معرفی
Dr. Yang Zhang is an Assistant Professor in the School of Engineering + Technology at Western Carolina University. He holds a Ph.D. and M.S. in Industrial Engineering from Texas Tech University, and a B.S. in Safety Engineering from Dalian Jiaotong University. His research focuses on advanced and additive manufacturing, particularly in optimizing process parameters, structural design, and sustainable material utilization. Key areas include lattice structure design, life cycle assessment, and tribological properties of composite coatings. He has published extensively in high-impact journals such as Carbon and Materials & Design, and serves on the editorial board of PLOS ONE. Dr. Zhang has received the College of Engineering and Technology Board of Governors Distinguished Teaching Award for innovative educational methods.
Research Interests: Advanced Manufacturing, Additive Manufacturing, Materials Science, and Engineering Education. He explores topics like laser cladding, microstructure optimization, wear resistance, and sustainable materials. Over 20 peer-reviewed articles reflect his work on composite coatings, parameter sensitivity, and multi-objective optimization. Teaching responsibilities include courses in 3D modeling, CAD/CAM, and engineering statics.
His contributions to the field include developing forming control methods for laser cladding on curved surfaces and investigating the effects of additives like Cu/Ni on cemented carbide performance. He actively reviews for top journals and has engaged in curriculum development, including flipped classroom approaches to enhance student outcomes in engineering technology.
