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Optimization of Complex Engineering Systems and Application of Advanced Digital...
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Optimization of Complex Engineering Systems and Application of Advanced Digital and Intelligent Technologies

A special issue of Processes (ISSN 2227-9717). This special issue belongs to the section "AI-Enabled Process Engineering".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 October 2025 | Viewed by 1389

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Yaoyao Meng

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
State Key Laboratory of Digital and Intelligent Technology for Unmanned Coal Mining, Anhui University of Science and Technology, Huainan 232001, China
Interests: disaster mechanism of deep underground engineering; deep rock mass mechanics based on 3D printing; rock mechanics and underground engineering
Prof. Dr. Tengfei Guo

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Resources Environment and Safety Engineering, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, China
Interests: rock mechanics and engineering in deep, constitutive of rock, soil, and concrete-based materials; rock blasting and rock-burst; numerical simulation for dynamic problems; structural dynamic response
Dr. Jianyou Lu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Civil Engineering and Architecture, China Three Gorges University, Yichang 443002, China
Interests: rock dynamics; rock–concrete interface
Dr. Junyu Sun

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor Assistant
School of Mechanics and Civil Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou 221116, China
Interests: nondestructive testing; pavement maintenance and rehabilitation; geophysical detection
Dr. Linli Yu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor Assistant
State Key Laboratory of Intelligent Construction and Healthy Operation and Maintenance of Deep Underground Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou 221116, China
Interests: coal gangue; concrete; composite structure; durability

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are thrilled to unveil our upcoming Special Issue, “Optimization of Complex Engineering Systems and Application of Advanced Digital and Intelligent Technologies". In this era of the rapid advancement of modern engineering, rock and concrete materials are foundational to numerous sectors, including geological engineering, deep resource exploration, infrastructure development, and energy storage. A profound comprehension of their properties and behaviors, coupled with innovative research methodologies, is crucial for driving sustainable development and technological innovation in these industries.

Recently, the fields associated with rock and concrete materials have encountered increasingly challenging environments and complex conditions. The swift progression of digital technologies like big data, cloud computing, and artificial intelligence has made intelligence, informatization, and digitalization the inevitable trajectory for the future. As a pivotal national science and technology strategy, the intelligent enhancement of engineering rock and concrete materials is imperative. This Special Issue aims to compile the latest research achievements, innovative methods, and visionary insights from across the globe, establishing a robust and authoritative platform for academic discourse among researchers, engineers, and scholars.

We invite submissions of original research articles and reviews. Potential research areas include, but are not limited to, the following:

  1. Innovative monitoring equipment and techniques for multidimensional information acquisition of rock and concrete materials.
  2. Efficient and precise machine learning methods for data analysis in rock and concrete engineering.
  3. Novel experimental and monitoring approaches for rock and concrete materials under multi-field coupling conditions.
  4. State-of-the-art artificial intelligence technologies for intelligent inversion of material parameters, rapid prediction of mechanical behavior, and optimal design of complex engineering systems.

We eagerly anticipate your contributions.

Dr. Yaoyao Meng
Prof. Dr. Tengfei Guo
Dr. Jianyou Lu
Guest Editors

Dr. Junyu Sun
Dr. Linli Yu
Guest Editor Assistants

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. Processes is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly 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 2400 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

  • complex engineering systems
  • advanced digital and intelligent technologies
  • rock and concrete materials
  • challenging environments
  • microscopic failure mechanism

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  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
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  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

