{"title":"A new optimization method of initial support for TBM tunnel crossing fault zone based on deformation control contribution","authors":"Peng Lin, Jintao Kang, Zhenhao Xu","doi":"10.1007/s10064-025-04122-4","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10064-025-04122-4","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The optimization and quantitative evaluation of tunnel support systems under complex geological conditions remains challenging. Therefore, a definition ‘deformation control contribution’ is put forward to quantitatively evaluate the effect of initial support on controlling the rock deformation. And a new optimization method of initial support is proposed for TBM tunnel crossing fault zone based on deformation control contribution. Firstly, the deformation characteristics of surrounding rock were explored. Subsequently, a series of numerical tests were conducted to investigate the deformation control effect of shotcrete, bolt, and steel arch parameters. Finally, the deformation control contribution of different support systems in fault-controlled section is quantitatively evaluated. The results show that: (1) The influence of support parameters on surrounding rock deformation is different. In terms of influence degree, the thickness of shotcrete is greater than stiffness, The spacing of bolts has greater influence than length, and the cross-sectional area, moment of inertia and spacing of steel arches are similar. (2) The deformation control contribution of the support systems in fault-controlled section is different. In bed rock zone, the contribution of shotcrete is highest (59.9%~67.6%). In fault damaged zone, the contribution of steel arch is highest (46.3%~56.2%). In fault core, the contribution of steel arch is also the highest (47.5%~62.2%). (3) The optimal support systems and support parameters for fault-controlled section are proposed, and the synergistic mechanism among support systems is revealed by stress analysis. The research results provide effective guidance for the dynamic design and optimization of the tunnel support systems.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":500,"journal":{"name":"Bulletin of Engineering Geology and the Environment","volume":"84 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2025-01-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143109617","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Wenmin Yao, Xin Zhang, Changdong Li, Yiming Lv, Yu Fu, Robert E. Criss, Hongbin Zhan, Changbin Yan
{"title":"Synergistic evolution of hydrological and movement characteristics of Majiagou landslide and identification of key triggering factors through interpretable machine learning","authors":"Wenmin Yao, Xin Zhang, Changdong Li, Yiming Lv, Yu Fu, Robert E. Criss, Hongbin Zhan, Changbin Yan","doi":"10.1007/s10064-025-04116-2","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10064-025-04116-2","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Variations in reservoir water level and seasonal precipitation have reactivated or accelerated numerous reservoir landslides in the Three Gorges Reservoir (TGR) area in China since its impoundment in 2003. Majiagou landslide, a typical reservoir landslide with stabilizing piles, is affected by the coupling effect of rainfall and reservoir level fluctuations. Monitoring data of nearly 11 years show continuous movement of Majiagou landslide, in contrast to the step-like movements of many landslides in this region. Displacements of the landslide surface and sliding zone are accelerated in rainy seasons accompanied by rapid fluctuations in reservoir water level. A SHAP-XGBoost-based interpretable machine learning method was proposed to identify the key triggering factors of the deformation of Majiagou landslide. The crucial triggering factors vary among different monitoring sites, monitoring periods (e.g., before and after the replacement of monitoring sites), and monitoring intervals. Rainfall makes the most prominent contribution to the displacements of the landslide surface and slip zone. From the front to the rear of Majiagou landslide, the response period of surface deformation to reservoir water level fluctuation gradually lengthens, and the middle and rear parts are more sensitive to the average reservoir water level in the short term. The proposed SHAP-XGBoost method will facilitate deformation prediction, stability evaluation, and the calibration of early warning systems for reservoir landslides.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":500,"journal":{"name":"Bulletin of Engineering Geology and the Environment","volume":"84 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2025-01-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143109712","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Yongchao Tian, Yujie Wang, Yong Liu, Zhicheng Tang, Xiaobo Zhang, Xin Huang, Tao Zhao, Jun Zhang
{"title":"Distribution characteristics of morphology parameters and an intelligent roughness prediction method characterized by multiple parameters","authors":"Yongchao Tian, Yujie Wang, Yong Liu, Zhicheng Tang, Xiaobo Zhang, Xin Huang, Tao Zhao, Jun Zhang","doi":"10.1007/s10064-025-04113-5","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10064-025-04113-5","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The morphology characteristics are key factors affecting the mechanical properties of structural plane. In this study, a systematic study is carried out to explore the actual roughness characteristics of standard profiles, the sensitivity of morphology parameters and the roughness prediction method with multi-parameter characterization. According to the statistical analysis of 552 pieces of literature on structural plane roughness, eight morphology parameters that are most representative are proposed and in-depth analysis is made on the relationship between each parameter and roughness coefficient. By smoothing the standard profiles and preparing structural plane specimens, the morphology characteristics and mechanical properties of structural plane smoothed for different times are put into scrutiny. A comprehensive analysis is conducted to investigate the correlation between morphology parameters and first and second-order roughness, as well as the relationship between first and second-order roughness and shear mechanical properties. The specimens of structural plane were manufactured via 10 standard profiles. Detailed discussion is made to analyze the deformation, failure and strength characteristics of standard structural plane. Based on the morphology parameters of standard profiles and the peak strengths of standard structural planes, the entropy weight-TOPSIS method is adopted to determine the actual rough characteristics of standard profiles. 