Hydraulic Engineering and Modelling

Dear Colleagues,

Fractured rock masses, common in geological and hydraulic environments, often experience complex physical conditions such as geostress, high temperatures, osmotic pressure, and chemical interactions. These conditions lead to discontinuous, anisotropic, and nonlinear deformation and flow behavior, making the analysis of fractured systems both scientifically challenging and practically important. The coupled interactions among thermal, hydraulic, mechanical, and chemical (THMC) fields within such rock masses govern critical processes related to seepage, stability, and energy transfer. Understanding these multiphysics interactions is essential for improving the design and safety of caverns, tunnels, dams, underground reservoirs, and geothermal systems and for preventing geological hazards in complex subsurface projects.

We welcome original research and review articles on theoretical modeling, laboratory experimentation, and high-fidelity numerical simulations focused on nonlinear flow, fracture network connectivity, thermal–hydraulic–mechanical (THM) coupling, and AI-driven interpretation of rock mass behavior. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following aspects:

• Nonlinear and coupled multiphysics modeling of fractured media
• Fluid flow and heat transport in complex fracture networks
• Discrete fracture network (DFN) modeling and upscaling
• AI and machine learning in geological interpretation and hydraulic behavior prediction
• Seepage analysis and geotechnical safety in tunnels, reservoirs, and underground structures
• Intelligent modeling of hydraulic properties under deformation (shear/normal loading)
• Applications in geothermal reservoirs, underground compressed air storage, and hydro-engineering

By fostering interdisciplinary exchange across hydraulic engineering, geomechanics, and computational geoscience, this Topic aims to advance simulation techniques and sustainable practices in subsurface engineering and water resource management。

Prof. Dr. Guohua Zhang
Dr. Feng Xiong
Dr. Xiaobo Zhang
Topic Editors