Abstract: Strength parameters are affected by lithology diversity, confining stress and other factors under high stress and complicated geological condition of hydropower engineering in western China. Hoek-Brown method to determining parameter values is helpful to the hydropower engineering practice. Hoek-Brown empirical method is compared with hydropower empirical method, and the specific basis and realization process of independent parameters such as lithology indicator and geological strength index which are related to the factors in Hoek-Brown method are introduced. Moreover, practical methods closely related to the hydropower engineering in western China are expounded and are applied to Jinping Ⅱ-stage and Ⅰ-stage hydropower stations for validation. It is proved that Hoek-Brown empirical method is of high adaptability in hydropower engineering in western China

Key words: rock mass, high stress, Hoek-Brown method, strength parameters, lithology indicator, geological strength index, Jinping Ⅱ-stage hydropower station, Jinping Ⅰ-stage hydropower station