Special Issue "Advances in Geotechnical Engineering during Deep Energy Exploitation"

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Energy Sustainability".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2021.

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Bin Gong
E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Geotechnical Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki 852-8521, Japan
Interests: discrete element method; finite difference method; coal mining; rock mechanics; methane hydrate; slope stability
Dr. Yu Zhang
E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Pipeline and Civil Engineering, China University of Petroleum, Qingdao 266580, China
Interests: rock mechanics
Dr. Lianzhen Zhang
E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Pipeline and Civil Engineering, China University of Petroleum, Qingdao 266580, China
Interests: civil engineering
Dr. Guoming Liu
E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Mining and Safety Engineering, Shandong University of Science and Technology, Qingdao, China
Interests: rock mechanics in deep; coal mining
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

As the development of the economy in the world, energy consumption and demand increase. Coal, oil and natural gas in the shallow strata have almost mined. Most countries are focusing on and considering developing energy in the deep layers. However, the exploitation depth of energy becomes more significant, and the stress conditions change significantly. The conventional exploitation method and strata control method are not available under deep underground conditions. Moreover, unconventional oil and gas reservoirs, such as methane hydrate and geothermal energy, have attracted great attentions due to their unique properties. Compared to conventional reservoirs, these individual systems have low permeability. Its complex microstructures make it challenging to characterize the flow of oil and gas flow by traditional approaches. Therefore, new methods are being continuously developed to characterize the deformation response of the reservoirs during/after unconventional energy exploitation and to describe the deformation mechanisms. This Special Issue aims to present recent advances in various subjects addressing new experimental, and numerical analysis approaches about geotechnical engineering during deep energy exploitation. We invite investigators to contribute both original research articles and review articles that will explore as many aspects as possible in the modelling and characterization of strata deformation and support methods about controlling strata.
Potential topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

  1. Mechanical properties of deep resource reservoir;
  2. Digital representation of rock mass/reservoir simple;
  3. Methane hydrate exploitation and reservoir deformation;
  4. Theoretical or numerical analysis of geological response during geothermal energy mining;
  5. Surrounding rock deformation mechanism and support method in deep coal roadways;
  6. Fracture characterization and hydraulic fracturing in deep reservoirs;
  7. Prevention and control of disasters in deep rock engineering;
  8. Experimental or numerical simulation of rockburst;
  9. Deep-sea geotechnical engineering principles and practice.

Dr. Bin Gong
Dr. Yu Zhang
Dr. Lianzhen Zhang
Dr. Guoming Liu
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 papers will be 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 1900 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

  • deep mining
  • environmental change
  • support technics
  • disaster prediction
  • sustainable developing
  • methane hydrate
  • coal mining

