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Dr Liya Zhao

Dr Liya Zhao

Senior Lecturer

Dec. 2015     Ph.D. in Structures & Mechanics, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.

                      PhD supervisor: Prof Yaowen Yang


Jun. 2009      B.Eng. in Civil Engineering, Tongji University, China 

 

Engineering
Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering

Research website: liyazhao-lab.com (PhD and Master (by Research) scholarships (stipend and tuition waiver) are currently available for top students)

Dr Liya Zhao is currently a Senior Lecturer in the School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering at the University of New South Wales (UNSW Sydney). She is the recipient of the ARC Discovery Early Career Researcher Award (DECRA) for 2021-2024. 

She received her BEng in Civil Engineering from Tongji University in 2009, and her PhD in Structures and Mechanics from Nanyang Technological University Singapore in Dec 2015. After that, she worked as a Research Fellow at Nanyang Technological University Singapore. She moved to the University of Technology Sydney in 2017 as a Lecturer and became a Senior Lecturer in 2021. She joined UNSW Sydney as a Senior Lecturer in 2022. Dr Liya Zhao was featured among the World's Top 2% Scientists list for single year 2020-2023 in the subject field of Materials, Energy, and Enabling & Strategic Technologies, published by Stanford University.     

Her research interests include energy harvesting, nonlinear dynamics, smart materials and structures, electromechanical modelling, vibration control, aerodynamics, and piezoelectric devices. More details on my research website: Dynamic Smart Structures and Energy Harvesting Lab 

 

- Nonlinear Dynamics, Vibration Suppression, Metastructure/metamaterials

  • Structural/material/geometric/aerodynamic nonlinearity

  • Multifunctional metastructure/metamaterial systems for energy harvesting and vibration suppression

 - Kinetic Energy Harvesting

  • Nonlinear adaptive structures for 1) small-scale wind energy harvesting with aeroelastic instabilities 2) broadband vibration energy harvesting 

  • Advanced power extraction interfaces for energy conversion enhancement

  • Human motion energy harvesting; biosensing

  • Wave energy harvesting

- Smart Materials and Structures

  • Adaptive devices for energy harvesting, vibration suppression, actuating and sensing

  • Electromechanically coupled adaptive structures with smart materials (piezoelectric / flexoelectric / triboelectric / electret mechanisms)

