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Splitting grouting is a highly effective technique for reinforcing tunnels and underground structures, ensuring their operational stability and facilitating long-term maintenance. It has been widely adopted in the prevention and remediation of geological hazards. However, the theoretical research on the diffusion mechanisms of split grouting lags behind its practical applications. This study addresses several key scientific challenges in understanding the diffusion behavior of split grouting. By integrating experimental design, numerical simulations, and theoretical analysis, we conduct a systematic investigation into the diffusion process and vein morphology of split grouting in both homogeneous and heterogeneous formations. We first employed a self-developed two-dimensional grouting test system to perform diffusion experiments on cohesive strata, focusing on the influence of various factors such as grout density, water/cement ratio, soil consistency, and fracture characteristics. The results provide insights into the diffusion patterns, morphology, soil pressure distribution, and surface uplift behavior of the grout veins. Subsequently, a numerical simulation program, developed in-house, based on the finite element method (FEM) and the volume of fluid (VOF) approach, was employed to model the entire process of fracturing grouting within clay strata. The experimental and numerical results indicate that grout vein diffusion in layered soil follows a Y-shaped pattern with an inclined deflection. In uniform strata, the surface uplift curve displays both symmetrical and asymmetrical “convex” elevations, while in heterogeneous soft and hard strata, the uplift is characterized by distinct “convex” deformations. Finally, based on these findings and the principles of contact mechanics, we analyze the underlying mechanisms. The results suggest that weak contact zones undergo tensile cracking and horizontal deflection prior to the formation of grout veins. Additionally, local stress rotations in the soil can induce tilting and deflection. The theoretical insights derived from this study provide valuable guidance for practical engineering applications.

Earth-cover landfills are one of the primary means of treating urban garbage. However, the organic matter in the garbage generates a large amount of gas upon degradation. The internal gas pressure will be substantially high if the gas generation rate is considerably high or if the gas drainage is not smooth, resulting in the deformation and destruction of the soil cover, thus affecting the stability of the landfill. Accordingly, a plane model test of gas pressure-induced failure of unsaturated soil was performed using a self-designed test device, and the deformation and failure mechanisms of soil under different soil thicknesses and gas pressures were comparably studied through numerical simulation. The results revealed that the process of soil damage induced by gas pressure can be divided into four stages—water and gas migration, local micro crack generation, main crack penetration, and internal cavity formation; Soil damage mainly occurs in the inverted triangle area between the top of the inflatable hole and the surface layer. The soil failure modes can be divided into two types—splitting and burst failure—depending on whether there was a previous gas-pressure effect. The failure pressure of soil increases in an approximately linear fashion with an increase in the thickness of the overlying soil. Accordingly, the concept of failure stress ratio was proposed, and it was observed that the failure stress ratio of each soil layer thickness can be approximately regarded as a constant, which has a certain importance for monitoring the landfill overburden in practical engineering. Additionally, the test results revealed that appropriate gas pressure is conducive to increasing the stability of soil mass; the soil mass will gradually become unstable if gas pressure exceeds a certain value, based on which the concept of critical stable gas pressure was proposed. Furthermore, the proposed numerical simulation method was used to establish a corresponding two-dimensional numerical model with reference to the model test. The numerical results, including the fracture propagation pattern and failure pressure results, were consistent with the model test results. On this basis, the seepage variation law within the soil mass was deeply studied. It was observed that the gas pressure increases the pore pressure inside the soil while driving the water to diffuse around, causing changes in the saturation of the surrounding soil. Finally, the simulation results revealed that regional change of effective stress increment may be the cause of critical stable gas pressure, providing a reference for practical engineering.

Steep surrounding rock significantly challenges tunnel stability by affecting the stress distribution and deformation behavior. The angle of dip in surrounding rock greatly influences these factors, heightening the risk of instability along bedding planes, particularly under high ground stress conditions. This paper presents a comprehensive analysis of steep rock strata mechanical properties based on a railway tunnel in Yunnan Province, China. It incorporates long-term field monitoring and various laboratory tests, including point load, triaxial, and loose circle tests. Using experimental data, this study simulated the failure processes of steep surrounding rock and tunnel structures with a custom finite element method (FEM) integrated with the volume of fluid (VOF) approach. The analysis summarized the deformation patterns, investigated the causes of inverted arch deformation and failure, and proposed countermeasures. The findings reveal that increasing the rock dip angle results in greater deformation and accelerated failure rates, with the surrounding rock’s loose zone stabilizing at approximately 8 m once deformation stabilizes. At a surface deformation of 8 cm, the failure zone extends to 6 m; however, this extension occurs more rapidly with higher lateral pressure coefficients. Additionally, failure zones develop more quickly in thin, soft rock on steep slopes compared to uniform rock formations. The rise of the tunnel floor is attributed to the steeply inclined, thin surrounding rock. To enhance bottom structure stiffness, this study recommends incorporating an inverted arch structure and increasing both the number and strength of the anchor bolts.

Smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) is a state-of-the-art numerical simulation method in fluid mechanics. It is a novel approach for modeling and comprehending complex fluid behaviors. In contrast to traditional grid-dependent techniques like finite element and finite difference methods, SPH utilizes a meshless, purely Lagrangian approach, offering significant advantages in fluid simulations. By leveraging a set of arbitrarily distributed particles to represent the continuous fluid medium, SPH enables the precise estimation of partial differential equations. This grid-free methodology effectively addresses many challenges associated with conventional methods, providing a more adaptable and efficient solution framework. SPH’s versatility is evident across a broad spectrum of applications, ranging from advanced computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to complex computational solid mechanics (CSM), and proves effective across various scales—from micro to macro and even astronomical phenomena. Although SPH excels in tackling problems involving multiple degrees of freedom, complex boundaries, and large discontinuous deformations, it is still in its developmental phase and has not yet been widely adopted. As such, a thorough understanding and systematic analysis of SPH’s foundational theories are critical. This paper offers a comprehensive review of the defining characteristics and theoretical foundations of the SPH method, supported by practical examples derived from the Navier–Stokes (N-S) equations. It also provides a critical examination of successful SPH applications across various fields. Additionally, the paper presents case studies of SPH’s application in tunnel and underground engineering based on practical engineering experiences and long-term on-site monitoring, highlighting SPH’s alignment with real-world conditions. The theory and application of SPH have thus emerged as highly dynamic and rapidly evolving research areas. The detailed theoretical analysis and case studies presented in this paper offer valuable insights and practical guidance for scholars and practitioners alike.

In recent years, the construction of new railway tunnels worldwide has become increasingly challenging due to larger cross-sections, deeper burial depths, higher in situ stress, and more complex geological conditions. During both construction and operation, some tunnels have encountered significant issues with floor heave. This paper begins by identifying the primary causes of deformation and instability in tunnel floor structures through an investigation and statistical analysis. It then examines floor heave across more than 20 railway lines, summarizing the types, generation mechanisms, and mechanical models associated with this issue. Additionally, extensive survey data indicate that tunnel floor heave is most likely to occur in gently inclined thin-layered rock masses. Therefore, using a tunnel passing through the plate suture zone in such a rock mass as a case study, numerical simulations, theoretical analyses, and on-site monitoring were conducted. This study systematically analyzed the influence of single and multiple factors, as well as the mechanical behavior of the support system, on tunnel floor heave in gently inclined thin-layered surrounding rock. Furthermore, several key models were proposed: a tunnel floor heave estimation and load formula based on a mechanical model, a dynamic relationship between surrounding rock support force and tunnel floor heave using the Nishihara model, a tunnel floor settlement estimation formula based on deformation statistics, and a tunnel floor heave energy prediction model utilizing the B-P neural network algorithm. These conclusions have been validated and widely applied in practical engineering, providing a robust theoretical foundation and technical support for future tunnel construction.

Optimizing the performance of alkali-activated slag backfill grout (ASBG) is crucial for engineering applications. Fluidity and 28 d unconfined compressive strength (28 d UCS) are the two most important performances and multi-objective optimization is existed. In this research, the response surface method (RSM) for experiment design and model regression, non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm II (NSGA-II) for optimization, and entropy-based Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) for decision-making were implemented. The strength formation mechanism of the optimal ASBG was investigated via microstructure evolution. The results show that the quadratic RSM models for fluidity and 28 d UCS exhibit excellent predictive fitting capabilities, with the determination coefficients of 0.9713 and 0.9588 respectively. NSGA-II coupled with entropy-based TOPSIS determined the optimal mix proportion with water-binder ratio of 0.877, binder-sand ratio of 1.000 and alkali dosage of 4.138%. The porosities at 1–28 d decrease from 10.06% to 2.62%. And the mode of microstructure evolution can be divided into two stages according to the probability distribution index and fractal dimension. In early stage, probability distribution index and fractal dimension decreased from 0.9974 to 0.4833 and 1.2498 to 1.2022. This indicated that the number of the small pores decreased and the pore boundary transformed into the softer one as the irregular plate-like GGBS dissolved. In the later stage, probability distribution index and fractal dimension increased from 0.4833 to 1.4732 and 1.2022 to 1.3273, indicating a relatively denser microstructure with fewer large pores formed.

