Invited Speaker

Abstract: Plant fibers, derived from nature, grow organically and are biodegradable. Plant fibers possess distinct specific mechanical properties comparable to those of synthetic fibers and exhibit superior damping and sound-absorbing and noise-reduction performances. Plant fibers hold promise as a green alternative to the advanced fiber reinforcement currently in widespread use. The applicant has addressed the challenges and difficulties associated with the application of plant fibers as natural materials in continuous fiber reinforced composite structures. A series of innovative results are achieved: 1) The identification of a novel‘hierarchical interface’ damage and fracture mechanism in plant fiber reinforced composites confers exceptional sound absorption and damping properties. It has led to the formulation of the ‘hierarchical interface’ theory for composite materials and the creation of an innovative design methodology for regulating the performance of the ‘hierarchical interface’. 2) The elucidation of a new mechanism underlying the formation of process-induced defects in plant fiber reinforced composites, coupled with the proposal of a precise optimization method for low-defect molding process parameters, has successfully addressed the challenge of achieving high-quality manufacturing.

Biography: Dr. Qian Li received her B.E. degree in Aircraft Manufacture Engineering from Tongji University, Shanghai, China, in 2013, and the Dual Awards Ph.D. degree in Mechanics from Tongji University in 2018 and The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, in 2019, respectively. Since April 2021, Dr. Li has been in School of Aerospace Engineering and Applied Mechanics, Tongji University as a Distinguished Researcher.

Dr. Li focuses on the research of design and manufacture of plant fiber reinforced composites with high performance and multi-functionality. She has been selected for the China Association for Science and Technology (CAST) Young Talent Support Program, Shanghai High-Level Overseas Talent Recruitment Program (appointed as "Distinguished Expert"), Shanghai Society of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics Outstanding Young Scholar, and Tongji University Hundred Talents Program (appointed as "Distinguished Research Fellow"). Her honors include Tongji University Outstanding Doctoral Dissertation Award (the only recipient in the school), Shanghai Composite Materials Society Outstanding Paper Award (one of three citywide winners), and the ICCM21 Tsai Best Paper Award (one of seven global recipients, and the sole representative from Chinese universities). She has led four national and provincial-level research projects and served as a key contributor to over 10 major research initiatives, including projects supported by the National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars, the Ministry of Science and Technology’s Key R&D Program, the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) Key Program, Singapore Government Research Funds, and collaborative projects with COMAC. She has co-authored one English monograph as the second author and contributed as a committee member to the "14th Five-Year Plan" undergraduate textbook Aerospace Composite Materials in the field of Aeronautical and Astronautical Science and Technology. Additionally, she has authored multiple book chapters. She holds six Chinese invention patents (one granted). She serves as the Head of the Joint Innovation Center for Aircraft Interiors, Committee Member of the Natural Fiber Composites Branch and Youth Working Committee of the Chinese Society for Composite Materials, and Liaison Officer of the Shanghai Society of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics. She has chaired/organized sessions on green composites at major international conferences such as the Asia-Australia Conference on Composite Materials (ACCM) and SAMPE Annual Meetings, and has been invited to deliver keynote/invited speeches.