- Integrated Self-Powered Wireless Sensor Networks/Active Tags

  • Sustainable physiological monitoring with self-powered body sensor networks

  • Sustainable smart environmental/structural health monitoring

  • Sustainable object tracking

 
E-mail
liya.zhao2@unsw.edu.au
Location
Room 301B, Ainsworth Building J17
  • Book Chapters | 2024
    Chen S; Zhao L, 2024, 'Enhancing Aeroelastic Wind Energy Harvesting Using Quasi-Zero Stiffness', in NODYCON Conference Proceedings Series, Springer Nature Switzerland, pp. 239 - 248, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-50635-2_23
    Book Chapters | 2024
    Xu C; Zhao L, 2024, 'Metamaterial Beam with Bistable and Monostable-Hardening Attachments for Broad-Band Vibration Attenuation and Energy Harvesting', in Lecture Notes in Electrical Engineering, Springer Nature Singapore, pp. 570 - 582, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-981-97-0554-2_43
  • Journal articles | 2025
    Xu C; Wang CH; Peng S; Zhao L, 2025, 'Integrating synchronized charge extraction circuit with monostable and bistable metastructures for simultaneously enhanced vibration suppression and energy harvesting', Mechanical Systems and Signal Processing, 225, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ymssp.2024.112286
    Journal articles | 2025
    Zhao C; Li X; Dong L; Hu G; Han C; Dong Y; Zhao L; Yang Y, 2025, 'Enhancing bandwidth of triboelectric vibration energy harvesters through magnetic tuning', Mechanical Systems and Signal Processing, 232, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ymssp.2025.112704
    Journal articles | 2024
    Chen S; Xu C; Zhao L, 2024, 'Aeroelastic Metastructure for simultaneously suppressing wind-induced vibration and energy harvesting under wind flows and base excitations', Smart Materials and Structures, 33, pp. 035034, http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/1361-665X/ad254d
    Journal articles | 2024
    Xu C; Yang Y; Wang C; Zhao L, 2024, 'Simultaneous Low-Frequency Vibration Suppression and Energy Harvesting using a Metastructure with Alternately Combined Nonlinear Local Resonators', Mechanical Systems and Signal Processing, 211, pp. 111241 - 111241, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ymssp.2024.111241
    Journal articles | 2024
    Xu C; Yang Y; Wang CH; Zhao L, 2024, 'Simultaneous low-frequency vibration suppression and energy harvesting using a metastructure with alternately combined nonlinear local resonators', Mechanical Systems and Signal Processing, 211, pp. 111241 - 111241, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ymssp.2024.111241
    Journal articles | 2023
    Chen S; Wang CH; Zhao L, 2023, 'A two-degree-of-freedom aeroelastic energy harvesting system with coupled vortex-induced-vibration and wake galloping mechanisms', Applied Physics Letters, 122, pp. 063901, http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/5.0128616
    Journal articles | 2023
    Chen S; Zhao L, 2023, 'A quasi-zero stiffness two degree-of-freedom nonlinear galloping oscillator for ultra-low wind speed aeroelastic energy harvesting', Applied Energy, 331, pp. 120423, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2022.120423
    Journal articles | 2023
    Li G; Wu S; Sha Z; Zhao L; Chu D; Wang CH; Peng S, 2023, 'A triboelectric nanogenerator powered piezoresistive strain sensing technique insensitive to output variations', Nano Energy, 108, pp. 108185, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.nanoen.2023.108185
    Journal articles | 2023
    Xu C; Chen S; Wang CH; Yang Y; Zhao L, 2023, 'Amplitude-robust metastructure with combined bistable and monostable mechanisms for simultaneously enhanced vibration suppression and energy harvesting', Applied Physics Letters, 122, pp. 151701, http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/5.0136134
    Journal articles | 2022
    Chen S; Eager D; Zhao L, 2022, 'Enhanced frequency synchronization for concurrent aeroelastic and base vibratory energy harvesting using a softening nonlinear galloping energy harvester', Journal of Intelligent Material Systems and Structures, 33, pp. 687 - 702, http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1045389X211026381
    Journal articles | 2022
    Hu G; Lan C; Liang J; Tang L; Zhao L, 2022, 'Theoretical Study of a Two-Degree-of-Freedom Piezoelectric Energy Harvester under Concurrent Aeroelastic and Base Excitation', Journal of Intelligent Material Systems and Structures, 33, pp. 2000 - 2016, http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1045389X211072520
    Journal articles | 2022
    Wang J; Zhao L, 2022, 'Toward Nonlinear Galloping Energy Harvesting Interfaced With Different Power Extraction Circuits', IEEE/ASME Transactions on Mechatronics, 27, pp. 2678 - 2689, http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/TMECH.2021.3121881
    Journal articles | 2022
    Xu C; Zhao L, 2022, 'Investigation on the Characteristics of a Novel Internal Resonance Galloping Oscillator for Concurrent Aeroelastic and Base Vibratory Energy Harvesting', Mechanical Systems and Signal Processing, 173, pp. 109022 - 109022, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ymssp.2022.109022
