CV

Refereed Journal Papers:

[1] Zhongyuan Liao, Wei, W., Zhang, L., Gao, Y., & Cai, Y. (2025). An augmented reality-enabled digital twin system for reconfigurable soft robots: Visualization, simulation and interaction. Computers in Industry, 168, 104285.
[2] Zhongyuan Liao, Li T., Wang Y., Cai Y.*. “Soft Pneumatic Actuator Optimal Design Based on Isogeometric Analysis”. Manufacturing Letters, 35: 55-63, 2023. Presented at the 51st SME North American Manufacturing Research Conference, New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA, June 12-16, 2023. 
[3] Zhongyuan Liao and Cai Y.*, “AR-enhanced digital twin for human-robot interaction in manufacturing systems”, Energy, Ecology and Environment, 2024.
[4] Li, T., Zhongyuan Liao, Cai Y.*. “Physical Modeling for Digital Twin of Continuous Damping Control Damper”. Journal of Manufacturing Processes. vol.99, pp. 96–104, 2023. Outstanding Paper Award of NAMRC51.
[5] Chen, J., Zhongyuan Liao, Cai Y.*. “Enhancing Size Perception with True-Size Viewing CAD plug-in and Cloud-enabled AR APP”. Computer-Aided Design and Applications, 20(6), 1128-1140, 2023.
[6] Zheng Y., Xiang J., Zhongyuan Liao, Li P., Cai X., Chen Z., and Huang J., “Hierarchical topology optimization with varying microstructural aspect ratios”, Engineering Analysis with Boundary Elements, vol. 156, pp. 34–47, 2023.
[7] Wei W., Zhang L., Zhongyuan Liao and Cai Y.*, "Aerosol Jet Printing of Advanced Capacitive Strain Gauge for Vibration Monitoring of Human Body", The International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology, 2024.
[8] Zhongyuan Liao, Y. Wang, L. Gao, and Z. Wang, “Deep-learning-based isogeometric inverse design for tetra-chiral auxetics”, Composite Structures, vol. 280, p. 114 808, 2022.
[9] Y. Wang, Zhongyuan Liao, S. Shi, Z. Wang, and L. Hien Poh, “Data-Driven Structural Design Optimization for Petal-Shaped Auxetics Using Isogeometric Analysis”, Computer Modeling in Engineering & Sciences, vol. 122, no. 2, pp. 433–458, 2020. 2023 Best Paper Award.
[10] Y. Wang, Zhongyuan Liao, M. Ye, Y. Zhang, W. Li, and Z. Xia, “An efficient isogeometric topology optimization using multilevel mesh, MGCG and local-update strategy”, Advances in Engineering Software, vol. 139, p. 102 733, 2020, ESI Highly Cited Paper.
[11] Y. Zheng, Y. Wang, X. Lu, Zhongyuan Liao, and J. Qu, “Evolutionary topology optimization for mechanical metamaterials with auxetic property”, International Journal of Mechanical Sciences, vol. 179, p. 105 638, Aug. 2020.
[12] Zhongyuan Liao, Y. Wang, and S. Wang, “Graded-density Lattice Structure Optimization Design Based on Topology Optimization (in Chinese)”, Chinese Journal of Mechanical Engineering, vol. 55, no. 8, p. 65, 2019. 2021 Best Paper Award.
[13] Zhongyuan Liao, Y. Zhang, Y. Wang, and W. Li, “A triple acceleration method for topology optimization”, Structural and Multidisciplinary Optimization, vol. 60, no. 2, pp. 727–744, Aug. 2019.
[14] Zhongyuan Liao, Chen J., Cai Y.*. “Reconfigurable Soft Robots based on Modular Design”. Computer-Aided Design and Applications, 20(6), 1141-1153, 2023.

Conference Proceedings:

[1] Zhongyuan Liao, Chen, J., Cai Y.*, “Reconfigurable Soft Robots based on Modular Design”, Proceedings of the 19th annual International CAD Conference, Beijing, China, July 11-13, pp. 324-328, 2022.
[2] Zhongyuan Liao, Wei W., Zhang L., Cai Y.*, "Sensor Fusion-based Parameterized Curve-driven Modeling for Digital Twin of Reconfigurable Soft Robot". Proceedings of The 6th IEEE/IFToMM International Conference on Reconfigurable Mechanisms and Robots, Chicago, USA, June 2024.
[3] Wang Y., Zhongyuan Liao, Zhang Y., A New High-efficiency Isogeometric Topology Optimization. The 13th World Congress of Structural and Multidisciplinary Optimization, May 19-24, 2019, Beijing, China.
[4] Zhongyuan Liao, Cai, Y.*, "An Augmented Reality-Based Digital Twin System for Enhancing Human-Robot Interaction in Manufacturing", Oral presentation. 2023 Annual International Conference for Chinese Scholars in Industrial Engineering, Guangzhou, China, August 10-12, 2023.
[5] Zhongyuan Liao, Wang, Y., "Multiple-accelerated isogeometric topology optimization method", Poster. Proceedings of Chinese Congress of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics, Hangzhou, China, Summer 2019.
[6] Zhongyuan Liao, Wang, Y., "The topology optimization based on triple-accelerated method", Oral presentation. Proceedings of 2018 National Conference on Solid Mechanics, Harbin, China, Winter 2018.
[7] Liao, Z. and Cai, Y.*, 2024, “Computer Vision-based Decision-making Framework for Reconfigurable Soft Robot Manipulation”, 51st International Conference on Computers and Industrial Engineering (CIE), Kensington Campus, UNSW Sydney, Australia, December 9-11.
[8] Liao, Z., Du, Y., Duan, J., Liang, H., & Wang, M. Y. (2025). Quantitative Hardness Assessment with Vision-based Tactile Sensing for Fruit Classification and Grasping. Accepted to the Novel Approaches for Precision Agriculture and Forestry with Autonomous Robots IEEE ICRA Workshop, Atlanta, USA, May 2025.


Thesis:

[1] Zhongyuan Liao. AR-enhanced Digital Twin System for Reconfigurable Soft Robots. PhD Thesis. The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.
[2] Zhongyuan Liao. Research on an Efficient Structure optimization Method based on Isogeometric Analysis. Master Thesis. South China University of Technology.
[3] Zhongyuan Liao. Design of high-performance variable-density lattice connecting rod based on Topology Optimization. Bachelor Thesis. South China University of Technology.

Patents:

[1] Wang Yingjun, Zhongyuan Liao. A triple acceleration topology optimization method. C.N. Patent: CN109840348B, issued in 2023.
[2] Wang Yingjun, Yang Yuhao, Zhongyuan Liao. The automatic construction method and system of editable model with equal geometric topology optimization results. C.N. Patent: CN112926207B, issued in 2022.
[3] Wang Yingjun, Zhongyuan Liao. Software copyright: Isogeometric analysis software based on embedded domain reconstruction model (V1.0); Registration Number: 2021SR0045889, issued.