Publications

Journal / Chinese / Books / Reports

* supervised students/post-docs, † corresponding author (if other than the 1st author). Citation metrics available on Google Scholar.

Peer-reviewed Journal Articles

highlighted papers [^]

  • [M47] Jiang, S.*, Ma, X.† and Mukuhira, Y., Kilometer-scale crustal stress inverted through diverse natural fractures - synthetic tests and real borehole applications, Rock Mechanics Bulletin. [DOI]
  • [M46] Jiang, S.*, & Ma, X.† (under review), A Novel Three-dimensional Rock Strength Criterion: Insight from Microstructures.
  • [M45] Wang, G.*, Ma, X.†, Zhang, S., Bröker, K., Hertrich, M., & Giardini D. (under review), Continuous Spatial Stress Variations within a Granitic Rock Mass: Revealed by Cross-sectional Ellipticity of an Array of Boreholes.
  • [M44] Wang, G.*, Ma, X.†, & Wu, X. (under review), Deep Learning for Borehole Breakout Interpretation in Acoustic Image Logs: Reducing the false positives.
  • [M43] Wang, H.*, Ma, X.†, & Zoback, M. (under review), Novel Crustal Stress Profiling via Natural Fractures: Re-visiting the Superdeep KTB Borehole Data.
  • [J42] Wang, G.*, Ma, X.†, Song, X., & Li, G. (2025), Production Enhancement Analysis of a Supercritical CO2 Multi-Stage EGS with Horizontal Wells. Renewable Energy, 256: 124111. [DOI]
  • [J41] Hamdi, P., Ufrecht, S., Achtziger-Zupančič, P., Bröker, K., Ma, X., & Amann, F. (2025). Understanding the Regional Stress in Active Tectonic Regime Using 3D Numerical Modeling, Case Study of BedrettoLab, Switzerland. Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering, 58:12187–2206. [DOI]
  • [J40] Mahmoud, A.*, Ma, X.†, Metwally, A., Mabrouk, W., Sarhan, M. (2025), 3D static modeling for identifying the main flow units and heterogeneities in the Abu Madi Reservoir, Baltim Gas Field, Nile Delta, Egypt. Journal of African Earth Sciences, 231:105716. [DOI]
  • [J39] Gischig, V.S., Rinaldi, A.P., Alcolea, A., Bethman, F., Broccardo, M., Bröker, K., Castilla, R., Ciardo, F., Repollés, V.C., Durand, V., Doonechaly, N.G., Hertrich, M., Hochreutener, R., Kästli, P., Karvounis, D., Ma, X., Meier, M.A., Meier, P., Mesimeri, M., Mignan, A., Obermann, A., Plenkers, K., Rosskopf, M., Serbeto, F., Selvadurai, P.A., Shakas, A., Villiger, L., Wenning, Q., Zappone, A., Aaron, J., Maurer, H., Giardini, D., and Wiemer, S. (2025), Updating induced seismic hazard assessments during hydraulic stimulation experiments in underground laboratories: workflow and limitations. Solid Earth, 16:1153-1180. [DOI]
  • [J38] Yang, Y., Sun, D., Ma, X., Wu, B., & Chen, Q. (2025). A total system stiffness approach for determining shut-in pressure in hydraulic fracturing stress measurements. International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences, 192:106160. [DOI]
  • [J37] Mahmoud, A. I.*, Ma, X.†, Mabrouk, W. M., Noureldin, A. M., & Metwally, A. (2025). Petrophysical analysis and pressure gradients reveal hydrocarbon potential in the Paleozoic pre-rift of the PTAH Oil Field, Egypt. Scientific Reports, 15:17818. [DOI]
  • [J36] Yang, Y., Xu, W., Li, X., Ma, X., & Tang, C. (2025), Human-machine interactive refined identification of complex rock discontinuities using photogrammetric techniques: Case studies from a candidate HLW repository site in China. Environmental Earth Sciences, 84(10). [DOI]
  • [J35] Doonechaly, N. G., Bröker, K., Hertrich, M., Rosskopf, M., Obermann, A., Durand, V., Serbeto, F., Shakas, A., Ma, X., Rinaldi, A.P., Repollés, V.C., Villiger, V., Meier, M.A., Gischig, V., Plenkers, K., Maurer, H., Wiemer, S., and Giardini, D. (2025), Insights from Subsurface Monitoring for Engineering of the Stimulation Pattern in Fractured Reservoirs. Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering, 58:8973–9000. [DOI]
  • [J34] Obermann, A., Rosskopf, M., Durand, V., Plenkers, K., Bröker, K., Doonechaly, N. G., Gischig, V., Hertrich, M., Kästli, K., Ma, X., Maurer, H., Rinaldi, A. P., Villiger, L., Wiemer, S., Zappone, A., and Giardini, D. (2024), Seismic response of hectometer-scale fracture systems to hydraulic stimulation in the Bedretto Underground laboratory, Switzerland. Journal of Geophysical Research Solid Earth, 129: e2024JB029836. [DOI]
