ME PhD Graduate achieves the PolyU PhD Thesis Award for Merit

We are delighted that Dr FAN Haiyan, a PhD graduate from the Department of Mechanical Engineering, has received the competitive PolyU PhD Thesis Award for Merit. The PolyU Graduate School establishes the PhD Thesis Award to recognize, reward and promote the distinguished research achievements by graduating PhD students. There are two award classes, namely Outstanding and Merit, recognizing students’ performance of different levels. In 2024, there were only two awardees across the entire university. Dr Fan completed her PhD under the supervision of Prof. SU Zhongqing and has demonstrated exceptional research achievements through her graduating thesis.   Thesis Title: Non-Hermitian Topological Phases in Elastic and Acoustic Lattices - For contribution to precise sound control and defend against intrusion by small underwater targets Chief Supervisor: Prof. SU Zhongqing Natural materials usually have inherent acoustic characteristics that are difficult to meet the special needs in precise sound control. In this thesis, the proposed metamaterials show unprecedented abilities to engineer the characteristics of sound including but not limited to amplitude, phase, frequency and mode shape, thereby improving sound detection resolution and enhancing the signal-to-noise ratio. This thesis starts with one-dimensional (1D) metamaterials with additional loss treatments to produce a gathering effect of the weak acoustic signals, which amplifies the signals by 9 times. Then, we extend to a two-dimensional (2D) space, achieving high directivity anti-interference sound wave beam based on the valley Hall effect, solving the problem that target acoustic signal propagation is susceptible to interference. Last but not least, a three-dimensional (3D) metamaterial with fluid-solid interaction coming into play which improves the identification ability of underwater small target acoustic signals. These works offer potential applications in acoustic detection and identification of underwater small targets.

ME Scholars ranked among World’s Top 2% Most-cited Scientists

In the newly released metrics compiled by Stanford University, 14 scholars of PolyU’s Department of Mechanical Engineering (ME) have been ranked among the world’s top 2% most-cited scientists in their main disciplines for career-long citation impact. In addition, 3 other ME academics have also been ranked for single recent year impact *. Scientists are classified into 22 scientific fields and 174 sub-fields according to the standard Science-Metrix classification. Field- and subfield-specific percentiles are also provided for all scientists with at least 5 papers. Career-long data are updated to end-of-2023 and single recent year data pertain to citations received during calendar year 2023. The selection is based on the top 100,000 scientists by c-score (with and without self-citations) or a percentile rank of 2% or above in the sub-field. This version (7) is based on the August 1, 2024 snapshot from Scopus, updated to end of citation year 2023. This work uses Scopus data. Calculations were performed using all Scopus author profiles as of August 1, 2024.  The recognition reflects the significant influence and research excellence of the Department’s scientists, who are committed to furthering their knowledge for the benefit of the world. Congratulations to the following ME scholars who have been ranked among the top 2% of scientists in the world in their respective fields: Dr An Liang Prof. Christopher Chao Yu Hang Prof. Chen Guohua Prof. Cheng Li Prof. Cheung Chun Shun Prof. Fu Mingwang Prof. Mai Yiu Wing Prof. Su Zhongqing Prof. Wang Liqiu Prof. Wang Zuankai Dr Yao Haimin Prof. Zhang Dan Dr Zhang Xiao Prof. Zheng Guangping Dr Jiao Zengbao * Dr Wu Maochun * Dr Yu Xiang * Data available at Elsevier Published: 16 September 2024 | Version 7 | DOI:10.17632/btchxktzyw.7

ME & ABCT Student Team won second prize at the 2024 RAICOM National Finals

Congratulations to the PolyU Robotics Team, the first team from Hong Kong to participate in the 2024 RAICOM Robot Developer Competition, achieved remarkable success in their first year of participation.  The PolyU Undergraduate ME & ABCT Team, composed of YIU Chung Ki and CHOW Man Pan from the Department of Mechanical Engineering and CHOW Tsz Ching from the Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, won the first runner-up in the "Treasure Hunter - Autonomous Mission" and the bronze prize in the "Treasure Hunter - Semi-Autonomous Mission" at the RAICOM Southern China Regional Competition in Shenzhen. In August, they won the second prize in the "Treasure Hunter - Autonomous Mission" at the National Finals in Hangzhou! RAICOM, a competition certified by the Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, covers 31 provincial administrative regions and attracts participation from over 1,000 schools and top institutions. Under the leadership of Prof. Zhang Dan, Director of PolyU-Nanjing Technology and Innovation Research Institute, Chair Professor of Intelligent Robotics and Automation, and advisor to the Faculty of Engineering, along with Mr. Lee Kam-pui, Coach of the Industrial Centre, the students worked tirelessly day and night. They successfully completed their tasks in a short timeframe and achieved excellent results.