Computer vision methods have been widely used in recent years for the detection of structural cracks. To address the issues of poor image quality and the inadequate performance of semantic segmentation networks under low-light conditions in tunnels, in this paper, infrared images are used, and a preprocessing method based on image fusion technology is developed. First, the DAISY descriptor and the perspective transform are applied for image alignment. Then, the source image is decomposed into high- and low-frequency components of different scales and directions using DT-CWT, and high- and low-frequency subband fusion rules are designed according to the characteristics of infrared and visible images. Finally, a fused image is reconstructed from the processed coefficients, and the fusion results are evaluated using the improved semantic segmentation network. The results show that using the proposed fusion method to preprocess images leads to a low false alarm rate and low missed detection rate in comparison to those using the source image directly or using the classical fusion algorithm.

This paper discusses research on the dynamic response characteristics of a heavy-haul railway tunnel and the surrounding soil under the conditions of substrate health and a base void. The detection results of the base condition of 20 double-track tunnels for a heavy-haul railway show the main distribution law of base voids. Based on this, a 1:20 scale test model of a heavy-haul railway tunnel is established. The vibration load of the train is established by a vibration exciter arranged at the tunnel invert. The dynamic response and attenuation law of a heavy-haul railway tunnel lining structure and the surrounding soil are tested using acceleration sensors, strain gauges, and soil pressure boxes. The research results show that most of the diseases are concentrated below the heavy-haul line. The base void causes the peak acceleration of the nearby tunnel invert to increase by 55.6%. Tunnel annular construction joints reduce the conductivity of the vibration waves in the axial direction of the tunnel. The acceleration attenuation rate of the soil above the tunnel invert is significantly less than that under the invert. The base void reduces the acceleration of the nearby soil layer by 19.4% and increases the stress on the surface of the nearby tunnel invert by 21.3%, and the stress change amplitude increases by 0.55%. The tunnel structure in the area of the base void experiences fatigue damage. The base void causes the compaction and bearing capacity of the nearby soil to decrease and the softening speed of the tunnel basement soil layer to increase. Therefore, for the basement damage to heavy-haul railway tunnels, “early detection, early treatment” should be performed.

The rainfall infiltration model plays a key role in the fields of seepage theory and geological hazard evaluation. To reflect the change in the moisture content in soil during rainfall infiltration, the infiltration process was segmented into stages, and an improved unsaturated wetting front extension model was proposed by introducing unsaturated soil parameters on the basis of the traditional infiltration model. The variation rules of surface moisture content and wetting front depth were revealed under the condition of uniform or non-uniform moisture content distribution in soil. The results indicate that the surface moisture content and wetting front depth increase nonlinearly with time during the infiltration process, and the proposed model is in good agreement with the numerical simulation results, the maximum error is less than 5%, while the growth rate under two hypotheses shows obvious differences for different rainfall intensities. Moreover, due to the variation in the moisture content with time, the proposed model calculates a lower moisture content than that of the traditional model under the same conditions, but the expansion depth of the wetting front is higher and the range of influence on soil is greater.

