Professor Xu Wang

Xu grew up in Nanchang, China. He is a graduate of Tianjin University (BSc Hons and MSc), China, and Monash University (Ph.D.), Australia. Following his Ph.D. in 1995, Xu joined the University of Melbourne as a postdoctoral fellow until 1996. He joined RMIT University in 2005 where he is now a senior academic staff.

Xu has specialist expertise in dynamics, noise and vibration control, and vibration and acoustic energy harvesting. He has generalist disciplinary knowledge in the areas of thermodynamics, thermoelectrical energy conversion, nano-material fabrication and characterization, engine, vehicle, and aircraft design and research. He has broad, interdisciplinary interests across many areas of mechanical/automotive engineering, aerospace engineering, material engineering (Inorganic materials, function materials, nanomaterials), physics (Structural properties of condensed matter), chemistry (analytical, biological, environmental), and chemical/environmental engineering (desalination, water technology, and ocean wave energy conversion). His work has a focus on solving real-world problems in collaboration with active industry engagement. 

He has developed an international reputation for high-quality research. He has received many awards for his research, including five RMIT Foundation International Visiting or Exchange Fellowships, three RMIT Research Leave Awards, and a Finalist for the Professional Engineer of the Year 2021, Victoria. He has published three books (Elsevier), 114 journal articles (45% in the top 10% ranked journals) and 40 peer-reviewed conference papers with 1753+ citations and his H-Index is 24. He has been awarded 1 ARC Discovery and 2 ARC Linkage Project grants (A$1.6 million), 1 DMTC project grant, 1 RSIF grant, and 3 AUTOCRC project grants (A$3.2 million). He has one European patent and one German patent.

Xu is also known for his work in Learning and Teaching and received six RMIT STEM College Learning and Teaching Achievement Awards. He has a particular interest in the innovative use of technology in Education and developed online laboratory practices of “Measure Noise and Vibration Using mobile phone and APPS” and “Taguchi Test for Investigation of the Car Traveling Distance on a Slope”.

Xu was a Delegate Member of the Victorian Government Super Trade Mission to China on behalf of the Australian automotive industry. He was Director of the Society of Automotive Engineers, Australia. He is a Fellow of the Society of Automotive Engineers, Australasia, and a Fellow, Chartered Professional Engineer, Engineering Executive of Engineers Australia. He served on the Noise Control Division Committee of the American Society of Mechanical Engineering. He was previously Board Director of the Society of Automotive Engineers, Australasia.

Xu is also very keen to communicate science to the public and is a skilled media commentator. He can be found promoting science on Twitter, Linkedin, and Facebook.

More information

• ORCID
• Google Scholar
• LinkedIn
• Twitter
• Instagram
• TikTok

Awards

2021

• Finalist for the Professional Engineer of the Year 2021, Victoria

2019

• 2019 RMIT School of Engineering Research Leave Award for a 3-month visit to the Department of Structure of Matter, Thermal Physics and Electronics, University Complutense of Madrid, Spain.

2012

• 2012 RMIT SAMME Research Leave Award for a 3-month visit to the University of California, Berkeley, USA.
• 2012 RMIT Learning and Teaching Achievement Award, for outstanding course experience survey results for AUTO1019 Sustainable Vehicle Design.

2011

• 2011 Visiting Professorship, Zhejiang University, P.R. China, for research excellence in power and energy engineering.
• 2011 RMIT Learning and Teaching Achievement Award, for outstanding course experience survey results for AUTO1030 Automotive Project II.

2010

• 2010 RMIT Learning and Teaching Achievement Award, for outstanding course experience survey results for AUTO1030 Automotive Project II.
• 2010 RMIT Learning and Teaching Achievement Award, for outstanding course experience survey results for AUTO1019 Sustainable Vehicle Design
• 2010 RMIT Learning and Teaching Achievement Award, for outstanding course experience survey results for AUTO1031 Vehicle Noise Vibration Harshness.

2008

• 2008 RMIT SAMME Research Leave Award for a 3-month visit to the University of Cambridge, UK

1997

• 1997 Automotive Engineering Excellence Award - The CMC Scotch Yoke Engine Technology “SYTech”, SAE- Australasia, Australia.

Research

Xu’s research expertise is in the fields of dynamics, noise and vibration control, acoustics, acoustic and vibration energy harvesting, ocean wave energy conversion, and thermoelectric conversion with interdisciplinary applications in future engineering design, new material, and renewable energy, environmental science, water technology, and desalination. He is interested in utilizing plentiful ocean wave energy around the Australian coastline for reverse osmosis desalination to alleviate the forthcoming water scarcity and drought problems adapting to climate change. He is particularly keen to convert ocean wave energy into electricity to reduce greenhouse emissions for environmental sustainability. 

Research keywords

Dynamics, Acoustics, Vibration, Noise and vibration control, Sound and vibration energy harvesting, Thermoelectric energy conversion, Wave energy conversion, Mechatronics, Mechanical design, Vehicle design, Nanomaterials, Nanoparticles, Nanocomposites, Nanofabrication, Nano characterization, Function materials

Xu worked as a Noise and Vibration Specialist Engineer in General Motor Holden Australia Ltd from 1996 to 2000. He then worked as a Senior Mechatronics Engineer in the Division of Building, Construction and Engineering, Commonwealth Science and Industry Research Organisation, Australia from 2000 to 2001. He worked as Noise Vibration Harshness Engineer in Continental AG, Germany from 2001 to 2004 and worked as Senior Program Manager in Plexicor Australian Ltd from 2004 to 2005 before he joined RMIT University in 2005.