    Journal articles | 2021
    Hu G; Wang J; Qiao H; Zhao L; Li Z; Tang L, 2021, 'An experimental study of a two-degree-of-freedom galloping energy harvester', International Journal of Energy Research, 45, pp. 3365 - 3374, http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/er.5878
    Journal articles | 2021
    Ren F; Ji J; Luo G; Zhao S; Zhao L; Shi G; Wu X; Wang N, 2021, 'Investigation of Dynamic Load Sharing Behavior for Herringbone Planetary Gears considering Multicoupling Manufacturing Errors', Shock and Vibration, 2021, http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/5511817
    Journal articles | 2021
    Wang J; Yurchenko D; Hu G; Zhao L; Tang L; Yang Y, 2021, 'Perspectives in flow-induced vibration energy harvesting', Applied Physics Letters, 119, http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/5.0063488
    Journal articles | 2021
    Zhao C; Yang Y; Upadrashta D; Zhao L, 2021, 'Design, modeling and experimental validation of a low-frequency cantilever triboelectric energy harvester', Energy, 214, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2020.118885
    Journal articles | 2020
    Tan Q; Fan K; Tao K; Zhao L; Cai M, 2020, 'A two-degree-of-freedom string-driven rotor for efficient energy harvesting from ultra-low frequency excitations', Energy, 196, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2020.117107
    Journal articles | 2020
    Wang J; Geng L; Yang K; Zhao L; Wang F; Yurchenko D, 2020, 'Dynamics of the double-beam piezo–magneto–elastic nonlinear wind energy harvester exhibiting galloping-based vibration', Nonlinear Dynamics, 100, pp. 1963 - 1983, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11071-020-05633-3
    Journal articles | 2020
    Wang J; Tang L; Zhao L; Hu G; Song R; Xu K, 2020, 'Equivalent circuit representation of a vortex-induced vibration-based energy harvester using a semi-empirical lumped parameter approach', International Journal of Energy Research, 44, pp. 4516 - 4528, http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/er.5228
    Journal articles | 2020
    Zhang R; Zhao L; Qiu X; Zhang H; Wang X, 2020, 'A comprehensive comparison of the vehicle vibration energy harvesting abilities of the regenerative shock absorbers predicted by the quarter, half and full vehicle suspension system models', Applied Energy, 272, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2020.115180
    Journal articles | 2020
    Zhao L, 2020, 'Synchronization extension using a bistable galloping oscillator for enhanced power generation from concurrent wind and base vibration', Applied Physics Letters, 116, http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.5134948
    Journal articles | 2019
    Wang H; Zhao L; Tang L, 2019, 'Effects of Electrical and Electromechanical Parameters on Performance of Galloping-Based Wind Energy Harvester with Piezoelectric and Electromagnetic Transductions', Vibration, 2, pp. 222 - 239, http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/vibration2020014
    Journal articles | 2019
    Wang J; Hu G; Su Z; Li G; Zhao W; Tang L; Zhao L, 2019, 'A cross-coupled dual-beam for multi-directional energy harvesting from vortex induced vibrations', Smart Materials and Structures, 28, http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/1361-665X/ab5249
    Journal articles | 2019
    Wang J; Tang L; Zhao L; Zhang Z, 2019, 'Efficiency investigation on energy harvesting from airflows in HVAC system based on galloping of isosceles triangle sectioned bluff bodies', Energy, 172, pp. 1066 - 1078, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2019.02.002
    Journal articles | 2018
    Li F; Yang Y; Chi Z; Zhao L; Yang Y; Luo J, 2018, 'Trinity: Enabling self-Sustaining WSNs indoors with energy-Free sensing and networking', ACM Transactions on Embedded Computing Systems, 17, http://dx.doi.org/10.1145/3173039
    Journal articles | 2018
    Zhao L; Yang Y, 2018, 'An impact-based broadband aeroelastic energy harvester for concurrent wind and base vibration energy harvesting', Applied Energy, 212, pp. 233 - 243, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2017.12.042
    Journal articles | 2017
    Zhao L; Tang L; Liang J; Yang Y, 2017, 'Synergy of Wind Energy Harvesting and Synchronized Switch Harvesting Interface Circuit', IEEE/ASME Transactions on Mechatronics, 22, pp. 1093 - 1103, http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/TMECH.2016.2630732
    Journal articles | 2017
    Zhao L; Yang Y, 2017, 'Comparison of four electrical interfacing circuits in wind energy harvesting', Sensors and Actuators, A: Physical, 261, pp. 117 - 129, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.sna.2017.04.035
    Journal articles | 2017
    Zhao L; Yang Y, 2017, 'On the modeling methods of small-scale piezoelectric wind energy harvesting', Smart Structures and Systems, 19, pp. 67 - 90, http://dx.doi.org/10.12989/sss.2017.19.1.067
    Journal articles | 2017
