Research and Development of Building Pile Foundation Engineering and Underground Structure

A special issue of Buildings (ISSN 2075-5309). This special issue belongs to the section "Building Structures".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (28 February 2025) | Viewed by 3555

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
College of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Shandong University of Science and Technology, Shandong 266590, China
Interests: underground construction

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Guest Editor
College of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Shandong University of Science and Technology, Shandong 266590, China
Interests: research on mechanical properties of rocks under multi-field coupling effect

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Guest Editor
College of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Shandong University of Science and Technology, Shandong 266590, China
Interests: improvement of poor foundation soils
College of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Xi’an University of Science and Technology, Shanxi 710054, China
Interests: rock mechanics; mining engineering

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue focuses on the latest research and development trends in the field of building pile foundation engineering and underground structures. As crucial components of modern civil engineering, the safety, durability, and economic efficiency of pile foundations and underground structures have garnered significant attention. This Special Issue brings together leading scholars and researchers from around the world to delve into various aspects, including pile foundation types and design theories, construction techniques and equipment, inspection and monitoring, and seismic resistance and disaster prevention. We aim to showcase the cutting-edge technologies and research achievements in this field, foster collaborations and exchanges between academia and industry, and jointly drive the sustained development and innovation of building pile foundation engineering and underground structures.

Dr. Xuxu Yang
Dr. Zhe Qin
Dr. Yankai Wu
Dr. Lei Wang
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • construction piling
  • design and construction theory
  • soft and weak soil treatment
  • intelligent ground treatment technology
  • design and construction theory
  • tunnel pre-reinforcement technology
  • support structure design
  • geological condition analysis
  • monitoring and early warning system

