An introduction to geotechnical engineering / Robert D. Holtz, William D. Kovacs & Thomas C. Sheahan.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

"It has been over a decade since the publication of the second edition of An Introduction to Geotechnical Engineering. The impetus for this edition comes from a frequently heard need from faculty and students for a textbook that covers both the fundamentals of soil mechanics and soil properties, but also the basics of foundation engineering. As we noted in the preface to the second edition, technical content in engineering degree programs continues to be reduced , and these three areas of geotechnical engineering are often covered in a single undergraduate course . However, we continue to believe that even in such a compressed course, a textbook that is sophisticated and carries appropriate rigor is an ongoing necessity"--