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Special Issue "Advanced Geomaterials and Reinforced Structures"

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A special issue of Materials (ISSN 1996-1944). This special issue belongs to the section "Construction and Building Materials".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 January 2024 | Viewed by 3015

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Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Yuliang Lin

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Guest Editor

School of Civil Engineering, Central South University, Changsha 410075, China
Interests: soil mechanics; geosynthetics; retaining structure; geotechnical earthquake engineering; hydraulic behaviors

Dr. Liangliang Wang
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Guest Editor

School of Mechanics and Civil Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou 221116, China
Interests: improvement of road subgrade; clay, lime, rock and mineral materials; disease prevention

Dr. Wei Fang

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Guest Editor

School of Traffic and Transportation Engineering, Changsha University of Science and Technology, Changsha 410004, China
Interests: slope engineering; soil mechanics; special soil treatment; subgrade; asphalt binders and mixtures

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Geomaterials are one of the key materials with extensive applications in civil and geological engineering. We are pleased to announce this Special Issue in the journal Materials, which mainly focuses on the properties, mechanics, applications, and related reinforced structures of geomaterials in civil engineering.

Specific topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

Research on geomaterials such as soils, clays, aggregates, rock mixtures, geosynthetics, cementitious/mineral materials, and inorganic binders, as well as geotechnical structures, including slopes, tunnels, retaining walls, subgrade, and foundations.

Reinforced and stabilized structures of geomaterials, for example, mixtures of soils with cement, lime, fly ash, polymers, geosynthetics, reinforcement of steel, and composite systems.

Mechanical, hydraulic, and durable performance of geomaterials and related structures under complex loading conditions and service environments.

Prof. Dr. Yuliang Lin
Dr. Liangliang Wang
Dr. Wei Fang
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Materials is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

geomaterials
geosynthetics
concrete and cementitious materials
clay, lime, rock, and mineral materials
asphalt binders and mixtures
sand and gravel
reinforced materials and structures
subgrade and retaining structures
geotechnical earthquake engineering
soil–structure interactions
mechanics
durability
hydraulic behaviors

Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

Open AccessArticle

Strength Degradation of Foamed Lightweight Soil Due to Chemical Erosion and Wet-Dry Cycle and Its Empirical Model

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Materials 2023, 16(19), 6505; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16196505 - 30 Sep 2023

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Abstract

Foamed lightweight soils (FLS) have been extensively used as backfill material in the construction of transportation infrastructures. However, in the regions consisting of salt-rich soft soil, the earth structure made by FLS experiences both fluctuation of groundwater and chemical environment erosion, which would accelerate the deterioration of its long-term performance. This study conducted laboratory tests to explore the deterioration of FLS in strength after being eroded by sulfate attack and/or wet-dry cycling, where the influencing factors of FLS density, concentration of sulfate solution, and cation type (i.e., Na⁺ and Mg²⁺) were considered. An unconfined compressive test (UCT) was conducted, and the corrosion-resistant coefficient (CRC) was adopted to evaluate the erosion degree after the specimens experienced sulfate attack and/or dry-wet cycling for a certain period. The research results show that the erosion of the FLS specimen under the coupling effect of sulfate attack and dry-wet cycling was more remarkable than that only under chemical soaking, and Na₂SO₄ solution had a severe erosion effect as compared with MgSO₄ solution when other conditions were kept constant. An empirical model is proposed based on the test results, and its reliability has been verified with other test results from the literature. The proposed model provides an alternative for engineers to estimate the strength deterioration of FLS on real structures in a preliminary design. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Geomaterials and Reinforced Structures)

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Open AccessArticle

Frost Durability of Self-Compacting Concrete Prepared with Aeolian Sand and Recycled Coarse Aggregate

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Materials 2023, 16(19), 6393; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16196393 - 25 Sep 2023

