New summer greens by the water and woods, strings and songs gather the talented. Lotus shadows stir in the inkstone pool, winds and clouds rise from beneath the brush.

    On June 7, 2025, the Huang Wenxi Lecture (28th Lecture) Academic Report Conference, hosted by the Department of Hydraulic Engineering of Tsinghua University and the State Key Laboratory of Water Cycle Science and Hydraulic Engineering, was grandly held in the Grand Auditorium of Tsinghua University. This academic lecture gathered renowned experts and scholars in the field of geotechnical engineering in China to jointly discuss the latest research achievements and technological innovations in geotechnical engineering.

    The conference specially invited Professor Chen Zuyu, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences; Professor Gong Xiaonan, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering; Professor Zhang Jianmin, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering; Professor Zhu Hehua, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering; representatives of the Editorial Board of the Chinese Journal of Geotechnical Engineering; representatives of the Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering Branch of the China Civil Engineering Society; as well as more than 350 experts, scholars, and graduate student representatives from over 50 universities and research institutes across the country.

    The opening ceremony was presided over by Associate Professor Xu Wenjie, Director of the Institute of Geotechnical Engineering of the Department of Hydraulic Engineering of Tsinghua University. Professor Fu Xudong, Secretary of the Party Committee of the School of Civil and Hydraulic Engineering of Tsinghua University, delivered a welcome speech on behalf of the organizing unit of the Huang Wenxi Lecture. Professor Tang Yunqing, Vice President of the Nanjing Hydraulic Research Institute, the supporting institution of the Chinese Journal of Geotechnical Engineering, delivered a speech on behalf of the sponsoring society. Professor Li Guangxin of Tsinghua University, a student of Mr. Huang Wenxi, reviewed Mr. Huang Wenxi's exemplary conduct as a teacher and his rigorous academic character under the title "Mr. Huang Wenxi and Geotechnical Testing."

Professor Li Guangxin (student of Mr. Huang Wenxi)

    The keynote speaker of this year's Huang Wenxi Lecture, Professor Song Erxiang of Tsinghua University, delivered a report entitled "Exploration of Theories and Methods for Undrained Calculation of Saturated Soil." The report provided a systematic exposition of undrained calculation of saturated soil from theory to method, clarified some basic concepts, analyzed the undrained strength characteristics of saturated soil, dissected the defects of directly calculating the ultimate load of structures using consolidated undrained strength indices as well as the problems existing in current methods for calculating earth and water pressures in foundation pit engineering, and recommended correct practices. At the same time, he also introduced his formula for calculating foundation bearing capacity proposed with an entirely new approach and his newly proposed semi-confined layer-wise summation method for calculating foundation settlement.

Professor Song Erxiang delivering the report

    This year's Huang Wenxi Academic Lecture also focused on three major topics—testing technology in geotechnical engineering and disaster prevention, computational theory, and domestic substitution of software and hardware—and specially invited six experts to deliver thematic academic reports: Professor Chen Zuyu of the China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research, with the report "Plastic Mechanics Upper-Bound Solution for Foundation Bearing Capacity under Rising Groundwater Level"; Professor Yang Guanghua of the Guangdong Research Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower, with the report "Analysis of the Hidden Causes of Several Major Geotechnical Engineering Accidents and Disasters"; Senior Engineer Hu Jing of the China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research, with the report "Simulation of Underwater Explosion Damage Effects"; Professor Yang Han of Tianjin University, with the report "Ultra-Large-Scale Shaking Table Test Platform and Numerical Simulation System for Engineering Structures"; Professor Li Xu of Beijing Jiaotong University, with the report "Multi-Field Coupling Calculation Theory and Application for Freeze-Thaw Processes in Porous Media"; and Researcher Wu Hui of Peking University, with the report "Inversion and Analysis of Seepage and Heat Transfer Processes in Underground Fractured Media." During the academic lecture, a "Geotechnical Engineering Domestic Software Exchange Forum" was also organized, at which Researcher Feng Chun of the Institute of Mechanics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences introduced "CDEM, a Numerical Analysis Software for Geotechnical Engineering and Explosion Impact"; Professor Chen Xi of Beijing Jiaotong University introduced "CPhiLab Geotechnical Engineering Software and Its Applications"; and Associate Professor Xu Wenjie of Tsinghua University introduced "CoSim Coupled Simulator Software."

Professor Chen Zuyu delivering the report

Professor Yang Guanghua delivering the report

    At the closing ceremony, Researcher Gong Jianfei of the China Academy of Building Research, Vice Director of the Editorial Board of the Chinese Journal of Geotechnical Engineering, delivered a summary speech on this year's Huang Wenxi Lecture Academic Report Conference.

    During the conference, the Editorial Board of the Chinese Journal of Geotechnical Engineering and the Standing Council of the Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering Branch of the China Civil Engineering Society also held meetings. At the Fourth Plenary Meeting of the 13th Editorial Board of the Chinese Journal of Geotechnical Engineering, the editorial board members voted to select Professor Zhang Limin of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and Professor Wei Changfu of the University of South China as the keynote speakers for the 29th Lecture.