Faculty Directory

Cheng, Lin

Cheng, Lin

Assistant Professor
Mechanical Engineering
2108 Glenn L. Martin Hall, College Park, MD 20742

Dr. Lin Cheng joined University of Maryland, College Park (UMCP) as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering in 2024. Prior to this appointment, Dr. Cheng was an assistant professor in the Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering at Wocester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) for three years.  Dr. Cheng received his PhD degree in mechanical engineering from University of Pittsburgh and worked as a postdoctoral researcher at Northwestern University from 2019 to 2021.  

EDUCATION

  • Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, 2019
  • M.S., Mechanical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 2014
  • B.S., Mechanical Engineering, Xi'an Jiao Tong University, 2011

HONORS AND AWARDS

  • James Nichols Heald Award in Mechanical and Materials Engineering at WPI, 2023
  • Fellow Competition Winer in virtual workshop, USACM, 2021
  • Best Research Assistant Award in Mechanical Engineering, UPitt, 2018
  • 1st Place in Poster Competition at RAPID + TCT conference, 2017
  • Graduate Travel Award at International Solid Freeform Fabrication Symposium, 2016, 2017

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

  • Organizer/Chair of Conference: SES 2022, WCCM 2024
  • Journal Reviewer (Selected): Nature, Additive Manufacturing, Rapid Prototyping Journal, Computer-Aided Design, International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering, Journal of Manufcturing Science and Engineering, Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, Computational Mechanics, Computer & Structures, ASME Journal of Mechanical Design, Structural and Multidisciplinary Optimization, Journal of Manufacturing Processes, Scientific Report, Additive Manufacturing Letters

  • Scientific Artificial Intelligence
  • Additive Manufacturing
  • Data-driven Modeling and Design
  • Generative AI for smart structure and materials design
  • Multsicale and Multiphysics Modeling
  • Computational Mechanics
  • Multifunctional/Robotic Materials Development
  • In-situ Manufacturing Process Monitoring
  • Materials in Extreme Environment

