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Applied Sciences
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Recent Advances in Rock Mass Engineering: 2nd Edition
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Recent Advances in Rock Mass Engineering: 2nd Edition

A Special Issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417) belonging to the section "Civil Engineering".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 November 2026 | Viewed by 1745

Editors

Dr. Qibin Lin

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
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
Dr. Rihong Cao

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
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
Dr. Jingjing Meng

E-Mail Website
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-anonymized 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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Related Special Issue

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

18 pages, 2340 KB  
Article
Dynamic Sliding Behavior of Sand-Filled Rock Joints Under Impact Loading: Evolution of Particle-Size Effects
by Chao Wei, Zhu Song, Shuxin Deng, Chenkang Liu and Zhuorui Wu
Appl. Sci. 2026, 16(17), 8733; https://doi.org/10.3390/app16178733 - 2 Sep 2026
Viewed by 251
Abstract
Blocky-rock masses are prone to dynamic slip along sand-filled joints under impact disturbance. The constraint normal to the joint and the size of the infill particles jointly influence their stability. To determine how axial load and particle-size affect dynamic slip, this study uses [...] Read more.
Blocky-rock masses are prone to dynamic slip along sand-filled joints under impact disturbance. The constraint normal to the joint and the size of the infill particles jointly influence their stability. To determine how axial load and particle-size affect dynamic slip, this study uses a custom-developed dynamic slip testing system for blocky-rock masses. Impact-disturbance tests are conducted under a constant lateral shear load with different axial load values and quartz-sand particle sizes. The block displacement evolves through three stages: stationary incubation, rapid slip, and deceleration to a stable state. When the axial load increases from 100 N to 400 N, residual slip displacement decreases by 87.52% to 90.12% across the particle size conditions. Residual slip displacement also follows an exponential decay with increasing axial load. Reducing particle size decreases both slip velocity and residual slip displacement, but its influence gradually weakens as the axial load increases. The difference in residual slip displacement between the coarse and fine particle conditions narrows from 0.460 mm to 0.030 mm. Strengthening the normal constraint compacts the granular layer and restricts particle movement, causing the dynamic slippage at sand-containing structural interfaces to gradually shift from being significantly influenced by the particle scale to being primarily controlled by the normal constraint. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Rock Mass Engineering: 2nd Edition)
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31 pages, 23639 KB  
Article
Damage Evolution and Energy Dissipation Mechanism of Sandstone Subjected to Freeze–Thaw Action: Effects of Moisture Conditions
by Qin Wang, Rihong Cao, Chenchen Liu, Bo Liu, Yuxin Lei and Xianyang Qiu
Appl. Sci. 2026, 16(15), 7593; https://doi.org/10.3390/app16157593 - 30 Jul 2026
Viewed by 382
Abstract
To investigate the effects of different moisture conditions and numbers of freeze–thaw cycles on the damage deterioration behavior of red sandstone, three freeze–thaw conditions were used in this study: GA (sealed water-retaining state after saturation), GB (semi-immersed state after saturation), and GC (full [...] Read more.
To investigate the effects of different moisture conditions and numbers of freeze–thaw cycles on the damage deterioration behavior of red sandstone, three freeze–thaw conditions were used in this study: GA (sealed water-retaining state after saturation), GB (semi-immersed state after saturation), and GC (full immersion state after saturation). The samples were subjected to 20, 40, and 60 freeze–thaw cycles, followed by uniaxial compression tests and acoustic emission (AE) monitoring. By analysing the stress–strain curves, tangent modulus–strain curves, crack-closure parameters, brittleness indices, AE counts, and energy dissipation characteristics, the freeze–thaw damage mechanism of red sandstone samples under disparate moisture boundary conditions was revealed. The results show that as the number of freeze–thaw cycles increases, the uniaxial compressive strength and tangential deformation modulus of red sandstone samples gradually decrease, whereas the peak strain and full compaction strain increase. The crack-closure stage is prolonged, and the failure process changes from sudden brittle failure to progressive damage failure. The degree of damage differed among the samples under different moisture conditions; overall, the GB group (semi-immersed state) exhibited the most pronounced deterioration, followed by the GC group (fully immersed state), whereas the GA group (sealed water-retaining state) experienced relatively weak deterioration. Energy analysis indicates that freeze–thaw cycling decreases the elastic energy storage capacity and increases the proportion of dissipated energy. The freeze–thaw damage variable established on the basis of the peak dissipated energy ratio can be used to characterize the strength attenuation and deformation growth processes effectively. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Rock Mass Engineering: 2nd Edition)
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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 696
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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