86 sets of profile data were collected to establish the profile-morphology parameter-<i>JRC</i> database. The overlapping information between the eight morphology parameters is extracted by factor analysis. A stacked regression model incorporating multiple representative morphology parameters is proposed to predict the roughness characteristics of the structural plane.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":500,"journal":{"name":"Bulletin of Engineering Geology and the Environment","volume":"84 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2025-01-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143109710","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Xiaosong Feng, Chaoying Zhao, Xiaojie Liu, Ming Yan
{"title":"Detection and monitoring of active landslides after the initial impoundment of the Baihetan Reservoir (China) using time series InSAR method","authors":"Xiaosong Feng, Chaoying Zhao, Xiaojie Liu, Ming Yan","doi":"10.1007/s10064-025-04110-8","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10064-025-04110-8","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The Baihetan hydropower station began impounding water on April 6, 2021, and its water level rose from 660 <span>(m)</span> to 817m by September 30, 2021. It is of great significance to catalog the landslides dynamically in the reservoir area and analyze the landslides deformation characteristics after impounding water. Stacking InSAR technology with ascending and descending Sentinel-1A data is applied to detect the potential active landslides on the upstream and downstream of Baihetan hydropower station from January 1, 2020 to April 6, 2022. Results show that a total of 76 active landslides were detected, and 21 landslides underwent significant deformation after impounding water. We analyze the relationship between slope stability and triggering factors, such as reservoir water level and rainfall to Mianshawan landslide, to which the displacement time series was obtained by small baseline subset (SBAS) InSAR technique. Results showed that the landslide was stable before impounding water, but increased to 15 cm/a after impounding water. Pearson correlation analysis revealed a 72-day lag between the displacement trend term of the landslide and the reservoir water level fluctuation. Wavelet analysis revealed a 60–90-day time lag between displacement trend term and precipitation, with common power on an interannual scale. The first impoundment of the Baihetan reservoir significantly enhanced the common power of precipitation and periodic term displacement on a quarterly scale. This research provides a reference for landslides detection and kinematics analysis in the reservoir regions.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":500,"journal":{"name":"Bulletin of Engineering Geology and the Environment","volume":"84 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2025-01-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143109781","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Irfan Raza, Hashmat Ullah, Muhammad Irfan Ehsan, Perveiz Khalid, Muhammad Zeerak Iqbal, Sania Rasheed
{"title":"An integrated geophysical and geotechnical solutions for assessing slope instability challenges in open-pit mining: safeguarding mining operations","authors":"Irfan Raza, Hashmat Ullah, Muhammad Irfan Ehsan, Perveiz Khalid, Muhammad Zeerak Iqbal, Sania Rasheed","doi":"10.1007/s10064-025-04124-2","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10064-025-04124-2","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Pakistan, a country blessed with diverse mineral wealth, has witnessed a rapid expansion of open pit mining operations in recent decades. Open pit mining has long been a cornerstone of the mineral extraction industry of Pakistan, allowing for the extraction of abundant natural resources critical for economic growth of the country. However, the pursuit of these valuable minerals often comes at a steep price, with slope stability issues posing significant challenges to mining operations across the country. This research paper investigates the challenges of slope instability in open-pit mining operations in Pakistan, focusing on the Muhammad Khel Copper Mining Project (MKCMP), using an integrated approach of geophysical and geotechnical investigations. The study first utilizes electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) technique, to comprehend subsurface dynamics critical for mining safety and efficiency. Through strategic ERT profile deployment, the research delineates strata types, traces water seepage patterns, and identifies potential causes of mass sliding. Analysis of four sets of ERT profiles reveals the complex interplay of geological, hydrological, and anthropogenic factors influencing subsurface dynamics. Findings underline the significance of moisture-induced destabilization, directional seepage flow, weak matrices, and cultural changes in driving slope instability within the study area. In addition to geophysical analysis, the paper also incorporates geotechnical investigations to enhance the understanding of slope behavior. The stability of the open-pit mine slopes was