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Water-Triggered Geo-Hazards in Underground and Geotechnical Engineering: Mechanisms, Early Warning and Sustainable Mitigation

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A special issue of Water (ISSN 2073-4441). This special issue belongs to the section "Hydrogeology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 October 2026 | Viewed by 1314

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Helong Gu

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Guest Editor

College of Energy and Mining Engineering, Xi'an University of Science and Technology, Xi'an 710054, China
Interests: water seepage; multi-field coupling; dynamic response; fracture characteristics; water bearing fracture mechanics; energy dissipation; disaster mechanism of water-rich coal and rock; disaster prevention
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Dr. Yuan Zhao

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Guest Editor

School of Human Settlements and Civil Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710049, China
Interests: water-induced weakening; loess collapsibility; soil liquefaction; fluid–structure inter-action; discrete element method
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Dr. Yong Zheng

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

College of River and Ocean Engineering, Chongqing Jiaotong University, Chongqing 400074, China
Interests: intelligent monitoring of geological disasters; tunnel water hazard prevention; fiber optic sensing monitoring; water control and slope stabilization

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue aims to collect cutting-edge research on water-triggered geo-hazards in underground and geotechnical engineering, with a focus on understanding their complex mechanisms, developing reliable early warning systems, and promoting sustainable mitigation strategies.

Water plays a critical role as a triggering or accelerating agent in various engineering disasters, such as tunnel water inrush, landslide instability, and land subsidence. We invite contributions that explore the multi-physics coupling mechanisms (e.g., hydro-mechanical–chemical processes) behind these hazards, utilizing advanced monitoring techniques like distributed fiber optics, InSAR, and intelligent data analysis powered by AI/ML. Furthermore, we encourage studies on innovative and sustainable mitigation approaches, including eco-engineering solutions, integrated water management strategies that transform hazard control into resource utilization, and risk assessment frameworks under climate change.

All manuscripts related to the proposed topic are welcome. Themes of interest include (but are not limited to) the following:

Evolution of physical, chemical, and mechanical properties of geotechnical materials under water influence (softening, argillization, seepage failure).
Disaster formation mechanisms of water and mud inrushes in underground engineering under complex geological conditions (e.g., karst, faults).
Slope instability induced by rainfall infiltration and hydro-mechanical coupling in unsaturated zones.
Ground subsidence, ground fissures, and their impacts on infrastructure caused by groundwater extraction or engineering dewatering.
Engineering disasters under special hydrogeological conditions, such as freeze–thaw cycles and seawater intrusion.
Integrated application of advanced monitoring, sensing, and simulation technologies in the prevention and mitigation of hydrological geological hazards.
Identification, early warning, and efficient prevention of precursor information for marine underwater tunnel disasters.

Given your competence in this area, we invite you to contribute a paper on the aforementioned subjects or any other relevant issues.

Dr. Helong Gu
Dr. Yuan Zhao
Dr. Yong Zheng
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. Water 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 2600 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

water-triggered geo-hazards
tunnel water inrush
disaster formation mechanisms of water
rainfall infiltration
hydrological geological hazards
freeze–thaw cycles
seawater intrusion

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

25 pages, 5750 KB

Open AccessArticle

Mechanical Properties and Seepage Behavior of Broken Gangue in Goafs

by Lei Xu, Gang Liu, Shengxuan Wang and Yonglong Zan

Water 2026, 18(8), 952; https://doi.org/10.3390/w18080952 - 16 Apr 2026

Abstract

Broken gangue in goafs exhibits complex mechanical deformation and seepage evolution under coupled loading and hydraulic action, which directly affects the hydraulic stability and water-hazard prevention of mining engineering. In this study, a systematic investigation was carried out to elucidate the evolution of seepage characteristics in a granular broken-rock assemblage under coupled hydraulic–mechanical loading. Four mono-sized specimen groups with particle-size ranges of 5–10 mm, 10–15 mm, 15–20 mm, and 20–25 mm were prepared. Using a modified rock triaxial–hydraulic testing system, nominal uniaxial compression tests, triaxial compression tests under different moisture conditions, and staged axial loading–seepage coupling tests were conducted. The results indicated pronounced particle-size effects: with increasing particle size, the nominal uniaxial compressive strength decreased (maximum reduction of 41.26%), while the crushing ratio increased (from 0.99% to 28.89%). The compression–densification process exhibited a staged evolution characterized by “slow increase–rapid increase–stable increase.” Water-induced deterioration intensified with increasing water content, and the compressive strength reduction reached 29.8% under saturated conditions. The evolution of seepage behavior was jointly governed by loading rate and particle size. Both pore pressure and pore-pressure gradient increased with loading rate. The permeability–porosity relationship was nonmonotonic, with an inflection occurring at a porosity of approximately 0.30–0.32, accompanied by an order-of-magnitude variation in the Darcy-flow deviation factor, indicating a progressive nonlinear deviation from Darcy behavior. These observations reflected a competitive mechanism involving “compaction-induced flow resistance increase–fragmentation and rearrangement–local channel regeneration.” Numerical simulations performed in COMSOL6.2 further confirmed, at the microscopic level, that the development of preferential local seepage channels and the expansion of stagnant-water zones were the fundamental causes of locally enhanced seepage capacity under an overall compaction background. The findings provide a theoretical basis for understanding water–rock interaction mechanisms in goafs and offer reference for mine water-hazard mitigation and groundwater resource protection. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Water-Triggered Geo-Hazards in Underground and Geotechnical Engineering: Mechanisms, Early Warning and Sustainable Mitigation)

