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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 531

Special Issue Editors

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

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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 (1 paper)

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Research

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
Viewed by 146
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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