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Advances in Marine Geomechanics and Geotechnics
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Advances in Marine Geomechanics and Geotechnics

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 1 November 2026 | Viewed by 4174

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Kai Yao

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Qilu Transportation, Shandong University, Jinan 250002, China
Interests: geo-risk assessment/reliability analysis; offshore engineering; spatial variability of soil; computational geotechnics; machine learning in geotechnics; in situ instrumentation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue focuses on the latest developments in marine geomechanics and offshore geotechnics, with a strong emphasis on innovative and sustainable engineering solutions. It encompasses a broad range of topics, from advanced offshore site investigation using remote sensing and robotics to the assessment of geohazards and seismic risks, as well as the characterization of social spatial variability and its influence on offshore structures.

The Issue will feature state-of-the-art research on numerical modelling, centrifuge modelling, 1-g laboratory testing, and real-scale field experiments, which are employed to investigate complex soil–structure interactions in various offshore foundations. Specific areas of interest include monopile–soil and anchor–soil interactions, subsea pipelines, suction caissons, spudcans, and novel foundations to support offshore structures.

In addition, contributions addressing geotechnical risk and reliability analysis, the effects of dynamic and cyclic loading, scour phenomena, and the decommissioning of offshore infrastructure are welcome. The Special Issue will also explore emerging topics such as the application of machine learning in geotechnics, environmental impacts, and the challenges associated with carbon capture and storage, offshore mining, and cold-regions geotechnics, providing a comprehensive overview of life-cycle performance.

The aim of this Special Issue is to publish high-quality research on these topics and to make the findings freely available for research, teaching, and reference purposes.

Prof. Dr. Kai Yao
Guest Editor

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. Journal of Marine Science and Engineering 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

  • numerical modelling
  • soil–structure interaction
  • centrifuge modelling
  • geotechnical risk and reliability analysis
  • spatial variability of soil
  • remote sensing and robotics
  • laboratory modelling
  • seismic and liquefaction analysis
  • machine learning in geotechnics
  • instrumentation and monitoring

