ZHAO Zhihong

ZHAO Zhihong is an Associate Professor in the Department of Civil Engineering at Tsinghua University. His research interests include rock mechanics, underground engineering, and numerical methods. He has conducted extensive work on coupled THMC processes in fractured rocks, underground energy systems, and geothermal reservoirs. ZHAO has led several research projects funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China and the National Key R&D Program of China. He is also involved in editorial roles for several geomechanics journals and has organized international conferences. His academic contributions focus on advancing understanding and modeling of complex geological processes.

Zhihong Zhao is a researcher at Tsinghua University specializing in Rock Mechanics and Geo-energy engineering. Their work focuses on the mechanical behavior of rocks under thermal and hydraulic conditions, including the effects of thermal treatment on rock properties, the role of fracture surface roughness in fluid flow and heat transfer, and the impact of wetting and cyclic wetting–drying on rock strength. Zhao's research also explores coupled thermo-hydro-mechanical processes in geothermal reservoirs and the influence of unloading on rock fracture activation and seismicity. Their studies contribute to understanding rock deformation, fluid transport, and energy extraction in fractured geological formations.