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Academic journal of geotechnical engineering Academic journal
Géotechnique
DisciplineGeotechnical engineering
Soil mechanics
Engineering geology
LanguageEnglish
Edited byLidija Zdravkovic
Publication details
History1948–present
PublisherInstitution of Civil Engineers
Emerald Publishing (United Kingdom)
FrequencyBimonthly
Impact factor5.8 (2023)
ISO 4Find out here
Indexing
CODEN (alt · alt2) · JSTOR (alt) · LCCN (alt)
MIAR · NLM (alt) · Scopus
ISSN0016-8505 (print)
1751-7656 (web)
Links

Géotechnique is an academic journal in the field of geotechnical engineering, focusing on the principles and practice of soil mechanics, rock mechanics, and engineering geology. It has been published continuously since 1948 and is currently managed by the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) in the United Kingdom.

History

The idea for Géotechnique was first mooted in the Netherlands in 1946 during an international effort to foster post-war collaboration in geotechnical research. The journal's creation was inextricably linked to preparations for the Second International Conference on Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering, held in Rotterdam in 1948.

The discussions that led to the founding of Géotechnique involved a group of British soil mechanics pioneers during and shortly after a European tour of soil mechanics laboratories in 1946. This tour included Rudolph Glossop, Hugh Golder, Bill Ward, and D. J. Maclean. During an evening in a nightclub in the Netherlands, in the company of E. C. W. A. Geuze, the idea of starting a specialist journal was first proposed.

The Geotechnical Society, led by key figures such as Hugh Golder, circulated a letter in July 1947 proposing the foundation of a pan-European publication. The journal was established to:

  • Promote international collaboration among soil mechanics researchers.
  • Publish specialised studies in geotechnical sciences.
  • Encourage the integration of engineering geology into practice.
  • Disseminate cutting-edge research to practising engineers.

The publication of the first issue of Géotechnique in 1948 was made possible through the financial support of Rudolph Glossop, one of the journal's founders. Glossop personally underwrote the initial costs of publication by securing an overdraft from his bank on behalf of the Geotechnical Society. This financial backing was critical in overcoming the challenges of launching a new journal in the austere post-war years. The first volume consisted of four issues. By the second issue, over 500 subscriptions had been sold, reducing Glossop's financial risk and establishing the journal's viability.

Founders

The journal owes its origins to 11 eminent geotechnical engineers from across Europe who were instrumental in its establishment:

