Swiss Geotechnical Society: Introduction

Uploaded At: 01 May 2024

The International Society for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering (ISSMGE) launched the Time Capsule Project to promote the exchange of knowledge and experiences with past, present, and future challenges in geotechnical engineering.

Contributions from the ISSMGE member societies were published for the International Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering in Sydney in May 2022.

 

Introduction

Prof. Puzrin: Tribute to Prof. Haefeli and his research on creeping landslides and the stabilization of the Leaning Tower of St. Moritz”

Timeline

1920	1930	1940	1960	1970	1980	1990	2000	2010
St. Moritz	Vevey Colaps	Prof. Haefeli	Prof. Huder	Selisberg Viaduct	Permanent Anchors	Gotthard Base Tunnel	Swelling Rock	Cross Rail

 

Research and education

Development of geotechnical engineering in Switzerland over the last decades. Challenges resulting from climate change (Prof. Descoeudres)

 

 

Creeping landslides – Professor Robert Haefeli, ETH Zurich
(related topic: stabilization of the Leaning Tower of St. Moritz)

 

 

Behaviour of sensitive soils such as lacustrine chalk Professor Jachen Huder, ETH Zurich

 

 

Tunnelling in swelling rock

 

 

Development of permanent anchors, electrically isolated tendon technique

 

Large-scale projects from the past 60 years

Crossing the Alps: Gotthard Base Tunnel, development in squeezing rock

 

Railway extensions in urban environments, a few aspects worth considering based on the example of Cross Rail in Zurich

 

Building motorways – geotechnical challenges and developments based on the example of the Seelisberg Viaduct

 

Lessons learnt / Damage events

The Leaning Tower of St. Moritz
(related topic: Creeping landslides – Professor Robert Haefeli)

 

Building in soft, sensitive soils
(topic discussed in: Behaviour of sensitive soils such as lacustrine chalk Professor Jachen Huder, ETH Zurich)

 

Swelling rock behaviour in the Jura, Chienberg Tunnel and Adler Tunnel case histories
(topic discussed in: Tunnelling in swelling rock)

 

Rupture of permanent anchors

 

Past, present and future issues in geotechnical engineering

Short articles are being published on the ISSMGE website to discuss past, present, and future issues in geotechnical engineering (Introducing the Time Capsule Project (TCP) Blog Posts | ISSMGE

We don’t need no education – Charles John MacRobert (Stellenbosch University)

Ethics in Geotechnical Engineering – Emilio Bilotta (University of Naples Federico II)

Mind the Gap: Research and practice – Ceres Chung (Geotechnical Engineering Office, Hong Kong)

Are we witnessing the emergence of the Third Era in Geotechnical Engineering Practice? Roger Estephan (Dar) and Grace Abou-Jaoude Estephan (Lebanese American University)Know of directly useful geotechnical research? Speak up! – Marina Pantazidou (National Technical University of Athens)