General

YANG, Yan 

PhD, Associate Professor

Master/PhD/Postdoc/Visiting scholar positions available, with backgrounds on Engineering, fluid mechanics, CFD, acoustics, etc. The research interests include numerical methods and applications on Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), Computational Aero-acoustics (CAA), fluid-solid-acoustics (FSA) coupling, particularly in flying/swimming/schooling bio-fluid mechanics. Undergraduates and high school students are also welcome for visits/studying. Do not hesitate to reach out to me. Also, you can check out the webpages, Working with CAS, or international students.


What's New:



  • June 2026 -- [Admission Information] -- Nominations or self-recommendations are welcome for undergraduate students graduating in 2027 (nationwide) to participate in the 2026 "Excellent University Students Mechanics Summer Camp" (July 13–17; Application deadline: June 22). For details, please refer to the official WeChat account and the Graduate Office website. Feel free to reach out via Email!
  • Jan 2026 -- [Exchange Program] CAS International Visiting Student Program – Recruitment Open:

We are seeking candidates for the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) International Visiting Student Program (self-nominations welcome). This program invites international students from top-tier global universities and leading research institutions to conduct short-term academic visits and collaborative research at CAS institutes for 1–6 months. The Academy supports 100 fellows across all institutes. International graduate students in relevant disciplines are encouraged to apply. Interested candidates should send an email inquiry to me (yangyan AT imech.ac.cn. Research projects are open for further discussion.

Host Institute: [Institute of Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences]

Location: Beijing, China

Duration: August 2026 – June 2027

Application Deadline: March 15



  • Feb 2026 -- [Research] Recent work, titled as Deep reinforcement learning for flow-induced noise control: Multi-objective optimization of acoustic suppression and drag reduction has been published online, Physics of Fluids (https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0310175). Congrats to Mr. Yuan.
  • July 2025 -- There is a visit/exchange chance, up to 1 - 6 months to here (Beijing, China), if you are a graduate student outside China and would like to work with my group for 1-6 months. Please contact me for more info. Thanks. (Available before Sept. 15th, 2025.)
  • July 2025 -- Prof. Yang was invited to give a lecture, titled 'The interdisciplinary study on animal locomotion mechanics and flow acoustics' at the 4th National Conference on Aeroacoustics and its Control Technologies in Xi'an, Shaanxi. Also, EFD2 ( in Dublin, Ireland.
  • Aug 20-23, 2024 -- Attended the annual conference of the Society of Engineering Science (SES) held in Hangzhou, the 2024 SES Annual Technical Meeting. This conference was the first time it was held in China, attracting over 1500 participants. Dr. Yang presented a talk titled "Flow-induced sound generated by bio-inspired swimmers" in the session on Bio-fluid and Bio-inspired Fluid Mechanics, which garnered attention from peers. During this time, I also visited the School of Engineering at Westlake University, relevant laboratories at Zhejiang University, and took a brief tour of West Lake.

