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Soil–Structure Interactions for Civil Infrastructure

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A special issue of Buildings (ISSN 2075-5309). This special issue belongs to the section "Building Structures".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2025 | Viewed by 5088

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Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Kaiwen Liu

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Guest Editor

School of Civil Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu 610031, China
Interests: earthwork; transportation infrastructure; soil–structure interactions; foundation engineering; intelligent construction; sustainable infrastructure; embankments and slopes; structural resilience; machine learning; numerical simulation
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Prof. Dr. Wenbing Wu

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Faculty of Engineering, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430079, China
Interests: foundation engineering; dynamic interaction; field test; pile test; ground improvement; soil mechanics
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Dr. Tengfei Wang

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School of Civil Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu 610032, China
Interests: data mining; artificial intelligence; machine learning; subgrade engineering; high-speed railways; frozen soil engineering; transportation geotechnical engineering in cold areas
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Dr. Xiaoning Zhang

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Guest Editor

School of Civil Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400045, China
Interests: traffic geotechnical engineering; subgrade composite structure design; intelligent construction of subgrade; long-term performance prediction of subgrade; subgrade risk assessment and management; advanced functional materials; solid waste resource utilization
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Dr. Kang Shao

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School of Geoscience and Technology, Southwest Petroleum University, Chengdu 610500, China
Interests: pile foundation; model tests; field tests; helical piles; slope engineering

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Soil–structure interactions (SSIs) are a vital aspect of civil infrastructure design, influencing stability, performance under dynamic loads, and the resilience of structural systems. This Special Issue aims to explore recent advancements and innovative techniques regarding SSIs, focusing on applications that support intelligent and sustainable construction practices. We encourage contributions that investigate dynamic loading effects, seismic performance, and the integration of machine learning in foundation engineering and SSI analysis.

We invite submissions on a broad spectrum of topics, including foundation and retaining structure design, embankment stability, and intelligent approaches to infrastructure challenges. Studies that apply machine learning to SSIs or those that examine how transportation infrastructure is affected by SSIs under various loading conditions are particularly welcome. Research that advances sustainable practices in civil infrastructure design and highlights structural resilience is also encouraged.

This Special Issue seeks to unite research efforts across civil engineering disciplines to deepen our understanding of SSIs, thereby contributing to the development of more intelligent, resilient, and sustainable infrastructure solutions.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Prof. Dr. Kaiwen Liu
Prof. Dr. Wenbing Wu
Dr. Tengfei Wang
Dr. Xiaoning Zhang
Dr. Kang Shao
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. Buildings 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 2600 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

transportation infrastructure
soil–structure interactions
foundation engineering
intelligent construction
sustainable infrastructure
embankments and slopes
structural resilience
machine learning
numerical simulation

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Published Papers (10 papers)

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Research

24 pages, 4185 KB

Open AccessArticle

Laboratory and Field Evaluation of Cement-Stabilized Phyllite for Sustainable Railway Subgrades

by Aiping Chen, Wei Qi, Qiwei Du, Songhao Hou, Gang Yuan, Zhiwei Ma, Lingying Peng and Tengfei Wang

Buildings 2025, 15(17), 3151; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15173151 - 2 Sep 2025

Viewed by 431

Abstract

Fully weathered phyllite is widely encountered along railway corridors in China, yet its suitability as subgrade fill remains insufficiently documented. This study provides an integrated laboratory and field evaluation of both untreated and low-dosage cement-stabilized phyllite for sustainable transport constructions. Laboratory investigations covered mineralogy, classification, compaction, permeability, compressibility, shear strength, and bearing capacity, while large-scale field trials examined the influence of loose lift thickness, moisture content, and compaction sequence on subgrade quality. Performance indicators included the degree of compaction and the subgrade reaction modulus K₃₀, defined as the plate load modulus measured with a 30 cm diameter plate. A recommended cement dosage of 3.5% (by weight of dry soil) was established based on preliminary trials to balance strength development with construction reliability. The results show that untreated phyllite, when compacted under controlled conditions, can be used in lower subgrade layers, whereas cement stabilization significantly improves strength, stiffness, and constructability, enabling reliable application in the main load-bearing subgrade layers. Beyond mechanical performance, the study demonstrates a methodological innovation by linking laboratory mix design directly with field compaction strategies and embedding these within a life-cycle perspective. The sustainability analysis shows that using stabilized in-situ phyllite achieves lower costs and approximately 30% lower CO₂ emissions compared with importing crushed rock from 30 km away, while promoting resource reuse. Overall, the findings support circular economy and carbon-reduction objectives in railway and road earthworks, offering practical guidance for low-carbon, resource-efficient infrastructure. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil–Structure Interactions for Civil Infrastructure)