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

27 pages, 5409 KB  
Article
Frequency-Domain Physics-Informed Neural Networks for Modeling and Parameter Inversion of Wave-Induced Seabed Response
by Weiyun Chen, Hairong Tao, Lei Wang and Shaofen Fan
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2026, 14(8), 690; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse14080690 - 8 Apr 2026
Viewed by 494
Abstract
Modeling the dynamic response of saturated marine soils is crucial yet computationally challenging for traditional methods. Meanwhile, purely data-driven models suffer from sparse data and lack of physical interpretability. To overcome these limitations, this study proposes an intelligent engineering framework based on a [...] Read more.
Modeling the dynamic response of saturated marine soils is crucial yet computationally challenging for traditional methods. Meanwhile, purely data-driven models suffer from sparse data and lack of physical interpretability. To overcome these limitations, this study proposes an intelligent engineering framework based on a frequency-domain physics-informed neural network (FD-PINN) for the forward simulation and inverse parameter identification of saturated seabed soils. Constrained directly by physical laws during the learning process, FD-PINN remains highly reliable even when training data is sparse. By formulating the governing equations in the frequency domain, it directly predicts complex-valued displacement and pore-pressure phasors. Multiscale Fourier feature mappings mitigate spectral bias and capture boundary layers and high-frequency effects. For inverse problems, a phase-sensitive lock-in extraction strategy transforms time-domain measurements into robust frequency-domain targets, enabling the accurate and noise-tolerant identification of poroelastic parameters with clear physical meaning (nondimensional storage parameter S and permeability parameter Γ). Numerical experiments show that FD-PINN substantially outperforms conventional time-domain PINN, achieving relative L2 errors of 10−2∼10−3 for single- and multi-frequency excitations typical of wave-induced loadings. In particular, Γ is consistently recovered with sub-percent relative error, while S can be reliably identified with multi-frequency data. The framework offers a data-efficient, noise-robust approach for high-fidelity modeling and robust parameter inversion, which is particularly valuable in offshore environments where high-quality data is scarce. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Marine Geomechanics and Geotechnics)
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19 pages, 7161 KB  
Article
Analysis of Microscopic Characteristics of Marine Clay Under Salinity Influence: ESEM, Zeta Potential and DLS Tests
by Shuai Yuan, Yi Shan, Zhirong Lu, He’an Xie, Yadong Li and Jie Cui
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2026, 14(7), 607; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse14070607 - 26 Mar 2026
Viewed by 445
Abstract
Marine clay serves as the natural foundation for various types of offshore and marine engineering structures and therefore plays a critical role in marine engineering practice. Consequently, a thorough understanding of the microstructural characteristics of marine clay is of great importance. In this [...] Read more.
Marine clay serves as the natural foundation for various types of offshore and marine engineering structures and therefore plays a critical role in marine engineering practice. Consequently, a thorough understanding of the microstructural characteristics of marine clay is of great importance. In this study, two types of artificial marine clays with high and low clay contents were selected. Environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM), zeta potential measurements, and dynamic light scattering (DLS) tests were conducted to investigate the microstructure, surface electrical potential, and aggregation behavior of marine clay. The results revealed that the high-clay-content sample exhibited more compact particle connections, while the low-clay-content sample displayed a relatively loose structure. The addition of salt altered the particle distribution within the soil, increasing the aggregation of fine clay particles, which in turn compressed the diffuse double layer between particles. This caused changes in the surface electrokinetic potential of clay mineral particles and enhanced the stability of the soil samples. DLS tests on the high-clay-content sample showed that the aggregation state of clay particles was highly sensitive to salinity, with particle size initially increasing and then decreasing as salinity increased. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Marine Geomechanics and Geotechnics)
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20 pages, 4519 KB  
Article
Vertical Bearing Capacity for Pile-Ring Composite Foundations in Clay
by Jianfeng Zhou, Weisen Cai, Jian Yu and Zhaoyun Xiao
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2026, 14(5), 489; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse14050489 - 4 Mar 2026
Viewed by 409
Abstract
Evaluating the vertical bearing capacity of offshore wind turbine pile-ring composite foundations under complex marine environmental loads is critical for ensuring engineering safety. This study employs the rigorously validated T-EMSD upper-bound method to conduct a three-dimensional numerical analysis of the vertical bearing capacity [...] Read more.
Evaluating the vertical bearing capacity of offshore wind turbine pile-ring composite foundations under complex marine environmental loads is critical for ensuring engineering safety. This study employs the rigorously validated T-EMSD upper-bound method to conduct a three-dimensional numerical analysis of the vertical bearing capacity of pile-ring composite foundations in saturated clay. It systematically investigates the influence of soil homogeneity (η, diameter ratio (D/B), embedment ratio (L/B), and external shaft friction coefficient (α) on the bearing capacity factor Nc, and reveals the associated failure mechanism through velocity field analysis. The results indicate that the bearing capacity factor Nc increases significantly with the diameter ratio D/B. The system exhibits optimal bearing performance when the pile shaft friction is fully mobilized (α = 1) in homogeneous soil (η=1). Moreover, as the embedment ratio L/B increases, the plastic zone extends downward along the pile shaft, enhancing the deep foundation effect. Based on parametric analysis, a predictive formula for the net bearing capacity factor of the pile-ring composite foundation under homogeneous conditions is established. Verified against existing numerical methods and experimental data, the formula demonstrates an error margin within ±5%, indicating its good suitability for engineering applications. Furthermore, by establishing a ratio relationship, the net bearing capacity factor under heterogeneous conditions is correlated with that under homogeneous conditions. This enables a more in-depth analysis of the influences of soil strength heterogeneity and external shaft friction coefficient on the vertical bearing capacity of the pile-ring composite foundation. The work presented in this paper provides a theoretical basis for the design and bearing capacity assessment of this type of composite foundation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Marine Geomechanics and Geotechnics)
