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Applied Sciences
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Cross-Scale Cracks in Rock Mass Under Multi-Phase and Multi-Field Coupling
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Cross-Scale Cracks in Rock Mass Under Multi-Phase and Multi-Field Coupling

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 June 2025 | Viewed by 5885

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Bin Gong

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Brunel University London, London UB8 3PH, UK
Interests: rock mechanics; computational geomechanics; geohazard prevention and mitigation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In geology, cross-scale cracks are essential for understanding the mechanical behavior of rocks. They affect the permeability and porosity of rocks and therefore influence fluid flow, such as groundwater movement and hydrocarbon reservoirs. Meanwhile, they play a crucial role in the fragmentation of rocks during natural processes like erosion, weathering, and faulting. In civil and mining engineering, knowledge of cross-scale cracks is vital for assessing the stability of rock masses in construction projects, tunnels, and mining operations. The presence of these cracks can significantly impact the strength and deformation characteristics of rocks, which can have safety and economic implications. Cross-scale cracks in rocks often interact with various environmental factors, including the presence of different phases (such as air, water, and minerals) and multiple physical fields (such as stress, temperature, and humidity). Understanding how these cracks respond to multi-phase and multi-field coupling actions is important for predicting rock behavior under diverse conditions. In recent years, many scientists and engineers have used various techniques to study cross-scale cracks in rocks, including imaging methods like scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray computed tomography (CT), and acoustic emission monitoring. These tools allow researchers to observe and analyze the characteristics of cracks at different scales.

This Special Issue aims to gather cutting-edge research and recent advances concerning the formation and evolution of cross-scale cracks within rock masses, and to promote their practical implications in fields like geotechnical engineering, reservoir engineering, and hazard assessment. Both original research papers and review articles are welcome.

Dr. Bin Gong
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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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

  • fractured rock mass
  • discrete fracture network
  • hydraulic fracturing
  • freeze–thaw cycle
  • thermal cracking
  • hydrocarbon reservoir
  • physical experiment
  • numerical simulation
  • in situ monitoring

