Yong Cao

Yong Cao

Shanghai Jiao Tong University

Yong Cao is an Associate Professor at Shanghai Jiao Tong University, specializing in the application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to fluid mechanics, computational fluid dynamics (CFD), and wind engineering & energy. My research focuses on the wind resistance of structures and cities during extreme climate events, such as typhoons, as well as wind energy prediction and utilization in both marine and terrain environments, all with the goal of contributing to a sustainable society.

I am also open to and actively seek international collaborations to further expand the impact of my research and to address global challenges in the fields of energy and climate resilience.

Please feel free to contact me: yongcao@sjtu.edu.cn

🔥 News

📝 Publications

[2025]

[2024]

JFM 2024
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High-flexibility reconstruction of small-scale motions in wall turbulence using a generalized zero-shot learning, Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 2024, 990, R1.

Haokai Wu, Kai Zhang, Dai Zhou, Wenli Chen, Zhaolong Han, Yong Cao*

[Introduction]

  • This study proposes a novel super-resolution (or SR) framework for generating high-resolution turbulent boundary layer (TBL) flow from low-resolution inputs. The framework combines a super-resolution generative adversarial neural network (SRGAN) with down-sampling modules (DMs), integrating the residual of the continuity equation into the loss function. The framework iteratively applies the SRGAN and DM procedure to fully capture the energy cascade of multi-scale flow structures, collectively termed the SRGAN-based energy cascade reconstruction framework (EC-SRGAN). Despite being trained solely on turbulent channel flow data (via zero-shot transfer), EC-SRGAN exhibits remarkable generalization in predicting TBL small-scale velocity fields.

[2023]

Appl. Energy 2023
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Strategy for mitigating wake interference between offshore vertical-axis wind turbines: Evaluation of vertically staggered arrangement, Applied Energy, 2023, 351, 121850.

Limin Kuang, Hiroshi Katsuchi, Dai Zhou*, Yaoran Chen, Zhaolong Han, Kai Zhang, Jiaqi Wang, Yan Bao, Yong Cao and Yijie Liu

[Introduction]

  • Wake interference between wind turbines potentially decreases the power output of offshore wind farms. This study utilized high-fidelity computational fluid dynamics simulations, and systematically evaluated the effectiveness of vertically staggered arrangement in mitigating wake interference between offshore VAWTs.

[2022]

JFM 2022
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Topological description of near-wall flows around a surface-mounted square cylinder at high Reynolds numbers, Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 2022, 933, A39.

Yong Cao*, Tetsuro Tamura, Dai Zhou*, Yan Bao and Zhaolong Han

[Introduction]

  • This study topologically describes near-wall flows around a surface-mounted cylinder at a high Reynolds number and in a very thick boundary layer, which were partially measured or technically approximated from the literature. The high-resolution simulations and critical-point theory are applied for complete and rational flow construction.

[2021 and before]

PoF 2020
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Large-eddy simulation study of Reynolds number effects on the flow around a wall-mounted hemisphere in a boundary layer, Physics of Fluids, 2020, 32, 025109. (Cover Paper & Featured)

Yong Cao*, Tetsuro Tamura

[Introduction]

  • Large-eddy simulations were used to investigate unsteady flows around a wall-mounted hemisphere as the Reynolds number (Re, based on the diameter of the hemisphere D) increased from 7×10^4 to 7×10^5. Strong Re dependence was found to be present even for the flow around a wall-mounted obstacle after systematic examination of aerodynamic forces, local pressures, and flow structures.

🎖 Honors and Awards

  • 2023 JAWE Award (Excellence in Research Paper), Japan Association for Wind Engineering
  • 2023 Excellent Paper Award for Young Scientist, The 2nd Chinese Conference of Aerodynamics
  • 2022 Spotlight in Advances in Engineering
  • 2021 Oversea High-level Talent of Shanghai
  • 2021 Sailing Program of Shanghai
  • 2020 Cover Paper of Physics of Fluids, First-authored Paper
  • 2019 Best CFD Picture, The Japan Society of Fluid Mechanics
  • 2018 Outstanding Reviewer, Journal of Fluids and Structures, Elsevier

📖 Educations

  • 2013.10 - 2016.12, Ph.D., Tokyo Institute of Technology (Japan), Environmental Science and Technology (minor: Wind-resistance of Structures) Thesis: LES study of aerodynamics of two-dimensional bluff bodies in crossflow at very high Reynolds numbers (advisor: Tetsuro Tamura)

