many cases, comparisons of limit analysis solution and conventional limit equilibrium and slip-like solutions are also presented. Other chapters deal with the advances in bearing-capacity problem of concrete blocks or rock and present theoretical and experimental results of various concrete bearing problems. The concluding chapter examines elastic-plastic soil and elastic-plastic-frac... models for concrete materials. This book is an ideal resource text to geotechnical engineers and soil mechanics researchers.

  • Agricultural Engineering Soil Mechanics

    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 10
    • E. McKyes
    • English
    This book provides an introduction to classical soil mechanics and foundation engineering, and applies these principles to agricultural engineering situations. Theoretical design formulae are given, plus tables and graphs dealing with bearing capacity factors, wall pressure factors, soil cutting numbers and soil mechanical properties. Many example problems of design and analysis are solved in the text, and there are unsolved problems given for each chapter.The text begins with descriptions of soil origins and classification systems, including agricultural classification schemes, and then introduces classical concepts of soil strength and strength measurement techniques in the laboratory and in the field. Soil mechanics is applied to the design of shallow foundations, and the design formulae as well as tables of bearing capacity factors for design use are provided. New research and design findings in the specialized area of tall and heavy farm silos are also given, in addition to deep pile foundation design for heavy structures on very soft soils. Water flow in soils is treated, together with stability of ditch bank slopes and small earth dams, design of retaining walls and pressure pressures in bins and silos, soil erosion and protection methods, soil cutting and tillage design methods, soil compaction analysis, the use of geotextiles and problems of soil freezing.The book is directed primarily at professional university students in Agricultural Engineering, but will also be of interest to scientists working in other engineering branches, landscape architecture, soil physics and the like.

  • Soil Water Repellency

    Occurrence, Consequences, and Amelioration
    • 1st Edition
    • C.J. Ritsema + 1 more
    • English
    It has become clear that soil water repellency is much more wide-spread than formerly thought. Water repellency has been reported in most continents of the world for varying land uses and climatic conditions. Soil water repellency often leads to severe runoff and erosion, rapid leaching of surface-applied agrichemicals, and losses of water and nutrient availability for crops. At present, no optimum management strategies exist for water repellent soils, focusing on minimizing environmental risks while maintaining crop production. The book starts with a historical overview of water repellency research, followed by seven thematic sections covering 26 research chapters. The first section discusses the origin, the second the assessment, and the third the occurrence and hydrological implications of soil water repellency. The fourth section is devoted to the effect of fire on water repellency, section five deals with the physics and modeling of flow and transport in water repellent soils, section six presents amelioration techniques and farming strategies to combat soil water repellency, and section seven concludes the book with an extensive bibliography on soil water repellency.

  • Ground Freezing

    • 1st Edition
    • Hans L. Jessberger
    • English
    Developments in Geotechnical Engineering Volume 26: Ground Freezing presents the proceedings of the First International Symposium on Ground Freezing, held in Bochum, Germany on March 8-10, 1978. It summarizes progress in the application of the ground freezing technique in geotechnical engineering, with a focus on engineering with frozen soils and related frost research problems. It includes papers that discuss phase transformation of water, thermodynamics, heat and mass transfer, and mathematical models. The laboratory and theoretical studies of thermophysical and mechanical properties are discussed as well. Organized into 43 chapters, this volume begins with an overview of the freezing and thawing of soils, earth, and rock, and the engineering applications of the favorable properties of frozen ground. It then discusses the mechanical properties of artificially frozen soil for construction purposes, the principles of mechanical and thermal behavior of frozen soil, and the design and calculation of frozen soil-structures. Furthermore, it explains the calculation and dimensioning of refrigeration plants and monitoring of frost penetration. The methods and instrumentation for determining the locations of boundaries of frozen soils and the factors affecting the formation of soil cryogenic textures upon artificial active and passive soil freezing are described. The book also details the influence of salts in the pore water in freezing soils and explains how clay microstructure affects the amount of unfrozen water. In addition, it presents the physicomechanical and thermomechanical properties of frozen coarse-grained soil with sandy clay aggregate. This book will be a valuable source of information for scientists and engineers.

  • Soil Properties and Behaviour

    • 1st Edition
    • R. Young
    • English
    Soil Properties and Behavior defines the structure of the soil-water system. This book provides the background of the nature of mineral particles and the existing forces between the particles in the soil system. It also examines the structure and fabric of soil, as well as their relationship with water. Furthermore, the book explores water movement and soil performance, which are related to the physics of soil-water movement and volume changes. This book illustrates the common clay minerals in soils and discusses the methods for their identification. It also reviews the theory of one-dimensional consolidation and discusses the soil structure in consolidation and compression. The book also presents the concepts of yield and failure in soils, yield criteria, and failure theories. It also focuses on granular and cohesive soil strength, including friction properties, the intrinsic friction angle, the volumetric strain, and pore-water pressure. The last part of the book discusses soil freezing and permafrost.

