Acta Geotechnica最新文献

{"title":"Multi-objective optimization control of subgrade compaction quality combined with intelligent compaction","authors":"Jianhua Li,&nbsp;Xuefei Wang,&nbsp;Jiale Li,&nbsp;Jianmin Zhang,&nbsp;Guowei Ma","doi":"10.1007/s11440-026-02931-9","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11440-026-02931-9","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The dynamic optimization of compaction quality, integrated with intelligent compaction (IC) technology, is essential for maximizing construction quality and efficiency. This study presents a novel hybrid intelligent optimization framework designed to improve both compaction quality and construction efficiency by dynamically adjusting rolling parameters. A compaction quality control model was developed based on the integrated analysis of historical data and orthogonal experiments, accounting for multiple influencing factors. Subsequently, initial compactness and rolling velocity were identified as key optimization parameters, with SHAP (SHapley Additive exPlanations) employed for interpretive analysis. To address practical construction demands, three optimization methods are introduced: staged optimization, full-stage optimization, and multi-objective optimization. Validation experiments using IC data collected from the Jing-Jin-Tang Highway showed significant enhancements in both compaction quality and construction efficiency. These results offer an intelligent interactive approach for current quality evaluations and construction optimization.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":49308,"journal":{"name":"Acta Geotechnica","volume":"21 7","pages":"4329 - 4352"},"PeriodicalIF":6.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148386086","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Mechanisms and mitigation effects of oblique seam linings in fault-crossing tunnels: combined experimental and numerical evidence under normal faulting","authors":"Qi Wang,&nbsp;Yan Zhao,&nbsp;Yiying Chen,&nbsp;Ping Geng,&nbsp;Dingwei He,&nbsp;Guoliang Li,&nbsp;Jing Zhang,&nbsp;Huoming Shen","doi":"10.1007/s11440-026-02954-2","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11440-026-02954-2","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>To evaluate the influence of sectional seam configurations (normal vs. oblique) on the fault-crossing performance of tunnels, this study integrates 1:40 scale model tests with three-dimensional elasto-plastic finite element simulations. The mechanical behavior and damage mechanisms of tunnels subjected to normal fault dislocation were comprehensively examined through deformation patterns, contact earth pressure, strain distribution, internal force characteristics, and failure modes. Experimental results indicate that tunnels with normal seams undergo severe longitudinal tensile-flexural failure and shear-induced spalling near the fault rupture surface, accompanied by dense cracking. In contrast, oblique seam tunnels demonstrate enhanced structural flexibility, reduced crack density, and absence of large-scale spalling, reflecting improved adaptability to fault displacement. Peak longitudinal strain was reduced by up to 80% at the crown exterior and 13% at the invert exterior, while earth pressure at the crown and invert decreased by 70 and 20%, respectively. To validate these findings, numerical simulations employing the concrete damaged plasticity (CDP) model were conducted. The results exhibited consistent damage evolution trends, with oblique seams effectively redistributing tensile stress and mitigating compressive damage. Furthermore, global damage indices quantitatively confirmed the superior fortification performance of oblique seam linings. This integrated experimental–numerical approach offers robust evidence and a scientific basis for the seismic design and resilience enhancement of tunnels intersecting normal faults.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":49308,"journal":{"name":"Acta Geotechnica","volume":"21 2","pages":"1119 - 1146"},"PeriodicalIF":5.7,"publicationDate":"2026-03-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147558686","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Quantifying particle morphology via lightweight object detection and generative data augmentation","authors":"Ziyang Liu,&nbsp;Wenju Zhu,&nbsp;Tongming Qu,&nbsp;Jian Gong,&nbsp;Keyu Zhao,&nbsp;Guang Chen,&nbsp;Junyi Yang,&nbsp;Yu Jiang,&nbsp;Feng Wang,&nbsp;Li-E. Yan","doi":"10.1007/s11440-026-02949-z","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11440-026-02949-z","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Particle morphology is an important origin for shaping complex granular soil behavior, yet traditional measurement methods are inefficient for field-scale characterization of densely packed particles. While deep learning-based image segmentation automates morphology extraction, these approaches require large model sizes with extensive computational burdens, making them impractical for deployment on mobile devices. This study proposes a lightweight object detection model, YOLOv8-PMQ, capable of end-to-end prediction of particle shape and size distribution without image segmentation or subsequent geometric computation. By introducing a morphology parameter regression branch, the model simultaneously outputs particle bounding boxes and multiple descriptors, including roundness, sphericity, equivalent projected circular diameter, and Feret diameters. Additionally, to alleviate data scarcity, an image synthesis framework based on the OASIS generative adversarial network (GAN) was constructed to generate diverse particle images for model training. Experiments show that YOLOv8-PMQ trained with synthetic data achieves a bounding box mean average precision (b_mAP) of 54.13% and a total mean absolute error (MAEtotal) of 0.1097, outperforming training on existing data alone. Furthermore, an offline smartphone application based on this model was developed, enabling rapid on-site particle morphology analysis with better practical utility.