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Tunnel Construction and Underground Engineering
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Tunnel Construction and Underground Engineering

A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Civil Engineering".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 July 2026 | Viewed by 2975

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Yuantian Sun

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Mines, CUMT, Xuzhou 221116, China
Interests: geotechnical engineering; mining engineering; rock mechanics; data analysis using AI and ML; recycling; engineering materials; numerical modeling; simulation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Haoyu Rong

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Mines, CUMT, Xuzhou 221116, China
Interests: rock mechanics; rock support; strata control

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Recent years have seen significant advancements in tunnel construction and underground engineering, driven by technological innovations such as tunnel-boring machines (TBMs), advanced ground support systems, real-time monitoring techniques, and digital twin modeling. These developments have substantially improved safety, efficiency, and environmental sustainability in tunnel and underground projects globally. Notable progress in this field includes the establishment of smart sensing technologies for structural health monitoring, innovative excavation methods, and advanced geotechnical risk assessment techniques.

Looking ahead, research in this field is expected to further integrate automation, robotics, artificial intelligence, and sustainable practices into tunnel construction and engineering. Future research areas include the development of autonomous tunneling systems, application of artificial intelligence in predictive maintenance, enhanced resilience against geotechnical hazards, and sustainable utilization of underground spaces.

We welcome original research papers, comprehensive reviews, and case studies addressing, but not limited to, the keywords listed below.

Dr. Yuantian Sun
Dr. Haoyu Rong
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Applied Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • tunnel boring machines (TBMs)
  • smart monitoring systems
  • ground support innovations
  • digital twins in tunneling
  • geotechnical risk management
  • autonomous excavation
  • sustainable underground construction
  • artificial intelligence applications
  • underground space utilization
  • predictive maintenance

