This study focuses on the bending failure performance of a shield tunnel segment. A full-scale test was conducted to investigate deformation and failure characteristics. During the loading, the bending failure process can be divided into four stages: the elastic stage, working stage with cracks, failure stage, and ultimate stage. The characteristic loads between contiguous stages are the cracking, failure, and ultimate loads. A numerical model corresponding to the test was established using the elastoplastic damage constitutive model of concrete. After a comparative analysis of the simulation and test results, parametric studies were performed to discuss the influence of the reinforcement ratio and proportion of tensile longitudinal reinforcement on the bearing capacity. The results indicated that the change in the reinforcement ratio and the proportion of tensile longitudinal reinforcement had little effect on the cracking load but significantly influenced the failure and ultimate loads of the segment. It is suggested that in the reinforcement design of the subway segment, the reinforcement ratio and the proportion of tensile longitudinal reinforcement can be chosen in the range of 0.7%–1.2% and 49%–55%, respectively, allowing the segment to effectively use the reinforcement and exert the design strength, thereby improving the bearing capacity of the segment.

To realize seismic-resilient reinforced concrete (RC) moment-resisting frame structures, a novel self-centering RC column with a rubber layer placed at the bottom (SRRC column) is proposed herein. For the column, the longitudinal reinforcement dissipates seismic energy, the rubber layer allows the rocking of the column, and the unbonded prestressed tendon enables self-centering capacity. A refined finite element model of the SRRC column is developed, the effectiveness of which is validated based on experimental results. Results show that the SRRC column exhibits stable energy dissipation capacity and no strength degradation; additionally, it can significantly reduce permanent residual deformation and mitigate damage to concrete. Extensive parametric studies pertaining to SRRC columns have been conducted to investigate the critical factors affecting their seismic performance.

The integrity and bearing capacity of segment joints in shield tunnels are associated closely with the mechanical properties of the joints. This study focuses on the mechanical characteristics and mechanism of a bolted circumferential joint during the entire bearing process. Simplified analytical algorithms for four stress stages are established to describe the bearing behaviors of the joint under a compressive bending load. A height adjustment coefficient, α, for the outer concrete compression zone is introduced into a simplified analytical model. Factors affecting α are determined, and the degree of influence of these factors is investigated via orthogonal numerical simulations. The numerical results show that α can be specified as approximately 0.2 for most metro shield tunnels in China. Subsequently, a case study is performed to verify the rationality of the simplified theoretical analysis for the segment joint via numerical simulations and experiments. Using the proposed simplified analytical algorithms, a parametric investigation is conducted to discuss the factors affecting the ultimate compressive bending capacity of the joint. The method for optimizing the joint flexural stiffness is clarified. The results of this study can provide a theoretical basis for optimizing the design and prediciting the damage of bolted segment joints in shield tunnels.

This study modeled the moving-vehicle-induced forcing excitation on a single-span prismatic bridge as a multiple frequency-multiplication harmonic load on the modal coordinates of a linear elastic simple Euler–Bernoulli beam, and investigated the forced modal oscillation and resonance behavior of this type of dynamic system. The forced modal responses consist of multiple frequency-multiplication steady-state harmonics and one damped mono-frequency complementary harmonic. The analysis revealed that a moving load induces high-harmonic forced resonance amplification when the moving speed is low. To verify the occurrence of high-harmonic forced resonance, numerical tests were conducted on single-span simple beams based on structural modeling using the finite element method (FEM) and a moving sprung-mass oscillator vehicle model. The forced resonance amplification characteristics of the fundamental mode for beam response estimation are presented with consideration to different end restraint conditions. The results reveal that the high-harmonic forced resonance may be significant for the investigated beams subjected to vehicle loads moving at specific low speeds. For the investigated single-span simple beams, the moving vehicle carriage heaving oscillation modulates the beam modal frequency, but does not induce notable variation of the modal oscillation harmonic structure for the cases that vehicle of small mass moves in low speed.

