Pingsha Dong

Pingsha Dong serves as Professor in both the Department of Mechanical Engineering and the Department of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering at the University of Michigan, concurrently directing the Welded Structures Laboratory. This dual appointment reflects Dong's interdisciplinary expertise bridging mechanical systems and marine structural design within the university's engineering ecosystem.

Research focuses on transformative manufacturing methodologies for next-generation lightweight structures. Core specialties include high-speed plastic-to-metal joining techniques, solid-state additive deposition for bimetal components avoiding intermetallic compounds, fracture mechanics modeling of defects in additively manufactured metals, and modular design systems for marine applications. These efforts directly address industry needs for weight reduction while maintaining structural integrity across automotive, aerospace, and naval sectors.

As Director of the Welded Structures Laboratory, Dong leads experimental and computational research into advanced joining processes and structural performance validation. The laboratory serves as a critical nexus for developing manufacturing solutions that eliminate traditional material compatibility barriers, particularly through innovative solid-state techniques that prevent detrimental phase formations in multi-material assemblies.