<正> HEVs (high-energy ZnO varistors)with the energy-absorbing capacity of 20kJ and with thediameter of 105mm and the height of 10mm each element,are used for protection of hydroelectricgenerator. When applied in this way,they may be subject to AC, DC, SCRV (silicon-controlled rec-tification voltage) stresses and energy pulse. The degradation phenomena due to the above stress-es and energy pulse in the HEVs are investigated,and the LC(linear-chain) degradation mecha-nism is put forward in this dissertation.