The tunnel boring machine (TBM) is typically used in hard-rock tunnel excavation. Owing to the unsatisfactory adaptability of TBM to the surrounding rock, when crossing high-strength and high-wear strata, the TBM can easily cause defects, such as abnormal wear on cutters and overload damage to bearings, thus affecting the construction efficiency and cost. Therefore, high-pressure waterjet technology should be applied to assist in rock breaking for efficient TBM tunneling. In this study, the effects of water pressure, nozzle diameter, and nozzle speed on cutting are investigated via laboratory experiments of cutting hard rock using high-pressure waterjets. The penetration performance of the TBM under different water pressures is investigated via a field industrial penetration test. The results show that high-pressure waterjets are highly efficient for rock breaking and are suitable for industrial applications, as they can accommodate the advancing speed of the TBM and achieve high-efficiency rock breaking. However, during the operation of high-pressure waterjets, the ambient temperature and waterjet temperature in the tunnel increase significantly, which weakens the cooling effect of the cutterhead and decreases the construction efficiency of the TBM. Therefore, temperature control and cooling measures for high-pressure waterjets during their long-term operation must be identified. This study provides a useful reference for the design and construction of high-pressure water-jet-assisted cutterheads for breaking road headers.

The moving trajectory of the pipe-jacking machine (PJM), which primarily determines the end quality of jacked tunnels, must be controlled strictly during the entire jacking process. Developing prediction models to support drivers in performing rectifications in advance can effectively avoid considerable trajectory deviations from the designed jacking axis. Hence, a gated recurrent unit (GRU)-based deep learning framework is proposed herein to dynamically predict the moving trajectory of the PJM. In this framework, operational data are first extracted from a data acquisition system; subsequently, they are preprocessed and used to establish GRU-based multivariate multistep-ahead direct prediction models. To verify the performance of the proposed framework, a case study of a large pipe-jacking project in Shanghai and comparisons with other conventional models (i.e., long short-term memory (LSTM) network and recurrent neural network (RNN)) are conducted. In addition, the effects of the activation function and input time-step length on the prediction performance of the proposed framework are investigated and discussed. The results show that the proposed framework can dynamically and precisely predict the PJM moving trajectory during the pipe-jacking process, with a minimum mean absolute error and root mean squared error (RMSE) of 0.1904 and 0.5011 mm, respectively. The RMSE of the GRU-based models is lower than those of the LSTM- and RNN-based models by 21.46% and 46.40% at the maximum, respectively. The proposed framework is expected to provide an effective decision support for moving trajectory control and serve as a foundation for the application of deep learning in the automatic control of pipe jacking.

The seismic performance of a fully fabricated bridge is a key factor limiting its application. In this study, a fiber element model of a fabricated concrete pier with grouting sleeve-prestressed tendon composite connections was built and verified. A numerical analysis of three types of continuous girder bridges was conducted with different piers: a cast-in-place reinforced concrete pier, a grouting sleeve-fabricated pier, and a grouting sleeve-prestressed tendon composite fabricated pier. Furthermore, the seismic performance of the composite fabricated pier was investigated. The results show that the OpenSees fiber element model can successfully simulate the hysteresis behavior and failure mode of the grouted sleeve-fabricated pier. Under traditional non-near-fault ground motions, the pier top displacements of the grouting sleeve-fabricated pier and the composite fabricated pier were less than those of the cast-in-place reinforced concrete pier. The composite fabricated pier had a good self-centering capability. In addition, the plastic hinge zones of the grouting sleeve-fabricated pier and the composite fabricated pier shifted to the joint seam and upper edge of the grouting sleeve, respectively. The composite fabricated pier with optimal design parameters has good seismic performance and can be applied in high-intensity seismic areas; however, the influence of pile-soil interaction on its seismic performance should not be ignored.

