Biography

Chen Zuyu graduated from the Department of Hydraulic Engineering of Tsinghua University in 1966; pursued further study at the University of Alberta in Canada as one of China's first visiting scholars in 1979. His supervisor was Prof. Morgenstern, a famous soil mechanics expert; returned to China in 1981 and has been working in China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research until now.

Chen Zuyu has made great achievements in slope stability theory and numerical analysis. He improved the well-known Morgenstern-Price method in the field of slope stability analysis in terms of both theory and analysis methods, proposed the differential equation of the upper limit solution of the limit analysis based on the diagonal strip method and the corresponding analytical solution, successfully obtained a solution completely consistent with the theoretical solution proposed by Sokolovsky in the 1950s,  and extended the above results to the solution of three-dimensional problems, making the three-dimensional slope stability analysis practically feasible. In the meantime, he proposed a generalized solution for the stability analysis of the rock slope wedges, deepened the understanding of the rock mechanics, and theoretically proved the “maximum principle” proposed by Pan Jiazheng, another Chinese Academician. In recent years, Chen Zuyu has first proposed the concept and calculation formula of the relative safety rate of the reliability method, which solved the problem of quantitative comparison of reliability indicators, safety factors and partial factors; proposed a hyperbolic scour model, and made substantial improvements to existing dam-break flood analysis methods. He has successively proposed and implemented engineering measures to solve the landslide danger of large-scale projects such as Xiaowan, Tianshengqiao, Manwan, Ertan and Tianhuangping, etc. There has been a  network of 250 user agencies applying the slope stability analysis software STAB and EMU developed by him.

Professional Positions

Executive Director, China Civil Engineering Society (CCES)

Executive Director, Chinese National Committee on Large Dams

Honorary Chairman, Chinese Institution of Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, CCES

Director of the Academic Committee, State Key Laboratory of Water and Sediment Science and Water Conservancy and Hydropower Engineering

Member of Engineering Science and Technology Committee, Institute of Mechanics, CAS

Awards

2 second prizes and 1 third prize of the National Science and Technology Progress Award

Mao Yisheng Award for Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering

keynote Speaker, Huang Wenxi Lecture, Chinese Journal of Geotechnical Engineering

keynote Speaker, Chen Zongji Lecture, Chinese Journal of Rock Mechanics and Engineering