Dr Connie Qian

School of Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering

Senior Lecturer in Composites

c.qian@sheffield.ac.uk

D18, Royal Exchange Building

Full contact details

Dr Connie Qian
School of Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering
D18
Royal Exchange Building
64 Garden Street
Sheffield
S1 4BJ

Profile: I study the deformation of composite materials using computer modelling and simulation.
Dr Connie Qian
Senior Lecturer in Composites
I grew up in China and came to study in the UK in 2005. I graduated with a 1st class BEng in Mechanical Engineering in 2009 and then a PhD in Mechanical Engineering in 2014, both from the University of Nottingham. My PhD was on RVE modelling and structural optimisation for discontinuous carbon fibre composites.

After completing my PhD, I stayed at the University of Nottingham as a Research Fellow from 2014-2018, during which I developed process simulation models for composites sheet forming, injection moulding, and thermoplastic overmoulding.

In 2018, I joined WMG at the University of Warwick as a Research Fellow and was later appointed as Assistant Professor in 2021, where I developed process simulation models for high-pressure RTM, double-diaphragm forming and compression moulding. My research vision started to shape during my time at WMG, as I became strongly interested in integrated process-property-performance simulation for compression moulded discontinuous fibre composites and hybrid architecture composites.

I joined the University of Sheffield as a Senior Lecturer in Composites in 2024 and in my spare time, I play the piano and the violin, and foster cats for the Blue Cross.

Research interests

My research focuses on process-structure-property-performance modelling for fibre reinforced composites. I am particularly renowned for my research in high-volume manufacturing of discontinuous fibre composites, and have led several funded research projects in this area, notably an Innovation Fellowship funded by the EPSRC Future Composites Manufacturing Hub. I also have strong experience in applied research and have delivered large CR&D projects with industrial partners across the whole composites supply chain. I'm most active in the automotive domain, and have worked with some of the world's most-respected OEMs such as Jaguar Land Rover, Ford and Aston Martin.

My research interests are:

Composites manufacturing process simulation
Multi-scale modelling for composites
Structural simulation and structural optimisation
High-volume composites manufacturing processes

Publications

Journal articles

Yuan H, Auinger M, Khan M & Qian C (2025) Numerical simulation for squeeze flow behaviour of carbon fibre sheet moulding compound. Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing, 199, 109241-109241.
Abass H, Goutianos S, Qian C, Wilson P, Reynolds N & Peijs T (2025) A failure mechanics study of aligned brick-and-mortar discontinuous long-fibre composites. Journal of Thermoplastic Composite Materials. View this article in WRRO
Joesbury AM, Endruweit A, Budelmann D, Giannis SP, De Focatiis DSA, Call DB, Chan C, Choong GYH, Clark RA, Collins JA , Fishpool DT et al (2025) Repeatability and reproducibility of the measurement of prepreg tack following ASTM D8336: Results of a round-robin study. Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing, 188, 108561-108561.
Yuan H, Khan M, Peijs T & Qian C (2024) Experimental process characterisation for high-volume compression moulding of hybrid-architecture composites. Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing, 181, 108137-108137.
Yuan H, Khan M, Qian C, Reynolds N & Kendall K (2023) Experimental and numerical investigation of the intra-ply shear behaviour of unidirectional prepreg forming through picture-frame test. Composites Part B: Engineering, 266, 111036-111036.
Zwanenburg EA, Norman DG, Qian C, Kendall KN, Williams MA & Warnett JM (2023) Effective X-ray micro computed tomography imaging of carbon fibre composites. Composites Part B: Engineering, 258, 110707-110707.
Qian C, Norman D, Williams MA & Kendall K (2022) Experimental and numerical characterisation of fibre orientation distributions in compression moulded carbon fibre SMC. Plastics, Rubber and Composites, 51(8), 436-444.
Zhao Q, Qian CC, Harper LT & Warrior NA (2018) Finite element study of the microdroplet test for interfacial shear strength: Effects of geometric parameters for a carbon fibre/epoxy system. Journal of Composite Materials, 52(16), 2163-2177.
Harper LT, Qian CC, Luchoo R & Warrior NA (2017) 3D geometric modelling of discontinuous fibre composites using a force-directed algorithm. Journal of Composite Materials, 51(17), 2389-2406.
Qian CC, Harper LT, Turner TA & Warrior NA (2015) Structural optimisation of random discontinuous fibre composites: Part 2 – Case study. Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing, 68, 417-424.
Qian CC, Harper LT, Turner TA & Warrior NA (2015) Structural optimisation of random discontinuous fibre composites: Part 1 – Methodology. Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing, 68, 406-416.
Harper LT, Ahmed I, Felfel RM & Qian C (2012) Finite element modelling of the flexural performance of resorbable phosphate glass fibre reinforced PLA composite bone plates. Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials, 15, 13-23.
Harper LT, Qian C, Turner TA, Li S & Warrior NA (2012) Representative volume elements for discontinuous carbon fibre composites – Part 2: Determining the critical size. Composites Science and Technology, 72(2), 204-210.
Harper LT, Qian C, Turner TA, Li S & Warrior NA (2012) Representative volume elements for discontinuous carbon fibre composites – Part 1: Boundary conditions. Composites Science and Technology, 72(2), 225-234.
Qian C, Harper LT, Turner TA & Warrior NA (2011) Notched behaviour of discontinuous carbon fibre composites: Comparison with quasi-isotropic non-crimp fabric. Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing, 42(3), 293-302.
Fereshteh-Saniee N, Reynolds N, Norman D, Qian C, Armstrong DJ, Smith P, Kupke R, Williams MA & Kendall K () Quality Analysis of Weld-Line Defects in Carbon Fibre Reinforced Sheet Moulding Compounds by Automated Eddy Current Scanning. Journal of Manufacturing and Materials Processing, 6(6), 151-151.

