Innovative Experimental Methods, Advanced Field/in-Situ Testing, and Their Engineering Applications in Geomechanics

Dear Colleagues,

The core of geomechanics lies in investigating the mechanical behavior of geological materials, and its research outcomes provide irreplaceable support for geotechnical engineering, energy development (e.g., shale gas extraction, and geothermal energy development), and geological hazard mitigation. In research within this field, experimental methods—integrated with field testing, in situ testing, and case studies—serve as the core technical pillar: while traditional experimental methods were once limited by the accurate reproduction of complex geological conditions (e.g., heterogeneous rock masses and multi-field interactions), the advancement of modern experimental technologies (such as high-precision rock mechanics testing systems, multi-field coupling experimental setups, microscale observation technologies, and advanced field/in-situ testing equipment) now enables us to obtain direct, reliable measured data for studying the mechanical properties of geological materials. Moreover, in-depth case studies bridge experimental findings with real-world engineering scenarios, verifying the practical value of experimental results and guiding engineering decision-making. Today, driven by the progress of experimental technologies and engineering demand, experimental methods (supported by field/ in situ testing and case studies) have become a core link connecting geomechanics theoretical research and engineering practice, independently facilitating solutions to key scientific and engineering challenges such as rock failure mechanism analysis and underground space stability evaluation.

This Special Issue aims to solicit a wide range of papers (including original research articles and review papers) to comprehensively showcase the latest technological advancements, innovative methods, and engineering applications of experimental methods in geomechanics—with a specific focus on field testing, in situ testing, and case studies. It also encourages discussions on innovative research paradigms that optimize experimental design, enhance data reliability, and strengthen the connection between experimental results and practical engineering. This topic is highly aligned with the journal’s focus on publishing high-quality research at the intersection of geosciences and engineering: it not only provides a dedicated platform for presenting research on experimental studies, field/ in situ testing, and case-based validation but also promotes knowledge sharing and technical exchange between academia and industry in this field, advancing the practical application of experimental geomechanics.

This Special Issue will welcome manuscripts that link together the following themes:

• Innovative experimental methods for geomechanical problems;
• Advanced field and in situ testing technologies for geomechanical investigations;
• Rock mass failure/ instability: experimental observation, mechanism analysis, and engineering case studies;
• Applications of experimental methods in energy geotechnics;
• Experimental data processing and interpretation;
• Case studies of geomechanical engineering;
• Multi-scale experimental technologies for geological materials.

We look forward to receiving your original research articles and reviews.

Dr. Huaibo Song
Dr. Bin Zhu
Dr. Siqi Zhang
Dr. Jiaming Li
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1800 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.

• geomechanics
• experimental methods
• numerical modeling
• energy geotechnics
• AI/ML in geomechanics
• uncertainty analysis