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)