Symmetry-Informed Approaches in Geotechnical Engineering: Modeling, Sensing and Soil–Structure Interaction
A special issue of Symmetry (ISSN 2073-8994). This special issue belongs to the section "Engineering and Materials".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 April 2026 | Viewed by 502
Special Issue Editors
Interests: deep foundations; load testing of piles; soil–structure interaction; geotechnical instrumentation and monitoring; mechanics of unsaturated soils; piled raft foundation systems; static and dynamic pile load testing; performance assessment of foundation systems; geotechnical behavior of tropical soils; experimental methods in geotechnical engineering
Interests: civil engineering; engineering; geosynthetics; geotechnical; geotextiles; soil improvement; reinforced soil
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
This Special Issue aims to explore how symmetry and asymmetry principles manifest in geotechnical systems, ranging from soil behavior and foundation response to monitoring techniques and AI-based predictions. Geotechnical engineering presents a robust basis for symmetry analysis, whether in terms of material properties, stress–strain responses, the geometry of soil layers, numerical models, or sensor layouts.
Manuscripts in this issue will focus on both natural and induced symmetries, as well as the implications of asymmetry—for instance, how anisotropic soils, heterogeneous subsurface conditions, and non-uniform loading affect stability and performance.
Suggested topics include the following:
- Symmetry/asymmetry in soil fabric and its influence on mechanical behavior.
- Modeling of symmetric vs. asymmetric stress distributions in foundations and tunnels.
- Geometrical symmetry in pile groups, raft foundations, and retaining walls.
- Asymmetry in seismic wave propagation through layered or fractured ground.
- Symmetry in finite element meshes, boundary conditions, and constitutive models.
- Use of symmetry-aware machine learning for predicting geotechnical performance.
- Asymmetric settlement patterns and their structural implications.
- Biogeotechnical symmetry: plant–root interaction and microbially induced soil changes.
- Monitoring systems with symmetric sensor arrangements (InSAR, GNSS, fiber optics).
- Thermal symmetry in geothermal energy piles and underground energy systems.
Prof. Dr. Paulo José Rocha Albuquerque
Dr. Jefferson Lins Da Silva
Guest Editors
Dr. Fernando Feitosa Monteiro
Guest Editor Assistant
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. Symmetry is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly 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
- deep foundations
- load testing of piles
- soil–structure interaction
- geotechnical instrumentation and monitoring
- mechanics of unsaturated soils
- piled raft foundation systems
- static and dynamic pile load testing
- performance assessment of foundation systems
- geotechnical behavior of tropical soils
- experimental methods in geotechnical engineering
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.
- Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.
Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.
