Ph.D. in Engineering Mechanics, Tsinghua University, China (1/2015)

B.S. in Material Science and Engineering, Shandong University, China (7/2009)

2019.6-present Associate Professor in Engineering Mechanics, Tsinghua University, China

2015.3-2019.5 Postdoctoral Fellow in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, USA

· Associate Editor: International Journal of Plasticity

· Young editorial board member: Tungsten, Journal of Applied Mechanics (In Chinese), Applied Mechanics and Mathematics (In Chinese)

· Guest editor for special issue: International Journal of Plasticity, Crystals, Frontiers in Materials

· Journal reviewer: Science, Nat. Commun., Int. J. Plast., Phys. Rev. Lett., Acta Mater., J Mech Phys Solids, etc.

· Proposal reviewer: ACS PRF, Research Grants Council (RGC) of Hong Kong

· Membership: IACM, MRS

· Deputy director: Council of Industry-University-Research of Chinese Society of Mechanics

· Board of Director: International Society of Materials Modeling

Theoretical and Computational Mechanics in Severe Environments

Mechanics and Physics of Material Defects

AI-Enabled Multiscale Mechanics, New Material and Structures Design and Manufacturing

Designing materials which are more resilient to severe environments (eg. irradiation, low/high temperature, high strain rate) is central to future energy and power technologies. To explore the intrinsic limit of materials performance, Yinan’s group focuses on building the state-of-art multiscale and multiphysics computational material simulation method, disclosing the microscopic physical origins of material deformation and failure, developing the related mechanism-based theoretical models, and design new materials and structure based on artificial intelligence and additive manufacturing.

· Excellence in Mentorship Award for Doctoral Social Practice, Tsinghua University, 2024

· Distinguished SRT Faculty Award, Tsinghua University, 2024

· Wang Ren Youth Science and Technology Award, 2023

· Excellent Young Scientists Fund of China, 2022

· Multiscale Material Modelling (MMM) Young Investigator Award, 2022

· Emerging Leader of Modelling and Simulation in Materials Science and Engineering, MSMSE journal, 2021

· Excellent Teaching Award, Tsinghua University 2021

· Youth Science and Technology Award of China Digital Simulation, 2020

· Higher Education Scientific Research Outstanding Achievement Award, China, 2018

· Springer Outstanding PhD Thesis Award, Springer 2016

· Excellent Doctoral Dissertation, Tsinghua University 2015

Published more than 80 peer-reviewed journal papers, including journals in physics (PRL, PRB), mechanics (e.g., JMPS, IJP), and materials (e.g., Mater. Today, Acta Mater.). Published 2 books in English (one by Springer and one by Elsevier), and 1 book chapter in “Comprehensive Nuclear Materials”, and 1 textbook.

Representative publications include: (* denotes the Corresponding authors)

1. 1. Z Li, Z Zhuang, Z Li, T Wang, Z Liu, YN Cui*, A discrete-continuous model of coupled plasticity and fracture, Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids, 2025, 197, 106044

2. Z Liang, J Wu, C Liu*, YN Cui*, Microcracking in additively manufactured tungsten: experiment and a nano-micro-macro multiscale model, International Journal of Plasticity, 2025, 186, 104264

3. J Wu, B Liu*, YN Cui*, Are sutural structures in biology the optimal topological design? Composite Structures, 2025, 354, 118825

4. Z Liang, C Liu, YN Cui*, A crystal plasticity-based creep model considering the concurrent evolution of point defect, dislocation, grain boundary, and void, Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids,2024, 193, 105836

5. C Ji, Y Li, Z Sun, A Cui, Y Xin, YN Cui*, Multiscale-informed irradiation growth model of Zr-Sn-Nb alloys, International Journal of Plasticity, 2024, 104177

6. F Tan, YN Cui*, Linear dependence of grain boundary energy on structural orderliness in FCC metals, Scripta Materialia, 2024, 252, 116244

7. BS Liu, YN Cui*, Topology optimization of multi-material structures considering anisotropic yield strengths, Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering, 2024, 418, 116520

