Alan W. Bishop
Encyclopedia
Professor Alan Wilfred Bishop (1920–1988) MA PhD DIC DSc was a British Geotechnical Engineer and an academic at Imperial College London
.
He was known for the Bishop's method
of analysing soil slopes
. After his graduation from Emmanuel College, Cambridge, Bishop worked under Alec Skempton
and obtained his PhD
in 1952 with his thesis title being: The stability of earth dams. He worked extensively in the field of experimental Soil mechanics
and developed apparati for soil testing, such as the triaxial test.
His contribution to the science was widely acknowledged and he was invited in 1966 to deliver the 6th Rankine Lecture
of the British Geotechnical Association titled: The strength of soils as engineering materials.
Nowadays, a part of the Soil Mechanics Laboratories at Imperial College is named after him in recognition of his long time work at the College.
Imperial College London
Imperial College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom, specialising in science, engineering, business and medicine...
.
He was known for the Bishop's method
Slope stability
The field of slope stability encompasses the analysis of static and dynamic stability of slopes of earth and rock-fill dams, slopes of other types of embankments, excavated slopes, and natural slopes in soil and soft rock...
of analysing soil slopes
Slope stability
The field of slope stability encompasses the analysis of static and dynamic stability of slopes of earth and rock-fill dams, slopes of other types of embankments, excavated slopes, and natural slopes in soil and soft rock...
. After his graduation from Emmanuel College, Cambridge, Bishop worked under Alec Skempton
Alec Skempton
Sir Alec Skempton FRS was a leader in and founding father of Soil Mechanics. As a founding member of the Institution of Civil Engineers' Soil Mechanics and Foundations committees he studied at City and Guilds College London and established the Soil Mechanics course at Imperial College London,...
and obtained his PhD
PHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
in 1952 with his thesis title being: The stability of earth dams. He worked extensively in the field of experimental Soil mechanics
Soil mechanics
Soil mechanics is a branch of engineering mechanics that describes the behavior of soils. It differs from fluid mechanics and solid mechanics in the sense that soils consist of a heterogeneous mixture of fluids and particles but soil may also contain organic solids, liquids, and gasses and other...
and developed apparati for soil testing, such as the triaxial test.
His contribution to the science was widely acknowledged and he was invited in 1966 to deliver the 6th Rankine Lecture
Rankine Lecture
The Rankine Lecture is hosted in March each year by the British Geotechnical Association. It is widely viewed as the most prestigious of the invited lectures in Geotechnics.The lecture commemorates W. J. M...
of the British Geotechnical Association titled: The strength of soils as engineering materials.
Nowadays, a part of the Soil Mechanics Laboratories at Imperial College is named after him in recognition of his long time work at the College.