  • [J33] Bröker, K.*, Ma, X.†, Doonechaly, N. G., Rosskopf, M., Obermann, A., Rinaldi, A. P., Hertrich, M., Serbeto, F., Maurer, H., Wiemer, S., Domenico, G., and Team, B. L. (2024), Hydromechanical characterization of a fractured crystalline rock volume during multi-stage hydraulic stimulations at the BedrettoLab. Geothermics, 124, 103126. [DOI]
  • [J32] Achtziger-Zupančič, P., Ceccato, A., Zappone, A. S., Pozzi, G., Shakas, A., Amann, Amann, F., Behr, W. M., Botero, D. S., Giardini, D., Hertrich, M., Jalali, M., Ma, X., Meier, M. A., Osten, J., Wiemer, S., and Cocco, M. (2024), Selection and characterization of the target fault for fluid-induced activation and earthquake rupture experiments. Solid Earth, 15, 1087–1112. [DOI]
  • [J31] Bröker, K.*, Ma, X.†, Zhang, S., Doonechaly, N. G., Hertrich, M., Klee, G., Greenwood, A., Caspari, E., and Giardini, G. (2024), Constraining the stress field and its variability at the BedrettoLab: Elaborated hydraulic fracture trace analysis. International Journal of Rock Mechanics & Mining Sciences, 178, 105739. [DOI]
  • [J30^] Zhang, S.*, Ma, X.†, Bröker, K., van Limborgh, R., Wenning, Q., Hertrich, M., and Giardini, D. (2023), Spatial stress variations within a fault zone revealed by breakout observations within an array of boreholes in a granitic rock mass. Journal of Geophysical Research-Solid Earth, 128(8): e2023JB026477. [DOI]
  • [J29] Li, Z.*, Ma, X.†, Kong, X.-Z., Saar, M.O. and Vogler, D.† (2023), Permeability evolution during fluid-pressure induced shear slip in saw-cut and natural granite fractures. Rock Mechanics Bulletin, 2(2), 100027. [DOI]
  • [J28] Cheng, W., Zhang, X., Jin, J., Liu, J.*, Jiang, W., Zhang, G., Zhang, S.*† and Ma, X. (2023), Time-dependent deformation of Wufeng-Longmaxi shale and its implications on the in situ state of stress. Frontiers in Earth Sciences, 10(-2022). [DOI]
  • [J27^] Zhang, S.*, Ma, X.† and Zoback, M. (2023), Determination of the crustal friction and state of stress in deep boreholes using hydrologic indicators. Rock Mechanics Bulletin, 2(1), 100024. [DOI]     ( featured as journal cover paper, reported by AAAS EurekAlert!;  Phys.org;   etc. )
  • [J26] Ma, X.*, Zhang, S.*, Zhang, X., Liu, J., Jin, J., Cheng, W., Jiang, W., Zhang, G., Chen, Z., and Zoback, M. (2022), Lithology-controlled stress variations of Longmaxi shale –Example of an appraisal wellbore in the Changning area. Rock Mechanics Bulletin, 1(1), 100002. [DOI]
  • [J25] Feng, C., Gao, G., Zhang, S.*, Sun, D., Zhu, S., Tan, C., and Ma, X. (2022), Fault slip potential induced by fluid injection in the Matouying enhanced geothermal system (EGS) field, Tangshan seismic region, North China. Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences, 22, 2257–287. [DOI]
  • [J24] Wang, G.*, Ma, X.†, Song, X., and Li, G. (2022), Modeling flow and heat transfer of fractured reservoir: Implications for a multi-fracture enhanced geothermal system. Journal of Cleaner Production, 365, 132708. [DOI]
  • [J23] He, P., Ma, X., He, M., Tao, Z., and Liu, D. (2022), Comparative Study of Nine Intact Rock Failure Criteria via Analytical Geometry. Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering, 55: 3083-3106. [DOI]
  • [J22^] Ma, X., Hertrich, M., Amann, F., Bröker, K.*, Gholizadeh Doonechaly, N., Gischig, V., Hochreutener, R., Kästli, P., Krietsch, H., Marti, M., Nägeli, B., Nejati, M., Obermann, A., Plenkers, K., Rinaldi, A. P., Shakas, A., Villiger, L., Wenning, Q., Zappone, A., Bethmann, F., Castilla, R., Seberto, F., Meier, P., Driesner, T., Löw, S., Maurer, H., Saar, M. O., Wiemer, S., and Giardini, D. (2022), Multi-disciplinary characterizations of the Bedretto Lab – a new underground geoscience research facility. Solid Earth, 13: 301-322. [DOI]
  • [J21] Bröker, K.* and Ma, X.† (2022), Estimating the least principal stress in a granitic rock mass: systematic mini-frac tests and elaborated pressure transient analysis. Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering. [DOI]