8. X Guo, J Zhang, T Kong, N Mao, C Sun*, YN Cui*, Z Xiong, Understanding extra strengthening in gradient nanotwinned Cu using crystal plasticity model considering dislocation types and strain gradient effect, International Journal of Plasticity, 2024,172,103822

9. S Yao, J Yu, X Pei, YN Cui*, H Zhang, H Peng, Y Li, Q Wu*, A coupled phase-field and crystal plasticity model for understanding shock-induced phase transition of iron, International Journal of Plasticity, 2024, 173, 103860

10. W Cui, W Liu, YN Cui*, Does the decoration of irradiation defects induce hardening? Acta Mechanica Sinica, 2024, 40, 423031 (Invited paper)

11. AY Cui, XM Wang, YN Cui*, Multiscale modelling of precipitation hardening: a review, Journal of Materials Science: Materials Theory, 2024, 8 (13) (Invited paper)

12. C Ji, J Hu, Z Zhuang, YN Cui*, Atomistically-informed hardening and kinetics models of helium bubble in irradiated tungsten, International Journal of Plasticity, 2023, 165, 103620

13. Z Liang, X Wang*, YN Cui*, W Xu, Y Zhang, Y He, A new data-driven probabilistic fatigue life prediction framework informed by experiments and multiscale simulation, International Journal of Fatigue, 2023, 107731

14. B Liu, X Wang, Z Zhuang, YN Cui*, Dynamic concurrent topology optimization and design for layer-wise graded structures, Composite Structures, 2023, 117190

15. S Luo, YN Cui*, Self-force of high-speed dislocation in anisotropic media based on configurational mechanics, International Journal of Solids and Structures, 2023 281, 112439

16. YN Cui*, T Wang*, SC Luo, ZT Li, ZJ Li, A discrete–continuous model of three-dimensional dislocation elastodynamics, International Journal of Plasticity, 2022, 152, 103211

17. ZJ Li, T Wang, DY Chu, ZL Liu, YN Cui*, A coupled crystal-plasticity and phase-field model for understanding fracture behaviors of single crystal tungsten, International Journal of Plasticity, 2022, 157, 103375

18. CQ Ji, YN Cui*, Y Li, NM Ghoniem, A concurrent irradiation-mechanics multiscale coupling model, Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids, 2022, 167, 105005

19. ZJ Li, T Wang, DY Chu, ZL Liu, YN Cui*, A coupled crystal-plasticity and phase-field model for understanding fracture behaviors of single crystal tungsten, International Journal of Plasticity, 2022, 157, 103375

20. YN Cui*, T Wang*, SC Luo, ZT Li, ZJ Li, A discrete–continuous model of three-dimensional dislocation elastodynamics, International Journal of Plasticity, 2022, 152, 103211

21. BS Liu, XD Huang, YN Cui*, Topology optimization of multi-material structures with explicitly graded interfaces, Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering, 2022, 398, 115166

22. Y Cui*, K Li, C Wang, W Liu, Dislocation evolution during additive manufacturing of tungsten, Modelling and Simulation in Materials Science and Engineering, 2022, 30 (2), 024001 (Invited paper for MSMSE Emerging leader special issue)

23. ZJ Li, ZL Liu, Z Zhuang, YN Cui*, Temperature dependent deformation localization in irradiated tungsten, International Journal of Plasticity, 2021, 1 46, 103077

24. Z Li⁺, Y Cui⁺, W Yan⁺ et al. Enhanced strengthening and hardening via self-stabilized dislocation network in additively manufactured metals, Material Today, 2021, 50, 79-88

25. W Cui, YN Cui*, W Liu*, A statistical model of irradiation hardening induced by non-periodic irradiation defects, Scripta Materialia, 2021, 201, 113959

26. SL Yao, JD Yu, YN Cui*, XY Pei, YY Yu, Q Wu*, Revisiting the power law characteristics of the plastic shock front under shock loading, Physical Review Letters, 2021, 126, 085503