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Abstract

Aeolian sand (AS) and recycled coarse aggregate (RCA) can be reasonably utilized as green materials for concrete modification. The paucity of natural sand and gravel in the construction industry is anticipated to be remedied by the use of these two eco-friendly concrete ingredients. This is incredibly important for environmental protection. Study on the damage law of self-compacting concrete with the addition of AS and RCA (ARSCC) under severely cold conditions is of great significance for the promotion and implementation of this material. In this study, 12 groups of ARSCC specimens were prepared for freeze–thaw cycle experiments, with AS substitution rates of 0, 20%, 40%, and 60% as well as RCA replacement rates of 0, 25%, and 50%. Then, the degradation mechanism of ARSCC freeze–thaw damage was discussed from both macroscopic and microscopic perspectives via mass loss rate (W_n), relative dynamic modulus of elasticity (P_n), bubble spacing factor, and SEM analysis. Finally, the response surface method was utilized to determine the damage variable. A freeze–thaw damage model for ARSCC was developed based on the Weibull distribution and Grey theories. The results showed that the P_n could reflect the evolution law of the internal structure of ARSCC. Appropriate addition of AS to fill the large, harmful pores in RCA would inhibit freeze–thaw damage of ARSCC. The optimum substitution rates of AS and RCA were determined to be 20–40% and 25–50%, respectively. In addition, the values obtained from theoretical damage modeling and experiments were in good agreement. The acquired damage model had the potential to predict ARSCC damage under freeze–thaw cycles. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Geomaterials and Reinforced Structures)

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Open AccessArticle

Hybrid Machine-Learning-Based Prediction Model for the Peak Dilation Angle of Rock Discontinuities

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Materials 2023, 16(19), 6387; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16196387 - 24 Sep 2023

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Abstract

The peak dilation angle is an important mechanical feature of rock discontinuities, which is significant in assessing the mechanical behaviour of rock masses. Previous studies have shown that the efficiency and accuracy of traditional experimental methods and analytical models in determining the shear dilation angle are not completely satisfactory. Machine learning methods are popular due to their efficient prediction of outcomes for multiple influencing factors. In this paper, a novel hybrid machine learning model is proposed for predicting the peak dilation angle. The model incorporates support vector regression (SVR) techniques as the primary prediction tools, augmented with the grid search optimization algorithm to enhance prediction performance and optimize hyperparameters. The proposed model was employed on eighty-nine datasets with six input variables encompassing morphology and mechanical property parameters. Comparative analysis is conducted between the proposed model, the original SVR model, and existing analytical models. The results show that the proposed model surpasses both the original SVR model and analytical models, with a coefficient of determination (R²) of 0.917 and a mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) of 4.5%. Additionally, the study also reveals that normal stress is the most influential mechanical property parameter affecting the peak dilation angle. Consequently, the proposed model was shown to be effective in predicting the peak dilation angle of rock discontinuities. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Geomaterials and Reinforced Structures)

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Open AccessArticle

Effects of Curing Conditions on Splitting Tensile Behavior and Microstructure of Cemented Aeolian Sand Reinforced with Polypropylene Fiber

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Materials 2023, 16(19), 6347; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16196347 - 22 Sep 2023

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Abstract

Aeolian sand is widely distributed in the Takramagan Desert, Xinjiang, China, which cannot be directly used as railway subgrade filling. It is beneficial for environmental protection to use fiber and cement-reinforced aeolian sand as railway subgrade filling. The present work is to explore the enhancement of tensile strength in cemented aeolian sand via the incorporation of polypropylene fibers under conditions of elevated temperature and drying curing. The purpose Is to delve into the examination of the temperature’s impact on not only the mechanical attributes but also the microstructure of cemented aeolian sand reinforced with polypropylene fiber (CSRPF). For this, a comprehensive set of tests encompassing splitting tensile strength (STS) assessments and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) examinations is conducted. A total of 252 CSRPF specimens with varying fiber content (0, 6‰, 8‰, and 10‰) are tested at different curing temperatures (30 °C, 40 °C, 50 °C, 60 °C, 70 °C, and 80 °C). The outcomes of the NMR examinations indicate that elevating the curing temperature induces the expansion of pores within CSRPF, both in size and volume, consequently contributing to heightened internal structural deterioration. STS tests demonstrate that the STS of CSRPF decreases as the curing temperature increases. Meanwhile, the STS of CSRPF increases with fiber content, with optimal fiber content being 8‰. Regression models accurately predict the STS, with the curing temperature exhibiting the greatest influence, followed by the fiber content according to sensitivity analysis. The research results provide a valuable reference for the use of CSRPF as railway subgrade filling under high temperature and drying conditions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Geomaterials and Reinforced Structures)

