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A special issue of Symmetry (ISSN 2073-8994). This special issue belongs to the section "Engineering and Materials".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2024) | Viewed by 15267

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Dr. Yao Bai

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Guest Editor

School of Mechanics and Civil Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology-Beijing, Beijing 100083, China
Interests: rock mechanics; soil mechanics; geomechanics; engineering geology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Prof. Dr. Renliang Shan

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Guest Editor

School of Mechanics and Civil Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology-Beijing, Beijing 100083, China
Interests: civil engineering; engineering mechanics; engineering geology; earth sciences; energy; environmental science
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Symmetrical structures have become common in civil transportation engineering, such as in buildings and their components (high-rise buildings, airports, bridges, piers, and foundations), tunnels, subway stations, retaining walls, roadbeds, etc. Research on the stability, vulnerability, durability, and other issues of these symmetrical structures or buildings plays an important role in the civil and transportation fields. In the process of underground space construction, many excavation methods also have symmetry, such as the bench cut method, circular excavation with the core soil method, and the double-side-wall heading excavation method. The supporting structures used are also symmetrical, such as the anchor rod design, lining structures, support systems, underground structures, etc. After excavation, the deformation and stress distribution of the surrounding rock surface settlement are symmetrical. The crack propagation mode of rock containing flaws caused by excavation unloading is symmetrical or has central symmetry, and the deformation and stress distribution of maintenance structures and underground structures are also symmetrical. Therefore, this symmetry is widely present in civil and transportation engineering. How to develop and utilize symmetrical structures, symmetrical excavation methods, and symmetrical support forms is of great significance for the development of engineering construction in this field. At the same time, how to effectively control such symmetrical deformation and settlement is of great significance for disaster prevention and reduction.

Dr. Yao Bai
Prof. Dr. Renliang Shan
Guest Editors

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Keywords

new building structural systems
excavation and support of large cross-section tunnels
PBA construction method
surrounding rock–support interaction
surface settlement during tunnel excavation
new technologies for geotechnical testing
mechanical properties of frozen rock and soil
environmental geotechnical engineering

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Published Papers (11 papers)

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Editorial

Jump to: Research

3 pages, 126 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Symmetry in Civil Transportation Engineering

by Yao Bai and Renliang Shan

Symmetry 2025, 17(2), 300; https://doi.org/10.3390/sym17020300 - 17 Feb 2025

Viewed by 497

Abstract

Symmetrical structures, such as tunnels, diaphragm walls, and blasting charge structures, are becoming increasingly prevalent in civil transportation engineering [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Symmetry in Civil Transportation Engineering)

Research

Jump to: Editorial

31 pages, 6635 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Optimization of Multi-Vehicle Cold Chain Logistics Distribution Paths Considering Traffic Congestion

by Zhijiang Lu, Kai Wu, E Bai and Zhengning Li

Symmetry 2025, 17(1), 89; https://doi.org/10.3390/sym17010089 - 8 Jan 2025

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1011

Abstract

Urban road traffic congestion has become a serious issue for cold chain logistics in terms of delivery time, distribution cost, product freshness, and even organization revenue and reputation. This study focuses on the cold chain distribution path by considering road traffic congestion with transportation, real-time vehicle delivery speeds, and multiple-vehicle conditions. Therefore, a vehicle routing optimization model has been established with the objectives of minimizing costs, reducing carbon emissions, and maintaining cargo freshness, and a multi-objective hybrid genetic algorithm has been developed in combination with large neighborhood search (LNSNSGA-III) for leveraging strong local search capabilities, optimizing delivery routes, and enhancing delivery efficiency. Moreover, by reasonably adjusting departure times, product freshness can be effectively enhanced. The vehicle combination strategy performs well across multiple indicators, particularly the three-type vehicle strategy. The results show that costs and carbon emissions are influenced by environmental and refrigeration temperature factors, providing a theoretical basis for cold chain management. This study highlights the harmonious optimization of cold chain coordination, balancing multiple constraints, ensuring efficient logistic system operation, and maintaining equilibrium across all dimensions, all of which reflect the concept of symmetry. In practice, these research findings can be applied to urban traffic management, delivery optimization, and cold chain logistics control to improve delivery efficiency, minimize operational costs, reduce carbon emissions, and enhance corporate competitiveness and customer satisfaction. Future research should focus on integrating complex traffic and real-time data to enhance algorithm adaptability and explore customized delivery strategies, thereby achieving more efficient and environmentally friendly logistics solutions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Symmetry in Civil Transportation Engineering)