Prof. CHENG Li named Fellow by the Royal Society of Canada

Prof. Cheng Li, Associate Dean (Research) of the Faculty of Engineering and Chair Professor of Mechanical Engineering at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), has been honoured by the Royal Society of Canada (RSC). This year, the RSC has elected a new class of Fellows, recognizing 104 individuals for their outstanding scholarly achievements. This prestigious recognition is the highest honour awarded in the Arts, Social Sciences, Humanities, and Sciences in Canada. Prof. Cheng is elected into the Academy of Science, one of the three Academies of the RSC. Prof. Cheng is a world-leading scholar renowned for his seminal contributions to acoustics, structural vibration, and wave mechanics. His pioneering work in modeling vibroacoustic systems, manipulating and controlling acoustic and elastic waves, fluid-structure-sound interaction, and structural health monitoring has significantly advanced knowledge in these fields and led to impactful engineering applications. On Friday, November 8, 2024, the RSC will induct the 2024 Fellows and Members of the RSC College during a ceremony as part of the Celebration of Excellence and Engagement in Vancouver, British Columbia. Founded in 1882, the RSC is Canada's foremost national organization for distinguished scholars, artists, and scientists. Its mission is to promote learning, research, and public engagement in the arts, humanities, and sciences. The RSC honours individuals for their exceptional contributions to knowledge and culture, provides expert advice to governments and organizations, and fosters collaboration through lectures, symposiums, and discussions, enhancing the understanding of science and the humanities in Canada and with national academies worldwide.  

2 ME academics selected Hong Kong Scholars Program supervisors

Congratulations to Dr YAO Haimin and Dr CHOY Yat Sze being two of the 20 PolyU academics who have been selected as supervisors of the Hong Kong Scholars Program 2024. The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has admitted 20 top postdoctoral fellows under the 2024 Hong Kong Scholars Program. PolyU has enrolled the largest number of fellows for the 14th consecutive year since the program’s inception in 2011. It also leads among the participating local universities regarding the number of matching projects. In the 2024 Hong Kong Scholars Program, 60 outstanding postdoctoral fellows have been selected from leading universities in Mainland China, 20 of whom have been admitted by PolyU and matched with 20 academics. The research areas cover various disciplines, including materials science, advanced manufacturing, information technology, computational science, biomedical science, electrical engineering, environmental science, basic research and business management. The program is jointly launched by the Society of Hong Kong Scholars and the China National Postdoctoral Council under the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security. Its objective is to effectively consolidate the talent and research resources of Hong Kong and the Mainland in order to train outstanding postdoctoral fellows. Selected Hong Kong supervisors are required to have experience in major research projects, be at an advanced international level, have certain research facilities, and possess a high level of research team, etc. PolyU ME participating academics and research projects: Dr YAO Haimin Associate Head (Teaching & Learning) and Associate Professor of Department of Mechanical Engineering  Bio-inspired mechanics and materials  Dr CHOY Yat Sze Associate Professor of Department of Mechanical Engineering  Development of metastructure for aircraft engine noise and vibration control 

ME PhD Students clinch outstanding results at 2nd PolyU Research Student Conference

Congratulations to five PhD students from the Department of Mechanical Engineering (ME) for their impressive results at the 2nd PolyU Research Student Conference (PRSC 2024) held on 29 to 30 August 2024. We are very proud of the outstanding performances of our PolyU ME PhD students. They demonstrated exceptional academic presentation and research communication skills, effectively explaining their research and its significance to non-specialist audiences. PRSC aims to promote innovative and high-quality research. It is the flagship research student conference, providing Research Postgraduate (RPg) students and students from the College of Undergraduate Researchers and Innovators (CURI) at PolyU with the opportunity to present their research work and findings. The conference also facilitates networking among students from different disciplines, fostering a collaborative and supportive research community at PolyU. Awardee Award Presentation Title Supervisor  GUO Jiaming Best Paper Runner-up Achieving ultrahigh strength and ductility in high-entropy alloys via dual precipitation Dr JIAO Zengbao  HU Dien Best Presentation Award Size effect on the mechanical behaviours of pure copper sheet-based triply periodic minimal surface structures fabricated by micro-laser powder bed fusion  Prof. FU Mingwang  LEE Hoi Yin Best Presentation Award Non-Prehensile Tool-Object Manipulation by Integrating LLM-Based Planning and Manoeuvrability-Driven Controls Dr David NAVARRO-ALARCON HUO Xiaoyu Best Presentation Runner-up  Development of a Vanadium-Chromium Redox Flow Battery for Future Large-Scale Energy Storage Dr AN Liang  LIANG Zhaojian Best Presentation Runner-up Interactions between transport phenomena and transient characteristics of solid oxide cell  Dr LI Mengying Dr AN Liang

Prof. MAI Yiu Wing honoured with AACM Medal by the Asian-Australasian Association for Composite Materials