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":49308,"journal":{"name":"Acta Geotechnica","volume":"21 8","pages":"4479 - 4504"},"PeriodicalIF":6.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149163073","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Experimental study of the contact area effect on normal deformability of rock joints","authors":"Mahdi Heidari,&nbsp;Mojtaba Bahaaddini,&nbsp;Mohammad Hossein Khosravi","doi":"10.1007/s11440-026-02961-3","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11440-026-02961-3","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The normal deformability of rock joints plays a crucial role on the mechanical behaviour of jointed rock masses, particularly in civil geo-mechanical applications such as rock slopes and underground structures. While much efforts have carried out to understand the mechanical behaviour of rock joints under shearing, estimation of the normal stiffness remains a debated topic for rock engineers. This study aims to investigate the impact of contact area on the normal stiffness of rock joints through an extensive set of experiments. Laboratory experiments were conducted on four natural joints with various roughness, replicated using three different types of rock-like materials. Normal deformability tests were performed on these joints, and contact area evolution was measured in these experiments. Results of the experiments show that the contact area is controlled by the applied normal stress, joint surface roughness and material type where the increase in surface roughness leads to an increase in contact area at a constant normal stress. The increase in joint surface roughness also results in a decrease in joint closure and enhanced normal stiffness due to increased interlocking. It was found that joints with higher joint wall strength exhibit greater normal stiffness at a constant stress ratio. A nonlinear correlation was found between the contact ratio and applied normal stress, joint wall strength and surface roughness. Results from this study clearly show that the contact area exerted the most significant influence on variations of joint normal deformability and enhances joint surface interactions and facilitating stress transmission under normal loading.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":49308,"journal":{"name":"Acta Geotechnica","volume":"21 8","pages":"4505 - 4523"},"PeriodicalIF":6.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149163052","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Accelerated identification of hardening soil model parameters employing tree-based machine learning algorithms","authors":"Haris Felić,&nbsp;Georg H. Erharter,&nbsp;Islam Marzouk,&nbsp;Franz Tschuchnigg","doi":"10.1007/s11440-026-02951-5","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11440-026-02951-5","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>This paper proposes an approach for identifying the constitutive model parameters of an elasto-plastic double hardening model using systematically optimized, tree-based supervised machine learning algorithms. The machine learning model utilizes data from two laboratory tests—a drained triaxial test and an oedometer test with an unloading-reloading cycle—to predict the constitutive model parameters. The accuracy of the machine learning model is demonstrated through three comparison approaches: (i) the parameter optimization tool implemented in a commercial finite element software applied to a synthetic dataset representing sand, (ii) parameter optimization tool and experience-based parameter determination with a real dataset of Karlsruhe fine sand. The experience-based determination survey involved independent experts who calibrated the model parameters based on the same input data used by the machine learning model. The machine learning model predictions align closely with the target parameters and the results from the parameter optimization tool for synthetic tests, and the developed approach matches the parameter ranges obtained from both automated identification and the experience-based survey for Karlsruhe fine sand. The model effectively captures the triaxial test results and the oedometer test results, outperforming the average experience-based results. In terms of computational efficiency, the proposed machine learning approach reduces the average determination time by approximately 19 500 times compared to manual parameter identification and by about 2 500 times compared to automated identification. The proposed machine learning approach is considered superior due to its speed, consistency, and scalability compared to both experience-based and automated identification methods. This approach can be readily adapted to other constitutive models, promoting the use of more advanced models in practice.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":49308,"journal":{"name":"Acta Geotechnica","volume":"21 7","pages":"4061 - 4078"},"PeriodicalIF":6.5,"publicationDate":"2026-02-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s11440-026-02951-5.