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Research Projects

Functional Materials and Structures

Project 1: Digital Shape-Morphing Thermo-Mechanical Metamaterials
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"Digital Shape-morphing Thermo-mechanical Metamaterials (DSTMs)” is an intelligent mechanical systems capable of sensing thermal and mechanical stimuli, deploying and adapting to the stimuli by shape morphing and performing digital computation. These functionalities are achieved by integrating mechanical metamaterials with temperature-responsive components, modular designs and digital electronics.
Project 2: Self-recognizing Composite Structural Elements (SR-CSEs): Multifunctional, Sustainable and Reliable 
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The primary goal of this research is to explore a first-of-its-kind, integrated, sustainable, and multifunctional civil infrastructure system that has optimized mechanical properties, responds to environmental stimuli, empower itself, and self-monitors its conditions. The novel concept of self-recognizing composite structural elements (SR-CSEs) is proposed to build the foundation for the next generation of civil infrastructure systems with optimized structural performance, server environmental tolerance, intrinsic sensing, and energy harvesting functionalities. 
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Project 3: CFTrack: Advanced Diagnostic, Monitoring, and Tracking Device for Cystic Fibrosis Care
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This study introduces a flexible wearable sweat biosensor, named CFTrack, designed to address the unique challenges associated with Cystic Fibrosis (CF). This proposed CFTrack biosensor not only facilitates CF diagnosis but also enables the monitoring of medication treatment effectiveness and tracks therapy activities. In addition, it operates in a self-powered and customized manner, ensuring a seamless integration into the daily lives of individuals with CF.
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Machine Learning/Data Science

Project 1: Generative AI for Mechanical Metamaterial Design and Discovery 
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This study aims to develop an AI model leveraging generative techniques to design and discover a wide range of mechanical metamaterials (MMs) with optimized mechanical properties, such as lattices, honeycombs, and cellular structures.
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Structural Health Monitoring 

Project 1: A General Method for Pre-Flight Preparation in Data 
Collection for Unmanned Aerial Vehicle  -Based Bridge Inspection   
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The primary objective of this study is to tackle the challenges related to data collection in bridge inspection using UAVs. A comprehensive method for pre-flight preparation in data collection is proposed. A well-structured flowchart has been created, covering crucial steps, including identi-fying the inspection purpose, selecting appropriate hardware, planning and optimizing flight paths, and calibrating sensors. 
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Project 2: Meta-Heuristic-Driven Continuous Path Optimization for Area Coverage in Unmanned Aerial Vehicle-based Infrastructure Inspection
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The main contribution of this study is to overcome the challenges associated with coverage flight path planning and optimization to maximize battery usage for infrastructure inspection. For this purpose, a meta-heuristic-driven continuous flight path optimization method for area coverage is proposed. Two well-known meta-heuristic algorithms, particle swarm optimization (PSO) and genetic algorithm (GA) are selected and investigated in this study. The objective function of the optimization problem is to minimize flight length and battery usage while satisfying all the required constraints for infrastructure inspection, including obstacle avoidance. 
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Publications

Journal Articles

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  • R. Premedasa, Z. Wan, P. Almasi, K. Barri, H. Zhang, P. Jiao, Q. Zhang*, “CFTrack: Advanced Diagnostic, Monitoring, and Tracking Device for Cystic Fibrosis Care,” ACS Sensors, In-press, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1021/acssensors.4c01669

  • J. Luo, W. Lu, D. Jang, Q. Zhang, W. Meng, A. Wells, A. H. Alavi, “Millifluidic Nanogenerator Lab‐on‐a‐Chip Device for Blood Electrical Conductivity Monitoring at Low Frequency,” Advanced Materials, In-press, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.202403568

  • S. Li, X. Tang, W. Guo, Y. Li, L. Hong, Z. Wan, H. Lu, R. Premadasa, Q. Zhang*, H. Salehi, P. Jiao, “Numerical Simulations of Piezoelectricity and Triboelectricity: From Materials, Structures to Devices,” Applied Materials Today, In-press, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apmt.2024.102092

  • P. Almasi, Y. Xiao, H. Yin, J. Boyle, D. Jauregui, Z. Wan, Q. Zhang*, “A General Method for Pre-flight Preparation in Data Collection for UAV-based Bridge Inspection,” Drones, In-press, 2024. https://doi.org/10.3390/drones8080386

  • J. Luo, W. Lu, D. Jang, Q. Zhang, W. Meng, A. Wells, A. H. Alavi, "Millifluidic Nanogenerator Lab-on-a-Chip Device for Blood Electrical Conductivity Monitoring at Low Frequency," Advanced Materials, In-press, 2024.  https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.202403568

