Asymmetrical Problems and Countermeasures in Deep Excavations and Tunnelling Engineering

A special issue of Symmetry (ISSN 2073-8994).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 10 March 2026 | Viewed by 36

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
School of Civil Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
Interests: evaluation of environmental effects; interaction between soil and structures; pipeline responses to tunneling; prediction and prevention of urban surface collapse
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School of Civil and Transportation Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518061, China
Interests: shield tunnel; grouting; intel-lisense; resilience evaluation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

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Guest Editor
School of Civil Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100044, China
Interests: tunnel construction mechanics; deformation control; structure stress; foundation pit
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In the demanding fields of deep excavations and tunnelling, asymmetry is not merely an exception. It is frequently the norm, arising from complex geological formations, heterogeneous soil/rock properties, irregular geometry, unbalanced loading conditions, adjacent structures with varying foundations, staged construction sequences, and unexpected construction deviations. These asymmetrical factors introduce significant complexities that challenge conventional symmetric analysis and design approaches. They can lead to differential deformations, uneven stress distributions, increased uncertainty, construction challenges, and serviceability and safety concerns. This Special Issue aims to bridge the gap between the elegance of symmetric theory and the practical realities of asymmetric challenges in deep excavations and tunnelling. We seek to compile cutting-edge research that explicitly addresses the origin, analysis, prediction, mitigation, and management of asymmetrical problems throughout the lifecycle of these critical infrastructure projects. We invite original research articles, comprehensive reviews, and insightful case studies that explore, but are not limited to, the following aspects of asymmetry in deep excavations and tunnelling engineering:

  • Sources and Characterization of Asymmetry
  • Advanced Modeling and Analysis Techniques
  • Monitoring, Prediction, and Performance Assessment
  • Design and Mitigation Strategies

You may choose our Joint Special Issue in Buildings.

Dr. Panpan Guo
Dr. Cungang Lin
Dr. Min Zhu
Dr. Jinpeng Zhao
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. Symmetry 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

  • deep excavation
  • tunnel
  • geomechanics
  • underground engineering
  • rock
  • soil
  • asymmetry

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Published Papers

This special issue is now open for submission.
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