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17 pages, 4515 KB

Open AccessArticle

Longitudinal Bending Mechanical Performance of Double-O-Tube (DOT) Shield Tunnel

by Senyong Wang, Lehua Peng, Yuan Zhang and Rongzhu Liang

Buildings 2025, 15(16), 2934; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15162934 - 19 Aug 2025

Viewed by 341

Abstract

The longitudinal equivalent bending stiffness is a critical parameter for assessing the longitudinal responses of Double-O-Tube (DOT) shield tunnels under adjacent construction activities. Based on a longitudinal equivalent continuous model and the characteristics of the DOT shield tunnel cross-section, an analytical solution for the longitudinal equivalent bending stiffness (LEBS) of the DOT shield tunnel has been derived. Given that the cross-section of the DOT shield tunnel is an irregular structure, two scenarios are considered: one in which the neutral axis is located at the waist of the tunnel and another where it is situated at the lower arch. Using the structural design of the DOT shield tunnel for Shanghai Metro Line M8 as a case study, the effects of bolt number, segment thickness, segment width, and pillar height on the longitudinal equivalent bending stiffness have been investigated. Additionally, formulas for calculating the deformation and stress indices of the DOT shield tunnel have been established. The results indicate that increasing the number of bolts and widening the segments can enhance the longitudinal equivalent bending stiffness efficiency (LEBSE), resulting in an upward shift of the neutral axis. Conversely, as the segment thickness increases, the LEBSE decreases linearly while the neutral axis moves downward; however, the value of LEBS itself increases. With an increase in the pillar height angle, the neutral axis shifts upward, leading to an increase in the LEBS. When the pillar height angle is increased from 10° to 45°, the LEBSE decreases rapidly, followed by a gradual increase with further elevation in the pillar height angle. When the tunnel curvature radius exceeds 15,000 m, the bolts, segments, and joint openings remain in a safe state. However, when the curvature radius decreases to 5233 m, the maximum tensile stress on the bolts reaches their yield limit, and the joint openings exceed the warning threshold. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil–Structure Interactions for Civil Infrastructure)

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29 pages, 6701 KB

Open AccessArticle

Semi-Analytical Method for the Response of Existing Tunnels to Tunneling Considering the Tunnel–Soil Interaction Based on the Modified Gaussian Function

by Hualin Zhang, Ahmed Altaib Hussain Suliman Hussain, Lv Liu, Chaoqun Huang, Dong Huang, Rongzhu Liang and Wenbing Wu

Buildings 2025, 15(16), 2849; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15162849 - 12 Aug 2025

Viewed by 547

Abstract

The behavior response of an existing shield tunnel to under-cross tunneling is fundamentally governed by the tunnel–soil interaction. In this study, the existing tunnel is simplified as a single-variable Timoshenko beam to address the shear locking issue of the conventional Timoshenko beam. An elastic continuum solution, which can be degenerated into the Winkler–Timoshenko model, is established by considering the tunnel–soil interaction to evaluate the existing tunnel’s response to underlying tunneling. Meanwhile, greenfield settlement is described using a modified Gaussian function to fit practical engineering cases. The joint opening and segmental dislocation are also quantified. The applicability of the proposed method is validated by two reported engineering cases, where measured greenfield settlements are used to verify the modified Peck formula. Key parameters, including the ground loss rate, intersection angle, tunnel–soil stiffness factor, and vertical clearance, are discussed. The results show that the proposed method can provide references for predicting the potential diseases of existing tunnels affected by new tunnel excavation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil–Structure Interactions for Civil Infrastructure)

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16 pages, 4455 KB

Open AccessArticle

Durability and Microstructure Analysis of Loess-Based Composite Coal Gangue Porous Vegetation Concrete

by Manman Qiu, Wuyu Zhang, Shuaihua Ye, Xiaohui Li and Jingbang Li

Buildings 2025, 15(14), 2531; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15142531 - 18 Jul 2025

Viewed by 335

Abstract

In order to improve the durability of loess-based composite coal gangue porous planting concrete (LCPC), the effects of fly ash and slag powder content on the durability and microstructure of LCPC were studied. In this paper, fly ash and slag powder were mixed into LCPC, and freeze-thaw cycle and dry-wet cycle tests were carried out. The compressive strength, dynamic elastic modulus, and mass change were used as evaluation indices to determine the optimal mix ratio for LCPC durability. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was performed, and the experimental design was carried out with the water–cement ratio, fly ash, and slag powder content as variables. The microstructure characteristics of LCPC were analyzed. The results show that the maximum number of freeze-thaw cycles can reach 35 times and the maximum number of dry-wet cycles can reach 50 when 5% fly ash and 20% slag powder are used. With an increase in the water-cement ratio, the skeleton of the loess gradually became complete, and its structure became more compact. In the micro-morphology diagram, the mixed fly ash and slag powder particles are not obvious, but with an increase in dosage, the size of the cracks and pores gradually decreases. The incorporation of fly ash and slag powder can play a positive role in the durability of LCPC and improvement of its microstructure. The results of this study are crucial for improving the application performance of ecological restoration, soil improvement, and long-term stability of structures, and can provide a scientific basis for the sustainable development of environmentally friendly building materials. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil–Structure Interactions for Civil Infrastructure)