Aerodynamic instability owing to aerostatic and flutter-related failures is a significant concern in the wind-resistant design of long-span suspension bridges. Based on the dynamic characteristics of suspension bridges with spans ranging from 888 to 1991 m, we proposed fitted equations for increasing spans and base frequencies. Finite element models of suspension bridges with increasing span from 1000 to 5000 m were constructed. The structural parameters were optimized to follow the fitted tendencies. To analyze the aerodynamic instability, streamlined single-box section (SBS), lattice truss section (LTS), narrow slotted section (NSS), and wide slotted section (WSS) were considered. We performed three-dimensional (3-D) full-mode flutter analysis and nonlinear aerostatic instability analysis. The flutter critical wind speed continuously decreases with span growth, showing an unlimited approaching phenomenon. Regarding aerostatic instability, the instability wind speed decreases with span to approximately 3000 m, and increases when the span is in the range of 3000 to 5000 m. Minimum aerostatic instability wind speed with SBS or LTS girder would be lower than observed maximal gust wind speed, indicating the probability of aerostatic instability. This study proposes that suspension bridge with span approximately 3000 m should be focused on both aerostatic instability and flutter, and more aerodynamic configuration optimistic optimizations for flutter are essential for super long-span suspension bridges with spans longer than 3000 m.

An efficient reliability-based design optimization method for the support structures of monopile offshore wind turbines is proposed herein. First, parametric finite element analysis (FEA) models of the support structure are established by considering stochastic variables. Subsequently, a surrogate model is constructed using a radial basis function (RBF) neural network to replace the time-consuming FEA. The uncertainties of loads, material properties, key sizes of structural components, and soil properties are considered. The uncertainty of soil properties is characterized by the variabilities of the unit weight, friction angle, and elastic modulus of soil. Structure reliability is determined via Monte Carlo simulation, and five limit states are considered, i.e., structural stresses, tower top displacements, mudline rotation, buckling, and natural frequency. Based on the RBF surrogate model and particle swarm optimization algorithm, an optimal design is established to minimize the volume. Results show that the proposed method can yield an optimal design that satisfies the target reliability and that the constructed RBF surrogate model significantly improves the optimization efficiency. Furthermore, the uncertainty of soil parameters significantly affects the optimization results, and increasing the monopile diameter is a cost-effective approach to cope with the uncertainty of soil parameters.

In recent years, concrete and reinforced concrete piles have been widely used to stabilize soft ground under embankments. Previous research has shown that bending failure, particularly during rapid filling on soft ground, is the critical failure mode for pile-supported embankments. Here, we propose an efficient two-stage method that combines a test-verified soil deformation mechanism and Poulos’ solution for pile–soil interaction to investigate the bending behavior of piles supporting embankments on soft ground. The results reveal that there are three possible bending failure scenarios for such piles: at the interface between the soft and firm ground layers, at mid-depths of the fan zone, and at the boundary of the soil deformation mechanism. The location of the bending failure depends on the position and relative stiffness of the given pile. Furthermore, the effect of embedding a pile into a firm ground layer on the bending behavior was investigated. When the embedded length of a pile exceeded a critical value, the bending moment at the interface between the soft and firm ground layers reached a limiting value. In addition, floating piles that are not embedded exhibit an overturning pattern of movement in the soft ground layer, and a potential failure is located in the upper part of these piles.

The main objective of this study is to further extend the mixed integration smoothed quadrilateral element with 20 unknowns of displacement (MISQ20) to investigate the nonlinear dynamic responses of functionally graded carbon nanotube-reinforced composite (FG-CNTRC) plates with four types of carbon nanotube distributions. The smooth finite element method is used to enhance the accuracy of the Q4 element and avoid shear locking without using any shear correction factors. This method yields accurate results even if the element exhibits a concave quadrilateral shape and reduces the error when the element meshing is rough. Additionally, the element stiffness matrix is established by integrating the boundary of the smoothing domains. The motion equation of the FG-CNTRC plates is solved by adapting the Newmark method combined with the Newton–Raphson algorithm. Subsequently, the calculation program is coded in the MATLAB software and verified by comparing it with other published solutions. Finally, the effects of the input parameters on the nonlinear vibration of the plates are investigated.

