Prof. Liu Weidong

Professor Liu Weidong joined the College of Automotive Engineering at Jilin University in 2018, where his primary research focuses on intelligent tires and tracks, as well as vehicle structure/energy storage integration.

II. Major Representative Achievements and Contributions

1. R&D and Production of Innovative Structural Tires and Tracks: In response to the lack of all‑rubber track products for China's high‑end tracked vehicles, he spearheaded innovative R&D in this field. As a specially appointed overseas expert of the Shandong "Taishan Scholars" Program, he established a 35‑member R&D and production team, pioneering the application of segmented modular all‑rubber tracks to high‑end tracked vehicles—which have repeatedly won first place in national competitions. At the same time, eight models of civilian products were developed and have been sold in small batches to domestic and international markets. At the end of 2016, he received RMB 20 million in funding from SASAC. In 2019, his team ranked first in both the blind and follow‑up reviews of the national bidding for "Non‑pneumatic Wheel Technology for Wheeled Vehicles" on the National High‑end Equipment Procurement Platform. By the end of 2020, the product prototype was delivered and successfully validated in real‑vehicle tests. This product replaces rigid metal wheel hubs with polymer materials, achieving elasticity and load‑bearing capacity comparable to pneumatic tires. It not only resists ballistic and puncture damage but also eliminates the problems of tire blowouts, air leakage, and maintenance—representing a first‑of‑its‑kind application in high‑end equipment and a disruptive innovation in the tire manufacturing industry.

2. Design and Industrialization of Intelligent Polymer Materials: He has innovated and developed a series of intelligent polymer products for diverse commercial applications, including oil‑swellable thermally induced shape‑memory polymers, water‑swellable thermally induced shape‑memory polymers, oil‑resistant thermally induced shape‑memory polymers, electrically induced shape‑memory polymers, and foamed shape‑memory polymers.

III. Research Directions for Graduate Students

1. R&D of Intelligent New‑Structure Wheel and Track Technologies
Intelligent tires and tracks are systems in which micro‑sensors are embedded within the tire or track to monitor specific response characteristics (such as acceleration, deformation, and stress), thereby acquiring information on the wheel/track–terrain interaction. By collecting data from new‑structure wheels and tracks under various road conditions, a cloud‑based intelligent wheel/track data platform can be established for integration with connected vehicle networks, providing first‑hand road condition and wheel/track status information for intelligent and autonomous driving. Research on intelligent applications for novel wheel/track configurations such as non‑pneumatic and reconfigurable wheels has not yet been reported.

Research topics include:

• Hardware solutions for intelligent wheel/track systems

• Acceleration response mechanisms of wheel/track footprint contact and characteristic analysis

• Estimation strategies for wheel/track information using multi‑source data fusion

• Computer simulation of new‑structure wheel/track products

• Material systems and assembly process technologies

2. Vehicle Structure/Energy Storage Integration Technology
The high strength and impact resistance of carbon‑fiber composites endow vehicle body structures with protective functions. If energy‑storage functionality is embedded into lightweight carbon‑fiber structures, such integrated composites can not only bear vehicle loads but also serve as energy storage devices to enhance the range of electric vehicles.

Research topics include:

• Graphene/carbon‑nanotube‑modified carbon fibers and solid‑state electrolyte composites

• Preparation processes and electrochemical/mechanical performance characterization of integrated composites

• Safety studies and demonstration applications of novel composite materials

Contact Information:
Address: College of Automotive Engineering, Jilin University, 5988 Renmin Street, Changchun, China
Email: wdliu@jlu.edu.cn