1. Failure Mechanisms and Intelligent Monitoring of Structurally Vulnerable Geomaterials

This research area addresses major engineering geological challenges, including landslides, slope instability, mining-induced damage, and underground engineering hazards under climate change and engineering disturbances. We investigate damage evolution, fracture propagation, and instability mechanisms of structurally defective geomaterials under multi-field coupling conditions, and develop theories and methods for monitoring and early warning throughout the full process of hazard initiation, evolution, and failure. Key topics include, but are not limited to:
(1) multiscale structural evolution and failure mechanisms of fractured geomaterials;
(2) damage accumulation of geomaterials under engineering disturbances and environmental cycles;
(3) intelligent monitoring, risk assessment, and early warning technologies for geological hazards; and
(4) digital-twin- and AI-driven predictive models for geo-hazards.

2. Bio-Based Materials for Sustainable Ground Improvement and Interface Regulation

This research area aims to address the high carbon emissions and environmental burdens associated with conventional ground improvement materials. We develop green bio-based material technologies and investigate their regulatory effects on particle–particle interfaces, pore networks, and hydro-mechanical behavior, thereby establishing environmentally friendly approaches for geotechnical reinforcement and remediation. Key topics include, but are not limited to:
(1) bio-based-material-induced particle cementation and interface reconstruction;
(2) regulation of soil hydro-thermal transport by bio-based materials;
(3) long-term durability under climatic disturbances; and
(4) multiscale structure–property relationships of bio-based treated geomaterials.

3. Resource Utilization and Environmental Stability of Solid Wastes

This research area focuses on the reduction, resource utilization, and harmless treatment of solid wastes. We investigate the engineering performance, environmental behavior, and long-term stability of materials such as incineration bottom ash, fly ash, mining wastes, and mixed waste materials, and develop technical systems for resource recycling and environmental risk control. Key topics include, but are not limited to:
(1) resource utilization and performance enhancement of solid waste materials;
(2) migration and transformation of heavy metals and environmental risk control;
(3) bio-based stabilization/solidification technologies and their mechanisms; and
(4) life-cycle environmental assessment of solid waste engineering applications.

Principal Investigator

2026–2029 Start-up Research Fund, Nanjing University, Environmental Engineering Geology,

Research Team Member

2025–2027 National Environment Agency (NEA), Singapore, Environmental Standards and Engineering Behaviours of Reused Incineration Ashes from Municipal Solid Waste and Sewage Sludge

2021–2024 National Environment Agency (NEA), Singapore, Breaking the Ground in Semakau Landfill: Technological Solutions for Site Investigation and Material Reuse

2018–2023 European Union Horizon 2020 Programme, HERCULES: Towards Geohazards-Resilient Infrastructure under Changing Climates

2020–2021 Coventry City Council, United Kingdom, Coventry Very Light Rail – Track

2026

Lv, H., Cheng, Z.^*, Song, G., Ma, G., Xie, F. (2026). Hydraulic fracturing-based static rock burst prevention in thick and hard siltstone roofs: A multi-scale numerical and field investigation. Tunnelling and Underground Space Technology, 173, 107638.

Zhao, J., Liu, L., Jia, J., Liu, X., Cai, G., Cheng, Z. (2026). Moisture evolution and instability mechanisms in high-fill loess embankment slopes subject to water infiltration from accumulated runoff following berm erosion. Transportation Geotechnics, 102161.

Chen, L., Yang, S.^*, Kong, D., Song, G., Liu, Q., Zhang, P., Cheng, Z.^* (2026). Multi-field coupling mechanisms and chain-type failure evolution of mining-rainfall-induced landslides in karst mountain regions: Insights from physical modeling and 3DEC simulations. Engineering Geology, 108679.

Lv, H., Cheng, Z.^*, Liu, L., Liu, F. (2026). Fracture evolution and strata failure mechanisms in ultra-thick coal seams during staged mining: Insights from physical and numerical modeling. Engineering Geology, 108684.

Cheng, Z., Geng, X. (2026). Triaxial shear behaviors of biopolymer-stabilized clayey soil under varying moisture and confinement. Journal of Rock Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrmge.2025.12.043

Li, L., Liu, W., Fei, X., Cheng, Z.^*, Li, W. (2026). Coconut shell fiber for reinforcing lime-stabilized soil: A sustainable approach to improve resilience. Canadian Geotechnical Journal, 63, 1-19.