  • Slope Analysis

    • 1st Edition
    • R Chowdury
    • English
    Slope Analysis summarizes the fundamental principles of slope analysis. It explores not only the similarities but also the differences in rock slopes and soil slopes, and it presents alternative methods of analysis, new concepts, and new approaches to analysis. The book introduces both natural and man-made slopes, the nature of soils and rocks, geomorphology, geology, and the aims of slope analysis. These topics are followed by chapters about stress and strain, shear strength of rock and soils, and progressive failure of slopes. This book also presents limit equilibrium methods I and II, which are the planar failure surfaces and slip surfaces of arbitrary shape, respectively. It also includes stress analysis and slope stability, natural slope analysis, and a brief review on plasticity and shear band analysis. Before presenting its conclusions, the book discusses special aspects of slope analysis, such as earthquake analysis, pseudo-static analysis, dynamic analysis, and anisotropy, in addition to Newmark’s approach.

  • Laterite Soil Engineering

    Pedogenesis and Engineering Principles
    • 1st Edition
    • M Gidigasu
    • English
    Laterite Soil Engineering is one of a few books about solving engineering problems with the help of engineering pedology. This book presents the latest information on the laterite soils’ geotechnical characteristics and engineering behavior. It shows that laterite soils are different from natural soils and that most laterite soils can be evaluated for engineering purposes using accepted theories and well-known test procedures for temperate-zone soils. This book also shows that modern concepts based on pedological considerations are very useful and take a logical approach to the identification and evaluation of laterite soils for engineering purposes. The first four chapters focus on reviewing information about the processes of tropical weathering and laterization. Chapter five summarizes information about the location, morphology and composition of laterite soils. Chapter six highlights the geotechnical implications of the pedogenic processes of tropical weathering, and it emphasizes the contribution of the results of these pedogenic processes to the deviations of engineering behavior of the problem of laterite soils. In addition, chapter seven discusses the influence of laterite soil genesis on the physic-chemical characteristics based on comparing the properties of three genetic soil groups formed under three different weathering conditions. Chapters eight through nineteen discuss the geotechnical characteristics and evaluation of laterite soils, and the effects of pedogenesis and soil-forming factors on the geotechnical and stabilization characteristics of laterite soils. The last chapter discusses the little information that exists on the application of laterite soils in engineering problems.

  • Foundations on Expansive Soils

    • 1st Edition
    • Fu Hua Chen
    • English
    Foundations on Expansive Soils provides the practicing engineer with a summary of the state-of-the-art of expansive soils and practical solutions based on the author's experience. The book is organized into two parts. Part I deals with theory and practice, and summarizes some of the theoretical physical properties of expansive soils. It also discusses various techniques employed to found structures on expansive soils such as drilled pier foundation, mat foundation, moisture control, soil replacement, and chemical stabilization. Topics covered include the origin, mineralogical composition, and the basic structure of expansive soils; the migration of water, swelling potential, and swelling pressure; site investigations and laboratory testing; moisture control; and soil stabilization. Part II presents case studies on the following: distress caused by pier uplift; distress caused by the improper design and construction of a drilled pier foundation system; distress caused by heaving of footing pad and floor slab; distress caused by heaving of continuous footings; and distress caused by a rise of ground water.

  • The Penetrometer and Soil Exploration

    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 1
    • G. Sanglerat
    • English
    The Penetrometer and Soil Exploration: Interpretation of Penetration Diagrams—Theory presents the many uses of the penetrometer for investigating soil conditions. Testing methods include the following: (1) in situ load tests on full-scale foundations; (2) laboratory testing of undisturbed samples, and (3) in situ testing of soils. The book regards the advantages of using the penetrometer as a handy tool in drilling and sampling. The text emphasizes that the investigator should never rely entirely on the analogy or the extrapolation of information pertaining to a nearby site. The text describes the different shapes of the penetrometer diagrams obtained from tests in homogeneous cohesionless soil, as well as the significance of the embedment of a pile into the bearing stratum for deep foundation designs. The paper discusses the De Beer theory, Kerisel's theory, and the theory developed at the Delft Laboratory of Soil Mechanics. The laboratory determines the maximum soil pressure and the corresponding embedment of the pile. According to Professor L'Herminier, "the bearing capacity of a pile may be determined...from laboratory tests on soil samples, the other by extrapolating penetrometer data." The book is suitable for structural engineers, civil engineers, geologists, architects, and students of soil mechanics.