  • 2011.09 - 2013.07, M.S., Harbin Institute of Technology (China), Structural Engineering Thesis: Numerical study on flow control of flow around a circular cylinder using steady suction method (advisor: Hui Li, Wen-Li Chen)

💬 Invited Talks

  • Yong Cao, “结构风荷载预测的气象-工程多尺度耦合模型,” 第九届长三角地区结构工程青年学者学术沙龙, December 14, 2024. (大会报告)
  • Haokai Wu, Yong Cao, “Generation of small-scale turbulence,” CRUNCH Seminar, Brown University, November 22, 2024. (invited talk)
  • Yong Cao, “Intelligent generation method of wall turbulence in meso-micro scale model,” The 13rd National Conference of Structural Design and Reliability, October 25-27, 2024. (invited speech)
  • Yong Cao, “High-flexibility reconstruction of small-scale motions in wall turbulence using a generalized zero-shot learning,” The 3rd International Symposium on Recent Advances in Vortex-induced Vibrations, September 20-23, 2024. (plenary speech)
  • Yong Cao, Dai Zhou, Zhaolong Han and Kai Zhang, “High-fidelity and intelligent simulation of wind fields and pressures on buildings,” The 2023 International Workshop on The Numerical Simulation of Typhoons, Hanzhou, October 18, 2023. (invited speech)
  • Yong Cao, Tetsuro Tamura and Dai Zhou, “Analyses of local severe wind suction on a square-section cylinder by high-resolution simulation and conditional POD method,” The 15th World Congress on Computational Mechanics (WCCM-XV) & 8th Asian Pacific Congress on Computational Mechanics (APCOM-VIII). Virtual, July 31-August 5, 2022. (keynote in minisymposia)
  • Yong Cao, Zhaolong Han and Dai Zhou, “Key points and recent advances of offshore vertical-axis wind turbine,” The 2021 Workshop on Offshore Renewable Energy, Dalian, July 11, 2021. (invited speech)

💻 Professional Services

Journal Editor

  • 2024.11 - now, Managing Guest Editor of Building and Environment, with Dayi Lai, Hideki Kikumoto and Hao Zheng, Special Issue on “Advancements of AI Technology in the Built Environment”
  • 2024.05 - now, Topical Advisory Panel for Mathematics
  • 2022.05 - 2023.12, Guest Editor of Atmosphere, with Y. C. He and Y. H. He, Special Issue on “Wind Gusts: Observations, Processes, and Predictions”
  • 2021.11 - 2023.08, Guest Editor of Mathematics, with S. J. Laima, X. W. Jin and H. H. Ren, Special issue on “Advanced Mathematical Modeling and Numerical Solutions in Applied Mechanics and Engineering”

Conference services:

  • 2024.08.27, Session Moderator for Oral Presentation Session Vortex dynamics, the 26th International Conference of the Theoretical and Applied Mechanics (ICTAM 2024), with Melissa Green (University of Minnesota)
  • 2024.08.27, Session Moderator for Short Oral Presentation Session Vortex dynamics, the 26th International Conference of the Theoretical and Applied Mechanics (ICTAM 2024), with Melissa Green (University of Minnesota)
  • 2023.08.29, Chairperson for Oral Presentation Session Bluff body aerodynamics, 16th International Conference on Wind Engineering (ICWE)

Referee (Papers):

  • Applied Energy, Atmosphere, Building and Environment, Canadian Journal of Civil Engineering, Computers and Fluids, Energy, Engineering Applications of Computational Fluid Mechanics, Flow, Turbulence and Combustion, International Journal of Heat and Fluid Flow, International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, Journal of Aerospace, Journal of Applied Fluid Mechanics, Journal of Fluid Mechanics, Journal of Fluids and Structures, Journal of Marine Science and Engineering, Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology, Journal of Wind Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamics, Ocean Engineering, Physics of Fluids, PLOS ONE, PNAS Nexus, Wind and Structures

📖 Teaching

  • Autumn 2023, Engineering Management, Systems Engineering (G)
  • Spring 2023, Civil Engineering, Wind-resistant Safety of Engineering Structures (G)
  • Spring 2023, Architecture, Simulation Technology on Built Environment (G)
  • Spring 2023, Civil Engineering, Uncover Secret of Super Engineering Secret (U)
  • Spring 2022, Civil Engineering, Wind-resistant Safety of Engineering Structures (G)
  • Spring 2021, Civil Engineering, Wind-resistant Safety of Engineering Structures (G)
    Note: U/G = undergraduate/graduate courses