Background:
Yixin’s academic foundation began at Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics (NUAA) in Nanjing, China, where he earned a Master of Engineering (MEng) in Aeronautical Engineering in 2020. During his Master’s degree, his research focused on the mathematical modelling and dynamics analysis of aircraft landing gear systems. Transitioning from aerospace to automotive system dynamics, Yixin pursued doctoral research at Loughborough University, successfully completing his PhD in Automotive Engineering in 2026. His doctoral thesis investigated tyre-induced noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) phenomena, including wheel hop and shimmy, focusing on the significant influence of nonlinear tyre characteristics on wheel oscillations.
Yixin is now a Research Associate at Loughborough University. His current research project concentrates on the health and environmental impacts of particulate emissions from automotive tyres, involving tyre testing, particulate collection and chemical analysis. The results of the project will help guide policies for effectively mitigating the impact of tyre wear matter on the environment and its inhabitants.
Qualifications:
- PhD in Vehicle Dynamics, ‘Bifurcation analysis of wheel oscillations-the role of tyres’, Aeronautical and Automotive Engineering, Loughborough University. 2026
- Master's in Aeronautical Engineering, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, China. 2020
Outline of main research interests:
- Applications of bifurcation theory and numerical continuation to the investigation of dynamical systems, including aircraft landing gear systems and wheel-suspension systems for ground vehicles
- Mathematical modelling and dynamics analysis of mechanical systems
- Vehicle and flight dynamics
- Tyre modelling and emissions
Grants and contracts:
- 2026-2028 Research Associate in Tyre Emissions - Identification of health and environmental impacts of particulate emissions from automotive tyres, UKRI
- Yixin Yang, James Knowles, and Georgios Mavros. “Bifurcation analysis of the effects of steering motion on wheel shimmy under different tyre characteristics.” Nonlinear Dynamics. DOI: 10.1007/s11071-026-12776-2.
- Yixin Yang, James Knowles, and Georgios Mavros. "Bifurcation Analysis of Wheel Hop Considering the Influence of Tire Inflation Pressure and Vertical Load." ASME. Journal of Computational and. Nonlinear Dynamics. DOI: 10.1115/1.4069328.
- Yixin Yang, James Knowles, and Georgios Mavros. “Bifurcation analysis of the effect of tyre inflation pressure on wheel shimmy with multiple tyre properties considered.” The ANZIAM Journal. DOI: 10.1017/S1446181125000094.
- Yixin Yang and Yin Yin, Kui Xu, et.al. “Bifurcation characteristics of emergency extension of a landing gear mechanism considering aerodynamic effect.” Journal of Aerospace Engineering. DOI: 10.1061/(ASCE)AS.1943-5525.0001261.
- Yixin Yang, Yin Yin, Hong Nie, et al. “Strut locking mechanism design for landing gear based on bifurcation theory.” Acta Aeronautica et Astronautica Sinica (EI, a core journal in aerospace engineering in China). DOI: 10.7527/S1000-6893.2020.23958.
- Kui Xu, Yin Yin, Yixin Yang, et.al. “Kinematic Singularity and Bifurcation Analysis of Sidestay Landing Gear Locking Mechanisms,” International Journal of Aerospace Engineering. DOI: 10.1155/2021/6685635
Selected Publications:
- Yixin Yang, James Knowles, and Georgios Mavros. “Bifurcation analysis of the effects of steering motion on wheel shimmy under different tyre characteristics.” Nonlinear Dynamics. DOI: 10.1007/s11071-026-12776-2.
- Yixin Yang, James Knowles, and Georgios Mavros. "Bifurcation Analysis of Wheel Hop Considering the Influence of Tire Inflation Pressure and Vertical Load." ASME. Journal of Computational and. Nonlinear Dynamics. DOI: 10.1115/1.4069328.
- Yixin Yang, and Yin Yin, Kui Xu, et.al. “Bifurcation characteristics of emergency extension of a landing gear mechanism considering aerodynamic effect.” Journal of Aerospace Engineering. DOI: 10.1061/(ASCE)AS.1943-5525.0001261.
External Collaborators:
- Xiangtan University