People
Affiliated Faculty
Katherine Yanhang Zhang Ph.D.
Claire Boothe Luce Assistant Professor, Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering
Claire Booth Luce Assistant Professor, Biomedical Engineering
Primary appointment, ME
Multi-Scale Tissue Biomechanics Lab
M.S. and Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering, University of Colorado at Boulder
B.Eng. and B.Eco, Engineering Mechanics, Tsinghua University, China
CV: Link to Curriculum Vitae (pdf)
phone: (617) 358-4406
fax: (617) 353-5866
email: yanhang@bu.edu
website: people.bu.edu/yanhang/
office hours: by appointment
Research Interests
- Mechanical behavior of soft biological tissue
- Cardiovascular mechanics
- Multi-scale modeling of biological composites
- Micro- and nano- mechanics of thin film devices
Professor Zhang's research focuses on understanding the mechanical behavior of soft biological tissues and composites at multi-scale using both experimental techniques and advanced computational modeling. Her research integrates the knowledge in biology, nonlinear solid mechanics, and finite element modeling, especially of complex materials and constitutive behavior. Professor Zhang believes that the interplay between fundamental analysis and clinical application will provide the greatest gains. Through her research, she hopes to provide insights on understanding the relationship between microscopic biological processes and changes in macroscopic tissue mechanics due to diseases, and help the development of diagnostic, therapeutic, and pharmaceutical techniques. Her research interest also lies in the mechanical characterization and multi-scale modeling of micro- and nano-electromechanical systems.
Current Research
Professor Zhang's current research projects are in the characterization of the biomechanical behavior of microstructural components in native and engineered blood vessels using an integrative approach of mechanical testing combined with multi-scale modeling, understanding of the inelastic deformation mechanisms in micro- and nano-electromechanical systems and relations of these behaviors to design, analysis, and device performance.
Selected Recent Publications
Zhang, Y., Dum, M.L., Hunter, S.K., Lee, P.F., Lanning, C., Dunbar, D., et. al. "Application of a microstructural constitutive model of pulmonary artery to patient-specific studies: validation and effect of orthotropy" Journal of Biomechanical Engineering 129: 193-201 (2007)
Hunter, K.S., Lanning, C.J., Zhang, Y., Garg, R., Ivy, D.D., Shandas, R. "Simulations of congenital eefect closure and reactivity tests in patient-specific models of the pediatric pulmonary vasculature: A 3-D numerical study with fluid-structure interaction" J. Biomech. Engr. 128: 564-572 (2006)
Zhang, Y., Dunn, M.L., Drexler, E.S., McCowan, C.N., Slifka, A.J., Ivy, D.D., et. al. "Implementation and application of a microstructural orthotropic hyperelastic model of pulmonary artery mechanics under normotensive and hypertensive conditions" Annals of Biomedical Engineering 33: 1042-1052 (2005)
Zhang, Y., Dunn, M.L., Elam, J.W., George, M. "Surpression of inelastic deformation in multilayer thin film microstructures by the use of nanocoatings" Journal of Appliied Physics 95: 8216-8224 (2004)
Zhang, Y., Dunn, M.L. "Linear and nonlinear deformation of multilayer thin-film microstructures during thermal loading" Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids 52: 2101-2126 (2004)
