New Method and Optimal Design of Ecological Cement–Soil Slope Protection for Hydropower Stations

Zhou, Xiaoyan; Zhang, Weihao; Xu, Jiangpeng; Liu, Xin; Chu, Hongqiang

doi:10.3390/app152312380

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New Method and Optimal Design of Ecological Cement–Soil Slope Protection for Hydropower Stations

by

Xiaoyan Zhou

¹,

Weihao Zhang

¹,

Jiangpeng Xu

²,

Xin Liu

^2,*

and

Hongqiang Chu

²

¹

China Yangtze Power Co., Ltd. (CYPC), Yibin 644612, China

²

College of Civil Engineering and Transportation, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China

^*

Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(23), 12380; https://doi.org/10.3390/app152312380

Submission received: 13 October 2025 / Revised: 18 November 2025 / Accepted: 19 November 2025 / Published: 21 November 2025

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Abstract

Steep rock slopes in mountainous regions present the coupled challenges of mechanical instability and ecological degradation, yet existing protection methods often focus on structural reinforcement alone, neglecting ecological recovery. To bridge this gap, this study develops an integrated ecological cement–soil (ECS) slope protection system that couples a porous cement–soil layer, galvanized mesh, and anchors to achieve simultaneous mechanical stabilization and vegetation restoration. Field experiments and finite-element simulations were conducted to evaluate the deformation control, strength development, and stress transfer mechanism of the ECS system. Results demonstrate that the ECS layer effectively limited surface displacement (<2 mm) while maintaining sufficient porosity (0.3–0.5 MPa strength) to support plant growth. This work provides a generalizable framework for eco-friendly slope protection, offering new insights for the sustainable rehabilitation of steep rocky terrains beyond the studied project site.

Keywords: hydropower station slope; ecological cement–soil slope protection; anchoring engineering; numerical simulation; green covering of slope

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MDPI and ACS Style

Zhou, X.; Zhang, W.; Xu, J.; Liu, X.; Chu, H. New Method and Optimal Design of Ecological Cement–Soil Slope Protection for Hydropower Stations. Appl. Sci. 2025, 15, 12380. https://doi.org/10.3390/app152312380

AMA Style

Zhou X, Zhang W, Xu J, Liu X, Chu H. New Method and Optimal Design of Ecological Cement–Soil Slope Protection for Hydropower Stations. Applied Sciences. 2025; 15(23):12380. https://doi.org/10.3390/app152312380

Chicago/Turabian Style

Zhou, Xiaoyan, Weihao Zhang, Jiangpeng Xu, Xin Liu, and Hongqiang Chu. 2025. "New Method and Optimal Design of Ecological Cement–Soil Slope Protection for Hydropower Stations" Applied Sciences 15, no. 23: 12380. https://doi.org/10.3390/app152312380

APA Style

Zhou, X., Zhang, W., Xu, J., Liu, X., & Chu, H. (2025). New Method and Optimal Design of Ecological Cement–Soil Slope Protection for Hydropower Stations. Applied Sciences, 15(23), 12380. https://doi.org/10.3390/app152312380

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New Method and Optimal Design of Ecological Cement–Soil Slope Protection for Hydropower Stations

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