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Recent Advances in Rock Mass Engineering: 2nd Edition

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 801

Special Issue Editors

School of Resources Environment and Safety Engineering, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, China
Interests: rock mechanics; fracture mechanics; numerical simulation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
School of Resources and Safety Engineering, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China
Interests: rock mechanics; finite element analysis; civil engineering
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

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Guest Editor
School of Infrastructure Engineering, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, China
Interests: rock mechanics; numerical simulation; rock slopes
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The domain of rock mass engineering is undergoing rapid transformation, driven by progress in rock mechanics, which endeavors to comprehend the intricate behavior of rock masses across diverse engineering contexts. This Special Issue is designed to capture cutting-edge research in laboratory experimentation, numerical modeling, theoretical inquiry, and field exploration, all of which are crucial for elucidating and forecasting the mechanical responses of rock masses. It will underscore novel methodologies in rock mass characterization, the formulation of innovative constitutive models, and the deployment of sophisticated numerical techniques for addressing geotechnical challenges. Emphasis will be placed on augmenting the stability and security of rock-based engineering endeavors, such as tunneling, slope management, and subterranean excavations, by showcasing original research studies and comprehensive review articles that further the prevention and management of rock mass instability. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, mechanical properties, failure criteria, stress analysis, support system design, and the incorporation of artificial intelligence within rock mechanics. This anthology aims to furnish a thorough overview of the latest knowledge and methodologies in rock mass engineering, providing substantial insights for both academic researchers and professional practitioners.

Dr. Qibin Lin
Dr. Rihong Cao
Dr. Jingjing Meng
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 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

  • rock mechanics
  • laboratory test
  • numerical simulation
  • theoretical analysis
  • field investigation

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

22 pages, 6613 KB  
Article
Experimental Study of Micro/Macro Damage and Failure Mechanism of Granite Subjected to Different Impact Velocities and Numbers
by Penglin Zhang, Yang Liu, Yuan Zhou, Chunhui He, Zhiqian Fu and Jianjun Zeng
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(23), 12758; https://doi.org/10.3390/app152312758 - 2 Dec 2025
Viewed by 534
Abstract
Rockfall typically involves repeated impacts that induce progressive damage and fragmentation in rock masses. To investigate the mechanism governing this process under different impact velocities, a series of controlled impact tests were conducted using a newly developed compressed gas-driven rock impact apparatus. This [...] Read more.
Rockfall typically involves repeated impacts that induce progressive damage and fragmentation in rock masses. To investigate the mechanism governing this process under different impact velocities, a series of controlled impact tests were conducted using a newly developed compressed gas-driven rock impact apparatus. This study systematically examined the effect of impact velocities and number on rock damage, distinguishing between internal damage (<10.0 m/s) and local failure (10.0 m/s–20.0 m/s). At the internal damage level, uniaxial compression tests with acoustic emission monitoring were employed to analyze the macro-mechanical properties and micro-failure processes of granite. At the local failure level, the repeated impact number required to transition from localized to complete failure was recorded, and polarizing microscopy was used to characterize microstructural evolution. The results show that damage and failure mechanisms are strongly influenced by both impact velocity and repeated impact number. Specifically, higher impact velocities and repeated impacts promote a shift toward brittle failure, with threshold behaviors observed at 5.0 m/s (fourth impact) and 7.5 m/s (third impact). A quantitative analysis further correlates impact conditions with mechanical degradation and energy evolution, providing insight into the underlying processes controlling rockfall fragmentation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Rock Mass Engineering: 2nd Edition)
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