Product Description: This book is one of the best-known and most respected books in geotechnical engineering. In its third edition, it presents both theoretical and practical knowledge of soil mechanics in engineering. It features expanded coverage of vibration problems, mechanics of drainage, passive earth pressure, and consolidation.
Strong Geotechnical Text I had the chance of taking a soil mechanics class with Professor Mesri at UIUC and I know first hand of his expertise and attention to detail. However, these traits are apparent when reading the Third edition, the information is well organized and exhaustively backed up with experimental data. The only issue with the book is that it has so much information in it, it is hard to finish and can be tough to use as a quick guide.
If you are taking a soil mechanics or even geology in general I strongly recommend this textbook.
Excellent - There are ERRORS though Since Wiley does not (apparently) publish errata for this book, I figured I'd post this here; it may be some help to some frustrated grad student (like me).
On pg 293, top of the first column, an equation for the change in horizontal stress is given (for Boussineq conditions). The first subtraction operator should be an addition operator and the first addition operator should be a subtraction operator. This modification renders a reasonable result in keeping with results from Poulos and Davis (1974).
Hope that spares you a couple hours of hair-tearing.
Terzaghi says it all... you've got to have this book if you are a geotechnical engineer. terzaghi gives examples from actual projects and presents them clearly. there are solutions to geotechnical problems encountered in the field.
Karl Terzaghi is loved Many have commented on my review below -- most favorably. A few said, it was the second edition of the book they had admired most. Well! that was in 1967. Geotechnical engineering has exploded since then. Today it would be almost impossible for anyone to write a 5-star general purpose book on the subject.
I want to thank you for your kind words and encouragement. I am most grateful.
Book of the century In India people say there is no building like Tajmahal. In civil engineering, I say there is no book like Soil Mechanics in Engineering Practice. Karl Terzaghi, the father of soil mechanics, had a vision, a vision that he lived by, nurtured and preached. Very few have personified Terzaghi's vision better than co-authors, Peck and Mesri.
Permit me to say, no book in this century has had more influence on the rise of civil engineering than has Soil Mechanics in Engineering Practice. Since its first publication in 1948, the book has guided a multitude around the world, spawned countless other books, and set a stage of research for a geotechnical generation gone by, there is, and yet to come.
The library of a geotechnical engineer cannot be said to be complete without a copy of this book.
Anything Goes Trivia
Megaton Man
Tailipoe
Trevor
