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Prof. Richard G. Campanella

Campanella, R.G. (DICK), Professor Emeritus

Dick Campanella holds a Ph.D. in Geotechnical Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley and since 1965 has been at the University of British Columbia where he was Head of the Civil Engineering Department from 1978 to 1984. Dick considers himself an experimentalist and initially directed research in the laboratory on stress path analysis, plane strain testing, creep rupture and stress-strain-strain rate behavior of natural clays. Since 1977 he has been concentrating on In-situ soil testing research encompassing the development of devices and procedures, their evaluation, interpretation and analysis, and ultimately their application in engineering design. The in-situ testing tools researched include Piezocone, Seismic Cone, Lateral Stress Cone, Resistivity Cone, Flat Dilatometer, SPT and BPT Energy Calibrator, Self-boring and Push-in Pressuremeters, Lateral Stress Blade, Screw Plate, Field Vane, Miniature Settlement-Inclinometer System and Offshore Deep-water Lateral Stress/Pore Pressure tools as well as Penetrometers for Pore Water Sampling and Outflow Hydraulic Conductivity Testing. Applications include dynamic site characterization (shear modulus and damping) for earthquake analysis, soil liquefaction assessment, settlement prediction, measurement of In-situ horizontal stress, axial and lateral pile capacity and behavior, pile dynamics, statistical analysis for site characterization, evaluation of ground improvement, geoenvironmental site characterization, hydrogeology parameters, groundwater contamination problems, and chemical and physical stability of mine waste tailings.

More than 150 papers have been published on the above topics along with several manuals on cone testing and design procedures. He has also developed a unique In-situ Testing truck for teaching courses on Soil Exploration for Engineering Design as well as carrying out many research projects. Dick has presented more than 15 short courses to practicing engineers since 1984 on the practical aspects of In-situ testing for foundation engineering applications with emphasis on the electronic piezocone and more recently (since 1990) on its use as a screening tool to assess groundwater contamination and plume detection in combination with water sampling and resistivity. Dr. Campanella draws on his extensive field experience through case history presentations.

In July 1997, Dr. Campanella took early retirement from his teaching duties after 32 years at UBC. This has allowed him time to travel and to concentrate on research, directing graduate students and promoting the use of In-Situ testing in Geotechnical practice through consulting and the presentation of short courses and seminars.