In the morning sunlight streaming through the window, 92-year-old academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, Chen Houqun, begins his day. Sitting at his desk, he delves into some technical books. Despite being retired for many years, the "inertia" of a researcher keeps his attention and passion alive for seismic research in high dam engineering.
As a pioneer and trailblazer in China's discipline of seismic resistance in hydraulic engineering, Chen Houqun has spent decades working on the frontlines of water and hydroelectric dam construction. He has overcome numerous key seismic technologies in large-scale water conservancy and hydropower projects such as Liujiaxia, Xiaolangdi, Longyangxia, Zipingpu, Xiaowan, and Xiluodu. He has served as the guardian of quality for two major national projects, the Three Gorges Dam and the South-to-North Water Diversion Project, fortifying the safety line for the motherland's high dams and reservoirs.
Today, this "nonagenarian" scientist continues to "review the old to learn the new." The foundational knowledge of seismic resistance in hydraulic structures that he once knew superficially now requires a deeper understanding. He keeps an eye on the latest developments in seismic resistance in high dam engineering. Whenever he has insights, he writes articles for academic journals, creates presentation slides, and shares his thoughts at academic conferences where he is invited to speak.
In the past, he said, "As long as the motherland needs me, I am ready to go at any time." Now, he aims to contribute as much as possible to the lifelong cause he has dedicated himself to.
Chen Houqun. Interviewee provided photo
Stepping up in a time of crisis, forging a bond with seismic resistance in hydraulic engineering
"Engaging in seismic research in hydraulic and hydroelectric engineering was not my initial choice." Reflecting on the circumstances that led him to the field of hydraulic and hydroelectric seismic resistance, Chen Houqun recalled.
Born in 1932 in Wuxi, Jiangsu Province, Chen Houqun's youth was marked by tumultuous times of war, spent in a state of constant displacement and hardship, which ignited a strong sense of patriotism within him.
In the late 1950s, Chen Houqun was sent by Tsinghua University to study hydraulic and hydroelectric construction in the Soviet Union. Upon returning with outstanding achievements, he joined the Hydraulic and Hydroelectric Science Research Institute directly under the Ministry of Water Resources with a determination to serve his country through science and technology, immersing himself in frontline hydroelectric projects in China.
At that time, a challenging situation arose.
In 1959, after the impoundment of the Xinfengjiang Hydropower Station in Guangdong, frequent earthquakes occurred in the area. However, at that time, China had limited research on dam seismic resistance, and there was a lack of understanding regarding earthquakes triggered by reservoir impoundment. The safety of the dam directly affected the lives of downstream residents, including those in Guangzhou, prompting the government to prioritize immediate reinforcement of the dam.
As a country prone to earthquakes, China's dam construction was accelerating with economic development, prompting Huang Wenxi, a member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and then Vice President of the Hydraulic and Hydroelectric Science Research Institute, to recognize the importance of dam seismic safety research. He personally took charge and appointed Chen Houqun to establish a seismic resistance team to conduct research on reinforcing the Xinfengjiang Dam against earthquakes.
At the age of 30, Chen Houqun thus stepped up to the challenge and formed a connection with seismic resistance in hydraulic and hydroelectric engineering. Despite being unfamiliar with this field at the time, Chen Houqun admitted, "I had never studied 'seismic resistance' before, and I was completely clueless about this discipline."
Faced with a heavy responsibility, Chen Houqun turned pressure into motivation. Embracing a mindset of "learning on the job" and "learning warfare in war," he diligently acquired knowledge on engineering seismic resistance, leading his team through extensive on-site observations, analysis, and calculations to gradually overcome obstacles.
This endeavor marked the beginning of systematic research in China on reservoirs and dam seismic safety, signifying a significant shift in Chen Houqun's research focus. From then on, seismic research evolved from being a stranger to becoming a lifelong companion for him. He subsequently led and played a key role in numerous structural seismic studies for large-scale hydraulic and hydroelectric projects.
"Throughout this journey, we have always upheld a sense of responsibility and mission, realizing the profound impact of these tasks on national stability and socio-economic development," Chen Houqun remarked.
Chen Houqun (second from the right) is collaborating with Professor Clough on a seismic research project at the Longyangxia Dam site. Interviewee provided photo.
Overcoming challenges, shouldering the main beam of disciplines
The seismic safety of high dams involves interdisciplinary research in seismology, dynamics, materials science, and more. On this path, Chen Houqun has led his team in a pursuit, experiencing transitions from initiation to catching up, from keeping pace to running abreast, and then to pioneering and challenging the world's leading standards.
Taking the seismic design of the large-scale and technically challenging Xiaowan, Xiluodu, and Baihetan high arch dam projects as examples, these locations feature rugged geographical conditions and complex geological characteristics. Situated in China's western seismic zone, the seismic design of such high dams undoubtedly poses a significant challenge.
Difficulties also present opportunities. Through on-site investigations, Chen Houqun has fully demonstrated the spirit of "upholding tradition while innovating," continuously applying new technologies and achievements to practical problem-solving.
"Through collaboration with seismology departments, we have established more practical seismic input models. After exploring the mechanism of seismic source based on the 'stochastic finite fault method,' we have developed a refined finite element analysis model that can reflect detailed structures and geological features, and conducted response analysis of the entire seismic damage process based on damage mechanics theory. In addition, we have conducted strength tests on dam concrete and studied the evolution of damage patterns, providing crucial insights for seismic design."
These innovative studies have provided valuable experience for the seismic design of large-scale and technically challenging high arch dam projects worldwide.
