SOIL MECHANICS CONFERENCE

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27874, 24 January 1956, Page 3

SOIL MECHANICS CONFERENCE

DELEGATES PRESENT FROM AUSTRALIA

TECHNICAL PAPERS . DISCUSSED

The second Australian and New Zealand Conference on Soil Mechanics und Foundation Engineering opened in Christchurch yesterday. After the official opening, four technical papers were read, and a reception was given by the Canterbury University College Council. Seventy delegates are attending. Soil mechanics were important in the construction of aerodromes, said Mr D. W. Bain, chairman of the college council, who presided at the opening function. The tendency of cities to grow higher would extend the field of soil investigation. A very great work find responsibility were ahead of such an organisation represented at the conference, because of the economic value of the deliberations and practical results, not only to Australia and New Zealand but to other countries.

Soil was ’being used as a material for building in many parts of the world, said Mr L. J. Wild, pro-chan-cellor of the University 6f New Zealand. Maoris did not use it, but researches, in Auckland and Canterbury showed that they dug into the ground. The early immigrants used turf for house building; among them were the Deans brothers at Christchurch. The engineering school at Canterbury Col-

lege gave precise information on the building of houses with rammed earth. Man travelled and built on the soil. All structures, except ships and aircraft. had soil as their foundations; and aircraft needed soil for landing. Most of the trouble in buildings had been found to be faulty foundations. Only in the last 30 years had the characteristics of soil related to building construction been subjected to scientific investigation. Declaring the conference opened, Mr F. M. Hanson. Commissioner of Works and president of the New Zealand Institution of Engineers, said the papers indicated there would be a considerable gam in technical knowledge and, what appealed to him. greater goodwill and understanding would be engendered. A decade or so ago. an American engineer said soil was probably the most used material in construction, but less was known about it than other materials. In many respects, they were still ignorant about the behaviour of soils as engineering materials. Notwithstanding the importance of soil knowledge, ne had to issue a warning that the science of soil mechanics was not an end to itself. The difference between pure research and practical engineering had to be realised and appreciated. The practices in foundation engineering built up over the years, although to a degree empirical, seemed to give some satisfactory results. Mr Hanson concluded by urging research into moisture movements in sub-bases of pavements.