The Editorial Board of Geotechnical Research welcomes submissions to our themed issue ‘Recent Advances in Biogeoscience Applications in Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering.’ In the theme issue, Omoregie et al. (2024a) discussed a state-of-the-art review on bio-cementation strategies to increase calcite precipitation, while Omoregie et al. (2024b) validated an innovative injection technique to ensure homogeneity in soils being treated by MICP. It is pleasing to note that the former paper is the third most read paper in 2023, evidencing that biogeoscience ground treatment is gaining greater popularity in the field of geotechnical and geoenvironmental engineering. Readers are encouraged to submit to this themed issue before 10 Juy 2024.
Being a Gold Open Access (OA) journal, Geotechnical Research charges authors an APC to maximise the impact of articles focusing on fundamental aspects and practical applications of geotechnical challenges. Geotechnical Research offers APC waivers on a case-by-case basis and this presents an excellent opportunity for you to submit to our journal. This effort aims to alleviate the economic barriers to disseminating research output from developing countries.
The broad themes of this issue are on advances in deep foundations and characterisation of soft clays.
Farzana et al. (2024) analysed field scale results and numerical models to interpret spun precast prestressed concrete pile (SPC) performance in soft clays but with a top layer of liquefiable, loose, saturated sand. The authors used various methods such as shape-of-curvature, Davisson offset and De Beer’s technique as well as finite element modelling to conclude that the pile skin friction was reduced by maximum 10%, whereas the ultimate (vertical) pile capacity decreased by only 4.5% due to the liquefaction effect based on PGA = 0.2 g. The limitation of the study is that it did not include any consideration of lateral spreading. The authors concluded that their proposed analytical method could be a useful tool for predicting the SPC total pile capacity supplemented by numerical analysis.
Mughieda et al. (2024) investigated the behaviour of lateral pile resistance using numerical method and large scale pile load test. The results using non-linear p-y curve method based on soil parameters derived from laboratory tests were found to be overly-conservative. However, when the stiffness modulus was back-analysed using finite element method, the lateral pile responses were quite well-predicted. It was recommended that in-situ field tests such as pressuremeter or seismic down-hole tests be carried out to cross check the reliability of the standard field and laboratory tests. Nonetheless, the lateral pile load test had provided engineers with valuable lateral load-resistance responses for benchmarking purpose.
Clay slope materials from various parts of Taiwan were used for moisture content and flow angle measurements by Shen and Tsai (2024) in an attempt to evaluate spontaneous liquefaction or flow limit in slope stability problems. They adapted the original liquid limit test apparatus into a liquid-flow limit test apparatus to measure the critical angle the clay materials could sustain before they slid off the inclined board. The critical angle led to the occurrence of a flow limit, which was associated to the occurrence of spontaneous debris flow. It was also found that flow limit is unaffected by the content of coarse-grained particles nor the coefficient of friction of the tilted board.
In the study of sea floor stability, Noda and Tsukamoto (2024) evaluated artificially flocculated clays using appropriate agents in the laboratory to understand and characterise the size and density of flocs in relation to plasticity and the development of undrained shear strength. Through undrained triaxial compression tests, the authors found that the flocculated clays exhibited higher water contents due to the development of loose porous structures but exhibited larger strength parameters in both normal and over-consolidation samples.
Finally, we thank the authors, reviewers and editorial board members for their contributions to our journal.
