X. Shelly Zhang

Research Interests

• Development of accelerated optimization algorithms that handle multi-objective and multi-constraints
• Design of composite materials and structures
• Robust design optimization under uncertainty through stochastic programming
• Topology optimization informed civil structures innovations
• Bridging topology optimization and additive manufacturing
• Multi-scale lattice design for resilient and lightweight metamaterials and structures
• Design of multi-functional, resilient, intelligent engineering structures and material systems via multi-physics topology optimization

Research Statement

Topology optimization is a technique for generating optimal shapes of structures. My research focuses on exploring multi-physics topology optimization, additive manufacturing, stochastic programming, machine learning to create multifunctional, resilient, sustainable, and innovative engineering structures and materials for applications at different scales, from as large as high-rise buildings to as small as material microstructures.

Primary Research Area

• Structural Engineering

Research Areas

• Societal Risk & Hazard Mitigation
• Structural Engineering

For more information

• Research Group Website (MISSION Laboratory)

Selected Articles in Journals

• W. Li, F. Wang, O. Sigmund, X. S. Zhang*. “Design of composite structures with programmable elastic responses under finite deformations”. Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids. Vol. 151, pp. 104356, 2021.
• W. Li, X. S. Zhang*. “Accelerated Mirror Descent Stochastic Approximation for Robust Topology Optimization under Stochastic Loads”. International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering. 2021. Accepted.
• Z. Zhao, X. S. Zhang*. “Graded porous structure design via a multi-material topology optimization approach.” Structural and Multidisciplinary Optimization. 2021. In Press.
• X. S. Zhang*, W. Li, Y. Ouyang. “Paved guideway topology optimization for pedestrian traffic under Nash equilibrium”. Structural and Multidisciplinary Optimization. 2021. In Press.
• X. S. Zhang*, H. Chi., Z. Zhao. “Topology optimization of fiber-reinforced hyperelastic structures under large deformations”. Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering. Vol. 378, pp. 113496, 2021.
• X. S. Zhang*, E. de Sturler, and A. Shapiro. "Topology optimization with many right-hand sides using mirror descent stochastic approximation -- reduction from many to a single sample. " Journal of Applied Mechanics. Vol. 87, No. 5, pp. 051005, 2020.
• X. S. Zhang*, H. Chi, G. H. Paulino. "Adaptive multi-material topology optimization with hyperelastic materials under large deformations: A virtual element approach. Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering. Vol. 130, pp. 112976, 2020.
• X. S. Zhang*, H. Chi. "Efficient multi-material continuum topology optimization considering hyperelasticity: achieving local feature control through regional constraints. " Mechanics Research Communications. Vol. 105, pp. 103494, 2020.
• X. S. Zhang, G. H. Paulino, A. Ramos Jr. “Multi-Material Topology Optimization with Multiple Volume Constraints: A General Approach Applied to Ground Structures with Material Nonlinearity.” Journal of Structural and Multidisciplinary Optimization. Vol. 57, pp. 161-182, 2018.
• X. S. Zhang, G. H. Paulino, A. Ramos Jr. “Multi-material Topology Optimization with Multiple Volume Constraints: Combining the ZPR Update with a Ground-structure Algorithm to Select a Single Material Per Overlapping Set.” International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering. Vol. 114, pp. 1053–1073, 2018.
• X. S. Zhang, E. de Sturler, G. H. Paulino. “Stochastic Sampling for Deterministic Structural Topology Optimization with Many Load Cases: Density-Based and Ground Structure Approaches.” Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering. Vol. 325, pp. 463-487, 2017.
• X. S. Zhang, A. Ramos Jr., G. H. Paulino. “Material Nonlinear Topology Optimization Using the Ground Structure Method with a Discrete Filter Scheme.” Journal of Structural and Multidisciplinary Optimization. Vol. 55, No. 6, pp. 2045–2072. 2017. (Most Downloaded Journal Article of Springer in Mechanics 2017.)
• X. S. Zhang, S. Maheshwari, A. Ramos Jr., G. H. Paulino. “Closure to “Macroelement and Macropatch Approaches to Structural Topology Optimization Using the Ground Structure Method.” ASCE Journal of Structural Engineering. Vol. 144, No. 10, pp. 07018009-1 to 4. 2018.
• X. S. Zhang, S. Maheshwari, A. Ramos Jr., G. H. Paulino. “Macroelement and Macropatch Approaches for Topology Optimization of Trusses Using a Ground Structure Method.” ASCE Journal of Structural Engineering. Vol. 142, No. 11, pp. 04016090-1-14. 2016.

