Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
4.4
3.1
Journals
Buildings
Special Issues
Design, Construction and Maintenance of Underground Structures—2nd Edition
share announcement

Design, Construction and Maintenance of Underground Structures—2nd Edition

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 28 September 2026 | Viewed by 3919

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Sulei Zhang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Civil Engineering, Qingdao University of Technology, Qingdao 266033, China
Interests: underground engineering; health diagnosis and maintenance; new materials and technologies
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Xiaoming Guan

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Civil Engineering, Qingdao University of Technology, Qingdao 266033, China
Interests: tunnel and underground engineering; blasting engineering; structural vibration control
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Chang Liu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Civil Engineering, Qingdao University of Technology, Qingdao 266033, China
Interests: underground engineering; lining structures; mechanical performance; lining failure analysis
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We cordially invite you to contribute to our Special Issue in Buildings entitled “Design, Construction and Maintenance of Underground Structures—2nd Edition”. Underground engineering projects face inherent risks and safety challenges that demand rigorous attention and reliable solutions across all phases—from design and construction to long-term operation. This Special Issue seeks to establish a platform for sharing innovative research and novel insights that address these critical aspects of underground infrastructure development. The topics of interest span a wide spectrum, including advanced design methodologies, cutting-edge construction techniques, and sustainable maintenance strategies. Submissions may encompass experimental investigations (field monitoring, laboratory testing, material characterization), theoretical modeling, and numerical simulations. Submissions may also include comprehensive case studies and critical reviews of the current literature that advance the field. By fostering interdisciplinary dialog, this Special Issue aims to enhance safety, efficiency, and sustainability in underground engineering practices worldwide and, to this end, we welcome contributions that bridge theory and practice to address the evolving challenges of modern underground projects.

Prof. Dr. Sulei Zhang
Dr. Xiaoming Guan
Dr. Chang Liu
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

  • underground space
  • tunnel structure
  • stability analysis
  • mechanical performance
  • safety evolution

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.

Related Special Issue

Published Papers (5 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

20 pages, 5567 KB  
Article
Study on Directional Micro-Disturbance Grouting for Settlement Control of Shield Tunnel in Sand Layers Based on Numerical Simulation and In-Situ Test
by Changjiang Meng, Zhaihui Ge, Zhaohui Xiong, Junjie Hu, Haisu Zhao and Jiaqi Guo
Buildings 2026, 16(6), 1143; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings16061143 - 13 Mar 2026
Viewed by 330
Abstract
Due to changes in the surrounding environment, the settlement defects of a shield metro tunnel in Wuhan have become increasingly prominent, seriously affecting its safe operation. Directional micro-disturbance grouting can effectively control the settlement of a shield tunnel. However, the grouting parameters S [...] Read more.
Due to changes in the surrounding environment, the settlement defects of a shield metro tunnel in Wuhan have become increasingly prominent, seriously affecting its safe operation. Directional micro-disturbance grouting can effectively control the settlement of a shield tunnel. However, the grouting parameters S and H directly affect the grouting effect. This study adopts the finite difference method to analyze the influences of parameters S and H on the displacements of the shield tunnel and surrounding soil. The simulation results indicate that as S/D increases from 0.242 to 0.726, the compaction effect of the soil at the tunnel bottom gradually weakens, and the uplift displacements of both the vault and the track bed decrease accordingly, suggesting that parameter S plays a controlling role in the uplift deformation of the vault and track bed. However, as H/D increases from −0.161 to 0.323, the compaction zone of the soil at the tunnel haunch gradually shrinks, while the compaction zone at the tunnel bottom expands. At the same time, the uplift displacement of the track bed increases, and the horizontal convergence of the tunnel decreases. When parameter H varies within the range of −0.161D to 0.726D, it is observed to have a minimal impact on the uplift displacement of the tunnel vault but exerts a significant influence on both the uplift displacement of the track bed and the horizontal convergence of the tunnel. Based on the settlement control requirements for the in-situ grouting test section, the parameters S = 0.403D and H = 0.161D were selected for the in-situ grouting test. The average measured uplift displacements at the tunnel vault and track bed in the in-situ grouting test section were 14.9 mm and 9.1 mm, respectively, being only 2.6% and 4.2% lower than the numerical simulation results (15.3 mm and 9.5 mm). The strong consistency between the field-measured and simulated results validates the rationality of parameters S and H selection. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Design, Construction and Maintenance of Underground Structures—2nd Edition)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