  • [J20] Zhang, S.* and Ma, X.† (2021), How does in situ stress rotate within a fault zone? Insights from explicit modeling of the frictional, fractured rock mass. Journal of Geophysical Research-Solid Earth, 126 (11): e2021JB022348. [DOI]
  • [J19^] Zhang, M.*, Ge, S. and Yang, Q., Ma, X.† (2021), Impoundment-associated hydro-mechanical changes and regional seismicity near the Xiluodu Reservoir, Southwestern China. Journal of Geophysical Research-Solid Earth, 126 (9): e2020JB021590. [DOI]     ( JGR-Solid Earth Top downloaded paper )
  • [J18^] Zhang, S.* and Ma, X.† (2021), Global frictional equilibrium via stochastic, local Coulomb frictional slips. Journal of Geophysical Research-Solid Earth, 126 (7): e2020JB021404. [DOI]
  • [J17] Jordan, T., Fulton, P., Tester, J., Bruhn, D., Asanuma, H., Harms, U., Wang, C., Schmitt, D., Vardon, P., Hofmann, H., Pasquini, T., Smith, J. and the ICDP Cornell workshop participants (2020), Borehole research in New York State can advance utilization of low-enthalpy geothermal energy, management of potential risks, and understanding of deep sedimentary and crystalline geologic systems. Scientific Drilling, 28: 75-91. [DOI]
  • [J16^] Ma, X., Saar, M.O. and Fan, L.-S. (2020), Coulomb criterion – bounding crustal stress limit and intact rock failure: Perspectives. Powder Technology, 374 (Sep): 106-110. [DOI]     ( editor-invited perspective paper and fast-tracked with priority publication )
  • [J15] Feng, C., Yang, Y., Ma, X., Qi, B., Zhang, P., Meng, J., Tan, C., and Chen, Q. (2020), Local stress perturbations associated with the 2008 Wenchuan M8.0 earthquake near the Longmenshan fault zone in the eastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau. Journal of Asian Earth Sciences, 200 (104429). [DOI]
  • [J14] Gischig, V.S., Giardini, D., Amann, F., Hertrich, M., Krietsch, H., Löw, S., Maurer, H., Villiger, L., Wiemer, S., Bethmann, F., Brixel, B., Doetsch, J., Gholizadeh Doonechaly, N., Driesner, T., Dutler, N., Evans, K.F., Jalali, M., Jordan, D., Kittilä, A., Ma, X., Meier, P., Nejati, M., Obermann, A., Plenkers, K., Saar, M.O., Shakas, A., Valley, B. (2020), Hydraulic stimulation and fluid circulation experiments in underground laboratories: Stepping up the scale towards engineered geothermal systems. Geomechanics for Energy and the Environment, 24 (December 2020, 100175). [DOI]     ( corrigendum: [DOI] )
  • [J13^] Ma, X. and Zoback, M. (2020), Predicting lithology-controlled stress variations in the Woodford shale from well log data via viscoplastic relaxation. SPE Journal, 25 (05):2534-2546. [DOI]
  • [J12] Feng, X.-T., Haimson, B.C., Li, X., Chang, C., Ma, X., Zhang, X., Ingraham, M.D., and Suzuki, K. (2019), ISRM Suggested Method - Determining deformation and failure characteristics of rocks subjected to true triaxial compression. Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering, 52: 2011-2020. [DOI]
  • [J11] Ma, X. (2019), Volumetric deformation, ultrasonic velocities and effective stress coefficients of St Peter sandstone during poroelastic stress changes. Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering, 52: 2901-2916. [DOI]
  • [J10] Ma, X. and Zoback, M. (2018), Static and dynamic response of Bakken cores to cyclic hydrostatic loading. Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering, 51 (6): 1943-1953. [DOI]
  • [J9] Ma, X. and Ingraham, M. (2018), On the applicability of Nadai and Mogi failure criteria to porous sandstones. Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering, 51 (12): 3835-3843. [DOI]
  • [J8] Ma, X. and Zoback, M. (2017b), Lithology-controlled stress variations and pad-scale faults: a case study of hydraulic fracturing in the Woodford shale, Oklahoma. Geophysics, 82(6): ID35-ID44. [DOI]
  • [J7^] Ma, X. and Zoback, M. (2017a), Laboratory experiments simulating poroelastic stress changes associated with depletion and injection in low-porosity sedimentary rocks. Journal of Geophysical Research-Solid Earth, 122 (4): 2478-2503. [DOI]
  • [J6] Duan, K., Kwok, F.† and Ma, X. (2017), DEM simulations of sandstone under true triaxial compressive tests. Acta Geotechnica, 12 (3): 495-510. [DOI]

