The study looked at how the shape of rectangular pipes used in construction affects the ground and the amount of force needed to push them through. By using computer simulations, the researchers found that pipes with different shapes can impact how much the ground moves and how much force is needed. They discovered that as the pipes become taller compared to their width, the ground moves less but more force is needed to push them. This means that when designing these pipes, it's important to consider how their shape will affect the ground and the force required for construction.