Articles in Conference Proceedings

• Invited: X. S. Zhang. “Leveraging Materials in Topology Optimization” 2020 TMS (The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society) Congress, San Diego, CA, 2020.
• X. S. Zhang, W. Li, Y. Ouyang. “Pedestrian Guideway Design under Continuous Traffic Equilibrium: A Topology Optimization Approach.” 99th Annual Meeting of the Transportation Research Board, Washington DC, 2020.
• X. S. Zhang, H. Chi, G. H. Paulino. “Adaptive Multi-Material Topology Optimization with Material and Geometric Nonlinearities.” Society of Engineering Science, St. Louis, MO, 2019.
• X. S. Zhang, H. Chi, G. H. Paulino. “Adaptive multi-material topology optimization with material and geometric nonlinearities.” ASCE Engineering Mechanics Institute Conference, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, LA, 2019.
• X. S. Zhang, E. de Sturler, G. H. Paulino. “Stochastic Methods for Topology Optimization with Many Load Cases.” ASCE Engineering Mechanics Institute Conference, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, LA, 2019.
• X. S. Zhang, H. Chi, G. H. Paulino. “Virtual elements-based multi-material topology optimization with material and geometric nonlinearities.” 13th World Congress of Structural and Multidisciplinary Optimization, Beijing, China, 2019.
• X. S. Zhang, E. de Sturler, G.H. Paulino. “Stochastic Methods for Topology Optimization with Many Load Cases.” Sandia National Laboratories Topology Optimization Roundtable, Albuquerque, NM, March 2019.
• X. S. Zhang, A. Ramos Jr., G. H. Paulino. “Multi-Material Topology Optimization with Multiple Constraints: A General Approach with Material Nonlinearity.” Engineering Mechanics Institute Conference 2018, M.I.T., Cambridge, MA, May 2018.
• X. S. Zhang, E. de Sturler, G. H. Paulino. “A Randomized Approach Based on Stochastic Sampling for Deterministic Topology Optimization with Many Right-Hand Sides.” 10th World Congress on Structural and Multidisciplinary Optimization, Brunswig, Germany, June 2017.

Invited Lectures

• Design of Composite Materials with Multi-material Topology Optimization with many constraints: A novel approach with material and geometric nonlinearities
• Multi-material, multi-constraint, and multi-objective topology optimization: from structural to multidisciplinary engineering
• Invited keynote: "Adaptive multi-material topology optimization with many constraints: A novel approach with material and geometric nonlinearities." 15th US National Congress on Computational Mechanics, Austin, TX, 2019.
• “Topology Optimization with Multiple Materials, Multiple Constraints, and Multiple Load Cases”, Department of Civil Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China, 2019.
• “Topology Optimization with Multiple Materials, Multiple Constraints, and Multiple Load Cases”, Department of Civil Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, China, 2019.
• “Achieving Structural Innovation and Resilience through Topology Optimization with Many Objectives, Many Constraints, and Many Materials”, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP (SOM), Chicago, IL, 2019.
• “A Primer on Michell's Optimality Conditions”, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Georgia Tech, Atlanta, GA, 2019.
• “Topology Optimization with Multiple Materials, Multiple Constraints, and Multiple Load Cases”, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Graduate Seminar, UIUC, Urbana, IL, 2019.
• "Topology Optimization with Multiple Materials, Multiple Constraints, and Multiple Load Cases", Uzun+Case LLC, Atlanta, GA, 2018.
• "A Primer on Michell's Optimality Conditions", Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP (SOM), 2018.
• "Topology Optimization with Multiple Materials, Multiple Constraints, and Multiple Load Cases", Laboratory of Scientific Computing and Visualization (LCCV), Federal University of Alagoas (UFAL), Maceió, Alagoas, Brazil, 2018.
• "Topology Optimization with Multiple Materials, Multiple Constraints, and Multiple Load Cases", Department of Mechanical Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, 2018.
• "Stochastic Sampling for Deterministic Structural Topology Optimization with Many Load Cases: Density-Based and Ground Structure Approaches", Mechanical Engineering Seminar Series, Pontifical Catholic University (PUC), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 2017.
• "Topology Optimization for Hyperelastic Trusses Using a Discrete Filtering Tool", Civil Engineering Seminar Series, Pontifical Catholic University (PUC), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 2017.
• "Efficient Topology Optimization Under Many Load Cases Based on Stochastic Sampling", National Laboratory for Scientific Computing (LNCC), Petropolis, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, 2017.
• "Stochastic Sampling for Structural Topology Optimization with Many Load Cases", Structural Engineering and Geomechanics (SEG) Seminar Series, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 2016.
• "Topology Optimization of Structures and Materials", Georgia Tech Mathematics and Applications Portal (GT-MAP) Seminar Series, Georgia Tech, Atlanta, GA, 2016.
• "Stochastic Sampling for Structural Topology Optimization with Many Load Cases", Laboratory of Scientific Computing and Visualization (LCCV), Federal University of Alagoas (UFAL), Maceió, Alagoas, Brazil, 2016.

Honors

• National Science Foundation (NSF) CAREER Award (2021)
• UIUC Center for Teaching Excellence List of Teachers Ranked as Excellent (Summer 2020)
• UIUC Center for Teaching Excellence List of Teachers Ranked as Excellent (Spring 2020)
• National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA) Faculty Fellow (2019)
• Best Ph.D. Thesis of entire Georgia Tech, Sigma Xi Honor Society, Georgia Tech Chapter (2019)
• ASCE Excellence in Civil Engineering Education (ExCEEd) Fellowship (2019)
• Best Ph.D. Thesis, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Georgia Tech (2018)
• The Most Downloaded Journal Article in Springer (2017)

For more information

• Research Group Website (MISSION Laboratory)