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44 pages, 2312 KB  
Article
Classification Model of Emotional Tone in Hate Speech and Its Relationship with Inequality and Gender Stereotypes, Using NLP and Machine Learning Algorithms
by Aymé Escobar Díaz, Ricardo Rivadeneira, Walter Fuertes and Washington Loza
Future Internet 2026, 18(4), 218; https://doi.org/10.3390/fi18040218 - 20 Apr 2026
Abstract
Hate speech on social media reproduces norms of inequality and gender stereotypes, disproportionately affecting women. This study proposes a hybrid approach that integrates emotional tone classification with explicit hostility detection to strengthen preventive moderation. We constructed a corpus from three open data sets [...] Read more.
Hate speech on social media reproduces norms of inequality and gender stereotypes, disproportionately affecting women. This study proposes a hybrid approach that integrates emotional tone classification with explicit hostility detection to strengthen preventive moderation. We constructed a corpus from three open data sets (1,236,371 records; 1,003,991 after ETL) and represented the text using TF-IDF and contextual RoBERTa embeddings. We trained individual models (RoBERTa fine-tuned, Random Forest, and XGBoost) and a stacking metamodel (Gradient Boosting) that combines their probabilities. On the test set, the ensemble outperformed the base classifiers, achieving accuracy of 0.93 in hate detection and 0.90 in emotion classification, with an AUC of 0.98 for emotion classification. We implemented a RESTful API and a web client to validate the moderation flow before publication, along with an administration panel for auditing. Performance tests in a prototype deployment (Google Colab exposed through an Ngrok tunnel) provided proof-of-concept validation, revealing concurrency limitations from around 300 users due to infrastructure constraints. In general, the results indicate that incorporating emotional tone analysis improves the model’s ability to identify implicit hostility and offers a practical way to promote safer digital environments. The probabilistic outputs produced by the ensemble model were subsequently analyzed using the Bayesian Calibration and Optimal Design under Asymmetric Risk (BACON-AR) framework, which serves as a mathematical post hoc decision layer for evaluating classification behaviour under unequal error costs. Rather than modifying the trained architecture or improving its predictive performance, the framework identifies a cost-sensitive operating threshold that minimizes the total expected risk under the selected asymmetric cost configuration. The experiments were conducted using an English-language data set; therefore, the findings of this study are limited to hate speech detection in English. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Techno-Social Smart Systems)
25 pages, 7466 KB  
Article
Influence of Existing Pile Group and Strata Induced by Excavation of the Adjacent Twin Tunnels with Small Clearance
by Caixia Guo, Lin Ji, Mingshe Sun, Houting Jiang and Wenzheng Wang
Buildings 2026, 16(8), 1618; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings16081618 - 20 Apr 2026
Abstract
In urban subway construction, shield tunneling inevitably passes in close proximity to existing pile foundations, inducing adverse effects on their internal forces and deformations. Taking the twin shield tunnels with small clearance adjacent to the bridge piles as the engineering background, this study [...] Read more.
In urban subway construction, shield tunneling inevitably passes in close proximity to existing pile foundations, inducing adverse effects on their internal forces and deformations. Taking the twin shield tunnels with small clearance adjacent to the bridge piles as the engineering background, this study establishes a three-dimensional finite element numerical model to investigate the deformation and internal force responses of the adjacent pile foundations under different pile lengths, twin-tunnel construction sequences, and tunnel face pressure conditions. The findings indicate that the primary influence zone affected by twin-tunnel excavation extends approximately twice the tunnel diameter (2D) before and after the pile foundation location. Compared with short piles, longer piles exhibit smaller vertical displacements. Meanwhile, the lateral displacements, additional axial forces and bending moments of medium and long piles increase, with their maximum values occurring near the tunnel centerline. For the near pile, when the right tunnel is excavated first, compared with the condition of the left-tunnel-first excavation, the lateral and vertical displacements slightly increase. In addition, the maximum additional axial force increases by 38.8%, while the maximum additional bending moment decreases by approximately 21%. Tunnel face pressure exerts a moderate influence on the vertical displacement of both the surrounding soil and pile foundation, while its effect on lateral displacement and internal forces is relatively insignificant. The tunnel face pressure within the range of 200 kPa to 300 kPa provides optimal control over pile foundation deformation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Building Structures)
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19 pages, 5890 KB  
Article
Roadside Traffic Facility Facade General Obstacle Segmentation Based on Vision Language Model and Similarity Loss Function for Automatic Cleaning Vehicle
by Yanrui Guo, Degang Xu and Jiacai Liao
Appl. Sci. 2026, 16(8), 3984; https://doi.org/10.3390/app16083984 - 20 Apr 2026
Abstract
Tunnels, soundproof screens and other vertical roadside traffic facilities play an important role in isolating the driving environment, maintaining driving safety, and reducing driving noise. As the usage time increases, these facade traffic buildings become polluted and cause traffic safety problems. Obstacles on [...] Read more.
