Abstract

The past 15 years since China entered the new millennium saw severe geohazards that made geotechnical engineers more prepared to face challenges to landslides and debris flows. This lecture reviews the campaigns against the mudflow disasters triggered during the five years after the Wenchuan earthquake, the emergency responses to barrier lakes in Yigong, Zhouqi, Tangjiashan and Hongshiyan, as well as the mitigation works to the landslide potential during the reservoir impoundment of the Three Gorges Project.

About the speaker

Prof Zuyu Chen graduated from the Department of Hydraulic Engineering of Tsinghua University in 1966 and joined the China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research (IWHR) in 1982 as an engineer. During his 30 years career in IWHR, he obtained his PhD in Engineering from Tsinghua University and eventually became the Vice-President and Senior Engineer in IWHR before his retirement.

Prof Chen’s research focused on slope stability theory and numerical analysis and worked as an expert for many famous projects including the Three Gorges and Xiaolangdi Dam. He puts forward solutions to landslide in large scale projects, and develops slope stability analysis software STAB.

Prof Chen was elected a member of China Society for Rock Mechanics and Engineering and China Civil Engineering Society. He was also awarded the Second Prize (1997) and Third Prize (1995) of the National Prize for Progress in Science and Technology and the MAO Yisheng Award for Soil Mechanics and Basic Project (1998). He was elected an academician of Chinese Academy of Sciences (2005).

For attendees’ attention

		The lecture is free and open to all. Seating is on a first come, first served basis.
		Light refreshments will be served from 4:00 to 4:30 pm.

HKUST Jockey Club Institute for Advanced Study
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