ZHIHENG WANG
Assistant Professor, Dept. of Civil, Environmental, and Construction Engineering
Texas Tech University
 | EDUCATIONPh.D. in Civil Engineering, 2017 – 2022 University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, U.S. M.S. in Civil Engineering and Engineering Mechanics, 2014 – 2016 Columbia University, New York, NY, U.S. Selected Courses: B.E. in Wood Structural Engineering (First-class Honors), 2010 – 2014 Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, China. Visiting Undergraduate Student in Wood Science, 2013 – 2014 University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada. | CONTACT INFORMATIONEmail: zhiheng.wang@ttu.edu |
PROFESSIONAL APPOINTMENTS
Assistant Professor, Department of Civil, Environmental, and Construction Engineering, Texas Tech University, 2023 – Present
Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Southern California, 2022 – 2023
Graduate Student Research Assistant, University of Southern California, 2017 – 2022
Research Intern, Sandia National Laboratories, Summer 2018
Research Associate, Shanghai Institute of Disaster Prevention & Relief, Tongji University, 2016 – 2017
Undergraduate Student Research Assistant, Nanjing Forestry University, 2011 – 2013
PUBLICATIONS
Refereed Journal Papers: (*corresponding author)
Wang, Z.* and Ghanem, R. (2023). Stochastic modeling and statistical calibration with model error and scarce data. Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering, 416, 116339.
Wang, Z.*, Hawi, P., Masri, S., Aitharaju, V., and Ghanem, R. (2023). Stochastic multiscale modeling for quantifying statistical and model errors with application to composite materials. Reliability Engineering and System Safety, 235, 109213.
Wang, Z.*, and Ghanem, R. (2023). Stochastic framework for optimal control of planetary reentry trajectories under multilevel uncertainties. AIAA Journal, 1-12.
Yu, T., and Wang, Z.* (2023). Model updating of nonproportionally damped structural systems using an adapted complex sum-of-squares optimization algorithm. Journal of Engineering Mechanics, 149(8), 04023043.
Wang, Z.*, and Ghanem, R. (2022). A functional global sensitivity measure and efficient reliability sensitivity analysis with respect to statistical parameters. Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering, 402, 115175.
Wang, Z.*, and Ghanem, R. (2021). An extended polynomial chaos expansion for PDF characterization and variation with aleatory and epistemic uncertainties. Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering, 382, 113854.
Wang, Z.*, Xie, W., Lu, Y., Li, H., Wang, Z., and Li, Z. (2019). Dynamic and static testing methods for shear modulus of oriented strand board. Construction and Building Materials, 216, 542-551.
Peng, Y., Wang, Z., and Ai, X.* (2018). Wind-induced fragility assessment of urban trees with structural uncertainties. Wind and structures, 26(1), 45-56.
Wang, Z.*, Xie, W., Wang, Z., and Cao, Y. (2018). Strain method for synchronous dynamic measurement of elastic, shear modulus and Poisson’s ratio of wood and wood composites. Construction and Building Materials, 182, 608-619.
Wang, Z., Wang, Y., Cao, Y., and Wang, Z.* (2016). Measurement of shear modulus of materials based on the torsional mode of cantilever plate. Construction and Building Materials, 124, 1059-1071.
Wang, Z., Gao, Z., Wang, Y., Cao, Y., Wang, G., Liu, B., and Wang, Z.* (2015). A new dynamic testing method for elastic, shear modulus and Poisson’s ratio of concrete. Construction and Building Materials, 100, 129-135.
Wang, Z., Wang, Z.*, Wang, B. J., Wang, Y., Liu, B., Rao, X., Wei, P., and Yang, Y. (2014). Dynamic testing and evaluation of modulus of elasticity (MOE) of SPF dimensional lumber. BioResources, 9(3), 3869-3882.
Journal Papers in Review:
Yu, T., and Wang, Z.*, A framework for quantifying uncertainties in seismic hazard analyses. Natural Hazards.
Yu, T., and Wang, Z.*, An iterative augmented unscented kalman filter for simultaneous state-parameter-input estimation for systems with/without direct feedthrough. Mechanical Systems and Signal Processing.
Journal Manuscripts in Preparation:
Wang, Z.*, and Ghanem, R., Polynomial chaos-neural networks: uncertainty quantification meets machine learning.
Wang, Z.* and Yu, T., Stochastic model updating for parameter variability quantification using polynomial-chaos based methodologies and a global optimization algorithm.
Refereed Conference Papers:
Wang, Z.*, and Ghanem, R. (2022). A polynomial chaos formalism for sensitivity and reliability analysis. Engineering Mechanics Institute Conference (EMI) 2022.
