Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
5.3
2.2
Journals
Symmetry
Special Issues
Symmetry/Asymmetry in Geotechnical Engineering
share announcement

Symmetry/Asymmetry in Geotechnical Engineering

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 July 2026 | Viewed by 755

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Guangyao Li

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Key Laboratory of Urban Security and Disaster Engineering of China Ministry of Education, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China
Interests: environmental geotechnical engineering; unsaturated soil seepage
Dr. Song Feng

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Civil Engineering, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350108, China
Interests: elasto-plastic principal modeling of geotechnical media; saturated/unsaturated soil mechanics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Zhao Lu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Hainan Institute of Zhejiang University, Sanya 572025, China
Interests: multiphase coupling; material and methods; molecular dynamics

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to invite you to contribute to this Special Issue exploring the roles of symmetry and asymmetry in geotechnical engineering. While ideal models often assume symmetry, real-world conditions are frequently asymmetric due to geological heterogeneity, material anisotropy, asymmetric loads, and complex soil–structure interactions. Understanding this interplay is crucial for advancing predictive models and enhancing the safety of geotechnical systems.

This Special Issue aims to collect high-quality research papers on the principles and implications of symmetry/asymmetry across geotechnical fields. It provides a forum to discuss how these concepts govern mechanical behavior from particle to system scales, aligning perfectly with the scope of Symmetry. We welcome studies that advance theoretical, numerical, and experimental approaches, enriching knowledge for both academics and practitioners.

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

  • Anisotropy in soil/rock fabric;
  • Constitutive modeling with anisotropic criteria;
  • Symmetric/asymmetric loading in numerical analysis;
  • Seismic response under asymmetric motion;
  • Stability of slopes and excavations;
  • Foundation performance under eccentric loads;
  • Tunnel and cavern design;
  • Machine learning in site characterization;
  • Cyclic and dynamic soil behavior

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Guangyao Li
Dr. Song Feng
Dr. Zhao Lu
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 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

  • geotechnical anisotropy
  • symmetric and asymmetric loading
  • constitutive modeling
  • soil and rock fabric
  • seismic geotechnics
  • slope stability
  • foundation engineering
  • numerical simulation
  • experimental mechanics

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.

Published Papers (2 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

15 pages, 3410 KB  
Article
Optimal Subgrade Lift Thickness Considering Continuous Compaction Control Technology
by Zaizhan An, Xueqian Yang, Xiangyang Liu and Haiyan Wu
Symmetry 2026, 18(6), 894; https://doi.org/10.3390/sym18060894 - 25 May 2026
Viewed by 175
Abstract
The lift thickness of subgrade fill significantly influences both compaction quality and construction efficiency. With the increasing application of continuous compaction control (CCC) technology, the determination of lift thickness must balance compaction effectiveness and the effective detection range of CCC technology. In this [...] Read more.
The lift thickness of subgrade fill significantly influences both compaction quality and construction efficiency. With the increasing application of continuous compaction control (CCC) technology, the determination of lift thickness must balance compaction effectiveness and the effective detection range of CCC technology. In this study, field vibratory rolling tests were conducted to investigate the compaction effectiveness, acceleration response, and detection accuracy of CCC indices at various depths. Based on the assumptions of material homogeneity and structural symmetry, a layered symmetric dynamic model of vibratory roller–soil interaction incorporating stress diffusion effects was established to explore the effective detection depth range of CCC technology. The results show that when a 26 t vibratory roller is employed for subgrade compaction, the fill below 40 cm depth cannot be effectively compacted. The correlation between CCC indices (CMV, VCV, and ks) and the compaction coefficients decrease rapidly when the fill layer thickness exceeds 40 cm. The stiffness variation in the fill below 40 cm has a limited effect on the dynamic response of the roller. This study provides a practical approach for determining and optimizing the lift thickness in subgrade construction projects employing CCC technology. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Symmetry/Asymmetry in Geotechnical Engineering)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

23 pages, 4683 KB  
Article
Method for Determining the Critical Value of Stratified Roof Separation in Mining Roadways Based on the Instability of Anchored Support Structures
by Zhiqiang Liu, Guodong Li, Pingtao Gao, Honglin Liu, Hongzhi Wang, Haotian Fu, Kangfei Zhang and Guodong Zeng
Symmetry 2026, 18(5), 706; https://doi.org/10.3390/sym18050706 - 23 Apr 2026
Viewed by 289
Abstract
To address the technical challenges of difficult deduction, limited field measurement, and ambiguous instability determination of roof separation critical values in mining roadways within the weakly cemented coal-bearing strata of Xinjiang, this paper proposes a discrete element method that integrates the fracture of [...] Read more.
To address the technical challenges of difficult deduction, limited field measurement, and ambiguous instability determination of roof separation critical values in mining roadways within the weakly cemented coal-bearing strata of Xinjiang, this paper proposes a discrete element method that integrates the fracture of anchor bolt and anchor cable support materials with the damage degree of the surrounding rock. Taking a specific mine in the Hosh Tolgay coalfield as the research object, a systematic study was conducted. The research process was as follows. (1) Model parameter calibration was performed. Intact rock parameters were obtained through laboratory basic mechanical tests, and rock mass parameters were corrected based on reduction empirical formulas and the Hoek–Brown criterion. Numerical model verification showed that the errors between the simulated and theoretical values of the elastic modulus, compressive strength, and tensile strength of the rock mass were all less than 10%, indicating that the corrected parameters are reasonable. (2) The critical damage values of the rock mass considering a non-constant confining pressure environment were proposed. Through triaxial compression simulations, the differential evolution patterns of rapid damage increase in sandy mudstone under low confining pressure and stable damage accumulation in coal were revealed, thereby clarifying the damage thresholds for rock mass instability under different confining pressures. (3) A large-scale model was established to analyze the evolution laws of the fracture field, support field, and displacement field of the roadway surrounding rock. A comprehensive determination method for the instability of the roof anchored bearing structure was proposed. By comparing the damage thresholds of the scaled rock mass and the roadway surrounding rock and analyzing the fracture conditions of the roadway support system, a dual-criterion consisting of surrounding rock damage and support material fracture was constructed. Based on this criterion theory, the critical values for deep and shallow separation were obtained. The research results indicate that the evolution patterns of damage in coal and sandy mudstone differ with confining pressure. The sandy mudstone layers in the shallow part of the roof are more sensitive to mining-induced unloading disturbances. Consequently, the surrounding rock damage and support fracture of the mine roof exhibit distinct distribution characteristics: the dominant failure of the roadway is shear failure, with wide-range coalescence of shallow fractures and gradual development of deep fractures, alongside the concentrated failure of shallow anchor bolts and partial failure of deep anchor cables. Based on the instability state of the roof monitoring zones, the critical value for shallow separation was determined to be 90.7 mm, and the critical value for deep separation was 129.03 mm. These results are very close to the field measured values, verifying the engineering applicability of the method. This paper reveals the damage characteristics of the rock mass and surrounding rock in weakly cemented strata, as well as the mechanism of roof separation initiation and evolution. The proposed method for determining critical values provides a scientific and feasible practical reference for the support optimization and monitoring and early warning of roadway roofs in weakly cemented strata, possessing significant engineering value for ensuring safe and efficient mine production. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Symmetry/Asymmetry in Geotechnical Engineering)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-2
Back to TopTop