Seismic analysis of historical masonry bridges is important for authorities in all countries hosting such cultural heritage assets. The masonry arch bridge investigated in this study was built during the Roman period and is on the island of Rhodes, in Greece. Fifteen seismic records were considered and categorized as far-field, pulse-like near-field, and non-pulse-like near-field. The earthquake excitations were scaled to a target spectrum, and nonlinear time-history analyses were performed in the transverse direction. The performance levels were introduced based on the pushover curve, and the post-earthquake damage state of the bridge was examined. According to the results, pulse-like near-field events are more damaging than non-pulse-like near-field ground motions. Additionally the bridge is more vulnerable to far-field excitations than near-field events. Furthermore, the structure will suffer extensive post-earthquake damage and must be retrofitted.

Based on significant improvements in engineering materials, three advanced engineering measures have been proposed—super anchor cables, high-strength concrete anti-fault caverns, and grouting modification using high-strength concrete-to resist fault dislocation in the surrounding rock near tunnels crossing active strike-slip faults. Moreover, single- or multiple-joint advanced engineering measures form the local rock mass-anti-fault (LRAF) method. A numerical method was used to investigate the influence of LRAF methods on the stress and displacement fields of the surrounding rock, and the anti-fault effect was evaluated. Finally, the mechanism of action of the anchor cable was verified using a three-dimensional numerical model. The numerical results indicated that the anchor cable and grouting modification reduced the displacement gradient of the local surrounding rock near the tunnels crossing fault. Furthermore, anchor cable and grouting modifications changed the stress field of the rock mass in the modified area. The tensile stress field of the rock mass in the modified anchor cable area was converted into a compressive stress field. The stress field in the modified grouting area changed from shear stress in the fault slip direction to tensile stress in the axial tunnel direction. The anti-fault cavern resisted the dislocation displacement and reduced the maximum dislocation magnitude, displacement gradient, and shear stress. Among the three advanced engineering measures, the anchor cable was the core of the three advanced engineering measures. An anchor cable, combined with other LRAF measures, can form an artificial safety island at the cross-fault position of the rock mass to protect the tunnel. The research results provide a new supporting idea for the surrounding rock of tunnels crossing active strike-slip faults.

The grade crossings and adjacent pavements of urban trams are generally subjected to complex load conditions and are susceptible to damage. Therefore, in this study, a novel pavement structure between tram tracks and roads constructed using polyurethane (PU) elastic concrete and ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC), referred to as a track-road transitional pavement (TRTP), is proposed. Subsequently, its performance and feasibility are evaluated using experimental and numerical methods. First, the mechanical properties of the PU elastic concrete are evaluated. The performance of the proposed structure is investigated using a three-dimensional finite element model, where vehicle-induced dynamic and static loads are considered. The results show that PU elastic concrete and the proposed combined TRTP are applicable and functioned as intended. Additionally, the PU elastic concrete achieved sufficient performance. The recommended width of the TRTP is approximately 50 mm. Meanwhile, the application of UHPC under a PU elastic concrete layer significantly reduces vertical deformation. Results of numerical calculations confirmed the high structural performance and feasibility of the proposed TRTP. Finally, material performance standards are recommended to provide guidance for pavement design and the construction of tram-grade crossings in the future.

Model tests and numerical calculations were adopted based on the New Yuanliangshan tunnel project to investigate the water pressure resistance of lining construction joints in high-pressure and water-rich karst tunnels. A large-scale model test was designed and conducted, innovatively transforming the external water pressure of the lining construction joint into internal water pressure. The effects of the embedded position and waterstop type on the water pressure resistance of the construction joint were analyzed, and the reliability of the model test was verified via numerical calculations. The results show that using waterstops can significantly improve the water pressure resistance of lining construction joints. The water pressure resistance of the lining construction joint is positively correlated with the lining thickness and embedded depth of the waterstop. In addition, the type of waterstop significantly influences the water pressure resistance of lining construction joints. The test results show that the water pressure resistance of the embedded transverse reinforced waterstop is similar to that of the steel plate waterstop, and both have more advantages than the rubber waterstop. The water pressure resistance of the construction joint determined via numerical calculations is similar to the model test results, indicating that the model test results have high accuracy and reliability. This study provides a reference for similar projects and has wide applications.

