Dr Connie Qian

School of Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering

Senior Lecturer in Composites

Dr Connie Qian
Profile picture of Dr Connie Qian
c.qian@sheffield.ac.uk

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

Conference proceedings papers

  • 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) RIS download Bibtex download
  • 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 RIS download Bibtex download
  • 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 RIS download Bibtex download
  • 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 RIS download Bibtex download
  • 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 RIS download Bibtex download
  • Yuan H, Khan MA, Kendall KN & Qian CC (2023) PROCESS CHARACTERISATION FOR COMPRESSION MOULDING OF HYBRID-ARCHITECTURE COMPOSITES. ICCM International Conferences on Composite Materials RIS download Bibtex download
  • 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 RIS download Bibtex download
  • 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) RIS download Bibtex download
  • 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) RIS download Bibtex download
  • 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) RIS download Bibtex download
  • 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 RIS download Bibtex download
  • 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) RIS download Bibtex download
  • 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) RIS download Bibtex download
Teaching activities

MEC313 Finite Element Techniques