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Open AccessArticle

Experimental Study on the Interface Characteristics of Reinforced Crushed Rock Cushion Layer Based on Direct Shear Tests

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Materials 2023, 16(17), 5858; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16175858 - 26 Aug 2023

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Abstract

Through indoor large-scale direct shear tests, the interface characteristics of the crushed rock cushions layer reinforced with ParaLink geogrid were studied. The test results indicate that the shear strength of the crushed rock aggregate and the interface strength parameters have a non-linear relationship with the normal stress. The addition of the geogrid reduces the shear strength of the crushed rock aggregate and the interface strength parameters, which is mainly due to the relatively large size, small thickness, and high smoothness of the geogrid. The reinforced geogrid has a significant impact on the deformation and fragmentation characteristics of the crushed rock aggregate. It effectively suppresses the shear contraction and shear dilation effects of the crushed rock aggregate, reducing its peak compression and peak dilation angle. Furthermore, it inhibits the tendency of particle fragmentation in the crushed rock aggregate. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Geomaterials and Reinforced Structures)

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Open AccessArticle

Field Investigation of the Dynamic Response of Culvert–Embankment–Culvert Transitions in a High-Speed Railway

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Materials 2023, 16(17), 5832; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16175832 - 25 Aug 2023

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Abstract

The stiffnesses of embankments and culverts differ in the transition sections of high-speed railways (HSRs) due to their different supporting conditions. The dynamic irregularity caused by the different stiffnesses makes this transition area the weakest part of high-speed railways. Graded crushed stone combined with 5% cement is typically used to fill the subgrade in these transition areas. Thus, three different particle size ratios of crushed stone were matched and tested regarding the construction parameters to explore the most suitable materials to fill the roadbed in a transition section. Then, field dynamic tests were carried out on the culvert–embankment–culvert transition area where trains run at speeds of 5–360 km/h. A time-domain analysis of the test data was performed to obtain the laws of variation that cause the dynamic characteristics to change with the railway line and roadbed layer and the changes induced by a train’s running speed, operating direction, and axle weight. The results indicate that (i) it is feasible to fill transition section roadbeds with well-graded crushed stone combined with 5% cement with optimal water contents; (ii) extreme dynamic responses in some special sections are observed, suggesting the value of taking special measures at the transition section. For example, the sections 14.5 m and 30 m from the 679 culvert and the bed layer should be specially stabilized; (iii) the train’s axle load and driving direction show a great effect on corresponding sections and layers but present a small effect on the sections and layers nearby; and (iv) 260 km/h is a critical speed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Geomaterials and Reinforced Structures)

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Open AccessArticle

Influence of Strengthened Nodes on the Mechanical Performance of Aeolian Sand–Geogrid Interface

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Materials 2023, 16(13), 4665; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16134665 - 28 Jun 2023

Viewed by 378

Abstract

Node thickening is a way to strengthen the nodes of a geogrid. Increasing the node thickness in conventional biaxial geogrids enhances the interface frictional strength parameters and improves its three-dimensional reinforcement effect. Based on the triaxial tests of aeolian sand, single-rib strip tests of geogrids, and pull-out tests of geogrid in aeolian sand, a three-dimensional discrete element pull-out model for geogrids with strengthened nodes was developed to investigate the mechanical performance of an aeolian sand–geogrid interface. The influences of increasing node thickness, the number of strengthened nodes, and the spacing between adjacent nodes on the mechanical performance of the geogrid–soil interface were extensively studied used the proposed model. The results demonstrated that strengthened nodes effectively optimize the reinforcing performance of the geogrid. Among the three node-thickening methods, that in which both the upper and lower sides of nodes are thickened showed the most significant improvement in ultimate pull-out resistance and interface friction angle. Moreover, when using the same node-thickening method, the ultimate pull-out resistance increase shows a linear relationship with the node thickness increase and the strengthened node quantity. In comparison with the conventional geogrid, the strengthened nodes in a geogrid lead to a wider shear band and a stronger ability to restrain soil displacement. When multiple strengthened nodes are simultaneously applied, there is a collective effect that is primarily influenced by the spacing between adjacent nodes. The results provide a valuable reference for optimizing the performance of geogrids and determining the spacing for geogrid installation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Geomaterials and Reinforced Structures)

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