Tunnels, soundproof screens and other vertical roadside traffic facilities play an important role in isolating the driving environment, maintaining driving safety, and reducing driving noise. As the usage time increases, these facade traffic buildings become polluted and cause traffic safety problems. Obstacles on three-dimensional walls of different shapes, colors, and sizes are the most challenging problem in intelligent cleaning environment perception. This paper proposes an obstacle segmentation method based on a visual language model to overcome these problems. Firstly, in the constructed experimental environment, a visual–language obstacle dataset is collected, named the Road-side General Obstacles Dataset (RGOD), and the collected dataset is labeled with both a segmentation mask and a language description. These preprocessing results are used as the training input of the perception model to obtain the foreground and background separation results. Secondly, a VLM-GOS model was proposed to segmentation special-shaped obstacles, which emphasizes the distinction between background and foreground targets. Finally, the general obstacle is segmented by a vision–language model with a similar loss function, and evaluated with different metrics. Experimental results show that compared with models such as MaskFormer, SegFormer, and ASD-Net, this method improves the model’s perceptual ability and increases accuracy by 3%. More importantly, the model is more interpretable. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Computing and Artificial Intelligence)
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19 pages, 2881 KB  
Article
Numerical Simulation of Photocatalytic NO Removal and Sustainable Coating Strategy Optimization for Tunnel Pavement and Wall Surfaces
by Ruibin Li, Mingjian Yin, Xiaofeng Chen, Sitian Wu, Dong Ye, Ke Wu and Kai Zhu
Sustainability 2026, 18(8), 4058; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18084058 - 19 Apr 2026
Abstract
Motor vehicle exhaust in urban tunnels can cause nitric oxide (NO) to accumulate, severely degrading air quality both inside the tunnel and in the surrounding environment. Photocatalytic technology is an efficient, secondary-pollution-free approach with clear potential for treating tunnel exhaust; however, parametric analyses [...] Read more.