Name Country Key Contributions/Background
Leonard Cooling United Kingdom Dr. Leonard Frank Cooling (1903–1977) was a key figure in geotechnical engineering and a founder of the British school of soil mechanics. At the Building Research Station, he established Britain’s first soil mechanics laboratory in 1933 and led pioneering research into soil properties, embankment slips, and foundation failures. He contributed to the early development of Geotechnique, serving on its advisory panel and as chairman from 1966 to 1969. Cooling also delivered the 1962 Rankine Lecture.
Edward E. De Beer Belgium Dr. Edward E. De Beer (1911–1994), born in Leeuwergem, Belgium, was a civil engineer and geotechnical researcher who made significant contributions to soil mechanics and foundation engineering. After graduating from Ghent University in 1934, he founded the State Geotechnical Institute in 1938 and directed it for 37 years, overseeing over 1,000 engineering projects. His research included soil bearing capacity, pile behavior, and the development of cone penetration testing for foundation design. A founding member of Geotechnique, he also helped establish the Permanent Coordinating Secretariat for international geotechnical societies in 1973 and was awarded the Kevin Nash Gold Medal in 1989 for his work in the field.
Jean-Pierre Daxelhofer Switzerland Professor Jean-Pierre Daxelhofer (1907–1998), born on 20 April 1907, obtained his Diploma in Civil Engineering from l’École Polytechnique de l’Université de Lausanne (EPUL) in 1929. He began his career with the Italian contractor Rodio, working in Paris, Milan, and Rome, before returning to Switzerland in 1945 as director of research at EPUL’s geotechnical laboratory. Appointed Professor Extraordinaire in 1949 and later full professor in 1963, he focused on construction materials, particularly for water-retaining structures, until his retirement in 1972. It was Daxelhofer who suggested the name, Géotechnique. He published a significant 1944 paper on soil shearing resistance. His 367 reports on foundation failures and building damage remain an important resource in the field. He died on 8 June 1998.
Jacques Florentin France Jacques Florentin (1912–1975) graduated as a civil engineer from the École Nationale des Ponts et Chaussées in 1937, where he developed an interest in soil mechanics under the influence of Albert Caquot. He joined the Laboratoire du Bâtiment et des Travaux Publics (LBTP), contributing to research on soil behavior, and later became assistant director. In 1949, he co-founded the consulting firm Mécasol, gaining international recognition through work on major projects such as the Génissiat dam, Serre-Ponçon earth dam, and foundations for the Saint-Laurent-des-Eaux nuclear plant. A founder member of the French National Society in 1948, he served as its President in 1973 and contributed to International Society for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering (ISSMGE). Florentin died in 1975.
Emmericus Geuze Netherlands Emmericus Carel Willem Adriaan Geuze (1906–1987), born on 27 March 1906 in Dordrecht, The Netherlands, was a civil engineer and geotechnical researcher. A graduate of the Technical Hogeschool Delft (THD), he worked under Professor Albert Sybrandus Keverling Buisman and became a founding staff member of the Laboratorium voor Grondmechanica Delft in 1936, later serving as Head of Research. Appointed as a professor at THD in 1952, he contributed significantly to cone penetration testing (CPT) and the study of the critical density of sands. Geuze played a key role in the founding of Géotechnique and contributed to international conferences, including the 1948 Rotterdam and 1950 London meetings of the International Society for Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering. Later in his career, he helped establish the Arab Potash Company in Jordan and joined Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in the USA. He died in Rensselaer on 3 September 1987.
