Author Description

This reprint aims to immerse the reader in the latest advances in the study of special soils. Geotechnical design and construction all over the world are constantly challenged by a variety of special soils, including residual soil, loess, frozen soil, expansive soil, glacial till, and contaminated soil. The mechanical properties of special soils are significantly different from those of common sedimentary clays and sands, which pose great difficulties for engineering applications. The detailed characterizations of these special soils are of great importance if the related engineering is to be conducted in a secure and economical way. This reprint summarizes the most recent studies of special soils, involving laboratory, field, numerical, and theoretical investigations by scholars from all over the world.