Faculty
Biography
Biography: Dr. Zhenhua Wei is an assistant professor and the principal investigator in the Infrastructure Materials and Energy Laboratory at SUSTech. His research interests lie broadly in cementitious composites and construction materials with a focus on their durability and chemo-thermo-mechanical properties, decarbonizing infrastructure and other related topics. He has worked on various research projects on the design, development and implementation of innovative materials and processes for sustainable infrastructure and energy systems such as high-performance and phase-change concrete composites, smart energy-efficient wall panels and crack-resistant pavements, and CO2 mineralization for carbon-neutral construction. Dr. Wei has published more than 20 high-impact journal papers (google scholar citations=761, h-index=14) and led multiple research projects supported by U.S. federal and state agencies. He has received important awards including the EMI-MIMB Paper Award (2020) from the American Society of Civil Engineers, the NSF-IUCRC Research Breakthrough (2019) from the National Science Foundation, and the Carlos Rueda Diez Award (2019) from Columbia University. Dr. Wei received his Ph.D. in civil engineering from UCLA in December 2017. Following his postdoctoral work at Columbia University, he was the research director of SPDLabs, a New York-based design company specializing in structure-integrated photovoltaics. He joined the SUSTech faculty in November 2021.
Educational Background
2017, Ph.D., Civil Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles
2013, M.S., Marine Chemistry, Institute of Oceanography, Chinese Academy of Sciences
2010, B.E., Agricultural Engineering, Huazhong Agricultural University
Work Experience
2021-present, Assistant Professor, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
2021, Administrator, National Science Foundation Industry-University Cooperative Research Center, Blacksburg, VA, USA
2019-2021, Research Director, SPDLabs LLC, Poughkeepsie, NY, USA
2018-2019, Postdoctoral Research Scientist, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
Honors and Awards
2021, Team Champion (as key initial member), the NRG COSIA Carbon XPRIZE Competition on emerging CO2 conversion technologies for climate change mitigation
2020, EMI-MIMB Paper Award, the American Society of Civil Engineers
2019, NSF-IUCRC Technology Breakthrough, National Science Foundation
2019, Carlos Rueda Diez Award, Columbia University
Projects
1. An Integrated Approach to Zero-Energy Greenhouses Using Solar and Geothermal Energy, U.S. Department of Agriculture, $500,000 (2020-2023), Co-PI
2. Materials and System Design for Thermal Management in Pavement Using Solar-Geothermal Energy, National Science Foundation, $550,000 (2020-2022), Co-PI
3. Innovative Techniques and Materials for Preventing Concrete Shrinkage Cracking, New Jersey Department of Transportation, $300,000 (2019-2022), Co-PI
4. NYS Clean Energy Internship Program: Renewable Electric Power Generation through Building Envelopes, New York State Energy Research & Development Agency, $16,320 (2020-2021), PI
Publications
1. Y. Wei, Z. Wei*, W. Yao, K. Xue, D. Wang, C. Wang, Special light source and instance segmentation for automated detection of concrete air voids. Automation in Construction 2021, 130, 103877 (IF 7.7)
2. Y. Gu, L. Jiang, W. Jin, Z. Wei, X. Liu, M. Guo, K. Xia, L. Chen. Experimental research and molecular dynamics simulation on thermal properties of capric acid/ethylene-vinyl/graphene composite phase change materials. Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry 2021, 99(25), 256-263 (IF 6.064)
3. C. Wu, Z. Wei, H. Yin. Virtual and physical experiments of encapsulated phase change material embedded in building envelopes. International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer 2021, 172, 121083 (IF 5.584)
4. Z. Wei, B. Wang, G. Falzone, Z. She, E. Callagon, N. Neithalath, L. Pilon, G. Sant. Clinkering-free cementation by fly ash carbonation. Journal of CO2 Utilization 2018, 23, 117-127 (IF 7.132)