Prefabricated internal structures of road tunnels, consisting of precast elements and the connections between them, provide advantages in terms of quality control and manufacturing costs. However, the limited construction space in tunnels creates challenges for on-site assembly. To identify feasible connecting joints, flexural tests of precast straight beams connected by welding-spliced or lap-spliced reinforcements embedded in normal concrete or ultra-high-performance fiber-reinforced concrete (UHPFRC) are first performed and analyzed. With an improvement in the strength grade of the closure concrete for the lap-spliced joint, the failure of the beam transforms from a brittle splitting mode to a ductile flexural mode. The beam connected by UHPFRC100 with short lap-spliced reinforcements can achieve almost equivalent mechanical performance in terms of the bearing capacity, ductility, and stiffness as the beam connected by normal concrete with welding-spliced reinforcements. This favorable solution is then applied to the connection of neighboring updeck slabs resting on columns in a double-deck tunnel. The applicability is validated by flexural tests of T-shaped joints, which, fail in a ductile fashion dominated by the ultimate bearing capacity of the precast elements, similar to the corresponding straight beam. The utilization of UHPFRC significantly reduces the required lap-splice length of reinforcements owing to its strong bonding strength.

In this study, the effect of fiber angle on the tensile load-bearing performance and damage failure characteristics of glass composite laminates was investigated experimentally, analytically, and numerically. The glass fabric in the laminate was perfectly aligned along the load direction (i.e., at 0°), offset at angles of 30° and 45°, or mixed in different directions (i.e., 0°/30° or 0°/45°). The composite laminates were fabricated using vacuum-assisted resin molding. The influence of fiber orientation angle on the mechanical properties and stiffness degradation of the laminates was studied via cyclic tensile strength tests. Furthermore, simulations have been conducted using finite element analysis and analytical approaches to evaluate the influence of fiber orientation on the mechanical performance of glass laminates. Experimental testing revealed that, although the composite laminates laid along the 0° direction exhibited the highest stiffness and strength, their structural performance deteriorated rapidly. We also determined that increasing the fiber offset angle (i.e., 30°) could optimize the mechanical properties and damage failure characteristics of glass laminates. The results of the numerical and analytical approaches demonstrated their ability to capture the mechanical behavior and damage failure modes of composite laminates with different fiber orientations, which may be used to prevent the catastrophic failures that occur in composite laminates.

Concrete is the most commonly used construction material. However, its production leads to high carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions and energy consumption. Therefore, developing waste-substitutable concrete components is necessary. Improving the sustainability and greenness of concrete is the focus of this research. In this regard, 899 data points were collected from existing studies where cement, slag, fly ash, superplasticizer, coarse aggregate, and fine aggregate were considered potential influential factors. The complex relationship between influential factors and concrete compressive strength makes the prediction and estimation of compressive strength difficult. Instead of the traditional compressive strength test, this study combines five novel metaheuristic algorithms with extreme gradient boosting (XGB) to predict the compressive strength of green concrete based on fly ash and blast furnace slag. The intelligent prediction models were assessed using the root mean square error (RMSE), coefficient of determination (R²), mean absolute error (MAE), and variance accounted for (VAF). The results indicated that the squirrel search algorithm-extreme gradient boosting (SSA-XGB) yielded the best overall prediction performance with R² values of 0.9930 and 0.9576, VAF values of 99.30 and 95.79, MAE values of 0.52 and 2.50, RMSE of 1.34 and 3.31 for the training and testing sets, respectively. The remaining five prediction methods yield promising results. Therefore, the developed hybrid XGB model can be introduced as an accurate and fast technique for the performance prediction of green concrete. Finally, the developed SSA-XGB considered the effects of all the input factors on the compressive strength. The ability of the model to predict the performance of concrete with unknown proportions can play a significant role in accelerating the development and application of sustainable concrete and furthering a sustainable economy.