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

27 pages, 14774 KiB  
Article
Study on Mechanical Properties of Shotcrete Arch Frames in Tunnel Engineering Considering Blasting Excavation Effect at Early Age
by Hong-Fan Wang, Zhao-Shun Jing, Shu-Jie Liu, Wei-Teng Li, Chuan-De Qi, Zhao-Nan Zeng and Hao-Chen Liu
Buildings 2025, 15(7), 1120; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15071120 - 29 Mar 2025
Viewed by 113
Abstract
Steel arches and shotcrete systems are the most commonly used forms of initial support structures in underground tunnel engineering. Blasting and excavating in tunnels constructed using the drill-and-blast method affect the synergy between the early-age concrete and the steel arch. Research on the [...] Read more.
Steel arches and shotcrete systems are the most commonly used forms of initial support structures in underground tunnel engineering. Blasting and excavating in tunnels constructed using the drill-and-blast method affect the synergy between the early-age concrete and the steel arch. Research on the performance of commonly used grid steel frames and I-steel frames in tunnel support systems under blasting vibration conducted to date is not sufficient. In this paper, an experimental instrument was developed that can apply displacement and impact loads on concrete at an early age to simulate the stress situation of a steel frame during tunnel blasting excavation, and four groups of steel-grid frame and I-frame experiments were carried out. A numerical simulation of twelve schemes was launched based on ABAQUS, considering the effects of arch curvature and the time of impact load. Results: (1) The synergistic action between the steel frame and concrete has a time effect, and the damage between rebar and concrete caused by the blasting action decreases with the age of the concrete. (2) After the impact load, the ultimate bearing capacity of the two types of steel frame decreases by 25% and 15.5%, respectively, and the bearing capacity of the I-steel concrete arch is higher than that of the grid concrete arch, but the I-steel concrete arch is greatly affected by the vibration load. (3) The impact load and curvature of the steel arch have an impact on the synergy between the steel frame and concrete, while the supporting performance of the I-frame concrete arch is more significantly decreased by the effect of blasting excavation. Full article
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17 pages, 7699 KiB  
Article
Effect of Different Static Load Test Methods on the Performance of Combined Post-Grouted Piles: A Case Study in the Dongting Lake Area
by Yu Du, Kai Qi, Run-Ze Zhang, Feng Zhou and Zhi-Hui Wan
Buildings 2025, 15(2), 179; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15020179 - 9 Jan 2025
Viewed by 636
Abstract
To investigate the effect of combined end-and-shaft post-grouting on the vertical load-bearing performance of bridge-bored piles in the Dongting Lake area of Hunan, two post-grouted piles were subjected to bi-directional O-cell and top-down load tests before and after combined end-and-shaft grouting, based on [...] Read more.
To investigate the effect of combined end-and-shaft post-grouting on the vertical load-bearing performance of bridge-bored piles in the Dongting Lake area of Hunan, two post-grouted piles were subjected to bi-directional O-cell and top-down load tests before and after combined end-and-shaft grouting, based on the Wushi to Yiyang Expressway project. A comparative analysis was conducted on the bearing capacity, deformation characteristics, and load transfer behavior of the piles before and after grouting. This study also examined the conversion coefficient γ values of different soil layers obtained from the bi-directional O-cell test for bearing capacity calculations. Additionally, the characteristic values of the end bearing capacity, obtained from the bi-directional O-cell and top-down load tests, were compared with the values calculated using the relevant formulas in the current standards, which validated the accuracy of existing regulations and traditional loading methods. The results indicate that the stress distribution along the pile shaft differed between the two test methods. In the bi-directional O-cell test, the side resistance developed from the end to the head, while in the top-down load test, it developed from the head to the end. After combined post-grouting, the ultimate bearing capacity of the piles significantly increased, with side resistance increasing by up to 81.03% and end resistance by up to 105.66%. The conversion coefficients for the side resistance in silty sand and gravel before and after grouting are 0.86 and 0.80 and 0.81 and 0.69, respectively. The characteristic values of the end bearing capacity, as measured by the bi-directional O-cell and top-down load tests, were substantially higher than those calculated using the current highway bridge and culvert standards, showing increases of 133.63% and 86.15%, respectively. These findings suggest that the current standard formulas are overly conservative. Additionally, the measured values from the top-down load test may underestimate the actual bearing capacity of piles in engineering projects. Therefore, it is recommended that future pile foundation designs incorporate both bi-directional O-cell testing and combined post-grouting techniques to optimize design solutions. Full article
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22 pages, 13458 KiB  
Article
A Method for Calculating the Bearing Capacity of Basic Members of an Underground Concrete-Filled Steel Tube Supporting Arch with a D-Shaped Cross Section
by Weiteng Li, Zijian Wang, Zhaoshun Jing, Yuanzhen Li, Yuchun Mei and Chunqing Liu
Buildings 2024, 14(12), 4014; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14124014 - 18 Dec 2024
Viewed by 551
Abstract
High-strength concrete-filled steel tube (CFST) arches have been widely applied in underground engineering, among which there are special-shaped arches such as D-shaped sections. At present, most studies have concentrated on members with square or circular sections, while relatively few studies have been conducted [...] Read more.
