Freeze-Thaw Cycles of Rock and Soil in the Sustainable Ecological Environment and Engineering Safety
A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Environmental Sustainability and Applications".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 March 2026 | Viewed by 666
Special Issue Editor
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Freeze–thaw (F-T) cycles significantly impact both ecological stability and engineering safety, especially in cold and high-altitude regions. Under climate change, intensified F-T cycles exacerbate soil erosion, rock weathering, infrastructure degradation, and ecosystem vulnerability. For instance, F-T cycles alter soil structure and induce salt frost in saline soils, threatening road durability and slope stability. Simultaneously, they regulate the physiological responses of desert mosses and soil greenhouse gas emissions, influencing carbon sequestration and biodiversity. Understanding these dual impacts is critical for achieving sustainability goals and balancing ecological resilience with engineering reliability.
This Special Issue aims to explore the mechanisms, mitigation strategies, and sustainable solutions for F-T cycle impacts on ecosystems and engineered systems. Topics may span material science, geotechnical engineering, and ecosystem dynamics. Contributions should advance knowledge on climate-adaptive materials, low-carbon technologies, and ecosystem-based engineering practices. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:
- Long-term ecological impacts of F-T cycles on soil structure and biogeochemical cycles;
- Climate-driven spatiotemporal variations in F-T processes and ecological feedback;
- F-T cycles and carbon–nitrogen dynamics in cold-region ecosystems;
- Land-use change and F-T cycles: Impacts on regional ecological security;
- Mechanisms of F-T-induced deterioration in rock/soil and eco-friendly reinforcement technologies;
- Coupling effects of F-T cycles and salt erosion on infrastructure materials.
Prof. Dr. Xiangtian Xu
Guest Editor
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Keywords
- freeze–thaw cycles
- sustainable ecological environment
- engineering safety
- rock/soil deterioration
- climate adaptation
- soil–water–salt dynamics
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