Motor vehicle exhaust in urban tunnels can cause nitric oxide (NO) to accumulate, severely degrading air quality both inside the tunnel and in the surrounding environment. Photocatalytic technology is an efficient, secondary-pollution-free approach with clear potential for treating tunnel exhaust; however, parametric analyses for practical tunnel engineering applications remain limited. Using computational fluid dynamics (CFD), this study developed a numerical model to simulate photocatalytic NO degradation in a congested tunnel and examined how the surface reaction rate, coating extent, and longitudinal coated section affect NO reduction performance. The results show that NO reduction efficiency increased with the surface reaction rate; however, once the surface reaction rate constant exceeded 2.11 × 10−4 m/s, further gains diminished and the efficiency approached a plateau due to mass-transfer limitations. With respect to the coating extent, full four-wall coating (sidewalls, ceiling, and road surface) provided the best performance, followed by three-wall coating (excluding the ceiling). Moreover, because the road surface lies in a region of high pollutant concentration and low air velocity, coating on the road surface achieved a markedly stronger reduction effect than coating on the sidewalls or the ceiling. In the simulated 500 m tunnel, the downstream coated section achieved a markedly higher NO reduction efficiency in the ambient environment outside the tunnel (5.9%) than the upstream coated section (1.0%), approaching that of the full-length (500 m) coated section (6.6%). Therefore, in practical engineering applications, priority should be given to coating strategies targeting the downstream section and the road surface in order to balance NO reduction performance and economic cost. Such a strategy is beneficial not only for improving tunnel air quality, but also for promoting sustainable pavement and tunnel-surface engineering by reducing unnecessary coating area and enabling a more resource-efficient and cost-effective use of photocatalytic materials. These findings provide theoretical and methodological support for the sustainable design and application of photocatalytic coating systems in urban tunnels. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Materials and Sustainable Development in Pavement Engineering)
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15 pages, 9699 KB  
Article
Geometry-Regulated Thermal Performance of Sedimentation-Stable MicroPCM Composite Capsules for Battery Thermal Management Systems Fabricated via 3D Printing
by Xuguang Zhang, Michael C. Halbig, Mrityunjay Singh, Amjad Almansour and Yi Zheng
Batteries 2026, 12(4), 144; https://doi.org/10.3390/batteries12040144 - 18 Apr 2026
Abstract
Thermal management is critical for maintaining the safety and performance of lithium-ion batteries. Phase change materials (PCMs) have been widely studied as passive cooling media due to their high latent heat capacity, but major technical challenges remain due to their relatively low thermal [...] Read more.
Thermal management is critical for maintaining the safety and performance of lithium-ion batteries. Phase change materials (PCMs) have been widely studied as passive cooling media due to their high latent heat capacity, but major technical challenges remain due to their relatively low thermal conductivity and nanoparticle sedimentation in composite systems. In this work, a composite phase change material (PCM) consisting of paraffin wax, a microencapsulated phase change material (MicroPCM 28D), and nano carbon black is developed to enhance thermal stability and suppress particle sedimentation through increased viscosity of the PCM matrix. Five capsule geometries fabricated by fused filament fabrication (FFF) 3D printing are experimentally investigated under airflow velocities ranging from 0 to 10 m s−1. Wind tunnel experiments with infrared thermography are used to evaluate the thermal response of the PCM capsules. The results show that airflow velocity and capsule geometry strongly influence heat dissipation behavior. Compared with conventional wax composites, the MicroPCM 28D composite capsules reduce peak temperature by approximately 2–4 °C under airflow velocities of 0–10 m/s. These findings provide insights into geometry-regulated convection and stable composite PCM design for lithium-ion battery thermal management systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Towards a Smarter Battery Management System: 3rd Edition)
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19 pages, 5396 KB  
Article
Thermal Influence Zone Evolution Under THM Coupling in High-Geothermal Tunnels
by Xueqing Wu, Baoping Xi, Luhai Chen, Fengnian Wang, Jianing Chi and Yiyang Ge
Appl. Sci. 2026, 16(8), 3952; https://doi.org/10.3390/app16083952 - 18 Apr 2026
Viewed by 47
Abstract
High-geothermal tunnels are subjected to complex thermo–hydro–mechanical (THM) coupling effects, where the interaction of temperature, seepage, and stress significantly influences the stability of surrounding rock. To address the limitations of conventional models assuming uniform initial temperature, a THM-coupled numerical model incorporating an in [...] Read more.
