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2025 Vol.52, Issue 4 Preview Page

Engineering

Numerical investigation of sinkhole behavior and ground collapse induced by subsurface cavity enlargement using the material point method
Taeun Kang1
,
Seungsoo Lee1*
1Water and Land Research Group, Korea Environment Institute, Sejong 30147, Korea
*Corresponding Author
1 December 2025. pp. 505-512
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Abstract

This study numerically investigated sinkhole behavior and ground collapse induced by subsurface cavity enlargement using the material point method (MPM). Four simulation scenarios with varying cavity diameters were designed to analyze the temporal evolution and spatial characteristics of sinkhole initiation and propagation. The results demonstrated that, while larger cavities (Run4, 4 m) exhibited smaller surface subsidence widths compared to smaller cavities, significant vertical deformation and residual voids remained inside the ground. This implied that surface repair alone might not guarantee long-term stability, as additional loading can trigger secondary collapses. The simulation outcomes were consistent with field observations from recent large-scale accidents, such as the 2016 Fukuoka sinkhole in Japan, characterized by sudden extensive collapse, and the 2025 Yashio sinkhole in Saitama Prefecture, where initial localized failure occurred due to sewer pipe corrosion. The findings confirmed that MPM could successfully reproduce both central rapid failure and delayed peripheral collapse patterns, highlighting its utility as a tool for risk assessment and preventive management of urban sinkholes.

Keywords
ground void and subsidence
material point method
simulation
sinkhole
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Information
  • Publisher :Institute of Agricultural Science, Chungnam National University
  • Publisher(Ko) :충남대학교 농업과학연구소
  • Journal Title :Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
  • Journal Title(Ko) :농업과학연구
  • Volume : 52
  • No :4
  • Pages :505-512
  • Received Date : 2025-09-08
  • Revised Date : 2025-09-09
  • Accepted Date : 2025-09-10
  • DOI :https://doi.org/10.7744/kjoas.520409
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