Conference proceedings

Qian C (2025) The first European benchmark exercise on squeeze flow testing of high-performance carbon fibre sheet moulding compounds. Materials Research Proceedings, Vol. 54 (pp 676-685)
QIAN C (2024) Experimental characterisation for compression moulding of hybrid architecture composites using reclaimed prepreg manufacturing waste. Materials Research Proceedings, Vol. 41 (pp 631-640)
Qian C, Zwanenburg E, Norman D, Weare R, Warnett J, Williams M & Kendall K (2023) 3D FIBRE ARCHITECTURE CHARACTERISATION FOR DISCONTINUOUS CARBON FIBRE COMPOSITE STRUCTURES USING COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY TECHNIQUE. Iccm International Conferences on Composite Materials
Begum H, Yuan H, Evans J, Serrano Villalobos C, Joesbury A, Harper LT & Qian C (2023) DISCONTINUOUS CARBON FIBRE COMPOSITES MANUFACTURED FROM RECLAIMED WOVEN PREPREG WASTE. Iccm International Conferences on Composite Materials
Groves R, Reynolds N, van den Aker R, Wilson P, Qian C & Peijs T (2023) PRESSING-AND-FOLDING OF DISCONTINUOUS LONG FIBRE THERMOPLASTIC COMPOSITES AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO DIRECT COMPACTION. Iccm International Conferences on Composite Materials
Groves R, Reynolds N, Qian C, Wilson P, van den Aker R & Peijs T (2023) Pressing & Folding of Discontinuous Long Fibre Thermoplastic Composites as an Alternative to Direct Compaction. Iccm International Conferences on Composite Materials
Yuan H, Khan MA, Kendall KN & Qian CC (2023) PROCESS CHARACTERISATION FOR COMPRESSION MOULDING OF HYBRID-ARCHITECTURE COMPOSITES. Iccm International Conferences on Composite Materials
Abass H, Goutianos S, Reynolds N, Qian C & Peijs T (2023) STRESS TRANSFER IN DISCONTINUOUS ALIGNED THERMOPLASTIC COMPOSITE TAPES - AN EXPERIMENTAL AND NUMERICAL STUDY. Iccm International Conferences on Composite Materials
Qian C, Yuan H, Jesri M, Khan M & Kendall K (2022) SQUEEZE FLOW OF CARBON FIBRE SHEET MOULDING COMPOUND IN COMPRESSION MOULDING. Eccm 2022 Proceedings of the 20th European Conference on Composite Materials Composites Meet Sustainability, Vol. 2 (pp 256-263)
Qian CC, Deshpande A, Polat DS, Clarke J, Sicard F & Kendall KN (2022) MANUFACTURING PROCESS SIMULATION FOR COMPRESSION MOULDING OF SHEET MOULDING COMPOUND - AN AUTOMOTIVE CASE STUDY. Eccm 2022 Proceedings of the 20th European Conference on Composite Materials Composites Meet Sustainability, Vol. 5 (pp 469-476)
Yuan H, Khan M, Qian C, Reynolds N & Kendall K (2022) INVESTIGATION AND SIMULATION OF THE INTRA-PLY SHEAR PROPERTY FOR THE UNIDIRECTIONAL PREPREG FORMING. Eccm 2022 Proceedings of the 20th European Conference on Composite Materials Composites Meet Sustainability, Vol. 3 (pp 273-280)
Qian CC, Deshpande A, Jesri M, Groves R, Reynolds N & Kendall K (2021) A Comprehensive Assessment of Commercial Process Simulation Software for Compression Moulding of Sheet Moulding Compound. ESAFORM 2021
Qian C, Weare R, Pasco C, Kourra N, Attridge A, Williams M & Kendall K (2020) Numerical and Experimental Studies of Multi-ply Woven Carbon Fibre Prepreg Forming Process. Procedia Manufacturing, Vol. 47 (pp 93-99)
Evans AD, Qian CC, Turner TA, Harper LT & Warrior NA (2016) Flow characteristics of carbon fibre moulding compounds. Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing, Vol. 90 (pp 1-12)
Qian C, Harper LT, Turner TA & Warrior NA (2013) Structural optimisation of discontinuous fibre composites. Iccm International Conferences on Composite Materials, Vol. 2013-July (pp 381-391)
Qian C, Harper LT, Turner TA, Li S & Warrior NA (2012) Establishing size effects in discontinuous fibre composites using 2D finite element analysis. Computational Materials Science, Vol. 64 (pp 106-111)
Qian C, Harper LT, Turner TA & Warrior NA (2012) Structural optimisation of 3D components manufactured by the directed carbon fibre preforming process. Eccm 2012 Composites at Venice Proceedings of the 15th European Conference on Composite Materials
Qian C, Harper LT, Turner TA, Li S & Warrior NA (2011) Determination of the size of representative volume elements for discontinuous fibre composites. Iccm International Conferences on Composite Materials
Qian CC, Yuan H, Jesri M, Khan M & Kendall KN () Flow Behaviour of Carbon Fibre Sheet Moulding Compound. Key Engineering Materials, Vol. 926 (pp 1350-1357)

Teaching activities: MEC313 Finite Element Techniques