High-geothermal tunnels are subjected to complex thermo–hydro–mechanical (THM) coupling effects, where the interaction of temperature, seepage, and stress significantly influences the stability of surrounding rock. To address the limitations of conventional models assuming uniform initial temperature, a THM-coupled numerical model incorporating an in situ temperature gradient is established based on the Sangzhuling Tunnel. The concept of the thermal influence zone is quantitatively defined by an equivalent-radius method, and its spatiotemporal evolution is systematically investigated. In addition, the distinct roles of temperature and pore water pressure in controlling deformation and plastic-zone evolution are comparatively clarified. The results show that the thermal influence zone expands nonlinearly with increasing initial rock temperature and gradually stabilizes over time. Temperature and pore water pressure both promote the development of the plastic zone, which predominantly propagates along directions approximately 45° to the horizontal. Under the geological and boundary conditions considered in this study, temperature plays a dominant role by inducing thermal stress and degrading mechanical properties, leading to significant expansion of the plastic zone and increased vault deformation. In contrast, pore water pressure mainly reduces effective stress, thereby influencing deformation distribution, especially at the tunnel invert. Overall, THM coupling significantly amplifies surrounding rock failure compared with single-field conditions. The findings provide quantitative insights into the evolution of the thermal influence zone and its coupled control on deformation and plasticity, offering a theoretical basis for support design and stability control in high-geothermal tunnels. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Temperature on Geotechnical Engineering)
16 pages, 3053 KB  
Article
In Situ Full-Scale Uplift Tests and Three-Dimensional Numerical Analysis of Squeezed Branch Piles in Coastal Reclaimed Areas
by Yi Zeng, Zhenyuan He, Yuewei Bian, Xiaoping Li, Yue Gao and Yanbin Fu
Symmetry 2026, 18(4), 674; https://doi.org/10.3390/sym18040674 - 17 Apr 2026
Viewed by 75
Abstract
Coastal reclaimed areas are characterized by complex strata and high groundwater levels, and pile foundations in such areas often suffer from insufficient uplift resistance. Compared with conventional cast-in-place piles, squeezed branch piles exhibit superior uplift performance; however, studies on squeezed branch piles in [...] Read more.
Coastal reclaimed areas are characterized by complex strata and high groundwater levels, and pile foundations in such areas often suffer from insufficient uplift resistance. Compared with conventional cast-in-place piles, squeezed branch piles exhibit superior uplift performance; however, studies on squeezed branch piles in reclaimed areas remain limited. To investigate the uplift bearing performance of squeezed branch piles in the complex strata of coastal reclaimed areas, in situ full-scale uplift tests were conducted in the Shenzhen Binhai Avenue (Headquarters Base Section) traffic reconstruction project. Based on the actual physical and mechanical properties of the soil strata, a three-dimensional numerical model was established and validated against the load–displacement curves obtained from the in situ full-scale uplift tests. On this basis, the uplift bearing performance of squeezed branch piles, the differences in uplift bearing performance between branch and plate structures, and their applicable strata were analyzed. The plate structure and different branch configurations of squeezed branch piles exhibit distinct symmetric configuration characteristics, and these configuration differences influence the overall uplift bearing performance. The results show that the load–displacement curves of the uplift piles are generally smooth, without obvious abrupt rises or drops, exhibiting a gradual variation pattern, and the maximum pile-head displacements are all less than 100 mm. The mobilization of the bearing capacity of the branch and plate structures exhibits a distinct temporal and sequential pattern, with the plate structures at shallower embedment depths mobilized earlier than those at greater depths. Compared with conventional cast-in-place pile foundations, the presence of branches and plates endows squeezed branch piles with better elastic mechanical behavior and higher rebound ratios during unloading. Under identical stratum and loading conditions, the uplift bearing performance of the plate is 133% higher than that of the six-radial-branch configuration, while that of the six-radial-branch configuration is 34% higher than that of the four-radial-branch configuration. It is recommended to adopt the six-radial-branch configuration in clayey sandy gravel strata and the plate configuration in gravelly clayey soil and completely weathered coarse-grained granite strata, whereas neither branches nor plates are recommended in soil-like strongly weathered coarse-grained granite strata. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Engineering and Materials)
24 pages, 2109 KB  
Article
Vertical Discretization Analysis of Tunnel Face Stability in Deep Tunnels
by Zeyang Zhang, Jianhong Man and Qingwen Li
Processes 2026, 14(8), 1287; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr14081287 - 17 Apr 2026
Viewed by 93
Abstract
Existing methods for assessing the stability of deep tunnel face rarely account for the weakening effect of rock mass parameters caused by excavation disturbance. This paper employs a vertical discretization method to divide the rigid failure body into vertical strip elements with fixed [...] Read more.
