The Argentinian Geotechnical Engineering Society (SAIG) is pleased to present the invited lectures of the 15th Pan-American Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering (PCSMGE) and 8th South American Congress on Rock Mechanics (SCRM) that has been held in Buenos Aires (Argentina) from 15th to 18th November 2015.

These two regional conferences have been held in different countries from North, Central and South American regions from the early sixties. From the first Pan-American Conference in Mexico in 1959, the Pan-American Conferences have been held every four years in different countries of the Americas: in Brazil in 1963, in Venezuela in 1967, in Puerto Rico in 1971, in Argentina in 1975, in Peru in 1979, Canada in 1983, in Colombia in 1987, Chile 1991, in Mexico in 1995, in Brazil in 1999, in USA in 2003, in Venezuela in 2007, in Canada in 2011 and in Argentina in 2015. The SCRM is a Regional Symposium for South America of the International Society for Rock Mechanics (ISRM). Previous congresses were held in Colombia (1982, 2006), Brazil (1986, 1998), Venezuela (1990), Chile (1994), Peru (2010) and Argentina (2015).

This time, the conferences have coincided with other important events for geoprofessionals: the 6th International Symposium on Deformation Characteristics of Soils and the XXII Argentinian Congress of Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering (CAMSIG XXII).

This book include the Casagrande Lecture delivered by Luis Valenzuela, nine plenary lectures and twelve keynote lectures of both Buenos Aires conferences: 15th PCSMGE and 8th SCRM. Two additional volumes that include the peer-reviewed articles for both Conferences complement this book: “From Fundamentals to Applications in Geotechnics” (PCSMGE) and “Integrating Innovations of Rock Mechanics” (SCRM).

On behalf of Organizing Committee, the editors wish to express their gratitude to the International Society for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering (ISSMGE) and the International Society for Rock Mechanics (ISRM) and all the sponsors and institutions that generously contributed and supported to the success of the Buenos Aires 2015 Conferences. We would also like to acknowledge the commitment of the chairs, panelists, members of the international advisory committee and peer-reviewers. This collaboration effort succeeded in bringing together international experts, researchers, academics, professionals and geo-engineering companies in a unique opportunity to exchange ideas and discuss current and future practices in the areas of soil mechanics, rock mechanics, and their applications in civil, mining and environmental engineering.

Alejo O. Sfriso

Diego Manzanal

Ricardo J. Rocca

Buenos Aires, 15–18 November 2015