5. Z. Wei, G. Falzone, S. Das, N. Saklani, Y. Le Pape, L. Pilon, N. Neithalath, G. Sant. Restrained shrinkage cracking of cementitious composites containing soft PCM inclusions: A paste (matrix) controlled response. Materials and Design 2017, 132, 367-374 (IF 7.991)
6. Z. Wei, G. Falzone, B. Wang, A. Thiele, G. Puerta Falla, L. Pilon, N. Neithalath, G. Sant. The durability of cementitious composites containing microencapsulated phase change materials. Cement and Concrete Composites 2017, 81, 66-76 (IF 7.586)
7. Y. Gu, Z. Wei*, X. Shu, Q. Ran, K. Lv, J. Liu. Characterizing cement paste containing SRA modified nanoSiO2 and evaluating its strength development and shrinkage behavior. Cement and Concrete Composites 2017 ,75, 30-37 (IF 7.586)
8. Z. Wei, R. Xing, X. Zhang, S. Liu, H. Yu, P. Li. Facile template-free fabrication of hollow nestlike α-Fe2O3 nanostructures for water treatment. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces 2013, 5, 598-604 (IF 9.229)
9. X. Zhang, Z. Wei*, Q. Guo, H. Tian. Kinetics of sodium borohydride hydrolysis catalyzed via carbon nanosheets supported Co/Zr. Journal of Power Sources 2013, 231, 190-196 (IF 9.127)
10.N. Saklani, Z. Wei, A. Giorla, B. Spencer, S. Rajan, G. Sant, N. Neithalath. Finite element simulation of restrained shrinkage of cementitious materials: considering aging viscoelasticity, aleatory uncertainty, and the effects of soft/stiff inclusions. Finite Elements in Analysis & Design 2020, 173, 103390 (IF 2.972)
11.A. Thiele, Z. Wei, G. Falzone, B. Young, N. Neithalath, G. Sant, L. Pilon. Figure of merit for the performance of cementitious composites containing phase change materials. Cement and Concrete Composites 2016, 65, 214-226 (IF 7.586)
12.Y. Gu, K. Xia, Z. Wei, L. Jiang, W. She, K. Lyu, Synthesis of NS@GO core-shell nanoparticles and its influence on mechanical properties of cementitious materials. Construction and Building Materials 2020, 236, 117619 (IF 6.141)
13.Z. She, Z. Wei, B. Young, G. Falzone, N. Neithalath, G. Sant, L. Pilon. Examining the effects of microencapsulated phase change materials on early-age temperature evolutions in realistic pavement geometries. Cement and Concrete Composites 2019, 103, 149-159 (IF 7.586)
14.B. Young, Z. Wei, J. R. Cruz, G. Falzone, A. Kumar, N. Neithalath, G, Sant, L. Pilon. A general method for retrieving thermal deformation properties of microencapsulated phase change materials or other particulate inclusions in cementitious composites. Materials and Design 2017, 126, 259-267 (IF 7.991)
15.B. Young, G. Falzone, Z. Wei, G, Sant, P. Pilon. Reduced-scale experiments to evaluate performance of composite building envelopes containing phase change materials. Construction and Building Materials 2018, 162, 584-595 (IF 6.141)
16.Y. Gu, Q. Ran, Z. Wei, W. She, J. Liu. Visualization of penetration of nanoSiO2 into cement paste using X-ray computed tomography. Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Letters, 2018, 10, 135-137 (IF 1.128)
17.B. Young, G. Falzone, Z. She, A. Thiele, Z. Wei, N. Neithalath, L. Pilon, G. Sant. Early-age temperature evolutions in concrete pavements containing microencapsulated phase change materials. Construction and Building Materials 2017, 147, 466-477 (IF 6.141)
18.G. Fazone, G. Puerta, Z. Wei, M. Zhao, A. Kumar, M. Bauchy, N. Neithalath, L. Pilon, G. Sant. The influences of soft and stiff inclusions on the mechanical properties of cementitious composites. Cement and Concrete Composites 2016, 71, 153-165 (IF 7.586)
19.Z. Liu, S. Wang, J. Huang, Z. Wei, B. Guan, J. Fang. Experimental investigation on the properties and microstructure of magnesium oxychloride cement prepared with caustic magnesite and dolomite. Construction and Building Materials 2015, 85, 247-255 (IF 6.141)
20.F. Fernandes, S. Manari, M. Aguayo, K. Santos, T. Oey, Z. Wei, G. Falzone, N. Neithalath, G. Sant. On the feasibility of using phase change materials (PCMs) to mitigate thermal cracking in cementitious materials. Cement and Concrete Composites 2014, 51, 14-26 (IF 7.586)
21.B. Li, S. Liu, R. Xing, K. Li, R. Li, Y. Qin, X. Wang, Z. Wei, P. Li. Degradation of sulfated polysaccharides from Enteromorpha prolifera. Carbohydrate Polymers 2013, 92, 1991-1996 (IF 9.381)