Existing methods for assessing the stability of deep tunnel face rarely account for the weakening effect of rock mass parameters caused by excavation disturbance. This paper employs a vertical discretization method to divide the rigid failure body into vertical strip elements with fixed horizontal widths. By considering the weakening effect of rock mass parameters, a stability analysis model for the tunnel face is established. The equivalent cohesion and internal friction angle of the rock mass are obtained using the Hoek–Brown criterion and the equivalent Mohr–Coulomb transformation. Combined with the disturbance weakening factor, these yield the equivalent rock mass parameters after disturbance. Stability is solved using limit analysis and the principle of virtual power. The accuracy of the established model is verified through numerical simulation, demonstrating that the proposed analytical approach requires only about 90 s per run compared to approximately 7 h for 3D numerical models. The results indicate that the importance of parameters, in descending order under the specified reference conditions for deep-buried tunnels, is GSI > Dr > h1 > mi, where GSI play a dominant role. Excavation disturbance significantly reduces rock mass strength numerically. Assessing GSI and controlling the blasting disturbance are key to ensuring the stability of deep tunnels. Full article
27 pages, 5265 KB  
Article
Experimental and Numerical Determination of Aerodynamic Characteristics of an Ogive with Canards
by Teodora Đilas, Dunja Ukšanović, Jelena Svorcan and Boško Rašuo
Aerospace 2026, 13(4), 377; https://doi.org/10.3390/aerospace13040377 - 16 Apr 2026
Viewed by 114
Abstract
This work presents an integrated experimental and numerical determination of the aerodynamic (lift) characteristics of an ogive forebody equipped with all moving canards. Experimental testing was conducted in the subsonic custom-made wind tunnel of the Vlatacom Institute at a nominal free stream velocity [...] Read more.
This work presents an integrated experimental and numerical determination of the aerodynamic (lift) characteristics of an ogive forebody equipped with all moving canards. Experimental testing was conducted in the subsonic custom-made wind tunnel of the Vlatacom Institute at a nominal free stream velocity of 32 m/s (and Mach number M = 0.09). Aerodynamic loads on the canards were measured using a custom one-component force balance, while free stream flow properties were obtained via a calibrated Pitot–Prandtl probe on the full-scale geometry model. On the numerical side, RANS simulations were performed in ANSYS Fluent using the k-ω SST turbulence model. Two geometric representations were considered: (a) a high-fidelity configuration explicitly resolving the physical gap between the canard and ogive, and (b) a simplified configuration with the gap removed. Boundary conditions, Reynolds number, and operating parameters were matched to the wind tunnel conditions to enable a strict one-to-one comparison. Particular emphasis was placed on examining the effect of geometric simplification on the predicted lift characteristics. The gap-resolved configuration reproduces the experimentally measured lift curve within approximately 10% across the investigated angle-of-attack range, satisfying conventional aerodynamic validation criteria. The results confirm both the robustness of the applied RANS approach for highly three-dimensional separated flows often found in engineering applications, as well as the reliability of the experimental measurement system. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Applied Aerodynamics (2nd Edition))
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20 pages, 5283 KB  
Article
Calculation Method of Ground Settlement Caused by Mechanical Construction in Metro-Connected Aisle
by Yueqiang Duan, Maolei Wang, Jinghe Wang, Yuxiang Guo, Fa Chang, Boyuan Zhang and Weiyu Sun
Buildings 2026, 16(8), 1580; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings16081580 - 16 Apr 2026
Viewed by 138
Abstract
Mechanical construction of metro-connected aisles is a novel construction method in the field of metro engineering, and it is being gradually applied to practical projects at present. However, current research predominantly focuses on the mechanical response of tunnel structures, with insufficient theoretical investigations [...] Read more.
