Geotechnical Problem Solving

Preface

7 December 2007, 6:19 am

For several years, my friend Ralph Peck has been gently encouraging me to participate more actively in the geotechnical engineering community and to write a book. A few weeks ago he told me about starting to write his famous book, Soil Mechanics in Engineering Practice. The day he started to write was December 7, 1941, better known as “Pearl Harbor Day.” Talk about hard times to write a book! Ralph told me it took seven years to write that first book and that it was impossible, or nearly impossible, to finish, but worth the effort.

I suggested to Ralph that at 61 years old, I am past my prime for writing, and that in 1948 at the age of 36, when “Terzaghi and Peck” was published, he was in his prime. Ralph pointed out that although he was 36, Terzaghi was 65 years old, and that the old gentleman wrote papers and books until the day he died at age 80.

Although Ralph is too much of a gentleman to say it directly, he does suggest by comparison to his generation, that my generation of geotechnical engineers took the money, kept information proprietary, and did not share our experience with the engineering community at large. I guess (alright I know) that Dr. Peck is right, and so this book is my first serious attempt at sharing with you the practicing engineer.

For his example, and his encouragement, we all owe a great debt of gratitude to Ralph B. Peck, thanks Ralph.

John C. Lommler, Ph.D., P.E. Sandia Park, New Mexico