Congratulations to Prof. MAI Yiu Wing, Distinguished Chair Professor of Composites Science and Engineering in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at PolyU, for being awarded the AACM Medal in 2024. This prestigious accolade recognizes his significant achievements and outstanding contributions to the advancement of composite materials science, technology, and applications, as well as his exceptional leadership within the international composite materials community. The AACM Medal Award Committee unanimously selected Prof. Mai as the inaugural recipient of this honor. The award was presented during the 13th Asian-Australasian Conference on Composite Materials (ACCM 13), held from August 27-29, 2024, in Kyoto, Japan. The Asian-Australasian Association for Composite Materials (AACM) is an international non-profit scientific organization founded in 1997. Its mission is to promote the free exchange of information on composite materials, provide regular events and publications to enhance understanding of Composite Science and Engineering, and foster cooperation among professionals in the field across the Asian-Australasian region and beyond. The ACCM, an international conference series on composite materials, has been held every two years since 1998. It has become one of the major international academic conferences on composites, holding significant influence in the Asian-Australasian region and globally. ACCM 13 aims to provide a forum for in-depth discussions and the sharing of ideas on various technologies related to all aspects of composite materials and structures. It also serves as a vital international link between engineers and scientists in the field.

Dr Zhang Xiao's innovative railway technologies funded by MTR Research Funding Scheme

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) is committed to advancing railway development through cutting-edge research. Five PolyU research projects exploring the application of innovative railway technologies have been supported by the MTR Academy’s 2024 MTR Research Funding Scheme (MRF 2024), with a total funding of approximately HK$6.12 million. This year, only eight projects were funded across universities in Hong Kong. MRF aims to support exploratory and upstream research to create and build future operations and services in mass public transportation. The proposals are expected to put forward innovative solutions to address the challenges and define the future rail transport system performance, commuting experience, business models, community integration, social impacts, etc. Among the awarded projects by PolyU researchers, one initiative by Dr Zhang Xiao from the Department of Mechanical Engineering focuses on overcoming the limitations of current air purification technologies and developing a sustainable, efficient solution to improve air quality within the MTR system.   Principal Investigator: Dr Xiao ZHANG (Assistant Professor of the Department of Mechanical Engineering) Project Title: Integrated Electrochemical H2O2 Production Platform for On-Site Air Purification in Hong Kong's MTR Project Abstract: This project aims to develop an electrochemical platform for on-site air purification to be deployed and integrated with the MTR system, offering a sustainable and efficient solution to the challenges of maintaining clean air in public transit environments. This electrochemical platform will produce hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) for effective disinfection and produce oxygen (O2) simultaneously for enhanced air quality. The H2O2 production rate, energy efficiency, and operational stability will be evaluated, providing an accurate assessment of the system's pollutant reduction capabilities to ensure the high standards required for application.  

Prof. Adrian BEJAN awarded the ASME Medal 2024 by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers

Congratulations to Prof. Adrian BEJAN, former Visiting Chair Professor of Engineering Science under the Distinguished Chair Professor Scheme at PolyU, for being honoured the ASME Medal 2024 by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME). This prestigious accolade recognition is the highest honour awarded that the Society can bestow and is to recognize "eminently distinguished engineering achievement". Only one ASME Medal may be awarded annually. The ASME will present Prof. Adrian with the medal at International Mechanical Engineering Congress & Exposition (IMECE) in Portland, Oregon, on 19 November 2024. Prof. Adrian is honoured for unprecedented creativity, breadth, and permanent impact on engineering; for developments in the new science of energy, motion, form, and evolution; and for building bridges to design in biological, geophysical, and sociological systems. An eminent scholar in Thermodynamics, Heat Transfer and Constructal Law of Evolution in Nature, he is credited with several groundbreaking developments.  Prof. Adrian holds a position among the top 0.01% of most-cited and impactful scientists, is the sixth most impactful scholar in mechanical engineering worldwide, and the 11th across all engineering disciplines, according to the citations impact database in PLOS Biology. Founded in 1880, ASME is a not-for-profit professional organization that enables collaboration, knowledge sharing, and skill development across all engineering disciplines, while promoting the vital role of the engineer in society. ASME codes and standards, publications, conferences, continuing education, and professional development programs provide a foundation for advancing technical knowledge and a safer world.  

PolyU and Harbin Engineering University sign MOU on education and research collaborations

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) and Harbin Engineering University (HEU) have recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to enhance education and research collaborations. Initiated by PolyU's Department of Mechanical Engineering (ME) and HEU’s College of Power and Energy Engineering and College of Shipbuilding Engineering, the MOU establishes a framework for concrete collaborations in areas such as student and academic staff exchanges, joint research and publications, and the development of joint research centres and projects in mechanical engineering, power and energy engineering, and marine/ocean engineering. The MOU was signed by Prof. SU Zhongqing, Head of PolyU ME; Prof. LI Yanjun, Dean of HEU College of Power and Energy Engineering; and Prof. LI Hua, Dean of HEU College of Shipbuilding Engineering. The signing ceremony took place on August 23, 2024, at the HEU campus. Dr TANG Hui, Associate Head (Research) of PolyU ME, represented PolyU at the ceremony. This partnership between PolyU and HEU is set to foster long-term, comprehensive cooperation opportunities between the two universities.