April 25, 2012, Beijing, Chinese Society for Rock Mechanics and Engineering (CSRME) kicked off the appraisal meeting for the “quick and dynamic feedback analysis approach and loop optimization design for large and complicated underground caverns” presented by HYDROCHINA HUADONG.

The appraisal committee, chaired by Academician Qian Qihu, was constituted by three academicians Qian Qihu, Zhou Fengjun and Zheng Ying as well as seven experts from the following units: University of Science and Technology Beijing, Institute of Geology and Geophysics of Chinese Academy of Science, China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research, and Chinese Society for Rock Mechanics and Engineering.

After substantive theoretical calculation and analysis, site monitoring and verification and optimization design for such projects as Jinping II HPP, Tai’an PSP, Yixing PSP and Xiangshuijian HPP based on the requirements for control of stability of the surrounding rocks in the large and complicated underground caverns, with cooperation from other units such as Institute of Rock and Soil Mechanics of Chinese Academy of Science, HYDROCHINA HUADONG has come up with its finding of “quick and dynamic feedback analysis approach and loop optimization design for large and complicated underground caverns” based on its achievements which have been successfully applied and verified in dealing with the underground caverns of the aforesaid projects and have produced conspicuous social effect and economic benefits. Identified as being of significant theoretical and practical values for engineering, this finding marks a breakthrough of independent innovation in the development of rock mechanics and engineering in China and has a huge potential in development of the fields involving large underground caverns such as hydro-engineering, mining, road, military industry, urban metro and underground space, etc.

The appraisal committee concluded that this finding is a cutting-edge technology internationally in terms of information-based design and construction of underground rock engineering and suggested follow-up research and wider application of this technology in similar engineering fields.