Alec Skempton devoted his life to research in the newly
created field of soil mechanics in the mid-20th century. He was born on June 4, 1914 and was knighted
in the Millennium Honours list in 2000.
Education
Skempton graduated with a degree in civil engineering with
first class honors from Imperial College in 1935. By his junior year in college he'd already
dedicated his life to research. Early on
his research focused on reinforced concrete and this led to his position at the
Building Research Station (BRS).
Soil Mechanics at the
Building Research Station
By 1937 Skempton turned his concentration from concrete to
soil mechanics. The Chingford Dam in Essex collapsed while under construction
just a few months into Skempton's career at BRS. He investigated the cause for the collapse
and determined it was due to incomplete consolidation of the alluvial clay
foundations. Previous dams had been
constructed using horse-and-cart technology which allowed time for
consolidation. This time around a
mechanized plant had been used.
Return to Academia
In 1947 he returned to Imperial College as a reader of soil
mechanics. He was awarded a DSc from the
University of London in 1949. Skempton
went on to be a professor of soil mechanics and civil engineering at the
University of London until his retirement.
Skempton authored many technical papers including some on
the topics of:
- Geotechnical properties of post-glacial clays
- Properties of a range of different clays
- Slope stability
- Residual strength as a fundamental property
dependent on the mineralogy of the soil
Skempton served on numerous committees in which he had an
immediate interest:
- The Institution of Civil Engineers (Vice
President from 1974-1976)
- Newcomen Society (President from 1977-1979)
- Cathedrals Advisory Board (Member from
1964-1970)
- Natural Environmental Research Council (Member
from 1973-1976)
- Architectural Association (Special Lecturer from
1948-1957)
- Cambridge University School of Architecture
(Visiting Lecturer in 1976)
Skempton consulted on many dam projects during his
career. A biographical dictionary of
early civil engineers was the main project during the last five years of his
life. He continued working until a few
months before his death on August 9, 2001.
Resources:
Biographical Memoirs of Fellows of the Royal Society - Sir
Alec Westley Skempton. 4 June 1914 - 9 August 2001.
Obituary - Alec
Westley Skempton (1914-2001)
Wikipedia - Alec Skempton
World Wide Web of Geotechnical Engineers Hall of Fame - Alec Westley Skempton [image]
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