This book discusses the science and technology of tunneling for the 21st Century. It includes topics related to planning, geological and environmental investigations, as well as the maintenance and the longevity of tunnels.

Progressive failure has been a classical problem in the field of geotechnical engineering and has attracted considerable attention in connection with slope stability and foundation problems. It is associated with strain localization or shear banding and is also related to damage in material structures. As knowledge of the progressive failure mechanism increases, it is now necessary to establish effective communications between researchers and engineers.

The International Symposium on Deformation and Progressive Failure in Geomechanics provided an opportunity for discussing recent advances in this area.

A total of 136 papers were contributed from 22 countries. As well as these, the symposium proceedings also contain 8 interim technical reports on the subject by the members of the Asian Technical Committee of the International Society for Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering and the Japanese Geotechnical Society National Committee on Progressive Failure in Geo-structures.