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Open research questions in Geotechnical Engineering and Underground Structures

152 gap statements mined from Geotechnical Engineering and Underground Structures papers in our 7.9M-paper local library, which holds 2,285 papers on the topic — drawn mostly from each paper's own stated research gap, future-work, challenge and limitation notes, and its abstract. The ones listed below are a selection still marked open; each names the study that raised it, with a DOI link where the paper has one.

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What the literature leaves open

  • The need for a better understanding of microtopographic effects on pipeline routing in steep submarine canyons. The importance of considering terrain geometry and roughness in pipeline design and installation.

    Engineering Geological Characterization and Microtopographic Controls on Slide–Pipeline Interaction in Steep Submarine Canyons, Qiongdongnan Basin · 2026 · DOI

  • There is a lack of understanding of the dynamic response of lined tunnels under induced seismicity disturbances. The study aims to fill this gap by examining the dynamic interaction between induced seismicity and underground structures.

    Transient response and resistant management of underground structures subjected to induced seismicity load · 2026 · DOI

  • The lack of systematic investigations into the coupled effects of seismic activity and karst geology on tunnel dynamic responses. The insufficient understanding of the synergistic impacts arising from various types of near-fault ground motions and diverse karst development conditions on tunnel structures.

    Near-fault ground motions induced dynamic responses and failure mechanisms of tunnels considering seismic-karst coupling effects · 2026 · DOI

  • The spatial variations of seismic motion in mountain terrain are not considered in existing research. The study aims to fill the gap in existing research by considering terrain effects on seismic response.

    Seismic resilience assessment of a mountain tunnel considering terrain effects under near-fault and far-field earthquakes · 2026 · DOI

  • The study used a shaking table test with a limited number of models. The numerical simulation used a viscoelastic material with specific properties. The study only considered a specific type of tunnel and soil.

    Effect of a shallow subway tunnel and adjacent foundation on the seismic response of ground surface · 2026 · DOI

  • The study focuses on thrust monitoring due to its close correlation with geological variations. The experiment employed a three-component geophone and an electromagnetic impact hammer. The seismic wave reception and excitation system has limitations. The study assumes the grouting defects distance to be 2 m. The study has a limited number of control groups.

    Experimental and Numerical Investigation of Segment Response to Seismic Wave Propagation for Advanced Geological Detection in Shield Tunnels · 2026 · DOI

  • The need to ensure the equivalence in both the seepage and stress fields between the physical model and prototype.

    Mechanism of Progressive Failure in Surrounding Rock of Large-Diameter Subsea Shield Tunnels Crossing Fault Fracture Zones Under Seepage Effect · 2026 · DOI

  • The lack of understanding of the mechanism of progressive failure in surrounding rock of large-diameter subsea shield tunnels crossing fault fracture zones under seepage effect. The need for a comprehensive study on the stress evolution and ground surface settlement during shield tunneling.

    Mechanism of Progressive Failure in Surrounding Rock of Large-Diameter Subsea Shield Tunnels Crossing Fault Fracture Zones Under Seepage Effect · 2026 · DOI

  • Seismic design regulations for tunnels remain relatively underexplored. Current design guidelines have limitations in ensuring the seismic resilience of tunnels.

    Seismic Fragility Analysis of Rock Tunnels Using Multi-Stripe Analysis · 2026 · DOI

  • The need to account for the variability in tunnel support and rock mass capacity, seismic demand estimation, and damage state threshold definition in fragility analysis.

    Effect of Topographic Amplification on Seismic Vulnerability of Mountain Tunnels Using Multi-stripe Analysis · 2026 · DOI

  • The need for additional research on the seismic design and vulnerability of tunnels in hilly terrain. The lack of understanding of the influence of topography on tunnel vulnerability.

    Effect of Topographic Amplification on Seismic Vulnerability of Mountain Tunnels Using Multi-stripe Analysis · 2026 · DOI

  • The need for a framework that can handle these conditions and provide accurate predictions. The lack of a comprehensive evaluation of various algorithms for this task.

    Predicting Fault Gouge Shear Strength Under Small-Sample and Missing Feature Conditions: A Three-Stage Framework with Pretrained Tabular Inference · 2026 · DOI

  • The seismic analysis of cross-fault tunnels is a significant gap in the field. The coupled effects of ground motion and fault dislocation on tunnels are not well understood. There is a need for a novel simulation framework to address this gap.

    Tunnel Seismic Input for Coupling Fault Dislocation and Ground Motion · 2026 · DOI

  • Limited understanding of the seismic response of tunnels with complex geology. Need for accurate estimation of mechanical properties of rock masses.

    Static and Dynamic Stability Analysis of the Erkenek Tunnels Damaged During the February 6, 2023, Türkiye Earthquake · 2026 · DOI

  • The analysis was based on a limited number of rock samples. The study did not consider other types of earthquakes or ground motions.

