Activity of Member
The Russian Society for Soil Mechanics, Geotechnical Engineering and Foundation Construction
50 Year Jubilee Congress of RSSMGFE
On 14-15 of May a 50 year jubilee congress of the Russian society for soil mechanics, geotechnical engineering and foundation construction (RSSMGFE) was held in Moscow. The first ever ISSMGE congress took place in 1936 in the USA where the International Society for Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering was established. An outstanding Russian geotechnical researcher Prof. N. M. Gersevanov participated in that congress and from that moment on Russian geotechnical specialists have played an active role in the work of the Society. In 1957, a Russian National Association was founded and accepted into the ISSMGE. One of the most important figures in the Russian National Association was Prof. N.A. Tsytovich, who became its first President. Professor N.A.Tsytovich was a soil mechanics scholar of considerable renown. He attained scholarly recognition soon after his early works on construction in permafrost conditions were published.
From 1986 and until the present day, Russian Society on Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering has been headed by Prof. V.A. Ilychov. In 1973 the 8th congress of the Society was successfully held in Moscow made possible by the endeavours of the Russian geotechnical specialists. This congress hosted 2355 specialists from 51 countries. That large congress enjoyed active participation of Russian geotechnical researchers and practitioners who were also able to establish far-reaching and long-term ties with world- leading specialists in the area of foundation construction. That congress was a milestone event for Russia and was conducive to integration of Russian soil mechanics into the scientific context of the world. This can be proved by active participation of Russian scientists in international conferences, congresses and workshops. Russian researchers also work actively in a majority of technical committees created within the framework of the ISSMGE.
In the 1990s Russia hosted 2 TCs: Construction on Soft Solis (Chair: Prof. P.A. Konovalov) and Interaction of subsoils and structures (Chair: Prof. P. A. Klepikov). Result of those two committees’ 4-year long endeavours was the Second Baltic International Conference held in Tallinn in 1988. Since 1983-1993 the TC on saline soils was chaired by Prof. V.P. Petrukhin. Currently Russia is hosting TC 38 – Soil Structure Interaction chaired by Prof. V.M. Ulitsky. One could also make a note of a series of successful International Conferences Kishinev (Danube European conference, Moldova, 1985), Raubichi (Young geotechnical engineering conference, Byelorussia, 1989) and St. Petersburg (Reconstruction of historical cities 2003, Soil-Structure Interaction, 2005).
Close-knit ties were established between the Russian National Society and the leading Russian Institute of Foundation and Underground Engineering (NIIOSP). This Institute was for a long time led by Prof. V. A. Ilychov, imparting a positive charge to the activities of both the Institute and of the Society. In 1990 Prof. V.A. Ilychov was elected a member of the ISSMGE board and since
2005 the board of ISSMGE includes Dr. M.B. Lisyuk. Russia has been proud of its RSSMGFE members –– such world renounced researchers as N.A. Tsytovich, V.V. Sokolovsky, N.N. Maslov, M.I. Gorbunov-Posadov, V.A. Florin, and D.D. Barkan. Unquenchable activities and up-keeping of the unbroken ties with the leading world scientists are characteristic features of the Russian National Society and its dynamic development, which is far from being surprising, as the leader of the Society is a world famous specialist in the area of soil dynamics – Prof. V.A.Ilychov.
A group of Russian geotechnical researchers just as the anniversary banquet is about to commence
Reported by Professor V.M. Ulitsky, Chairman of the North-West Branch of RSSMGFE, Chairman of ISSMGE TC 38 “Soil-Structure Interaction”
Download ISSMGE Bulletin – Volume 1 Issue 2 (p. 5)
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