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Dr Zhirong Liao

Associate Professor, Faculty of Engineering

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Biography

Dr. Zhirong Liao finished his PhD study at Harbin Institute of Technology and joined the Rolls-Royce UTC in Manufacturing and On-Wing Technology, University of Nottingham, as a research fellow in 2016. He was awarded a Nottingham Research Fellowship and started his independent academic career at the University of Nottingham in 2019, and was promoted to Associate Professor in 2022. His research area mainly focuses on conventional and nonconventional manufacturing technologies with conscious of materials science. His expertise covers machining, laser materials processing, micromechanics, machine tools, sensing, and precision engineering. He has been awarded more than £4 million research grants as PI and CoI. His research has been applied to aerospace, automotive and medical engineering sectors. He is the winner of Rising Star of the University of Nottingham Knowledge Exchange and Impact Awards (2023). He is an Associate Member of the International Academy for Production Engineering (CIRP), Chairman of CIRP UK, Member of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE), and Member of the International Society for Nanomanufacturing (ISNM). Dr. Zhirong Liao is also the Associate Editor of the International Journal of Machine Tools and Manufacture, and Senior Editor of the Journal of Materials Processing Technology, which are top journals in the manufacturing field.

Expertise Summary

  • Machining of special materials (composites, biomaterials, steels, Ni/Ti based superalloys, crystal materials)
  • Energy Beam processing (Waterjet machining/peening, Laser beam machining/welding, Laser-assisted machining)
  • Ultra-precision manufacturing, Micro-machining, Nanomachining
  • Surface integrity, micro/nano-mechanics, materials characterisation
  • Shot peening, surface modification
  • Design of innovative Cutting Tools, Tooling and Fixturing, Development of special machine tools
  • Process monitoring, Signal processing technology, Smart tooling solutions, MEMS sensing solutions
  • Electrical/Control system development for special mechanical systems

Selected Publications

World-class research at the University of Nottingham

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