Department of Mechanical Engineering

Doctor of Philosophy / Master of Philosophy

Jan 2024 Entry

Introduction

Introduction


As one of the founding departments of the University in 1937, the Department of Mechanical Engineering has been at the forefront of the vast evolvement of its field.

 

The Department takes pride of its focus on grand challenges in the international arena and is actively collaborating with various overseas institutions addressing these challenges.  Our global connections broaden the perspectives of the future generations opening their minds to discover new knowledge that benefits the society.  The Department’s world-class faculty and internationally renowned programmes draw students across the globe. The Department has also published numerous important research findings in world-leading journals.

 

The Department has made significant achievements in International University Rankings by discipline in recent years, based on its academic performance, employer reputation and research impact.  The University was ranked highly in the subject of Mechanical Engineering and/or related disciplines by different international ranking systems. This is an impressive testament to the Department’s contributions and sustained efforts nationally and internationally.

Research Areas

Research Areas


Advanced Materials and Processing

Supervisor

Specialisation

Prof. MW FU
mmmwfu@polyu.edu.hk

Advanced materials processing and manufacturing;  3D printing; Computational materials science; Damage and fracture of materials; Finite element modelling and simulation; Micro-mechanics of materials

Dr ZB JIAO
zbjiao@polyu.edu.hk

Advanced structural materials; High-temperature and high-strength alloys; Nanostructured and nanocrystalline alloys; Material processing and mechanical behaviour; 3D Atom probe tomography characterisation

Prof. Wallace WF LEUNG
mmwleung@polyu.edu.hk

Novel nanofiber technology for filtering and disinfecting COVID-19 virus; Nanofibers for tissue engineering; Semiconductor nanofibers with superb charge conductivity for solar cells, harmful gas breakdown and disinfection

Dr Q LIU
john-qiang.liu@polyu.edu.hk

Green Chemical Vapor Deposition, Conformal polymer coating for lithium-ion battery materials, Conductive polymers, LIBs material interfacial engineering

Dr Y MA
y.ma@polyu.edu.hk

Haptics metamaterials, micro/nano fabrication of textured surfaces for human-machine interactions, multi-physics modeling of material interfaces, biomechanics.

Dr HH RUAN
hhruan@polyu.edu.hk

Non-equilibrium materials engineering; Amorphous materials and nanomaterials; Dynamic behaviour of materials; Theory of non-equilibrium phase transformation; Constitutive modelling of advanced materials

Prof. ZK WANG
zk.wang@polyu.edu.hk

Nature-inspired surfaces and materials, additive manufacturing, energy harvesting, fluid dynamics, soft matter, interfaces and surfaces

Dr HM YAO
mmhyao@polyu.edu.hk

Bio-inspired Mechanics & Structures; Surficial and Interfacial Mechanics; Soft Actuator and Robotics; Lithium-ion batteries

Dr XL YU
xiaoliang.yu@polyu.edu.hk

Advanced electrode materials development; Nanostructured materials; Carbon based materials; Interface design of composite materials

Dr X ZHANG
xiao1.zhang@polyu.edu.hk

Structural engineering of novel 2D nanomaterials; Earth-abundant catalysts.

Dr GP ZHENG
mmzheng@polyu.edu.hk

Computational materials science; Atomistic modelling and simulation; Amorphous alloys; Nanostructured materials; Two-dimensional materials

Aerospace Engineering

Supervisor Specialisation
Prof. L CHENG
mmlcheng@polyu.edu.hk

Acoustics: sound propagation, noise control, passive and active control; Vibration: modelling, control and vibration reduction of structures. Structural wave manipulations; Structural health monitoring: vibration and wave-based damage detection methods; Smart structures with embedding sensor technology; Fluid-structure-sound interaction

Dr S CHENG
songryan.cheng@polyu.edu.hk

Gas Phase Chemical Kinetics; Real-fluid Oxidation Chemistry; Low-carbon Oxidation Chemistry; Uncertainty Quantification and Optimization; Optimal Decision Making; Machine Learning

Dr YS CHOY
mmyschoy@polyu.edu.hk

Structural health diagnosis by non-contact method; Turbine blade-tip clearance assessment; Engine noise and vibration measurement; Airport noise assessment; Engine noise control

