I am currently an Associate Professor (since June 2019), Master's Supervisor, and Secretary at the Interdisciplinary Research Institute for Aeronautics and Astronautics. I earned my Ph.D. in Mechanics from Tsinghua University in 2016, following my undergraduate studies in Engineering Mechanics at Huazhong University of Science and Technology, which I completed in 2011. My research program is dedicated to advancing the theory and application of novel numerical methods in solid mechanics, with particular focus on several cutting-edge areas: high-precision finite element methods and multiscale analysis, advanced element technologies for CAE software, data-driven computational mechanics, and high-fidelity simulation of complex aerospace structures.

I have secured and led more than 10 research projects while also contributing to several national-level key initiatives such as the National Science and Technology Major Project and Key R&D Programs for Young Scientists. My research contributions include over 30 SCI papers as first or corresponding author in leading international journals, including 11 papers in the International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering (two of which were featured as cover articles), along with publications in Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering, Archives of Computational Methods in Engineering, and Engineering with Computers. I also hold 3 authorized invention patents and 6 software copyrights.

In addition to my research activities, I actively contribute to the academic community through my roles as Committee Member on the Jiangsu Provincial Computational Mechanics Committee, Jiangsu Provincial Solid Mechanics Committee, and Southern Computational Mechanics Liaison Committee. 

My teaching portfolio includes both undergraduate and graduate courses such as Elasticity Theory, Fundamentals of Solid Mechanics, Machine Learning and Intelligent Computing, Finite Element Analysis of Nonlinear Continua. I have led one university-level teaching reform project and participated in two others, publishing two educational reform papers, and was honored to receive the Fan Qinshan Teaching Fellowship in 2024.

I take great pride in mentoring the next generation of researchers, having supervised 8 Master's students to graduation, with currently 8 Master's students and 1 Doctoral candidate under my guidance. Many of my students have received prestigious awards including the National Scholarship, and our graduates have gone on to successful careers at leading institutions.

I welcome applications from prospective students interested in pursuing graduate studies in Mechanics (0801), Aeronautical and Astronautical Science and Technology (0825), and Mechanical Engineering (0855). Those with interest in numerical methods & simulation or machine learning & intelligent computing are particularly encouraged to join our research group, where we offer competitive research resources and financial support. Interested candidates may send their CVs to me at shangyan@nuaa.edu.cn.

Representative Publications:

Yan Shang*, Mao-Dong Pan, Song Cen, Chen-Feng Li, Challenges and advances in conventional finite elements for couple stress elasticity: A comprehensive review, Archives of Computational Methods in Engineering, 2025, published online.

Yan Shang*, Sheng-Feng Wang, Mao-Dong Pan, Song Cen, Bing-Bing Chen, Chen-Feng Li, Computational homogenization of non-centrosymmetric composites with concurrent flexoelectric and piezoelectric effects using consistent couple stress theory, Composite Structures, 2026, 376: 119843.

Yan Shang*, Xiao-Jie Li, Mao-Dong Pan, Song Cen, Bing-Bing Chen, Chen-Feng Li, Mesh-distortion immune Trefftz element for flexoelectric Kirchhoff plates within consistent couple stress theory, International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering, 2025,  126(22): e70179.

Ming-Jun Zhao, Song Cen*, Yan Shang, Chen-Feng Li, Modeling size effects in elasticity with c¹ virtual elements: a two-dimensional formulation for modified couple stress theory, International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering, 2026.

Yan Shang*, Ming Sun, Song Cen, Chen-Feng Li, Computational homogenization of flexoelectric composites within the consistent couple stress theory, Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering, 2025, 437: 117762.

Zhuo Deng, Shi-Xuan Liu, Song Cen, Ming Sun, Yan Shang*, Corotational unsymmetric membrane element formulation for geometric nonlinear analysis of flexoelectric solids within the consistent couple stress theory, International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering, 2025, 126(11): e70045.

Song-Hao Wang, Zheng-Hua Qian*, Yan Shang*, Three-dimensional geometrically nonlinear analysis of functionally graded microshell structures using corotational finite element method based on modified couple stress theory, Computers and Mathematics with Applications, 2025, 190: 122-153.

Yan Shang*, Zhuo Deng, Song Cen, Chen-Feng Li. Penalty hexahedral element formulation for flexoelectric solids based on consistent couple stress theory, International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering, 2024, 125(1): e7336.

Song-Hao Wang, Zheng-Hua Qian*, Yan Shang*, Size-dependent vibration analysis of porous 3D-FG microshells in complex thermal environments using a neural network enhanced finite element model, Case Studies in Thermal Engineering, 2024, 61: 104887.

Yu-Hao Mao, Yan Shang*, Song Cen, Chen-Feng Li. An efficient 3-node triangular plate element for static and dynamic analyses of microplates based on modified couple stress theory with micro-inertia, Engineering with Computers, 2023, 39: 3061-3084.

Huan-Pu Wu, Yan Shang*, Song Cen, Chen-Feng Li. Penalty C0 8-node quadrilateral and 20-node hexahedral elements for consistent couple stress elasticity based on the unsymmetric finite element method, Engineering Analysis with Boundary Elements, 2023, 147: 302-319.

Yan Shang*, Huan-Pu Wu, Song Cen, Chen-Feng Li. An efficient 4-node facet shell element for the modified couple stress elasticity. International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering, 2022, 123(4): 992-1012.

Yan Shang*, Ya-Dong Liu, Shi-Xuan Liu. Trefftz-unsymmetric finite element for bending analysis of orthotropic plates, Engineering with Computers, 2022, 38:1065-1079.

Ru-Xia Ma, Song Cen*, Yan Shang, Chen-Feng Li. Extension of the unsymmetric 8-node hexahedral solid element US-ATFH8 to 3D hyper-elastic finite deformation analysis, International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering, 2022, 123(23): 5749-5778.

Yan Shang*, Chen-Feng Li, Kang-Yu Jia. 8-node hexahedral unsymmetric element with rotation degrees of freedom for modified couple stress elasticity, International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering, 2020, 121(12): 2683-2700.

Yan Shang*, Zheng-Hua Qian*, Song Cen, Chen-Feng Li. A simple unsymmetric 4-node 12-DOF membrane element for the modified couple stress theory, International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering, 2019, 119(9): 807-825.

Yan Shang*, Wengen Ouyang. 4-node unsymmetric quadrilateral membrane element with drilling DOFs insensitive to severe mesh-distortion, International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering, 2018, 113(10): 1589-1606.

Zhi Li, Song Cen*, Cheng-Jin Wu, Yan Shang, et al., High-performance geometric nonlinear analysis with the unsymmetric 4-node, 8-DOF plane element US-ATFQ4, International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering, 2018, 114(9): 931-954.

Yan Shang, Song Cen*, Zhi Li, Chen-Feng Li. Improved hybrid displacement function (IHDF) element scheme for analysis of Mindlin-Reissner plate with edge effect, International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering, 2017, 111(12): 1120-1169.

Yan Shang, Song Cen*, Chen-Feng Li, Jun-Bin Huang, An effective hybrid displacement function element method for solving the edge effect of Mindlin-Reissner plate, International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering, 2015, 102(8): 1449-1487.

Song Cen*, Shang Yan, Li Chen-Feng, Li Hong-Guang, Hybrid displacement function element method: a simple hybrid-Trefftz stress element method for analysis of Mindlin-Reissner plate, International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering, 2014, 98(3): 203-234.