  • Aug 2024 -- Dr. Yang, as the principal investigator, has been granted approval and funding for the National Natural Science Foundation's General Program, titled "Flow-induced acoustics mechanisms and scaling law in bio-inspired quiet swimming," with a funding amount of 520,000 Yuan. The duration of the funding is from January 2025 to December 2028, under the project number 12472266. This project would focus on the acoustic generation mechanism and control characteristics of bio-inspired swimming. The essential reasons of the silence of natural organisms swimming would be explored, and the fluid-solid-acoustic coupling mechanism of biological motion and the mystery of flow and acoustic control need to be deeply understood, which may lead to forward-looking new concepts and new enlightenment for biomimetics. 
  • Feb 2024 -- Acta Mechanica Sinica has published our article online, "Hybrid approach for simulating flow-induced sound around moving bodies based on ghost-cell immersed boundary method".  This work presents in detail the numerical simulation method of moving body flow vocalization (IBM-APE) and the sound field properties of a range of flow-generated sound fields, such as flapping and undulatory swimming, including single and multiple (tantem) foils. This work lays the foundation for exploring the widespread scientific problem of biomimetic flow-induce noise, and can provide a solid support of fluid mechanics for biologists (bio-acoustics) and biomimetic vehicles development and design with quietness. It can also promote the CFD and CAA simulation to play a greater role in the fluid-solid-acoustic coupling multidisciplinary, multi-physical interaction mechanism and bionic acoustics reduction design. More biomimetic flow-generated acoustics mechanisms by moving body need to be investigated. See Fulltext for details.
  • Summer 2023 -- Attended Third National Conference on Aeroacoustics and its Control Technologies in Kunming, Yunnan, July 19-July 21, and gave a report (before returning, paid a quick visit to the tomb of Nie Er, the famous musician, and reviewed his brief great and talented life); Participated in the 2023 Advanced Summer Program on Turbulence, Noise and CFD Methods in Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), July 28 -- August 5, presenting the poster and chaired a session. Enjoyed the high civilization of the City of "Pearl of the East", the beautiful scenery of Clear Water Bay and delicious seafood during the course.
  • Dec 2022 -- A new work titled as "Sound generated by flow over two traveling wavy foils in a side-by-side arrangement", published on Physics of Fluids; in this work, the sound generation and propagation of a typical model of fish (school)'s undulating propulsion was investigated through the IBM-APE hybrid numerical platform, in order to provide new concept for bio-inspired swimming vehicle; Fulltext link.
  • Oct/Nov 2022 -- Cheng Zhao and Yan Yang presented virtually respectively on "Chinese Congress of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics, CCTAM-2021+1" (11.5~11.10, Chengdu/Beijing) and "13th Asian Computational Fluid Dynamics Conference"(10.16~10.19, Jeju, Korea)", with new progresses of the group.
  • Aug 2022 -- Dr. Chen Zhao, presented on the 2nd Chinese Conference of Computational Acoustics (CCCA 2022), 12th August in Jiaozhou, Shandong, titled as "A high accuracy computational aeroacoustic method based on IBM", and obtained the reward of "BEST PAPER", one of the 10 papers which were awarded among all conference papers.
  • May 2022 -- Mr. Chen Zhao defensed his PhD dissertation, "Numerical Simulation of Flow-induced Noise with Complex Moving Boundary Based on immersed Boundary Method", Congrats to Dr. Zhao.
  • Apr 2022 -- "Turbulence compressibility reduction with helicity" published on Physics of Fluids.  : News (in Chinese) 螺控湍流压缩性研究取得进展 ；Fulltext link。
  • Aug 2021 -- A model on three-dimensional maneuvering of zebrafish, presented on AIAA Aviation Forum 2021, which indicated a kind of hybrid undulation could provide forces and moment needed for maneuvering in dorsal-ventral direction; Fulltext link.
  • May 2021 -- A new hybrid numerical approach for high precision computational aeroacoustics was published on Computer & Fluids, in which several the-state-of-the-art high-order schemes and sharp-interfaced immersed boundary method were integrated, for solving APE and DNS of incompressible flow; Fulltext link.  

Past Reasearch Demos:

  • Sound generation of two undulating wavy foils  in a side-by-side arrangement

  • Sound generation of two tandem foils (phase difference between the two foils were 0, 90, 180 and 270 degree)

  • Examples of sound generation and migitation in industrial applications

  • Examples of typical sound generation and propagation of flow-induced noises

  • Flow physics of typical fish swimming (steady propulsion, turning maneuvering etc.)

Research Areas

  • Bio-fluid mechanics and acoustics of swimming/flying, particularly in fish's swimming and collective behaviors (schooling/swarm)
  • Numerical methods of computational fluid dynamics (CFD), computational aero-acoustics (CAA) and fluid-structure-acoustic (FSA) interaction
  • Numerical schemes for partial differential equations (PDEs)
  • Fluid mechanics; vortex flow physics and its controls

Education

2002.9-2008.4, Ph. D, University of Science and Technology of China

1998.9-2002.7, B Sc. , University of Science and Technology of China

Experience

Dec 2018 -- Jan 2021, Visiting Associate Prof., University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA

Aug 2010 -- Present, Assistant Prof. & Associate Prof., Institute of Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Science, Beijing, China

Jul 2008 -- Aug 2010, PostDoc, Institute of Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Science, Beijing, China