Prof. Wallace WF LEUNG
mmwleung@polyu.edu.hk

Novel nanofiber technology for filtering and disinfecting COVID-19 virus; Nanofibers for tissue engineering; Semiconductor nanofibers with superb charge conductivity for solar cells, harmful gas breakdown and disinfection

Dr Randolph CK LEUNG
mmrleung@polyu.edu.hk

Aeroacoustics and aircraft noise; Aeronautical flow-induced noise and vibration; Computational aeroacoustics and CFD; Active flow noise control; Aeroacoustics source identification

Prof. ZQ SU
mmsu@polyu.edu.hk

Structural health monitoring (SHM); Non-destructive evaluation (NDE); Smart materials and structures; Advanced composite materials; Sensor and sensor network

Dr H TANG
htang@polyu.edu.hk

Aerodynamics; Active flow control

Dr X YU
lucien.yu@polyu.edu.hk

Vibro-acoustic modelling; Acoustic metamaterial; Noise and vibration control; Advanced functional material; Lattice structure and porous material; Hearing and auditory perception; Active noise cancellation; Smart actuator; Acoustic black hole.

Clean Energy and Energy Storage

Supervisor Specialisation
Dr L AN
liangan@polyu.edu.hk

Fuel cells; Batteries; Advanced energy materials

Prof. Wallace WF LEUNG
mmwleung@polyu.edu.hk

Novel nanofiber technology for filtering and disinfecting COVID-19 virus; Nanofibers for tissue engineering; Semiconductor nanofibers with superb charge conductivity for solar cells, harmful gas breakdown and disinfection

Dr MY LI
mengying.li@polyu.edu.hk

Energy Meteorology, Solar energy resourcing and forecasting, Remote sensing, Radiative heat transfer, Mass transfer, Renewable power systems, Large scale energy storage, Passive cooling, Desalination

Dr Q LIU
john-qiang.liu@polyu.edu.hk

Lithium-ion batteries, Electrochemical energy storage materials

Dr H TANG
htang@polyu.edu.hk

Wind / marine energy extraction

Prof. ZK WANG
zk.wang@polyu.edu.hk

Nature-inspired surfaces and materials, additive manufacturing, energy harvesting, fluid dynamics, soft matter, interfaces and surfaces

Dr MC WU
maochun.wu@polyu.edu.hk

Electrochemical energy storage and conversion; Advanced battery materials; Heat and mass transfer 

Dr HM YAO
mmhyao@polyu.edu.hk

Bio-inspired Mechanics & Structures; Surficial and Interfacial Mechanics; Soft Actuator and Robotics; Lithium-ion batteries

Dr XL YU
xiaoliang.yu@polyu.edu.hk

Lithium ion batteries; Lithium sulfur battery; Lithium metal battery

Dr X ZHANG
xiao1.zhang@polyu.edu.hk

Electrochemical reactor design; CO2 capture and conversion; Electrochemical conversion of small molecules (e.g., H2O, O2, CO2, and N2, etc.) to high-value chemical/fuel feedstocks; Membrane assembly technology.

Dr GP ZHENG
mmzheng@polyu.edu.hk

Nanoporous electrode materials; Solid-state refrigeration; Piezoelectric energy conversion

Robotics and Control

Supervisor Specialisation
Dr Henry KH CHU
khhchu@polyu.edu.hk

Soft Continuum Robots; Vision-based Control and Automation; Artificial Intelligence (AI); Collaborative Robots and Mechatronic Systems

Dr Y MA
y.ma@polyu.edu.hk

Haptics, wearable electronics, sensing and actuation for human-machine interactions, application of artificial intelligence to human-machine interface

Dr David NAVARRO-ALARCON
dnavar@polyu.edu.hk

Perceptual robotics; Action planning; Multi-robot systems; Robot learning; Sensor-based control; Control theory; Servomechanisms; Nonlinear dynamics.