    • [J1]-[J5] resulting from my PhD research (and prior)

  • [J5] Ma, X., Rudnicki, J. and Haimson, B. (2017), The application of a modified Lade-Duncan-Matsuoka-Nakai failure criterion to two porous sandstones. International Journal of Rock Mechanics & Mining Sciences, 92: 9-18. [DOI]
  • [J4^] Ma, X., Rudnicki, J. and Haimson, B. (2017), Failure characteristics of two porous sandstones subjected to true triaxial stresses: applied through a novel loading path. Journal of Geophysical Research-Solid Earth, 122 (4): 2525-2540. [DOI]
  • [J3^] Ma, X. and Haimson, B. (2016), Failure characteristics of two porous sandstones subjected to true triaxial stresses. Journal of Geophysical Research-Solid Earth, 121 (9): 6477-6498. [DOI]     ( most cited paper between 2016-2021 on JGR-Solid Earth in the theme of Mineral Physics )
  • [J2] Jimenez, R. and Ma, X. (2013), A note on the strength symmetry imposed by Mogi's true-triaxial criterion. International Journal of Rock Mechanics & Mining Sciences, 64: 17-21. [DOI]
  • [J1] Ma, X., Xu, B., and Li, S. (2010), Formation of pedestrian system and development of underground traffic space –based on an attempted design of Jinan Railway Station Transit Hub. Journal of Underground Space and Engineering, 6 (5): 887-892.

Published in Chinese

  • [CM1] 熊思捷*, 马晓冬†, 杨跃辉, 吴邦宸, 李阿伟, 孙东生. (审稿中), 基于水压致裂数据的浅部地应力精细化表征与分析. 地质力学学报.
  • [5] 马晓冬. (2025), “一孔之见”——钻孔中的应力观测如何表征地壳应力状态？(出版中). 地质力学学报, 1-16. [Link]
  • [4] 任昱行, 许文涛, 张诗淮, 马晓冬. (出版中), 岩体结构面两级粗糙度各向异性特征量化表征的间距效应研究. 工程地质学报.
  • [3] 蒋林桐, 马天然, 李采, 郭朝斌, 何庆成, 马晓冬, 张诗淮. (2024), CO2地质封存诱发断层活化和流体泄漏模型及数值研究. 地质学报, 1-15. [DOI]
  • [2] 朱思雨, 丰成君, 谭成轩, 马晓冬, 孟静, 戚帮申, 张重远. (2022), 雄安容城深热储层回灌注水诱发断层失稳危险性研究. 岩石力学与工程学报, 41(S1):2735-2756. [DOI]
  • [1] 马晓冬, 徐帮树, 李术才. (2010), 构建高效步行系统, 营造地下交通空间——以济南火车站站前枢纽开发设想为例. 地下空间与工程学报, 6(5), 887-892.

Contributions to books/chapters

  • [B2] Ma, X., Haimson, B., and Rudnicki, J. (2017), True triaxial failure stress and failure plane of two porous sandstones subjected to two distinct loading paths. Porous Rock Failure Mechanics: with application to hydraulic fracturing, drilling and structural engineering, Chap. 13, A. Shojaei and J. Shao (ed), Elsevier. [DOI]   ( invited )
  • [B1] Haimson, B.C., Chang, C. and Ma, X. (2017), True Triaxial testing of rocks and the effect of the intermediate principal stress on failure characteristics. Rock Mechanics and Engineering, Vol. 1, Chap. 13, X.-T. Feng (ed), CRC Press. [DOI]   ( invited )

Technical reports, Editorials, White papers, etc.

  • [R4] Ma, X. (2022), Twelve Years of Fun Reading –A Young Professional’s Perspective on ARMA Letters. ARMA Letters, Fall 2022 (Issue 35).
  • [R3] Ma, X. (2021), Editorial - Introduction to the Special Issue: Deep Underground Laboratories (DUL). ARMA Letters, Winter 2021 (Issue 30).
  • [R2] Ma, X., Bröker, K.* and the Bedretto Lab team (2021), In situ geomechanical characterization: stress measurements and fracture mapping. ARMA Letters, Winter 2021 (Issue 30).
  • [R1] Amann, F., Giardini, D., Ma, X. and Einstein, H. (2019), Collaborative research on Engineered Geothermal Systems (EGS) –White Paper. submitted to national government agencies for geothermal research.

Patents

  • [2] 张诗淮, 马晓冬. (2024), 深部岩体随钻激光测量地应力的测量系统及测量方法. ZL 2024 1 0545022.X
  • [1] 马晓冬, 王光宇. (2024), 基于钻孔孔壁几何形态的地应力智能解读处理方法. ZL 2024 1 0544900.6

Codes

  • Code repositories will be updated here.