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Advanced Geotechnical Investigations of Coral Sands in Marine Engineering

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A special issue of Journal of Marine Science and Engineering (ISSN 2077-1312). This special issue belongs to the section "Geological Oceanography".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 November 2026 | Viewed by 2093

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Dr. Xinzhi Wang

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State Key Laboratory of Geotechnical Mechanics and Engineering, Institute of Rock and Soil Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China
Interests: particle crushing; pile skin friction; pile–soil interaction; dilatancy behavior; in situ investigation; liquefaction evaluation; coral reef drilling coring technology; geophysical exploration; foundation bearing capacity

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Coral sand, as a special geomaterial in marine engineering, poses critical challenges to the safety and durability of island and reef construction projects due to its high porosity, crushability, and unique mechanical behavior. This Special Issue focuses on the dynamic response of coral sands, liquefaction susceptibility assessment, in situ permeability assessment, coral reef drilling and coring technology and innovative exploration techniques. The aim is to deepen theoretical understanding and guide engineering practice. We sincerely invite scholars in related fields to contribute to this topic, collectively advancing the development and innovation of marine geotechnical engineering.

Dr. Xinzhi Wang
Guest Editor

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Keywords

particle crushing
dilatancy behavior
liquefaction evaluation
pile–soil interaction
geophysical exploration
pile skin friction
foundation bearing capacity
coral reef drilling and coring technology
in situ permeability assessment

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

21 pages, 10239 KB

Open AccessArticle

Triaxial Compression and Unloading Acoustic Emission Characteristics of Coral Block

by Yongtao Zhang, Haifeng Liu, Aolin Wu, Peishuai Chen, Qilin Wang and Fuquan Ji

J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2026, 14(13), 1203; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse14131203 - 30 Jun 2026

Viewed by 167

Abstract

This study investigated the mechanical response and instability precursors of highly porous coral blocks from the South China Sea under complex stress paths through conventional triaxial compression tests, two types of triaxial unloading tests, and synchronous acoustic emission (AE) monitoring. The effects of confining pressure, unloading path, and unloading stage on strength, deformation, dilatancy, and failure behavior were examined. The coefficients of variation of dry density, saturated density, porosity, and P-wave velocity were 5.07%, 3.56%, 3.72%, and 5.77%, respectively, indicating relatively limited variability in the measured physical properties, although the influence of specimen heterogeneity cannot be fully excluded. Within the 0–2 MPa confining-pressure range, peak strength increased from 8.81 to 16.85 MPa, whereas axial strain at peak strength changed from 0.33% at 0 MPa to 0.63% at 1 MPa and then decreased to 0.40% at 2 MPa, indicating strong strength sensitivity but a nonmonotonic deformation response. During unloading, all specimens exhibited a transition from compaction to dilatancy. At unloading rates of 0.2 and 0.5 MPa/min, the absolute value of the volumetric strain evolution slope was higher under the increasing-axial-pressure unloading path than under the constant-axial-pressure unloading path, indicating that the path-related difference in dilatancy appears more pronounced under the present test conditions. AE activity increased progressively near peak stress during conventional compression, whereas unloading-induced AE events concentrated near macroscopic failure. Lateral strain anomalies generally preceded AE bursts, suggesting that lateral deformation appears to provide a more sensitive early-warning indicator under the present test conditions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Geotechnical Investigations of Coral Sands in Marine Engineering)

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21 pages, 4650 KB

Open AccessArticle

Coral Sand Dissolution in Fresh/Saline Groundwater of Reclaimed Reef Islands: Dominant Mechanisms, Key Factors, and Alteration Effects

by Xing Gong, Suxin Luo, Ziyan Yan, Jian Ou, Hua Zhou, Juan Wen and Zhenkun Hou

J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2026, 14(13), 1173; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse14131173 - 25 Jun 2026

Viewed by 270

Abstract

Coral sand dissolution may weaken particle strength and compromise the foundation stability of reclaimed reef islands. However, its dissolution mechanisms and associated effects under saline–freshwater conditions remain poorly quantified. This study combined dissolution experiments, inverse hydrogeochemical modeling, statistical analysis, machine learning, and multiscale characterization to identify dominant mechanisms, quantify their contributions, determine key factors, and evaluate alterations in reef island groundwater. Results demonstrated that the dissolution capacity of coral sand (q) ranged from 0.04 to 0.24 mg, increasing with salinity but decreasing with pH and particle size. Coral sand dissolution was mainly controlled by carbonic-acid-mediated dissolution and Ca-Na cation exchange. The cation exchange contribution (p) reached 63–95% under alkaline conditions and increased with pH, salinity, and particle size. Random Forest accurately predicted q and p, with R² values of 0.875 and 0.980, respectively. SHAP analysis identified salinity and pH as the dominant predictors of q and p, respectively. With increasing q, the relative aragonite content decreased, whereas calcite content increased; particle surfaces became rougher, BET specific surface area and porosity increased by 5–28% and 2–10.5%, respectively, and single-particle compressive strength decreased by 70–87%. These findings provide a theoretical basis for assessing stability and reinforcing coral sand foundations on artificial islands. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Geotechnical Investigations of Coral Sands in Marine Engineering)

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13 pages, 6179 KB

Open AccessArticle

CT-Based Pore Network Characterization of Coral Reef Rudstone and Its Correlation with Physico-Mechanical Properties

by Yongtao Zhang, Haifeng Liu, Yang Mo, Peishuai Chen, Fuquan Ji and Ran Gao

J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2026, 14(11), 1053; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse14111053 - 4 Jun 2026