Parallel wire strands (PWSs), which are widely used in prestressed steel structures, are typically in high-stress states. Under fire conditions, significant creep effects occur, reducing the prestress and influencing the mechanical behavior of PWSs. As there is no existing approach to analyze their creep behavior, this study experimentally investigated the elevated temperature creep model of PWSs. A charge-coupled camera system was incorporated to accurately obtain the deformation of the specimen during the elevated temperature creep test. It was concluded that the temperature level had a more significant effect on the creep strain than the stress level, and 450 °C was the key segment point where the creep rate varied significantly. By comparing the elevated temperature creep test results for PWSs and steel strands, it was found that the creep strain of PWSs was lower than that of steel strands at the same temperature and stress levels. The parameters in the general empirical formula, the Bailey–Norton model, and the composite time-hardening model were fitted based on the experimental results. By evaluating the accuracy and form of the models, the composite time-hardening model, which can simultaneously consider temperature, stress, and time, is recommended for use in the fire-resistance design of pre-tensioned structures with PWSs.

The performance of a new fiber-reinforced cementitious matrix (FRCM) system developed using custom-designed mortar and fabrics is investigated in this study. The behavior of this system is evaluated in terms of both the flexural and shear strengthening of reinforced concrete beams. Eight beams are designed to assess the effectiveness of the FRCM system in terms of flexural strengthening, and four specimens are designed to investigate their shear behavior. The parameters investigated for flexural strengthening are the number of layers, span/depth ratio, and the strengthening method. Unlike previous studies, custom fabrics with similar axial stiffness are used in all strengthening methods in this study. In the shear-strengthened specimens, the effects of the span/depth ratio and strengthening system type (fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) or FRCM) are investigated. The proposed FRCM system exhibits desirable flexural and shear strengthening for enhancing the load capacity, provides sufficient bonding with the substrate, and prevents premature failure modes. Considering the similar axial stiffness of fabrics used in both FRCM and FRP systems and the higher load capacity of specimens strengthened by the former, cement-based mortar performs better than epoxy.

To investigate the mechanical process that occurs between rocks and tooth hobs, the crushing of sandstone with a tooth hob was simulated using reconstructed multi-mineral mesoscopic numerical models of various grain-sized sandstone samples. When a piece of sandstone is crushed by the tooth of a hob rolling at a constant speed, the resultant reaction forces of the sandstone on the tooth first hinder and then contribute to the rolling of the hob. The absolute value of the longitudinal reaction force is significantly higher than that of the lateral reaction force. Because the tooth was subjected to reaction forces from the sandstone, forces and moments were applied to the hob in order to keep the hob rolling. The applied forces were equal in value and opposite in direction to the reaction forces of the sandstone on the tooth. Three typical curves of the work done by the applied forces and moment were obtained, and the contribution of the applied lateral force and moment to the total work done for crushing sandstones was variable; however, no work was done by the applied longitudinal force. Moreover, the applied longitudinal force and total work were positively correlated with the strength of sandstone samples. The total work, applied forces, and moment increased with the maximum penetration depth of the tooth in the sandstone.

Extrudability is one of the most critical factors when designing three-dimensional printable foam concrete. The extrusion process likely affects the foam stability which necessitates the investigation into surfactant properties particularly for concrete mixes with high foam contents. Although many studies have been conducted on traditional foam concrete in this context, studies on three-dimensional printed foam concrete are scarce. To address this research gap, the effects of surfactant characteristics on the stability, extrudability, and buildability of three-dimensional printed foam concrete mixes with two design densities (1000 and 1300 kg/m³) using two different surfactants and stabilizers (synthetic-based sodium lauryl sulfate stabilized with carboxymethyl cellulose sodium salt, and natural-based hingot surfactant stabilized with xanthan gum) were investigated in this study. Fresh density tests were conducted before and after the extrusion to determine stability of the foam concrete. The results were then correlated with surfactant qualities, such as viscosity and surface tension, to understand the importance of key parameters in three-dimensional printing of foam concrete. Based on the experimental results, surfactant solu1tion with viscosity exceeding 5 mPa·s and surface tension lower than 31 mN/m was recommended to yield stable three-dimensional printable foam concrete mixes. Nevertheless, the volume of foam in the mix significantly affected the printability characteristics. Unlike traditional foam concrete, the variation in the stabilizer concentration and density of concrete were found to have insignificant effect on the fresh-state-characteristics (slump, slump flow, and static yield stress) and air void microstructure of the stable mixes.

