Nordine Leklou | 3D printing | Research Excellence Award

Posted on by Civil Engineering Awards

Professor Nordine Leklou | 3D printing | Research Excellence Award

Full Professor | Nantes University | France

Professor Nordine Leklou is a distinguished researcher in Civil Engineering at Nantes Université, specializing in the durability, pathologies, and sustainable development of construction materials. He holds an Habilitation in Civil Engineering (2017) and a PhD in Civil Engineering (2008), complemented by advanced engineering and research training at INSA Toulouse. Throughout his academic career, he has contributed extensively to the innovation and optimization of eco-materials derived from industrial and plant co-products, including studies on ion transfer mechanisms and advanced technologies such as 3D printing for earthen construction. His scientific portfolio demonstrates a strong international standing with more than 75 publications in top-tier peer-reviewed journals, over 50 conference communications, and 3 patents, supported by a citation record exceeding 1200 citations and an h-index of 17. He plays an influential role in shaping future expertise through the supervision of 22 doctoral candidates, 8 postdoctoral fellows, and 11 research-oriented master’s students. His academic leadership extends to key governance positions, currently serving as the Deputy Director of the University Institute of Technology of Saint-Nazaire. His participation in major national research initiatives such as ANR MODEVIE, Recybéton, and FastCarb illustrates his commitment to decarbonized construction and circular economy strategies for the built environment. Professor Leklou’s collaboration network spans Europe, Africa, and beyond, notably contributing to breakthroughs in additive manufacturing using earth-based materials and the development of bio-composites with enhanced mechanical and hygrothermal behaviors. His research contributes directly to sustainable urban development, reduced CO₂ emissions, and improved resilience of built structures under aggressive environmental conditions. Through academic influence, technological advancement, and strong interdisciplinary cooperation, he continues to drive innovation at the interface of material science and civil engineering, benefiting both the scientific community and society at large.

Research Profiles: Scopus | ORCID | Google Scholar
Publications

Printing with earth: Characterizing local soils for sustainable 3D construction. Materials and Structures / Materiaux Et Constructions. Article – Open access.

Experimental evaluation of the time lag and decrement factor of a raw earth wall for various climates: Comparison of different methods. Journal of Building Engineering. Article – Open access.

Mechanical properties of 3D-printed earth-based materials considering two printable soils. Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering. Article – Open access.

Experimental assessment of the dynamic hygrothermal and mechanical behavior of compressed earth block walls in a tropical humid climate. Buildings. Article – Open access.

Leveraging machine learning (ML) to enhance the structural properties of a novel alkali activated bio-composite. Journal of Composites Science. Article – Open access.

Effects of thermal activation on mechanical performance and sustainability of slag-based geopolymers. Materials. Article – Open access.

Yaxing Liu – Materials Science and Engineering – Best Researcher Award

Posted on by Civil Engineering Awards

Mr. Yaxing Liu - Materials Science and Engineering - Best Researcher Award

lecturer | Taiyuan University of Technology | China

Mr. Yaxing Liu has established strong expertise in the field of mechanical design and theory with a research focus on advanced rolling technology, material forming processes, and fatigue analysis of high-performance steels. His work investigates the mechanisms of strip edge defects, deformation behaviors in composite rolling, and fatigue performance under varying stress conditions, providing valuable insights for enhancing the precision, durability, and efficiency of manufacturing systems. He has contributed to the development of innovative control strategies for trimming processes and created accurate modeling approaches for predicting warping and deformation during steel and aluminum thin strip composite rolling. His research integrates both theoretical modeling and experimental validation to solve complex industrial challenges, ensuring significant improvements in quality control and defect prevention in metal forming industries. In addition to scholarly publications in high-impact journals, Liu’s contributions include patents addressing roll convexity adjustment mechanisms and compensation methods for roll diameter defects in rolling mills, showcasing his ability to translate fundamental research into practical engineering solutions. His continuous engagement in material behavior analysis under stress, defect mitigation techniques, and optimization of manufacturing processes reflects a clear trajectory toward advancing modern mechanical design and metallurgical engineering. With active collaboration across disciplines and consistent innovation in mechanical system optimization, his research strengthens both academic knowledge and industrial application. Yaxing Liu’s work demonstrates a balance of theoretical insight, experimental application, and practical implementation, marking him as a valuable contributor to the development of advanced rolling and forming technologies with wide relevance to the steel and aluminum industries. 155 Citations by 139 documents, 57 Documents, 7 h-index View.

Profile: Scopus
Featured Publications:

  1. Effect of multi‒directional forging on the evolution of intermetallic precipitates and mechanical properties in novel light refractory high-entropy alloys. (2025). Intermetallics.

  2. DDFNet: real-time salient object detection with dual-branch decoding fusion for steel plate surface defects. (2025). Journal of Iron and Steel Research International.

  3. Study on influence and mechanism of steel / aluminum composite thin strips preparation process on interfacial bonding strength. (2025). Suxing Gongcheng Xuebao Journal of Plasticity Engineering.

  4. Research on unbonded defect imaging method of corrugated clad plate based on laser ultrasonics. (2025). Measurement Journal of the International Measurement Confederation.

  5. Effect of two-pass rolling of textured roll and polished roll on surface topography and mechanical properties of 316L stainless steel ultra-thin strip. (2025). Journal of Iron and Steel Research International.