Research progress of loess reinforcement technology: A bibliometric network analysis

Loess structure is loose, with large porosity, high compressibility, strong wet subsidence and other characteristics, widely distributed in the world. The use of loess as roadbed fill is likely to cause engineering problems, so it is necessary to reinforce loess in engineering projects. In this study, a bibliometric analysis of research advances in loess reinforcement techniques was conducted with the use of CiteSpace and HistCite software, and data were collected from 479 documents in the Web of Science core database for the period from 2001 to 2024. The results of this study provide comprehensive insights into various aspects of the topic, including (1) specific attributes of publications; (2) basic details of countries, institutions, and journals covered; and (3) an overview of popular development patterns and priorities. Ultimately, this study evaluates and provides an outlook on the results of research on loess reinforcement techniques and offers guidance for researchers seeking to rapidly integrate into the field.