People
LIAO Wei-Hsin 廖維新
Choh-Ming Li Professor of Mechanical and Automation Engineering
Director, Institute of Intelligent Design and Manufacturing, CUHK
whliao@mae.cuhk.edu.hk
TEL: 852 - 3943 8341
Room 308, William M.W. Mong Engineering Building
Smart Materials and Structures Laboratory

Wei-Hsin Liao received his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, USA. At Penn State University, he received the Inventor Incentive Award and Sigma Xi Graduate Research Award. Since August 1997, Dr. Liao has been with The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), where he was Department Chairman of Mechanical and Automation Engineering from August 2018 to July 2024. His research has led to publications of over 400 technical papers in international journals and conference proceedings, and 27 patents. He was the Conference Chair for the 20th International Conference on Adaptive Structures and Technologies in 2009; the Active and Passive Smart Structures and Integrated Systems, SPIE Smart Structures/NDE in 2014 and 2015. He received the T A Stewart-Dyer/F H Trevithick Prize 2005, awarded by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE). He is a recipient of the 2008 Best Paper Award in Structures, 2017 Best Paper Award in Mechanics and Material Systems, 2021 Energy Harvesting Best Paper Award, and 2023 Best Paper Award in Structures and Structural Dynamics, from the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME). At CUHK, Prof. Liao was awarded the Young Researcher Award 2007, the Research Excellence Award (2010-11), and Outstanding Fellow of the Faculty of Engineering (2014-19). As the Chair of Joint Chapter of Robotics, Automation and Control Systems Society (RACS), IEEE Hong Kong Section, Dr. Liao received 2012 Chapter of the Year Award from the IEEE Robotics and Automation Society. Prof. Liao is the recipient of 2020 ASME Adaptive Structures and Material Systems Award and 2018 SPIE SSM Lifetime Achievement Award, to recognize his outstanding contributions to the advancement of smart structures and materials. He is also the recipient of 2023 ASME Leonardo Da Vinci Award for the eminent achievement in the design and invention which are universally recognized as an important advance in machine design. He currently serves as an Associate Editor for Journal of Intelligent Material Systems and Structures, and on the Executive Editorial Board of Smart Materials and Structures. Dr. Liao is a Fellow of ASME, HKIE, and IOP.

Research Interests
  • Smart Materials and Adaptive Structures
  • Energy Harvesting and Vibration Control
  • 3D/4D Printing, Mechatronics
  • Exoskeleton and Prosthesis
Projects
  • Nonlinear Piezoelectric Energy Harvesters with Hierarchical Auxetic Metastructures
  • Adaptive 3D Printing: Design, Manufacturing, Modeling and Optimization
  • Embedded Generators for Self-Powered Smart Watches and Wristbands
  • Wearable Health Monitoring and Dynamic Gait Analysis of Neurodegenerative Parkinson’s Disease
  • Intelligent System and Control of Wearable Exoskeleton for Motion Assistance
Teaching
MAEG5080 Smart Materials and Structures
Publications

Journal Papers (selected in recent years)

