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Professional headshot of Weiyi Lu

Weiyi Lu

Associate Professor

Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE), College of Engineering

Engineering Bldg, 428 S Shaw Ln Room 3571

Biography

Dr. Weiyi Lu received his Ph.D. in Structural Engineering at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) in 2011 and performed postdoctoral studies in the Department of Structural Engineering at UCSD from 2011 to 2014.

Dr. Lu's research is focused on the fundamental science and novel applications of advanced fluid-based composite materials and structures. Dr. Lu developed liquid nanofoam (LN) ... and LN-functionalized materials, and aims to understand the underlying mechanisms for their unique properties, including the nanoscale liquid flow and the strong solid-liquid interaction in LN-functionalized materials at multiple length scales.

Recent Research:

3D-printing of Hierarchical Cellular Structures, Ford Motor Company
Nanofluidics enabled attenuation of dynamic impacts, National Science Foundation
Liquid Nanofoam-based passive safety systems, Ford Motor Company
Multifunctional Battery Systems for Electric Vehicles - Robust Affordable Next Generation Electric-Vehicle Storage (RANGE), ARPA-e

Research Interests:

Dr. Lu's research interests include synthesis, characterization, and novel application of advanced nanomaterials and composites in engineering structures; advanced protection/damping materials, structures, and mechanisms; experimental investigation on high-strain-rate behavior of soft materials/composites; Solid-nanofluid interactions; multifunctional materials such as next generation battery systems for electric vehicles (EV); and advanced biomaterials.

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Education

University of California, San Diego: Ph.D., Structural Engineering

Awards

Travel Award to NFL Helmet Challenge Symposium, Football Research Inc. (11/2019)

Fellow of Academy for Global Engagement, College of Engineering, MSU (01/2018-12/2018)

Englekirk Fellowship of Jacobs School of Engineering, UCSD, 2007-2009

Publications

Y Gao, M Li, Y Zhang, W Lu*, B Xu*. Spontaneous Outflow Efficiency of Confined Liquid in Hydrophobic Nanopores. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 117, 25246-25253 (2020)

C Zhan, M Li, W Lu*. Functionalized Water Molecules Confined in Hydrogels for Energy C Zhan, M Li, W Lu*. Functionalized Water Molecules Confined in Hydrogels for Energy Mitigation by Assembling Liquid Nanofoams in Micro Polymeric Pockets. Compos. Commum. 20, 100357 (2020)

M Li, L Xu, W Lu*. Effect of Extra Gas Amount on Liquid Outflow from Hydrophobic Nanochannels: Enhanced Liquid-gas Interaction and Bubble Nucleation. Langmuir. 36, 4682-4688 (2020)

M Li, S Barbat, R Baccouche, J Belwafa, W Lu*. Enhanced energy mitigation of thin-walled tube filled with liquid nanofoam under dynamic impact. Compos. B Eng. 193, 108047 (2020)

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