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Urban Underground Space Design: Structural Stability and Mechanics Analysis—2nd Edition

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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: 31 May 2026 | Viewed by 7035

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Zhehao Zhu

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Guest Editor

School of Civil Engineering, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai 200234, China
Interests: geotechnical earthquake engineering; macro and micro behaviour of granular material; conservation of cultural heritage; geotechnical computational mechanics; sand liquefaction
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Prof. Dr. Jun Wu

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Guest Editor

School of Civil Engineering, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai 200234, China
Interests: information and intelligence of geotechnical engineering; resource utilization of solid waste; in-situ resource utilization of lunar soil; impact and blast resistance of materials and structures
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Prof. Dr. Yi Rui

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Guest Editor

School of Civil Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
Interests: energy underground engineering; intelligent perception of underground infrastructure; geotechnical computational mechanics
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Prof. Dr. Peinan Li

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Guest Editor

College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai, China
Interests: construction of green, low-carbon and sustainable infrastructure; intelligent tunnels and underground infrastructure construction; numerical calculation analysis and methods of underground space
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Dr. Hao Zhang

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Guest Editor

School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, China
Interests: offshore wind turbines; marine geotechnical engineering; pile foundations
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

As cities globally grapple with the challenges of population growth and limited surface area, the use of underground spaces emerges as a solution with great potential. This necessitates a reasonable assessment of structural stability and a serious geotechnical analysis in order to ensure the safe and longevity of such spaces. From a structural stability standpoint, intricate networks of tunnels, subways, and other underground structures require meticulous design in order to withstand various loads, ground movements, and possible natural hazards. Geotechnical analysis is similarly important, involving the understanding of soil and rock mechanics, groundwater conditions, and the interaction between the subsurface and constructed elements. These two facets not only respond to the pressing requirement for efficient space utilization in densely populated urban areas but also underscore the academic pursuit of pioneering practical solutions. Several relevant studies have already been published in the first volume of this Special Issue. You can find them at the following link: [https://www.mdpi.com/journal/buildings/special_issues/6U5F547YLT].

Within this framework, this Special Issue ‘Urban Underground Space Design: Structural Stability and Geotechnical Analysis—2nd Edition’ proposes a series of research papers on the above areas that align with the broader goals of sustainable urban development. Topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

Innovative approaches to urban underground space design;
Sustainable practices in underground construction;
Geotechnical analysis for urban underground projects;
Case studies and best

We look forward to receiving your submissions.

Dr. Zhehao Zhu
Prof. Dr. Jun Wu
Prof. Dr. Yi Rui
Prof. Dr. Peinan Li
Dr. Hao Zhang
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. 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

subsurface engineering
geotechnical analysis
tunnel technologies
structural stability
underground construction
excavation methods
ground improvement
sustainable underground design

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Related Special Issue

Urban Underground Space Design: Structural Stability and Mechanics Analysis in Buildings (13 articles)

Published Papers (9 papers)

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Research

29 pages, 7270 KB

Open AccessArticle

Study on Stability of Excavation Face and Parametric Analysis of Bolt Reinforcement of Deep-Buried Tunnel

by Wenguang Hao, Yixin Shen, Chang Ma, Xiaokang Guo, Chuanqiu Du and Qi Zhang

Buildings 2026, 16(9), 1773; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings16091773 - 29 Apr 2026

Viewed by 187

Abstract

Ensuring the stability of the excavation face is essential for tunnel excavation. Existing limit equilibrium models mainly adopt two-dimensional wedge mechanisms to estimate the minimum support force for tunnels, which cannot accurately represent the failure characteristics of practical tunnels. To address this limitation, a three-dimensional logarithmic spiral sliding model is developed based on the limit equilibrium method and strength reduction technique. The model introduces an equivalent area approach to represent heterologous sections and establishes the global moment equilibrium equation using the slice method. Taking the Huashansong tunnel as a case study, a parametric analysis is conducted on the reinforcement performance of end-anchored and fully bonded rock bolts. The results indicate that the diameter, strength, and density of bolts affect the stability of the excavation face, and the No. 11 end-anchored bolt and No. 37 fully bonded bolt are recommended. Furthermore, numerical simulation shows that the maximum extrusion deformation of the excavation face decreases from 11.57 mm without bolts to 9.13 mm and 8.46 mm for the No. 11 end-anchored bolt and No.37 fully bonded bolt, while tunnel convergence deformation decreases from 4.06 mm to 3.42 mm and 3.23 mm, respectively. The application of the No. 37 fully bonded bolt in the Huashansong tunnel controls the extrusion deformation and convergence deformation within 9.25 mm and 4.47 mm, ensuring the stability and economy of the tunnel excavation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Urban Underground Space Design: Structural Stability and Mechanics Analysis—2nd Edition)