Mechanical construction of metro-connected aisles is a novel construction method in the field of metro engineering, and it is being gradually applied to practical projects at present. However, current research predominantly focuses on the mechanical response of tunnel structures, with insufficient theoretical investigations into ground settlement. To study the ground settlement law caused by the mechanical construction of the metro-connected aisle, the ground settlement was divided into the superposition of settlement caused by the construction of the main shield tunnels and the connected aisle. The modified Peck formula was used to calculate the ground settlement caused by tunnel excavation. Based on the integration of the Mindlin solution, the ground settlement caused by the jacking force of the cutterhead was solved, and the three-dimensional calculation formula for ground settlement was derived. Taking the NO. 1 connected aisle of Shenzhen Metro Line 8 as the research object, the accuracy of the calculation formula was verified through comparative analysis with three-dimensional numerical simulation results and in situ monitoring data, and good agreement was observed. The research results indicate that after the construction of a connected aisle, a wedge-shaped surface appears on the settlement surface at the location of the connected aisle. The surface settlement curve presents a “U”—shaped distribution; as the depth increases, the stratum settlement curve presents a “W”—shaped distribution. The stratum disturbance caused by the connected aisle is more significant in its longitudinal direction than in the transverse direction. The theoretical calculation results show that the maximum surface settlement generated by the construction of the connected aisle is 0.61 mm, accounting for about 15.6% of the total settlement value (3.9 mm), and is far below the control value adopted by Shenzhen Metro. The calculation formula proposed in this article can be used to evaluate the surface settlement caused by the construction of connected aisles. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Building Structures)
31 pages, 1227 KB  
Review
Mitochondrial Network Dynamics in Aging: Cellular Mechanisms, Intercellular Communication, and Their Impact on Tissue Adaptability
by Luminita Labusca, Teodor Stefan Gheorghevici and Bogdan Puha
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2026, 27(8), 3557; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27083557 - 16 Apr 2026
Viewed by 279
Abstract
Beyond their classical role as “cellular powerhouses”, mitochondria are increasingly recognized as dynamic and interconnected networks whose architecture, quality control, and intercellular communication influence cellular and organismal homeostasis. Mitochondrial dynamics—including fusion–fission balance, mitophagy–biogenesis coupling, intracellular organization, and intercellular transfer via tunneling nanotubes, extracellular [...] Read more.
Beyond their classical role as “cellular powerhouses”, mitochondria are increasingly recognized as dynamic and interconnected networks whose architecture, quality control, and intercellular communication influence cellular and organismal homeostasis. Mitochondrial dynamics—including fusion–fission balance, mitophagy–biogenesis coupling, intracellular organization, and intercellular transfer via tunneling nanotubes, extracellular vesicles, or transient cell fusion—contribute to tissue adaptation and functional decline during aging. Focusing on cardiac muscle, skeletal muscle, and the nervous system, this narrative review synthesizes current evidence describing how aging disrupts mitochondrial network integrity through altered dynamics, impaired organelle positioning and transport, reduced mitophagy, mtDNA instability, and compromised metabolic coupling between cells. These alterations propagate across tissues, limiting energetic flexibility, stress resilience, and regenerative capacity. Building on these mechanisms, we discuss a systems-level perspective in which aging is associated with progressive loss of mitochondrial network coherence rather than solely cumulative molecular damage. Within this framework, mitochondrial connectivity functions as an integrative descriptor of cellular resilience: well-organized networks counteract metabolic perturbations, whereas functionally decoupled networks amplify stress and promote maladaptive aging trajectories. Emerging evidence indicates that physiological and pharmacological interventions, including endurance exercise, caloric restriction or mimetics, fusion-supporting pathways, and mitophagy-enhancing strategies, can partially restore network organization even later in life. Molecular, cellular, and tissue-level insights are integrated to highlight mitochondrial network dynamics as both a mechanistic contributor to aging and a potentially modifiable target for future preventive and therapeutic interventions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Molecular Biology)
19 pages, 2080 KB  
Article
Evaluation of Low-Carbon Grouting Material on Pipe Roof Support in Shallow Unsymmetrical Loading Tunnels Based on the Pasternak Foundation Theory
by Jingsong Chen, Mu He, Xiaodong Li, Zhenghao Xu and Hongwei Yang
Appl. Sci. 2026, 16(8), 3863; https://doi.org/10.3390/app16083863 - 16 Apr 2026
Viewed by 207
Abstract
Traditional pipe roof support design methods generally assume horizontal ground conditions and treat the pipe roof as a monolithic beam, thereby neglecting the differential stress distribution among individual steel pipes under unsymmetrical loading. To address this gap, this paper presents two main contributions: [...] Read more.