Zhang, Y., Cheng, Z.^*, Liu, X., Liu, L.^* (2026). Analytical modeling and field verification of roof failure mechanisms in steep extra-thick coal seams under permafrost conditions. Geomechanics and Engineering, 45(1), 079. 

2025

Cheng, Z., Yuan, Z., Zhang, Z., He, H., She, Q., Lisak, G., Fei, X. 2025. Biopolymer stabilization/solidification of residual waste materials for sustainable reuse in construction. Journal of Cleaner Production, 526, 146642.

Lv, H., Cheng, Z.^*, Liu, F., Wei, W. (2025). Stress, displacement, and crack evolution of top-coal layers in high-intensity repeated mining with extra-thick coal seam. Computational Particle Mechanics, 1-15.

Pan, X., Wang, Y., Kong, D., Li, Y., Cheng, Z.^*, Song, G., Zuo, Y. (2025). Development, optimisation and performance prediction of a novel cement-based materials for borehole sealing. Construction and Building Materials, 478, 141404. (IF 8, JCR Q1)

Dai, S., Xia, F., Yang, B., Wu, D., Niu, D., Zhao, Y., Fei, X., Cheng, Z.^*, He, H. (2025). Compaction as a cost-effective strategy to upgrade the disposal of MSWI fly ash: feasibility and potential. Frontiers of Environmental Science & Engineering, 19(3), 35.

Zhang, Z., Cheng, Z., Fei, X., Geng, X., Wang, K., Yuan, Z., Liu, Z., Wu, W. (2025). Monotonic, unidirectional, and bidirectional cyclic simple shear responses of municipal solid waste incineration bottom ash. Journal of Rock Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrmge.2025.07.043

Hu, L., Zhang, Z., Yuan, Z., Cheng, Z., Niu, Y., Wu, W., Fei, X. (2025). Site investigation of municipal solid waste incineration ash in an equatorial offshore landfill. Waste Management, 206, 115078.

2024

Zhang, Z., Yuan, Z., Hu, L., Coulon, F., Liu, H., Cheng, Z., Wu, S., Liu, Q., Pi, X., Wu, W., Fei, X. (2024). Comprehensive geophysical, geotechnical, and geochemical assessments of an offshore landfill in Singapore. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 480, 135908.

Lv, H., Cheng, Z.^*, Xie, F., Pan, J., Liu, F. (2024). Study on hydraulic fracturing prevention and control of rock burst in roof of deep extra-thick coal seam roadway group. Scientific Reports, 14(1), 29537.

Wang, Y., Kong, D.^*, Wu, G., Cheng, Z.^*, Song, G., Shang, Y. (2024). Failure mechanism and movement characteristics of overlying strata in longwall mining face with thick aquifer. Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering, 57(9), 6787-6809.

Li, J., Gao, X., Lv, H.^*, Guo, H., Wang, Z., Cheng, Z.^* (2024). A new method for inspection and detection of typical defects of protective facilities in existing railways and its application. Frontiers in Earth Science, 12, 1416233.

Chen, C., Lv, H., Cheng, Z.^*, Gao, X., Cui, X., Yue, X. (2024). Quasi-3D slope stability analysis of waste dump based on double wedge failure. Scientific Reports, 14(1), 6887.

Chen, C., Lv, H., Zhao, J., Cheng, Z.^*, Wang, H., Xu, G. (2024). Study on slope stability of waste dump with a weak layer using finite element limit analysis method. Structural Engineering and Mechanics, 89(3), 253-263.

2023

Cheng, Z., Geng, X. 2023. Investigation of unconfined compressive strength for biopolymer treated clay. Construction and Building Materials, 385, 131458. Cheng, Z., Geng, X. 2023. Study on engineering properties of xanthan gum reinforced kaolinite. Computers and Concrete, 31(6), 501-511.

Cheng, Z., Geng, X. 2023. Mechanical behaviours of biopolymers treated natural soil. Structural Engineering and Mechanics, 88(2), 179-188.

Cheng, Z., Geng, X. 2022. Laboratory investigation for engineering properties of sodium alginate treated clay. Structural Engineering and Mechanics, 84 (4), 465.

Shang, Y., Zhang, L., Kong, D., Wang, Y., Cheng, Z.^* (2023). Overlying strata failure mechanism and gas migration law in close distance outburst coal seams: A case study. Engineering Failure Analysis, 148, 107214.