assessed using Limit Equilibrium Methods and Generalized Hoek & Brown (GHB) failure criteria in Slide 2D software. The western slope (Unit-I) was found to be more prone to circular failure due to weak rock mass properties and water infiltration, while the southern slope (Unit-II) exhibited lesser instability, with tension cracks and weak upper layers behaving like soil. Two stabilization methods — slope geometry modifications and soil nailing systems — were evaluated for both units. This comprehensive approach, combining geophysical and geotechnical techniques, provides valuable insights into slope instability mechanisms and effective stabilization strategies. The findings emphasize the importance of integrating subsurface analysis with engineering solutions to ensure long-term stability in open-pit mining operations, offering practical recommendations for improving safety and sustainability in Pakistan’s mining industry.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":500,"journal":{"name":"Bulletin of Engineering Geology and the Environment","volume":"84 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2025-01-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143109349","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Creep constitutive model of coral sand","authors":"Wang Shaowei, Xu Jiangbo, Wu Xiong, Qi Yu, Chen Xinyu, Zeng Xianglong, Qiao Wei, Dong Tong","doi":"10.1007/s10064-025-04120-6","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10064-025-04120-6","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>As the primary foundation material for island and reef structures, the long-term creep characteristics of coral sand can significantly impact the settlement and deformation of buildings. In this study, uniaxial creep experiments were conducted on coral sand from the South China Sea, and the creep characteristics of coral sand under different stress levels were analyzed. Five traditional component models were initially used to describe the creep behavior of coral sand, but significant errors were found when comparing the model's results to the experimental data. Therefore, the model was improved by introducing a time function and connecting an elastic body, a nonlinear H-M body, and a Kelvin body in series, to establish a nonlinear creep model that accurately describes the different creep stages of coral sand. Combined with a homotopy method to improve the inversion calculation, the required calculation parameters were obtained, and the accuracy of the model was verified through uniaxial and triaxial creep tests under different stress levels. The results showed that the experimental curve and the model results had a high degree of fit, with an average error of less than 1.5%, and can reflect the various stages of creep of coral sand well. Based on this, by comparing with field monitoring data, the combined average error of the two monitoring points is less than 5%. Therefore, this creep model has good engineering applicability.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":500,"journal":{"name":"Bulletin of Engineering Geology and the Environment","volume":"84 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2025-01-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143109476","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"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 multi-level failure surface localization method for anti-dip rock slope based on improved AOS","authors":"Shixin Zhang, Yufeng Wei, Shuwu Li, Hao Yang, Junhao Peng, Leilei Jin","doi":"10.1007/s10064-024-04074-1","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10064-024-04074-1","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The geometry of the failure surface of anti-dip bedding rock slopes (ABRSs) is often not a regular arc or folded line. Progressive failure with multi-level failure surface is observed in the failure process of ABRSs. This study proposes a stability assessment method for ABRSs that considers the multi-level failure surface to address this challenge. The proposed new approach considers the formation of multi-level failure surfaces within the deformation and failure process of ABRSs. It utilizes an Atomic Orbital Search (AOS) optimization algorithm based on the Tent chaotic mapping strategy to locate the multiple failure surfaces of ABRSs. Centrifuge tests were employed to verify the validity of the proposed method. The research results indicate that the proposed strategy improves the convergence speed of the AOS, in comparison to the standard algorithm, while also avoiding the problem of getting stuck in local optima; the multi-level failure surfaces of the ABRS located by the proposed method are consistent with the results of the centrifuge tests, achieving a high degree of prediction accuracy; the rock mechanics parameters of internal friction angle of joints and tensile strength of the rock layer significantly affect the critical failure surface position of ABRSs.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":500,"journal":{"name":"Bulletin of Engineering Geology and the Environment","volume":"84 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2025-01-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143109348","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Safety control of blasting vibration in new tunnel excavation adjacent to existing tunnel","authors":"Junru Zhang, Zhijian Yan, Jianchi Ma, Qihua Deng, Jiaming Liu, Jimeng Feng, Zhiyong Wang","doi":"10.1007/s10064-025-04112-6","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10064-025-04112-6","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The blasting excavation of the new tunnel will adversely affect the adjacent existing tunnel structure, to ensure the safe operation of the busy existing tunnel, the study of blasting vibration safety control is critical. In this study, based on the Xiamen New Damaoshan Tunnel No.1 project, the conversion relationship between the