  1. L.C. Fang, L. Cheng, J. Glerum, J. Bennett, D. Dunand, J. Cao, G. Wagner, “Data-driven analysis of thermal analysis, microstructure and mechanical properties of IN718 thin wall deposited by additive manufacturing,” npj Computational Materials 8.1 (2022): 126.
  2. L. Cheng, and G. J. Wagner, “A representative volume element network (RVE-net) for accelerating representative volume element analysis, microscale material identification, and defect characterization.” Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering 390 (2022): 114507.
  3. L. Cheng, and G. J. Wagner. “An optimally coupled multi-time stepping method for transient heat conduction simulation for additive manufacturing.” Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering 381 (2021): 113825.
  4. L. Zhang#, L. Cheng#, H. Li, J. Gao, C. Yu, R. Domel, Y. Yang, S. Tang and W. K. Liu, “Hierarchical deep-learning neural networks: finite elements and beyond,” Computational Mechanics, 1-24, 2020. (# as Co-first author)
  5. S, Saha#, Z. T. Gan#, L. Cheng#, J. Y. Gao, O. L. Kafkab, X. Y. Xie, H. Y. Li, M. Tajdarb, H. A. Kim, and W. K. Liu, “Hierarchical Deep Learning Neural Network (HiDeNN): An Artificial Intelligence (AI) Framework for Computational Science and Engineering,” Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering, vol. 373, 113452, 2021. (# as Co-first author)
  6. H. Deng, L. Cheng, X. Liang, and A. C. To, “Topology optimization for extreme damping design of architecture soft metamaterials,” Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering, vol. 358, 112641, 2020.
  7. X. Liang, L. Cheng, T. Liu, and J. Du, “Nonlinear dynamic analysis of the bridge bearing and genetic algorithm–based optimization for seismic mitigation,” Advances in Structural Engineering, 23(12), 2539-2556, 2020.
  8. L. Cheng, and A. C. To, “Part-scale build orientation optimization for minimizing residual stress and support volume for metal additive manufacturing: theory and experimental validation,” Computer-Aided Design, vol. 113, 1-23, 2019.
  9. L. Cheng, X. Liang, J. Bai, Q. Chen, and A. C. To, “On utilizing topology optimization to design support structure to prevent residual stress induced build failure in laser powder bed metal additive manufacturing,” Additive Manufacturing, vol. 27, 290-304, 2019.
  10. H. Deng, L. Cheng, and A. C. To, “Distortion energy-based topology optimization design of hyperelastic materials,” Structural and Multidisciplinary Optimization, vol. 59, 1895-1913, 2019
  11. L. Cheng, J. Bai, and A. C. To, “Functionally graded lattice structure topology optimization for the design of additive manufactured components with stress constraints,” Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering, vol. 344, 334-359, 2018.
  12. X. Liang, L. Cheng, Q. Chen, Q. Yang, and A. C. To, “A modified method for estimating inherent strains from detailed process simulation for fast residual distortion prediction of single-walled structures fabricated by directed energy deposition,” Additive Manufacturing, vol. 23, 471-486, 2018.
  13. L. Cheng, X. Liang, E. Belski, X. Wang, J. M. Sietins, S. Ludwick, and A. C. To, “Natural frequency optimization of variable-density additive manufactured lattice structure: Theory and experimental validation,” Journal of Manufacturing Science and Engineering, vol. 140, 105002, 2018.  
  14. L. Cheng, J. Liu, and A. C. To, “Concurrent lattice infill with feature evolution optimization for additive manufactured heat conduction design,” Structural and Multidisciplinary Optimization, vol. 58, 511-535, 2018.  
  15. J. K. Liu, A. T. Gaynor, S. Chen, Z. Kang, K. Suresh, A. Takezawa, L. Li, J. Kato, J. Tang, C. C. L. Wang, L. Cheng, X. Liang, and A. C. To, “Current and future trends in topology optimization for additive manufacturing,” Structural and Multidisciplinary Optimization, vol. 57, 2457-2483, 2018.
  16. M. Lynch, M. Mordasky, L. Cheng, and A. C. To, “Design, testing, and mechanical behavior of additively manufactured casing with optimized lattice structure,” Additive Manufacturing, vol. 22, 462-471, 2018.
  17. L. Cheng, J. Liu, X. Liang, and A. C. To, “Coupling lattice structure topology optimization with design-dependent feature evolution for additive manufactured heat conduction design,” Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering, vol. 332, 408-439, 2018.
  18. J. Liu, L. Cheng, and A. C. To, “Arbitrary void feature control in level set topology optimization,” Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering, vol. 324, 595-618, 2017. 
  19. L. Cheng, P. Zhang, E. Biyikli, J. Bai, J. Robbins, and A. C. To, “Efficient design optimization of variable-density cellular structures for additive manufacturing: Theory and experimental validation,” Rapid Prototyping Journal, vol. 23, 660-677, 2017.  
  20. X. Liang, W. Dong, S. Hinnebusch, Q. Chen, J. Lemon, L. Cheng, Z. Zhou, D. Hayduke, and A. C. To, “Inherent strain homogenization for fast residual deformation simulation of thin-walled lattice support structures built by laser powder bed fusion additive manufacturing,” Additive Manufacturing, vol. 32, 101091, 2020.
  21. X. Liang, Q. Chen, L. Cheng, D. Hayduke, and A. C. To, “Modified inherent strain method for fast prediction of residual deformation in direct metal laser sintered components,” Computational Mechanics, vol. 64, 1-15, 2019.
  22. Q. Chen, X. Liang, D. Hayduke, J. Liu, L. Cheng, J. Oskin, R. Whitmore, and A. C. To, “An inherent strain based multiscale modeling framework for simulating part-scale residual deformation for direct metal laser sintering,” Additive Manufacturing, vol. 23, 471-486, 2019.
  23. Y. Agarwal, K. Genc, T. Williams, P. Young, T. Pawlak, L. Cheng, S. Pilz, N. Brinkhoff, A. C. To, and P. W. Badding, “Inspection of computed tomography (CT) data and finite element (FE) simulation of additive manufactured (am) components,” Indian Society for Non-Destructive Testing (ISNT), 2019.
  24. Q. Yang, P. Zhang, L. Cheng, M. Zheng, M. Chyu, and A. C. To, “Finite element modeling and validation of thermomechanical behavior of Ti-6Al-4V in laser metal deposition additive manufacturing,” Additive Manufacturing, vol. 12B, 169-177, 2016.
  25. B. Yang, and L. Cheng, “Study of new global optimization algorithm based on the standard PSO,” Journal of Optimization Theory and Applications, vol. 3, 935-944, 2013.
  26. L. Cheng, and B. Yang, “Study of a new Global Optimization Algorithm of PSO based on improved very fast annealing simulation method,” Application Research of Computer, 2013.

