Leonardo Enrique Zeevaert Wiechers, Mexican structural engineer (Veracruz 27 November 1914 – Ciudad de Mexico 16 February 2010)
From German descent
Recognized as a world leader of geotechnical engineering
Authored 159 papers
Developed the concept of intergranular viscosity
First to apply the concept of controlled flexibility in the design of structures
Introduced the concept of elastic stability in design of high-rise steel
Improved the concept of compensated foundation and developed the concept of compensated friction pile foundations
Discovered the phenomenon of negative friction in piles
Developed and named Seismo-Geodynamic Theory
Ecuación completa de consolidación para depositos de arcilla que exhiben fuerte compresión secundaria (A complete equation of foundation for clay depots presenting Strong secondary compression). Rev. Ingenieria UNAM (6-8):57-72, 1951
DEVELOPED METHODS
Special procedures for deep excavations to be used in conjunction with floating foundations
A method to find out the resonance periods of the subsoil (1950s)
A procedure for the construction of hanging buildings that gives more architectural flexibility in the ground floor
A procedure for determining the hydrodynamic horizontal flow in stratified soils
A procedure to assess negative friction in piles
Innovative design methods for compensated foundation, piled raft foundations and compensated-friction pile foundations
Lez foundation
Um método sencillo para el cálculo de las estructuras indeterminadas (A simple method for calculation of indeterminated structures) . Rev. Ingenieria Esc. Nac. Ingenieros p.257-61, 1939
DEVELOPED APPARATUSES
Designed free-vibrating torsion pendulum for determining the dynamical properties of the soil (1965)
A Hollandish modified chamber
Lez pile head
Authored Foundation Engineering for Difficult Subsoil Conditions (1972) translated into Chinese and Polish languages
HONORS
Special Prize, American Institute for Steel Construction (the first one awarded outside United States)
Gold medal, American Institute of Architects (1965)
Honorary Member, Belgian Royal Academy of Arts & Sciences & National Academy of Engineering, United States
23rd Terzaghi Lecture, American Society of Civil Engineers (1987)
LINKS
http://www.ejge.com/People/Zeevaert/Zeevaert.htm
http://www.100.unam.mx/images/stories/universitarios/dhc/PDF/zeevaert-wiechers-leonardo.pdf