Founded in 1956, the Department conducts researches mainly on geotechnical related problems in embankment dams, slopes, and underground caverns. The Department consists of 3 research sections, namely: Section of Static and Dynamic Soil Mechanics, Section of Rock Mechanics and Section of Geotechnical Engineering Safety Technology.

The Department has a total staff of 41, including 1 academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, 11 professorlevel senior engineers and 18 senior engineers. There are 17 persons with doctoral degree and 5 with master degree.

Section of Static and Dynamic Soil Mechanics

● Static and dynamic soil tests, laboratory and in-situ monitoring techniques
● Static and dynamic analysis of geotechnical problems and engineering application
● Centrifuge modeling theory and test technology
● Mechanism of earthquake liquefaction, criteria of assessment and technique of anti-seismic practice and hazard reduction measures in earthquake structures
● Technology of strengthening for earth structure and foundation works
● Development of related numerical software and establishment of technical standards

Section of Rock Mechanics

● Safety assessment of large dams and large dams conjunctively with their foundations
● Stability analysis and assessment of surrounding rocks and the supporting techniques for large scale underground caverns and chambers
● Seepage analysis and seepage control measures for rock foundations
● Risk assessment of slope (side slope) slide
● Key techniques of deeply buried long tunnels in water-transfer projects
● Development and application of new type prestressed anchor
● Rock petrophysical property testing techniques (laboratory and in- situ)
● Development of relevant software, system and compilation and revision of technical standards

Section of Geotechnical Engineering Safety Technology

● Risk analysis, safety assessment and strengthening techiniques of large dams
● Geotechnical seepage analysis and seepage control technique
● Safety monitoring of large dams, inspection techniques of hidden dangers and methods of their diagnosis and analysis
● Key techniques of ash storage area and tailing dam in thermal power station
● Theory of blasting and blasting techniques in water resources and hydropower projects
● Blasting safety control for engineering projects and techniques of protection
● Integrated development of software system for safety analysis of large scale geotechnical engineering projects
● Testing and application of geotechnical synthetic materials