Publications

  • Yuan D, Feng H, Di G, Yang Y, Fan D. Deep Reinforcement Learning for Flow-Induced Noise Control: Multi-Objective Optimization of Acoustic Suppression and Drag Reduction, Physics of Fluids 38, 027117, 2026. (https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0310175)
  • Zhao, C., Li, HG., Li, XG. et al. Hybrid approach for simulating flow-induced sound around moving bodies based on ghost-cell immersed boundary method. Acta Mech. Sin. 40, 323621, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10409-024-23621-x 
  • Zhao Cheng, Zhang Tao, Yang Yan, Dong Haibo. Sound generated by flow over two traveling wavy foils in a side-by-side arrangement. Physics of Fluids, 34(12):127120, 2022. doi:10.1063/5.0130435
  • Yang Yan, Zhu Jian-Zhou. Turbulence compressibility reduction with helicity. Physics of Fluids, 34(4):045113 2022. doi: 10.1063/5.0089333
  • Zhao Cheng, Yang Yan, Zhang Tao, Dong Haibo, Hou Guoxiang. A sharp interface immersed boundary method for flow-induced noise prediction using acoustic perturbation equations. Computers & Fluids, 35: 105032, 2021. (doi: 10.1016/j.compfluid.2021.105032)
  • Peng Jun, Xu Jin-Xiu, Yang Yan, Zhu Jian-Zhou. Helicity hardens the gas. 2019, arXiv:1901.00423
  • Zhang C, Yang Y, Huang X，Shen Y，Kang L. Numerical simulation of the airflow field on a sand dune with fence. Journal of Basic Science and Engineering, 27(15-23). (in Chinese) 2019. (doi: 10.16058/j.issn.1005-0930.2019.01.002)
  • Sun Zhenxu, Yao Yongfang, Yang Yan, Yang Guowei, Guo Dilong. Overview of the research progress on aerodynamic noise of high speed trains in China. Acta Aerodynamica Sinica, 36(3): 385-397, 2018. (in Chinese) (doi:10.7638/kqdlxxb-2018.0003)
  • Yang Yan, Wu Chen-Wu. Coupling Analysis for the Thermo-Acoustic-Vibration Response of a Thin-Walled Box with Acoustic Excitations. Journal of Vibration Engineering & Technologies. 2016, 4(5):423-429.
  • Shen Y, Liu L, Yang Y. Multistep weighted essentially non-oscillatory scheme[J]. International Journal for Numerical Methods in Fluids. 2014, 75(4):231-249.
  • Chen C G, Xiao F, Li XL, Yang Y. A multi-moment transport model on cubed-sphere grid[J]. International Journal for Numerical Methods in Fluids. 2011, 67(12):1993-2014. (doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/fld.2478)
  • Yang Yan, Wu Guan-Hao, Yu Yong-Liang, Tong Bing-Gang. A study on flow physics of burst-and-coast swimming of koi carp (Cyprinus carpio koi) based on measurements and numerical simulations. Journal of Aero Aqua Bio-mechanisms. 2010, Vol. 1, No. 1, p.30-38. (doi: https://doi.org/10.5226/jabmech.1.30)
  • Yang Yan, Wu Guan-Hao, Yu Yong-Liang, Tong Bing-Gang. Flow physics of routine turns of koi carp (Cyprinus Carpio Koi)[J]. Journal of Biomechanical Science and Engineering. 2009, 4(1):67-81. (doi:  https://doi.org/10.1299/jbse.4.67)
  • Yang Yan, Wu Guan-Hao, Yu Yong-Liang, Tong Bing-Gang. 2008. Two-dimensional self-propelled fish motion in medium: an integrated method for deforming body dynamics and unsteady fluid dynamics. Chinese Physics Letters, 25(2):597-600.
  • Wu Guanhao, Yang Yan, Zeng Lijiang. 2007. Routine turning maneuvers of koi carp Cyprinus carpio koi: effects of turning rate on kinematics and hydrodynamics. Journal of Experimental Biology, 210(24):4379-4389. 
  • Wu Guanhao, Yang Yan, Zeng Lijiang. 2007. Kinematics, hydrodynamics and energetic advantages of burst-and-coast swimming of koi carps (Cyprinus carpio koi)[J]. Journal of Experimental Biology, 210(12):2181-2191. 
  • Yang Yan, Tong Bing-Gang. 2006. A numerical study on a simplified tail model for turning fish in C-start. Journal of Hydrodynamics, 18(2):135-142. 
  • Wu Guanhao, Yang Yan, Zeng Lijiang. 2006. Novel method based on video tracking system for simultaneous measurement of kinematics and flow in the wake of a freely swimming fish. Review of Scientific Instruments, 77(11):114302. 
  • Yang Yan, Lu Xi-Yun, Yin Xie-Zhen. 2003. Propulsive performance and vortex shedding of a foil in flapping motion[J]. Journal of Hydrodynamics, 15(5):7-12. 

* Blue lines are selected as representive works.