Traditional pipe roof support design methods generally assume horizontal ground conditions and treat the pipe roof as a monolithic beam, thereby neglecting the differential stress distribution among individual steel pipes under unsymmetrical loading. To address this gap, this paper presents two main contributions: a low-carbon cement-based grouting material suitable for pipe roof reinforcement, and a new mechanical model that simultaneously accounts for biased pressure conditions and the inter-pipe micro-arch effect. First, the working performance of limestone calcined clay cement (LC3) grout was systematically tested at a water–cement ratio of 1:1, and the optimal mix ratio was determined. Grout–soil reinforcement tests on weathered granite show that, for grout-to-soil volume ratios between 0.2 and 0.8, the compressive strength of the reinforced material exceeds 10 MPa and the elastic modulus exceeds 600 MPa. Second, a mechanical model for the pipe roof was established based on the Pasternak two-parameter foundation theory, incorporating both biased pressure conditions and the inter-pipe micro-arch effect. The model predictions were compared with existing field monitoring data in the literature, showing consistent trends and good agreement in peak deflection values. Parametric analysis reveals that under horizontal ground conditions, the pipe roof response is symmetric, with the vault as the most critical area. As the bias angle increases, the maximum response shifts toward the higher side of the terrain, and the stress difference between pipes on both sides increases significantly. Theoretical analysis of the low-carbon grouting material shows that pipe roof deflection is moderately reduced compared to traditional grouting materials, but at the cost of increasing bending moment and shear force within the steel pipes. The proposed low-carbon grouting material and the validated mechanical model provide theoretical support for the design optimization of pipe roof support in shallow unsymmetrical loading tunnels. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Improvement and Foundation Engineering)
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16 pages, 2298 KB  
Article
Analysis of Photothermal Conversion Behaviors in Graphene–Polymer Nanocomposites
by Haiyu Zhang, Runzhe Rao, Yan Feng, Zhou Fang, Xinyan Hu and Fang Li
Polymers 2026, 18(8), 968; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym18080968 - 16 Apr 2026
Viewed by 234
Abstract
Due to its strong near-infrared (NIR) absorption and high thermal conductivity, graphene is considered an excellent nanophotothermal filler that can effectively improve the photothermal conversion performance of composites. In particular, graphene–polymer nanocomposites, new types of photothermal conversion materials, have broad application prospects in [...] Read more.
Due to its strong near-infrared (NIR) absorption and high thermal conductivity, graphene is considered an excellent nanophotothermal filler that can effectively improve the photothermal conversion performance of composites. In particular, graphene–polymer nanocomposites, new types of photothermal conversion materials, have broad application prospects in photothermal therapy, photothermal driving, and micro-/nanomachinery. Recent research results have shown that when the filling concentration of graphene nanosheets (GNSs) in the matrix reaches the percolation threshold, interface effects such as interface tunneling and Maxwell–Wagner–Sillars (MWS) polarization, the key factors affecting the photothermal conversion performance of such composites, will occur. Furthermore, graphene exhibits unique optical conductivity due to its strong interaction with light. To reveal how interface effects influence the photothermal conversion performance of these nanocomposites, the optical conductivity of graphene at near-infrared frequencies was introduced to modify the effective medium theory. By combining this with a photothermal conversion model, the photothermal conversion behaviors of GNS–polymer composites are discussed, taking into account the interface effects and optical conductivity characteristics of GNSs. Full article
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24 pages, 3973 KB  
Article
Experimental Study on Low-Energy Ventilation and Fire Smoke Suppression Based on Negative Ion Purification Technology in Road Tunnels
by Fuqing Han, Shouzhong Feng, Guozhi Wang, Weili Wang and Yani Zhang
Fire 2026, 9(4), 170; https://doi.org/10.3390/fire9040170 - 16 Apr 2026
Viewed by 283
Abstract
Traditional road tunnel ventilation systems suffer from high energy consumption and limited effectiveness in fire smoke control. Thus, there is a pressing need to develop advanced air purification technologies that integrate low energy demand with efficient smoke mitigation capabilities. In this study, a [...] Read more.
