2.3.1 Overall history of geotechnical centrifuge

Era

Development

Research topics

Active research groups

1869

1st paper on the idea of centrifuging

(for steel structures)

Edouard Philips presented a paper titled "De l'equilibre des solides elastiques semblables" in which he recognized the limitation of contemporary elastic theory in the analysis of complex structures. He suggested centrifuging a 1:50 linear scale model of a bridge to an acceleration of 50 G (Ecole Centrale/Ecole Polytechnique, France).

1930s

Germ of idea

Tunnel support 
Slope stability 
 

Philip Bucky performed a test on an integrity of mine roof structures in rock where small pre-formed rock structures were subjected to increasing accelerations until they ruptured (Columbia Univ., USA). 
Dvidenkov and Pokrovskii made proposals on a geotechnical modelling in the centrifuge (USSR). Pokrovskii and Fiodorov presented a paper in English at the 1st Int'l Conf. on Soil Mech. and Foundation Eng. in 1936.

1940-50s

-

(for military affairs ?)

Research was continued in USSR (?) 

1960s

Trial manufacture of geotechnical centrifuges 
Simple data acquisition system (observation with eyes and photos) 

Behavior governed by soil self-weight 

  • Self-weight consolidation
  • Slope stability
    		•

    Cambridge Univ., UK 
    Osaka City Univ., Japan

    1970s

    Manufacture of large centrifuges 
    Progress in computing system and data acquisition system 
    Progress in constitutive law on soils

    Various topics 

  • Measurement of pore pressure
  • Effects of stress histories
  • Miniature field measurement system (i.e. in-flight vane, cone)
  • Piles, Retaining wall, Anchors, Shallow foundations
  • Excavation, Tunneling, Embankments, etc.
    		•

    Cambridge Univ., UK 
    L.M.S., France 
    Osaka City Univ., Japan 
    Univ. of Manchester, UK 

    1980s

    Development of earthquake simulators

  • Liquefaction
  • Stability of slope during earthquake, etc.
    		•

    Caltech, USA 
    Cambridge Univ., UK 
    L.C.P.C., France 
    P.H.R.I., Japan 
    P.W.R.I., Japan 
    T. I. Tech., Japan 
    U.C. Davis, USA 
    and more

    1990s

    Equipment for geo-environment 
    Excavator

    Soil contaminants 
    Struted excavation 
    Shield tunnelling 
    Remediation

    so many

    References

    Kimura, T. and Kusakabe, O. (1987) : Centrifuge model tests, 2. Introduction, Tsuchi-to-kiso,Vol. 35, No. 11, pp. 68-74 (in Japanese).

    Craig, W. H., James, R. G. and Schofield, A. N. (eds) (1988) : Centrifuge research activities in Japan, Centrifuges in soil mechanics, A. A. Balkema, pp. 19-92.