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Advances in Materials and Structures for Underground and Transportation Engineering

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 November 2026 | Viewed by 757

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor Assistant
School of Civil Engineering, University College Dublin, Dublin 4, Ireland
Interests: rock mechanics; pore-scale multi-physics; geological carbon storage; grouted rock anchor

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Underground and transportation infrastructure plays a pivotal role in modern urbanization. However, it faces growing challenges related to sustainability, durability, and resilience against environmental and operational stresses. This Special Issue seeks to highlight cutting-edge advancements in materials science and structural engineering that address these challenges in underground and transportation systems. We invite contributions that explore innovative materials, novel design methodologies, and advanced construction techniques to enhance performance, longevity, and safety.

Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following areas:

  • The development of high-performance materials (e.g., smart composites, geopolymers, self-healing concrete) for tunnels, subways, and roads;
  • The structural optimization and modeling for underground spaces and transportation networks;
  • Sustainable and eco-friendly materials for reduced environmental impact;
  • Durability enhancement against corrosion, fatigue, and extreme loads;
  • Innovative monitoring and maintenance technologies (e.g., sensors, AI-driven systems);
  • Case studies on material applications in large-scale infrastructure projects;
  • Disaster mitigation materials for seismic, fire, or flood resistance.

This publication aims to foster interdisciplinary dialogue among researchers, engineers, and industry professionals to accelerate the transition from laboratory breakthroughs to real-world solutions. Original research articles, reviews, and technical notes addressing these themes are welcome.

Prof. Dr. Yixian Wang
Dr. Panpan Guo
Guest Editors

Dr. Hui Zhang
Guest Editor Assistant

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

  • underground engineering
  • metro tunnels
  • high-performance materials
  • structural optimization
  • deep excavations
  • sustainable materials
  • durability enhancement
  • smart monitoring technologies
  • disaster mitigation

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

20 pages, 5819 KB  
Article
Multi-Method Optimization of Pillar Design and Stress Evolution in Underground Potash Mining: A Case Study of the Kaiyuan Mine
by Ping Wu, Xuejun Sun, Tengfei Hu, Panpan Guo and Xiangsheng Chen
Appl. Sci. 2026, 16(3), 1275; https://doi.org/10.3390/app16031275 - 27 Jan 2026
Viewed by 394
Abstract
This study tackles the critical challenges of stress evolution and pillar optimization in underground potash mining, with a focus on the 351-stope of Kaiyuan Mining in Laos. Integrating theoretical calculations, large-scale 3D numerical modeling, and an AHP-Fuzzy comprehensive evaluation, we systematically analyze the [...] Read more.
This study tackles the critical challenges of stress evolution and pillar optimization in underground potash mining, with a focus on the 351-stope of Kaiyuan Mining in Laos. Integrating theoretical calculations, large-scale 3D numerical modeling, and an AHP-Fuzzy comprehensive evaluation, we systematically analyze the complex mechanical behaviors of the mining environment. Applying key stratum theory, we reveal the unique mechanism by which overlying hard rock bends without fracturing in carnallite layers under room-and-pillar conditions. Comparative numerical simulations of four pillar-width schemes—involving 8 m rooms with 10 m, 8 m, 6 m, and 4 m pillars—show that reducing pillar width markedly increases vertical stress, triggers exponential roof subsidence, and expands pillar failure zones. Using an AHP-Fuzzy method that incorporates safety, technical, and economic factors, the Simultaneous Backfilling with 8 m Mining and 6 m Pillar Retention is identified as the optimal scheme. This configuration demonstrates superior stability, exhibiting an average pillar stress of 9.3 MPa and only limited plastic failure zones at pillar ends. These findings offer a robust scientific and technical foundation for enhancing the safety, efficiency, and sustainability of underground potash mining operations. Full article
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