Viewed by 247

Abstract

Coral reef rudstone (CRR) exhibits distinctive fabric-controlled mechanical behavior that is strongly influenced by its internal pore structure and degree of diagenesis. This study combines petrographic observation, X-ray CT scanning, and saturated uniaxial compressive strength test to quantify the pore network characteristics and physico-mechanical properties of CRR. Three representative specimens were reconstructed in three dimensions and analyzed in terms of pore number, pore volume, throat length, and coordination number. The results show that CRR contains moderately developed pores dominated by micritic-calcite dissolution pores. Average pore radius ranges from 141.2 to 993.6 μm, the maximum pore radius reaches 5567.2 μm, and the throats are mainly short-range, with average lengths of 3705–5437 μm. Connectivity varies markedly among specimens: CRR-C contains an interconnected macropore cluster, whereas CRR-A and CRR-B are dominated by weakly connected mesopores. Dry density shows a strong nonlinear positive correlation with saturated uniaxial compressive strength, whereas porosity shows a negative correlation. Both variables demonstrate a preliminary exponential relationship with strength and are crucial factors in determining the mechanical response of CRR. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Geotechnical Investigations of Coral Sands in Marine Engineering)

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21 pages, 8078 KB

Open AccessArticle

Damage-Softening Model and Shear Behavior of Geosynthetic–Calcareous Sand Interface Based on Large-Scale Monotonic Shear Tests

by Liangjie Xu, Xinzhi Wang, Ren Wang and Jicheng Zhang

J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2026, 14(9), 836; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse14090836 - 30 Apr 2026

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Abstract

Geosynthetics-reinforced soil technology represents an innovative reinforcement method for calcareous sand foundations and revetment engineering in coral reef areas. The interaction response at the reinforced soil interface directly influences the safety and stability of reinforced soil structures. However, research on the interaction mechanisms between geosynthetics and calcareous sand interfaces remains insufficient. Therefore, this paper investigates the effects of different normal stresses and various interface types on the shear characteristics of the geosynthetics–calcareous sand interface through a series of large-scale monotonic direct shear tests. By integrating statistical damage theory and accounting for the influence of residual strength, we establish the constitutive relation for interface damage. The results indicate that the shear stress–displacement curves for both the geosynthetics–calcareous sand interface and the unreinforced calcareous sand exhibit softening behavior. Furthermore, the relationship between the interface shear modulus and horizontal displacement for the geogrid–calcareous sand and unreinforced calcareous sand adheres to a power function model, while the relationship for the geotextile–calcareous sand follows a logarithmic function model. In the structural design of geosynthetics-reinforced calcareous sand, it is crucial to consider the influence of residual shear strength on structural stability. This study proposes a statistical damage constitutive model that accounts for the strain-softening characteristics of the geosynthetics–calcareous sand interface, while also considering the impact of residual strength. The findings provide a theoretical basis for the stability analysis of geosynthetics-reinforced calcareous sand structures in coral reefs with significant engineering implications for island reef construction, coastal development, and bank slope protection projects. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Geotechnical Investigations of Coral Sands in Marine Engineering)

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24 pages, 7459 KB

Open AccessArticle

Strength Characteristics and Micro-Mechanism of Coral Sand Reinforced by EICP Combined with Aluminum Ions

by Rong Chen, Yirou Yang, Dongxue Hao, Zhaoping Wang and Bingxi Fang

J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2026, 14(3), 286; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse14030286 - 31 Jan 2026

Viewed by 549

Abstract

To overcome the high cost, marine ecological risks of traditional coral sand reinforcement, and the insufficient mechanical performance of standalone Enzyme-Induced Carbonate Precipitation (EICP), this study proposes a novel soil improvement method integrating EICP with aluminum chloride hexahydrate (AlCl₃·6H₂O). The objectives are to identify optimal EICP curing parameters, evaluate AlCl₃·6H₂O’s enhancement effect, and reveal the synergistic micro-mechanism. Through aqueous solution, unconfined compressive strength, permeability, X-ray diffraction (XRD), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) tests, this study systematically investigated the reaction conditions, mechanical properties, anti-seepage performance, mineral composition, and pore structure. The results demonstrate that EICP achieves the best curing effect under specific conditions: temperature of 30 °C, pH of 8, and cementing solution concentration of 1 mol/L. Under these optimal conditions, the unconfined compressive strength of EICP-solidified coral sand columns reaches 761.6 kPa, and the permeability coefficient is reduced by one order of magnitude compared to unsolidified samples. Notably, AlCl₃·6H₂O incorporation yields a significant synergistic effect, boosting the UCS to 2389.1 kPa (3.14 times standalone EICP) and further reducing permeability by 26%. Micro-mechanism analysis reveals that AlCl₃·6H₂O acts both by generating cementitious aggregates that provide nucleation sites for uniform calcite deposition and by accelerating the transformation of metastable aragonite and vaterite to stable calcite, thereby enhancing cementation stability. This study delivers a cost-effective, eco-friendly solution for coral sand reinforcement, providing practical technical support for marine engineering in environments like the South China Sea. By addressing the core limitations of conventional bio-cementation, it opens new avenues for advancing soil improvement science and applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Geotechnical Investigations of Coral Sands in Marine Engineering)

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