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26 pages, 15318 KB

Open AccessArticle

Collapse and Reconstruction Analysis of Assembled H-Shaped Steel Struts

by Mingyuan Wang, Xiaobing Xu, Yihuai Liang, Qi Hu and Gang Chen

Buildings 2026, 16(8), 1606; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings16081606 - 18 Apr 2026

Viewed by 300

Abstract

Assembled H-shaped steel strut (AHSS) has been widely applied in deep excavation projects. In this study, the collapse failure of AHSS C1 in a deep excavation project in China was investigated. The collapse of C1 was directly attributed to the settlement of its supporting columns in the mid-span, which was triggered by a nearby pit bottom leakage through an exploration borehole. Then the implementation of the emergency measures and reconstruction works were introduced. Theoretical and numerical pre-assessments confirmed that the reconstructed C1 exhibited adequate safety for strength, in-plane stability and out-of-plane stability, with all steel components and bolts within their safe limits. The good working performance of reconstructed C1 was finally verified through the monitoring results (i.e., strut axial force, soil horizontal displacement, column vertical displacement, road settlement and building settlement) of the foundation pit during the subsequent soil excavation and basement construction. This study is believed to provide references for future excavation projects using AHSS with similar risks. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Urban Underground Space Design: Structural Stability and Mechanics Analysis—2nd Edition)

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18 pages, 15107 KB

Open AccessArticle

A Lithology Spatial Distribution Simulation Method for Numerical Simulation of Tunnel Hydrogeology

by Yandong Li, Jiaxiao Wang and Xiaojun Li

Buildings 2026, 16(2), 325; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings16020325 - 13 Jan 2026

Viewed by 354

Abstract

With the continuous growth of the global population, cities worldwide face the challenge of limited surface land area, making the utilization of underground space increasingly important. The structural stability of underground tunnels is a critical component of underground space safety, influenced by the distribution of the surrounding composite strata and hydrogeological environment. To better analyze the structural stability of underground tunnels, this study proposes a method for estimating the distribution of composite strata that considers the surrounding hydrogeological conditions. The method uses a hydrogeological analysis of the tunnel area to determine the spatial estimation range and unit scale to meet the actual project requirements and then uses the geostatistical kriging method to obtain a distance-weighted interpolation algorithm for the impact area. First, the spatial data are used to obtain the statistical characteristics. Second, the statistical data are interpolated, multifractal theory is used to compensate for the kriging method of sliding weighted average defects, and the local singularity of the regionalized variables is measured. Finally, the mean results of 100 simulations are compared with the empirical results for the tunnel. The interpolation results reveal that this method can be used to quickly obtain good interpolation results. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Urban Underground Space Design: Structural Stability and Mechanics Analysis—2nd Edition)

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24 pages, 3431 KB

Open AccessArticle

An Elastoplastic Theory-Based Load-Transfer Model for Axially Loaded Pile in Soft Soils

by Yijun Xiu, Haoyu Liu, Denghong Zhang, Xingbo Han and Lin Li

Buildings 2025, 15(23), 4300; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15234300 - 27 Nov 2025

Viewed by 547

Abstract

This study proposes the insufficient prediction accuracy of load–displacement behavior for pile foundations in soft soil regions by proposing an elastoplastic load-transfer model applicable to axially loaded piles in soft clay, aiming to enhance the prediction capability of shaft resistance mobilization. The model systematically incorporates the elastoplastic shear deformation of the soil within the plastic zone adjacent to the pile shaft and the small-strain stiffness degradation of the soil in the elastic zone. The elastoplastic constitutive relationship in the plastic zone is formulated using critical state theory, plastic potential theory, and the associated flow rule, whereas the nonlinear elastic shear deformation in the elastic zone is described based on Hooke’s law combined with a small-strain stiffness degradation model. The developed load-transfer function is embedded into an iterative computational framework to obtain the load–displacement response of piles in multilayered soft soils. The model is validated using field pile test data from Louisiana and Shanghai. The results show that the proposed model can reasonably reproduce the elastoplastic

