Formation and development of schools of thought in geotechnical engineering in Kharkiv national university of civil engineering and architecture: the history, personalities, and present

Abstract

The paper covers historical material on the formation and development of schools of thought in geotechnical engineering in Kharkiv National University of Civil Engineering and Architecture (formerly known as Kharkiv Civil Engineering Institute), which came into being in 1934 with the establishment of the Department of Bases and Foundations. Particular emphasis is laid upon some personalities of the department; they are outstanding scientists and professors, such as F.O. Belyakov, S.Z. Saidakovsky, I.Ya. Luchkovsky, G.G. Strizhelchyk and others, who made a significant contribution to the formation of schools of thought in geotechnical engineering at the university. A particular contribution of the created research laboratory and the developed equipment for field methods of research into physical and mechanical properties of soils of bases for the foundations of building structures is singled out in the development of scholarly knowledge. The achievements of the renamed Department of Geotechnics, Underground and Hydrotechnical Structures are listed as of today, such as renovation of the educational and research laboratory of “Geotechnical Survey”, which has a governmental certification and allows scientists and students to perform high-quality laboratory work and conduct a full range of engineering and geological and hydrogeological surveys for construction; creation of a new research and technical subdivision of the department known as “Center for monitoring buildings and structures”, which conducts an instrument monitoring of the stress-strain state of the bases and foundations of construction projects using advanced equipment and software packages; availability of an IT classroom and licensed software, including SOFISTIK, a powerful German design software package, which allows researchers to provide high-level research and technical support for designing construction projects. The paper also clearly shows the advantages of training scientific staff and civil engineers in specialties 192 “Construction and Civil Engineering” and 194 “Hydrotechnical Engineering, Water Engineering and Water Technology" and, as a result, a considerable demand for KhNUCEA graduates from employers.