In the 1980s, the traditional seismic design method for dam bodies, known as the "pseudo-static method," began to shift towards the "dynamic method," yet lacked reliable physical model experiments for accurate analysis of complex three-dimensional structures.
Under Chen Houqun's leadership, the team built China's first large-scale three-directional six-degree-of-freedom simulated seismic shaking table, capable of simulating earthquakes of various intensities, becoming a crucial basis for engineering seismic design. The shaking table not only serves the water resources and hydropower sectors but also supports seismic tests for sectors such as construction, power, nuclear power, and petrochemicals, earning international recognition as the "world's best dam seismic test equipment" by peers.
While addressing practical issues, Chen Houqun has also shouldered the main beam, making significant contributions to the development of disciplines.
"Building on numerous engineering practices, I began to compile a national standard for seismic design of hydraulic structures that not only reflects existing consensus in scientific research but also promotes tracking cutting-edge studies." With this idea in mind, Chen Houqun took the lead in editing the first national standard for seismic design of hydraulic structures, filling a gap in China's seismic design for hydraulic structures.
In the process of achieving collaborative breakthroughs across regions and industries in "production, study, research, and application," Chen Houqun's Structural Vibration Open Research Laboratory was included in the series of open laboratories of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
Under his leadership, the Structural Vibration Open Research Laboratory gradually achieved a series of internationally advanced research results over five years, receiving recognition through 12 national and ministerial-level awards for scientific and technological progress. This has played a significant exemplary role in the research of engineering structural seismic resistance and talent cultivation.
In 2011, Chen Houqun delivered a speech after receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Commission on Large Dams. The interviewee provided a photo.
Growing older but stronger, guarding the country's major engineering projects.
In 1995, Chen Houqun was elected as an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering for his series of achievements in the field of hydraulic earthquake resistance, from practice to theory.
Feeling joyful, he was greatly encouraged and inspired, feeling a significant sense of mission and social responsibility. At the age of 63, he told himself, "The road ahead is a new starting point that requires continuous hard work, not a place to relax and be content."
Age did not hinder Chen Houqun's enthusiasm for persistently striving for innovation. In his old age, he grew even more resolute, ushering in another peak of innovation in his life.
In 2011 and 2012, Chen Houqun successively served as the director of the expert committee for the South-to-North Water Diversion Project and the leader of the quality inspection expert group for the Three Gorges Project, ensuring the quality control of these two major strategic infrastructure projects in China.
"For the quality and safety of these two globally renowned great projects, I am deeply aware of my significant responsibility. Therefore, I always approach my tasks with a sense of caution, striving to fulfill my duties to complete the mission," said Chen Houqun.
In addition to providing consultations on major key technical issues, this slender and gray-haired "80s generation" elder often traveled between high dam projects, wearing a safety helmet and a windbreaker, braving extreme heat and cold, climbing high mountains and steep cliffs to provide technical guidance and conduct engineering inspections. Immersed in the project sites, he led the expert group in making hundreds of suggestions, ensuring the safe and efficient construction and operation of the Three Gorges Project. For instance, the seismic design level of the Three Gorges Ship Lift alone saved the country over ten billion yuan.
Furthermore, Chen Houqun organized an unprecedented study on seismic technology issues for 300-meter-high arch dams in China, providing a theoretical basis and scientific evidence for solving key technical challenges in engineering. He led a team to develop high-performance parallel "cloud computing" dam seismic analysis software, a system with independent intellectual property rights that does not rely on any commercial programs, earning the "Tianhe Application Innovation Excellence Award" from the National Supercomputing Tianjin Center.
Throughout his more than 60 years of dedication to hydraulic earthquake research, Chen Houqun has received over 30 national and provincial-level scientific and technological awards, as well as prestigious titles such as the National May 1st Labor Medal, National Advanced Worker, National Water Conservancy System Model Worker, and "Most Beautiful Science and Technology Worker." He was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award by the International Commission on Large Dams.
Despite his numerous accolades, he always considers himself just "an ordinary soldier engaged in frontline scientific research in the field of water conservancy and hydropower."
Having witnessed the tremendous transformation of China's reservoirs from over 1,200 to nearly 100,000 today, the "veteran" Chen Houqun believes that hydropower, as a renewable clean energy source, is the main force in achieving the dual carbon goals. Water conservancy and hydropower projects, especially high dams and large reservoirs, play an "irreplaceable" role in water resource allocation and China's leading utilization of hydropower in the world.
"Inheriting traditional experience while daring to innovate, strengthening independent research and development of breakthrough technologies" is what Chen Houqun advocates for the discipline of hydraulic earthquake resistance. Facing the new situation and requirements of rapid technological development today, he calls for action.
"Patriotism is the driving force, dedication is the foundation, learning is the way to improvement, thinking is crucial, and practice is fundamental." Chen Houqun summarized his experience of battling in the north and south with the scientific spirit over more than 60 years with his team, encouraging young scientists to bravely shoulder responsibilities, apply research results to the country's modernization, and contribute to building a scientifically strong nation.
In 2008, Chen Houqun participated in the phase evaluation of the Three Gorges Project by the Chinese Academy of Engineering, conducting inspections in the reservoir area. Image provided by the interviewee.
Chen Houqun (first from the left) participates in the investigation of the water diversion project from the south to the north through the Huangtudian Tunnel. Image provided by interviewee.
In 2014, Chen Houqun chaired the technical acceptance of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project's central route. Image provided by interviewee.