Three-dimensional concrete printing (3DCP) is increasingly being applied in harsh environments and isolated regions. However, the effective utilization of aeolian sand (AS) resources and by-products derived from arid zones for 3DCP is yet to be fully realized. This study developed a three-dimensional (3D) printing composite using AS and magnesium oxychloride cement (MOC) from local materials. The effects of the mole ratio of MgO/MgCl₂ and sand/binder (S/B) ratio on the mechanical properties such as water resistance, drying shrinkage strain, rheology, and printability, were investigated systematically. The results indicated that the optimal mole ratio of MgO/MgCl₂ was 8, which yielded the desired mechanical performance and water resistance. Furthermore, the S/B ratio can be increased to three within the desired printability to increase the AS utilization rate. The rheological recovery and buildability of the 3D-printed MOC with AS were verified. These findings provide a promising strategy for construction in remote deserts.

Tunnels constructed in gas-bearing strata are affected by the potential leakage of harmful gases, such as methane gas. Based on the basic principles of computational fluid dynamics, a numerical analysis was performed to simulate the ventilation and diffusion of harmful gases in a shield tunnel, and the effect of ventilation airflow speed on the diffusion of harmful gases was evaluated. As the airflow speed increased from 1.8 to 5.4 m/s, the methane emission was diluted, and the methane accumulation was only observed in the area near the methane leakage channels. The influence of increased ventilation airflow velocity was dominant for the ventilation modes with two and four fans. In addition, laboratory tests on methane leakage through segment joints were performed. The results show that the leakage process can be divided into “rapid leakage” and “slight leakage”, depending on the leakage pressure and the state of joint deformation. Based on the numerical and experimental analysis results, a relationship between the safety level and the joint deformation is established, which can be used as guidelines for maintaining utility tunnels.

Soil conditioning is essential for addressing the stratum applicability problem of earth pressure balance (EPB) shields. Under high water pressures, EPB shields spew water and soil when excavating coarse-grained strata. Typically, foam combined with polymers and slurry is used to solve spewing. However, in current techniques, slurry, foam, and the other agents are mixed with soil separately, their synergistic effect is seldom realized. In this study, an anionic surfactant was used to foam in bentonite slurry to form bubble–slurry to maximize the synergy between bubbles and slurry. The slump, volume stability, and permeability test of bubble–slurry-conditioned sand was conducted to examine the conditioning effect, and the stratum applicability of bubble–slurry was determined from the perspective of permeability. It was found that the conditioning effect of bubble–slurry in coarse gravel soil was excellent and could expand the applicability of EPB shields. The main stabilization mechanism of bubble–slurry is that bentonite particles provide a space barrier for bubbles. And three seepage modes of bubble–slurry-conditioned sand were innovatively defined, and the occurrence conditions of the three seepage modes were analyzed according to the permeability coefficient of sand, initial dynamic shear force of bubble–slurry, and hydraulic gradient.

Concrete is widely used in various large construction projects owing to its high durability, compressive strength, and plasticity. However, the tensile strength of concrete is low, and concrete cracks easily. Changes in the concrete structure will result in changes in parameters such as the frequency mode and curvature mode, which allows one to effectively locate and evaluate structural damages. In this study, the characteristics of the curvature modes in concrete structures are analyzed and a method to obtain the curvature modes based on the strain and displacement modes is proposed. Subsequently, various indices for the damage diagnosis of concrete structures based on the curvature mode are introduced. A damage assessment method for concrete structures is established using an artificial bee colony backpropagation neural network algorithm. The proposed damage assessment method for dam concrete structures comprises various modal parameters, such as curvature and frequency. The feasibility and accuracy of the model are evaluated based on a case study of a concrete gravity dam. The results show that the damage assessment model can accurately evaluate the damage degree of concrete structures with a maximum error of less than 2%, which is within the required accuracy range of damage identification and assessment for most concrete structures.