18 pages, 7010 KB  
Article
Development and Experimental Study of a Novel Diaphragm Wall Joint with Retractable Shear Studs
by Yue Zhang, Changjiang Wang and Xiewen Hu
Buildings 2026, 16(3), 681; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings16030681 - 6 Feb 2026
Viewed by 539
Abstract
Diaphragm walls are widely used for deep foundation pit support and permanent underground structures. The joints between adjacent panels are critical weak points, significantly influencing the overall deformation and stress distribution of the structure. To address the insufficient shear and tensile capacity of [...] Read more.
Diaphragm walls are widely used for deep foundation pit support and permanent underground structures. The joints between adjacent panels are critical weak points, significantly influencing the overall deformation and stress distribution of the structure. To address the insufficient shear and tensile capacity of existing diaphragm wall joints, this study proposes a novel rigid joint incorporating retractable shear studs. The joint features a straightforward and constructible design, primarily comprising retractable shear studs, H-section steel, and shear stud pop-out limit plates. By withdrawing the limit plates inserted into the H-section steel, the retractable shear studs mounted on the web automatically extend along their axis, penetrating into the adjacent reinforcement cage to form an intrusive lap joint. This mechanism effectively enhances the integrity and load-bearing capacity at the joint. To validate its mechanical performance, large-scale specimens featuring this new joint were fabricated and subjected to shear and tensile tests. The experimental results demonstrate that, compared to traditional H-section steel joints, the peak shear and tensile strengths of the proposed joint are increased by approximately 10 times and 16 times, respectively. These findings fully verify the excellent mechanical performance of the novel diaphragm wall joint structure. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Design, Construction and Maintenance of Underground Structures—2nd Edition)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

25 pages, 9580 KB  
Article
Research on Mechanical Characteristics of Portal Frame Anti-Uplift Structure
by Tingting Ma, Jun He, Guolin Gao, Zhiyun Yao, Yihang Duan, Xu Zhang and Zixian Jin
Buildings 2026, 16(1), 58; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings16010058 - 23 Dec 2025
Viewed by 562
Abstract
The complexity of the loading mode and action mechanism is demonstrated in the portal frame anti-uplift structure. The stress evolution process of the portal frame structure during the excavation of the upper foundation pit is revealed through in situ structural stress tests and [...] Read more.
The complexity of the loading mode and action mechanism is demonstrated in the portal frame anti-uplift structure. The stress evolution process of the portal frame structure during the excavation of the upper foundation pit is revealed through in situ structural stress tests and numerical modeling analysis reflecting the small strain characteristics of stratum. The stress distribution of uplift piles and anti-floating plates is analyzed, with the axial force of piles and the development law of bending moment in plates being specifically examined. It is emphasized that the load of the uplift pile is generated by friction between the pile and soil caused by stratum floating, which is predominantly produced during the excavation of the upper block and the unloading of the surcharge. The pile 11# is observed to be under tension in the middle and compressed at both ends, with the extreme value of tensile stress of these 24 piles being located at 0.15 times the pile length below the top of the middle pile. The main loads of the anti-floating plate are identified as backfilling, foundation buoyancy, and lateral soil pressure. The lower part of the two pile spans is subjected to tension, while the upper part is under compression, with the bending moment extremes being located on the side where the frame is first formed. A significant increase in stiffness is exhibited by the frame structure after its formation, and the influence from the excavation of other blocks is markedly reduced. The most adverse condition is determined to occur during the integral removal of the upper surcharge. The reference value of these research results is confirmed for clarifying the stress mechanism of anti-uplift portal frame structures and optimizing key technical parameters in structural design and construction. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Design, Construction and Maintenance of Underground Structures—2nd Edition)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

