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Applied Sciences
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Safety and Risk Analysis in Underground Engineering
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Safety and Risk Analysis in Underground Engineering

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 July 2025 | Viewed by 1955

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Fang Yan

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Resources and Safety Engineering, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China
Interests: mining safety; environmental protection of mining area; engineering risk field; geotechnical engineering monitoring
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Daoyuan Sun

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Resources and Safety Engineering, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China
Interests: mining sustainability; safety monitoring; mining with backfills; green mining
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Hongwei Wang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Resources and Safety Engineering, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China
Interests: underground sustainable backfill; solid waste resource utilization; new low-carbon cementitious materials; sustainable geotechnical engineering; mining safety
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Underground engineering projects, including tunnels, deep mines, and underground storage facilities, are of great significance in modern infrastructure development. However, they are also accompanied by numerous safety challenges and risks due to the complex geological environment, potential for rock collapses, water inrushes, and the presence of harmful gases. When it comes to the exploration of the prevention and control of rock dynamic disasters, investigations related to geotechnical engineering and the mining industry should be involved. This Special Issue aims to gather cutting-edge research and practical experiences in the field of safety and risk analysis in underground engineering.

We invite submissions that cover a wide range of topics. For example, innovative methods for geological exploration and hazard identification, advanced numerical simulation techniques for predicting the stability of underground structures, and the development of risk assessment models considering various uncertainties are welcome. Papers could also focus on the implementation of safety management systems, the use of microseismic monitoring technologies for early warning, and the effectiveness of different preventive and control measures. In addition, studies on the human factor in underground safety, such as the impact of worker behaviour and training on accident prevention, as well as the integration of multi-disciplinary approaches to enhance overall safety performance, are also encouraged. Original and innovative research papers involved in new theories, methodologies, techniques, concepts, approaches and thinking paradigms addressing these topics are invited for this Special Issue.

Dr. Fang Yan
Dr. Daoyuan Sun
Dr. Hongwei Wang
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 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

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
  • deep mining
  • geotechnical engineering
  • safety monitoring
  • microseismic monitoring
  • disaster warning
  • risk control and prevention

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

22 pages, 1904 KiB  
Article
The Full Lifecycle Evolution Model of Accidents: A Case Study of Underground Metal Mines in China
by Xingbang Qiang, Guoqing Li, Chunchao Fan, Wei Zhao and Qiuling Wang
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(7), 4004; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15074004 - 4 Apr 2025
Viewed by 437
Abstract
Analyzing the mechanisms of accidents is essential for clarifying the accident evolution process, devising preventive measures, and achieving proactive accident management. To address the potential issues in existing accident causation theories, such as the unclear distinction between direct causes and incomplete accident evolution [...] Read more.
Analyzing the mechanisms of accidents is essential for clarifying the accident evolution process, devising preventive measures, and achieving proactive accident management. To address the potential issues in existing accident causation theories, such as the unclear distinction between direct causes and incomplete accident evolution pathways in enterprise-level accident prevention analysis, this study systematically reviewed the elements involved in safety management activities and their interrelationships. We identified the central role of human factors in the accident evolution process and developed a full lifecycle evolution model for industrial accidents, which begins with hazard identification and follows a safety management logic as its primary framework. This model provides a clear pathway for constructing enterprise-level risk control lists and accident prevention schemes. The model’s effectiveness was validated through its application to China’s underground metal mining industry. Drawing on Chinese laws and regulations as well as accident investigation reports, this study identifies 11 common types of accidents in underground metal mines and maps their evolution pathways from a complex systems perspective. Quantitative data from 61 accident reports were used to pinpoint the core factors and critical pathways leading to these various accidents. The study also analyzes prevention strategies and proposes new countermeasures to control the propagation of accident risks. Practical applications of the model demonstrate that emphasizing human factors enhances the effectiveness and accuracy of enterprise-level accident analysis and risk management. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Safety and Risk Analysis in Underground Engineering)
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19 pages, 5384 KiB  
Article
Space–Time Stress Variations near the East Anatolian Fault Zone and the Triggering Relationship of Earthquakes
by Ju Ma, Peicong Wang and Weizhang Liang
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(5), 2759; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15052759 - 4 Mar 2025
Viewed by 786
Abstract
Several major earthquakes have taken place near the East Anatolian fault zone (EAFZ) in history. Despite extensive research on the Coulomb stress changes associated with these earthquakes, there remains a paucity of studies examining the spatial and temporal distribution of Coulomb stress near [...] Read more.
Several major earthquakes have taken place near the East Anatolian fault zone (EAFZ) in history. Despite extensive research on the Coulomb stress changes associated with these earthquakes, there remains a paucity of studies examining the spatial and temporal distribution of Coulomb stress near the East Anatolian fault zone over extended periods. This study investigates the changes in Coulomb stress induced by significant earthquakes (≥6 Mw) near the EAFZ from 1986 to 2023. High-stress changes (1.5–2.5 bar) were observed along the fault’s northeastern and southwestern segments, indicating a high likelihood of future seismicity. We also found that the three major earthquakes between 1986 and 2003 had little impact on subsequent major seismic events in the vicinity. However, the 2020 Mw 6.8 earthquake generated a Coulomb stress increment exceeding 0.1 bar, which influenced nearby seismic activity for two years. This suggests that the 2023 major earthquakes were likely facilitated by this stress change. Parameter sensitivity analysis shows fault strikes significantly affect calculations, highlighting the importance of accurate source mechanisms for reliable results. The findings of this study offer critical insights for seismologists and geophysicists aiming to refine earthquake-triggering models and stress transfer mechanisms. Civil engineers and urban planners can utilize the identified high-stress zones to prioritize seismic retrofitting of infrastructure. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Safety and Risk Analysis in Underground Engineering)
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20 pages, 5698 KiB  
Article
A Status Evaluation of Rock Instability in Metal Mines Based on the SPA–IAHP–PCN Model
by Fang Yan, Xuan Li, Longjun Dong, Shengnan Du, Hongwei Wang and Daoyuan Sun
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(5), 2614; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15052614 - 28 Feb 2025
Viewed by 479
Abstract
As one of the serious hazards in deep mining, rock instability will cause roof falls, rib spalling, rockburst, and other serious disasters. It will lead to significant casualties and property losses. Conducting risk assessments for rock instability is of significant importance. Firstly, an [...] Read more.
As one of the serious hazards in deep mining, rock instability will cause roof falls, rib spalling, rockburst, and other serious disasters. It will lead to significant casualties and property losses. Conducting risk assessments for rock instability is of significant importance. Firstly, an evaluation model called IAHP-SPA was proposed to address uncertainties in the weight determination process. Secondly, the Partial Connection Number (PCN) including the first-order PCN, the second-order PCN, the third-order PCN and the fourth-order PCN were introduced. Thus, a dynamic and comprehensive evaluation of rock instability in metal mines was obtained. Finally, the availability and reasonability of the proposed method were verified by comparing the results obtained with the number of microseismic events detected by the sensors in a metal mine. The proposed model provides a novel approach to dynamic risk assessment in mining, offering a reliable alternative for evaluating complex safety challenges. This method holds substantial potential for its practical application in the assessment and control of rock instability risks in deep metal mines, thereby improving safety and operational efficiency. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Safety and Risk Analysis in Underground Engineering)
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