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148386072","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Similarity study of soil spatial variability between the longitudinal sections of new and old subgrade foundations based on the autocorrelation function of CPTU test","authors":"Caijin Wang,&nbsp;Shuai Zhu,&nbsp;Liangfu Xie,&nbsp;Annan Zhou,&nbsp;Hongjian Zhang,&nbsp;Jingtong He,&nbsp;Zhiyi Jin,&nbsp;Guojun Cai,&nbsp;Xuejun Liu,&nbsp;Xueling Hu,&nbsp;Tao Zhang,&nbsp;Songyu Liu,&nbsp;Zhiming Liu","doi":"10.1007/s11440-026-02946-2","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11440-026-02946-2","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>With the advancement of infrastructure reconstruction and expansion projects, the problem of uneven settlement of old and new subgrades has become a key challenge that restricts the safety and service performance of the project. Conventional borehole sampling often perturbs the material and sparsely covers the domain, making spatial variability—especially anisotropy—difficult to characterize reliably. However, the existing numerical simulation and empirical formula are limited by idealized assumptions or parameter uncertainties, which cannot effectively quantify the non-stationary variation law under complex geological conditions. Therefore, based on the expansion project of Lianhuai Expressway, this paper proposes a soil spatial variation quantization method that combines two-dimensional Bayesian compressed sensing (BCS) and discrete cosine transform (DCT) basis functions. Based on the piezocone penetration tests (CPTU) in situ test data, the efficient reconstruction and cross-scale variation analysis of over-consolidation ratio (OCR), undrained shear strength (<i>S</i>_<i>u</i>), and compression modulus (<i>E</i>_<i>s</i>) parameter fields are realized by trend term separation, DCT sparse reconstruction, and autocorrelation function (ACF) analysis. Results indicate laterally coherent fields with depth-dependent strengthening after detrending and DCT–BCS reconstruction. Inversions of OCR, Su, and <i>Es</i> are consistent with CPTU correlations and capture the differences between the old and new subgrades. The uncertainty analysis of DCT spectrum further shows that the standard deviation (SD) in the low-frequency component is significantly higher than that in the high-frequency component, which verifies the stability of the reconstruction results. The proposed BCS–DCT framework reconstructs spatial fields from sparse, anisotropic CPTU measurements and characterizes their autocorrelation. It complements kriging/GP models by providing ACF-based correlation length diagnostics and posterior uncertainty that aid interpretation. On a representative data set, the ACF inferred by BCS–DCT agrees with that derived from a semivariogram, indicating reliable correlation scales. It provides high-precision and high-efficiency technical support for foundation performance evaluation and differential settlement control in road expansion projects.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":49308,"journal":{"name":"Acta Geotechnica","volume":"21 8","pages":"4449 - 4478"},"PeriodicalIF":6.5,"publicationDate":"2026-02-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149163048","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A single-stress elasto-plastic triaxial model for saturated and unsaturated soils","authors":"Agostino Walter Bruno,&nbsp;Domenico Gallipoli","doi":"10.1007/s11440-025-02903-5","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11440-025-02903-5","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>This paper presents a constitutive model for predicting the behaviour of saturated and unsaturated soils under compression and shearing, utilising a single-stress elasto-plastic framework. The model extends the scaled stress concept from isotropic to triaxial stress states, enabling a unified approach to modelling both saturated and unsaturated soils under general loading conditions. Central to the model is a capillary bonding function, which leads to the definition of a unified normal compression line (UNCL) for both saturated and unsaturated soils, relating the void ratio to the mean scaled stress in a semi-logarithmic plane. This UNCL is integrated into the modified Cam-Clay model for saturated soils by replacing the effective stress with the scaled stress to account for partial saturation. In particular, the deviatoric scaled stress is defined using the same scaling factor applied to isotropic stress states. To further enhance the model, an alternative yield function is also introduced to improve the prediction of volumetric strains at critical state. The proposed constitutive framework has been validated against four distinct sets of triaxial tests on fine-grained soils, ranging from clays to silts, under constant suction. The results confirm the robustness of the model, showing that the scaled stress variable effectively normalises the behaviour of both saturated and unsaturated soils under isotropic and deviatoric loading conditions. The flexibility in positioning the unified critical state line (UCSL) generally enhances the prediction of volumetric behaviour during shearing across varying suction levels.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":49308,"journal":{"name":"Acta Geotechnica","volume":"21 3","pages":"1615 - 1628"},"PeriodicalIF":5.7,"publicationDate":"2026-02-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s11440-025-02903-5.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147561234","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"An insight into the competition between the shape effects and grain crushing behavior: from single grain to aggregates","authors":"Quanshui Huang,&nbsp;Xuan Huang,&nbsp;Huanfeng Qiu,&nbsp;Haoran Jiang,&nbsp;Bo Xu,&nbsp;Xing Zhou","doi":"10.1007/s11440-026-02935-5","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11440-026-02935-5","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The shape effect on the mechanical behavior of breakable coarse grains at the critical state remains insufficiently understood due to the complex nature of grain crushing characteristics. In this study, a novel discrete element method (DEM) framework incorporating both realistic particle shape and breakage was presented to comprehensively reveal the competing mechanism between inherent shape effect and grain crushing behavior for coarse grain assemblies. Two groups of realistic shapes, including angular and pebble grains, along with idealized spherical grains were modeled using the bonded particle method (BPM), with model parameters calibrated against experimental