From September 19 to 22, The Third Sino-Russian Forum of Young Researchers in Geotechnical and Underground Engineering was held at the NEU International Hotel. This forum was co-organized by the Tunnel and Underground Works Branch of the China Civil Engineering Society, the Russian Tunnelling Association, Northeastern University, and the Russian University of Transport. This meeting series is part of the supported projects by the Subcommittee on Construction and Urban Development of the Committee for the Regular Meeting between the Chinese and Russian Heads of Government, and is included in the "Three-Year Action Plan for Bilateral Scientific and Cultural Exchange Cooperation (2023-2025)" of the China Association for Science and Technology.
The opening ceremony took place on the morning of September 20th. Key figures attending included Feng Xiating, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and President of NEU; Kudriyavtcev Sergei, Academician of the Architecture Division of the Russian Academy of Sciences and Head of the Teaching and Research Section for Roads, Bridges, and Underground Engineering at the Far Eastern State Transport University; Piskunov Alexandr, a professor from St. Petersburg State Transport University; Feng Shouzhong, Vice Chairman of the Tunnel and Underground Works Branch of the China Civil Engineering Society and Distinguished Professor at Anhui University of Science and Technology; and Gao Yunsheng, General Manager of Shenyang Metro Group Co., Ltd.; Representatives from the School of Resources and Civil Engineering at NEU, along with over 120 Chinese and international experts and scholars in the geotechnical and underground engineering fields, also attended. The ceremony was hosted by Professor Zhao Wen, Chairman of the Organizing Committee.
Feng Xiating extended a warm welcome to all attending experts and young scholars. He stated that NEU has a strong foundation and unique characteristics in geotechnical and underground engineering, emphasizing its focus on the national strategy of "advancing into the depths of the Earth" and cutting-edge technologies related to development and utilization of underground spaces. He noted that NEU has made significant contributions to the country’s scientific and technological self-reliance through its achievements in these fields and in training high-level talents. This forum addressed the challenges and new technologies in geotechnical and underground engineering, providing an academic exchange platform for young scholars, showcasing new research achievements from both China and Russia, and effectively promoting in-depth exchanges and cooperation between the two countries in the field of geotechnical and underground engineering, thereby advancing the field to new heights.
Kudriyavtcev Sergei remarked in his speech that the development of underground space and tunnel construction was critical for urban and social development, and the construction of tunnels and international transport corridors significantly contributed to the economic growth of China and Russia. He expressed his hope that the forum would serve as a further communication bridge for young scholars from both countries, facilitating deeper and broader exchanges and cooperation.
Feng Shouzhong, representing the Tunnel and Underground Works Branch of the China Civil Engineering Society and entrusted by Chairman Yi Guoliang, warmly welcomed and congratulated all the attending experts and young scholars. He expressed the hope that the forum would effectively promote technological advancements in underground engineering, enhance the technical level in both countries in this field, and contribute to the training of talents for tunnel and underground engineering.
The forum focused on eight main topics: tunnel and underground engineering, soil mechanics and foundation engineering, geomechanics and geotechnical engineering, deep foundation pit design, new methods and technologies for urban underground space development, construction under complex climatic conditions, underground space planning and construction, and the design and construction of transport facilities under complex climate and geological conditions. Participating experts and scholars delivered insightful academic reports on topics including underwater tunnel permafrost characteristics, low-carbon operation and disaster prevention in highway tunnels, tunneling and operational conditions under complicated condition, construction techniques for large-section box culverts in high-water-level loess, theories and technologies for preventing freeze damage in cold-region tunnels, foam-improved sandy soil technology, double-tube closely spaced pipe jacking methods for subway station construction, prefabricated underground structures, solidification agent improved railway subgrades, identification of tunnel seismic damage, and heat transfer characteristics in cold-region tunnels. Russian scholars also reported on Moscow metro construction, tunnel construction, soil mechanics, and the theory and engineering practice of soft and frozen soils.
The forum was attended by experts and scholars from more than twenty institutions, including the Russian University of Transport, St. Petersburg State Transport University, Far Eastern State Transport University, the Russian Tunnelling Association, the Moscow Metro Design Institute, Harbin Institute of Technology, Wuhan University, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chang'an University, Shenzhen University, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xinjiang University, Anhui University of Science and Technology, the Institute of Engineering Mechanics, China Earthquake Administration, Shenyang University of Technology, Shenyang Metro Group Co., Ltd., Shenyang Shield Tunnel Equipment Engineering Co., Ltd., China Railway No. 9 Group Co., Ltd., China Railway Design Corporation, China Northeast Architectural Design & Research Institute Co., Ltd., Liaoning Provincial Transportation Planning and Design Institute Co., Ltd., Shenyang Municipal Group Co., Ltd., and Shenzhen Zhongcheng Construction Co., Ltd.
Zhao Wen hosted the closing ceremony of the forum, thanking all organizers and participants for their support and assistance in ensuring the forum's success. He announced that the Fourth Sino-Russian Forum of Young Researchers in Geotechnical and Underground Engineering would be held in Russia next year, continuing to provide the platform for young scholars to exchange experiences and achieve an organic integration of industry, academia, and research.