Professor Wang has worked with a wide variety of industry partners including the Delta-V Expert for the 2021 Road Safety Innovation Fund RSIF2-64 project. He worked with Futuris and SMR Technologies Ltd for product development in his AUTO CRC projects.

Grants

Xu has been successful in winning highly competitive research grants worth over $4.8 million as well as significant in-kind support from the industry.

• 2021 Road Safety Innovation Fund RSIF2-64: Heavy vehicle wheel end-fire and mechanical failure prevention device ($346,830) 
• 2017 ARC LP170100932：Self-powered Active Noise Control via a Nano-fibre Acoustoelectric Converter ($810,000)
• 2016 ARC LP160100132：Comfort and Ergonomics: Innovative Seating Solution for Commercial Vehicle ($625,000)
• 2017 ARC DP170101039：A novel direct-drive linear tube generator for ocean wave energy conversion ($249,000)
• 2016 DMTC 6.052 Project grant:  Develop future power management solutions –Mechanical Power Scavenging ($271,708)
• CRC Next Generation Conventional Power fold ($1,059,190), 2006 – 2009, AUTO CRC.
• CRC Carpet Acoustics ($308,517 for 3 years), 2006-2008, AUTO CRC.
• CRC Alternative Seat Adjuster Mechanism, ($1,065,000), 2006– 2009, AUTO CRC.
• 2014 SAMME International Visiting Fellowship ($5000)
• 2013 RMIT Foundation International Visiting Fellowship ($7000)
• 2012 RMIT Foundation International Visiting Fellowship ($4000)
• 2012 RMIT Foundation International Exchange Fellowship ($3000)
• 2011 RMIT Foundation International Exchange Fellowship ($6000).
• RMIT Emerging Researcher Grant Scheme 2007 ($18,000), RMIT University, Australia.
• Monash Graduate Scholarship ($15k per year for three years), 1991 – 1993, Monash University, Australia.
• Overseas Postgraduate Research Scholarship (Tuition Fee), 1991 – 1993, the Australian government
• Occupational Traineeship ($12k per year for one year), Department of Education, Employment and Trainee, the Australian government, 1990 – 1991.

Public and media engagements

Xu has featured widely in radio and media where he is skilled at providing informed, evidence-based context, and explaining complex science to a mainstream audience. Examples of his work can be seen at:

1. UK - https://eandt.theiet.org/content/articles/2021/08/prototype-tech-extracts-twice-the-power-from-ocean-waves/
2. Netherlands - https://www.offshore-energy.biz/chinese-australian-researchers-extract-twice-the-power-from-ocean-waves-with-new-prototype/
3. Spain - https://elperiodicodelaenergia.com/la-eficiencia-de-la-energia-de-las-olas-mejora-con-la-doble-turbina-desarrollada-por-investigadores-chinos-y-australianos/
4. Spain - https://www.que.es/2021/08/17/nuevo-prototipo-turbina-dual-energia-olas/
5. Spain - https://www.europapress.es/ciencia/laboratorio/noticia-nueva-turbina-extrae-doble-energia-olas-20210817175218.html
6. Spain - https://www.la-razon.com/la-revista/2021/08/17/146-artistas-se-registraron-en-servicio-medico-thelonious-med-en-una-semana/
7. US - https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210817102723.htm
8. US - https://interestingengineering.com/prototype-doubles-ocean-wave-energy
9. US - https://newatlas.com/energy/counter-spinning-twin-turbine-generator-ocean-waves/
10. US - https://wonderfulengineering.com/this-new-technology-can-extract-twice-the-energy-from-ocean-waves/
11. US - https://www.offgridenergyindependence.com/articles/24570/technology-that-can-double-the-power-harvested-from-ocean-waves
12. US - https://www.ethicaleditor.com/tech/new-clean-energy-tech-extracts-twice-the-power-from-ocean-waves/
13. US - https://techxplore.com/news/2021-08-energy-tech-power-ocean.html
14. US - https://www.notimerica.com/ciencia-tecnologia/noticia-nueva-turbina-extrae-doble-energia-olas-20210817175244.html
15. Australia -  https://cosmosmagazine.com/technology/energy/device-doubles-waves-energy-output/
16. Australia -  https://esdnews.com.au/new-wave-energy-prototype-doubles-the-power/
17. Australia -  https://www.ecdonline.com.au/content/efficiency-renewables/article/making-ocean-waves-a-viable-source-of-power-881342753
18. Australia -  https://reneweconomy.com.au/australian-dual-turbine-wave-power-breakthrough-promises-to-double-efficiency/
19. Australia -  https://www.ecogeneration.com.au/buoys-plot-to-overthrow-power-regime/
20. China - https://m.toutiao.com/i6997752215762960935
21. Vietnam -  https://vnexpress.net/thiet-ke-turbine-kep-nguoc-chieu-thu-gap-doi-nang-luong-song-4342829.html