Tongfei Tian

Biography

Dr Tian received his B. Eng. degree from Beihang University (former name: Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics) in 2005. Then he obtained the M. Sc, M. Res, and PhD from the University of Wollongong (UOW) in 2009, 2010 and 2014, respectively.

He was with the School of Mechanical, Materials and Mechatronic Engineering of UOW as a research fellow from January 2015 to September 2015. Since October 2015, he was with the Institute of Fluid Science, Tohoku University as an Assistant Professor until December 2017. From 2018, he has been with the School of Science and Engineering of the University of the Sunshine Coast as a lecturer.

His research is on functional smart materials and their applications, including high performance magnetorheological elastomers (MRE) and shear thickening fluids (STFs). In UOW, he investigated the sensing possibility of MREs, the MREs with enhanced stiffness changing properties, shear thickening electrolyte, MR electrolyte, and their applications. In Tohoku University, he mainly researched on the effect of particle alignment in MREs.

Professional memberships

Member of the Japan Fluid Power System Society.

Awards

• ‘Best Oral Presentation Award’, Fabrication and characterization of magnetorheological shear thickening fluids, 2nd International Conference on Advanced Smart Materials and Structures (ASMaS2023), Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, 28-30 June, 2023.
• ‘Best Post Award’, Fabrication and Dynamic Viscoelastic Properties of MR Elastomers with Various Concentrations of Silicone Oil, 18th International Symposium on Applied Electromagnetics and Mechanics (ISEM2017), Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, France, 3-6 September, 2017
• Granted ‘the 2014 National Award for Outstanding Self-Financed Chinese Students for Study Abroad’, China Scholarship Council, 2014
• Awarded as People’s Choice winner in Three Minute Thesis Competition, University of Wollongong, Australia, 2014
• Awarded as winner in Three Minute Thesis Competition, Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences, University of Wollongong, Australia, 2014
• Awarded as winner in Three Minute Thesis Competition, School of Mechanical, Materials and Mechatronic Engineering , Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences, University of Wollongong, Australia, 2014
• ‘Most cited articles published in 2013’, Smart Materials and Structures, by Li Y, Li J, Tian T and Li W, 2013, 22: 095020.
• Awarded with Defence Science and Technology Organization (DSTO) top up Scholarship, 2012-2014
• Awarded with the University Postgraduate Award (UPA) for the living allowance to PhD students, University of Wollongong, Australia, 2010
• Awarded with the International Postgraduate Tuition Award (IPTA) for covering tuition fee to PhD students, University of Wollongong, Australia, 2010
• Got Examiners’ Commendation for Outstanding Thesis when graduated as Master of Engineering (research), University of Wollongong, Australia, 2010
• Graduate with Distinction when graduated as Master of Engineering Practice, University of Wollongong, Australia, 2009

Potential research projects for HDR and Honours students

• Enhancement of the stability and performance of shear thickening fluids;
• Development of Magnetorheological electrolyte;
• Development of Magnetorheological elastomer with various Ferro particles;
• Applications with magnetorheological materials and/or shear thickening fluids, such as shock absorber, brake, and etc

Research grants

1. Exploring Magnetorheological Elastomers: Understanding Their Behaviour and Applications, UniSC UGR Fellowship Project, Tian, T.F. AU$1000, 2024.
2. Start-up Funding for New Academics, University of the Sunshine Coast, Tian, T.F., AU$5000, 2018.
3. Innovative application of dry MR fluid in transmission and braking system, Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B), Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Nakano, M. and Tian, T.F. JPY17,420,000 (AU$222,500), 2016-2018.
4. Development of a novel noise reduction system, UOW Research Partnerships Grant, Li, W.H. and Tian, T.F. AU$9500, 2014
5. Development of a novel railway noise reduction system working with MR technology, Enterprise Connect Researchers in Business Funding (An Australian Government Initiative), Li, W.H. and Tian, T.F. AU$64,228, 2013-14

Teaching areas

• Engineering Dynamics
• System Dynamics and Control
• Computational Analysis

Expert media commentary

Dr Tongfei Tian is a Lecturer at UniSC. His research is on functional smart materials and their applications, including high-performance magnetorheological elastomers (MRE) and shear thickening fluids (STFs).