Profile

Education

• Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley, 1987
• M.S., Michigan State University, 1984
• B.S., National Cheng-Kung University, Taiwan, 1980

Research Areas and Descriptors

• Manufacturing and Automation and Mechatronics; Modeling, monitoring, and control of advanced manufacturing processes and equipment.

Background

Dr. Liang began at Tech in 1990 as an Assistant Professor. Prior, he was an Assistant Professor at Oklahoma State University. He was named to the Bryan Professorship in 2005.

Research

Full-field infrared digital thermography for the modeling of temperature distributions in we maching processes.

Dr. Liang's research interests center around precision manufacturing processes in the context of modeling, monitoring, control, and optimization. Specific projects include hard cutting, submicron machine tools, predictive tooling for machining, and environmentally conscious processes. Much of the study aims at the development of theoretical and physical understanding of manufacturing technology with realistic industry applications. In the area of hard cutting, technology is been developed to apply deterministic-geometry cutting tools to shape and finish hardened parts. The research addresses issues related to part finish, residual stress, surface/sub-surface metallurgical damage, tool life, and machine stability.

In the area of submicron machine tools, research is underway to investigate the design and implementation principles of miniaturized cutting machines that achieves small chip size, short range, and minimum errors in thermal expansion and forced deflection. Issues are examined at the component and system levels in terms of drive mechanisms, position controls, work/tool fixtures, cutting tools, and inspection techniques. The study also provides a platform for the analysis of mechanical and thermodynamic behaviors of machining at the submicron scale.

In the area of predictive tooling for machining, Dr. Liang and his research group are developing an analytical understanding of the kinematics, dynamics, thermodynamics, and mechatronics of material removal processes such that optimization tooling can be achieved without exhaustive trial-and-error. This study aims to establish the fundamental basis for the prediction, control, and optimization of machining processes performance in terms of finish, tolerance, and part integrity.

His work on environmentally conscious machining focuses on the environmental impact associated with the use of coolants and lubricants in machining processes. The characteristics of airborne cutting fluids in terms of particulate size and concentration are analytically modeled in relation to machining process conditions, fluid material properties, and fluid application parameters.

The future direction of work will based on Dr. Liang's accumulated expertise in the field with new emphasis on machine/tool miniaturization, submicron precision manufacturing, and model-based tooling optimization.

Graduate students can find the projects intellectually challenging and academically stimulating. The research is useful in fostering the critical thinking and adaptive learning capability of graduate students who are willing to go beyond themselves. In addition, the projects all involve extensive collaboration with company partners and the research outcomes are meant to suit the needs and visions of today's manufacturing industry for greater precision and higher productivity.