21 pages, 31440 KiB  
Article
The Effects of Bedding and Holes on the Mechanical and Microfracture Behavior of Layered Limestone Based on the CZM Method
by Xiaofei Wang, Linghong Gao, Xiangxi Xu and Fei Lin
Processes 2025, 13(4), 1223; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr13041223 - 17 Apr 2025
Viewed by 148
Abstract
The mechanical and fracture behaviours of rocks are largely influenced by the rock structure and existing flaws. To study the effects of bedding and holes on the mechanical and microfracture behaviour of layered limestone, numerical specimens based on the cohesive zone model (CZM) [...] Read more.
The mechanical and fracture behaviours of rocks are largely influenced by the rock structure and existing flaws. To study the effects of bedding and holes on the mechanical and microfracture behaviour of layered limestone, numerical specimens based on the cohesive zone model (CZM) method were first established. The cracks’ initiation, propagation and penetration processes during the entire loading process were used to reveal the fracture mechanism of numerical layered limestone under different conditions. The effects of bedding angle, hole location and hole number on the peak stress, failure pattern, length of total cracks and crack ratio of numerical layered limestone were then deeply studied. The numerical results indicate that the existing holes cause damage to the numerical layered limestone at different bedding angles. The hole has stronger and weaker damage influences on the peak stress at bedding angles = 0° and 30°. The hole location has different damage degrees on the peak stress at different bedding angles. The location and number of holes have no obvious influence on the failure pattern of numerical layered limestone at bedding angle = 60° and have a strong influence on the failure pattern of numerical layered limestone at bedding angle = 30°. Under most conditions, the length of total cracks is smaller than that of the intact numerical specimen. The location and number of holes have a strong influence on the ratio of tensile and shear cracks along the matrix for numerical specimens at bedding angles = 0°, 30° and 90°. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Optimization of Complex Engineering Systems and Application of Advanced Digital and Intelligent Technologies)
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21 pages, 4734 KiB  
Article
Experimental Study on the Mechanical Properties of Cracked Limestone Reinforced by Modified Cement Grouting
by Dong Zhu, Yijiang Zong, Min Chen, Xiangling Tao and Liang Yue
Processes 2025, 13(4), 1205; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr13041205 - 16 Apr 2025
Viewed by 149
Abstract
Grouting reinforcement is a pivotal approach to enhancing the integrity and load-bearing capacity of fractures in surrounding rock. In this study, standard limestone specimens were fractured through uniaxial compression. Then, the specimens were reinforced with grouting, using ultrafine cement paste containing varying mass [...] Read more.
Grouting reinforcement is a pivotal approach to enhancing the integrity and load-bearing capacity of fractures in surrounding rock. In this study, standard limestone specimens were fractured through uniaxial compression. Then, the specimens were reinforced with grouting, using ultrafine cement paste containing varying mass fractions of enhancers and a grouting apparatus developed by the authors. After the specimens were cured under standard conditions for 28 days, CT scanning technology was used to investigate the microstructure and grouting effect characteristics of grouted bodies containing different mass fractions of enhancers from a mesoscopic perspective. Then, uniaxial compression tests were conducted on those grouted specimens. The experimental results revealed that the content of the enhancer significantly affected the post-peak characteristics, mechanical parameters, and failure modes of the grouted specimens. When the content of the enhancer increased from 2.50 wt.% to 15.00 wt.%, the uniaxial compressive strength of the grouted specimens exhibited a positive correlation with the enhancer content, with the maximum improvement rate reaching 18.10% compared to the residual strength. However, when the enhancer content ranged from 15.00 wt.% to 20.00 wt.%, the uniaxial compressive strength was negatively correlated with the enhancer content. At an enhancer content of 15.00 wt.%, the overall stability of the grouted specimens was optimal, with all mechanical parameters reaching their maximum values. Utilizing three-dimensional CT scanning and reconstruction technology, it was observed that when the enhancer content was less than 15.00 wt.%, the cracks were concentrated in the limestone matrix rather than in the grouted solid in the edge regions of grouted specimens. However, in the whole specimens, the cracks in the grouted solid exceeded that in the limestone matrix. Conversely, when the enhancer content was greater than 17.50 wt.%, the grouted solid was predominantly distributed within the edge fissures of the specimens, while the internal regions exhibited a lower volume fraction of the grouted solid. In this scenario, the volume fraction of the grouted solid in the specimens was significantly lower than that of the fissures. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Optimization of Complex Engineering Systems and Application of Advanced Digital and Intelligent Technologies)
