Dr. Zhimin Liu is a Research Engineer within the School of Aerospace Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology. His main research interests are structural design, materials, and manufacturing. He has led three Boeing sponsored projects in design and manufacturing of composite technologies. He has 20 years experience in finite element modeling and led development of a preliminary aircraft structural design and analysis tool sponsored by Triumph. He is also experienced in life assessment of gas turbine parts.

  • Doctor of Philosophy, Aerospace Engineering, 2002, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA - USA
  • Master of Science, Aerospace Engineering, 2002, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA - USA

Skin Stringer Defect Modeling (Sponsor: Boeing)

  • Role: Co-Investigator
  • Project overview: Development of a tool to predict defects in manufacturing processes of composite fuselage stringers.

Designing for Manufacturing Process Capability (Sponsor: Boeing)

  • Role: Co-Investigator
  • Project overview: Development and validation of process-based manufacturing modeling to predict the manufacturability and potential defects in a part, and link this capability to the early design process.

Manufacturing Influenced Design (Sponsor: Boeing)

  • Role: Co-Investigator
  • Project overview: Development a methodology and tool set to bring composite manufacturing considerations to early phase of design. The development was first in public domain then transferred into Boeing proprietary.

Preliminary Structural Design and Analysis Tool Development (Sponsor: Triumph)

  • Role: Co-Investigator
  • Project overview: Development a preliminary structural design and analysis tool based on classic structural analysis theories.

Lightning Strike Modeling (Sponsor: Gulfstream)

  • Role: Technical Lead
  • Project overview: To develop lightning strike models to predict risks in early phase of design.

Structural Battery Design Concepts (Sponsor: Boeing)

  • Role: Technical Lead
  • Project overview: Development of multiple structural battery concepts and evaluate their performance.

Life Assessment of Gas Turbine Blades (Sponsor: R&R)

  • Role: Technical Lead
  • Project overview: Development of life assessment models to predict service life variations due to manufacturing tolerance.

Conference Papers

  1. Matthew R. Yates, Steven Russel, Nathaniel R. Berger, Zhimin Liu and Dmitri Mavris, A Framework Enabling a Physics-based Approach to Preliminary Design and Optimization of Metallic and Composite Wing Box Structures, 11–15 & 19–21 January 2021AIAA Scitech 2021 Forum
  2. Charles L. Potter, Steven G. Russell, Vadim Kim, Zhimin Liu and Dimitri N. Mavris, Design Space Exploration of Wingbox Substructures Configuration Using SPANDSET, 22-26 June 2015 16th AIAA/ISSMO Multidisciplinary Analysis and Optimization Conference
  3. Steven G. Russell, Charles Potter, Vadim Kim, Philipp Witte, Zhimin Liu and Dimitri Mavris, Development of an Integrated Structural Analysis Capability for Airframe Preliminary Design, April 8-11, 2013 54th AIAA/ASME/ASCE/AHS/ASC Structures, Structural Dynamics, and Materials Conference
  4. Charles Potter, Steven G. Russell, Vadim Kim, Philipp Witte, Zhimin Liu and Dimitri Mavris, A Preliminary Study of Wing Substructure Layouts Using a Parametric Structures Evaluation Tool, April 8-11, 2013 54th AIAA/ASME/ASCE/AHS/ASC Structures, Structural Dynamics, and Materials Conference
  5. Mario Lee, Johanna Ceisel, Zhimin Liu and Dimitri Mavris, A Parametric, Preliminary Structural Analysis and Optimization Tool with Manufacturing Cost Considerations, 23 April 2012 - 26 April 2012 53rd AIAA/ASME/ASCE/AHS/ASC Structures, Structural Dynamics and Materials Conference
  6. Zhimin Liu, Philipp Witte, Johanna Ceisel, and Dimitri N. Mavris, An Approach to Infuse Manufacturing Considerations into Aircraft Structural Design, SAMPE 2011 – Long Beach CA – May 23-26 / 2011
  7. Zhimin Liu and Dimitri Mavris, A Methodology for Probabilistic Creep-Fatigue Life Assessment of Hot Gas Path Components, 19 April 2004 - 22 April 200445th AIAA/ASME/ASCE/AHS/ASC Structures, Structural Dynamics & Materials Conference
  8. Zhimin Liu, Vitali Volovoi and Dimitri Mavris, Probabilistic Remaining Creep Life Assessment for Gas Turbine Components under Varying Operating Conditions, 22 April 2002 - 25 April 200243rd AIAA/ASME/ASCE/AHS/ASC Structures, Structural Dynamics, and Materials Conference

  • Member, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA)