Donald Burmister
Encyclopedia
Donald M. Burmister was a professor of civil engineering
and a pioneer in the field of soil mechanics
and geotechnical engineering
.
for 34 years, beginning in 1929. He was a consultant on the foundation design for many notable construction projects including the Brokhaven National Laboratory, Verazanno-Narrows Bridge, Tappan Zee Bridge
, first New York
Worlds Fair at Flushing Meadows
, and reconstruction of the White House
in 1950 .
Professor Burmister authored over 35 research papers, particularly influential on the subjects of pavement design and soil classification
. He developed a solution to calculate stresses and displacements in a two layer pavement system in 1943, and went on solve the problem for a three layer system in 1945. Prior to his solutions, engineers relied on equations by Joseph Valentin Boussinesq to calculate stresses and displacements in pavement, but these equation proved to be inaccurate in layered pavement systems. Tests have shown that for most pavements, the Boussinesq equations result in stresses larger than those measured and displacements larger than those measured. Burmister's layered solutions were a significant advancement in the practice of pavement design.
Professor Burmister developed a soil classification system in 1950 that is still widely used today. The Modified Burmister classification system is based on grain size and plasticity
, but differs from the Unified Soil Classification System
in that it includes nomenclature to describe the soil's textutre, color, mineralogy
, and geological origin.
Civil engineering
Civil engineering is a professional engineering discipline that deals with the design, construction, and maintenance of the physical and naturally built environment, including works like roads, bridges, canals, dams, and buildings...
and a pioneer in the field of 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 geotechnical engineering
Geotechnical engineering
Geotechnical engineering is the branch of civil engineering concerned with the engineering behavior of earth materials. Geotechnical engineering is important in civil engineering, but is also used by military, mining, petroleum, or any other engineering concerned with construction on or in the ground...
.
Career
Donald Burmister served as faculty member at Columbia UniversityColumbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
for 34 years, beginning in 1929. He was a consultant on the foundation design for many notable construction projects including the Brokhaven National Laboratory, Verazanno-Narrows Bridge, Tappan Zee Bridge
Tappan Zee Bridge
The Governor Malcolm Wilson Tappan Zee Bridge, usually referred to as Tappan Zee Bridge, is a cantilever bridge in New York over the Hudson River at one of its widest points; the Tappan Zee is named for an American Indian tribe from the area called "Tappan"; and zee being the Dutch word for "sea"....
, first New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
Worlds Fair at Flushing Meadows
Flushing Meadows
Flushing Meadows is an American short film by Larry Jordan, with director Joseph Cornell. The film is 8 minutes long, in color, 16mm, and silent....
, and reconstruction of the White House
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
in 1950 .
Professor Burmister authored over 35 research papers, particularly influential on the subjects of pavement design and soil classification
Soil classification
Soil classification deals with the systematic categorization of soils based on distinguishing characteristics as well as criteria that dictate choices in use.- Overview :...
. He developed a solution to calculate stresses and displacements in a two layer pavement system in 1943, and went on solve the problem for a three layer system in 1945. Prior to his solutions, engineers relied on equations by Joseph Valentin Boussinesq to calculate stresses and displacements in pavement, but these equation proved to be inaccurate in layered pavement systems. Tests have shown that for most pavements, the Boussinesq equations result in stresses larger than those measured and displacements larger than those measured. Burmister's layered solutions were a significant advancement in the practice of pavement design.
Professor Burmister developed a soil classification system in 1950 that is still widely used today. The Modified Burmister classification system is based on grain size and plasticity
Plasticity
Plasticity may refer to:Science* Plasticity , in physics and engineering, plasticity is the propensity of a material to undergo permanent deformation under load...
, but differs from the Unified Soil Classification System
Unified Soil Classification System
The Unified Soil Classification System is a soil classification system used in engineering and geology to describe the texture and grain size of a soil. The classification system can be applied to most unconsolidated materials, and is represented by a two-letter symbol...
in that it includes nomenclature to describe the soil's textutre, color, mineralogy
Mineralogy
Mineralogy is the study of chemistry, crystal structure, and physical properties of minerals. Specific studies within mineralogy include the processes of mineral origin and formation, classification of minerals, their geographical distribution, as well as their utilization.-History:Early writing...
, and geological origin.