At the invitation of the Institute of Metal Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences (IMR, CAS), Prof. Fu Mingwang, Chair Professor of Advanced Manufacturing at the Department of Mechanical Engineering, the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) and recipient of the 2025 Lee Hsun Cooperative Research Award, paid a visit to IMR for academic exchanges from April 17 to 26, 2025.
During the visit, Prof. Fu delivered an academic report titled "Size Effects in Engineering Mechanics, Materials Science and Multi-Scaled Manufacturing" to IMR researchers and graduate students.
In his report, Prof. Fu analyzed the research status of size effects in materials during multi-scale deformation processing, focusing on the development of various physical mechanisms and models, as well as the impact of size effects on multi-scale metal forming behavior and performance. He elaborated on the experimental observation and physical origin of the size effect-induced phenomena of "the smaller, the stronger (SS)" and "the smaller, the weaker (SW)", with a special discussion on in-depth research results of the SW phenomenon through ingenious experimental design and loading. Additionally, he compared the correlation between existing mathematical models of size effects and the sources of specimen size effects in materials science and local gradient strengthening. Combining practical engineering applications, he shared specific cases of optimizing the structural design of metal components using size effects to synergistically improve part forming quality and die service life. The report received a warm response, with in-depth discussions between Prof. Fu and the attendees.
Prof. Fu also had in-depth exchanges with the team of the Materials Preparation and Processing Research Division on issues related to ultra-fine wire processing, performance testing methods and accuracy, the physical nature of size effects, and crystal plasticity theory and applications. They discussed metal fracture models based on microstructural characteristics, focusing on the intrinsic correlation and quantification methods of defect types, stress states, material processing routes and microstructural characteristics. During the visit, Prof. Fu toured the Plastic Processing Laboratory.
Prof. Fu is a Fellow of the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers (HKIE) and the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME), a Wolfson Visiting Fellow of the Royal Society, and Vice President of the Advanced Manufacturing Institute of PolyU. His research focuses on advanced materials processing, multi-scale manufacturing, damage and fracture in metal forming, fatigue during material service, multi-scale mechanical behavior in manufacturing, and modeling and simulation of plastic deformation and forming processes. He has published over 350 SCI papers, more than half of which are in top 10% journals of their respective disciplines in Web of Science. He has also authored 7 English monographs, all published by international top publishers such as Marcel Dekker (New York), Springer-Verlag Ltd (London), CRC Press, Taylor & Francis Group and Elsevier. The Chinese translation of his monograph "Computer-Aided Injection Mold Design and Manufacturing" (published by Marcel Dekker) was released by China Machine Press in 2010.