Conferences and Talks

(International part)


  • Yang Y, Zhao C, Cui K. Study of the flow-induced acoustics of fish schooling, Joint Conference of APCATS, AJSAE & AAME 2025, Sep. 22-26, 2025, Jinan, China
  • Wang T, Liu X, Cheng W, Yang Y*. Large-eddy simulation of turbulence noise in channel flow at high Reynolds number. Joint Conference of APCATS, AJSAE & AAME 2025, Sep. 22-26, 2025, Jinan, China
  • Yang Y, Zhao C. The optimization of the flow-induced acoustics of a fish schooling model. 2nd European Fluid Dynamics Conference (EFDC2), Aug 26-29, Dublin, Ireland
  • Yang Y., Zhao C. Flow-induced sound generated by bio-inspired swimmers. 2024 SES Annual Technical Meeting, Hangzhou, China, August, 20-23, 2024
  • Zhao Cheng, Yang Yan, Zhang Tao. A sharp interface immersed boundary method for flowinduced noise with moving boundary. 13th Asian Computational Fluid Dynamics Conference, October 16-19, 2022, Jeju, Korea. (Online Event)
  • Yang Yan, Pan Yu, Han Pan, Liu Geng, Dong Haibo. A study of three-dimensional maneuvering hydrodynamics inspired by a larval zebrafish model. AIAA Aviation Forum 2021, August 2-6, 2021, Virtual Event, AIAA 2021-2816. (doi: 10.2514/6.2021-2816)
  • Zhao Cheng, Yang Yan, Zhang Tao, Haibo Dong. Numerical simulation of acoustic scattering and flow-induced noise with sharp interface immersed boundary method. AIAA Scitech 2020 Forum, January 6-10, 2020, Orlando, FL, USA. AIAA 2020-0336. (doi: 10.2514/6.2020-0336)
  • Yang Y, Li X-L, Zhu J-Z. Theory of “Helicity (Controlling) Sound” and its numerical realizations. 2018 Joint Workshop on Aeroacoustics and Bio-inspired Technology, Xi’an Jiaotong University, 28-29th, August, 2018
  • Yang Yan, Zhu Jian-Zhou. Reducing the Noise Level by Controlling the Degree of Chirality. CCCM-ISCM (Chinese Conference on Computational Mechanics in conjunction with International Symposium on Computational Mechanics) 2016. Hangzhou, China, October 16-20, 2016
  • Zhang Chunlai, Yang Yan*, Shen Yaping, Kang Liqiang. Numerical simulation of the airflow field over a fence dune . ICAR XI (9th International Comference on Aeolian Research), Mildura Australia, July 3-8, 2016.
  • Yang Yan, Shen Yiqing. Optimized finite compact schemes applied to aeroacoustic problems. 11th. World Congress on Computational Mechanics (WCCM-ECCM-ECFD 2014), July 20-25, Barcelona, Spain, 2014.
  • Yang Y., Wu CW. (2015) Coupling Analysis for the Thermo-Acoustic-Vibration Response of a Thin-Walled Box. In: Sinha J. (eds) Vibration Engineering and Technology of Machinery. Mechanisms and Machine Science, vol 23. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-09918-7_49
  • Yang Y, Sun H. Three-dimensional aeroacoustic numerical simulation of flow induced noise of mufflers. In: Parallel Computational Fluid Dynamics. Li K., et al.: Springer Berlin Heidelberg, 2014, 405: 276-286.
  • Yang Yan, Yang Guo-wei. 2011. A numerical study on aerodynamic noise sources of high-speed train[C]. The 1st International Workshop on High-speed and Intercity Railways (IWHIR 2011), July 19-22, 2011. Shenzhen and Hongkong, China.
  • Yang Yan, Wu Guan-hao, Yu Yong-liang, Tong Bing-gang. A numerical investigation on the flow physics of koi carp (Cyprinus carpio koi) burst-and-coast swimming[C]. //The 4th International Symposium on Aero Aqua Bio-Mechanisms (ISABMEC 2009). Aug 29th-Sep 2nd, 2009. Shanghai, China.
  • Wu Guanhao, Yang Yan, Zeng Lijiang. 2007. Experimental hydrodynamics of turning maneuvers in koi carps (Cyprinus carpio koi)[C].//Proceeding of the Fifth International Conference on Fluid Mechanics, Shanghai, 630-633.

Domestic part (omitted)

Collaborations

University of Virginia (UVa), Virginia, USA 

King's College, Pennsylvania, USA. 

University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (UCAS), Beijing, China.

Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), Wuhan, China

Students

Mr. Jian-yu Qin (Master 2018-)

Dr. Cheng Zhao (PhD 2014-2022)

Honors & Distinctions

August 2022, Best Paper (Advisor), 2nd Chinese Conference of Computational Acoustics (CCCA-2022), "A high accuracy computational aeroacoustic method based on Immersed Boundary Method", Jiaozhou, Liaoning

2009 China Postdoc Award.

2007, Outstanding paper.  13th National CFD Conference, "Hydrodynamic mechanism of Self-propelled steady swimming of Saithe." Dandong, Liaoning.


Memberships

  • AIAA (American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics)

  • CSTAM (The Chinese Society of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics)

  • CSIAM (The China Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics)