Risk Management Technologies for Deep Excavations in Water-Rich Areas, 2nd Edition

A special issue of Water (ISSN 2073-4441). This special issue belongs to the section "Hydrogeology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 May 2024 | Viewed by 1754

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
School of Civil Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei 230009, China
Interests: geotechnical engineering; tunnelling; excavation; soil mechanics; rock mechanics
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Due to the adverse effect of high hydraulic head pressure, deep excavations in water-rich areas inevitably involve a relatively high risk of instabilities, such as water burst, mud gushing, and sand inrush, which might result in large-scale failures that endanger human lives, personal property, and economic balance. Risk management for deep excavations in water-rich areas is a systematic process of identifying potential hazards and mitigating them in order to maintain a specified degree of safety throughout the duration of the project. In engineering practice, the most commonly adopted countermeasure against water infiltration induced by great water head difference is carrying out dewatering during excavation. However, improper dewatering can yield unbalanced ground stress, which gives rise to overlarge ground movements, lateral wall deformations, and the collapse or failure of adjacent buildings and infrastructures.

The objective of this Special Issue is to provide a platform for researchers to report new advances in risk management technologies for deep excavations in water-rich areas and their many applications. Both original research and review articles are welcome.

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

  • The role of groundwater in affecting the stability of deep excavations;
  • Methods for assessing the risks in various stages;
  • The identification of hazards during the entire phase;
  • Precautions for reducing the risk of certain dangers;
  • In situ instrumentation methods and result interpretation;
  • Environmental effects of deep excavations;
  • The mechanism of soil–groundwater–structure interactions;
  • Innovations in excavation supporting systems;
  • The numerical modeling of three-dimensional deep excavation behavior;
  • Analytical methods for predicting risks and responses.

Prof. Dr. Yixian Wang
Dr. Panpan Guo
Prof. Dr. Hang Lin
Prof. Dr. Yanlin Zhao
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • groundwater
  • hydrogeology
  • geotechnical engineering
  • deep excavation
  • risk management
  • ground deformation

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

14 pages, 6526 KiB  
Article
Effect of Freeze–Thaw Cycles on Microstructure and Hydraulic Characteristics of Claystone: A Case Study of Slope Stability from Open-Pit Mines in Wet Regions
by Zhifang Liu, Yang Xiang, Wei Liu, Jianyu Huang, Zhu Liang, Qinghua Zhang and Wenlong Li
Water 2024, 16(5), 640; https://doi.org/10.3390/w16050640 - 22 Feb 2024
Viewed by 649
Abstract
The action of freeze–thaw (F–T) cycles of claystone exerts a profound impact on the slope stability of open-pit mines in water-rich regions. Microstructural changes are observed as a crucial factor in determining the hydraulic characteristics and mechanical behaviors of claystone. The present work [...] Read more.
The action of freeze–thaw (F–T) cycles of claystone exerts a profound impact on the slope stability of open-pit mines in water-rich regions. Microstructural changes are observed as a crucial factor in determining the hydraulic characteristics and mechanical behaviors of claystone. The present work integrates a micro-X-ray computed tomography (Micro-CT) scanner, equipped with image processing and three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction capabilities, employed to observe the microstructure of claystone under varying numbers of F–T cycles (0, 10, 20, 30, and 50). Furthermore, seepage numerical simulations based on Micro-CT measurements are conducted to evaluate the hydraulic characteristics. Through meticulous microscopic observation and mechanical analysis, the damage mechanism induced by F–T cycles is revealed and the evolutionary characteristics are analyzed. The two-dimensional (2D) images of 3D reconstructed models unveil the gradual initiation propagation and coalescence of an intricate fissuring network in claystone during the F–T cycles. As the number of F–T cycles increases from 0 to 50, the 3D porosity exhibits exponential growth. Additionally, the influence of F–T cycles substantially enhances the connectivity of fissures. The seepage numerical simulations demonstrate that the evolutionary progression of fissures substantially augments the number of flow paths and enhances permeability. The increase in permeability follows an exponential trend, reflecting the distribution and evolution of fissures under F–T cycles. The impact on permeability arises from a combination of micromechanical properties and the microstructure of claystones. The present research tries to elucidate the microscopic evolution of fissures and their corresponding hydraulic properties in water-saturated claystone, offering significant insights for investigating the slope stability of open-pit mines in regions. Full article
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15 pages, 8433 KiB  
Article
Stability Analysis of Super-Large Special-Shaped Deep Excavation in Coastal Water-Rich Region Considering Spatial Variability of Ground Parameters
by Zaixing Xu, Shimin Guo, Leilei Guo, Panpan Guo, Huying Ding, Kui Liu, Bao Xu, Bangbiao Wu, Wenbing Wu and Yixian Wang
Water 2024, 16(1), 98; https://doi.org/10.3390/w16010098 - 26 Dec 2023
Viewed by 759
Abstract
The excavation of a super-large foundation pit is a greatly risky project in coastal water-rich silt strata, and it is of great significance to establish a numerical model to analyze and predict the stability of the foundation pit retaining its structure for safe [...] Read more.
The excavation of a super-large foundation pit is a greatly risky project in coastal water-rich silt strata, and it is of great significance to establish a numerical model to analyze and predict the stability of the foundation pit retaining its structure for safe construction. Based on a geological investigation report and key node monitoring data, the model parameters have been modified. Subsequently, the random field theory and numerical analysis were employed to proceed with deterministic analysis and uncertainty analysis, respectively. Using the uniform distribution method, Gaussian distribution method and the covariance matrix method to generate a random field model, finite difference software was applied to analyze the impact of spatial variability of cohesion and the internal friction angle on structural deformation. The study shows that the overall distribution of axial force is small on both sides and large in the center, and the axial force is larger near the shaped region. Due to the principle of “lever”, there is a tendency for the horizontal displacement of surrounding piles to partially rebound from the pit when the bearing platform pit is excavated. The spatial variability of the internal friction angle and cohesion has an important influence on the numerical value of the enclosure structure and surface deformation, and the variation pattern is basically unchanged. Full article
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