τ - z

evolution along the pile shaft and provides a theoretically robust and practically applicable method for predicting the settlement behavior of piles in clayey soils. This approach offers significant engineering value for optimizing pile design, evaluating bearing capacity, and developing cost-efficient foundation solutions in soft soil regions. Nevertheless, the current applicability of the model is primarily limited to short and medium-length piles in saturated normally consolidated clay. Future work will focus on incorporating strain-softening mechanisms and extending the model to a wider range of soil types. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Urban Underground Space Design: Structural Stability and Mechanics Analysis—2nd Edition)

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26 pages, 9649 KB

Open AccessArticle

Vertical Deformation Calculation Method and In Situ Protection Design for Large-Span Suspended Box Culverts

by Heng Liu, Xihao Yan, Mingjie Xu, Dong Hu, Zhengwei Wang, Lei Guo and Peng Xi

Buildings 2025, 15(20), 3804; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15203804 - 21 Oct 2025

Viewed by 818

Abstract

Underground power pipelines are often encased in box culverts and buried in soil. When foundation pit excavation involves such existing pipelines, the buried box culverts can become partially suspended, risking excessive vertical deformation and requiring effective in situ protection. This study proposed analytical methods to calculate the vertical deformation of large-span box culverts under both unprotected and protected conditions. A case study of the 112 m suspended power box culverts at Yunnan Road Station on Nanjing Metro Line 5 is presented, where the methods are applied to determine the maximum allowable unsupported span and to formulate specific support and suspension protection schemes, which include a number of protection points and their spacing. Validation through ABAQUS modeling shows strong agreement among theoretical predictions, numerical simulations, and field measurements. Parametric analysis further demonstrated that the height, width, and modulus of the reinforced soil around the buried section all have a significant influence on the deformation control effectiveness. This study provides a combined theoretical framework and practical design guidelines for deformation control of large-span suspended box culverts in engineering applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Urban Underground Space Design: Structural Stability and Mechanics Analysis—2nd Edition)

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17 pages, 2322 KB

Open AccessArticle

Assessment of Seismic Intensity Measures on Liquefaction Response: A Case Study of Yinchuan Sandy Soil

by Bowen Hu, Weibo Ji, Yinxin Zhao, Sihan Qiu and Zhehao Zhu

Buildings 2025, 15(20), 3803; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15203803 - 21 Oct 2025

Viewed by 899

Abstract

The proliferation of tunnel and subway networks in urban areas has heightened concerns regarding their vulnerability to seismic-induced liquefaction. This phenomenon, wherein saturated sandy soils lose strength and behave like a liquid under seismic waves, poses a catastrophic threat to the structural integrity and stability of underground constructions. While extensive research has been conducted to evaluate liquefaction triggering, most existing approaches rely on single ground motion intensity measures (e.g., PGA, I_A), which often fail to capture the combined effects of amplitude, energy, and duration on liquefaction behavior. In this study, the seismic response of saturated sandy soil from Yinchuan was analyzed using the Dafalias–Manzari constitutive model implemented in the OpenSeesPy platform. The model parameters were carefully calibrated using laboratory triaxial results. A total of ten real earthquake records were applied to evaluate two critical engineering demand parameters (EDPs): surface lateral displacement (SLD) and the maximum thickness of the liquefied layer (MTL). The results show that both SLD and MTL exhibit weak correlations with conventional intensity parameters, suggesting limited predictive value for engineering design. However, by applying Partial Least Squares (PLS) regression to combine multiple intensity measures, the prediction accuracy for SLD was significantly improved, with the correlation coefficient increasing to 0.81. In contrast, MTL remained poorly predicted due to its strong dependence on intrinsic soil characteristics such as permeability and fines content. These findings highlight the importance of integrating both seismic loading features and geotechnical soil properties in performance-based liquefaction hazard evaluation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Urban Underground Space Design: Structural Stability and Mechanics Analysis—2nd Edition)

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18 pages, 2664 KB

Open AccessArticle

Analysis of Heat Exchange Efficiency and Influencing Factors of Energy Tunnels: A Case Study of the Torino Metro in Italy

by Mei Yin, Pengcheng Liu and Zhenhuang Wu

Buildings 2025, 15(15), 2704; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15152704 - 31 Jul 2025