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18 pages, 11277 KiB  
Article
Mechanical Characteristics and Mechanisms of Destruction of Trapezoidal Sandstone Samples Under Uneven Loading
by Bao Pan, Weijian Yu, Ke Li, Zilu Liu, Tao Huang and Jie Yang
Processes 2025, 13(4), 1169; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr13041169 - 12 Apr 2025
Viewed by 255
Abstract
Predicting rock failure under excavation-induced non-uniform stress remains challenging due to the inability of conventional homogeneous specimens to replicate field-scale stress gradients. A novel trapezoidal sandstone specimen with adjustable top-surface inclinations (S75/S85) is proposed, uniquely simulating asymmetric stress gradients to mimic excavation unloading. [...] Read more.
Predicting rock failure under excavation-induced non-uniform stress remains challenging due to the inability of conventional homogeneous specimens to replicate field-scale stress gradients. A novel trapezoidal sandstone specimen with adjustable top-surface inclinations (S75/S85) is proposed, uniquely simulating asymmetric stress gradients to mimic excavation unloading. Geometric asymmetry combined with multi-scale characterization (CT, SEM, PFC) decouples stress gradient effects from material heterogeneity. The key findings include the following points. (1) Inclination angles > 15° reduce peak strength by 24.2%, transitioning failure from brittle (transgranular cracks > 60) to mixed brittle-ductile modes (2) Stress gradients govern fracture pathways: transgranular cracks dominate high-stress zones, while intergranular cracks propagate along weak cementation interfaces. (3) PFC simulations reveal a 147% stress disparity between specimen sides and validate shear localization angles θ = 52° ± 3°), aligning with field data. This experimental–numerical framework resolves limitations of traditional methods, providing mechanistic insights into non-uniform load-driven failure. The methodology enables targeted support strategies for deep asymmetric roadways, including shear band mitigation and plastic zone reinforcement. By bridging lab-scale tests and engineering stress states, the study advances safety and sustainability in deep roadway excavation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Optimization of Complex Engineering Systems and Application of Advanced Digital and Intelligent Technologies)
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19 pages, 10551 KiB  
Article
Study on the Evolution Law and Theoretical Solution of a Freezing Temperature Field in Transcritical CO2 Ultra-Low Temperature Formation
by Zihao Zhang, Bin Wang, Xiuling Liang, Chuanxin Rong and Zhongbao Ye
Processes 2025, 13(4), 1154; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr13041154 - 10 Apr 2025
Viewed by 279
Abstract
This study explored the feasibility of applying transcritical CO2 in an artificial ground freezing method. By carrying out indoor modeling tests, the temperature field evolution law and the development characteristics of the freezing front during the freezing process of transcritical CO2 [...] Read more.
This study explored the feasibility of applying transcritical CO2 in an artificial ground freezing method. By carrying out indoor modeling tests, the temperature field evolution law and the development characteristics of the freezing front during the freezing process of transcritical CO2 in a sand layer were analyzed, and the freezing effect of transcritical CO2 was compared with that of traditional alcohol. The theoretical solution of the freezing temperature field was derived, and the accuracy of the theoretical analytical solution was verified by test results. The results showed that the freezing efficiency of transcritical CO2 was significantly higher than that of alcohol. After 6 h of freezing, the temperature range of the measuring point (C1–C7/C10–C16) can reach −28 °C–3.5 °C, and the freezing front radius exceeded 60 mm. The temperature range of the alcohol measuring point (J1–J7/J10–J16) was only −12.6 °C–8.8 °C, and it took 24 h to achieve the same radius. The test data were in good agreement with the theoretically predicted values, verifying the rationality of the theoretical formula. Freezing temperature Td had a significant influence on the calculation results of freezing front radius. After transcritical CO2 freezing for 24 h, the difference in the freezing front radius R(Td = −2) reached 8.02 mm when the freezing temperature Td was −2 °C and 0 °C. The difference in the freezing front radius caused by the freezing temperature Td was concentrated in the range of 1.5–8.1 mm, and the difference in the effect on different types of refrigerants was small. The research results not only confirm the feasibility of the application of transcritical CO2 in the freezing method but also provide test data and experience for engineering applications, which promotes the innovation and development of freezing method technology. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Optimization of Complex Engineering Systems and Application of Advanced Digital and Intelligent Technologies)
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