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17 pages, 3691 KB

Open AccessArticle

Model Box Test and Numerical Simulation Analysis of Supporting Performance of Loess-Based Composite Slurry Soil Nailing Wall

by Zhao Long, Shuaihua Ye, Xiaohui Li and Zhiyuan Guo

Buildings 2025, 15(12), 2090; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15122090 - 17 Jun 2025

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 358

Abstract

In this paper, the reinforced cement soil nailing support technology is adopted, and the soil nailing and surface layer of loess-based composite slurry are prepared by using loess and cement. A scale model box test is conducted to examine the changes in surface layer displacement and axial force in the soil nailing during excavation and loading. The step-by-step excavation process of the foundation pit, reinforced with a loess-based composite slurry soil nailing wall. It was simulated using ABAQUS finite element software (MATLAB R2022b). The results show that as the depth of the foundation pit continues to increase, the displacement of the surface layer increases first and then decreases, and the peak displacement appears in the middle of the foundation pit. During excavation, the axial force at the middle of each row of soil nails is greater than the axial force at the end, and the axial force will increase with the increase in depth. Throughout the loading process, the axial force in the soil nail diminishes as the depth of the foundation pit increases. Initially, the change is slow, but later it escalates considerably. As the excavation depth of the foundation pit increases, the safety factor of the foundation pit will gradually decrease, and finally stabilize at about 2.4, indicating that the loess-based cement slurry soil nailing wall support has high safety. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil–Structure Interactions for Civil Infrastructure)

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20 pages, 2041 KB

Open AccessArticle

Hydraulic Design Strategies for Resilient Slab Track Under Extreme Rainfall Events

by Wei Qi, Mengshi Liu, Yong Cao, Qiang Luo and Pengcheng Wang

Buildings 2025, 15(11), 1937; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15111937 - 3 Jun 2025

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 396

Abstract

Extreme rainfall events pose a growing threat to slab track subgrades by triggering mud pumping through fines migration and structural voids. This study introduces two innovations to enhance climate resilience in high-speed railway infrastructure: (i) the Rain Intensity Ponding (RIP) method, which links regional rainfall statistics with axle-pass thresholds to predict mud pumping potential; (ii) an optimized drainage retrofit using permeable shoulders and blind ditches. Physical model tests reveal that mud pumping occurs only when structural gaps, ponding, and cyclic loading coincide. The RIP method correctly identified a 71% exceedance in the critical ponding duration (52 min) on a representative high-speed line in Eastern China, explaining recurrent failures. Parametric analyses show that the proposed drainage retrofit—using shoulder fill with ka > 23 mm/s and blind ditches with kg > 23 mm/s—reduces ponding time by up to 90% under 1-year recurrence storms. This study establishes a physics-based, region-specific strategy for mud pumping mitigation, offering guidance for climate-adaptive slab track design and operation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil–Structure Interactions for Civil Infrastructure)

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23 pages, 24207 KB

Open AccessArticle

Investigating the Mechanisms and Dynamic Response of Graded Aggregate Mud Pumping Based on the Hybrid DEM-FDM Method

by Kang Wang, Zhongrui Chen, Qian Chen, Zhibo Cheng, Jiawen Xu, Hongfu Tan, Lei Zhang and Le You

Buildings 2025, 15(10), 1604; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15101604 - 9 May 2025

Viewed by 548

Abstract

This study investigated the macro and meso mechanisms of void formation in graded aggregates within high-speed railway subgrades under train loads using a hybrid discrete element–finite difference method (DEM-FDM). First, a contact parameter inversion model based on a linear model (LM) was developed using extensive DEM simulations through angle of repose, drop, and inclined plate tests. The contact parameters for graded aggregates were further calibrated through physical and triaxial tests. Next, a refined hybrid DEM-FDM model was established to capture void formation behavior, characterized by the contact force chain ratio, and was validated against field measurements. Finally, simulations were conducted under different levels of void formation to explore the associated mechanisms based on dynamic response and meso-mechanical analysis. The results showed that the LM-based inversion model could accurately determine the contact parameters. The hybrid model’s predictions of dynamic displacement and acceleration under various train speeds fell within the range of the field data. When the fine particle loss ratio l_p was ≤3%, the dynamic displacement and acceleration remained below the standard limits of 0.22 mm and 10 m/s². As l_p increased, the contact between the roadbed and base weakened, and complete separation occurred at l_p ≥ 11%, preventing effective load transfer. These findings offer new insights into void formation in graded aggregates and support the safe operation of high-speed railways. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil–Structure Interactions for Civil Infrastructure)