Extrudability and constructability are two important, yet contradictory issues pertaining to the construction of three-dimensional (3D) printing concrete. Extrudability is easily achieved when 3D printing cement mortar has a high water content and low cohesion, but the printed structure is easily collapsible. However, a 3D printing cement mortar with a low water content and high cohesion has a relatively stable printed structure although the cement mortar might not be extrudable. This study proposes a particle-based method to simulate 3D printing mortar extrusion and construction as an overall planning tool for building design. First, a discrete element model with time-varying liquid bridge forces is developed to investigate the microscopic effects of these forces on global rheological properties. Next, a series of numerical simulations relevant to 3D printable mortar extrudability and constructability are carried out. The study demonstrates that the effects of time-varying liquid bridge forces on rheological properties and the resulting extrudability and constructability of 3D printing mortar are considerable. Furthermore, an optimized region that satisfies both the extrusion and construction requirements is provided for 3D printing industry as a reference.

Quasi-rectangular shield tunneling is a cutting-edge trenchless method for constructing metro tunnels with double tubes, owing to its advantages in saving underground space and reducing ground disturbance. However, the conventional quasi-rectangular shield tunneling method is not applicable when constructing a tunnel without a center pillar, such as a scissor crossover section of a metro line. Therefore, the 0-θ tunneling method, which combines the quasi-rectangular shield and pipe jacking methods, was investigated in this study to solve the aforementioned construction challenges. This study presents a case study of the Sijiqing Station of the Hangzhou Metro Line 9 in China, in which the 0-θ method was first proposed and applied. Key techniques such as switching between two types of tunneling modes and the tunneling process control in complex construction environments were investigated. The results demonstrated that the 0-θ method can address the technical challenges presented by the post-transition line with a high curvature and a scissors crossover line. In addition, the adoption of the 0-θ method ensured that the transformation between shield tunneling and pipe jacking was safe and efficient. The ground settlement monitoring results demonstrated that the disturbance to the surrounding environment can be limited to a safe level. This case study contributes to the construction technology for a metro tunnel containing both post-transition lines with a small turning radius and a scissors crossover line. A practical construction experience and theoretical guidance were provided in this study, which are of significance for both the industry and academia.

A fictitious soil pile (FSP) model is developed to simulate the behavior of pipe piles with soil plugs undergoing high-strain dynamic impact loading. The developed model simulates the base soil with a fictitious hollow pile fully filled with a soil plug extending at a cone angle from the pile toe to the bedrock. The friction on the outside and inside of the pile walls is distinguished using different shaft models, and the propagation of stress waves in the base soil and soil plug is considered. The motions of the pile−soil system are solved by discretizing them into spring-mass model based on the finite difference method. Comparisons of the predictions of the proposed model and conventional numerical models, as well as measurements for pipe piles in field tests subjected to impact loading, validate the accuracy of the proposed model. A parametric analysis is conducted to illustrate the influence of the model parameters on the pile dynamic response. Finally, the effective length of the FSP is proposed to approximate the affected soil zone below the pipe pile toe, and some guidance is provided for the selection of the model parameters.

Sustainable structures are critical for addressing global climate change. Hence, their structural resilience or ability to recover from natural events must be considered comprehensively. Green roofs are a widely used sustainable feature that improve the environment while providing excellent occupant amenity. To expand their usage, their inherent damping and layout sensitivity to seismic performance are investigated in this study. The soil of a green roof can serve as a damper to dissipate the energy generated by earthquakes or other dynamic events. Results of preliminary analysis show that a green roof soil can increase localized damping by 2.5% under both dry and saturated conditions. Based on these findings, nonlinear time-history analyses are conducted on a three-story building in SAP2000 to monitor the structural behavior with and without a green roof. The increased damping in the green roof soil is beneficial to the structural performance, i.e., it reduces the building displacement and acceleration by 10% and 12%, respectively. Additionally, certain configurations are more effective and beneficial to the structural response than others, which suggests the possibility of design optimization. Based on the findings of this study, new methods of modeling and considering green roofs in structural design are established.