Dr YX SUN 
yx.sun@polyu.edu.hk

Robotics, Autonomous Driving, Mobile Robots, Deep Learning, AI, Unmanned Autonomous Systems, SLAM, Robotic Perception, Robotic Control, Autonomous Navigation

Sound and Vibration

Supervisor Specialisation
Prof. L CHENG
mmlcheng@polyu.edu.hk

Acoustics: sound propagation, noise control, passive and active control; Vibration: modelling, control and vibration reduction of structures. Structural wave manipulations; Structural health monitoring: vibration and wave-based damage detection methods; Smart structures with embedding sensor technology; Fluid-structure-sound interaction

Dr YS CHOY
mmyschoy@polyu.edu.hk

Vibroacoustics ; Environmental noise control; Fan and duct noise control; Sound source identification; Soundscape and sound quality of product

Dr Randolph CK LEUNG
mmrleung@polyu.edu.hk

Low noise design for fans and turbomachinery; Metamaterial duct flow silencer; Urban and environmental noise simulation and control; CPX technology for tyre/road noise control; Product sound quality and design

Prof. ZQ SU
mmsu@polyu.edu.hk

Structural health monitoring (SHM); Wave propagation; Non-destructive evaluation (NDE); Sensor and sensor network; Smart materials and structures

Dr WO WONG
mmwowong@polyu.edu.hk

Structural analysis; Vibration diagnostics; Vibration absorber design and optimisation; Laser diagnostics; Laser interferometry

Dr HM YAO
mmhyao@polyu.edu.hk

Bio-inspired Mechanics & Structures; Surficial and Interfacial Mechanics; Soft Actuator and Robotics; Lithium-ion batteries

Dr X YU
lucien.yu@polyu.edu.hk

Vibro-acoustic modelling; Acoustic metamaterial; Noise and vibration control; Advanced functional material; Lattice structure and porous material; Hearing and auditory perception; Active noise cancellation; Smart actuator; Acoustic black hole.

Thermofluids and Combustion

Supervisor Specialisation
Dr S CHENG
songryan.cheng@polyu.edu.hk

Gas Phase Chemical Kinetics; Real-fluid Oxidation Chemistry; Low-carbon Oxidation Chemistry; Uncertainty Quantification and Optimization; Optimal Decision Making; Machine Learning

Prof. Wallace WF LEUNG
mmwleung@polyu.edu.hk

Novel nanofiber technology for filtering and disinfecting COVID-19 virus; Nanofibers for tissue engineering; Semiconductor nanofibers with superb charge conductivity for solar cells, harmful gas breakdown and disinfection

Dr H TANG
htang@polyu.edu.hk

Fluid-structure interaction; Multiphase flow

Dr CL WANG
chenglei.wang@polyu.edu.hk

Fluid-structure interaction; Flow control; Computational fluid dynamics; Lattice Boltzmann method

Prof. ZK WANG
zk.wang@polyu.edu.hk

Nature-inspired surfaces and materials, additive manufacturing, energy harvesting, fluid dynamics, soft matter, interfaces and surfaces

Research Facilities

Research Facilities


The Department aims to provide advanced teaching and research accommodation for both undergraduates and postgraduates in state-of-the-art laboratories and facilities.

Other Information

Other Information


All research postgraduate applicants are recommended to approach potential supervisors and preferably, put their names on the applications. For details, please refer to “Research Areas” or ME website > Academic Staff.

 

The Department has organised/co-organised a series of symposiums and international conferences to pursue knowledge through interactions among the world’s foremost scientists and scholars.  To further elevate its research quality and academic standing, the Department has also invited top-notch scholars to serve as visiting chair professors under the Distinguished Chair Professor Scheme. Learn more at Emeritus Professor, Visiting & Adjunct Staff.

 

The Department offers student exchange opportunities to enhance students’ global outlook, languages skills and personal development.  Every year, the Department arranges research attachments (from three to six months) for students to visit overseas universities with financial support.

 

With the aim of advancing research by exchanging knowledge and ideas within the field of Mechanical Engineering, the Department also provides additional financial support to research students to attend international conferences.

Supporting Documents

Supporting Documents


Academic Referee's Report

Compulsory - Two Academic Referee's Reports are required

Curriculum Vitae

Compulsory

Research Proposal

Compulsory - A standard form must be used for the submission of research proposal.  Please click here to download the form.

Transcript / Certificate

Compulsory:

  • Certificate(s) of the award of Bachelor's/Master’s degree
  • Transcript of studies. All pages of your official transcripts must be uploaded.
  • The explanatory notes on the transcript grading system and classifications of the award

Others

Optional - i.e. proof of ranking in class and scholarships/awards received (with supporting documents)