Dr Mingchao Liu

Dr Mingchao Liu

Department of Mechanical Engineering
Assistant Professor

Contact details

Address
School of Engineering
University of Birmingham
Edgbaston
Birmingham
B15 2TT
UK

Dr Mingchao Liu is an Assistant Professor at the University of Birmingham in the UK. His research mainly focuses on the mechanics of slender structures and its application for the design of shape-morphing structures and modelling of soft robotics.

Qualifications

  • PhD in Engineering (Sept. 2013 – July 2018), Department of Engineering Mechanics, Tsinghua University
  • Visiting PhD Student (Jan. – July 2015) and Endeavour Research Fellow (June – Dec. 2017), School of Civil Engineering, The University of Sydney
  • Bachelor of Engineering (Sept. 2009 – July 2013), Department of Engineering Mechanics, Shandong University

Publications

Recent publications

Article

Zhang, Y, Zhou, Y, Wen, Z, Liu, M & Chen, CQ 2026, 'A pseudo-dynamic paradigm for reprogramming domain-wall-lattices in architected solids', Nature Communications, vol. 17, no. 1, 6342. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-026-73096-y

Huang, W, Hao, Z, Li, J, Tong, D, Guo, K, Zhang, Y, Gao, H, Hsia, KJ & Liu, M 2026, 'A Tutorial on Simulating Nonlinear Behaviors of Flexible Structures With the Discrete Differential Geometry Method', Applied Mechanics Reviews, vol. 78, no. 6, 064801. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4069025

Zhang, Q, Huang, W, Hajiyavand, A, Kim, H, Dancer, C, Dearn, K & Liu, M 2026, 'Dimple-Encoded Reprogrammable Origami', Advanced Science. https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.76901

Zhang, B, Wang, B, Ouyang, H, Wu, Z, Bi, H, Xu, J, Liu, M & Huang, W 2026, 'From Folding Mechanics to Robotic Function: A Unified Modeling Framework for Compliant Origami', Advanced Science. https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.76715

Deng, X, Lin, H, Liu, M, Zhang, W, Meng, G & Hu, K 2026, 'Heterogeneity-programmed wrinkle transitions enable mechanical metrology', Extreme Mechanics Letters. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eml.2026.102537

Huss, JC, Box, F, Zhang, Q, Grömmer, MA, Antreich, SJ, Ovee, TA, Louf, JF, Schönenberger, J, Williams, DG, Gierlinger, N, Liu, M & Hultine, KR 2026, 'Humidity-driven shape morphing enhances fog harvesting in porous cactus spines', New Phytologist. https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.71648

Li, J, Huang, W, Zhu, Y, Yu, L, Sun, X, Liu, M & Wu, H 2026, 'Inverse elastica: A theoretical framework for inverse design of morphing slender structures', Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids, vol. 208, 106488. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmps.2025.106488

Guo, K, Zhang, Y, Paradiso, M, Long, Y, Hsia, KJ & Liu, M 2026, 'Midveins regulate the shape formation of drying leaves', Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids, vol. 206, 106391. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmps.2025.106391

Huang, W, Zhang, Q & Liu, M 2026, 'Programmable symmetry-breaking in folded elastic ribbons via tunable pitchfork bifurcations', Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids, vol. 214, 106654. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmps.2026.106654

Liu, M, Mao, W, Zhao, Y, Xu, Q, Gan, Y, Wang, Y & Hsia, KJ 2026, 'Rate dependence in granular matter with application to tunable metamaterials', Matter, vol. 9, no. 3, 102562. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matt.2025.102562

Feng, T, Chen, J, Wong, JW, Li, S, Miao, Z, Wang, Z, Li, X, Cao, J, Xue, Y, Yang, X, Liu, M & Li, T 2026, 'Twist-Induced bifurcation and path manipulation in compressed ribbons', Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids, vol. 206, no. Part A, 106328. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmps.2025.106328

Zhang, Y, Huang, W, Liu, M, Yu, J & Gao, H 2025, 'Achieving symmetric snap-through buckling via designed magnetic actuation', Science Advances, vol. 11, no. 20, eadw1259. https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.adw1259

Review article

Guo, H, Lu, L, Liu, M, Papageorgiou, DG, Bilotti, E, Zhang, H & Liu, Y 2026, 'Advances in personalised wearable heating and cooling technologies', International Journal of Extreme Manufacturing, vol. 8, no. 4, 042010. https://doi.org/10.1088/2631-7990/ae6492

Tong, D, Choi, A, Wang, J, Huang, W, Chen, Z, Li, J, Huang, X, Liu, M, Gao, H & Hsia, KJ 2026, 'Discrete differential geometry for simulating nonlinear behaviors of flexible systems: A survey', Extreme Mechanics Letters, vol. 82, 102430. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eml.2025.102430

Duffy, D, Biggins, JS, Griniasty, I, Yang, X, Liu, M, Hsia, KJ, White, TJ & Mostajeran, C 2026, 'Nematic Design for Shape Morphing', Annual Review of Control, Robotics, and Autonomous Systems, vol. 9, no. 13, pp. 75-98. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-control-030624-011240

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