sustainability-logo

Journal Browser

Journal Browser

Seepage and Erosion in Soils and Rocks: Challenges for Environmental Sustainability and Sustainable Geotechnical Engineering

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 April 2025 | Viewed by 443

Special Issue Editors

College of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
Interests: soil-water interaction; internal erosion; seepage; coupled DEM simulation; centrifugal physical modeling

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Civil Engineering, Hangzhou City University, Hangzhou 310015, China
Interests: fractured-porous media; subsurface seepage; contaminant transport; hydro-mechanical-chemical coupling

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Soil–water interactions and related soil erosion are crucial subjects and mechanisms in the failure of geo-infrastructure. This interaction encompasses various processes, such as seepage in pores and fractures, the migration and clogging of fines in soils, post-erosion behavior, erosion caused by overflow, and contaminant transport in porous and fractured media, which are important for geotechnical engineering as well as other related fields, such as environmental protection and energy exploitation. Mitigating water-induced geotechnical failures is vital for ensuring the sustainability of these engineering practices.

In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:

  • Seepage in porous and fractured media (including soils, rocks, and other sediments)
  • Internal erosion in soils/rocks
  • Post-erosion behavior of soils/rocks
  • Interactions between porous and fractures media
  • Contaminant transport in porous and fractured media
  • Scouring/surface erosion induced by overflow
  • Monitoring of water–soil/rock interactions (seepage, erosion, etc.) in the field
  • Challenges and mitigation strategies for soil erosion in sustainable geotechnical engineering.
  • Case studies regarding water-induced geotechnical engineering problems (e.g., dam/embankment failure, ground collapse, foundation pit failure, etc.)

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Yao Tang
Dr. Yingtao Hu
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 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

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. Sustainability 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 2400 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

  • seepage
  • internal erosion
  • contaminant transport
  • scouring
  • surface erosion
  • soils
  • rocks
  • porous media
  • fractured media
  • geotechnical engineering
  • environmental sustainability

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.
  • e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.

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

Published Papers (1 paper)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

22 pages, 12998 KiB  
Article
Stability Analysis and Sustainable Cutoff Wall Parametric Optimization for Deep-Large Excavation High Slopes: A Case Study of the Yunnan Water Diversion Project
by Fangjingchen Li, Zhenguo Liu, Zhigang Kong, Honggang Chen and Zhanjiang Chen
Sustainability 2025, 17(8), 3736; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17083736 - 21 Apr 2025
Abstract
Slope stability analysis requires particular attention to groundwater effects, where seepage–stress coupling fundamentally alters mechanical responses. This investigation develops a field-calibrated numerical model using monitoring data from a water diversion project in Yunnan, using finite element analysis based on seepage–stress coupling theory. Comparative [...] Read more.
Slope stability analysis requires particular attention to groundwater effects, where seepage–stress coupling fundamentally alters mechanical responses. This investigation develops a field-calibrated numerical model using monitoring data from a water diversion project in Yunnan, using finite element analysis based on seepage–stress coupling theory. Comparative stability assessments through strength reduction methodology evaluate three scenarios: non-seepage conditions, seepage–stress interaction, and cutoff wall implementation. Results demonstrate the cutoff wall’s effectiveness, achieving optimal slope ratios of 1:1.41 compared to 1:2.21 under seepage–stress coupling. Parametric analyses reveal quantitative relationships between wall characteristics and stability metrics. Elastic modulus optimization within practical ranges (9362.63 MPa peak performance) enables steeper 1:1.37 slopes while maintaining safety factors. Strategic width reduction from 0.6 m to 0.4 m decreases concrete usage by 33% without compromising stability thresholds, proving cost-efficiency in large-scale applications. The methodology provides actionable guidelines for deep excavation projects facing similar hydrogeological challenges. Optimized cutoff walls enhance slope stability sustainably through ecological preservation and resource efficiency, providing actionable frameworks for eco-conscious geotechnical design aligned with global sustainability objectives. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

Back to TopTop