Evolution of geotechnical soil testing I. Field tests

AbstractThis paper takes a step back—some may say a step backward—to discuss how methods for measuring soil strength and compressibility have evolved through the decades. This is not a comprehensive review, but discusses paths that start in the past and point to the future. Part I discusses tests that are performed in situ in the field, and are mainly used for site investigations, with analyses that generally are based on empirical correlations. Part II describes the progression of laboratory tests that are slower, more precise, and more directed towards basic soil properties. A few select field tests incorporate features from both, being performed in situ while being targeted towards direct evaluations of basic soil properties. Three of the more important soil properties can only be determined in the field—depth, depth below a groundwater table, and lateral in-situ stress.