Arpad Kezdi (Kalcher)

* Komárom, November 19, 1919 – † Budapest, October 20, 1983 / civil engineer, university professor, member of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences ; ; He obtained his architectural engineering degree from the József Nádor University of Technology and Economics in Budapest in 1942. He was an intern at the Department of Railway Construction, Soil Mechanics and Foundations in 1941, and an assistant professor there from 1943. He was a soldier and an American prisoner of war in 1944–1946. After his return home, he taught at the university again, and was the head of the Department of Geotechnics between 1951–1982. He also held the position of scientific vice-rector of BME in 1972–1975. His research area was primarily the geotechnical investigation of soil mechanics and soil physical properties from an engineering perspective. By summarizing and further developing the earth pressure theories, examining the stability of slopes and sloping earth masses, the bearing capacity of soils, and transient (temporary) processes caused by external dynamic effects (e.g. earthquakes), he significantly contributed to the theoretical clarification of earthworks, foundation and soil consolidation engineering works. In addition to these soil physics investigations, he dealt in depth with the material composition and water circulation of soils, soil as a building material, and the methodology of road stabilization and bearing capacity-improving pile foundations. The Hungarian Academy of Sciences elected him a corresponding member in 1970 and a full member in 1976. ; ; His main works: ; Soil mechanics I-II., 1952–1954, ; Experimental cement soil road construction and testing, 1955, ; Earthworks I-II. (Póczy Mihálylyal,1957, ; Tunnels, foundations, earthworks, soil mechanics, 1960, ; Handbuch der Bodenmechanik I-IV. (also in English), 1969–1976, ; Soil mechanics and foundations (with József Farkas), 1981.