PRESENT AND FUTURE TRENDS IN FOUNDATIONS

Progress in building methods was slow until the Industrial Revolution ushered in an age when tremendous improvements (steel, iron, cement etc.) and machinery (powered, at first, by steam and coal) made possible a quantum jump in the complexity and quality of structures. Modern materials and equipment made possible the deeper and stronger foundations that were required for skyscrapers and bridges, etc. In the past century progress in improvement of materials and machinery has not matched the revolution brought about by the age of iron and steel and coal and steam, but has resulted instead in a great many refinements by comparison. For the future, the depletion of natural resources including agricultural land and fossil fuels will require structures whose form and location will be conditional by these depletions. Deeper excavations and higher superstructures will challenge the foundation engineer to provide larger and more difficult substructures. /Author/

  • Supplemental Notes:
    • Presented at the ASCE Annual Convention and Exposition, Philadelphia, Pa., September 27-October 1, 1976.
  • Corporate Authors:

    American Society of Civil Engineers

    345 East 47th Street
    New York, NY  United States  10017-2398
  • Authors:
    • White, R E
  • Publication Date: 1977-9

Media Info

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 00165328
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Report/Paper Numbers: ASCE 13183 Proceeding
  • Files: TRIS
  • Created Date: Mar 14 1978 12:00AM