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22 pages, 8740 KB  
Article
Application of Multi-Station High-Frequency Microtremor Surface Wave Exploration in Coastal Engineering Research: A Case Study of Dongzhou Peninsula in Fujian Province
by Fei Cheng, Daicheng Peng, Daohuang Yang and Jiangping Liu
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2025, 13(12), 2364; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse13122364 - 12 Dec 2025
Viewed by 666
Abstract
This study proposes a multi-station high-frequency microtremor surface-wave exploration method for high-resolution characterization of shallow subsurface structures in coastal engineering environments. Three representative layered geological models were established, and Rayleigh-wave theoretical dispersion curves were calculated using a fast vector transfer algorithm to analyze [...] Read more.
This study proposes a multi-station high-frequency microtremor surface-wave exploration method for high-resolution characterization of shallow subsurface structures in coastal engineering environments. Three representative layered geological models were established, and Rayleigh-wave theoretical dispersion curves were calculated using a fast vector transfer algorithm to analyze dispersion characteristics associated with different stratigraphic conditions. Five array geometries were then employed to acquire high-frequency ambient-noise data, and dispersion curves were extracted using the Extended Spatial Autocorrelation (ESPAC) method. Comparative analysis revealed that the rectangular, triangular, and circular arrays provided the most stable and accurate dispersion imaging, with mismatch errors below 0.5%, and their inverted S-wave velocity structures closely matched theoretical models. Field application on the Dongzhou Peninsula in Fujian Province further demonstrated the effectiveness of the proposed method. The inverted shear-wave (S-wave) velocity profiles from three survey lines successfully delineated the original and reclaimed coastlines, showing strong agreement with known geological boundaries. These results demonstrate that the proposed approach provides a non-invasive, cost-effective, and high-resolution tool for evaluating geological conditions in coastal engineering settings. It shows substantial potential for broader application in coastal site characterization and marine engineering development. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Marine Geomechanics and Geotechnics)
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15 pages, 10241 KB  
Article
Effect of Fine Content on Liquefaction Resistance of Saturated Marine Sandy Soils Subjected to Cyclic Loading
by Shang Gao, Wenwen Zhang, Qi Wu and Shuanglan Wu
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2025, 13(12), 2333; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse13122333 - 8 Dec 2025
Viewed by 722
Abstract
Offshore wind turbines are subjected to environmental loads such as wind and ocean waves throughout their entire service lives. Saturated sandy soils experience liquefaction under cyclic shear stresses induced by earthquakes or strong wave actions, which can result in the tilting, settlement, or [...] Read more.
Offshore wind turbines are subjected to environmental loads such as wind and ocean waves throughout their entire service lives. Saturated sandy soils experience liquefaction under cyclic shear stresses induced by earthquakes or strong wave actions, which can result in the tilting, settlement, or even overturning of structures. This study investigates the effect of fine content (FC) on the liquefaction resistance (CRR) of saturated sandy soils with different density states. Sandy soils with varying FC values are examined under three scenarios: (1) constant relative density; (2) constant void ratio; and (3) constant skeleton void ratio. A series of undrained cyclic triaxial tests are conducted on sandy soils with different FC and density states (Dr, e, and esk). The results indicate that an increase in FC leads to a decrease in CRR at constant Dr or e, whereas CRR at constant esk increases with increasing FC. No clear correlation is observed between Dr, e, or esk and CRR for saturated sandy soils with varying FC. Since esk does not account for the effect of fine particles on the contact state of skeleton particles, the equivalent skeleton void ratio (esk*) is introduced to describe the particle contact state of sandy soils with different fine contents (FCs), considering the degree of fine particle participation. In addition, the test data reveal that the CRR of sandy soils with different FC and density states decreases with increasing esk*, and a power relationship between the reduction in CRR and the increase in esk* is established. This finding indicates that esk*, which considers the proportion of fines contributing to the load-sustaining framework, serves as a reliable index for evaluating the CRR of various sandy soils. We find that grain shape plays a significant role in influencing CRR, and the overall CRR of sandy soils increases as the grain shape changes from spherical to angular, compared to the published test results for other sandy soils. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Marine Geomechanics and Geotechnics)
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19 pages, 6474 KB  
Article
Experimental Investigation of a Novel Single-Shank Drag Anchor Design
by Chuheng Wu, Peng Guo, Youhu Zhang, Xiangyu Wang and Di Lei
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2025, 13(11), 2157; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse13112157 - 14 Nov 2025
Viewed by 718
Abstract
Drag embedment anchor (DEA) constitutes a compelling anchoring solution for an array of floating structures, attributable to its exceptional efficiency in holding capacity and the comparatively modest expenditures incurred in manufacturing and installation. The holding capacity of DEAs is, to a large extent, [...] Read more.
Drag embedment anchor (DEA) constitutes a compelling anchoring solution for an array of floating structures, attributable to its exceptional efficiency in holding capacity and the comparatively modest expenditures incurred in manufacturing and installation. The holding capacity of DEAs is, to a large extent, dictated by the penetration depth achieved during installation. In hard soils, such as dense sand and stiff clay, the penetration depth of DEAs is often limited due to the large soil resistance acting on the shank structure, which in turn limits its holding capacity. In this paper, a novel anchor design with a single flat shank is proposed, which can greatly reduce the soil resistance on the shank during installation, in the hope of improving the penetration depth and consequently the holding capacity of DEAs. To verify this design assumption, a comprehensive suite of large deformation numerical simulations is carried out in both clayey and sandy soils. In addition, a series of physical model tests are performed in uniform sand. The results from both the numerical simulations and the model tests confirm the superior penetrability and holding capacity of the proposed single-shank anchor design. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Marine Geomechanics and Geotechnics)
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