Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
5.5
2.5
Journals
Applied Sciences
Special Issues
Recent Advancements in Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering
applsci-logo
Submit to Special Issue Submit Abstract to Special Issue Review for Applied Sciences Propose a Special Issue

Journal Menu

► Journal Menu

Journal Browser

► Journal Browser
share announcement

Recent Advancements in Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 June 2026 | Viewed by 893

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Bojan Žlender

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Geotechnics, University of Maribor, 2000 Maribor, Slovenia
Interests: soil mechanics; geotechnical structures; pavements; soil–structure interaction; laboratory soil tests
Dr. Rok Varga

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor Assistant
Department of Geotechnics, University of Maribor, 2000 Maribor, Slovenia
Interests: geotechnical design and analysis; reliability-based design; optimization; artificial Intelligence; energy geostructures

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Recent progress in soil mechanics and geotechnical engineering is reshaping how we design, build, and maintain modern infrastructure. Advances in experimental, analytical, and numerical methods have deepened our understanding of soil behavior under complex mechanical and environmental conditions. Current research focuses on constitutive modeling of geomaterials, soil–structure interaction, and the effects of thermal, hydraulic, and cyclic processes on ground performance.

At the same time, the development of energy geostructures, sustainable ground improvement techniques, and digital tools such as artificial intelligence and sensor-based monitoring is expanding the capabilities of geotechnical engineering.

This Special Issue aims to present recent achievements and emerging trends in the field. We welcome studies that explore theoretical frameworks, experimental and field investigations, or practical applications that contribute to safer, more resilient, and environmentally responsible geotechnical solutions.

Prof. Dr. Bojan Žlender
Guest Editor

Dr. Rok Varga
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

  • soil mechanics
  • geotechnical engineering
  • sustainability
  • soil–structure interaction
  • constitutive modeling

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (2 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

31 pages, 39120 KB  
Article
Investigation of the Use of In Situ Material by Geopolymerization Method in Stabilization of Ordinary Clay Soils
by Süleyman Gücek, Gökhan Kürklü, Bojan Žlender and Tamara Bračko
Appl. Sci. 2026, 16(9), 4290; https://doi.org/10.3390/app16094290 - 28 Apr 2026
Viewed by 235
Abstract
Certain clayey soils are susceptible to swelling and shrinkage due to moisture variations, which can lead to ground deformation and structural damage. Although traditional stabilization methods using lime and cement are effective, they involve high energy consumption and significant CO2 emissions. In [...] Read more.
Certain clayey soils are susceptible to swelling and shrinkage due to moisture variations, which can lead to ground deformation and structural damage. Although traditional stabilization methods using lime and cement are effective, they involve high energy consumption and significant CO2 emissions. In response to sustainability concerns, this study investigates the potential of in situ geopolymer stabilization of clay soils using industrial by-products as eco-friendly binders. Experimental studies were conducted on clay specimens stabilized with geopolymer binders produced from fly ash and waste brick powder activated by alkaline solutions. The selected clay exhibited stiff to very stiff behavior and was used as a reference material to ensure reliable evaluation without the influence of severe initial degradation. Reference samples with identical water content but without alkaline activation were also prepared. The primary objective was to assess geopolymers as a sustainable alternative to conventional binders, focusing on moisture sensitivity and long-term mechanical performance. Laboratory strength tests demonstrated that geopolymer-treated specimens exhibited significantly higher strength compared to untreated samples, indicating substantial improvement in engineering properties. Furthermore, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) analyses revealed that the combination of dual activators (NS+NH) and thermal curing at 85 °C transformed the weak clay matrix into a dense, fibrous geopolymer network. However, the high curing temperature was primarily used to study the reaction mechanisms; the practical applicability of the method should be evaluated based on results obtained at ambient temperature. This structure enhanced particle bonding and mechanical interlocking by filling voids within the matrix. Overall, the findings confirm that geopolymer stabilization using industrial waste materials is an effective and environmentally sustainable alternative to conventional soil stabilization techniques, contributing to reduced carbon emissions in geotechnical engineering. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advancements in Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

24 pages, 7925 KB  
Article
Deformation Mechanism Analysis of the Bank Slope Accumulation Body of a Certain Arch Dam
by Chunyao Hou, Wenpeng Bian, Dawen Tan, Yuntian Zhao, Hongyi Zhang and Heng Cheng
Appl. Sci. 2026, 16(9), 4129; https://doi.org/10.3390/app16094129 - 23 Apr 2026
Viewed by 159
Abstract
The primary objective of this research is to quantitatively isolate the complex driving factors of slope deformation and explicitly reveal the long-term creep mechanism induced by early excavation unloading, thereby providing a theoretical basis for long-term stability evaluation. To achieve this, this study [...] Read more.
The primary objective of this research is to quantitatively isolate the complex driving factors of slope deformation and explicitly reveal the long-term creep mechanism induced by early excavation unloading, thereby providing a theoretical basis for long-term stability evaluation. To achieve this, this study adopts a combined approach of multivariate statistical regression and numerical simulation inversion based on long-sequence monitoring data. First, a multivariate statistical regression model incorporating time-dependent, rainfall, temperature, valley width, and excavation components was constructed to quantitatively separate the contribution weights of each factor. Second, by introducing a rock–soil creep constitutive model, a refined finite element model was established to perform back-analysis of creep parameters and numerical simulation. The results indicate that two large-scale slope-cutting excavations were the direct triggers for the deformation, resulting in shear dislocation of the deep ancient sliding zone and superficial slippage. The dominant factors exhibit distinct phasic and spatial differences: before impoundment, the time-dependent component was absolutely dominant (>80%); after impoundment, low-elevation areas were significantly affected by valley width shrinkage (>60%), while high-elevation areas remained dominated by time-dependent deformation (>74%). Numerical simulation confirmed that the nature of the deformation is “excavation unloading-induced creep along the ancient sliding zone,” and the simulation results considering creep effects accurately reproduced the actual deformation characteristics observed in situ. It is concluded that the rheological effects induced by early excavation unloading are central to the control of long-term stability. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advancements in Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-2
Back to TopTop