Quandary in geomaterial characterization: New versus the old

摘要

For the most part, geotechnical engineers have been reluctant to modernize their approach tornsite investigation, analysis, and design, thereby conveying the notion that it is a mature discipline without needrnfor updating. In reality, acceptance and utilization of new technologies to improve and enhance our capabilitiesrnare quite necessary. The problem is exacerbated by many universities with outdated curricula and textbooks thatrnpromote an earlier historical basis in soil mechanics, primarily from a laboratory stance, whereas the preponderancernof real world data are from field tests, including in-situ and geophysical methods. Over the past century,rnour discipline evolved through a combination of theoretical, analytical, intuitive, empirical, statistical, and probabilisticrnsolutions towards construction involving geomaterials.Yet, a number of outdated tests, correlations, andrnmethodologies remain in use today due to an unwillingness to leave the old behind and move forward. A hightechrnenhancement to geotechnics would certainly benefit the profession with respect to education, professionalrnimage, and matters of litigation.