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

Article
Analysis of Water and Mud Inrush in Tunnel Fault Fracture Zone—A Case Study of Yonglian Tunnel
Sustainability 2021, 13(17), 9585; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13179585 - 25 Aug 2021
Viewed by 279
Abstract
Water and mud inrush disaster is easily induced during tunnel construction through water-rich fault fracture zones. In this paper, based on the field data, the process of water and mud inrush in tunnels is introduced in detail, and generation conditions and evolution mechanisms [...] Read more.
Water and mud inrush disaster is easily induced during tunnel construction through water-rich fault fracture zones. In this paper, based on the field data, the process of water and mud inrush in tunnels is introduced in detail, and generation conditions and evolution mechanisms have been analyzed. Results show that the key factors of water and mud inrush include poor strata lithology, abundant groundwater and tunnel excavation disturbance. These key factors provide material conditions, source power and start-up conditions for water inrush, respectively. The evolution process of water and mud inrush can be divided into three stages: generation, development and occurrence. During generation stage, a seepage channel expands continuously, with water flow increasing gradually until a large range of loose zone is formed. During the development stage, a large amount of groundwater and a large range of softened muddy rock mass accumulates around the tunnel. During the occurrence stage, the “protective layer” and initial supports suddenly lose stability and are destroyed. These research results could provide some references for the effective prediction and forewarning of similar engineering disasters. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Geotechnical Engineering during Deep Energy Exploitation)
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Article
Field and Numerical Study on Deformation and Failure Characteristics of Deep High-Stress Main Roadway in Dongpang Coal Mine
Sustainability 2021, 13(15), 8507; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13158507 - 29 Jul 2021
Viewed by 311
Abstract
Deep horizontal high stress and high permeability geological factors appear when coal mines are converted to deep horizontal mining. When the roadway is damaged by the mining face, and the supporting components are mismatched, the deep roadways necessitate extensive repair work, which has [...] Read more.
Deep horizontal high stress and high permeability geological factors appear when coal mines are converted to deep horizontal mining. When the roadway is damaged by the mining face, and the supporting components are mismatched, the deep roadways necessitate extensive repair work, which has a negative impact on the coal mining economy and sustainability. This paper carried out a series of field tests on the roadways deformation, crack distribution, and loose rock zone of the deep roadways. Furthermore, a numerical calculation model was established using the discrete element method (DEM) and calibrated with laboratory tests and RQD methods. Both the stress and crack distribution in the surrounding rock of the deep roadway were simulated. The field test and the corrected numerical model showed consistency. A FISH function was used to document the propagation of shear and tensile cracks around the roadway in three periods, and a damage parameter was adopted to evaluate the failure mechanism of the deep roadways under the dynamic stress disturbance. The matching of specifications of anchor cables, rock bolts, and anchoring agent is the primary point in the control of deep roadways, and revealing the stress evolution, crack propagation, and damage distribution caused by mining effects is another key point in deep roadway controlling. The field test and DEM in this paper provide a reference for the design of surrounding rock control of deep roadways and the sustainable development of coal mines. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Geotechnical Engineering during Deep Energy Exploitation)
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Article
Experimental Study of Thermal Response of Vertically Loaded Energy Pipe Pile
Sustainability 2021, 13(13), 7411; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13137411 - 02 Jul 2021
Viewed by 427
Abstract
Energy piles are a relatively new technology that have dual function as heat transferring and load bearing. Due to the influence of temperature cycles, additional thermal stress and relative displacement of the pile will be generated; this is different from the load transferring [...] Read more.
Energy piles are a relatively new technology that have dual function as heat transferring and load bearing. Due to the influence of temperature cycles, additional thermal stress and relative displacement of the pile will be generated; this is different from the load transferring mechanism of the conventional pile. In order to study the thermodynamic characteristics of the energy pipe pile under dual working conditions and temperature cycles, field tests were carried out on the PHC (prestressed high-strength concrete) energy pipe pile without constraining on the top of the piles. Displacement gauges were arranged on the top of the pile, and concrete strain gauges (temperature, strain) were embedded in the pile. The variation laws of temperature, thermal strain, thermal stress, side friction resistance, and displacement of the pile top during the temperature cycling were analyzed. The test results show that the heat exchange system reached a stable state after being heated for 5 days in summer. The average temperature of the pile increased by 15.17 °C, to 34.68 °C; it was low at both ends and high in the middle part. After 5 days in the winter environment, the average temperature of the pile decreased by 10.09 °C, to 9.54 °C, which was high at both ends and low in the middle. The thermal stress was generated inside the pile, and the maximum compressive stress was 3.446 MPa and the maximum tensile stress was 2.69 MPa. The neutral point of the side friction resistance appeared 8 m below the pile top, about 2/3 of the pile length. The maximum negative side friction resistance under the summer condition was 42.06 KPa, the maximum positive side friction resistance under the winter condition was 29.93 KPa, and the lateral resistance of the pile degraded in winter. Under the influence of thermal load, the final pile top displacements in the summer and winter were −0.7 mm (0.175%D) and 0.77 mm (0.193%D), respectively. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Geotechnical Engineering during Deep Energy Exploitation)
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Article
Numerical Study of the Strength and Characteristics of Sandstone Samples with Combined Double Hole and Double Fissure Defects
Sustainability 2021, 13(13), 7090; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13137090 - 24 Jun 2021
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 340
Abstract
To explore the failure mechanism of rock with holes and fissures, uniaxial compression tests of sandstone samples with combined double hole and double fissure defects were carried out using Particle Flow Code 2D (PFC2D) numerical simulation software. The failure behaviour and mechanical properties [...] Read more.
To explore the failure mechanism of rock with holes and fissures, uniaxial compression tests of sandstone samples with combined double hole and double fissure defects were carried out using Particle Flow Code 2D (PFC2D) numerical simulation software. The failure behaviour and mechanical properties of the sandstone samples with combined double hole and double fissure defects at different angles were analysed, and the evolution results of the stress field and crack propagation were studied. The results show that with a decrease in fissure angle, the crack initiation stress, damage stress, elastic modulus and peak stress of the defective rock decrease, while the peak strain increases, and the brittleness of the rock is weakened. Rocks with combined double hole and double fissure defects at different angles lead to different failure modes, crack initiation positions and crack development directions. After uniaxial compression, both compressive stress and tensile stress concentration areas are produced in the defective rock, but the compressive stress concentration is of primary importance. The concentration area is mainly distributed around the holes and fissures and the defect connecting line, and the stress concentration area decreases with the decreasing fissure angle. This study can correctly predict the mechanical properties of rock with combined double hole and double fissure defects at different angles and provide a reference for actual rock engineering. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Geotechnical Engineering during Deep Energy Exploitation)
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Article
A Theoretical Calculation Method of Ground Settlement Based on a Groundwater Seepage and Drainage Model in Tunnel Engineering
Sustainability 2021, 13(5), 2733; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13052733 - 03 Mar 2021
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 547
Abstract
Seepage is ubiquitous during tunneling in areas with high groundwater tables. The ground settlement trough on a single tunnel is well described by Peck’s formula, but it cannot reflect the settlement caused by seepage. In this paper, assuming that the groundwater inside and [...] Read more.
Seepage is ubiquitous during tunneling in areas with high groundwater tables. The ground settlement trough on a single tunnel is well described by Peck’s formula, but it cannot reflect the settlement caused by seepage. In this paper, assuming that the groundwater inside and outside the tunnel is a one-dimensional steady-state seepage condition, the groundwater seepage and drainage model of the tunnel was established. Based on the model and the principle of groundwater dynamics, the seepage flow calculation formula was derived, and the dewatering funnel curve equation of the groundwater level surface of a tunnel aquifer was obtained. A case study of a tunnel project in Gansu Province was carried out, and the influence of seepage on the effective stress of the stratum around the tunnel and the calculation of ground settlement caused by seepage were analyzed. The results show that seepage makes the effective stress of the upper soil layer of the tunnel increase, which leads to an increase in ground deformation; when the groundwater level of the tunnel is greatly lowered, the seepage has a significant influence on the vertical deformation of the stratum. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Geotechnical Engineering during Deep Energy Exploitation)
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