Ruowen Tu

I develop additive manufacturing processes for engineering polymers and composite systems, with a focus on controlling microstructure, interfaces, and anisotropy to achieve reliable structural behaviour. My research investigates how deposition physics, rheology, phase separation, and interlayer bonding govern stiffness, strength, and failure in additively manufactured polymer and composite architectures.

Building on this structural foundation, I translate manufacturing principles into architected composite systems with integrated functionality. Through microstructural programming and material architecture, these structures combine load-bearing capability with sensing or adaptive response that emerges from physical design rather than added electronics.

Positioned at the intersection of manufacturing science, materials engineering, and mechanical design, my work aims to establish additive manufacturing as an engineering platform that links material design with predictable, system-level performance, spanning structural components, multifunctional composites, and environmentally responsible devices.

Research Keywords:

• Additive Manufacturing (AM) Processes: 

Solvent-based and phase-separation AM; melt- and rheology-controlled extrusion; field-assisted and multi-material deposition; fibre-reinforced AM

• Engineering Polymers and Composites: 

High-temperature polymers; fibre-reinforced composites; recyclable and biodegradable material systems

• Process–Structure–Property Relationships: 

Microstructure and interface control; anisotropy and alignment tailoring; architected composites; structure-driven sensing, actuation and adaptive response

• Integrated Structures and Devices: 

Adaptive and bio-inspired structures; transducing components; biodegradable and energy-autonomous devices