Hugh Golder United Kingdom Dr. Hugh Quentin Golder (1911–1990), born on 14 September 1911 in England, was a civil engineer and geotechnical specialist. A graduate of Liverpool University, he joined the Building Research Station in 1937 and contributed to early soil mechanics investigations, including the Chingford reservoir failure. He introduced composite slip surface analysis and developed portable testing apparatus. Golder co-founded Soil Mechanics Ltd in 1943 and helped establish Géotechnique. In 1960, he founded Golder Associates in Canada, which became a global consulting firm. A prolific author, Golder was recognized for his innovations in geotechnical engineering and education until his death on 15 January 1990 in Vancouver, Canada.​
Rudolph Glossop United Kingdom Rudolph Glossop (1902–1993), born on 17 February 1902 in Bakewell, England, was a geotechnical engineer and mining expert. He studied at the Royal School of Mines, graduating in 1924, and later worked with John Mowlem & Co., where he began his geotechnical career in the 1930s. Glossop co-founded Soil Mechanics Ltd in 1943, one of the first geotechnical consultancies, and was instrumental in the establishment of the journal, even funding it's publication in the early years. It was ultimately Glossop who finalised the name "Géotechnique," inspired by Daxelhofer's suggestion. He contributed to major engineering projects and geotechnical education, delivering the Eighth Rankine Lecture in 1968. Glossop retired in 1968 but remained active in engineering geology until his death on 1 March 1993 in Cornwall​.
Robert Haefeli Switzerland Dr. Robert Haefeli (1898–1978), born on 4 August 1898 in Lucerne, Switzerland, was a civil engineer and pioneering researcher in soil, snow, and ice mechanics. He graduated from ETH Zurich in 1920 and worked on water power projects before establishing a soil mechanics laboratory at ETH in 1935. Haefeli made significant contributions to the study of avalanches and snow mechanics, serving as President of the Glaciological Commission of the Swiss Academy of Sciences from 1950 to 1973. He authored approximately 170 publications and was honored with numerous awards, including the Wegener Medal in 1975. He died on 18 April 1978.​
Alec Skempton United Kingdom Alec Westley Skempton (1914–2001), born on 4 June 1914, was a British civil engineer and a founder of modern soil mechanics. A graduate of Imperial College London, he worked at the Building Research Station before becoming Professor at Imperial College in 1946, where he established its Soil Mechanics section. Skempton’s research spanned shear strength of clays, foundation engineering, and historical studies of dam failures. He was instrumental in founding the journal and received numerous honours, including delivering the Rankine Lecture in 1961 and a Fellowship in the Royal Society in 1964. He died on 9 August 2001.
Armin von Moos Switzerland Dr. Armin von Moos (1907–1981), born on 20 February 1907 in Wülflingen, Switzerland, was a geologist and a pioneer in integrating geology with geotechnical engineering. After earning his PhD in geology from ETH Zurich in 1935, he contributed to establishing a soil mechanics laboratory at ETH in collaboration with Robert Haefeli. Von Moos served as a lecturer at ETH from 1948 to 1968, teaching engineering geology and site investigation. He co-founded the Swiss Society of Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering in 1956 and served as Vice President of the International Society for Rock Mechanics from 1966 to 1970. Von Moos published extensively on geology and geotechnics, including a landmark review in the first issue of Géotechnique. He later founded a geological consultancy.
William Hallam Ward United Kingdom William Hallam Ward (1917–1996), born on 3 December 1917 in Pimlico, London, was a civil engineer and geotechnical expert. A graduate of Imperial College London, he worked at the Building Research Station, where he advanced foundation designs, tunnel linings, and soil mechanics applications. Ward served as Chairman of the British Geotechnical Society in 1966–1967. His contributions included advising on nuclear power station foundations and international tunneling projects. He delivered the Rankine Lecture in 1978 and was awarded the Skempton Gold Medal in 1991. He died on 23 April 1996.