$1.9M NSF FuSe2 award - Cheng Gong’s 7th NSF research grant in the past two years

An Interdisciplinary, Multi-institution Team to Advance Next-generation Microelectronics 

‘Flash Heating’ Technology Preserves Food at No Nutritional Cost

An interdisciplinary study among engineers and food scientists revealed a new food preservation technology that could improve quality and nutrition value.

Reflecting on a Successful 2023–24 Academic Year

As we come to the close of another academic year, it is a time to celebrate the achievements of our faculty, staff, students—and especially our graduates!

Groundbreaking Plasma Innovation Shines as Invention of the Year

Maryland Engineers Take Home Top Prize at 2024 Innovate Maryland

ECE Ph.D. Student Wins UMD 3MT Competition

Anirudh Nakra Studying Microplastics using Quantum Methods

JC Zhao Named Dean of University of Connecticut College of Engineering

Ji-Cheng (JC) Zhao, chair of the Clark School’s Department of Materials Science and Engineering, will be the next dean of the University of Connecticut’s College of Engineering.

Seven Current and Former Maryland MSE Students to Attend 73rd Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting

The scholars will travel to Lindau, Germany in late June for a week-long discussion spanning the future of physics.

A Spoilage-Sniffing Sensor and Food Distribution App to Fight Hunger

Professor Cheng Gong Part of UMD Team Receiving $5M Grant for Tech Solutions to Reduce Food Insecurity and Waste

Celebrating the Life of Manfred Wuttig: Long-Time Educator, Mentor and Friend of the Department

The inaugural chair and professor of the department passed away in December 2023, leaving a mark in a community touched by his kindness, wisdom and passion.

Six Clark School Faculty Receive 2024 DURIP Awards

DURIP awards support university research in technical areas of interest to the Department of Defense.

Reflecting on 20 Years of Excellence and Innovation

Materials Science and Engineering celebrated its anniversary on November 7, 2023.

A Facile and Accessible Plasma Hotter Than the Surface of The Sun

Maryland and Princeton professors invented a new ultra-hot plasma capable of melting everything on the planet to synthesize new materials. 

Zhou Named Outstanding Young Scientist 

Zhou Named Outstanding Young Scientist 

Energy Secretary and Maryland Governor visit with MEI2 startups

ARPA-E Summit showcases multiple UMD clean energy technologies

UMD Researchers Help Measure DART’s Success

Findings suggest asteroids can be deflected successfully through kinetic impact.

Al-Obaid, Adomaitis publish renewable energy algorithm in Royal Society of Chemistry journal

The alumna and her former advisor developed a mathematical model that calculates global irradiance falling on photovoltaic modules.

UMD’s SeaDroneSim can generate simulated images and videos to help UAV systems recognize ‘objects of interest’ in the water

The suite’s simulated objects could fill a large dataset gap for the UAV-based computer vision systems used in searching for maritime objects.

Three UMD Faculty Elected to National Academy of Engineering

Three University of Maryland professors are among the 124 engineers newly elected to the 2023 Class of the National Academy of Engineering (NAE).

Abshire part of CogniSense, a DARPA JUMP 2.0 center

This center will pursue intelligent sensing to action: Sensing capabilities and embedded intelligence to enable fast and efficient generation of actions.

Cheng Gong Honored as Chemist of the Year

Maryland Section of American Chemical Society bestows award

“Unusually high performance of low-dimensional memories”

A work led by Prof. Cheng Gong published in Matter.

