Geotechnical engineering: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 15:08, 27 April 2025

Revision as of 04:33, 7 July 2025

Line 84:

==Observational method==

First proposed by [[Karl Terzaghi]] and later discussed in a paper by [[Ralph Brazelton Peck|Ralph B. Peck]], the observational method is a managed process of construction control, monitoring, and review, which enables modifications to be incorporated during and after construction. The method aims to achieve a greater overall economy without compromising [[safety]] by creating designs based on the most probable conditions rather than the most unfavorable.<ref>Nicholson, D, Tse, C and Penny, C. (1999). The Observational Method in ground engineering – principles and applications. Report 185, CIRIA, London.</ref> Using the observational method, gaps in available information are filled by measurements and investigation, which aid in assessing the behavior of the structure during [[construction]], which in turn can be modified per the findings. The method was described by Peck as "learn-as-you-go".<ref name="peck">Peck, R.B (1969). Advantages and limitations of the observational method in applied soil mechanics, Geotechnique, 19, No. 1, pp. 171-187171–187.</ref>

The observational method may be described as follows:<ref name="peck" />