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

22 pages, 3072 KB  
Article
Research on the Mechanisms and Influencing Factors of Sediment Accumulation in Mountain Tunnel Drainage Trenches
by Yichen Peng, Jinhui Jing, Yimin Wu, Shuai Yang, Haiping Wu, Yangqi Xiang, Delei Jing and Hongshan Yin
Appl. Sci. 2026, 16(4), 1758; https://doi.org/10.3390/app16041758 - 10 Feb 2026
Viewed by 381
Abstract
Sediment accumulation in the drainage systems of mountain tunnels is a typical issue threatening operational safety. To explore the sedimentation behavior under the coupling of multiple factors, this study systematically analyzes the coupled effects of sediment content, flow rate, slope, and cross-sectional shape [...] Read more.
Sediment accumulation in the drainage systems of mountain tunnels is a typical issue threatening operational safety. To explore the sedimentation behavior under the coupling of multiple factors, this study systematically analyzes the coupled effects of sediment content, flow rate, slope, and cross-sectional shape on sedimentation through full-scale experiments and numerical simulations. The results indicate that: (1) the sediment accumulation is linearly positively correlated with sediment concentration (fitting slope of 0.87) and exponentially negatively correlated with flow rate and slope (R2 > 0.90); (2) for drainage trenches with different cross-sectional shapes under the same boundary conditions, the maximum flow velocity and anti-sedimentation capacity rank as narrow rectangular > semi-circular ≈ inverted trapezoidal > rectangular; (3) the study proposes engineering anti-sedimentation strategies, such as moderately increasing the slope and adopting a periodic concentrated discharge model to enhance sediment transport capacity using peak flow; (4) under the premise of meeting drainage and flood control standards, the inverted trapezoidal or semi-circular cross-sections are preferred. The bottom waterway width can be reduced to increase flow velocity, thereby achieving a synergistic optimization of drainage efficiency and operational reliability. This provides a quantitative basis for the structural selection and anti-sedimentation design of tunnel drainage systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tunnel Construction and Underground Engineering)
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26 pages, 4742 KB  
Article
Research on Plate–Umbrella Composite Recyclable Rock Anchor Used in Electrical Wire Tensioning and Its Ultimate Bearing Capacity
by Yimin Zheng, Peng Zhang, Wangwang Zhang, Deyong Wu and Yang Xu
Appl. Sci. 2026, 16(3), 1434; https://doi.org/10.3390/app16031434 - 30 Jan 2026
Viewed by 431
Abstract
Temporary ground anchors are widely used to provide anchorage for winches, tensioners, and guy wires during power transmission construction. In mountainous terrain, the drilling efficiency is limited, and conventional cement-grouted rock anchors are typically abandoned after use, causing resource waste and local environmental [...] Read more.
Temporary ground anchors are widely used to provide anchorage for winches, tensioners, and guy wires during power transmission construction. In mountainous terrain, the drilling efficiency is limited, and conventional cement-grouted rock anchors are typically abandoned after use, causing resource waste and local environmental disturbances. This study proposes a plate–umbrella composite recyclable rock anchor in which a hinged umbrella head can unfold and retract within an end-plate sleeve to mobilize slab-bearing resistance under pull-out. A composite grouting scheme (epoxy mortar plus hot-melt adhesive) combined with resistive heating enables component recovery after service. Field pull-out/recovery trials and ABAQUS simulations were conducted to evaluate load–displacement behavior, recovery feasibility, and key influencing factors (embedment length and drilling/tension angle combinations). Compared with a conventional end-plate anchor of the same short embedment length (1 m), the proposed anchor achieved a markedly higher ultimate capacity and smaller displacement. Angle mismatch between the drilling and tension directions caused substantial capacity loss, highlighting the need for alignment control in practice. Parametric simulations further indicate stable performance across representative weathered granite conditions. The proposed system provides a promising approach for efficient and reusable temporary anchorage in mountainous transmission projects. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tunnel Construction and Underground Engineering)
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25 pages, 8238 KB  
Article
A TCN–BiLSTM–Logarithmic Attention Hybrid Model for Predicting TBM Cutterhead Torque in Excavation
by Jinliang Li, Sulong Liu, Bin Liu, Xing Huang and Bin Song
Appl. Sci. 2026, 16(3), 1425; https://doi.org/10.3390/app16031425 - 30 Jan 2026
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 396
Abstract
To enhance intelligent decision-making for tunneling operations in complex geological conditions, this study proposes a high-precision prediction method for TBM cutterhead torque using engineering data from the west return-air roadway of the Shoushan No. 1 Mine in Pingdingshan, Henan (China). A multisource dataset [...] Read more.
To enhance intelligent decision-making for tunneling operations in complex geological conditions, this study proposes a high-precision prediction method for TBM cutterhead torque using engineering data from the west return-air roadway of the Shoushan No. 1 Mine in Pingdingshan, Henan (China). A multisource dataset integrating geological exploration data, TBM electro-hydraulic parameters, and surrounding rock–TBM interaction indicators was constructed and preprocessed through outlier removal, interpolation restoration, and Savitzky–Golay filtering to extract high-quality steady-state features. To capture the mechanical properties of composite strata, the equivalent strength parameter of composite strata and an integrity-classification index were introduced as key predictors. Based on these inputs, a hybrid TCN–BiLSTM–Logarithmic Attention model was developed to jointly extract local temporal patterns, model global dependencies, and emphasize critical operating responses. Testing results show that the proposed model consistently outperforms TCN, BiLSTM, and TCN-BiLSTM baselines under intact, transitional, and fractured rock conditions. It achieves an RMSE (19.85) and MAPE (3.72%) in intact strata, while in fractured strata RMSE (29.55) and MAPE (10.82%) are reduced by 23.5% and 22.7% relative to TCN. Performance in transitional strata is likewise superior. Overall, the TCN–BiLSTM–Logarithmic Attention model demonstrates the highest prediction accuracy across intact, transitional, and fractured strata; effectively captures the mechanical characteristics of composite formations; and achieves robust and high-precision prediction of TBM cutterhead torque in complex geological environments. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tunnel Construction and Underground Engineering)
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21 pages, 8864 KB  
Article
Numerical Analysis of Seepage Damage and Saturation Variation in Surrounding Soil Induced by Municipal Pipeline Leakage
by Shuangshuang Wang, Fengyin Liu, Ke Wang, Jingyu Cui and Xuguang Zhao
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(20), 11088; https://doi.org/10.3390/app152011088 - 16 Oct 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 958
Abstract
Surface subsidence and seepage damage in surrounding soils induced by leakage from municipal water supply pipelines pose significant risks to urban infrastructure. To clarify how leakage water diffuses in unsaturated soils and to assess seepage damage potential, this study established a numerical model [...] Read more.
Surface subsidence and seepage damage in surrounding soils induced by leakage from municipal water supply pipelines pose significant risks to urban infrastructure. To clarify how leakage water diffuses in unsaturated soils and to assess seepage damage potential, this study established a numerical model based on the Richards equation combined with the van Genuchten (VG) model. The model was validated against physical model tests using remolded Q3 loess, ensuring consistency in soil parameters and leakage conditions. Simulation results reveal that soil saturation evolution follows three stages—initial, rising, and stable—with preferential flow paths forming above the leakage point before gradually evolving into radial diffusion controlled by both pressure and gravity. The extent of the saturated zone increases with pipeline pressure, but the enhancement effect diminishes as pressure rises, reflecting the nonlinear water-retention characteristics of loess. Seepage damage risk was evaluated using the Terzaghi critical hydraulic gradient criterion. The results show that higher pressures enlarge the critical zone more rapidly, yet its ultimate radius stabilizes within approximately 2.3 m around the leakage point. Moreover, this study proposes that potential seepage damage may occur once effective saturation reaches about 85%, corresponding to the air-entry value of loess, thus providing a more conservative criterion for engineering risk assessment. Overall, the validated Richards-based numerical model reproduces the key features of leakage-induced unsaturated diffusion and offers practical guidance for identifying seepage-prone zones and mitigating subsidence hazards in municipal water supply systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tunnel Construction and Underground Engineering)
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