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1091

Abstract

Both ground source heat pumps (GSHPs) and energy underground structures are engineered systems that utilize shallow geothermal energy. However, due to the construction complexity and associated costs of energy tunnels, their heat exchange efficiency relative to GSHPs remains a topic worthy of in-depth investigation. In this study, a thermal–hydraulic (TH) coupled finite element model was developed based on a section of the Torino Metro Line in Italy to analyze the differences in and influencing factors of heat transfer performance between energy tunnels and GSHPs. The model was validated by comparing the outlet temperature curves under both winter and summer loading conditions. Based on this validated model, a parametric analysis was conducted to examine the effects of the tunnel air velocity, heat carrier fluid velocity, and fluid type. The results indicate that, under identical environmental conditions, energy tunnels exhibit higher heat exchange efficiency than conventional GSHP systems and are less sensitive to external factors such as fluid velocity. Furthermore, a comparison of different heat carrier fluids, including alcohol-based fluids, refrigerants, and water, revealed that the fluid type significantly affects thermal performance, with the refrigerant R-134a outperforming ethylene glycol and water in both heating and cooling efficiency. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Urban Underground Space Design: Structural Stability and Mechanics Analysis—2nd Edition)

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27 pages, 19505 KB

Open AccessArticle

Analysis on the Ductility of One-Part Geopolymer-Stabilized Soil with PET Fibers: A Deep Learning Neural Network Approach

by Guo Hu, Junyi Zhang, Ying Tang and Jun Wu

Buildings 2025, 15(15), 2645; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15152645 - 27 Jul 2025

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1253

Abstract

Geopolymers, as an eco-friendly alternative construction material to ordinary Portland cement (OPC), exhibit superior performance in soil stabilization. However, their inherent brittleness limits engineering applications. To address this, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fibers can be incorporated into a one-part geopolymer (OPG) binder to enhance ductility while promoting plastic waste recycling. However, the evaluation of ductile behavior of OPG-stabilized soil with PET fiber normally demands extensive laboratory and field experiments. Leveraging artificial intelligence, a predictive model can be developed for this purpose. In this study, data were collected from compressive and tensile tests performed on the OPG-stabilized soil with PET fiber. Four deep learning neural network models, namely ANN, BPNN, CNN, and LSTM, were then used to construct prediction models. The input parameters in the model included the fly ash (FA) dosage, dosage and length of the PET fiber, and the Curing Time. Results revealed that the LSTM model had the best performance in predicting the three ductile properties (i.e., the compressive strength index [UCS], strain energy index [CSE], and tensile strength index [TES]). The SHAP and 2D-PDP methods were further used to verify the rationality of the LSTM model. It is found that the Curing Time was the most important factor for the strength and ductile behavior. The appropriate addition of PET fiber of a certain length had a positive impact on the ductility index. Thus, for the OPG-stabilized soil, the optimal dosage and length of PET fiber were found to be 1.5% and 9 mm, respectively. Additionally, there was a synergistic effect between FA and PET on the ductility metric. This research provides theoretical support for the application of geopolymer and PET fiber in enhancing the ductility of the stabilized soil. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Urban Underground Space Design: Structural Stability and Mechanics Analysis—2nd Edition)

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22 pages, 8296 KB

Open AccessArticle

Flexural Behavior of Shield Tunnel Joints with Auto-Lock Connectors: A Theoretical and Numerical Investigation with Parametric Analysis

by Lina Luo, Weidong Lin, Haibo Hu, Gang Lei and Hui Liu

Buildings 2025, 15(13), 2182; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15132182 - 23 Jun 2025

Viewed by 860

Abstract

Rapid connectors for shield tunnels represent a critical advancement in underground engineering construction. This study proposes a novel auto-lock connector, detailing its structure and working principle. The flexural behavior of the auto-lock joint is investigated through theoretical analysis and numerical simulation, with a comprehensive evaluation of influencing factors. The results indicate that joint opening increases with reduced axial force, peaking at 24.1 mm under negative bending under a 100 kN axial load. The ultimate bending moment demonstrates a nonlinear variation with axial force. At low axial forces, increasing material strength or dimensions enhances joint flexural capacity, with more pronounced improvements under lower loads. This research establishes a theoretical foundation for the practical application of auto-lock connectors. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Urban Underground Space Design: Structural Stability and Mechanics Analysis—2nd Edition)

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