Brief Introduction

Chen Xi, Assistant Professor (PI), Master's and Doctoral Supervisor, graduated from Northwestern Polytechnical University in 2012 and 2019, respectively, with a Bachelor's degree in Aircraft Power Engineering and a Doctoral degree in Aerospace Science and Technology. From 2016 to 2017, she had worked as a mechanical engineer in the Large Drives Applications of Siemens AG in Germany, engaged in seismic design and 3D simulation calculation of 15MW large drive motors. Since June 2019, she has served as a postdoctoral fellow, research assistant professor, research associate professor, and assistant professor (PI) in the Department of Mechanics and Aerospace Engineering (MAE) at Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech). She has been selected for the China Association for Science and Technology (CAST) Young Elite Scientists Sponsorship (YESS) in 2023, hired as a high-level talent under the "Pengcheng Peacock Plan" in Shenzhen in 2024, and introduced through SUSTech teaching and research series in 2026. In the past five years, she has served as a PI and CO-PI for more than 10 national and provincial-level scientific research projects, including National Science and Technology Major Project, National Natural Science Foundation, JKW Basic Strengthening Plan, GF Stable Support Plan, Key Technology Research and Development, Guangdong Provincial and Shenzhen Municipal Funds, etc. Published over 40 academic papers in SCI/EI journals, with more than 30 first/corresponding authors and over 10 top tier publications; More than 10 national invention patents have been approved. Serve as a liaison officer for the CAST Alliance for Aero-Engine Industry and Academy, the Aerospace Propulsion Technology Information Society, and other organizations; Professional Committee of the Chinese Society of Vibration Engineering, Professional Committee of the Chinese Society of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics, and young editorial board member of more than 10 journals including Journal of Propulsion Technology, Journal of Aerospace Power, Journal of Rocket Propulsion, Aerospace Technology, etc.

Research Interests

Her research interests are in the application fields of rotating machinery, including aero-engines, marine gas turbines, large drive motors, and wind turbines. She has engaged in the theoretical fundamental research on nonlinear dynamics, structural vibration, rotor dynamics, etc.; the numerical simulation research on fluid-solid coupling algorithm, stability analysis, vibration control, etc.; and the engineering technology research on damper design, high-speed dynamic balancing, condition monitoring and fault diagnosis. Academic achievements include as follows:

(1) The modeling and analysis methods for dynamic characteristics of single rotors and dual-rotor systems with intershaft bearings excited by base motions were proposed. The effects of motion parameters on the dynamic responses of single/dual rotor systems were revealed, involving the angular velocity of base rotations, the magnitude and frequency of base harmonic translations, etc. Relevant research results provide a theoretical basis for the rapid calculation of system dynamic response induced by complicated external excitations.

(2) In the field of maneuvering flight and vibration damping, several innovations have been carried out. The nonlinear vibration characteristics of the rotor-damping-support systems were explored, and the analysis methods were proposed for the stability and motion bifurcation of high-speed rotor systems in the maneuvering flight environment. The changing tendency of the unstable region with the frequency of motion were revealed, indicating the conversion and correlation between different motions. The research results provide theoretical support for the dynamic design of engine rotor systems with high maneuverability.

(3) The field dynamic balancing theory of flexible rotors was developed, and the problems of amplitude and phase jumps when the rotating speed fluctuates were solved. The high-speed dynamic balancing of turbofan engine with a large bypass ratio was realized, which plays a key role in damping and vibration control of engines. The technological achievements were used in the development of large aircraft engine engineering.

Educational Background

2012.09-2019.03, Ph.D., Aerospace Science and Technology, Northwestern Polytechnical University

2008.09-2012.07, Bachelor, Aircraft Power Engineering, Northwestern Polytechnical University

Professional Experience

2026.08 to present, Assistant Professor (PI, Associate Researcher), Department of Mechanics and Aerospace Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology

2023.12-2026.07, Research Associate Professor (Associate Researcher), Department of Mechanics and Aerospace Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, July

2021.07-2023.12, Research Assistant Professor (Associate Researcher), Department of Mechanics and Aerospace Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology

2019.06-2021.06, Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Mechanics and Aerospace Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology

2016.02-2017.01, Mechanical Engineer, Large Drives Applications (LDA), Siemens AG, Germany

Honors & Awards

2024/01, High-Level Talent, Shenzhen Pengcheng Peacock Plan

2023/02, Young Elite Scientists Sponsorship Program (YESS), China Association for Sci. and Tech. (CAST)

2026/02, 2025 Outstanding Young Editorial Board Member of Journal of Propulsion Technology

2024/09, MEACM 2024 Best Paper Presentation Award

2024/07, Excellent Paper at the First Aerospace Power Academic Forum (2024)

2023/07, Outstanding Communist Party Member, College of Engineering, SUSTech

2023/03, Outstanding Scholar of Distinction, MAE, SUSTech (one individual annually)

Selected Publications

&students under supervision, *corresponding author

1. Xuan Xie&, Xi Chen*, Nan Liao&, Zihan Yan&, Shuyun Jiang, Xiaohua Gan. Theoretical and experimental study on dynamic behavior of a flexible rotor-support-casing system considering complex supporting-frames and connecting casings[J]. Mechanical Systems and Signal Processing, 2026, 258: 114686.

2. Xuan Xie&, Xi Chen*, Mingsong Ye&, Guangming Ren, Xiaohua Gan. Modeling and dynamic characteristics of engine casings based on hyperparametric shell and 20-node solid element[J]. Thin-Walled Structures, 2025, 215: 113513.

3. Bo Zhang&, Xi Chen*, Xiangnan Fan&, Guangming Ren, Xiaohua Gan. Dynamic characteristics of a rotor system supported by squeeze film dampers during maneuvering flight: simulation and experiment[J]. Aerospace Science and Technology, 2025, 161: 110119.

4. Fengguang Xiang&, Xi Chen*, Dezhi Yang&, Guangming Ren, Xiaohua Gan. Simulation method for dynamic characteristics of rotor-support system subjected to environmental loads [J]. Aerospace Science and Technology, 2024, 155: 109654.

5. Xi Chen*, Xiaohua Gan, Guangming Ren. Effects of journal static eccentricity on dynamic responses of a rotor system under base motions using FDM inertia model[J]. Journal of Sound and Vibration. 2022;519: 116591.

6. Xi Chen*, Guangming Ren, Xiaohua Gan. Dynamic behavior of a flexible rotor system with squeeze film damper considering oil-film inertia under base motions. Nonlinear Dynamics. 2021;106(4):3117-3145.

7. Xi Chen*, Xiaohua Gan, Guangming Ren. Dynamic modeling and nonlinear analysis of a rotor system supported by squeeze film damper with variable static eccentricity under aircraft turning maneuver[J]. Journal of Sound and Vibration, 2020, 485:115551.

8. Xi Chen*, Xiaohua Gan, Guangming Ren. Nonlinear responses and bifurcations of a rotor-bearing system supported by squeeze film damper with retainer spring subjected to base excitations[J]. Nonlinear Dynamics, 2020, 102(4): 2143-2177. (SCI JCR Q1, Top, IF=6.0)