27. P Srivastava, K Jiang, YN Cui*, E Olivera, N Ghoniem, V Gupta, The influence of nano/micro sample size on the strain-rate sensitivity of plastic flow in tungsten, International Journal of Plasticity, 2020, 136, 102854

28. R Fu, SY Tang, JP Lu, YN Cui*, ZX Li, HR Zhang, TQ Xu, Z Chen, CM Liu*, Hot-wire arc additive manufacturing of aluminum alloy with reduced porosity and high deposition rate, Materials & Design, 2021, 199, 109370

29. YN Cui*, G Po et al. Role of slow screw dislocation motion in sudden dislocation avalanche behavior in BCC Tungsten, International Journal of Plasticity, 2020, 124, 117-132

30. YN Cui*, G Po, YP Pellegrini, M Lazar, NM Ghoniem, Computational 3-Dimensional dislocations elastodynamics, Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids, 2019, 126, 20-51

31. YN Cui*, G Po, NM Ghoniem. Size-tuned plastic flow localization in irradiated materials at the submicron scale. Physical Review Letters, 2018, 120, 215501

32. YN Cui*, G Po, NM Ghoniem. Suppressing dislocation channel formation by tuning slip mode and dislocation structure in irradiated materials. Scripta Materialia, 2018, 154, 34-39

33. YN Cui*, G Po, NM Ghoniem. A Coupled Dislocation Dynamics-Continuum Barrier Field Model with Application to Irradiated Materials. International Journal of Plasticity, 2018, 104, 54-67

34. YN Cui*, G Po, NM Ghoniem. Does Irradiation Enhance or Inhibit Strain Bursts at the Submicron Scale. Acta Materialia. 2017, 132, 285–297

35. YN Cui*, G Po, NM Ghoniem. Controlling Strain Bursts and Avalanches at the Nano- to Micrometer Scale. Physical Review Letters. 2016, 117, 155502

36. YN Cui*, G Po, NM Ghoniem. Temperature Insensitivity of the Flow Stress in Body-centered Cubic Micropillar Crystals. Acta Materialia. 2016, 108, 128-137

37. YN Cui, ZL Liu, ZJ Wang, Z Zhuang. Mechanical annealing under low amplitude cyclic loading in micropillars. Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids, 2016, 89, 1-15

38. YN Cui, ZL Liu, Z Zhuang. Theoretical and numerical investigations on confined plasticity in micropillars. Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids, 2015, 76: 127–143

39. YN Cui, ZL Liu, Z Zhuang. Quantitative investigations on dislocation based discrete-continuous model of crystal plasticity at submicron scale. International Journal of Plasticity, 2015, 69, 54-72

40. YN Cui, P Lin, ZL Liu, Z Zhuang. Theoretical and numerical investigations of single arm dislocation source controlled plastic flow in FCC micropillars. International Journal of Plasticity, 2014, 55, 279-292

Book：

1. YN Cui. The Investigation of Plastic Behavior by Discrete Dislocation Dynamics for Single Crystal Pillar at Submicron Scale. Springer Theses, Recognizing Outstanding Ph.D. Research, 2017, Springer Singapore, DOI: 10.1007/978-981-10-3032-1.

2. Z Zhuang, ZL Liu, YN Cui. Dislocation Mechanism Based Crystal Plasticity Theory and Computation at Micron-Submicron-Scale. Elsevier, 2019.

3. NM Ghoniem, YN Cui. Dislocation Dynamics Simulations of Defects in Irradiated Materials, (Book chapter in Comprehensive Nuclear Materials, 2ed version), 2019

4. GT Zheng, YN Cui, Aircraft Structural Design: Analysis based on Fundamental Concepts, Science Press, 2024

Previous Postdoc：

Zhijie Li (2022, Assistant Researcher at Tsinghua University);

ChanWang (2022)（202, Assistant Professor at Beijing University of Technology）

Baoshou Liu (2023, Assistant Researcher at Institute of Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences);

Graduated Phd：

Wei Cui (2022)

We are hiring Postdocs in the field of mechanics, artificial intelligence, and material science and engineering.