Wang, Z.*, and Ghanem, R. (2019). Stochastic sensitivities across scales and physics. Engineering Mechanics Institute Conference (EMI) 2019.
PATENTS
Patent Number: ZL201320079728.9 (China): Wang, Z., Yang, X., Rao, X., Yang, J., Lin, X., and Bi, D., Device for testing elastic modulus of lumbers by frequency method, 2013.
Patent Number: ZL201320083126.0 (China): Wang, Z., Yang, X., Rao, X., Zhuang, Z., Yang, J., Cao, Y., Bi, D., and Lin, X., Device for testing dynamic stiffness of band saw blade systems by acoustic methods, 2013.
HONORS AND AWARDS
First-place Best Student Paper Award in Probabilistic Methods, ASCE Engineering Mechanics Institute, 2022
Graduate School PhD Fellowship, University of Southern California, 2017 – 2018
China National Top Ten Graduates in Forestry (selected from all forestry graduates in China), State Forestry Administration of China, 2014
Winner, China National Student Competition of Timber Structural Design (group award), Chinese Academy of Forestry, 2014
Distinguished Student for Scientific and Technical Innovation, Nanjing Forestry University, 2013
China National Scholarship, Ministry of Education of China, 2012
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Texas Tech University, Dept. of Civil, Environmental, & Construction Engineering
Lecturer
- CE-3340: Structural Analysis (undergraduate course), Fall 2023
University of Southern California, Sonny Astani Dept. of Civil & Environmental Engineering
Occasional lecturer
Taught lectures in absence of PhD advisor.
- CE-108: Introduction to Computer Methods in Civil Engineering (undergraduate course), Spring 2023
- CE-599: Data Analytics in Civil Engineering (graduate course), Spring 2023
PRESENTATIONS
Invited Talks:
Uncertainty Quantification and Management in Computational Science and Engineering, Department of Civil, Environmental, and Construction Engineering, Texas Tech University, March 2023
Model validation and analytical certification of composite material systems, 2nd Annual Materials Innovation & Advanced Technology Leadership Forum, Huntington Beach, CA, January 2023.
A framework for quantification of uncertainties and modeling errors in complex systems and its applications, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Houston, February 2022
Stochastic optimal control of hypersonic trajectories, Sandia National Laboratories, November 2021.
Overview of polynomial chaos expansions, Machine learning and Uncertainty Quantification Seminar, University of Southern California, October 2021.
Conference Presentations:
Bayesian Model Calibration Under Statistical and Model Errors Based on Polynomial Chaos Methodologies, Engineering Mechanics Institute Conference, Atlanta, GA, June 2023
A polynomial chaos formalism for sensitivity and reliability analysis, Engineering Mechanics Institute Conference, Baltimore, MD, June 2022
Hierarchical modeling for uncertainty quantification, 16th U.S. National Congress on Computational Mechanics, Chicago, IL, July 2021 (virtual conference)
Stochastic sensitivities across scales and physics, Engineering Mechanics Institute Conference, Pasadena, CA, June 2019
Towards stochastic modeling of tsunamis, Engineering Mechanics Institute International Conference, Shanghai, China, November 2018
PROFESSIONAL SERVICE AND ACTIVITIES
Professional Memberships:
- Member, Probabilistic Methods Committee, ASCE Engineering Mechanics Institute, 2023 – present
- Faculty, Wind Hazard and Infrastructure Performance Center (WHIP-C), NSF-IUCRC, 2023 – present
- Member, Frameworks, Algorithms and Scalable Technologies for Mathematics (FASTMath) SciDAC-5 Institute, Office of Science, U.S. Department of Energy, 2019 – present
- ASCE Engineering Mechanics Institute (EMI)
- United States Association for Computational Mechanics (USACM)
- Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIAM)
- American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA)
Journal Reviewer:
- Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering
- Mechanical System and Signal Processing
- International Journal for Uncertainty Quantification
- International Journal of Structural Stability and Dynamics
- Journal of Renewable Materials
Other Appointments:
- China National Second-level Go Athlete.
- Founder and first president of Nanjing Forestry University Go Association.
- No. 1 men’s player on the University of Southern California badminton team, 2017 – 2022.
- No. 1 men’s player on the Columbia University badminton team, 2014 – 2016.
- No. 1 men’s player on the Nanjing Forestry University Go team, 2010 – 2013.
SKILLS
Programming: Python, C++, MATLAB
Software: UQTk, Abaqus, ANSYS, Trilinos, SAP2000, ETABS, LATEX, AutoCAD
Language Proficiency: Native Chinese, Professional English