17 pages, 8099 KB

Open AccessArticle

Dynamic Instability Mechanism of Water-Saturated Granular Coal Subjected to Different Confining Pressure

by Chaochao Wang, Helong Gu and Nan Zhang

Water 2026, 18(8), 912; https://doi.org/10.3390/w18080912 - 11 Apr 2026

Viewed by 177

Abstract

Dynamic instability of water-saturated granular coal in tectonic stress zones is a critical safety issue in coal mining. This study adopts raw coal granules from the Daping Coal Mine to investigate the dynamic response and instability mechanisms under coupled confining pressure, median particle size (d₅₀), and water saturation via dynamic impact tests, 2D equivalent modeling, and theoretical analysis. The results indicate that confining pressure and median particle size jointly regulate the dynamic mechanical properties of coal, with liquid bridge volume serving as a key mediating variable. The study reveals a dual-path coupling instability mechanism of “liquid bridge softening and confining pressure strengthening”: a critical confining pressure of 12 MPa divides the dominant force from liquid bridge to friction. Small-particle units show a stronger strengthening effect, and large-particle units have a slightly higher critical confining pressure. Field observation validates the theoretical patterns, identifying areas near faults as high-risk zones for dynamic instability. Accordingly, a three-tier prevention and control strategy of “tectonic stress unloading, flexible support, grouting modification” is proposed. The research findings enhance the theory of water-saturated granular coal instability and provide theoretical and engineering foundations for disaster prevention and control in tectonic stress zones of coal mines. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Water-Triggered Geo-Hazards in Underground and Geotechnical Engineering: Mechanisms, Early Warning and Sustainable Mitigation)

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18 pages, 3331 KB

Open AccessArticle

Experimental Study on Fiber Optic Monitoring of Settlement Deformation During Water Injection in Deep Unconsolidated Strata

by Dingding Zhang, Wenxuan Liu, Yanyan Duan, Jing Chai and Chenyang Ma

Water 2026, 18(7), 804; https://doi.org/10.3390/w18070804 - 27 Mar 2026

Viewed by 351

Abstract

Ground subsidence and shaft lining deformation caused by compressed dewatered bottom aquifers in deep unconsolidated strata mining areas are critical engineering challenges, making the study of the seepage–soil deformation coupling mechanism during groundwater injection remediation vital. This study built a visual cylindrical model (1025 mm × 150 mm); formulated well-graded analogous materials based on the D₂₀ principle to simulate sandy gravel layers; embedded FBG sensors at 200/400/600 mm depths, combined with a dial indicator on the model top; and conducted two water injection–dewatering cycles. Results indicate: water injection generates excess pore water pressure, placing the entire model in a tensile stress state with top rebound; post-injection vertical stress redistributes (tension above the injection point, compression below, and an interlaced transitional band), validating the necessity of full-section injection; during the second injection–dewatering cycle, tensile strain at the upper monitoring point reaches 597.77 με, while compressive strain at lower depths reaches −253.90 με, internal deformation stabilizes within 6.5–10.0 days, injection improves the in situ stress state by reducing effective stress, and the deformation of the field strata remains in a stabilization period, with the stabilization time decreasing as the depth of the strata increases. This study clarifies the temporal evolution and representative spatial variation in internal strain at monitored depths during injection, providing theoretical and design references for optimizing water injection schemes to mitigate coal mine shaft damage. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Water-Triggered Geo-Hazards in Underground and Geotechnical Engineering: Mechanisms, Early Warning and Sustainable Mitigation)

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16 pages, 2368 KB

Open AccessArticle

Mechanical Properties, Acoustic Emission (AE), and Electromagnetic Radiation (EMR) Characteristics of Sandstone with Different Water Contents Under Impact Loading

by Yonghong Liu, Fujun Zhao, Qiuhong Wu and Zhouyuan Ye

Water 2026, 18(3), 410; https://doi.org/10.3390/w18030410 - 4 Feb 2026

Viewed by 430

Abstract

To analyze the characteristics of acoustic emission (AE) and electromagnetic radiation (EMR) signals in specimens with different water contents during impact loading, impact tests were conducted on sandstone under dry, natural, and saturated conditions using the split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB) system. The results show that water reduces the dynamic compressive strength and elastic modulus of sandstone, changes the failure mode from tensile failure to tensile-shear failure, and increases the amount of small-sized fragments after failure. AE and EMR signals effectively reflect the entire deformation process of specimens with different water contents under impact loading. In the elastic stage, only EMR signals appear, indicating that EMR is more sensitive to crack generation. In the yield stage, the AE signal count and energy increase sharply, indicating that the response to specimen failure is better. By comparing AE and EMR signals at different stages, it was found that water inhibits both the propagation and energy of AE and EMR signals. The damage factor D, quantified by AE and EMR counts, accurately represents the damage suffered by specimens with different water contents during impact loading. This study significantly advances the understanding of failure mechanisms in specimens with varying water contents and contributes to practical engineering monitoring of water-bearing rock mass stability. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Water-Triggered Geo-Hazards in Underground and Geotechnical Engineering: Mechanisms, Early Warning and Sustainable Mitigation)

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