Assistant Professor, Concordia University, Canada
Dr. Hang Xu is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Mechanical, Industrial, and Aerospace Engineering at Concordia University, Montreal, Canada. With a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from McGill University and an MSc in Aircraft Design from Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Dr. Xu specializes in mechanical metamaterials, smart structures, and additive manufacturing. His research focuses on developing advanced materials with programmable morphing and motion for aerospace, medical, and robotic applications. Prior to joining Concordia, he held research positions at Imperial College London and Siemens, contributing to innovations in multi-stable structures, soft robotics, and medical devices. Dr. Xu is recognized for his teaching excellence and has received awards for his contributions to research during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Professional Profile
Orcid
Scopus
Education 🎓
- Doctorate in Mechanical Engineering, McGill University (2013–2018)
Supervisor: Damiano Pasini
- Master’s Thesis in Aircraft Design, Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics (2011–2013)
Supervisor: Yuanming Xu
- Bachelor’s in Aircraft Design and Engineering, Shenyang Aerospace University (2007–2011)
Supervisor: Weiping Zhang
Experience 💼
- Assistant Professor, Concordia University (2022–Present)
Research on functional/smart metamaterials for aerospace, nautical, and medical applications.
- Research Associate, Imperial College London (2020–2022)
Developed multi-stable structures, soft robots, and medical devices.
- Postdoctoral Researcher, McGill University (2018–2020)
Worked on thermally actuated deployable mechanisms and additive manufacturing processes.
- Internships: Chinese Aircraft Design Institute of Aviation Medicine (2012–2013) and Shenyang Aircraft Design Institute (2010–2011).
Awards and Honors 🏆
- Teaching Excellence Award, Concordia University (2023)
- Associate Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy (AFHEA), UK (2022)
- Excellent Contribution to Research in COVID-19 Pandemic, Imperial College London (2021)
- Winner of 3D-Printing Workshop Design Challenge, McGill University (2019)
Research Focus 🔬
Dr. Xu’s research focuses on mechanical metamaterials, smart materials and structures, and additive manufacturing. His work aims to develop materials with programmable morphing and motion for applications in aerospace structures, soft robotics, medical devices, and composite materials. Key areas include multiscale mechanics, finite element analysis, and the design of multi-stable structures for innovative functionalities.
Publication Top Notes 📚
- Embedded pressure sensing metamaterials using TPU-graphene composites and additive manufacturing
- Generalized tessellations of superellipitcal voids in low porosity architected materials for stress mitigation
- Thermally actuated hierarchical lattices with large linear and rotational expansion
- Routes to program thermal expansion in three-dimensional lattice metamaterials built from tetrahedral building blocks
- ABAQUS user subroutine UMAT for elastoplastic nonlinear kinematic hardening material (Mróz model) with anisotropic plasticity
- Digitally Programmable Architected Materials with Static and Dynamic Reconfiguration
- Multi-stable meta-materials with programmable reconfigurations for soft robots
- 3D printed soft metamaterial force sensors for gait monitoring using TPU-graphene composites
- Overcoming the strength-modulus tradeoff using double network metamaterial lattices
- Multi-stable architectured materials with high-mobility morphing
Conclusion 🌟
Dr. Hang Xu is a leading researcher in mechanical metamaterials and smart structures, with a strong focus on innovative applications in aerospace, robotics, and medical devices. His contributions to teaching, research, and industry collaborations highlight his commitment to advancing materials science and engineering. Through his work, Dr. Xu continues to push the boundaries of programmable materials, paving the way for future technological advancements. 🚀