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Rock Mechanics Letters

Open Access Case Report

Analysis of the Karst developmental law and the influence about pile foundation construction in a certain field

by Peng Su 1,* Feng Gao 2  and  Mei Xu 3
1
Engineering Investigation Department, China Energy Engineering Group Shanxi Electric Power Engineering Co., Ltd., Taiyuan 030000, China
2
School of Architecture and Surveying Engineering, Shanxi Datong University, Shanxi Datong 037003, China
3
China Evergrande Group, Shenzhen 518000, China
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Received: 29 August 2025 / Accepted: 8 September 2025 / Published Online: 11 September 2025

Abstract

Karst topography is extensively distributed throughout the southwestern part of China, posing considerable challenges to the safety and stability of building foundations and overall structural integrity. The unique geomorphological features associated with karst, such as sinkholes, underground rivers, and caves, greatly increase the geological uncertainties and risks during engineering construction. As a result, the infrastructure projects are highly vulnerable to subsidence, collapse, and other karst-related hazards, which may lead to serious safety incidents and significant economic losses. It is imperative to strengthen karst geological surveys and improve detection accuracy to thoroughly ascertain the distribution patterns and developmental characteristics of karst formations. By employing advanced investigation techniques and detailed data analysis, engineers can more accurately assess karst conditions and evaluate their influence on pile foundation design and construction. This includes potential adverse effects such as uneven bearing strata, groundwater erosion, and cave roof instability. The reasonable and adaptive recommendations for selecting foundation types and construction techniques can be proposed. This will provide a scientific basis for engineering design and risk mitigation, ensuring the safety, stability, and sustainability of structures in karst-affected regions. 


Copyright: © 2025 by Su, Gao and Xu. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY) (Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

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ACS Style
Su, P.; Gao, F.; Xu, M. Analysis of the Karst developmental law and the influence about pile foundation construction in a certain field. Rock Mechanics Letters, 2025, 2, 24. doi:10.70425/rml.202503.24
AMA Style
Su P, Gao F, Xu M. Analysis of the Karst developmental law and the influence about pile foundation construction in a certain field. Rock Mechanics Letters; 2025, 2(3):24. doi:10.70425/rml.202503.24
Chicago/Turabian Style
Su, Peng; Gao, Feng; Xu, Mei 2025. "Analysis of the Karst developmental law and the influence about pile foundation construction in a certain field" Rock Mechanics Letters 2, no.3:24. doi:10.70425/rml.202503.24
APA Style
Su, P., Gao, F., & Xu, M. (2025). Analysis of the Karst developmental law and the influence about pile foundation construction in a certain field. Rock Mechanics Letters, 2(3), 24. doi:10.70425/rml.202503.24

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References

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