data. Subsequently, triaxial shear tests were conducted to investigate the macroscopic shear behaviors of granular assembly under varying confining pressures, with particular focus on the critical state. Two distinct shape effects have been identified: (1) more irregular shapes exhibit lower crushing resistance, leading to more significant shape degradation as reflected by a higher breakage index; and (2) more irregular shapes promote stronger interlocking between particles, enhancing mechanical stability. To characterize the competition of these effects, a debonding coefficient was proposed. Three influencing regimes were distinguished by two critical debonding coefficient. From regime I to regime III, the shape effect on enhancing interlocking between particles was gradually offset by the strength reduction caused by shape-induced degradation. These findings provide a new insight into the deformation mechanisms of breakable coarse grains with complex morphology.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":49308,"journal":{"name":"Acta Geotechnica","volume":"21 7","pages":"4229 - 4248"},"PeriodicalIF":6.5,"publicationDate":"2026-02-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148386083","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Meso- and macroscale investigation on impact penetration mechanisms in weathered sand","authors":"Liping Ying,&nbsp;Na Li,&nbsp;Yuqiong Li,&nbsp;Zhiyuan Lv,&nbsp;Qinghao Liu","doi":"10.1007/s11440-026-02944-4","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11440-026-02944-4","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>In remote or hazardous environments where traditional testing methods are impractical, rapid, invasive impact penetration techniques can assess in situ soil mechanical properties. Cone impact penetration testing (CIPT) in calibration chambers develops empirical correlations and validates numerical models. Understanding the cone penetration process requires quantifying soil’s response during penetration. This understanding enables CIPT measurements to be linked to surrounding soil conditions, thus improving interpretation methods. However, the mechanisms governing impact penetration in highly weathered sand remain poorly understood, limiting advances in related technologies. To address this gap, this study presents a meso- and macroscale investigation of impact penetration in highly weathered sand from Yangbajing, Tibet, integrating laboratory experiments, high-speed imaging via digital image correlation (DIC), and discrete element method (DEM) simulations. Calibration chamber tests with a newly developed impact penetrometer yielded in situ cone tip resistance and deceleration. Furthermore, a semi-sectioned calibration chamber was developed to enable direct observation of granular motion during penetration for numerical model validation. In parallel, DEM simulations replicated and analyzed sand behavior under dynamic loading, providing critical insights into energy dissipation, particle rearrangement, and force chain evolution. Key findings include a unique “twin peaks” phenomenon in the deceleration and cone tip resistance time–history curves for highly weathered sand. The underlying mechanisms governing this double-peak response were elucidated. This study advances understanding of impact penetration mechanisms in highly weathered sand under both wet and dry conditions, providing theoretical support for CIPT interpretation methods in such soils.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":49308,"journal":{"name":"Acta Geotechnica","volume":"21 6","pages":"3629 - 3651"},"PeriodicalIF":6.5,"publicationDate":"2026-02-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148366018","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Thaw-driven permeability evolution of frozen soil with segregated ice: insights from low-field nuclear magnetic resonance and LBM simulations","authors":"Zheng Wang,&nbsp;Zongwei Gan,&nbsp;Yaning Zhang,&nbsp;Bingxi Li,&nbsp;Zixuan Huo,&nbsp;Chi Zhang","doi":"10.1007/s11440-026-02925-7","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11440-026-02925-7","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>In this work, we propose a numerical thawing model, based on the lattice Boltzmann method (LBM), to predict the permeability evolution of the thawing frozen soil with segregated ice. Our numerical model considers the effects of soil pore structures, pore-scale water melting temperature phase change and water migration. We also measured the low-field nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) responses of the thawing process within different porous media and developed a quantitative relationship between the permeability coefficient and melting temperature considering the heterogeneous feature, adhesive force and temperature-driven force. Our numerical model is first validated at the macroscopic scale using a freezing-thawing experimental setup for temperature distribution and at the microscopic scale using NMR measurements for permeability characterization. Numerical results indicate that the thawing-induced permeability changes in unsaturated frozen soil are closely related to its upper surface temperature and porosity. We find that the greatest liquid mass fraction change at the segregated ice layer is the primary driver of thaw-induced soil settlement. This work will not only bridge the knowledge gap between mesoscopic features and macroscopic hydrological properties of unsaturated frozen soil, but also be beneficial for the large-scale hydrological changes towards climate warming.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":49308,"journal":{"name":"Acta Geotechnica","volume":"21 8","pages":"4433 - 4448"},"PeriodicalIF":6.5,"publicationDate":"2026-02-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s11440-026-02925-7.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149163050","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}