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16 pages, 35376 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Numerical Simulation on Medium-Deep Hole Straight Cut Blasting Based on the Principle of Segmented Charging

by Xiantang Zhang, Fuzhi Wang, Zhiyu Bai, Bin Shao, Yuchao Wei, Qingqian Wu and Jingshuang Zhang

Symmetry 2024, 16(11), 1536; https://doi.org/10.3390/sym16111536 - 16 Nov 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 807

Abstract

The efficiency of rock excavation depends on cut blasting. However, medium-deep hole cutting blasting faces the challenges of large clamping action and unsatisfactory blasting efficiency. The study proposes sectional charge cutting blasting technology and analyzes the mechanism of cavity formation by establishing a numerical model. The results demonstrated that sectional charge blasting in the hole can expand the range of stress waves, and the segment interaction is also optimized by introducing a delay time difference. These factors contribute to an increase in the rock-breaking volume and an improvement in the degree of rock breaking. Furthermore, the cutting effects of different segmented proportional models are quantified. When the upper and lower sections are symmetrically charged, the damage range caused by the upper section is greater. The reason is that the clamping force exerted on the rock mass increases with the depth of the hole. In addition, when the upper section ratio is 0.4, the model exhibits the most excellent cavity volume; this results from charging according to the symmetry principle for optimal energy distribution. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Symmetry in Civil Transportation Engineering)

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17 pages, 5704 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Study of the Micro-Vibration Response and Related Vibration Isolation of Complex Traffic Load-Induced Experimental Buildings

by Feifan Feng, Yunjun Lu and Weiwei Chen

Symmetry 2024, 16(10), 1328; https://doi.org/10.3390/sym16101328 - 9 Oct 2024

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 995

Abstract

In view of the high-sensitivity vibration effect of precision instrument laboratory buildings under the influence of surrounding traffic loads, field micro-vibration tests under various working conditions were carried out based on actual projects. Combined with numerical simulation, measured data served as input loads to simulate the vibration effect of various traffic loads on the floor of a building structure, and the structural vibration laws under the comprehensive action of various loads were analyzed. The vibration isolation effect of the isolation ditch on the oblique orthogonal load was investigated according to the corresponding safety index. The results show that the main frequency components of the site vibration frequency caused by various traffic loads are approximately 25 Hz and that the root-mean-square speed value is stable below VC-E, which meets the design requirements. Under the comprehensive action of multiple loads, the site structure will produce a vibration amplification effect, which is obvious when all types of loads are distributed symmetrically and the curve distribution is controlled by load factors with large amplitudes. The isolation effect of a small isolation ditch is best when it is located close to the source and the building. The depth of the isolation ditch must be greater than the maximum depth of the source to achieve better results, and the width has little influence. The effect of a small isolation trench on vertical vibration is poor, and the oblique orthogonal triaxial load has a counteracting effect on the vertical component. Thus, additional structural vibration isolation measures are needed. The research results provide a reference for engineering vibration isolation, damping measures, and structural design. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Symmetry in Civil Transportation Engineering)

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16 pages, 3573 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Mechanical Characteristics of Deep Excavation Support Structure with Asymmetric Load on Ground Surface