input energy of blasting vibration and the elastic strain energy and kinetic energy of concrete mass unit is analyzed according to the principle of conservation of energy. The estimation method of \" twice the peak kinetic energy of the peak vibration velocity instead of the maximum elastic strain energy\" is proposed, and verified by numerical simulation method. On this basis, the safe control of the vibration velocity of the existing tunnel in this project was derived by combining it with the energy criterion of concrete damage. Secondly, the blasting vibration damping control test is carried out using a test well and on-site monitoring, and the relationship between the blasting distance and the peak vibration velocity and damping efficiency is obtained for the three control techniques of the Single hole blasting, Preset damping holes, and Rope saw cutting, and the results show that the damping effect of the control technique of the Rope saw cutting is the best, and the damping effect of the Preset damping holes is second to the control technique of the damping. Finally, according to the adaptive range of different vibration control techniques for engineering application, through the peak vibration velocity monitoring of the existing tunnel, the peak vibration velocity is less than the safe vibration velocity control value proposed in this study and is in a safe state.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":500,"journal":{"name":"Bulletin of Engineering Geology and the Environment","volume":"84 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2025-01-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143109734","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Application of micro-CT and digital volume correlation for investigating the macro-/mesoscopic failure mechanism of shale under uniaxial loading: insights into fracture behavior relevant to shale gas recovery","authors":"Yingjie Li, Liang Zhang, Dejun Liu, Jianping Zuo, Shengxin Liu, Haiyang Dong","doi":"10.1007/s10064-025-04101-9","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10064-025-04101-9","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>To study the correlation between the mesoscopic damage evolution and macroscopic failure characteristics of anisotropic shale, an in situ high-resolution micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) was used to conduct a uniaxial loading experiment with real-time scanning on Carboniferous shale from the eastern Qaidam Basin. The subvoxel displacement field of each specimen was calculated based on the correlation coefficient interpolation of the image subset with the digital volume correlation method, and the high-precision strain field was obtained to evaluate the deformation localization characteristics of shale specimens with low and high bedding inclination angles during loading. The research results show that the stable cracks expansion is caused by the synergistic effect of tension and shear. However, the unstable cracks expansion in low bedding inclination angle shale is controlled by tension and shear, whereas in high bedding inclination angle shale, it is dominated by tension. The evolution of the axial strain field of the low bedding inclination angle shale confirms the compaction of the bedding defects, strengthening bedding planes and inhibiting the formation of cracks along bedding. Conversely, high bedding inclination angle shale experiences concentrated tensile and shear strains due to damage to original bedding defects, leading to rapid strain increase and localized strain band formation consistent with subsequent splitting failure. The strain localization can predict the development location of cracks before they become macroscopically visible in CT images.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":500,"journal":{"name":"Bulletin of Engineering Geology and the Environment","volume":"84 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2025-01-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143109732","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"An analytical solution for critical sliding surface of stepped rock slope: a case study of Xinjing coal mine landslide","authors":"Xiaocheng Huang, Guilin Wang, Lulu Zhang","doi":"10.1007/s10064-024-04079-w","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10064-024-04079-w","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>A large and catastrophic landslide occurred at the Xinjing Coal Mine (XCM), China on February 22, 2023, resulting in 59 casualties. It was reported that one of the triggering factors of this landslide was that the actual engineering slope, which was excavated by reduced steps. This paper presents analytical approaches to investigate the effects of steps number and steps width on the stability of stepped rock slopes. The dip angle of sliding surface <i>θ</i> was used to characterize the critical sliding surface (CSS) of rock slopes, and analytical solution of <i>θ</i> was derived with limit equilibrium method (LEM). Discrete element method (DEM) was conducted to verify the accuracy of the proposed approach. The effects of the geomechanical and geometric parameters on XCM Landslide were investigated by parametric analysis. It was found that the driving factors of the XCM Landslide was the design slope steps numbers was reducing from 4 to 3, i.e., the slope was excavated with combined-step. Specifically, with the increase of the number and width of steps, the slope stability gradually improved. This study provides useful guidelines to location of CSS of open pit slopes and scientific design of open pit mine rock slopes with multi-steps.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":500,"journal":{"name":"Bulletin of Engineering Geology and the Environment","volume":"84 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2025-01-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143109735","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}