Hongxia Yang
Biography
Hongxia Yang is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering at the University of ݮƵ since 2025. Dr. Yang’s research integrates experimental, numerical, and analytical approaches to advance the fundamental understanding of combustion characteristics in reactive flows, as well as industrial explosions and detonation hazard mitigation.
Prior to joining the University of ݮƵ, she worked as a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Ottawa, where she researched the fundamental aspects of hydrogen safety, including pressure wave induced flame deformation, fluid-structure interaction and flame/detonation arresting. She obtained her PhD degree from Northeastern University (China) in 2021, with her thesis work carried out during a visit to the University of Ottawa from 2017 to 2020. Her thesis focuses on the “Dynamics of cellular flame deformation and subsequent DDT mechanism after the head-on interactions with shocks”. Her earlier research for her master's degree and initial PhD studies from 2013 to 2017 at Northeastern University focused on process safety and dust explosions.
Prior to joining the University of ݮƵ, she worked as a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Ottawa, where she researched the fundamental aspects of hydrogen safety, including pressure wave induced flame deformation, fluid-structure interaction and flame/detonation arresting. She obtained her PhD degree from Northeastern University (China) in 2021, with her thesis work carried out during a visit to the University of Ottawa from 2017 to 2020. Her thesis focuses on the “Dynamics of cellular flame deformation and subsequent DDT mechanism after the head-on interactions with shocks”. Her earlier research for her master's degree and initial PhD studies from 2013 to 2017 at Northeastern University focused on process safety and dust explosions.
Research Interests
- Reactive flows
- Shock Waves
- Detonation
- Explosion Safety
- Compressible Flows
- Sustainable Energy
- Hydrogen Technologies
Education
- 2025, Postdoctoral, Mechanical Engineering, University of Ottawa, Canada
- 2021, Doctorate, Safety Science and Engineering, Northeastern University, China
- 2020, Visiting Ph.D. student, Mechanical Engineering, University of Ottawa, Canada
- 2015, Master's, Safety Science and Engineering, Northeastern University, China
- 2013, Bachelor's, Safety Engineering, Jiangxi University of Science and Technology, China
Awards
- 2023, Best paper award, The 10th International Conference on Hydrogen Safety
- 2020, Young Researcher Grant, The 25th International Congress of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics Organizing Committee
Selected/Recent Publications
- Yang, H. X., Rakotoarison, W., Sow, A., Radulescu, M.I., End-wall pressure evolution from head on reflection of high-speed deflagrations, Proceedings of the Combustion Institute 40.1-4 (2024): 105595.
- Cheevers, K., Yang, H. X., Pekalski, A., Radulescu M.I., Flame surface area enhancement resulting from the head-on interaction with an expansion wave, Proceedings of the Combustion Institute 40.1-4 (2024): 105743.
- Cheevers, K., Yang, H. X., Raut, M., Hong, Z., Radulescu, M. I., A flame technique to isolate the detonation/product interface relevant to rotating detonation engines, Proceedings of the Combustion Institute 39.3 (2023): 3095-3105.
- Yang, H. X., & Radulescu, M. I., Dynamics of cellular flame deformation after a head-on interaction with a shock wave: reactive Richtmyer-Meshkov instability, Journal of Fluid Mechanics 923 (2021): A36.
- Yang, H. X., & Radulescu, M. I., Enhanced DDT mechanism from shock-flame interactions in thin channels, Proceedings of the Combustion Institute, 38.3 (2021): 3481-3495.
- Li, G., Yang, H. X., Yuan, C. M., & Eckhoff, R. K., A catastrophic aluminium-alloy dust explosion in China, Journal of Loss Prevention in the Process Industries 39 (2016): 121-130.
Graduate studies
- Currently considering applications from graduate students. A completed online application is required for admission; start the application process now.