In addition to the founding members, key figures including Karl Terzaghi, T. K. Huizinga, and Sir George Burt were early supporters of the journal.

Legacy and impact

Géotechnique played a key role in the emergence of geotechnical engineering as a distinct scientific discipline in the post-war period. The journal provided a platform for the exchange of research and practical insights, addressing the growing need for rigorous studies in soil mechanics and foundation engineering. The Rankine Lecture, hosted in March each year by the British Geotechnical Association, is published in Géotechnique together with the text of the biographical introduction and the vote of thanks. Each year, the paper rated best by the Editorial Board is given the Geotechnical Research Medal.

The journal maintains a peer-review process, and is indexed in databases including the Science Citation Index Expanded (SCIE) and Scopus.

See also

References

  1. Chrimes, M. (2008). "Geotechnical publications before Géotechnique". Géotechnique. 58 (5): 343–355. doi:10.1680/geot.2008.58.5.343. ISSN 0016-8505.
  2. ^ Brown, S. F. (2008). "Géotechnique 1948–2008: more than just a journal". Géotechnique. 58 (5): 315–326. doi:10.1680/geot.2008.58.5.315. ISSN 0016-8505.
  3. ^ Niechcial, Judith (2002). A Particle of Clay: The Biography of Alec Skempton, Civil Engineer. Whittles. ISBN 978-1-870325-84-4.
  4. ^ Burland, J. B. (2008). "The founders of Géotechnique". Géotechnique. 58 (5): 327–341. doi:10.1680/geot.2008.58.5.327.
  5. ^ Brown, S.F. (2013). "The Golder Archive: further insights into the birth of Géotechnique". Géotechnique. 63 (7): 573–583. doi:10.1680/geot.12.P.043. ISSN 0016-8505.
  6. Brown, S. F. (1982). "The development of Géotechnique 1948–1980—the first 30 volumes". Géotechnique. 32 (2): 121–132.
  7. Atkinson, J., ed. (7 November 2008). The Essence of Geotechnical Engineering: 60 Years of Geotechnique. Thomas Telford Ltd. doi:10.1680/ege.35362. ISBN 978-0-7277-3991-9.
  8. "Dr Leonard Frank Cooling, 1903–1977". Géotechnique. 27 (2): 265–270. 1977. doi:10.1680/geot.1977.27.2.265. ISSN 0016-8505.
  9. "BGA: Time Capsule Project". International Society for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering. Retrieved 29 December 2024.
  10. "Edward E. De Beer 191l–94". Géotechnique. 44 (4): 775–775. 1994. doi:10.1680/geot.1994.44.4.775. ISSN 0016-8505.
  11. "Publications by E.E. de Beer: The International Society for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering". www.issmge.org. Retrieved 29 December 2024.
  12. "Albert Sybrandus Keverling Buisman". TU Delft. Retrieved 29 December 2024.
  13. Geuze, E.C.W.A. (31 October 1951). "De ontwikkeling der grondmechanica tot technische wetenschap" [The Development of Soil Mechanics as a Technical Science] (public lecture) (in Dutch). Delft University of Technology. Retrieved 29 December 2024.
  14. van Mourik Broekman, G.H. (1948). "Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference on Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering, Rotterdam, June 21 - 30, 1948" (PDF). Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference on Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering. Rotterdam. Retrieved 29 December 2024.
  15. Gibson, R. E. (1991). "Hugh Quentin Golder 1911–90". Géotechnique. 41 (3): 475–477. doi:10.1680/geot.1991.41.3.475. ISSN 0016-8505.
  16. Milligan, V.; Seychuk, J.; Becker, D. (2017). Hugh Quentin Golder (PDF). Canadian Geotechnical Society. Retrieved 29 December 2024.
  17. Skempton, A.W. (1993). "Rudolph Glossop 1902–93". Géotechnique. 43 (4): 623–625. doi:10.1680/geot.1993.43.4.623. ISSN 0016-8505.
  18. Clarke, S.D. (2012). "Book review: Rudolph Glossop and the rise of geotechnology". Géotechnique. 62 (4): 369–369. doi:10.1680/geot.11.b.004. ISSN 0016-8505.
  19. J. H. (1979). "Robert Haefeli, 1898–1978". Géotechnique. 29 (1): 103–110. doi:10.1680/geot.1979.29.1.103. ISSN 0016-8505.
  20. Chandler, R. J.; Chrimes, M. M.; Burland, J. B.; Vaughan, P. R. (2001). "Alec Westley Skempton: 1914–2001". Géotechnique. 51 (10): 829–834. doi:10.1680/geot.2001.51.10.829. ISSN 0016-8505.
  21. von Moos, A.; Golder, H.Q.; Hardegger, J. (1948). "Engineering Geology in Switzerland A Review of the Literature". Géotechnique. 1 (1): 40–48. doi:10.1680/geot.1948.1.1.40. ISSN 0016-8505.
  22. Fookes, P. G.; Lee, E. M. (2017). "The early days of engineering geology in the UK – a personal view by Peter Fookes F.R. Eng". Quarterly Journal of Engineering Geology and Hydrogeology. 50 (4): 472–477. doi:10.1144/qjegh2017-102. ISSN 1470-9236. Retrieved 29 December 2024.
  23. Penman, A. (1996). "William Hallam Ward 1917—96". Géotechnique. 46 (3): 576–585. doi:10.1680/geot.1996.46.3.576. ISSN 0016-8505.
  24. ^ "Géotechnique - About the journal". Géotechnique. Retrieved 29 December 2024.
  25. Zdravkovic, L.; Carter, J. (2008). "Contributions to Géotechnique 1948–2008: Constitutive and numerical modelling". Géotechnique. 58 (5): 405–412. doi:10.1680/geot.2008.58.5.405. ISSN 0016-8505.
  26. "Geotechnique". www.scimagojr.com. Retrieved 29 December 2024.
  27. "ICI Journals Master List". journals.indexcopernicus.com. Retrieved 29 December 2024.

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