    Static and Dynamic Stability Analysis of the Erkenek Tunnels Damaged During the February 6, 2023, Türkiye Earthquake · 2026 · DOI

  • Limited studies on dynamic response of tunnels under complex topographic boundary conditions. The need for a theoretical system for rectangular tunnels in quarter-space domains. The lack of an analytical solution for the seismic response of rectangular tunnel linings in a quarter space.

    Semi-Analytical Study on SH-Wave Scattering by a Lining Structure of a Rectangular Tunnel in a Quarter-Space · 2026 · DOI

  • The limited cases of earthquake damage in tunnels near faults make it difficult to investigate seismic damage assessment. The complexity of experimental devices simulating fault slip makes numerical simulation necessary. Prior work has not fully addressed the impact of fault slip distribution on seismic damage assessment for cross-fault tunnels.

    Impact of Fault Slip Distribution on Seismic Damage Assessment for Cross-Fault Tunnels · 2026 · DOI

  • EPS geofoam is used as a compressible backfill, though its seismic performance under saturated conditions is not well understood.

    EPS geofoam effects on the seismic response of integral abutment bridges in liquefiable soil · 2026 · DOI

  • However, their influence on the reinforced concrete (RC) structural demands during earthquakes remains underexplored.

    Numerical assessment of the influence of stone columns on liquefaction-induced seismic effects in RC structures · 2025 · DOI

  • Analyses considering field pipeline installation practices, with the pipeline embedded in a sand-backfilled trench within non-liquefiable native ground, also showed that uplift with the BPC was limited to approximately 1 mm or less, demonstrating strong uplift suppression.

    Numerical Evaluation of a Bottom Plate Countermeasure Against Pipeline Uplift in Liquefiable Ground · 2026 · DOI

  • Caisson foundations are widely used in long-span bridges for their superior load-bearing capacity and stability, yet their seismic behavior remains inadequately understood.

    Numerical and experimental study on the seismic performance of caisson foundations · 2025 · DOI

  • Investigating the effect of different tunnel shapes and sizes on the seismic response. Studying the impact of various soil types on the tunnel's behavior. Examining the interaction between multiple tunnels and the ground surface.

    Effect of a shallow subway tunnel and adjacent foundation on the seismic response of ground surface · 2026 · DOI

  • The lack of effective advanced geological detection methods in shield tunnels - The need for a deeper understanding of seismic wave propagation in shield tunnels - The limited understanding of the effect of grouting defects on seismic wave…

    Experimental and Numerical Investigation of Segment Response to Seismic Wave Propagation for Advanced Geological Detection in Shield Tunnels · 2026 · DOI

  • Further studies can be conducted to explore the effects of different geological conditions on the seismic response of tunnels, - The model can be extended to consider other types of waves or more complex tunnel…

    Semi-Analytical Study on SH-Wave Scattering by a Lining Structure of a Rectangular Tunnel in a Quarter-Space · 2026 · DOI

  • Investigating the damage characteristics of cross-fault tunnels, - Understanding the effects of fault slip on seismic damage assessment, - Developing more accurate slip models for predicting surface permanent displacement…

    Impact of Fault Slip Distribution on Seismic Damage Assessment for Cross-Fault Tunnels · 2026 · DOI

Most-cited papers in Geotechnical Engineering and Underground Structures

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Open questions raised by papers listed on this page include: (1) There is a lack of understanding of the dynamic response of lined tunnels under induced seismicity disturbances (“Transient response and resistant management of underground structures subjected…”, 2026); (2) The lack of systematic investigations into the coupled effects of seismic activity and karst geology on tunnel dynamic responses (“Near-fault ground motions induced dynamic responses and failure mechanisms of…”, 2026); (3) The lack of understanding of the mechanism of progressive failure in surrounding rock of large-diameter subsea shield tunnels crossing fault fracture zones under seepage effect (“Mechanism of Progressive Failure in Surrounding Rock of Large-Diameter Subsea…”, 2026); (4) The lack of understanding of the influence of topography on tunnel vulnerability (“Effect of Topographic Amplification on Seismic Vulnerability of Mountain…”, 2026); (5) The lack of a comprehensive evaluation of various algorithms for this task (“Predicting Fault Gouge Shear Strength Under Small-Sample and Missing Feature…”, 2026). 152 gap statements have been mined from Geotechnical Engineering and Underground Structures papers in our 7.9M-paper local library, which holds 2,285 papers on the topic; the gaps come from whichever of those papers state one. They are mostly the research gaps the authors state and the papers' abstracts, plus future-work, limitations and challenges passages. The ones listed below are a selection still marked open; each names the study that raised it, with a DOI link where the paper has one, so you can read the original claim in context.

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