The supporting phase of an underground excavation costs between 12-36 percent of the total cost of the final structure. Hence, the stability analysis of underground rock structures plays an important role in underground construction projects. Based on the selected design approach and methodology, considering their restrictions and capabilities, different supporting tools may be adopted to make the underground rock structure stable temporarily or permanently.

There are different approaches to the design and analysis of such structures. Closed-form, analytical, semi-analytical, and numerical approaches are developed for the stability analysis of supported/unsupported underground rock structures under shallow/deep, static/dynamic loading conditions. In this regard, analyzing underground rock structures and presenting new solutions to the existing problems (to improve the accuracy of solutions) under both static and dynamic loading conditions have always been challenging.

This Special Issue aims to consider the developments made in the original convergence-confinement method and its applications to the design of underground rock structures. Developments may be in the problem geometry, loading conditions, in-situ stress anisotropy, application of active/passive supporting elements, introducing new constitutive models, etc. Analysis/design of shallow and deep structures, also, coupled-field solutions with the consideration of the effect of water pressure are both welcomed. Furthermore, contributions to the solution of the problem with regards to the consideration of the effects of the stage of construction, facing effects, delayed support installations, and the role of distance from the facing in the stability analysis are also appreciated. We welcome numerical contributions to the design and analysis of underground rock structures using finite element, finite difference, discrete element, and coupled numeric approaches to solve/analyze underground rock structures as a continuum/fractured medium. Successful application of artificial intelligence techniques to the design and analyze of underground rock structures can lead to an economical and new framework to speedy and accurately predict such behaviors. In this regard, new developments in the applications of AI to the described topics are also encouraged. In addition, as one of the best measures to evaluate the suitability of design methods, the performance of the adopted system under different loading conditions, field, and monitoring cases are encouraged. Both original research and review articles are welcome.

Potential topics include but are not limited to the following:

• Theoretical and numerical approaches to the design and analysis of underground rock structures
• Closed-form analytical and semi-analytical approaches
• Finite element, finite difference, discrete element, and coupled numeric modelling approaches
• Shallow and deep underground structures
• Analysis under static/dynamic loading conditions
• Coupled-field analysis and rock-structure interaction problems
• New developments made in the convergence-confinement method to design underground rock structures
• Developments in the geometry, in-situ stress anisotropy, loading conditions, and the active/passive support systems
• Application of new constitutive models in the design and analysis of underground rock structures
• Consideration of the effects of large strains in the design and analysis of underground rock structures
• Investigations on the effects of delayed support installation, staged construction, facing effects, and the distance from the facing on the design and analysis of underground rock structures
• Design and analysis of underground rock structures in the fractured rock mass
• Application of AI techniques to the design and analysis of underground rock structures
• Field construction/monitoring case reports with a special reference to the design method, support system and the structure performance