  • Clay in Engineering Geology

    • 2nd Edition
    • Volume 41
    • J.E. Gillott
    • English
    Engineering geology is an interdisciplinary subject concerned with the application of geological science to engineering practice, and it is therefore important for the engineering geologist to recognize the boundary between engineering application and purely scientific enquiry. Much research in applied clay science results from imperfectly understood engineering behaviour. Engineering geology is most closely allied to the geotechnical and materials areas of civil engineering. The scope of the present book is limited to the influence of clay but because clay is almost ubiquitous in earth materials the subject still remains broad. In soil and rock, clay is the smallest size fraction, but it is that very fact which often determines its major influences on engineering behaviour.In this book the author reviews the importance of clay in engineering geology and summarizes present knowledge in this field. The plan of the book has remained unchanged since the first edition was published in 1968 but the text, diagrams and reference lists have all been extensively updated. The first 5 chapters review the classification, origin, composition, fabric and physical chemistry of clays. Behavioural aspects, covered in the following 4 chapters, include moisture interaction, strength and rheology, soil stabilization and the use of clays as materials. The final 3 chapters describe methods of analysis of clays and soils.Clay in Engineering Geology contains material drawn from a wide variety of sources and, together with its literature review and indexes, will provide much of value to geologists, mineralogists, civil and geotechnical engineers concerned with applied clay science.

  • Limit Analysis in Soil Mechanics

    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 52
    • W.F. Chen + 1 more
    • English
    During the last ten years, our understanding of the perfect plasticity and the associated flow rule assumption on which limit analysis is based has increased considerably. Many extensions and advances have been made in applications of limit analysis to the area of soil dynamics, in particular, to earthquake-induced slope failure and landslide problems and to earthquake-induced lateral earth pressures on rigid retaining structures. The purpose of the book therefore is in part to discuss the validity of the upper bound work (or energy) method of limit analysis in a form that can be appreciated by a practicing soil engineer, and in part to provide a compact and up-to-date summary of recent advances in the applications of limit analysis to earthquake-induced stability problems in soil mechanics.

  • Principles of Soil and Plant Water Relations

    • 1st Edition
    • M.B. Kirkham
    • English
    Principles of Soil and Plant Water Relations combines biology and physics to show how water moves through the soil-plant-atmospher... continuum. This text explores the instrumentation and the methods used to measure the status of water in soil and plants. Principles are clearly presented with the aid of diagrams, anatomical figures, and images of instrumentation. The methods on instrumentation can be used by researchers, consultants, and the military to monitor soil degradation, including measurements of soil compaction, repellency, oxygen diffusion rate, and unsaturated hydraulic conductivity.Intende... for graduate students in plant and soil science programs, this book also serves as a useful reference for agronomists, plant ecologists, and agricultural engineers.

  • Dynamic Soil-Structure Interaction

    Current Research in China and Switzerland
    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 83
    • C. Zhang + 1 more
    • English
    Dynamic Soil-structure interaction is one of the major topics in earthquake engineering and soil dynamics since it is closely related to the safety evaluation of many important engineering projects, such as nuclear power plants, to resist earthquakes. In dealing with the analysis of dynamic soil-structure interactions, one of the most difficult tasks is the modeling of unbounded media. To solve this problem, many numerical methods and techniques have been developed. This book summarizes the most recent developments and applications in the field of dynamic soil-structure interaction, both in China and Switzerland.An excellent book for scientists and engineers in civil engineering, structural engineering, geotechnical engineering and earthquake engineering.

  • Embankments on Organic Soils

    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 80
    • J. Hartlén + 1 more
    • English
    More and more civil engineering constructions are being built on soft soils. As areas with better foundations are used up the necessity to be able to build structures on soft soils increases.The most troublesome of soft soils are organic soils due mainly to their high compressibility (much higher than in mineral soils), and also their very low shear strength. The large diversity of organic soils with respect to their origin as well as their properties make classification, testing, and engineering prediction of behaviour, very difficult. For this reason, engineers try, in general, to avoid constructing on deep layers of organic soils. If forced, by necessity, to do so, they manage with light structures e.g. embankments or low buildings.The authors of this book have been involved in a joint research project on the testing of embankments on organic soils. This was carried out in the North-Western part of Poland by the Swedish Geotechnical Institute and the Department of Geotechnics of Warsaw Agricultural University.The results of their research is presented in this new book and provides a valuable insight into this growing area in the field of engineering geology.