25 pages, 7323 KB  
Article
Stability Assessment of Operation Tunnels Considering Long-Term Interaction Between the Lining and Surrounding Rock
by Peng Peng, Zhaopeng Ji, Chang Liu, Sulei Zhang and Mingqing Du
Buildings 2025, 15(23), 4240; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15234240 - 24 Nov 2025
Viewed by 762
Abstract
Operational tunnels are generally accompanied by time-dependent deformation and structural failures due to delayed behaviors, e.g., loading effects from surrounding rock and degradation of the concrete lining. This paper presents an analytical approach to investigate the long-term stability of tunnels considering those delayed [...] Read more.
Operational tunnels are generally accompanied by time-dependent deformation and structural failures due to delayed behaviors, e.g., loading effects from surrounding rock and degradation of the concrete lining. This paper presents an analytical approach to investigate the long-term stability of tunnels considering those delayed behaviors. To quantitatively characterize the degradation process of concrete lining, specific degradation models are adopted according to the identified obstacles in service environments. The viscoelastic Burgers model is selected to recognize the long-term creep properties of the surrounding rock. The time-varying solutions for tunnel deformation and lining stress can be obtained using the displacement compatibility condition between the concrete lining and the surrounding rock. The results find that the long-term stability of tunnels is governed by the interaction between the concrete lining and the surrounding rock. Different degradation models and rates significantly influence mechanical response, with thinner linings showing greater susceptibility. Viscoelastic rock properties further affect system behavior. The amplified effect of degradation under long-term rock loading underscores the necessity of understanding these coupled mechanisms for accurate life predictions. On account of the findings, a long-term performance maintenance method for operation tunnels is proposed and illustrated by a rehabilitation project for tunnel damage. Remediation of structural damage in operation tunnels should consider the surrounding rock condition and support structure performance, significantly improving long-term safety and reducing remediation costs. Overall, the present work provides some insight into the long-term stability assessment of operation tunnels. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Design, Construction and Maintenance of Underground Structures—2nd Edition)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

24 pages, 5293 KB  
Article
Stress-Deformation Mechanisms of Tunnel Support in Neogene Red-Bed Soft Rock: Insights from Wireless Remote Monitoring and Spatiotemporal Analysis
by Jin Wu, Zhize Han, Yunxing Wang, Feng Peng, Geng Cheng and Jiaxin Jia
Buildings 2025, 15(13), 2366; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15132366 - 5 Jul 2025
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1146
Abstract
Red-layer soft rock has characteristics such as softening when encountering water, loose structure, and significant rheological properties. In tunnel engineering, it is necessary to sort out and analyze the stress characteristics of its support structure. This paper focuses on the mechanical behavior and [...] Read more.
Red-layer soft rock has characteristics such as softening when encountering water, loose structure, and significant rheological properties. In tunnel engineering, it is necessary to sort out and analyze the stress characteristics of its support structure. This paper focuses on the mechanical behavior and support effect during the construction of Neogene red-layer soft rock tunnels. Through field monitoring, it explores the mechanical characteristics of Huizhou Tunnel under complex geological conditions in depth. This study adopted a remote wireless monitoring system to conduct real-time monitoring of key indicators including tunnel surrounding rock pressure, support structure stress, and deformation, obtaining a large amount of detailed data. An analysis revealed that the stress experienced by rock bolts is complex and varies widely, with stress values between 105 and 330.5 MPa. The peak axial force at a depth of 2.5 m reflects that the thickness of the loosened zone in the surrounding rock is approximately 2.5 m. The compressive stress in the steel arches of the primary support does not exceed 305.3 MPa. Shotcrete effectively controls the surrounding rock deformation, but the timing of support installation needs careful selection. The stress in the secondary lining is closely related to the primary support. The research findings provide an important theoretical basis and practical guidance for optimizing the support design of red-bed soft rock tunnels and enhancing construction safety and reliability. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Design, Construction and Maintenance of Underground Structures—2nd Edition)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-5
Back to TopTop