by Ping Zhao, Yan Sun, Zhanqi Wang and Panpan Guo

Symmetry 2024, 16(10), 1309; https://doi.org/10.3390/sym16101309 - 4 Oct 2024

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 939

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to capture the mechanical response of the support structure of deep excavation subject asymmetric load. A two-dimensional (2D) numerical analysis model was established by taking a pipe gallery deep excavation subject to asymmetric load as an example. The numerical analysis results were in good agreement with the measured data, thus verified the validity of the numerical model. On this basis, the stress and displacement of support structure caused by the change in foundation asymmetric load were studied. According to the numerical results, horizontal displacement of the diaphragm wall (DW) was dominant, and the maximum horizontal displacement of the DW was 7.54 mm when the deep excavation was completed. With the increase in asymmetric load, the left wall displacement continued to increase, while the displacement of the right DW continued to decrease, and the maximum horizontal wall displacement occurred near the excavation face. The DW was the main bending component, and the maximum wall bending moment when the deep excavation was completed was 173.5 kN·m. The maximum wall bending moment increased with the increase in asymmetric load, and the maximum wall bending moment on the left of the deep excavation was greater than that on the right. The inner support sustained the main component of axial force, with the axial force peaking at 1051.8 kN when the deep excavation was completed. The axial force of the inner support increased with increasing the asymmetric load, and the axial force of the second inner support was obviously greater than that of the first inner support. This research has a positive effect on the design and optimization of deep excavation support structure subject to asymmetric load on ground surface. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Symmetry in Civil Transportation Engineering)

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20 pages, 10041 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Deformation and Stress of Rock Masses Surrounding a Tunnel Shaft Considering Seepage and Hard Brittleness Damage

by Zhenping Zhao, Jianxun Chen, Tengfei Fang, Weiwei Liu, Yanbin Luo, Chuanwu Wang, Jialiang Dong, Jian Li, Heqi Wang and Dengxia Huang

Symmetry 2024, 16(10), 1266; https://doi.org/10.3390/sym16101266 - 26 Sep 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1229

Abstract

The mechanical and deformation behaviors of the surrounding rock play a crucial role in the structural safety and stability of tunnel shafts. During drilling and blasting construction, seepage failure and hard brittleness damage of the surrounding rock occur frequently. However, previous discussions on stress deformation in the surrounding rock did not consider these two factors. This paper adopts the theory of elastoplastic to analyze the effects of seepage and hard brittleness damage on the stress and deformation of the surrounding rock of a tunnel shaft. The seepage effect is equivalent to the volumetric force, and a mechanical model of the surrounding rock considering seepage and hard brittleness damage was established. An elastoplastic analytical formula for surrounding rock was derived, and its rationality was verified through numerical examples. Based on these findings, this study revealed the plastic zone as well as stress and deformation laws governing the behavior of surrounding rock. The results showed that the radius of a plastic zone had a significant increase under high geostress conditions, considering the hard brittleness damage characteristics of the surrounding rock. The radius of the plastic zone increased with an increase in the initial water pressure and pore pressure coefficient, and the radius of the plastic zone increased by 5.5% and 3.8% for each 0.2 MPa increase in initial water pressure and 0.2 increase in pore pressure coefficient, respectively. Comparing the significant effects of various factors on the radius of the plastic zone, the effect of support resistance inhibition was the most significant, the effect of the seepage parameter promotion was the second, and the effect of the hard brittleness index promotion was relatively poor. The hard brittleness index and water pressure parameters were positively correlated with the tangential and radial stresses in the surrounding rock, and the radial stresses were overall smaller than the tangential stresses. The deformation of the surrounding rock was twice as large as the initial one when hard brittleness damage and seepage acted together. These findings can provide a reference for the stability evaluation of the surrounding rock in tunnel shafts. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Symmetry in Civil Transportation Engineering)

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25 pages, 11685 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Study on the Effect of Burial Depth on Selection of Optimal Intensity Measures for Advanced Fragility Analysis of Horseshoe-Shaped Tunnels in Soft Soil

by Tao Du, Tongwei Zhang, Shudong Zhou, Jinghan Zhang, Yi Zhang and Weijia Li

Symmetry 2024, 16(7), 859; https://doi.org/10.3390/sym16070859 - 7 Jul 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1454