The existing empirical methods of the seepage coefficient for clay have difficulty in parameter acquisition and are poor in calculation accuracy, and it is possible to find reasonable ones based on the mature empirical methods of coarse-grained soil. Firstly, the permeation mechanism of clay was analysed including influencing factors, spatial process, and parameter calculation, and the ineffective and effective voids were defined; then the empirical methods of clay and coarse-grained soil were summarised and listed. Secondly, clay was put equivalent to coarse-grained soil according to bound-water consolidation, and the parameter “equivalent void ratio” was introduced to establish the equivalent calculation methods. Finally, the liquid-plastic limit method determining the volume of ineffective voids was explained, and the feasibility of equivalent calculation methods was evaluated by three examples. The results show that seepage, permeation, and effective permeation are three different concepts; groundwater permeates in clay via the effective void. For certain soil, the increasing sequence of permeability coefficients is the seepage coefficient, permeation coefficient, and effective permeation coefficient. Introduction of the “equivalent void ratio” unifies the calculation of the seepage coefficient for clay and coarse-grained soil. The maximum of the bound-water content is about 0.9 time the size of liquid limit. The Mesri equation and the equivalent calculation method of Terzaghi or Curson–Karman are suitable for calculating the seepage coefficient of clay for the closest results to experimental values.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have gradually been recognized as regulators of embryonic development; however, relatively few miRNAs have been identified that regulate cardiac development. A series of recent papers have established an essential role for the miRNA-17-92 (miR-17-92) cluster of miRNAs in the development of the heart. Previous research has shown that the Friend of Gata-2 (FOG-2) is critical for cardiac development. To investigate the possibility that the miR-17-92 cluster regulates FOG-2 expression and inhibits proliferation in mouse embryonic cardiomyocytes we initially used bioinformatics to analyze 3’ untranslated regions (3’UTR) of FOG-2 to predict the potential of miR-17-92 to target it. We used luciferase assays to demonstrate that miR-17-5p and miR-20a of miR-17-92 interact with the predicted target sites in the 3’UTR of FOG-2. Furthermore, RT-PCR and Western blot were used to demonstrate the post-transcriptional regulation of FOG-2 by miR-17-92 in embryonic cardiomyocytes from E12.5-day pregnant C57BL/6J mice. Finally, EdU cell assays together with the FOG-2 rescue strategy were employed to evaluate the effect of proliferation on embryonic cardiomyocytes. We first found that the miR-17-5p and miR-20a of miR-17-92 directly target the 3’UTR of FOG-2 and post-transcriptionally repress the expression of FOG-2. Moreover, our findings demonstrated that over-expression of miR-17-92 may inhibit cell proliferation via post-transcriptional repression of FOG-2 in embryonic cardiomyocytes. These results indicate that the miR-17-92 cluster regulates the expression of FOG-2 protein and suggest that the miR-17-92 cluster might play an important role in heart development.

A numerical approach to simulate the crack initiation and propagation process of the nonlinear fracture behavior of the quasi-brittle materials under tensile loading is presented. The nonlinear fracture of Mode I of quasi-brittle material is analyzed by considering the effects of microscopic softening rate and heterogeneity. The results show that the softening rate and the heterogeneity of quasi-brittle material affect the values of stress intensity factor K I . The softening index affects merely the size of the plastic zones while the heterogeneity causes the more sophisticated response of quasi-brittle materials.

The transcription activator-like effector nucleases (TALENs) strategy has been widely used to delete and mutate genes in vitro. This strategy has begun to be used for in vivo systemic gene manipulation, but not in an organ-specific manner. In this study, we developed a modified, highly efficient TALEN strategy using a dual-fluorescence reporter. We used this modified strategy and, within 5 weeks, we successfully generated kidney proximal tubule-specific gene Ttc36 homozygous knockout mice. Unilateral nephrectomy was performed on the 6-week-old founders (F0) to identify the knockout genotype prior to the birth of the offspring. This strategy was found to have little effect on reproduction in the knockout mice and inheritability of the knockout genotypes. The modified TALEN knockout strategy in combination with unilateral nephrectomy can be readily used for studies of gene function in kidney development and diseases.

A numerical simulation approach of hydraulic fracture process, considering the couplings of the stress distribution, the fluid flow of the water-air mixture, the compression and dissolution of air, and the element damage evolution, has been developed to investigate the mechanisms of crack initiation and propagation in porous media during hydraulic fracturing. The concept of homogenized pore fluid has been adopted to represent the water air mixture. A large number of numerical analysis on hydraulic fracturing in clay with incipient injection slot have been carried out to study the mechanism of hydraulic fracturing in unsaturated soil with the characteristic of critical model I type of crack loading using stress intensity factor KIc. The results provide a numerical picture depicting the mechanisms of crack initiation and propagation during hydraulic fracturing. The numerical results are in good agreement with the experimental results, which confirms the adequacy and the power of the numerical approach.

Diabetic foot is one of the chronic complications of diabetic patients and one of the main causes of disability and death of diabetic patients. Purpose of this article: To observe the therapeutic effect of deboning skin flap combined with VSD on diabetic foot under light microscope. Methods: 50 patients with Wagner 1-3 diabetic foot treated in the endocrinology department of a hospital in Beijing from June to December 2019 were treated with debridement until the new granulation tissue grew well, and then the deboned flap was used under an optical microscope Combined with VSD for treatment, observe the wound healing time and healing effect. Results: The wounds of 50 patients were completely healed, and the healing time was (20.61 ± 3.51) days. Among them, 31 patients healed at the 4th week after operation, 10 patients healed at the 5th week, 9 patients healed at the 5th week, and some wounds after healing, hypertrophic scars remained; after 1 month of follow-up, all patients did not relapse. Conclusion: Observing the deboned skin flap combined with VSD under the light microscope for the treatment of diabetic foot can accelerate the wound healing of diabetic foot, shorten the recovery time and hospitalization time of the patient, and reduce the recurrence rate and amputation rate after operation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]