Ruifu Zhang

Position:Associate professor

Degree: Doctor

Representative Research Outcomes and Technology Development

This section highlights representative publications, patents, energy-utilisation demonstrations, software, standards, and engineering tools arising from the group's theoretical and engineering research.

Representative Publications and Patents
The publications, DOIs, and granted patent below trace the development from original theory and design methods to device implementation.

Year Representative contribution Representative publication or patent
2018 Demand-oriented design of structures with inerter systems Structural Control and Health Monitoring
10.1002/stc.2051
2019 Lightweight tuned parallel inerter mass system for wind turbine towers Engineering Structures
10.1016/j.engstruct.2018.11.020
2020 Damping-enhancement principle of inerter systems Structural Control and Health Monitoring
10.1002/stc.2523
2021 Targeted vibration-control principle International Journal of Mechanical Sciences
10.1016/j.ijmecsci.2021.106636
2021 Ungrounded tuned mass inerter system (TMIS) Wind and Structures
10.12989/was.2021.32.6.573
2024 Real inertial force and the vibration-control design paradigm Journal of Vibration Engineering
10.16385/j.cnki.issn.1004-4523.2024.11.006
2025 Lightweight pendulum tuned mass inerter system Engineering Structures
10.1016/j.engstruct.2025.120555
Granted invention patents 30 granted invention patents. Representative patent: A spatial-cam inerter, No. ZL202110259773.1.

Inerter-Based Energy Generation and Vibration-Energy Utilisation

The group explores vibration-energy capture and electrical conversion based on inerter technology, extending designable inertia beyond vibration mitigation toward self-powered monitoring and low-power sensing.

Software, Standards, and Engineering Tools

The group translates theory and algorithms into reusable engineering tools for structural analysis, parameter optimisation, signal processing, and model conversion. The portfolio also includes seven standards as of March 2026.

  • INERTER: dynamic analysis of multi-degree-of-freedom structures with inerter systems

  • EQSignal: earthquake-motion signal processing and analysis

  • SAP2000–OpenSees structural-model conversion

  • Parameter optimisation and analysis of impact energy-dissipation inerter systems

  • Optimisation of inerter systems considering soil–structure interaction

These tools support research computation, scheme comparison, experimental data processing, and engineering performance assessment.

The Last Update Time:--
All contents  copyright 2020. All rights reserved   Support by: Wei Cheng 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai, 200092, PR China Tongji University