Introduction to the E.H. Davis Memorial LectureAn address delivered by Professor Harry G. Poulos at the inaugural E.H. Davis Memorial Lecture - 13th November 1985.
The E.H. Davis Memorial Lecture was established in 1983 by the Australian Geomechanics Society to honour a man who was one of the pioneers of geo-mechanics in Australia.
Ted Davis came to Australia from England in 1952, having been in the Army during the 2nd World War and then working as a Senior Scientific Officer at the Road Research Laboratory.
He joined the University of Sydney as a Senior Lecturer in Civil Engineering and began to develop lectures and laboratory classes in soil mechanics for undergraduate students. Despite limitations in support staff and facilities, he proceeded to put the subject of soil mechanics on a sound theoretical basis.
He perceived that would only come progress and if consistent, understanding theoretically sound but simple models of soil behaviour were used. He proceeded to apply the theory of elasticity to foundation deformation problems and the theory of plasticity to stability problems. These two topics remained the central focus of his research interests during his career, and both were advanced significantly by his work. He also integrated into this sound analytical framework, the theory of consolidation of clay soils and again made a major contribution in this area.
Ted Davis was always extremely conscious of the link between theory and practice, the relationship between the idealized and real material, and the engineering significance of his work. He was particularly conscious of the need to present theoretical results in a manner which could readily be understood and applied by the practicing engineer. Consequently he was widely sought as a consultant to advise on difficult problems to bring to bear his acute perception of the crux of the problem and the way in which it could be solved.
Those of us who were privileged to work with Ted were very much aware of his ability to stimulate and encourage his students and colleagues. He was never too busy to view the latest findings of an enthusiastic research student or colleague and would willingly put aside other tasks to discuss and critically appraise the results. On several occasions, he saved his colleagues from public embarrasment by his ability to detect flaws in logical or theoretical arguments.
Two of the highlights of Ted’s career came, towards the end of his life, in 1980:
- election to the Australian Academy of Sciences
- his selection as the inaugural John Jaeger Memorial Medallist
He was instrumental in the formation of the Australian Geomechanics Society in 1970. Together with the other two “wise men of Australian geomechanics, Aitchison and Trollope, he saw the need for an integrated geotechnical society. He served as Chairman of the Society and also represented the Australasian Region as Vice President of the International Society of S.M. & F.E. between 1969 and 1973.
Following Ted’s untimely death in 1981, the AGS discussed at considerable length ways in which his contribution to Australian Geomechanics could be commemorated. Because of his deep interest in the practical application of theory, it was finally decided that the E.H. Davis Memorial Lecture would be established and that it would be delivered every 2 years by a person who had made “distinguished recent contributions to the theory and practice of geomechanics in Australia”. In 1984, a committee of the AGS was set up to select the inaugural E.H. Davis lecturer from a number of nomineees of the various state groups of the Society. This committee chose tonight’s lecturer, Dr. Barry McMahon, and in doing so, made a most appropriate choice.
Dr. McMahon’s contributions to geomechanics, particularly in the areas of rock slope stability and the application of probabilistic concepts, have been outstanding, and his development and practical application of these theories have attracted substantial interest and attention both in Australia and overseas.
Dr. McMahon obtained his BSc in Geology from Sydney University in 1959 and his M.Sc. in Geology in 1964. He was subsequently awarded the D.Sc. in Geological and Mining Engineering from the Colorado School of Mines in 1968 and is currently a Principal of Dames & Moore in Sydney. He has been involved in a very wide variety of projects including:
- Dams
- Groundwater investigations
- Major Building foundations
- Highways and railways
- Marine and offshore investigations
- Open cut collieries
- Open cut shale prospects
- Metalliferous open cut mines
- Rock Mechanics Investigations for Underground Mines, Tunnels and Power Stations.
His work on open cut mines has been particularly noteworthy and he was a member of the International Commission for High Pit Slopes, and was retained by the Canadian Dept. of Mines to prepare the draft design chapter for the Pit Slope Manual.
He has contributed over 20 publications dealing with geotechnical and geohydrological aspects of open cut and underground mines, and two of these papers have been selected by the Society of Mining Engineers for reprinting in a “Benchmark Volume”.
We are particularly honoured to have with us tonight, Ted Davis’ wife, Mrs. Kitty Davis, and I am pleased to now call upon her to present the framed certificate to Dr. Barry McMahon, and to invite him to then deliver his address on the subject of “Geotechnical Design in the Face of Uncertainty”.