Traditional road tunnel ventilation systems suffer from high energy consumption and limited effectiveness in fire smoke control. Thus, there is a pressing need to develop advanced air purification technologies that integrate low energy demand with efficient smoke mitigation capabilities. In this study, a self-developed negative ion purification system was implemented, and systematic full-scale experimental investigations were conducted in both a test tunnel and an operational road tunnel to evaluate its performance in air purification and smoke suppression under normal operation and fire conditions. Key parameters, including negative ion concentration, particulate matter concentration, carbon monoxide (CO) concentration, and smoke distribution characteristics, were measured to elucidate smoke evolution behavior and the underlying mechanisms influenced by negative ions. The results show that the negative ion purification system can rapidly establish a high-concentration negative ion field within the tunnel space. Under normal operating conditions, negative ions markedly reduce particulate matter concentrations and their fluctuations, thereby effectively improving tunnel air quality. Under fire conditions, the system maintains high purification efficiency, with significant reductions in particulate matter concentration observed in the test tunnel and clear suppression of longitudinal particulate transport in the real tunnel. In particular, PM10 exhibits a higher removal efficiency. In addition, negative ions promote particle agglomeration and gravitational settling, accelerate CO dilution and dispersion, and significantly improve tunnel visibility. The results demonstrate that the negative ion purification system exhibits strong applicability and considerable engineering potential across different spatial scales and fire scenarios. Full article
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20 pages, 6857 KB  
Article
Research on Optimization of Forced Ventilation Parameters for Blasting Construction in Large-Section Tunnels Based on CFD
by Song Xin, Qi Cui, Huidong Gao, Qian Wang, Changhao Liu and Lijun Niu
Buildings 2026, 16(8), 1563; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings16081563 - 16 Apr 2026
Viewed by 105
Abstract
Large-section tunnels produce a large amount of dust after drill-and-blast construction. If not removed in a timely manner, the dust will seriously endanger workers’ health. For the purpose of enhancing the working conditions within the tunnel during construction, this investigation employs an integrated [...] Read more.
Large-section tunnels produce a large amount of dust after drill-and-blast construction. If not removed in a timely manner, the dust will seriously endanger workers’ health. For the purpose of enhancing the working conditions within the tunnel during construction, this investigation employs an integrated methodology that combines computational simulations with on-site measurements. Drawing upon the principles of gas–solid two-phase flow theory, the coupled diffusion law of airflow and dust in large-section tunnels is investigated. A two-factor orthogonal experiment combined with economic analysis is employed to determine the optimal ventilation parameters for the forced ventilation system. The findings indicate that, when the initial ventilation configuration is applied, the airflow field is divided into three stages, and dust diffusion is primarily driven by airflow. The average dust concentration in the 1.6 m breathing zone at 600 s post-blasting is measured to be 36.8 mg/m3. While satisfying the ventilation demand stipulated for the tunnel, the optimal ventilation parameters are determined as an outlet air velocity of 18 m/s and a duct-to-face distance of 40 m. Under these conditions, the dust concentration is reduced to 1.5 mg/m3, representing a 95.9% improvement in dust removal efficiency. Additionally, the hourly electricity cost at 18 m/s is USD 4.39 lower than that at 20 m/s. This study provides valuable insights for optimizing forced ventilation parameters in large-section tunnels, significantly reducing pollutant levels while saving costs. Full article
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