Engineering of Problematic Soils Volume 2. Problematic Engineering Soils - Barry G. Clarke

A practical guide to identifying, understanding, and mitigating the risks of soils that defy classic theory, Engineering of Problematic Soils links geological, environmental, and human processes to real-world construction challenges, offering unique solutions and case studies for geotechnical practice.

Soil behaviour is governed by composition, structure, fabric and pore fluid properties, and it evolves under changing loads and environmental conditions. Yet, as the book emphasises, “problematic soils do not conform to the ideal soil used in classical soil mechanics theories,” requiring approaches that extend far beyond standard design codes.



Engineering of Problematic Soils: Problematic Engineering Soils explains how soils form, are transported and deposited, and how geological, climatic and anthropogenic processes shape their engineering behaviour. It examines organic, expansive, collapsible, residual, glacial and anthropogenic soils showing why their heterogeneity, metastability and sensitivity challenge investigation, sampling and modelling.



Environmental and human induced changes, from climate driven extremes to construction activity and groundwater changes, are shown to alter stresses and saturation, often triggering geotechnical hazards.



A strategic framework sets out multi stage investigation, robust ground modelling and risk based, numerically informed design to create safe, resilient and sustainable geotechnical infrastructure.