Abstract

Seismic intensity measures (IMs) can directly affect the seismic risk assessment and the response characteristics of underground structures, especially when considering the key variable of burial depth. This means that the optimal seismic IMs must be selected to match the underground structure under different buried depth conditions. In the field of seismic engineering design, peak ground acceleration (PGA) is widely recognized as the optimal IM, especially in the seismic design code for aboveground structures. However, for the seismic evaluation of underground structures, the applicability and effectiveness still face certain doubts and discussions. In addition, the adverse effects of earthquakes on tunnels in soft soil are particularly prominent. This study aims to determine the optimal IMs applicable to different burial depths for horseshoe-shaped tunnels in soft soil using a nonlinear dynamic time history analysis method, and based on this, establish the seismic fragility curves that can accurately predict the probability of tunnel damage. The nonlinear finite element analysis model for the soil–tunnel interaction system was established. The effects of different burial depths on damage to horseshoe-shaped tunnels in soft soil were systematically studied. By adopting the incremental dynamic analysis (IDA) method and assessing the correlation, efficiency, practicality, and proficiency of the potential IMs, the optimal IMs were determined. The analysis indicates that PGA emerges as the optimal IM for shallow tunnels, whereas peak ground velocity (PGV) stands as the optimal IM for medium-depth tunnels. Furthermore, for deep tunnels, velocity spectral intensity (VSI) emerges as the optimal IM. Finally, the seismic fragility curves for horseshoe-shaped tunnels in soft soil were built. The proposed fragility curves can provide a quantitative tool for evaluating seismic disaster risk, and are of great significance for improving the overall seismic resistance and disaster resilience of society. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Symmetry in Civil Transportation Engineering)

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21 pages, 9998 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Under Sulfate Dry–Wet Cycling: Exploring the Symmetry of the Mechanical Performance Trend and Grey Prediction of Lightweight Aggregate Concrete with Silica Powder Content

by Hailong Wang, Yaolu Chen and Hongshan Wang

Symmetry 2024, 16(3), 275; https://doi.org/10.3390/sym16030275 - 26 Feb 2024

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1557

Abstract

In order to improve the mechanical properties and durability of lightweight aggregate concrete in extreme environments, this study utilized Inner Mongolia pumice as the coarse aggregate to formulate pumice lightweight aggregate concrete (P-LWAC) with a silica powder content of 0%, 2%, 4%, 6%, 8%, and 10%. Under sulfate dry–wet cycling conditions, this study mainly conducted a mass loss rate test, compressive strength test, NMR test, and SEM test to investigate the improvement effect of silica powder content on the corrosion resistance performance of P-LWAC. In addition, using grey prediction theory, the relationship between pore characteristic parameters and compressive strength was elucidated, and a grey prediction model GM (1,3) was established to predict the compressive strength of P-LWAC after cycling. Research indicates that under sulfate corrosion conditions, as the cycle times and silica powder content increased, the corrosion resistance of P-LWAC showed a trend of first increasing and then decreasing. At 60 cycles, P-LWAC with a content of 6% exhibited the lowest mass loss rate and the highest relative dynamic elastic modulus, compressive strength, and corrosion resistance coefficient. From the perspective of data distribution, various durability indicators showed a clear mirror symmetry towards both sides with a silica powder content of 6% as the symmetrical center. The addition of silica fume reduced the porosity and permeability of P-LWAC, enhanced the saturation degree of bound fluid, and facilitated internal structural development from harmful pores towards less harmful and harmless pores, a feature most prominent at the 6% silica fume mixing ratio. In addition, a bound fluid saturation and pore size of 0.02~0.05 μm/% exerted the most significant influence on the compressive strength of P-LWAC subjected to 90 dry–wet cycles. Based on these two factors, grey prediction model GM (1,3) was established. This model can accurately evaluate the durability of P-LWAC, improving the efficiency of curing decision-making and construction of concrete materials. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Symmetry in Civil Transportation Engineering)

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18 pages, 7128 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Analysis of Vibration Responses Induced by Metro Operations Using a Probabilistic Method