Maryland Engineers Wachsman, Zhao elected Fellows of the National Academy of Inventors

Eric Wachsman and Ji-Cheng “JC” Zhao have been named to the National Academy of Inventors’ (NAI) Class of 2022 Fellows, joining the ranks of some of the nation’s most prestigious and creative academic inventors.

NAWCAD-UMD Seed Grant Review and Discussion strengthens collaboration commitment

The event emphasized research, advanced education, and outreach collaborations for the region, the state of Maryland and the nation.

Ingenuity Helicopter Team Wins Howard Hughes Award

UMD aerospace engineers contributed significantly to the design of the history-making rotorcraft.

UMD Inventions of the Year Tackle Grand Challenges

At Innovate Maryland, Pines heralds turning 'expertise into action'

Gong Wins UMD Invention of the Year Award

New sensor technology can accurately determine the freshness of meat to help reduce food waste.

JC Zhao Receives Humboldt Research Award

Materials expert will foster collaboration with Karlsruhe Institute of Technology and Max-Planck-Institut für Eisenforschung.

New Research Showcased at TRB

Transportation safety, impact of telecommuting among topics covered by UMD experts.

New Work by Graham, Colleagues Aids Design of Cooler Electronics

Study identifies gaps in current theories on interfacial heat transfer.

2022 BBI Seed Grant Awards to Fuel Innovation in Aging and Development Research

The five interdisciplinary projects funded by the BBI offer cutting-edge approaches to translational neuroscience.

Six UMD Students Win VFS Vertical Flight Foundation Scholarships

Vertical Flight Foundation Scholarships recognize the world’s most talented engineering students interested in vertical flight.

Liangbing Hu Elected to the Class of 2021 MRS Fellows

Hu is the first UMD scholar to receive this honor.

Standing with our Asian-American Community

The Clark School community stands united with our Asian, Asian-American and Pacific Islanders colleagues.

Data-Driven Research, Pandemic Impact Highlighted at TRB

UMD researchers presented new findings, tools, and technologies, including a COVID-19 Impact Dashboard that leverages mobile device data.

MSE Researcher Chengwei Wang Receives MRS Postdoctoral Award

Wang will be honored during an event coordinated with the 2020 Virtual MRS Spring/Fall Meeting later this year.

New, superfast method for ceramic manufacturing could open door to AI-driven materials discovery

UMD engineers have reinvented a 26,000-year-old manufacturing process into an innovative approach to fabricating ceramic materials.

University of Maryland Launches Quantum Technology Center

The new research center will catalyze the development of high-impact quantum technologies.

Study validates face recognition experts, but shows humans perform best with an AI partner

New research combines computer vision research, forensic science, and psychology.

CEE Experts Active at TRB 97th Annual Meeting

Faculty, staff, and students gave more than 50 presentations during the four-day event.

UMD Hosts 3D Maryland Expert Group Meeting

Event Highlights 3D Printing, Additive Manufacturing Technologies at UMD

Undergrads Showcase Innovative Sustainability Design Ideas Developed in New "Energy 101" Course

Student design ideas include a green gym powered by exercise, sustainable floors for sporting arenas, water-powered watch.

Westmoreland Joins Faculty at U.S. Naval Academy

Sophoria Westmoreland (Ph.D. '12, mechanical engineering) will teach a senior design course at the U.S. Naval Academy.

Preventing Costly, Life-Threatening Catheter Infections

Deutsch Foundation-sponsored Clark School research offers multi-pronged attack on major medical problem.

Bacteria Programmed to Re-Create UMD Logo

Feat part of larger body of Clark School research into preventing infections.

Liu Honored by China's Northwestern Polytechnical University

Clark School professor awarded Advisory Professor distinction, institution's highest honorary professorship.

Fair Showcases Undergrads' Summer Research

Students present their accomplishments after 11-week research program.

Clark School's CALCE Connects with China

World-class failure analysis, safety modeling laboratory under development.

ExxonMobil Donates to Engineering Societies

Corporate Partner provides funding to assist student groups affected by University budget cuts.

Reducing Our Lead Footprint

Clark School engineers discover new material to reduce lead in electronics, landfills.