ROCK MECHANICS STUDY FOR THREE GORGES PROJECT OVER 50 YEARS

Based on the rock mechanics study systemically carried out in the past half century for the Three Gorges Project,a brief review related to the engineering rock mechanics for the project has been carried out.It consists of following four parts:a brief introduction about the relationship between the construction of the Three Gorges Project and the commencement of rock mechanics study in China;four research periods and their corresponding rock mechanics studies in the whole period prior to and during the construction of the project;the main eight rock engineering problems which have been solved using rock mechanical knowledge in the design and construction stages of the projects;and the main theoretical and technical advancements of rock mechanics which have been achieved during whole engineering rock mechanics study process for the project.