Yujie Qi

Dr. Yujie Qi is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), specifically within the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering. She serves as Program Co-leader of the UTS Transport Research Center (TRC) within the Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology. Her academic journey began with Bachelor's and Master's degrees in (Civil/Geotechnical) Engineering at Zhengzhou University, China, followed by a PhD from the University of Wollongong (UOW), Australia, which she completed in 2018 with an 'Industry Engagement Award' and 'Special Commendation' for outstanding doctoral research.

Dr. Qi's educational background includes:

• PhD in Geotechnical Engineering from University of Wollongong (2014-2018)
• Master's degree in Geotechnical Engineering from Zhengzhou University (2011-2014)
• Bachelor's degree in Engineering from Zhengzhou University (2007-2011)
• Bachelor of Art from Zhengzhou University (2009-2011)

Dr. Qi's primary research focuses on soil dynamics, granular mechanics, geo-mathematical modeling, and large-scale dynamic testing, with particular emphasis on the innovative use of waste and marginal materials in transport infrastructure. Her pioneering work on energy-absorbing materials has revolutionized approaches to railway track design, specifically through the utilization of waste rubber to enhance rail substructure performance. She has conducted extensive investigations on three key waste materials: discarded coal wash from Australian coal mines, steel furnace slag from steel manufacturing plants, and rubber crumbs derived from off-the-road vehicle tires. For the first time, she identified optimal ratios of these waste materials to enhance railway longevity and developed energy-absorbing concepts to analyze and interpret track substructure deformation mechanisms. Dr. Qi has been instrumental in introducing energy-absorbing materials to enhance rail substructure performance, and her research has been recognized by national and international firms including Bridgestone and Sydney Trains.

The recent publications by Dr. Qi demonstrate a strong focus on sustainable transportation infrastructure using recycled materials, particularly rubber-based solutions for railway engineering. Her work spans from fundamental material characterization to large-scale field testing, with particular emphasis on energy absorption properties, track performance improvement, and circular economy applications. The research consistently bridges theoretical modeling with practical engineering applications, showing how waste materials can be effectively repurposed to solve infrastructure challenges while reducing environmental impact. A notable trend in her recent work is the integration of machine learning methodologies with traditional geotechnical approaches to predict material behavior and optimize infrastructure design, as evidenced by her publications on hybrid ML methodologies for predicting rail ballast breakage.

Dr. Qi's exceptional contributions have been recognized with numerous prestigious awards:

• John Carter Young Professional Award (2024)
• Sir M. Visvesvaraya Award from ICE (UK) (2023)
• Bright Spark Lecture Award from ISSMGE (2018)
• Best Paper Award at the 9th Asian Young Geotechnical Engineers Conference (2019)
• Award for Industry Engagement Impact from University of Wollongong (2017)
• Examiners' Commendation for Outstanding Thesis (2018)

Dr. Qi has successfully secured significant research funding, including ARC Discovery Projects (DP220102862) titled 'The Role of Energy Absorbing Rubber Grid on Ballast Track Performance' (2022-2025) and ARC Linkage Projects (LP200200915) titled 'Field Data based Predictive Maintenance and Enhanced Track Design Procedure' (2021-2025). She actively supervises research students across multiple projects focused on energy-absorbing materials, track performance, and waste material applications in transportation infrastructure. Her teaching portfolio includes subjects such as Problematic Soils and Ground Improvement Techniques, Road Engineering Practice, Mechanics of Solids, and Soil Behaviour, where she has served as coordinator, teacher, and tutor.

As Program Co-leader of the UTS Transport Research Center, Dr. Qi collaborates with a multidisciplinary team of researchers focused on innovative transportation solutions. Her laboratory work involves advanced testing facilities including large-scale process simulation testing apparatus (PSTA) and prototype cubic triaxial facilities for evaluating material behavior under cyclic loading conditions. The research group has conducted significant field trials, including a fully instrumented track section at Chullora, New South Wales, to validate laboratory findings in real-world conditions. Dr. Qi's team maintains strong industry connections with organizations such as Sydney Trains and Bridgestone, ensuring practical relevance and implementation potential for their research outcomes, while promoting sustainable and cost-effective practices in transportation infrastructure.