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Dr Bing Zhang

Dr Bing Zhang

  • Position: Lecturer in Mechanical Engineering
  • Areas of expertise: Fibre Reinforced Composites; Solid Mechanics; Mechatronics; Finite Element Analysis; Machine Learning; Sensors; Structural Health Monitoring.
  • Email: B.Zhang2@leeds.ac.uk
  • Location: Room 3.45, School of Mechanical Engineering
  • Website: LinkedIn | Googlescholar | Researchgate | ORCID

Profile

Dr. Zhang's academic journey has focussed on Fibre Reinforced Composites. Supported by a competitive Dorothy Hodgkin Postgraduate Award and Rolls-Royce plc, Dr. Zhang obtained his PhD degree from the University of Bristol in 2016. He conducted his PhD research on Through-Thickness Reinforced Composites at the world-leading Bristol Composites Institute (BCI) and the unique Rolls-Royce Composites University Technology Centre (UTC). He invented and experimentally validated two concepts for achieving multifunctional through-thickness reinforcement for composites. Dr. Zhang also had 15-month full-time experience in industry as a R&D engineer and he was responsible for designing magneostrictive level sensors. 

After his PhD project, Dr. Zhang worked as a post-doctoral Research Associate at BCI and a Core team member of the Rolls-Royce Composites UTC. He was promoted to a Senior Research Associate in 2019. Dr. Zhang moved to a visiting position at the University of Bristol in 2023 and joined the University of Leeds as a Lecturer in Mechanical Engineering in the same year.

Dr Zhang has worked on a number of projects funded by different bodies, including EPSRC, Innovate UK, GW4 Alliance, the University of Bristol, and industrial companies. In addition to a continuous track record of publications, Dr. Zhang's research has been utilised by both industrial and academic users, such as Rolls-Royce, the National Composites Centre, and Vestas.

Dr. Zhang has also demonstrated a strong commitment to student education. He has successfully supervising or mentoring a diverse group of students, from level 1 to PhD students. 

Responsibilities

  • School Industry Placement Lead
  • School Internship Coordinator

Research interests

Dr Zhang is dedicated to research on lightweight Fibre Reinforced Composites, driven by mechanics and Mechatronics, covering: 

  • Failure and Fatigue of composites; 
  • Through-Thickness Reinforcement (Z-pinning and Tufting) of composites:Manufacturing, Analysis and Multifunctionality;
  • Electrical performance improvement of composites;
  • Health Monitoring of composite structures (including self-sensing)
<h4>Research projects</h4> <p>Some research projects I'm currently working on, or have worked on, will be listed below. Our list of all <a href="https://eps.leeds.ac.uk/dir/research-projects">research projects</a> allows you to view and search the full list of projects in the faculty.</p>

Qualifications

  • PhD in Aerospace Engineering
  • MSc in Mechatronics
  • BSc in Mechanical Engineering and Automation

Professional memberships

  • Member of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers
  • Member of the Institute of Physics
  • Associate Fellow of Advance HE

Student education

Dr Zhang is involved in the following modules in the 2024/2025 academic year:

  • MECH2215 Integrated Design and Manufacture for Mechatroncis and Robotics (Level 2, Module Leader)

  • MECH3890 Individual Engineering Project (Level 3, supervisor)

  • MECH3895 Individual Mechatronics and Robotics Project (Level 3, supervisor)

<h4>Postgraduate research opportunities</h4> <p>We welcome enquiries from motivated and qualified applicants from all around the world who are interested in PhD study. Our <a href="https://phd.leeds.ac.uk">research opportunities</a> allow you to search for projects and scholarships.</p>
Projects
    <li><a href="//phd.leeds.ac.uk/project/1884-advanced-manufacturing-of-through-thickness-reinforced-composites">Advanced Manufacturing of Through-Thickness Reinforced Composites</a></li> <li><a href="//phd.leeds.ac.uk/project/1880-digital-twinning-of-fibre-reinforced-composites">Digital Twinning of Fibre Reinforced Composites</a></li>