High-strength concrete-filled steel tube (CFST) arches have been widely applied in underground engineering, among which there are special-shaped arches such as D-shaped sections. At present, most studies have concentrated on members with square or circular sections, while relatively few studies have been conducted on D-shaped section members. In this study, firstly, D-shaped sections were initially transformed into sections with a part square and part elliptical shape using an equivalent section method. The formulas for the axial compression and pure bending bearing capacities of the basic D-shaped CFST members were deduced using unified theory, and the bearing capacity of the D-shaped members was calculated in a given case. Secondly, numerical simulations of axial compression and pure bending of the basic CFST members with three section types (square, circular, and D-shaped) were carried out using ABAQUS software. To ensure the reliability of the numerical simulations, the concrete damage constitutive model and the elastic–plastic model were adopted to simulate the core concrete and the steel tube, respectively. In the results, the axial compression and pure bending bearing capacities of the D-shaped section obtained via theoretical calculation were 2339.6 kN and 84.8 kN·m, respectively, while the results obtained via numerical simulation were 2335.8 kN and 85.4 kN·m, respectively, which were relatively close. Among the three section types of members, the D-shaped members had the highest axial compression bearing capacity, which was 1.45% and 4.58% higher than those of the circular and square section members, respectively. However, their bending moment bearing capacity was relatively low. The stress distribution of the D-shaped members presented a characteristic where the circular part dominated, and the stress transfer effect of the members was favorable. In practical engineering, when the surrounding rock pressure is high and evenly distributed, D-shaped section arches can be selected, and increasing the proportion of the square area in D-shaped sections can enhance the overall flexural capacity of arches. Full article
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12 pages, 3554 KiB  
Article
Tensile Deformability of Shotcrete in Tunnel Primary Support: A Case Study
by Shunxian Sun, Haiguang Tian, Zhanjun Zhang, Zhaoke Diao, Longhua Deng, Xuxu Yang and Chunmeng Li
Buildings 2024, 14(9), 2993; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14092993 - 21 Sep 2024
Viewed by 832
Abstract
Shotcrete strain in the primary support of a tunnel will produce non-loading strain at an early age due to the influence of its own temperature change, hardening shrinkage, spraying force, and other factors, which means that current strain-monitoring results fail to reflect the [...] Read more.
Shotcrete strain in the primary support of a tunnel will produce non-loading strain at an early age due to the influence of its own temperature change, hardening shrinkage, spraying force, and other factors, which means that current strain-monitoring results fail to reflect the real strain, and the strain value after stabilization is high. In addition, tensile strain may be evident in the final result, even exceeding the tensile warning value, but, in actuality, the on-site lining is very stable, with no cracks or damage. Therefore, it is necessary to understand the strain characteristics of shotcrete in the primary support of a tunnel. Based on the long-span tunnel project at Shishan Road Station on the Qingdao Metro Line 6, in situ and indoor pull tests of concrete strain were designed while only considering temperature change, hardening shrinkage, and spraying force. This study shows the following: (1) The strain in shotcrete is greatly affected by temperature changes, hardening shrinkage, and shotcrete force in the first three days, reaching its peak value in the second to third days, while tending to be stable at about the seventh day. (2) The real strain of the shotcrete was tested, and the warning value was adjusted from 90 με to 120 με. (3) The strain value at the third day was taken as the initial value, and the previous monitoring results were revised. The revised results align with the trends shown during real tests performed on-site, providing guidance for tunnel engineering support monitoring. Full article
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13 pages, 3728 KiB  
Article
Study on Discrete Fracture Network Model and Rock Mass Quality Evaluation of Tunnel Surrounding Rock
by Shunxian Sun, Haiguang Tian, Zhanjun Zhang, Zhaoke Diao, Longhua Deng, Xuxu Yang and Junwei Guo
Buildings 2024, 14(9), 2983; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14092983 - 20 Sep 2024
Viewed by 719
Abstract
In order to fully explore the development degree and distribution law of the structural plane of a tunnel surrounding rock in three-dimensional space, this paper studies the geometric characteristic parameters of a structural plane in the study area through field investigation, data acquisition [...] Read more.
In order to fully explore the development degree and distribution law of the structural plane of a tunnel surrounding rock in three-dimensional space, this paper studies the geometric characteristic parameters of a structural plane in the study area through field investigation, data acquisition and statistical analysis. The structural plane is divided into three dominant groups by using DIPS. v5. 103 software. The probability distribution model of occurrence, trace length, diameter and spacing of the structural plane is established. This paper focuses on the error correction of structural plane occurrence and the estimation of average trace length based on the rectangular window method. The discrete fracture network model is generated by using MATLAB R2021b software, and the discrete fracture network model is verified from three aspects: structural plane occurrence, average trace length and area density. The verification results are compared with the measured data, and the simulation results are in line with the actual situation on site. Based on the discrete fracture network model, the volume joint number of rock mass is calculated. Based on the JSR index, BQ classification method and RQD classification, the development degree of fractures and surrounding rock classification in this area are evaluated. A method of surrounding rock classification based on three evaluation indexes is discussed to comprehensively and accurately classify the quality of rock mass in this area. Full article
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