    Zhao L; Yang Y, 2017, 'Toward Small-Scale Wind Energy Harvesting: Design, Enhancement, Performance Comparison, and Applicability', Shock and Vibration, 2017, http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2017/3585972
    Journal articles | 2016
    Zhao L; Tang L; Yang Y, 2016, 'Synchronized charge extraction in galloping piezoelectric energy harvesting', Journal of Intelligent Material Systems and Structures, 27, pp. 453 - 468, http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1045389X15571384
    Journal articles | 2015
    Tang L; Zhao L; Yang Y; Lefeuvre E, 2015, 'Equivalent circuit representation and analysis of galloping-based wind energy harvesting', IEEE/ASME Transactions on Mechatronics, 20, pp. 834 - 844, http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/TMECH.2014.2308182
    Journal articles | 2015
    Zhao L; Yang Y, 2015, 'Analytical solutions for galloping-based piezoelectric energy harvesters with various interfacing circuits', Smart Materials and Structures, 24, http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/0964-1726/24/7/075023
    Journal articles | 2015
    Zhao L; Yang Y, 2015, 'Enhanced aeroelastic energy harvesting with a beam stiffener', Smart Materials and Structures, 24, http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/0964-1726/24/3/032001
    Journal articles | 2014
    Zhao L; Tang L; Yang Y, 2014, 'Enhanced piezoelectric galloping energy harvesting using 2 degree-of-freedom cut-out cantilever with magnetic interaction', Japanese Journal of Applied Physics, 53, http://dx.doi.org/10.7567/JJAP.53.060302
    Journal articles | 2013
    Yang Y; Zhao L; Tang L, 2013, 'Comparative study of tip cross-sections for efficient galloping energy harvesting', Applied Physics Letters, 102, http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4792737
    Journal articles | 2013
    Zhao L; Tang L; Yang Y, 2013, 'Comparison of modeling methods and parametric study for a piezoelectric wind energy harvester', Smart Materials and Structures, 22, http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/0964-1726/22/12/125003
  • Conference Papers | 2024
    Chen S; Zhao L, 2024, 'Enhancing Aeroelastic Wind Energy Harvesting Using Quasi-Zero Stiffness', Springer Nature Switzerland, pp. 239 - 248, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-50635-2_23
    Conference Presentations | 2023
    Chen S; Xu C; Zhao L, 2023, 'An Aeroelastic Meta-structure for Concurrent Vibration Attenuation and Energy Harvesting', presented at The International Conference on Applied Nonlinear Dynamics, Vibration, and Control (ICANDVC-2023), Hong Kong, 04 December 2023 - 06 December 2023
    Conference Papers | 2023
    Chen S; Zhao L, 2023, 'Enhancing Aeroelastic Wind Energy Harvesting Using Quasi-Zero Stiffness', in Advances in Nonlinear Dynamics, Volume III, NODYCON, Rome, Italy, pp. 46 - 46, presented at Third International Nonlinear Dynamics Conference (NODYCON), Rome, Italy, 18 June 2023 - 22 June 2023
    Conference Papers | 2023
    Xu C; Zhao L, 2023, 'Metamaterial beam with bistable and monostable-hardening attachments for broad-band vibration attenuation and energy harvesting', in Lecture Notes in Electrical Engineering, Springer Nature, Hong Kong, pp. ICANDVC2023149 - ICANDVC2023149, presented at International Conference on Applied Nonlinear Dynamics, Vibration and Control (ICANDVC2023), Hong Kong, 04 December 2023 - 06 December 2023, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-981-97-0554-2_43
    Conference Papers | 2022
    Singh M; Zhao L, 2022, 'Inerter-enhanced piezoelectric energy harvesting and vibration suppression', in Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering, http://dx.doi.org/10.1117/12.2613326
    Conference Papers | 2022
    Xu C; Zhao L, 2022, 'Internal resonance in galloping, VIV and flutter for concurrent wind and base vibration energy harvesting', in Han J-H; Shahab S; Yang J (eds.), Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering, SPIE, the international society for optics and photonics, pp. 120430p-120430p-11, presented at Active and Passive Smart Structures and Integrated Systems XVI, 06 March 2022 - 11 April 2022, http://dx.doi.org/10.1117/12.2611733
    Conference Papers | 2021
    Xu C; Zhao L, 2021, 'A 2DOF galloping oscillator with internal resonance for broadband concurrent wind and base vibration energy harvesting', in Han JH; Wang G; Shahab S (eds.), Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering, SPIE, the international society for optics and photonics, ELECTR NETWORK, pp. 41, presented at Active and Passive Smart Structures and Integrated Systems XV, ELECTR NETWORK, 22 March 2021 - 26 March 2021, http://dx.doi.org/10.1117/12.2585151
    Conference Presentations | 2021
    Xu C; Zhao L, 2021, 'Concurrent Wind and Base Vibration Energy Harvester with Internal Resonance', presented at The 3rd International Conference on Vibration and Energy Harvesting Applications (VEH 2021), Xi'an, China, 09 July 2021 - 12 July 2021
    Conference Presentations | 2021
