modeling and simulation

Stress Engineer Computational Mechanics Structural Analyst Geotechnical Researcher Simulation Specialist

CAE Engineer passionate about applying Finite Element Methods and other methods to solve science and engineering problems. Expert in developing analytical and numerical solutions and using commercial software for static analysis, vibration frequency, mode, predicting dynamic stress, buckling, fatigue damage, and multiphase flow in which both solid phase and fluid phase are involved. I help companies optimize product designs and gain customer trust.

Key Skills

Finite Element Analysis (FEA) Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) Discrete Element Method (DEM) Material Point Method (MPM) Smoothed Particle Hydrology (SPH) Unix Numerical Analysis Modeling and Simulations Structural Analysis Stress Analysis Thermal dynamics C++ FORTRAN Python MATLAB ANSYS (Workbench, APDL, FLUENT, Space Claim) FEMAP/NASTRAN/PATRAN ABAQUS Rocky DEM EDEM Autodesk 360 Fusion 3D CAD: Autodesk Inventor Solid Works Creo Space Claim Hypermesh Hyperworks OptStruct CATIA V5 Metals Laminated Composite Design Optimization

Professional Experience

Sinopec Tech Houston Center, Houston,TX.

Senior Software Developer 2025.1 – 2025.3

Developing finite element analysis code for simulation of petroleum production. The code solves the complicated processes involves the interaction between geomechanical deformation and pore pressure change. My work includes evaluation of the existed code and debugging by using VS Code, adding new features such as the effects of initial conditions, and new type of boundary conditions and the like on this Open MPI based parallel computing program written in Fortran 90 with Intel solver. Paraview is used for visualization of computing results.

L & T technical Service. Peoria, IL; Work from home.

Structure Analysis Engineer 2024.6 – 2024.8

Analyzing NASA project of Fuel Tank Destruct Assembly using FEA for evaluating dynamical environmental effects using OptiStruct and HyperWorks.

Analyzing Skin Severance Destruct Assembly in a dynamical environment using OptiStruct and HyperWorks.

Evaluated the effect of static loading on test-bench using FEM in SolidWorks.

Schlam Americas Inc. Tuscan, AZ; Work from home.

FEM Engineer 2023.12 – 2024.1

Developed FEA models of excavator bucket BDT1039 for fatigue life analysis using OptiStruct and HyperWorks.

Optimized the designs for truck dump body WA1200 and R9400.

Analyze the load effects on excavator bucket in loading and unloading cycle.

ME ELECMETAL Inc. Minneapolis, MN

Principal Mechanical Engineer 2019.9 – 2023.3

Developed numerical methods for particle trajectory simulation using DEM in crusher, SAG, AG, Ball, and Rod mills. Created FEA models of mill liner castings to analyze bolting, contact, and operational stresses. Root cause study on liner fracture and fatigue life analysis. Led design optimization projects by coordinating with marketing and manufacturing. Developed 2-way coupling between DEM and CFD analysis for slurry effects in SAG mills.

Analyzed results from modeling simulations which identified design flaws and defects to be redesigned, resulting in improved performance of key products.

Simulate slurry flow through SAG mills using Ansys Fluent.

Created SAG mill shell liners and end liners designs and evaluated the performance and made optimization.

Developed new liners of composite material using rubber, ceramics and cast alloy.

Educated sales personnel and customers on product design flaws and corrections to eliminate misunderstandings about the product design quality, which resulted in greater customer retention.

Selected by senior management to create and present in technical sessions at international conferences.

ME ELECMETAL Inc. Minneapolis, MN

Senior Engineer 2016.6 – 2019.8

Developed structural optimization methodology for grinding mills to improve throughput, energy efficiency, and extended liner wear life. Created a simulation scheme for analyzing SAG mill liner breakage and validated algorithms for modeling wear history. Develop analytical solutions and simple hand calculation for model verification and calibration.

Created a complete set of approaches to evaluate the discharge efficiency of the product, which resulted in a more comprehensive and accurate view of the proposed design.

Simulated dynamic stress on grinding mill shell liners for the root cause of premature failure using Ansys Workbench.

Developed a set simulation scheme to optimize mill operation conditions, including grinding media charge level, ore charge level, mill rotation speed, and discharge flow rate. This helped clients gain energy and material efficiencies, product output, and increased profitability.

Analyzed the impact on ladle using free-body diagram Derived analytical solution for grinding ball impact on shell liners. Analyzed the dynamical effects of geometry error in rotation mechanism using hand calculation.

Created SAG mill shell liners using CAD-Autodesk Inventor.

Metso Minerals, Colorado Springs, CO

Simulation Specialist 2012.10 – 2016.5

Developed advanced simulation program that combines CFD with DEM for wet grinding process in which water and fine particles were explicitly included. Calculate mill power draw, and ore particle collision energy for rock breakage model.

Developed numerical analysis tools, including discrete element method, material point method, and control volume method for simulating solid-liquid interactions, thus providing a high-fidelity simulation tool for the mineral processing industry. SPH method, developed for simulation interstellar gas (plasma) and other celestial bodies, is also used in the simulation.

Validated the simulation code and applied the new method to a vertical-mill blade optimization.

Failure analysis of blast-resistant window panel design made of polycarbonate composite.

Optimized laminated composite structure design using FEA.

Made code for simulating laser drilling that involves multi-physics including heat transfer and melt flow. The liquid flow is simulated using boundary layer method and other methods. The research result got published in Journal of Thermal Sciences.

Stress analysis on pre-stressed fuel tank subject to laser-beam heating using FEM, using FEMAP for pre/post-processing.

Code verification using Abaqus, Ansys, and Nastran.

Education

Doctor of Philosophy, Structural Engineering - University of Missouri-Columbia

Master of Science, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering- Peking University

Bachelor of Science, Geology and Seismology - Peking University

Selected Publications

Youqing Yang, Modeling Charge Motion in an Industrial SAG Mill Using DEM and SPH Coupling Simulations at Society for Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration · Feb 28, 2023

Youqing Yang, Amit Saxena, Quantifying SAG Mill Liner Survivability and Wear Life at Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum May 3rd, 2022.

Youqing Yang, Pengtao Sun, Zhen Chen, 2017, Simulation of multiphase interaction using the combined DEM-MPM, Commun. Comput. Phys. Vol. 21, No. 5, pp. 1258-1281

Youqing Yang, Zhen Chen, Yuwen Zhang, 2016, Melt flow and heat transfer in laser drilling, International Journal of Thermal Sciences, Vol. 107 pp. 141-152

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