PREFACE

Since the late 1960s fairly accurate measurements of soil properties under dynamic
loading conditions have been made in the laboratory and in situ. A summary of the
then current knowledge on this subject was published by the author in 1976 (in
Japanese) entitled Fundamentals of Soil Dynamics.
With the further development of new techniques, a vast amount of reliable data
has subsequently been produced and is now used for the analysis and design of
foundations and earth structures taking into account the effects of earthquake-
induced loads. Because of the abundance and diversity of the data it was difficult to
review and summarize all of them in a proper perspective. As such, the content
included in this book does not necessarily cover all relevant information, and may be
biased towards the efforts of the author and other Japanese workers.
The structuring of this book draws basically on the framework of the previous
book published in Japanese. Several years have passed since the author started
writing the draft. In the meantime, overall encouragement by Professor M. Fukuoka
was helpful in advancing the writing work. My colleagues, Professor F. Tatsuoka of
the University of Tokyo, Dr T. Kokusho of Central Research Institute of Electric
Power Industry, Professor S. Yasuda of Tokyo Denki University, and Dr. S. Iai of
the Port and Harbour Research Institute have always been co-operative in providing
most useful information and stimulating discussions on the subject matter.
The author wishes to acknowledge the co-operation and assistance by his
colleagues at the University of Tokyo, Professor I. Towhata, Mr K. Sugo, and
M. Yoshimine. The assistance by Dr R. P. Orense of Kisojiban Consultants is also
acknowledged gratefully.

February 1995 K.I.

Tokyo
The Publisher and the Author gratefully acknowledge the generous
financial support given for the preparation of the typescript by the Daido
Life Foundation.