Hao Zhang, PhD

Area of Study / Keywords

Engineering Department Executive Mathematical and Molecular Modeling Corrosion and Wear Materials Characterization and Processing Surface Science and Engineering Thermodynamics Metallurgy

About

Before joining the University of Alberta in September 2007, Dr. Zhang was a postdoctoral research associate at Princeton University. He received B.E. and M.S. degrees in Materials Science and Engineering from Tsinghua University and PhD degree in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering from Princeton University.

Research

Our general area of research is computational and theoretical materials science with focus on understanding the static and dynamic properties of defects and relating the defects properties to thermodynamic, kinetic, chemical, and mechanical properties of materials. In particular, we have been focusing on identifying the string-like cooperative motion in different strongly interacting particle systems, revealing the fundamental atomistic mechanisms for elastic and plastic deformation in metallic glasses, developing crack growth rate model in pipeline steel due to the effect of hydrogen embrittlement, investigating mechanical response in nanostructured materials, and designing high capacity hydrotalcite for CO2 capture. 

Keywords: Modelling, Molecular dynamics, Grain boundaries, Nanoparticles, Metallic glasses

CME 900 - Directed Research

An engineering project for students registered in a Master of Engineering program

MAT E 640 - Advanced Materials Thermodynamics

Advanced topics in core fundamentals of materials thermodynamics. Thermodynamic laws, statistical thermodynamics, reaction equilibria, phase diagrams, solutions, changing standard states, electrochemistry, and thermodynamics of surfaces. Prerequisite: MAT E 204 or 301, or consent of Instructor.

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