Contributions to Geotechnique 1948-2008:: Ground improvement

Ground improvement comprises approximately 30 different methods of ground treatment, including modification, chemical alteration, reinforcement with steel or geosynthetic, strengthening by drainage, densification by vibration or consolidation, the use of electro-osmosis, and the use of the observational technique. This paper attempts to highlight influential papers published in Geotechnique since 1947, and urges the reader to seek these out. Descriptions are given of those papers considered to be most influential, ranging from the densification of soils at Cape Kennedy in the USA to the construction of a 41 m high reinforced soil wall in South Africa. The use of vibro-compaction and vibro-replacement techniques has featured significantly, as has consolidation using vertical drains. The importance of observational techniques and their relationship to ground improvement has also received great attention in Geotechnique. A summary of papers is also presented in a table to provide a quick reference tool.