  • Q. Zhang, S. Babanajad, S. H. Ro, J. Braley, A. H. Alavi, "Multi-resource Fusion of Nondestructive Evaluation Data for Bridge Deck Assessment Using Discrete Wavelet Transform and Dempster-Shafer Theory," Measurement, In-press, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.measurement.2023.113303 

  • Q. Zhang, K. Barri, P. Jiao, J. Mueller, Z. L. Wang, A.H. Alavi, “Meta-mechanotronics for self-powered computation,” Materials Today, In-press, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mattod.2023.03.026 

  • K. Barri, Q. Zhang, J. Kline, B. E. Taylor, Z. Sun, S. G. Sachs, L. Khazanovich, Z. L. Wang, A. H. Alavi, “Multifunctional nanogenerator-integrated metamaterial concrete systems for smart civil infrastructure,” Advanced Materials, In-press, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.202211027 

  • Q. Zhang, H. Yu, K. Barri, Z. Wan, W. Lu, J. Luo, A.H. Alavi, “Bio-inspired morphological evolution of metastructures with new operation modalities”, Advanced Intelligent Systems, In-press, 2023.  https://doi.org/10.1002/aisy.202300019 

  • Q. Zhang*, S. H. Ro, Z. Wan, S. Babanajad, J. Braley, K. Barri, A.H. Alavi, “Automated UAV-based Bridge Deck Delamination Detection and Quantification,” Transportation Research Record, In-press, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1177/0361198123115542 

  • K. Barri=, Q. Zhang=, I. Swink, Y. Aucie, K. Holmberg, R. Sauber, D.T. Altman, B. C. Cheng, Z. L. Wang, A. H. Alavi, “Patient-specific multifunctional metamaterial implants for detecting bone healing progress”, Advanced Functional Materials, 32(32), Article 2203533, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1002/adfm.202203533 

  • P. Jiao, F. Ouyang, Q. Zhang, A. H. Alavi, “Artificial intelligence-enabled prediction model of student academic performance in online engineering education”, Artificial Intelligence Review, In press, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10462-022-10155-y  

  • Q. Zhang, K. Barri, S. R. Kari, Z.L. Wang, A.H. Alavi, “Multifunctional triboelectric nanogenerator-enabled structural elements for next generation civil infrastructure monitoring systems”, Advanced Functional Materials, 31(47), Article 2105825, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1002/adfm.202105825 

  • K. Barri=, P. Jiao=, Q. Zhang=, J. Chen, Z.L. Wang, A.H. Alavi, “Next generation self-aware composite mechanical metamaterials”, Nano Energy, 86(2), Article 106074, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nanoen.2021.106074  

  • Q. Zhang, K. Barri, P. Jiao, H. Salehi, A.H. Alavi, “Genetic programming in civil engineering: advent, applications and future trends”, Artificial Intelligence Review, 54(3), 1863-1885, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10462-020-09894-7 

  • K. Barri, Q. Zhang, D. Mehta, S. Chakrabartty, R.E. Debski, A.H. Alavi, “Studying the feasibility of postoperative monitoring of spinal fusion progress using a self-powered Fowler-Nordheim sensor-data-logger”, IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering, 69(2), 710-717 2021. https://doi.org/10.1109/TBME.2021.3103776 

  • Q. Zhang, J.M. Vandenbossche, A.H. Alavi, “An evolutionary computational method to formulate the response of unbonded concrete overlays to temperature loading”, Engineering Computations, 39(2), 523-540, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1108/EC-11-2020-0641  

  • J.W. DeSantis, N. Buettner, J.M. Vandenbossche, Q. Zhang, “Improved artificial neural networks for predicting the response of unbonded concrete overlays in a faulting prediction model”, International Journal of Pavement Engineering, In press, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1080/10298436.2021.1931195  

  • A. M. Nazar, P. Jiao, Q. Zhang, A.H. Alavi, “A new structural health monitoring approach based on smartphone measurements of magnetic field intensity”, IEEE Instrumentation & Measurement Magazine, 24(4): 49 - 58, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1109/MIM.2021.9448251  

  • H. Fathi, S. R.H. Vaez, Q. Zhang, A.H. Alavi “A new approach for crack detection in plate structures using an integrated extended finite element and vibrating particles system optimization methods”, Structures, 29: 638-651, 2020. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.istruc.2020.11.017 

  • Q. Zhang, K. Barri, S. K. Babanajad, A. H. Alavi, “Real-time detection of cracks on concrete bridge decks using deep learning in frequency domain”, Engineering, 7(12), 2020. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eng.2020.07.026 

  • H. Yarmohamadi, Q. Zhang, P. Jiao, A.H. Alavi, “An enhanced adaptive global-best harmony search   algorithm for continuous optimization problems”, Engineering Reports, 2(11), Article e12264, 2020. https://doi.org/10.1002/eng2.12264 

Conference Publications

  • Q. Zhang, K. Barri, Z.L. Wang, A.H. Alavi, “Digital information storage mechanical metamaterials," In Proceedings of the International Conference Smart Materials, Adaptive Structures and Intelligent Systems (ASME SMASIS 2022), Dearborn, MI, 2022. 

