Media

Professor Z.Q. Yue from the Department of Civil Engineering of the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Hong Kong and his team won the second class award of the 9th Science and Technology Award from the China Society for Rock Mechanics and Engineering for the study of the “Science and Technology of the Large-scale Underground Engineering of the Longyou Grottoes in Zhejiang Province” in the category of Natural Science.

Professor Yue’s team included members from the Institute of Geology and Geophysics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, China University of Geosciences and Longyou Grottoes Institute. The team conducted the research study on “why the large ancient underground rock caverns (Longyou Grottoes) in Longyou City, Zhejiang Province remained intact for thousands of years”.

Since 2002, the Department of Civil Engineering of Faculty of Engineering at the University of Hong Kong has actively participated in the investigation of these ancient man-caved rock caverns from a geotechnical engineering and rock mechanics approach. The team had demonstrated that the relics of the complete large rock caverns are the consequence of coincidental combinations of ancient human effort and natural factors. The full occupation of water with weak acidity in the large rock caverns with the soft surrounding rocks of weak alkalinity is found to be the main factor ensuring and preserving the caverns to be stable and integral over 2000 years. The five un-watered complete rock cavern relics have been experiencing various deteriorations and small failures including cracks, seepage, small rock falls and delaminating ceiling rocks. Although these deteriorations have been repaired and stabilised effectively, the team found that an entire roof collapse failure is highly possible in the near future to each of the five un-watered rock cavern relics. These findings are also invaluable for both long-term protection and preservation of the large rock cavern relics of national and international interests and importance, and to extend and enrich the team’s experience and knowledge on the long-term stability and integrity of man-made underground rock cavern engineering projects.

Professor Z.Q. Yue is the Professor in Geotechnical Engineering of Department of Civil Engineering of HKU. He graduated from Peking University with Bachelor and Master degrees and got a PhD from Carleton University in Canada. Professor Yue joined HKU in 1999. He is a member of the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers and is a Registered Professional Engineer (GEL) in Hong Kong. His research interests are digital image-based numerical modeling; geohazard investigation and mitigation; innovative techniques in ground characterisation and soft soil engineering; automatic monitoring of in-situ testing methods; cavern engineering; tunneling; slope engineering; elasticity of non-homogeneous geo-materials; drilling process monitoring; and natural gas cause of earthquakes and volcanoes.

About China Society for Rock Mechanics and Engineering
The China Society of Rock Mechanics and Engineering is registered with the Ministry of Civil Affairs of PRC. The professional fields include water conservancy and hydropower, geological mining, railway transportation, national defense engineering, disaster prevention, urban construction, and environmental protection. It is an influential organisation in the Mainland that crosses industries, departments and disciplines. The Science and Technology Award of the China Society of Rock Mechanics and Engineering is sponsored by the China Society of Rock Mechanics and Engineering. This year marks the ninth year of the Award. The award has three categories, including the Natural Science Award, the Technology Invention Award and the Technology Advancement Award.

Media enquiries:
Ms Celia Lee, Faculty of Engineering, HKU (Tel: 3917 8519; Email: leecelia@hku.hk) or
Miss Bonnie Tsang, Faculty of Engineering, HKU (Tel: 3917 1924; Email: bonniepy@hku.hk)