  • Water Relations of Plants and Soils

    • 1st Edition
    • Paul J. Kramer + 1 more
    • English
    Water Relations of Plants and Soils, successor to the seminal 1983 book by Paul Kramer, covers the entire field of water relations using current concepts and consistent terminology. Emphasis is on the interdependence of processes, including rate of water absorption, rate of transpiration, resistance to water flow into roots, soil factors affecting water availability. New trends in the field, such as the consideration of roots (rather than leaves) as the primary sensors of water stress, are examined in detail.

  • Methods in Applied Soil Microbiology and Biochemistry

    • 1st Edition
    • Kassem Alef + 1 more
    • English
    In recent years, rapid technological advances and changes in agricultural management have taken place. These have yielded benefits to society but have also generated new and significant environmental problems. Novel questions and challenges relating to agricultural practice and soil microbial ecology, ecotoxicology, biotechnology, and bioremediation must be addressed. As a consequence, the fields of soil microbiology and biochemistry have been highlighted. This book provides a modern, authoritative, and comprehensive collection of methods for the study of soil microbiology and biochemistry. Classical and modern, aerobic and anerobic, laboratory and field-based methods are presented. Detailed techniques are given, but in addition the theoretical basis behind such methodology is described, so that the origins and principles of the techniques are clear to the reader. Particular emphasis has been placed on uniform, simple, and clear presentation of the different methods. With respect to bioremediation of soils, this work provides a unique bridge between general and applied soil microbiology and biochemistry, presenting an integrated discussion of concepts, theories, and methods. This book will be essential for all scientists and students actively involved in natural and environmental sciences and engineering, and for those working in industry, authorities, and consulting companies.

  • Creep of Soils

    and Related Phenomena
    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 68
    • J. Feda
    • English
    In this volume, soil creep is analysed within the framework of other soil-rheological phenomena, such as stress relaxation and long-term resistance, to present an in-depth discussion of the effect of time on soil behaviour. As time is the only state parameter which cannot be entirely modelled in the laboratory, the presented extrapolation is based upon a combination of appropriate theoretical analysis, and the principles of the physical behaviour of soils affected by state parameters such as porosity, water content, stress, strain, time and temperature. Principal macro- and microrheological theories are analysed, and a comprehensive picture of the soil structure and of the effect of state parameters is presented, documented by the author's experiments and illustrated by many examples. The theory of hereditary creep was selected as the best theory serving the author's purpose to propose simple constitutive relations governing creep of soils. The proposed constitutive relations have been implemented into FEM programs and the effect of the time factor has been demonstrated by the solution of such boundary value problems as a dams and underground tunnels. This volume should be of interest to civil engineers, scientists, research and postgraduate students, and advanced undergraduates.

  • Soil Plasticity

    Theory and Implementation
    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 38
    • W.F. Chen + 1 more
    • English
    This book is addressed primarily to civil engineers familiar with such traditional topics as strength of materials, soil mechanics, and theory of elasticity and structures, but less familiar with the modern development of the mathematical theory of soil plasticity necessary to any engineer working under the general heading of nonlinear analysis of soil-structure system. This book will satisfy his needs in the case of the soil medium.It introduces the reader to the theory of soil plasticity and its numerical implementation into computer programs. The theory and method of computer implementation presented here are appropriate for solving nonlinear static dynamic problems in soil mechanics and are applicable for finite difference and finite element computer codes. A sample computer model subroutine is developed and this is used to study some typical soil mechanics problems.With its comprehensive coverage and simple, concise presentation, the book will undoubtedly prove to be very useful for consulting engineers, research and graduate students in geotechnical engineering.

  • Soil Cutting and Tillage

    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 7
    • E. McKyes
    • English
    After giving a brief history of tillage practices and implements used throughout the world dating back to ancient times, this book goes on to describe the basic soil mechanics techniques needed to calculate the forces developed in soil by simple-shaped cutting tools. The methods of measuring soil mechanical properties, water pressure in soil and shear rate effects are touched upon. A review is given of two and three dimensional soil cutting mathematical mechanics models to predict soil cutting forces and soil volumes disturbed by cutting and tillage tools, as well as the state-of-the-art of soil loosening, structural rearrangement and plant growth as affected by tillage tools. The author also includes an introduction to the analysis of traction machines. There are many numerical examples of mechanical analyses and predictions worked out in the various sections of the book as well as numerous unsolved problems at the end of a number of the chapters.Written in a textbook style, this monograph is ideal for anyone wanting to learn modern techniques for the mechanical description of soil cutting and tillage forces and soil volumes disturbed. It also provides a reference for analytical formulae and calculated force forces. It will be of interest to universities and colleges worldwide which have Agricultural Engineering Programs, Civil and Mechanical Engineering schools which specialize in soil mechanics and construction machinery as well as to research stations worldwide with interests in soil tillage, soil physics etc.