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13 pages, 2758 KB

Open AccessArticle

Displacement Calculation of a Multi-Stage Homogeneous Loess Slope Under Seismic Action

by Jingbang Li, Shuaihua Ye, Xinzhuang Cui, Biao Liu and Nianxiang Li

Buildings 2025, 15(9), 1484; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15091484 - 27 Apr 2025

Viewed by 369

Abstract

Slope instability often brings serious threats to human production and life, which causes huge economic losses. The slope displacement calculation under seismic action is very important to ensure the safety and stability of a slope. At present, there are few studies on the displacement calculation of multi-stage loess slopes under seismic action. Based on the basic theory of soil dynamics and the introduction of the comprehensive slope ratio, this paper proposes a new displacement calculating method of multi-stage homogeneous loess slopes under seismic action and provides the calculation formula. The rationality of the theoretical calculation is verified using the numerical simulation software Geo Studio (V2022). The study shows that it is feasible to simplify the geometric characteristics of multi-stage loess slopes by adopting the comprehensive slope ratio, which can also reasonably reflect the displacement characteristics of multi-stage loess slopes under seismic action. The example verification shows that the deviation of the peak horizontal displacement between the calculating method of this paper and the numerical simulation result is 5.5%, which shows that the calculation method of this paper is reasonable and has a certain application value. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil–Structure Interactions for Civil Infrastructure)

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14 pages, 12254 KB

Open AccessArticle

Experimental Exploration of Performance of “Prestressed” Geosynthetic-Reinforced Sheet Pile Retaining Wall

by Yong Liu, Tengfei Yan, Xinning Tan, Zhilong Shi and Kaiwen Liu

Buildings 2025, 15(8), 1278; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15081278 - 14 Apr 2025

Viewed by 582

Abstract

The sheet pile wall, a widely used retaining structure in railway construction, faces limitations such as restricted height, construction difficulties, and high costs. While geosynthetic-reinforced soil technology enhances soil tensile strength, it often lacks sufficient stiffness and strength. To address these issues, this study proposes a “prestressed” geosynthetic-reinforced sheet pile retaining wall structure. The geosynthetic-reinforced soil was subjected to preloading to induce “prestress”, with enhanced soil reinforcement interaction improving load-bearing capacity, reducing horizontal displacement, and ensuring railway safety. Indoor model tests were conducted on sandy soil foundations to investigate the structure’s load settlement behavior, pile horizontal displacement, earth pressure distribution, pile bending moments, and reinforcement strain development. The results show that applying “prestress” significantly enhances soil reinforcement interaction, enabling the pile–slab wall to better retain soil and improve overall performance. The load-bearing capacity increased by 21.7% and 16.6% in two respective tests, while horizontal displacement was effectively reduced. The maximum earth pressure was observed on the right side of the pile, 20 cm above the base, and the maximum bending moment occurred in the anchored section. Prestressing also enhanced the utilization of the tensile reinforcement. The proposed structure offers a promising approach for optimizing railway retaining structures. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil–Structure Interactions for Civil Infrastructure)

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15 pages, 4832 KB

Open AccessArticle

Surface Settlement of Deep Foundation Pit Considering the Influence of Excavation and Freeze–Thaw

by Yuanxun Li, Song Chen, Chuan Ma and Jiagen Shi

Buildings 2025, 15(7), 1104; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15071104 - 28 Mar 2025

Viewed by 420

Abstract

In order to address the issue of surface deformation in wintering foundation pits in seasonal frozen soil areas due to excavation and freeze–thaw, an indoor scale model test was conducted to examine the displacement relationship between pit wall soil and supporting structures under freeze–thaw conditions, as well as the temperature change and water migration of soil surrounding the foundation pit. The distribution mode of surface settlement under excavation and freeze–thaw conditions was examined and a surface settlement calculation model was established based on the maximum value of surface settlement. The water will move from the frozen to the unfrozen region as a result of the freeze–thaw cycle. About 1.1 m is the freezing depth. An increase in surface settlement will result from the coordination of deformation between the soil and the supporting structure during freezing and thawing. The greatest surface settlement value following the initial freeze–thaw cycle is 1.082 mm, which is around 215% greater than that of excavation. The skewed distribution is comparable to the surface settlement curves produced by excavation and freeze–thaw cycles. The calculated model’s results and the measured settlement values agree rather well. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil–Structure Interactions for Civil Infrastructure)

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