Wang, D., Barakos, G., Cheng, Z.^*, Mischo, H., Zhao, J. (2023). Numerical simulation of pressure profile of mining backfill fly-ash slurry in an L-shaped pipe using a validated Herschel-Bulkley model. Journal of Sustainable Cement-Based Materials, 12(3), 219-233.

Li, F., Kong, D., Li, Q., Shang, Y., Cheng, Z.^*, He, L. (2023). Failure analysis and prediction of roof instability in end face under repeated mining using early warning system. Scientific Reports, 13(1), 8764.

Wang, D., Jiao, D., Cheng, Z., Shi, Q., Mischo, H. (2023). Multi-criteria comparative analysis of the pressure drop on coal gangue fly-ash slurry at different parts along an L-shaped pipeline. International Journal of Coal Science and Technology, 10(1), 28.

2022

Cheng, Z., Geng, X. (2022). Laboratory investigation for engineering properties of sodium alginate treated clay. Structural Engineering and Mechanics, 84(4), 465-477.

Wang, Y., Wu, G., Liu, Y., Cheng, Z.* (2022). Study on overlying strata movement and surface subsidence of coal workfaces with karst aquifer water. Mathematics, 10 (2), 169.

Shang, Y., Kong, D., Pu, S., Xiong, Y., Li, Q., Cheng, Z.* (2022). Study on failure characteristics and control technology of roadway surrounding rock under repeated mining in close-distance coal seam. Mathematics, 10, 2166.

Lv, H., Wang, D., Cheng, Z.*, Zhang, Y., Zhou, T. (2022). Study on mechanical characteristics and failure modes of coal-mudstone combined body with prefabricated crack. Mathematics, 10 (2), 177.

2021

Cheng, Z., Geng, X. 2021. Soil consistency and interparticle characteristic of various biopolymers stabilization of clay. Geomechanics and Engineering, 27 (2), 103-113.

Lv, H., Cheng, Z.*, Liu, F. (2021). Study on the mechanism of a new fully mechanical mining method for extremely thick coal seam. International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences. 142: 104788.

Lv, H., Cheng, Z.*, Dong, Y., Zhang, J., Ma, Y. (2021). Numerical simulation on the crack initiation and propagation of coal with combined defect. Structural Engineering and Mechanics, 79 (2), 237.

Kong, D., Xiong, Y., Cheng, Z.*, Wang, N., Wu, G., Liu, Y. (2021). Stability analysis of coal face based on coal face-support-roof system in steeply inclined coal seam. Geomechanics and Engineering, 25 (3), 233-243.

Xiong, Y., Kong, D., Cheng, Z.*, Wu, G., Zhang, Q. (2021). The comprehensive identification of roof risk in a fully mechanized working face using the cloud model. Mathematics, 9 (17), 2072.

2020

Cheng, Z.*, Li, L., Zhang, Y. 2020. Laboratory investigation of the mechanical properties of coal-rock combined body. Bulletin of Engineering Geology and the Environment, 79 (4), 1947-1958.

2019

Cheng, Z., Yang, S., Li, L., Zhang, L. 2019. Support working resistance determined on top-coal caving face based on coal-rock combined body. Geomechanics and Engineering, 19 (3), 255-268.

Cheng, Z., Pan, W., Li, X., Sun, W. 2019. Numerical simulation on strata behaviours of TCCWF influenced by coal-rock combined body. Geomechanics and Engineering, 19 (3), 269-282.

Kong, D., Cheng, Z.*, Zheng, S. (2019). Study on the failure mechanism and stability control measures in a large-cutting-height coal mining face with a deep-buried seam. Bulletin of Engineering Geology and the Environment, 78 (8), 6143-6157.

Lv, H., Tang, Y., Zhang, L., Cheng, Z.*, Zhang, Y. (2019). Analysis for mechanical characteristics and failure models of coal specimens with non-penetrating single crack. Geomechanics and Engineering, 17 (4), 355-365.

• Second Prize, Science and Technology Award, China National Coal Association (R10/13), 2017

• Outstanding Graduate of Beijing, 2017

• Sun Yueqi Outstanding Student Award, 2016

• First Prize, Shandong Province 3D Dynamic Competition (R1), 2013

• Second Prize, Third National Mining Engineering Practical Skills Competition (R1), 2013

• First Prize, 8th Shandong Province Challenge Cup Business Plan Competition (R1), 2012