X. Shelly Zhang
Primary Research Area
- Structural Engineering
Research Areas
For More Information
Biography
Dr. Xiaojia Shelly Zhang is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She also holds an affiliate appointment at the Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering. Dr. Zhang holds a B.S. (Honors) degree in Civil Engineering (University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign), an M.S. degree in Structural Engineering (University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign) with Computational Science and Engineering Diploma, and a Ph.D. degree in Structural Engineering (Georgia Tech). She received the faculty fellowship from the National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA) in 2019, and both the department-level (2018) and institution-level (2019) Best Ph.D. Thesis Awards. She is also a Review Editor for the Journal of Structural and Multidisciplinary Optimization. Dr. Zhang receives the NSF CAREER award in 2021, and wins the 2022 Journal of Applied Mechanics Award from the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME).
Her research interests are in the general areas of topology optimization, additive manufacturing, data-driven models, multi-scale materials and structures, 3D/4D printing, and uncertainty quantification. Her research group focuses on exploring topology optimization, stochastic and machine learning algorithms, and additive manufacturing to develop multi-functional, sustainable, and innovative civil structures, robots, and metamaterials for applications at different scales, from as large as high-rise buildings to as small as material microstructures.
Education
- Ph.D., Structural Engineering, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2018
- M.S., Structural Engineering, Computational Science and Engineering, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2014
- B.S., Civil Engineering (with honors), Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2012
Academic Positions
- Assistant Professor (100%), Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign, 2019 - present
- Faculty Fellow (0%), National Center of Supercomputing Applications, University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign, 2019 - present
- Faculty Affiliate (0%), Mechanical Science and Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign, 2019 - present
Journal Editorships
- Review Editor, Structural and Multidisciplinary Optimization (Impact factor: 4.542), 2021-present
- Guest Editor, Journal of Engineering Structures (Impact factor: 4.471) Special Issue: Additively manufactured structures. 2022 - present
- Early Career Editorial Board Member, Frontiers of Structural and Civil Engineering (Impact factor: 2.370), 2021-present
- Guest Editor, Extreme Mechanics Letter (Impact factor: 4.806), 2021-present
- Editor, ISSMO Newsletter, International Society for Structural and Multidisciplinary Optimization (ISSMO), 2020
Professional Societies
- Vice-Chair, USACM (U. S. Association for Computational Mechanics), Technical Thrust Area (TTA) on Large Scale Structural Systems and Optimal Design, 2021-2023
- Honor Member, Chi Epsilon – National Civil Engineering Honor Society, 2021-present
- Event Officer, Female Researchers Group (FRG) of U.S. Association for Computational Mechanics (USACM), 2020-present
Service on University Committees
- Team lead, UIUC-Carle Health Covid PPE project – led the design team for the N95 mask and face shield PPE project
Research Interests
- Design, simulate, and fabrication of multifunctional, resilient, and intelligent engineering structures and materials
- Programmable multifunctional metamaterials
- Topology optimization informed civil structures innovations
- Multi-scale lattice design for resilient and lightweight metamaterials and structures
- Bridging topology optimization and additive manufacturing
- Robust design optimization under uncertainty through stochastic programming
- Theoretical and algorithmic development of topology optimization to handle multi-objective and multi-constraints
Research Statement
Topology optimization is a technique for generating optimal shapes of structures. My research focuses on exploring multi-physics topology optimization, stochastic and machine learning algorithms, additive manufacturing to create multi-functional, sustainable, resilient, and optimal civil structures, robots, and metamaterials 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
Selected Articles in Journals
- Y. Jia, O. Lopez-Pamies, and X. S. Zhang#. "Multi-objective Topology Optimization for Improved Fracture Properties: Harnessing Fracture Nucleation and Propagation in Heterogeneous Geometries." Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids. In press. 2023.
- Z. Zhao and X. S. Zhang#. "Encoding reprogrammable properties into magneto-mechanical materials via topology optimization." Nature: npj Computational Materials. In press. 2022.
- R. Kundu, W. Li, and X. S. Zhang#. "Multimaterial stress-constrained topology optimization with multiple distinct yield criteria." Extreme Mechanics Letters. Vol. 54, pp. 101716, 2022.
- W. Li, F. Wang, O. Sigmund, X. S. Zhang#. "Digital synthesis of free-form multimaterial structures for realization of arbitrary programmed mechanical responses". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (PNAS). Vol. 119, No. 10, pp. e2120563119, 2022.
- Z. Zhao and X. S. Zhang#. "Topology optimization of hard-magnetic soft materials." Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids. Vol. 158, pp. 104628, 2022
- C. Wang, Z. Zhao, M. Zhou, O. Sigmund, X.S. Zhang#. "A comprehensive review of educational articles on structural and multidisciplinary optimization." Structural and Multidisciplinary Optimization. Vol. 64, pp. 2827–2880, 2021.
- Z. Zhi and X. S. Zhang#, "Additive manufacturing of topology optimized graded porous structures: An experimental study." The Journal of The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society (JOM), SI: Leveraging Materials in Topology Optimization. Vol. 73, pp. 2022–2030, 2021.
- 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. Vol. 122, No. 17, pp. 4431-4457, 2021.
- Z. Zhao, X. S. Zhang#. “Graded porous structure design via a multi-material topology optimization approach.” Structural and Multidisciplinary Optimization. Vol. 64, pp. 677–698, 2021.
- X. S. Zhang#, W. Li, Y. Ouyang. “Paved guideway topology optimization for pedestrian traffic under Nash equilibrium”. Structural and Multidisciplinary Optimization. Vol. 63, pp. 1405–1426. 2021.
- 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. "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#, 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, 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.
Teaching Honors
- UIUC Center for Teaching Excellence List of Teachers Ranked as Excellent (Spring 2022)
- UIUC Center for Teaching Excellence List of Teachers Ranked as Excellent (Fall 2021)
- UIUC Center for Teaching Excellence List of Teachers Ranked as Excellent (Spring 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)
- ASCE Excellence in Civil Engineering Education (ExCEEd) Fellowship (2019)
Research Honors
- Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR) Young Investigator Research Program (YIP) Award (2023)
- Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Young Faculty Award (YFA) (2022)
- Journal of Applied Mechanics Award, ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers) (2022)
- Faculty Scholar, Office of Risk Management & Insurance Research (ORMIR) (2022)
- National Science Foundation (NSF) CAREER Award (2021)
- Fellow, National Science Foundation (NSF) CMMI’s Game Changer Academies (2021)
- Elected to be an Honor Member, Chi Epsilon – National Civil Engineering Honor Society (2021)
- National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA) Faculty Fellowship (2019)
- Institution-wide Best Ph.D. Thesis of entire Georgia Tech, Sigma Xi Honor Society, Georgia Tech Chapter (2019)
- Department-wide Best Ph.D. Thesis, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Georgia Tech (2018)
- Third Place in Siemens FutureMakers Challenge, Siemens Corporation (2018)
- The Most Downloaded Journal Article in Springer (2017)