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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17 pages, 13033 KiB  
Article
Uniaxial Compression Test and Numerical Study on the Mechanical Mechanism of Crack Exhibition and Propagation in Layered Rocks
by Zhengnan Zhang, Xiangxin Liu, Bin Gong, Zhengzhao Liang, Xianxian Liu and Xun You
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(17), 7970; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14177970 - 6 Sep 2024
Viewed by 966
Abstract
Layered rocks are widely distributed in mining and underground engineering. The evolution processes, such as crack initiation, development and penetration, inevitably occur due to stress changes. This study carried out an experiment and numerical simulation to explore the correspondence between crack distribution and [...] Read more.
Layered rocks are widely distributed in mining and underground engineering. The evolution processes, such as crack initiation, development and penetration, inevitably occur due to stress changes. This study carried out an experiment and numerical simulation to explore the correspondence between crack distribution and bedding dip, and to reveal the mechanical mechanism of layered rock fracturing. The results show that the layered rock specimens with different bedding dips obtained different stress combinations under the same uniaxial compression conditions. There are a total of five types of stress combinations, including pure compression type, compression shear type, pure shear type, tension shear type, and pure tension type. The Mohr circle is effective in characterizing the relationship between the stress combinations and failure modes. The failure mode of layered rocks in the range of 0° to 150° is presented the variation features of “tensile failure → compression-shear failure → shear failure → tensile shear failure → tensile failure”. Furthermore, the combined distributions of dominant and secondary cracks are summarized into the penetrating mode, the exfoliation mode, the feather crack mode, and the associated mode in high-dip of layered marbles. This paper provides research ideas for stability monitoring and crack tracking of layered rock mass engineering. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cross-Scale Cracks in Rock Mass Under Multi-Phase and Multi-Field Coupling)
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14 pages, 3612 KiB  
Article
Effect of CO2 Nanobubble Water on the Fracture Properties of Cemented Backfill Materials under Different Aggregate Fractal Dimensions
by Xiaoxiao Cao, Akihiro Hamanaka, Hideki Shimada and Takashi Sasaoka
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(17), 7792; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14177792 - 3 Sep 2024
Viewed by 1072
Abstract
In order to cope with climate change and achieve the goal of carbon neutrality, the use of carbonization technology to enhance the performance of cement-based materials and achieve the purpose of carbon sequestration has become a very promising research direction. This paper considers [...] Read more.
In order to cope with climate change and achieve the goal of carbon neutrality, the use of carbonization technology to enhance the performance of cement-based materials and achieve the purpose of carbon sequestration has become a very promising research direction. This paper considers the use of CO2NBW as mixing water for cement-based materials, aiming to improve the carbonization efficiency of materials to achieve the goal of carbon neutrality. This time, the effect of CO2NBW on cementitious filling materials under different aggregate fractal dimensions was studied through uniaxial compression tests and acoustic emission technology. The effect of CO2NBW on the mechanical properties and crack evolution of the material was discussed. The results showed that CO2 nanobubbles significantly improved the strength of cemented filling materials under different fractal dimensions, and the uniaxial compressive strength was most significantly improved by 23.04% when the fractal dimension was 2.7824. In addition, the characteristics of acoustic emission ring counts and energy parameters indicate that CO2 nanobubbles help improve the overall pore structure of the sample, affecting the macroscopic strength. However, the addition of CO2 nanobubbles reduces the limit energy storage ratio of elastic strain energy, which indicates that excessive CO2 concentration may affect the hydration reaction of the cementing material. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cross-Scale Cracks in Rock Mass Under Multi-Phase and Multi-Field Coupling)
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19 pages, 6181 KiB  
Article
Instability Risk Assessment for Deep Excavation of Soil–Rock Combinations Containing Groundwater
by Liwei Zhang, Weiguo Zhang, Zaiquan Wang, Sijia Liu and Kai Liu
Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(23), 12887; https://doi.org/10.3390/app132312887 - 30 Nov 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1569
Abstract
Dynamic risk assessment is a pivotal tool for enhancing construction safety and minimizing the potential for partial failure during deep and extensive excavation projects. To enhance the efficacy of dynamic risk assessment in deep excavation, this study introduces a novel risk assessment model [...] Read more.
Dynamic risk assessment is a pivotal tool for enhancing construction safety and minimizing the potential for partial failure during deep and extensive excavation projects. To enhance the efficacy of dynamic risk assessment in deep excavation, this study introduces a novel risk assessment model designed to evaluate instability risk in extensive excavations. It comprises a risk factor selection model for identifying the most pertinent factors and an instability risk assessment model for gauging the extent of instability risk throughout the construction process. Then, the model was deployed in the construction of Anshan Road Station of the Qingdao Metro. To pinpoint the factors with the most pronounced impact on excavation instability, a risk factor selection model was employed, yielding a comprehensive risk evaluation index system. For real-time assessment of risk, the monitoring data were used as the primary source of evidence. A comprehensive comparative analysis involving actual data and predictions from conventional RBF and back propagation neural networks was performed. The outcome of this analysis underscored the superior accuracy and predictive capabilities of the assessment model. The instability risk assessment model offers the ability to dynamically evaluate the instability risk associated with extensive excavations featuring a combination of soil and rock. It can serve as a valuable methodological tool, furnishing essential support for the systematic prevention and mitigation of excavation instability disasters. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cross-Scale Cracks in Rock Mass Under Multi-Phase and Multi-Field Coupling)
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Review

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35 pages, 12825 KiB  
Review
Analyzing Drill Core Logging Using Rock Quality Designation–60 Years’ Experience from Modifications to Applications
by Samad Narimani, Seyed Morteza Davarpanah, Neil Bar and Balázs Vásárhelyi
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(3), 1309; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15031309 - 27 Jan 2025
Viewed by 1400
Abstract
The accurate analysis of rock cores is of primary importance for designing in and on the rock mass environment. There are several methods for analyzing boreholes, but the most accepted and widely used method is the rock quality designation (RQD) value, which has [...] Read more.
The accurate analysis of rock cores is of primary importance for designing in and on the rock mass environment. There are several methods for analyzing boreholes, but the most accepted and widely used method is the rock quality designation (RQD) value, which has been a core rating metric for six decades. The RQD value serves as: (1) an important input parameter for rock mass classifications such as RMR and Q; (2) a basis for calculating the Geological Strength Index (GSI) of boreholes; and (3) a key indicator in assessing rock mass quality, particularly in highly fractured or weak rock masses. The original RQD method has several drawbacks and shortcomings, which have led to numerous proposed amendments. This review paper aims to: (1) summarize alternative methods of calculating the RQD value; (2) analyze the sensitivity of different rock mass classifications to the accuracy of this value; and (3) present a systematic analysis of the practical implications of modified RQD methods, emphasizing advancements such as DFN modeling, seismic RQD techniques, and machine learning-based approaches. The findings provide a comprehensive framework for more robust and versatile assessments of rock mass quality. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cross-Scale Cracks in Rock Mass Under Multi-Phase and Multi-Field Coupling)
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