  • Q. Zhang, K. Barri, A.H. Alavi, “Harnessing the power of natural evolution for discovering metastructures with new operation modalities”, In Proceedings of the American Professional Society of Photographic Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE), Smart Structures + Nondestructive Evaluation, Active and Passive Smart Structures and Integrated Systems XVI, Paper No. 1204314, 2022. 

  • K. Barri, J. Kline, Q. Zhang, L. Khazanovich, A.H. Alavi, “Super compressible multifunctional metamaterial concrete”, In Proceedings of the American Professional Society of Photographic Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE), Smart Structures + Nondestructive Evaluation, Active and Passive Smart Structures and Integrated Systems XVI, Paper No. 1204313, 2022. 

  • Q. Zhang, K. Barri, Z.L. Wang, A.H. Alavi, “Multifunctional composite rebars for distributed structural health monitoring of concrete structures”, In Proceedings of 13th International Workshop on Structural Health Monitoring (IWSHM), Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 2022, Pages 253-259. 

  • K. Barri, Q. Zhang, Z.L. Wang, A.H. Alavi, “Self-sensing and self-powering multifunctional structures”, In Proceedings of 13th International Workshop on Structural Health Monitoring (IWSHM), Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 2022, Pages 283-290. 

  • K. Barri, Q. Zhang, P. Jiao, Z. L. Wang, A. H. Alavi, “Multifunctional metamaterial sensor and nanogenerator”, In Proceedings of the American Professional Society of Photographic Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE), Smart Structures + Nondestructive Evaluation, Behavior and Mechanics of Multifunctional Materials, Paper No. 11589-6, 2021. 

  • Q. Zhang , A.H. Alavi, “Automated two-stage approach for detection and quantification of surface defects in concrete bridge decks”, In Proceedings of the American Professional Society of Photographic Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE), Smart Structures + Nondestructive Evaluation, Nondestructive Characterization and Monitoring of Advanced Materials, Aerospace, Civil Infrastructure, and Transportation, Paper No. 11592-17, 2021. 

  • N. Buettner, Q. Zhang, J.M. Vandenbossche, “Investigating the effects of superloads on fatigue performance in jointed plain concrete pavements”, 12th International Conference on Concrete Pavements, Minneapolis, September 2021.

  • Q. Zhang, K. Barri, Z. Wan, “A deep learning-based autonomous system for detection and quantification of delamination on concrete bridge decks”, International Bridge Conference, June 2021.

  • K. Barri, Q. Zhang, D.M. Mehta, S. Chakrabartty, R. E. Debski, A.H. Alavi, “An implantable, battery-free sensing system for monitoring of spinal fusion”, Health Monitoring of Structural and Biological Systems XV, Long Beach, CA, March 2021. 

  • Q. Zhang, A.H. Alavi, “Automated two-stage approach for detection and quantification of surface defects in concrete bridge decks”, Nondestructive Characterization and Monitoring of Advanced Materials, Aerospace, Civil Infrastructure, and Transportation XV, Long Beach, CA, March 2021.

  • K. Barri, Q. Zhang, P. Jiao, Z.L. Wang, A.H. Alavi, “Multifunctional metamaterial sensor and nanogenerator”, Behavior and Mechanics of Multifunctional Materials XV, Long Beach, CA, March 2021.

  • Q. Zhang, L. Ruzzi, T. Macioce, F. Moon, A.H. Alavi, “Automated detection and quantification of cracks and spalls in concrete structures using deep learning”, 100th Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting (100th TRB), Washington, D.C., January 2021.
     

Book Chapters

  • Q. Zhang, K. Barri, Z. Wan, J. Luo, W. Lu, A. H. Alavi, “ Triboelectric nanogenerators for civil infrastructure systems,” in Handbook of Triboelectric Nanogenerators, Springer Nature, 2023.

  • A. Alavi, Q. Zhang, K. Barri, “ Advanced Multifunctional Structures for Future Smart Cities,” in The Rise of Smart Cities, Elsevier, 2022.

Patents

  • Q. Zhang, R. Premadasa, “EcoCFTrack: Advanced Diagnostic, Monitoring, and Tracking Device for Affordable Cystic Fibrosis Care,” U.S. Provisional Patent, April 2024.

  • Q. Zhang, R. Premadasa, “Thermo-Mechano-Electrical Metamaterial Modular Computation System,” U.S. Provisional Patent, November 2024.

  • Q. Zhang, A.H. Alavi, K. Barri, J. Kline, L. Khazanovich, “Super-compressive metamaterial concrete and methods for making same,” U.S. Provisional Patent, June 7, 2021.

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