    Xu C; Zhao L, 2021, 'Parametric Study of a 2dof Concurrent Galloping and Base Vibration Energy Harvester With Internal Resonance', presented at ASME Conference on Smart Materials, Adaptive Structures, and Intelligent Systems, 14 September 2021 - 15 September 2021
    Conference Papers | 2020
    Zhao L, 2020, 'A bistable galloping energy harvester for enhanced concurrent wind and base vibration energy harvesting', in Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering, http://dx.doi.org/10.1117/12.2558465
    Conference Papers | 2019
    Zhao L, 2019, 'Analytical solutions for a broadband concurrent aeroelastic and base vibratory energy harvester', in Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering, http://dx.doi.org/10.1117/12.2522088
    Conference Papers | 2019
    Zhao L, 2019, 'Concurrent wind and base vibration energy harvesting with a broadband bistable aeroelastic energy harvester', in IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering, http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/1757-899X/531/1/012081
    Conference Posters | 2018
    Wang J; Zhao L; Tang L, 2018, 'A Galloping Based Piezoelectric Energy Harvester', Auckland, New Zealand, presented at 2018 IEEE/ASME International Conference on Advanced Intelligent Mechatronics (AIM), Auckland, New Zealand, 09 July 2018 - 12 July 2018
    Conference Papers | 2018
    Zhao L, 2018, 'Performance enhancement of an aeroelastic energy harvester for efficient power harvesting from concurrent wind flows and base vibrations', in IEEE/ASME International Conference on Advanced Intelligent Mechatronics, AIM, pp. 780 - 785, http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/AIM.2018.8452411
    Conference Papers | 2015
    Zhao L; Liang J; Tang L; Yang Y; Liu H, 2015, 'Enhancement of galloping-based wind energy harvesting by synchronized switching interface circuits', in Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering, http://dx.doi.org/10.1117/12.2084000
    Conference Papers | 2014
    Avvari PV; Yang Y; Soh CK; Zhao L, 2014, 'Bandwidth enhancement of a piezoelectric energy harvester using parametrically induced vibrations', in ICAST 2014 - 25th International Conference on Adaptive Structures and Technologies
    Conference Papers | 2014
    Zhao L; Chong J; Ng TLJ; Yang Y, 2014, 'Enhancement of aeroelastic energy harvesting from galloping, vortex-induced vibrations and flutter with a beam stiffener', in ICAST 2014 - 25th International Conference on Adaptive Structures and Technologies
    Conference Papers | 2014
    Zhao L; Tang L; Wu H; Yang Y, 2014, 'Synchronized charge extraction for aeroelastic energy harvesting', in Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering, http://dx.doi.org/10.1117/12.2044993
    Conference Abstracts | 2013
    Li F; Xiang T; Chi Z; Luo J; Tang L; Zhao L; Yang Y, 2013, 'Demo Abstract: Powering Indoor Sensing with Airflows–A Trinity of Energy Harvesting, Synchronous Duty-Cycling, and Sensing', in Proceedings of the 11th ACM Conference on Embedded Networked Sensor Systems, pp. 73 - 73, presented at 11th ACM Conference on Embedded Networked Sensor Systems
    Conference Papers | 2013
    Li F; Xiang T; Chi Z; Luo J; Tang L; Zhao L; Yang Y, 2013, 'Demo abstract: Powering indoor sensing with airflows- A trinity of energy harvesting, synchronous duty-cycling, and sensing', in SenSys 2013 - Proceedings of the 11th ACM Conference on Embedded Networked Sensor Systems, http://dx.doi.org/10.1145/2517351.2517393
    Conference Papers | 2013
    Xiang T; Chi Z; Li F; Luo J; Tang L; Zhao L; Yang Y, 2013, 'Powering indoor sensing with airflows: A trinity of energy harvesting, synchronous duty-cycling, and sensing', in SenSys 2013 - Proceedings of the 11th ACM Conference on Embedded Networked Sensor Systems, http://dx.doi.org/10.1145/2517351.2517365
    Conference Papers | 2012
    Tang L; Yang Y; Zhao L, 2012, 'Magnetic coupled cantilever piezoelectric energy harvester', in ASME 2012 Conference on Smart Materials, Adaptive Structures and Intelligent Systems, SMASIS 2012, pp. 811 - 818, http://dx.doi.org/10.1115/SMASIS2012-8041
    Conference Papers | 2012
    Zhao L; Tang L; Yang Y, 2012, 'Small wind energy harvesting from galloping using piezoelectric materials', in ASME 2012 Conference on Smart Materials, Adaptive Structures and Intelligent Systems, SMASIS 2012, pp. 919 - 927, http://dx.doi.org/10.1115/SMASIS2012-8212

2025-2027, Australian Research Council, Discovery Project, CI

2025-2026, UNSW, Carer's Fund, Sole CI

2023, MME RIS, CI

2022, MME RIS, Sole CI

2022-2024, UNSW, MME, Start-Up

2021-2024, Australian Research Council Discovery Early Career Researcher Award (DECRA), Sole CI

2021, NSW Defence Innovation Network, CI

2019, UTS Blue Sky Grant, Lead CI

2018, UTS Seed Grant, Sole CI

2018, UTS Midas teaching grant, CI

2011-2012, Nanyang Engineering Doctoral Scholarship (NEDS) Award, NTU Singapore (1 of 12 awardees in the university)

My Teaching

2023-present, Mechanics of Solids II, Course Convenor & Lecturer

2022, Introduction to Aircraft Engineering, Course Convenor & Lecturer

2018-2020, Fundamentals of Mechanical Engineering, Subject Coordinator & Lecturer