  • L. Jin, X. Zhai, K. Wang, K. Zhang, D. Wu, A. Nazir, J. Jiang, and W. H. Liao, “Big Data, Machine Learning, and Digital Twin Assisted Additive Manufacturing: A Review,” Materials & Design, Vol. 244, 113086, 2024. DOI: 10.1016/j.matdes.2024.113086 (Cover Image, Volume 244, August 2024)
  • Q. Lu, G. Xia, M. Cai, X. Li, J. Cao, and W. H. Liao, “An Ultralow Frequency Energy Harvester With an Asymmetric-Stiffness Pendulum Inspired by Biological Grooming Behavior,” IEEE Internet of Things Journal, Vol. 11, No. 13, pp. 24222 – 24233, 2024. DOI: 10.1109/JIOT.2024.3391812
  • H. Liao, H. H. T. Chan, G. Liu, X. Zhao, F. Gao, M. Tomizuka, and W. H. Liao, “Design, Control, and Validation of a Novel Cable-Driven Series Elastic Actuation System for a Flexible and Portable Back-Support Exoskeleton,” IEEE Transactions on Robotics, Vol. 40, pp. 2769-2790, 2024. DOI: 10.1109/TRO.2024.3381556
  • X. Li, X. Chuai, G. Hu, D. Zhang, M. Cai, C. Wang, Y. Yang, W. H. Liao, and J. Liang, “Energy and Dynamics Analysis of a Single Plucking Energy Harvester for Transient-Motion-Powered IoT Applications,” Energy Conversion and Management, Vol. 310, 118465, 2024. DOI: 10.1016/j.enconman.2024.118465
  • Y. Zhang, X. Wu, Y. Lei, J. Cao, and W. H. Liao, “Self-Powered Wireless Condition Monitoring for Rotating Machinery,” IEEE Internet of Things Journal, Vol. 11, No. 2, pp. 3095-3107, 2024. DOI: 10.1109/JIOT.2023.3296739
  • J. Jiang, X. Zhai, K. Zhang, L. Jin, Q. Lu, Z. Shen, and W. H. Liao, “Low-Melting-Point Alloys Integrated Extrusion Additive Manufacturing,” Additive Manufacturing, Vol. 72, 103633, 2023. DOI: 10.1016/j.addma.2023.103633
  • J. Xing, M. Rezaei, H. Dai, and W. H. Liao, “Investigating the Effect of Surface Protrusions on Galloping Energy Harvesting,” Applied Physics Letters, Vol. 122, 153902, 2023. DOI: 10.1063/5.0142143. (Editor’s Pick)
  • M. Rezaei, R. Talebitooti, W. H. Liao, and M. I. Friswell, “Integrating PZT Layer with Tuned Mass Damper for Simultaneous Vibration Suppression and Energy Harvesting Considering Exciter Dynamics: An Analytical and Experimental Study,” Journal of Sound and Vibration, Vol. 546, 117413, 2023. DOI: 10.1016/j.jsv.2022.117413
  • M. Qin, S. Qu, J. Ding, X. Song, S. Gao, C. C. L. Wang, and W. H. Liao, “Adaptive Toolpath Generation for Distortion Reduction in Laser Powder Bed Fusion Process,” Additive Manufacturing, Vol. 64, 103432, 2023. DOI: 10.1016/j.addma.2023.103432
  • K. Zhang, X. Zhang, Q. Gao, M. Chan, S. Zhang, J. Li, and W. H. Liao, “Ultrahigh Energy-Dissipation and Multifunctional Auxetic Polymeric Foam Inspired by Balloon Art,” Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing, Vol. 167, 107435, 2023. DOI: 10.1016/j.compositesa.2023.107435
  • Q. Gao, Z. Ding, and W. H. Liao, “Effective Elastic Properties of Irregular Auxetic Structures,” Composite Structures, Vol. 287, 115269, 2022. DOI: 10.1016/j.compstruct.2022.115269
  • G. Liu, F. Gao, D. Wang, and W. H. Liao, “Medical Applications of Magnetorheological Fluid: A Systematic Review,” Smart Materials and Structures, Vol. 31, No. 4, 043002 (23pp), 2022. DOI: 10.1088/1361-665X/ac54e7
  • K. Chen, S. Fang, Q. Gao, D. Zou, J. Cao, and W. H. Liao, “Enhancing Power Output of Piezoelectric Energy Harvesting by Gradient Auxetic Structures,” Applied Physics Letters, Vol. 120, 103901, 2022. DOI: 10.1063/5.0082015 (Won 2023 ASME Best Paper Award in Structures and Structural Dynamics)
  • H. Zhao, R. Wang, Y. Lei, W. H. Liao, H. Cao, and J. Cao, “Severity Level Diagnosis of Parkinson’s Disease by Ensemble K-Nearest Neighbor Under Imbalanced Data,” Expert Systems with Applications, Vol. 189, 116113, 2022. DOI: 10.1016/j.eswa.2021.116113