by Zongzhen Wu, Chunyang Li, Weifeng Liu, Donghai Li, Wenbin Wang and Bin Zhu

Symmetry 2024, 16(2), 145; https://doi.org/10.3390/sym16020145 - 26 Jan 2024

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1421

Abstract

The environmental vibrations of tunnels and soil caused by metro operations is one of the most important issues in the field of environmental geotechnical engineering. Recent studies in metro-induced vibrations have revealed significant uncertainties in the vibration responses of tunnels and the surrounding soil. A two-step method of obtaining train loads considering uncertainty was introduced. The first step was to obtain the train loads via an inverse model based on measurements, and the second step was to quantify the uncertainty of train loads based on complex principal component analysis. A portion of a tunnel of the Beijing metro was selected as the object of study, where the vertical accelerations on the rail and on the tunnel wall were measured under different train speeds of 35, 45 and 55 km/h. Inputting the train loads based on the measured rail accelerations into an axisymmetric numerical model, established using ANSYS, the vibration responses of the tunnel wall in a probabilistic framework were calculated and were compared with the measured results. By using an accuracy index that considers both calculation bias and uncertainty, the accuracy of the calculated vibration response was quantitatively evaluated. It can be concluded that the calculated vibration response can reflect the actual vibration level and uncertainty of the tunnel wall. The accuracies of the calculated results under different speeds were generally high while showing a slight difference in amplitude. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Symmetry in Civil Transportation Engineering)

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28 pages, 19285 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Solving Conformal Mapping Issues in Tunnel Engineering

by Wenbo Chen, Dingli Zhang, Qian Fang, Xuanhao Chen and Lin Yu

Symmetry 2024, 16(1), 86; https://doi.org/10.3390/sym16010086 - 10 Jan 2024

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2290

Abstract

The calculation of conformal mapping for irregular domains is a crucial step in deriving analytical and semi-analytical solutions for irregularly shaped tunnels in rock masses using complex theory. The optimization methods, iteration methods, and the extended Melentiev’s method have been developed and adopted to calculate the conformal mapping function in tunnel engineering. According to the strict definition and theorems of conformal mapping, it is proven that these three methods only map boundaries and do not guarantee the mapping’s conformal properties due to inherent limitations. Notably, there are other challenges in applying conformal mapping to tunnel engineering. To tackle these issues, a practical procedure is proposed for the conformal mapping of common tunnels in rock masses. The procedure is based on the extended SC transformation formulas and corresponding numerical methods. The discretization codes for polygonal, multi-arc, smooth curve, and mixed boundaries are programmed and embedded into the procedure, catering to both simply and multiply connected domains. Six cases of conformal mapping for typical tunnel cross sections, including rectangular tunnels, multi-arc tunnels, horseshoe-shaped tunnels, and symmetric and asymmetric multiple tunnels at depth, are performed and illustrated. Furthermore, this article also illustrates the use of the conformal mapping method for shallow tunnels, which aligns with the symmetry principle of conformal mapping. Finally, the discussion highlights the use of an explicit power function as an approximation method for symmetric tunnels, outlining its key points. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Symmetry in Civil Transportation Engineering)

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18 pages, 9436 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Study of Anchor Cable and C-Shaped Tube Support for the Roadway of Shuangliu Coal Mine

by Li Li, Xiang-Song Kong, Wei Yang, Jun-Wei Huang and Zhi-En Wang

Symmetry 2023, 15(9), 1757; https://doi.org/10.3390/sym15091757 - 13 Sep 2023

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1619

Abstract

Active support using highly prestressed cable bolts and anchor cables has become a mainstream support technology for coal mine roadways. However, the ability of bolts and anchor cables to withstand transverse shear decreases with the prestress level, jeopardizing mining safety. This study proposed a technical solution to this problem featuring anchor cables enclosed in an axisymmetrical tube with a C-shaped cross-section (ACC), which are highly prestressed and can withstand high transverse shear. The ACC mechanical performance was tested in the #318 gas extraction roadway of the Shuangliu Coal Mine, China, characterized by extensive deformation under original support conditions. Theoretical analysis, laboratory tests, numerical simulation, and field tests were performed to analyze the shear mechanical properties of the ACC and anchor cables alone. The double shear test results revealed that the proposed ACC scheme increased the transverse shear resistance and stiffness by 10–25% and 20–40%, respectively. The FLAC^3D numerical simulation showed that the roof-and-floor and rib-to-rib convergences decreased by 9.53 and 25.11%, respectively. The area of the stress concentration zone also decreased. Field monitoring showed that the ACC achieved good support performance. During the monitoring period, the maximum roof-and-floor and rib-to-rib displacements were 40 and 49 mm, respectively. The ACC scheme offered adequate shear resistance and effectively controlled surrounding rock deformation in the gas extraction roadway under study, making it applicable to similar engineering scenarios. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Symmetry in Civil Transportation Engineering)

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