  • S. Fang, S. Zhou, D. Yurchenko, T. Yang, and W. H. Liao, “Multistability Phenomenon in Signal Processing, Energy Harvesting, Composite Structures, and Metamaterials: A Review,” Mechanical Systems and Signal Processing, Vol. 166, 108419, 2022. DOI: 10.1016/j.ymssp.2021.108419
  • X. Chen, G. Fang, W. H. Liao, and C. C. L. Wang, “Field-Based Toolpath Generation for 3D Printing Continuous Fibre Reinforced Thermoplastic Composites,” Additive Manufacturing, Vol. 49, 102470, 2022. DOI: 10.1016/j.addma.2021.102470
  • F. Y. Liang, F. Gao, and W. H. Liao, “Synergy-based Knee Angle Estimation Using Kinematics of Thigh,” Gait & Posture, Vol. 89, pp. 25-30, 2021. DOI: 10.1016/j.gaitpost.2021.06.015
  • K, Chen, Q. Gao, S. Fang, D. Zou, Z. Yang, and W. H. Liao, “An Auxetic Nonlinear Piezoelectric Energy Harvester for Enhancing Efficiency and Bandwidth,” Applied Energy, Vol. 298, 117274, 2021. DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2021.117274 (Reported by InfoMat, 6 July 2021)
  • Hugo H. T. Chan, F. Gao, Brendon L. H. Chung, W. H. Liao, and J. Cao, “Knee Energy Harvester with Variable Transmission to Reduce the Effect on the Walking Gait,” Smart Materials and Structures, Vol. 30, No. 8, 085024 (14pp), 2021. DOI: 10.1088/1361-665X/ac0bfe
  • M. Cai and W. H. Liao, “Design, Modeling, and Experiments of Electromagnetic Energy Harvester Embedded in Smart Watch and Wristband as Power Source,” IEEE/ASME Transactions on Mechatronics, Vol. 26, No. 4, pp. 2104-2114, 2021. DOI: 10.1109/TMECH.2020.3032536
  • Q. Gao and W. H. Liao, “Energy Absorption of Thin Walled Tube Filled with Gradient Auxetic Structures – Theory and Simulation, International Journal of Mechanical Sciences, Vol. 201, 106475, 2021. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmecsci.2021.106475
  • D. Zou, G. Liu, Z. Rao, T. Tan, W. Zhang, and W. H. Liao, “A Device Capable of Customizing Nonlinear Forces for Vibration Energy Harvesting, Vibration Isolation, and Nonlinear Energy Sink,” Mechanical Systems and Signal Processing, Vol. 147, 107101, 2021. DOI: 10.1016/j.ymssp.2020.107101
  • F. Gao, G. Liu, F. Liang, and W. H. Liao, “IMU-Based Locomotion Mode Identification for Transtibial Prostheses, Orthoses, and Exoskeletons,” IEEE Transactions on Neural Systems & Rehabilitation Engineering, Vol. 28, No. 6, pp. 1334-1343, 2020. DOI: 10.1109/TNSRE.2020.2987155
  • M. Cai, J. Wang, and W. H. Liao, “Self-Powered Smart Watch and Wristband Enabled by Embedded Generator,” Applied Energy, Vol. 263, 114682, 2020. DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2020.114682
  • S. Fang, S. Wang, S. Zhou, Z. Yang, and W. H. Liao, “Exploiting the Advantages of the Centrifugal Softening Effect in Rotational Impact Energy Harvesting,” Applied Physics Letters, 116, 063903, 2020. DOI: 10.1063/1.5140060 (Featured Article, Scilight)

Patents (US)

  • Human Joint Energy Harvesting Apparatus and Wearable Electronic Device Comprising the Same, US Patent 11,508,900, November 22, 2022
  • Human Motion Energy Harvesting Apparatus and Conversion Method Thereof, US Patent 11,316,405, April 26, 2022
  • Magneto-Rheological Series Elastic Actuator, US Patent 10,626,944, April 21, 2020.
  • Ankle-Foot Prosthesis Device, US Patent, 10,406,000, September 10, 2019.
  • Optical Pickup Assemblies and Drive Systems with the Same, US Patent, 8,605,558, December 10, 2013.
  • Magnetorheological Actuators, US Patent 8,193,670, June 5, 2012.
  • Piezoelectric Actuated Suspension with Passive Damping in Hard Disk Drives, US Patent 7,983,008, July 19, 2011.
  • High Speed Pick and Place Apparatus, US Patent 6,758,113, July 6, 2004.
  • Apparatus and Method for Vibration Control Using Active Constrained Layer Edge Elements, US Patent 5,838,092, Nov. 17, 1998.